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The Society of Free Spirits #1
A Grave Inheritance
Mysterious deaths in the family. A young woman left to inherit a fortune. Was it ghostly intervention... or murder? The Society of Free Spirits invites you to investigate, in this YA crime series with a supernatural twist.
After her father and older sister both die suddenly, Dolores is left with the family's inheritance, and a large house she's sure is haunted. Teaming up with her occult-obsessed neighbour, Ada, and the mysterious spiritual medium, Violet, the three girls plan to dispel the bad spirits from Dolores' home.
But when Dolores uncovers a clue that suggests her sister Edith's death wasn't due to natural causes, what starts as an investigation into ghostly apparitions develops into the unravelling of something far more sinister. . .
Ghosts. Murder. The patriarchy. One should never underestimate what a trio of free-spirited young women can handle.
After her father and older sister both die suddenly, Dolores is left with the family's inheritance, and a large house she's sure is haunted. Teaming up with her occult-obsessed neighbour, Ada, and the mysterious spiritual medium, Violet, the three girls plan to dispel the bad spirits from Dolores' home.
But when Dolores uncovers a clue that suggests her sister Edith's death wasn't due to natural causes, what starts as an investigation into ghostly apparitions develops into the unravelling of something far more sinister. . .
Ghosts. Murder. The patriarchy. One should never underestimate what a trio of free-spirited young women can handle.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2025
49 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 31, 2025
I really liked this book and it helped me get out of my reading slump. A very cosy book about a young 17 year old girl who inherited her family's fortune with friendship, ghosts and a murder mystery as main themes.
August 1, 2025
2.5⭐️
I really wanted this to stick the landing…
I really wanted this to stick the landing…
July 31, 2025
Definitely one for younger readers dipping their toes into teen fiction - especially fans of Robin Stevens.
July 30, 2025
Book Review: The Society of Free Spirits: A Grace Inheritance by Felicity Epps - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
👻 book 1/3 ongoing historical paranormal murder mystery
🍑 very subtle signs of romance
👻 themes of grief
🍑 science and apothecary science
👻 ghosts, seances
🍑 found family
👻 set in 1800s London
🍑 young adult
Firstly a huge thank you to @teamkrmrk for this PR package!
~My Thoughts~
Guys, I had such a fun time with this one😍
It’s fast paced and the blend of the murder mystery and the paranormal and the real world was done really well.
I found myself laughing quite a lot, especially at FMC Dolores who is so dramatic that she makes for a really enjoyable main character.
Her supporting characters in the form of Ada and Violet were also so unique that I really did not know what to expect when all three characters were on the page
The little subtle romance between Dolores and a male character who I won’t name so as not to spoil was so cute and knowing that this is a series really makes me excited to see how their romance blossoms.
I feel like if you enjoyed the Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco then you’ll have a good time with this one 😍
👻 book 1/3 ongoing historical paranormal murder mystery
🍑 very subtle signs of romance
👻 themes of grief
🍑 science and apothecary science
👻 ghosts, seances
🍑 found family
👻 set in 1800s London
🍑 young adult
Firstly a huge thank you to @teamkrmrk for this PR package!
~My Thoughts~
Guys, I had such a fun time with this one😍
It’s fast paced and the blend of the murder mystery and the paranormal and the real world was done really well.
I found myself laughing quite a lot, especially at FMC Dolores who is so dramatic that she makes for a really enjoyable main character.
Her supporting characters in the form of Ada and Violet were also so unique that I really did not know what to expect when all three characters were on the page
The little subtle romance between Dolores and a male character who I won’t name so as not to spoil was so cute and knowing that this is a series really makes me excited to see how their romance blossoms.
I feel like if you enjoyed the Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco then you’ll have a good time with this one 😍
August 12, 2025
kind of felt like an episode of my little pony I can't explain it. Also very predictable ending. really like the 3 besties though they were cute
September 8, 2025
Ultimate cosy ghost book. Solid YA. The murder mystery was interesting and it was fun tracking the clues and working out what happened to Edith. I did sort of guess who the murderer was very early on so it turned into collecting evidence to prove my assumption.
