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thepaperwitch 's review for:
The London Séance Society
by Sarah Penner
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner was a fun read for me. The story follows Lenna after she has traveled to Paris to learn all about séances from one of the world's most renowned mediums, Vaudeline D’Allaire. Lenna is a science-minded skeptic, but she is trying to put her doubts aside so that she can learn how to hold a séance for her dead sister, Evie, who had taken up spiritualism in earnest under Vaudeline before she was murdered.
The book alternates between Lenna and the vice president of the male-only London Séance Society, Mr. Morley. After the president of the Society, Mr. Volckman, was found murdered and no leads had been found in months, Mr. Morley decides to invite Vaudeline back to England to perform a séance for Mr. Volckman and discover the killer. Vaudeline's decision to accept is risky. She fled England at the suggestion of Mr. Volckman, who was a close friend, because he suspected she was being targeted by rogue elements in the Society for discovering fraudsters and unsavory tactics being used to trick grieving people.
The plot is detailed and draws you in, though I had some loss of interest towards the middle of the book, but it picks up to a surprising ending. I'm not much of a romance in books kind of person unless it's done well, so I do have to say that Lenna and Vaudeline's romance didn't feel right--forced and a bit inappropriate (given the situation they were in) in one scene. I was much more convinced of Lenna and Eloise's love.
That being said, I liked the book as a whole and wished there could have been a chance for Evie to have shared more of her experiences in regards to the plot. Pick this up if you enjoy mysteries, (late) Victorian era, or are interested in reading about spiritualism.
Quote of the book: Well, Lenna had learned her lesson twice over now. Nothing was promised. Not sisterhood, not friendship. Not the next love note, not the next argument. All that was promised was now--this lone, ever-fleeting moment--and Lenna was tired of missing her chance to do or say the truest thing while she still had the opportunity. (p. 79).
The book alternates between Lenna and the vice president of the male-only London Séance Society, Mr. Morley. After the president of the Society, Mr. Volckman, was found murdered and no leads had been found in months, Mr. Morley decides to invite Vaudeline back to England to perform a séance for Mr. Volckman and discover the killer. Vaudeline's decision to accept is risky. She fled England at the suggestion of Mr. Volckman, who was a close friend, because he suspected she was being targeted by rogue elements in the Society for discovering fraudsters and unsavory tactics being used to trick grieving people.
The plot is detailed and draws you in, though I had some loss of interest towards the middle of the book, but it picks up to a surprising ending. I'm not much of a romance in books kind of person unless it's done well, so I do have to say that Lenna and Vaudeline's romance didn't feel right--forced and a bit inappropriate (given the situation they were in) in one scene. I was much more convinced of Lenna and Eloise's love.
That being said, I liked the book as a whole and wished there could have been a chance for Evie to have shared more of her experiences in regards to the plot. Pick this up if you enjoy mysteries, (late) Victorian era, or are interested in reading about spiritualism.
Quote of the book: Well, Lenna had learned her lesson twice over now. Nothing was promised. Not sisterhood, not friendship. Not the next love note, not the next argument. All that was promised was now--this lone, ever-fleeting moment--and Lenna was tired of missing her chance to do or say the truest thing while she still had the opportunity. (p. 79).