A review by booklistqueen
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

dark informative mysterious slow-paced

2.0

 In 1873, spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire has made quite the reputation for herself in Paris for conjuring the spirits of murder victims and revealing their killers. Although skeptical, Lenna Wickes has come to Vaudeline for answers to her sister's death and agrees to become her assistant. When the pair travel to London to help solve a high-profile murder, they suspect they are being used by the killers.

I really wanted to like Sarah Penner's latest after loving The Lost Apothecary, but I just could not get into it. The beginning was terribly slow, with mind-numbingly boring descriptions of Victorian England spiritualism. Although the narrative finally picked up a bit in the middle, I found I didn't really care too much about any of the characters. Although I enjoyed Lenna's blend of skepticism and desire to believe, I thought Vaudeline was an underdeveloped empty shell and the alternating chapters from Morley's point of view were grating.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Park Row through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.