Dolores, Ada and Violet had a great friendship - very wholesome. I think Violet was my favourite character so I would like to know more about her in the future. I wasn't a huge fan of including a romance but it was cute and added some drama for Dolores.
Also the character art at the back of my copy was really good!! Would love to see a coloured version but the artist is very talented. And same for the book cover too - art 10/10.
Dolores, Ada and Violet had a great friendship - very wholesome. I think Violet was my favourite character so I would like to know more about her in the future. I wasn't a huge fan of including a romance but it was cute and added some drama for Dolores.
Also the character art at the back of my copy was really good!! Would love to see a coloured version but the artist is very talented. And same for the book cover too - art 10/10.
August 15, 2025
This is a lot of fun! Definitely one aimed at younger readers, almost veering into middle grade territory, but I loved the fast pace, the murder mystery and paranormal aspects, and it’s genuinely very funny, with our main character giving off Wednesday Addams vibes. Friendship is such a strong theme in this book which I love, and despite having a pretty predictable plotline and ending, I still feel like I will pick up the next book!
July 15, 2025
A ghostly, murder mystery that's set in the Victorian era and was fun to read.
Suitable for younger YA readers.
Suitable for younger YA readers.
August 23, 2025
A really fun read! Predictable in parts but very entertaining and satisfying
June 24, 2025
I really wanted to like this book, so much! The blurb had me hooked: three girls forming a crime-solving/medium club and taking on Dolores’ ghost sister haunting her and finding out if/how she was murdered? Amazing!
Well, my first clue that this wasn’t for me was the cat that died offscreen before the beginning of the book. I half-kid, but honestly maybe a cat weaving around some people’s legs and causing mischief, maybe being mistaken for a ghost one time, would have added something to this story.
The mystery itself is set up with some promise: secret notes, hints her sister might not have died exactly as described, her worries leading up to her death? Great!
And the spooky parts: creepy spirits in Dolores’ vision, seances, ghostly goings on around the house? Also great!
But everything just gets resolved with such little fanfare it frustrated me. It made the stakes feel too low to really hook me, and I think I read it so fast simply because I could nearly skim read this book and know exactly what was going to happen.
It’s a shame because the characters were quite sweet, I found Theo quite charming and Septimus was a breath of fresh air in the Apothecary store, honestly he was probably the most developed character in the whole book. I smiled when he was on the page and I think he earned this review one whole star carried solely on his back. I’d read another book about his family history and trials as a shopkeeper and friend to mediums instead of Dolores again. (And, I’m sorry, but Ada was fairly one dimensional as a damsel in distress type of character, I didn’t really believe her want to be taken seriously and she seemed to just pop up to gasp at things and lock pick around plot devices…)
Sometimes the plot twists caught me a little, but not enough for me to truly recommend this book as a triumph for others. All I can say was that it was fun and quick and a fairly alright way to pass some time, but not my favourite book this year.
Well, my first clue that this wasn’t for me was the cat that died offscreen before the beginning of the book. I half-kid, but honestly maybe a cat weaving around some people’s legs and causing mischief, maybe being mistaken for a ghost one time, would have added something to this story.
The mystery itself is set up with some promise: secret notes, hints her sister might not have died exactly as described, her worries leading up to her death? Great!
And the spooky parts: creepy spirits in Dolores’ vision, seances, ghostly goings on around the house? Also great!
But everything just gets resolved with such little fanfare it frustrated me. It made the stakes feel too low to really hook me, and I think I read it so fast simply because I could nearly skim read this book and know exactly what was going to happen.
It’s a shame because the characters were quite sweet, I found Theo quite charming and Septimus was a breath of fresh air in the Apothecary store, honestly he was probably the most developed character in the whole book. I smiled when he was on the page and I think he earned this review one whole star carried solely on his back. I’d read another book about his family history and trials as a shopkeeper and friend to mediums instead of Dolores again. (And, I’m sorry, but Ada was fairly one dimensional as a damsel in distress type of character, I didn’t really believe her want to be taken seriously and she seemed to just pop up to gasp at things and lock pick around plot devices…)
Sometimes the plot twists caught me a little, but not enough for me to truly recommend this book as a triumph for others. All I can say was that it was fun and quick and a fairly alright way to pass some time, but not my favourite book this year.
