For fans of The Lost Apothecary or the Mermaid and Mrs Hancock, a deliciously atmospheric historical novel about the rivalry between two female mediums during Victorian London’s obsession with Spiritualism.

Mrs. Violet Wood is London’s premier medium. Her ambition and work ethic are relentless, and her unique abilities have earned her quite the reputation among London’s elite. Mrs. Wood knows just how to read her wealthy patrons and deliver them exactly the messages they long to hear from their loved ones visiting from beyond the grave.

However, one London newspaperman is on a quest to expose the false mediums among them, just as the pressure increases to outperform the upstart Americans—who, to Mrs. Wood’s horror, are promising their audiences more and more fantastical visions. When Mrs. Wood learns her own finances are in crisis, she realizes she must raise her own profile to secure her career and her place in society, or risk being quickly replaced by the next big thing.

Her solution? Accepting as an apprentice the sweet young girl who appears at her door, who carries an uncanny talent for the craft. But is Miss Finch everything she appears to be? And will she be Mrs. Wood’s salvation, or her downfall?

My Review

This was a cracking read! And such a lot of fun. A few months ago I attended a ‘seance’ as part of a podcast recording, where we attempted to debunk some of the myths around mediumship. It was fascinating. Seances were always held in pitch darkness – not to prevent the spirits from getting upset – but to allow the medium to perform their ‘tricks’ without being seen. You’d never get away with it today, but in those days the participants were far more impressionable. Especially when celebrities such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were firm believers (though this is set earlier in 1873).

Widowed Mrs Violet Wood is London’s most famous – and trusted – medium. She performs elaborate Grand Seances, private readings and visits to her patron’s houses, with the assistance of her friend Miss Newman. While there is some trickery involved (illusion is everything), she really believes she is helping people overcome their grief, by contacting the spirit of their dead loved one and letting them know that they are happy. She goes into a trance and receives messages from the other side. And people are genuinely made to feel better.

But for many it’s not enough. They want sensationalism and full spirit materialisation, as is happening in America. Mrs Wood does not want this, but with her finances failing she needs to put herself back on the map. She needs something new. Then one day she encounters a girl who has been hanging around her house for weeks. Sixteen-year-old Emmeline Finch begs Mrs Wood to teach her to become a medium, tells her how much she admires her, believes she has talent. And for the first time ever, Mrs Wood agrees.

The girl is pretty and clever and learns quickly – too quickly. Editor of The Spiritual Times, Magnus Clore is fascinated by ‘Emmie’, but he also wants to expose false mediums. Mrs Wood warns Emmie not to try and impress too fast, but she soon finds out that the girl is not to be trusted and the rivalry begins.

What a brilliant read this was, full of intrigue, warmth and humour. I have always been fascinated by reading books about mediums and seances (yes I have done it – haven’t we all?), and The Other Side of Mrs Wood is up there with the best.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read. 

About the Author

Lucy Barker was the runner-up for the Curtis Brown First Novel Prize with an early extract from The Other Side of Mrs Wood. She holds an MA in Victorian Studies from Birkbeck College and is a Curtis Brown Creative and Novelry alumna. Lucy worked for years as a PA in theatre and heritage, including coordinating the Solstice celebrations at Stonehenge, before moving into social media management. She is currently a freelance copywriter and lives in rural Hampshire with her husband, two young children and the dog.