July 30, 2025
I enjoyed this book from the very first page and I just love when that happens! That’s how I often know when a book is for me.
This book was so fun and spooky, I loved it! Dolores is a great, funny, endearing, relatable, and entertaining character. You can really empathise with her and her losing her family.
Ada and Violet are also perfect additions to the story and they form a strong group of friends.
The books starts with Dolores on her “death bed”, with a priest she summoned for her last moments, and her lady’s maid. When the priest want to leave because Dolores has not “passed” for the last two hours, she says “Do I look dead yet, sir? Read me the psalms again. All of them.”😆
Dolores suffers from many ailments, or so she thinks because she called her doctor 12 times in the last two months telling him she was on her death bed. I found the interactions and her replies brilliant and hilarious !
Then Dolores finds out about a local apothecary that sells a “nerve tonic” which can cure all aches and ailments, so of course she thinks that is the answer to all her troubles. Going against her doctor’s orders she gets the nerve tonic from the young apothecary Septimus. But the nerve tonic has a side effect, when she takes it she thinks she sees a ghost.👻
From this point on things get spookier, more mysterious, fun and I enjoyed every minute of it. So if you are into cozy YA mysteries with gothic vibes, ghosts, clever heroines, a dash of romance, seances, and a lot of fun I highly recommend this book!
Published on 31st July 2025✨
Thank you so much to the publisher and author for the ARC! 💕
This book was so fun and spooky, I loved it! Dolores is a great, funny, endearing, relatable, and entertaining character. You can really empathise with her and her losing her family.
Ada and Violet are also perfect additions to the story and they form a strong group of friends.
The books starts with Dolores on her “death bed”, with a priest she summoned for her last moments, and her lady’s maid. When the priest want to leave because Dolores has not “passed” for the last two hours, she says “Do I look dead yet, sir? Read me the psalms again. All of them.”😆
Dolores suffers from many ailments, or so she thinks because she called her doctor 12 times in the last two months telling him she was on her death bed. I found the interactions and her replies brilliant and hilarious !
Then Dolores finds out about a local apothecary that sells a “nerve tonic” which can cure all aches and ailments, so of course she thinks that is the answer to all her troubles. Going against her doctor’s orders she gets the nerve tonic from the young apothecary Septimus. But the nerve tonic has a side effect, when she takes it she thinks she sees a ghost.👻
From this point on things get spookier, more mysterious, fun and I enjoyed every minute of it. So if you are into cozy YA mysteries with gothic vibes, ghosts, clever heroines, a dash of romance, seances, and a lot of fun I highly recommend this book!
Published on 31st July 2025✨
Thank you so much to the publisher and author for the ARC! 💕
August 28, 2025
This is a book that I picked up on a whim, due to the cover and story line with it catching my interest and I must say this might not been the most deep book but it was a really fun ghost story and a fun book in general with me really liking the vibe and the character especially our main character
I must say I thought our main character went on a great journey, in a personal sense with her really growing in this book and gaining strength and automany with her really taking back her life. Our main character story line really turned herself around, with her ending in a completely different place then where she was at the start with her seeing the light and moving on with the help of great friends and a great support system.
this was also a very fun ghost story with ghostly happening nearly all the time, so it kept me hooked and interested cause their was always something happening with it increasing every page and becoming more off putting and scary, with it really feeling real and that something really was their, even if it turned out it was all part of a grand plan.
The book also touches on the topics of gender roles, gender rules and gender in general with it going into it in a good manner, with the book exploring it in a deep enough fashion that you can see how hard it is for women in this age at times due to the unfairness between men and women with their being a totally divide on what they can have and how they should behave, now with it being a short book did we go to deep into them the answer would be no but it was a theme that was carried through out the whole book
I must say I thought our main character went on a great journey, in a personal sense with her really growing in this book and gaining strength and automany with her really taking back her life. Our main character story line really turned herself around, with her ending in a completely different place then where she was at the start with her seeing the light and moving on with the help of great friends and a great support system.
this was also a very fun ghost story with ghostly happening nearly all the time, so it kept me hooked and interested cause their was always something happening with it increasing every page and becoming more off putting and scary, with it really feeling real and that something really was their, even if it turned out it was all part of a grand plan.
The book also touches on the topics of gender roles, gender rules and gender in general with it going into it in a good manner, with the book exploring it in a deep enough fashion that you can see how hard it is for women in this age at times due to the unfairness between men and women with their being a totally divide on what they can have and how they should behave, now with it being a short book did we go to deep into them the answer would be no but it was a theme that was carried through out the whole book
July 23, 2025
This was a short supernatural YA story that followed Dolores Rain - a young woman in possession of a large inheritance thanks to the unfortunate passing of her family. She’s left alone to rattle around in her London mansion, nerves highly strung. After her neighbour, Doctor Hawthorne, has no more medicines to help her from her ‘deathbed’, she decides to try the apothecary for a nerve tonic. But after she takes it, the events that follow plunge her into the world of the spiritual and the supernatural. And then she finds a note from her deceased sister that suggests she was murdered, and the strange happenings take a decidedly sinister turn…
Overall, despite the short length of the book, I struggled to remain engaged in the narrative for long periods of time. I did enjoy the story, but the way it was written made the solution feel inevitable and predictable. Some of the character development as well as relationship development - particularly relating to Dolores, Septimus and Violet - felt rushed at times too. I think I’d figured out what was happening to Dolores (and what had happened to Edith) after about 50 pages. This isn’t to say I think the writing itself was bad, just that it’s probably closer suited to the younger end of YA rather than the older, in terms of the way the mystery was set out to be solved by the characters. Having said that, I certainly would’ve enjoyed an extra twist or two!
[Thank you to the publisher for the ARC]
Overall, despite the short length of the book, I struggled to remain engaged in the narrative for long periods of time. I did enjoy the story, but the way it was written made the solution feel inevitable and predictable. Some of the character development as well as relationship development - particularly relating to Dolores, Septimus and Violet - felt rushed at times too. I think I’d figured out what was happening to Dolores (and what had happened to Edith) after about 50 pages. This isn’t to say I think the writing itself was bad, just that it’s probably closer suited to the younger end of YA rather than the older, in terms of the way the mystery was set out to be solved by the characters. Having said that, I certainly would’ve enjoyed an extra twist or two!
[Thank you to the publisher for the ARC]
June 25, 2025
4 stars!
This is obviously a book for younger / YA readers but I still thought it was really fun and intriguing! A murder mystery set in the Victorian era with a cosy ghostly spin, A Grave Inheritance follows Dolores Rain who is grieving the loss of her sister. When trembling nerves leads her to buy some tonic from an apothecary, it sets off a chain reaction leading to ghostly sightings and ultimately uncovering a murder!! Cue the trio of "young ladies" who prefer seances to etiquette...
This was definitely more cosy and fun than chilling, but I thought the grief element was sensitively explored, the descriptions were immersive and the characters balanced each other out in a really good way. Violet the medium was my favourite, but I do have a soft spot for Septimus the apothecary! This book reminded me of The Agency for Scandal but with a spiritualist edge, and would be good for anyone who likes cosy murder mysteries, historical hijinks or teenage readers who've moved on from Robin Stevens. I'm giving this to my 14 yo niece and I think she'll whip through it
This is obviously a book for younger / YA readers but I still thought it was really fun and intriguing! A murder mystery set in the Victorian era with a cosy ghostly spin, A Grave Inheritance follows Dolores Rain who is grieving the loss of her sister. When trembling nerves leads her to buy some tonic from an apothecary, it sets off a chain reaction leading to ghostly sightings and ultimately uncovering a murder!! Cue the trio of "young ladies" who prefer seances to etiquette...
This was definitely more cosy and fun than chilling, but I thought the grief element was sensitively explored, the descriptions were immersive and the characters balanced each other out in a really good way. Violet the medium was my favourite, but I do have a soft spot for Septimus the apothecary! This book reminded me of The Agency for Scandal but with a spiritualist edge, and would be good for anyone who likes cosy murder mysteries, historical hijinks or teenage readers who've moved on from Robin Stevens. I'm giving this to my 14 yo niece and I think she'll whip through it
July 30, 2025
A fun Victorian gothic murder mystery! I really enjoyed reading this book. It is gripping and short enough to read in one sitting!
It starts off with Dolores on her 'death bed'. I honestly thought she was 80 and then burst out laughing when I realised she was so young. She starts off being dramatic like Mrs Bennett in P&P. She then visits a local apothecary for some nerve tonic, of course! There the story begins!
There are so many characters that had you guessing. One is rather obvious, but the other had me guessing. I really enjoyed the story to get answers on the death of Edith..
I loved Dolores. She was so morbid. Think Lydia in Beetlejuice with a dash of Mrs Bennett. Ada was another favourite..she gave more light relief. Think Enid to Wednesday Addams. I love how she was the one obsessed with ghosts and death more than anyone.
The story had me engrossed until the end! I couldn't put the last few chapters down!!
It starts off with Dolores on her 'death bed'. I honestly thought she was 80 and then burst out laughing when I realised she was so young. She starts off being dramatic like Mrs Bennett in P&P. She then visits a local apothecary for some nerve tonic, of course! There the story begins!
There are so many characters that had you guessing. One is rather obvious, but the other had me guessing. I really enjoyed the story to get answers on the death of Edith..
I loved Dolores. She was so morbid. Think Lydia in Beetlejuice with a dash of Mrs Bennett. Ada was another favourite..she gave more light relief. Think Enid to Wednesday Addams. I love how she was the one obsessed with ghosts and death more than anyone.
The story had me engrossed until the end! I couldn't put the last few chapters down!!
September 18, 2025
GIRL MATH IS LEGITIMATE AND I WILL NOT BE TAKING FURTHER QUESTIONS. GOOD DAY, SIR.
I bought this book on a whim because I wanted free delivery 😅😂 it looked like my kind of thing so thought I’d give it a go. It’s now my favourite read of the year. I adore this book and can’t wait for more!! This has a little sprinkle of all the things I love - mystery, gothic vibes, alchemy, girl power, crime, seances, ghosts, mediums, family dramas, and a little romance. And all delivered in the perfect YA package. Please pick up this book! It will not disappoint. This is the perfect debut for an upcoming author.
I’m so so glad I bought this on impulse because I wanted that free shipping. GIRL MATH WORKS.
I bought this book on a whim because I wanted free delivery 😅😂 it looked like my kind of thing so thought I’d give it a go. It’s now my favourite read of the year. I adore this book and can’t wait for more!! This has a little sprinkle of all the things I love - mystery, gothic vibes, alchemy, girl power, crime, seances, ghosts, mediums, family dramas, and a little romance. And all delivered in the perfect YA package. Please pick up this book! It will not disappoint. This is the perfect debut for an upcoming author.
I’m so so glad I bought this on impulse because I wanted that free shipping. GIRL MATH WORKS.
July 27, 2025
𝘚𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.
Dolores inherited the family home after the untimely passing of her sister - who comes back to haunt her. Teaming up with unlikely friends, can Dolores discover the truth behind her sisters death?
Themes
🔎 Spooky murder mystery
🔎 YA, Gothic Historical Fiction
🔎 Secret Society
🔎 Found family
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read! I loved the spooky, gothic vibes and the friendships that were formed throughout the story. There were many funny moments, and I loved the dark theme that carried throughout the book.
I found the plot to be well paced and the length of the story to be just right - this is perfect if you’re looking for a quick, cosy read!
Dolores inherited the family home after the untimely passing of her sister - who comes back to haunt her. Teaming up with unlikely friends, can Dolores discover the truth behind her sisters death?
Themes
🔎 Spooky murder mystery
🔎 YA, Gothic Historical Fiction
🔎 Secret Society
🔎 Found family
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read! I loved the spooky, gothic vibes and the friendships that were formed throughout the story. There were many funny moments, and I loved the dark theme that carried throughout the book.
I found the plot to be well paced and the length of the story to be just right - this is perfect if you’re looking for a quick, cosy read!
July 30, 2025
Perfect for younger YA readers! Dolores has inherited a huge fortune along with a stunning home following the tragic loss of her parents and older sister. Struggling to come to terms with this she isolates herself from society only interacting with her staff and the occasional visit from the family doctor and priest when she has convinced herself she is yet again on the verge of death herself.
After being denied any further medication she takes matters into her own hands and seeks out help from the local apothecary. This leads her down a path of ghosts, murder, mystery and a found sisterhood that could unearth some alarming answers surrounding her Sisters untimely demise.
After being denied any further medication she takes matters into her own hands and seeks out help from the local apothecary. This leads her down a path of ghosts, murder, mystery and a found sisterhood that could unearth some alarming answers surrounding her Sisters untimely demise.
August 3, 2025
This was a really nice ya cosy, mystery and spooky read. It wasn’t a bad length and I was able to read it all in one day!!
It was really well written and easy to follow along with. The plot moved at a good and steady pace though out the book.
I absolutely loved Dolores as a character, she was dramatic but just so likeable and really well written with such a good depth to her.
I loved that there was a little romance in the book and that it wasn’t a main focus of the book.
The cover of this book is just absolutely beautiful.
If you enjoy a Ya cosy mystery with spooky themes then I definitely recommend this one.
This would be a perfect read for the colder months or Halloween!
It was really well written and easy to follow along with. The plot moved at a good and steady pace though out the book.
I absolutely loved Dolores as a character, she was dramatic but just so likeable and really well written with such a good depth to her.
I loved that there was a little romance in the book and that it wasn’t a main focus of the book.
The cover of this book is just absolutely beautiful.
If you enjoy a Ya cosy mystery with spooky themes then I definitely recommend this one.
This would be a perfect read for the colder months or Halloween!
August 12, 2025
3.5⭐️
This is definitely a book for the YA readers, but when I read the blurb it really intrigued me. I loved the characters and the whole concept of the plot murder, ghosts and mysteries, that’s enough to pull you in.
It’s a quick easy ready and had me hooked from the start . it had a steady pace and was easy to follow along and I enjoyed it, but something was missing for me and I can’t put my finger on it.
Loved septimus, he was like a breath of fresh air for Dolores, along with Ada and Violet. the female friendship and found family, was amazing to see.
Definitely a good cosy, mystery read, especially come spooky season.
This is definitely a book for the YA readers, but when I read the blurb it really intrigued me. I loved the characters and the whole concept of the plot murder, ghosts and mysteries, that’s enough to pull you in.
It’s a quick easy ready and had me hooked from the start . it had a steady pace and was easy to follow along and I enjoyed it, but something was missing for me and I can’t put my finger on it.
Loved septimus, he was like a breath of fresh air for Dolores, along with Ada and Violet. the female friendship and found family, was amazing to see.
Definitely a good cosy, mystery read, especially come spooky season.
September 7, 2025
I could not get on board with this. I DNFd at page 40. It was boring, to say the least. Of course, she has a crush on her dead sisters fiancé, and I feel like she’s an overdramatic, delulu teenager. I read this for a book club, and my mum read it when we were on holiday, and said it was very slow and only really exciting at the end, so I didn’t bother with reading it. I honestly wasn’t intrigued in Edith’s death really, and I felt this girl had no family, which is a classic really. It was all written like the proper olden days, which i dont mind, but it gets tiring eventually. I rarely DNF books too, so this one really didn’t work for me.
July 29, 2025
This was a wonderfully delightful gothic inspired murder mystery for young readers. I have recommended it for our Library in school as I am sure our students will love it and will eagerly await the next in series - they love a series! I found it engaging with characters who were believable, charming, and independent. It’s great to read a book with female main characters who support each other. Some lovely contextual narrative that adds to the Victorian setting and the lightest touches of romance. I’ll look forward to the next instalment of ghostly murder mystery!
August 14, 2025
3.5
It’s a perfectly fine book. It’s only a short read, under 250 pages. I wished I had waited until autumn / Halloween to read it. It’s a murder mystery led by three young women (17) in Victorian London. There are ghosts, seances and a tinge of romance.
I think from reading the reviews a lot of people were put off by how “young adult” this book really was. I disagree, I think the lead characters are written accurately as they are. Late Victorian teenagers are going to been naive and a little foolish in comparison to what we’d expect.
It’s a perfectly fine book. It’s only a short read, under 250 pages. I wished I had waited until autumn / Halloween to read it. It’s a murder mystery led by three young women (17) in Victorian London. There are ghosts, seances and a tinge of romance.
I think from reading the reviews a lot of people were put off by how “young adult” this book really was. I disagree, I think the lead characters are written accurately as they are. Late Victorian teenagers are going to been naive and a little foolish in comparison to what we’d expect.
September 12, 2025
I had such a good time with this book and really hope we get more of these characters.
A dramatic heiress, ghostly goings-on, a murder mystery and a bit of romance are all wrapped up in great storytelling and pacing to make this a book you can't put down.
I laughed out loud at points and was so tense at others, it really does deliver everything you want - including a healthy dose of late 1800s spiritualism.
It also took me a fair amount of time to figure out who the murderer was, which I always love. I was having so much fun that I was happy for the mystery to unravel on it's own.
A dramatic heiress, ghostly goings-on, a murder mystery and a bit of romance are all wrapped up in great storytelling and pacing to make this a book you can't put down.
I laughed out loud at points and was so tense at others, it really does deliver everything you want - including a healthy dose of late 1800s spiritualism.
It also took me a fair amount of time to figure out who the murderer was, which I always love. I was having so much fun that I was happy for the mystery to unravel on it's own.
August 14, 2025
This was a bit of a younger read than I anticipated I think. Picked it up in Waterstones because the cover was pretty and it had purple sprayed edges and I do love a bit of paranormal. It was still a fun read though, I wasn't too sure about it the first few chapters but I did slowly get in to it. I guessed the culprit quite early on but the author still got me with a few added twists towards the end and some of the dialogue did make my laugh, there was a dry wit to the female characters that I really enjoy.
I'm not sure if there's a plan for a series of this, given it seems to have a paranormal society built up now - there's probably a few stories they could get out of that. Not entirely sure if I would continue or not but it was fun!
I'm not sure if there's a plan for a series of this, given it seems to have a paranormal society built up now - there's probably a few stories they could get out of that. Not entirely sure if I would continue or not but it was fun!
August 21, 2025
I was drawn in by the beautiful cover of this book and the synopsis. I love a YA to cleanse with after heavier reads.
This did not disappoint. I loved Dolores and her dramatics and deathbed claims. I loved Ada and Violet for their quirks and unwavering friendship with Dolores. And as for Septimus... I loved him for the quiet yet unwavering man that he was.
Definitely worth a read if you want something quick and snappy with a bit of lighthearted fun and gentle murder mystery 🖤 3 5⭐️
This did not disappoint. I loved Dolores and her dramatics and deathbed claims. I loved Ada and Violet for their quirks and unwavering friendship with Dolores. And as for Septimus... I loved him for the quiet yet unwavering man that he was.
Definitely worth a read if you want something quick and snappy with a bit of lighthearted fun and gentle murder mystery 🖤 3 5⭐️
July 29, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
An entertaining book for long autumn evenings. Set in Victorian London, we follow a mystery of death, mourning and ghosts. I enjoyed the plot, but the characters were a bit one-dimensional, and I wish the conclusion was a bit more drawn out - now it felt quite sudden and low key.
An entertaining book for long autumn evenings. Set in Victorian London, we follow a mystery of death, mourning and ghosts. I enjoyed the plot, but the characters were a bit one-dimensional, and I wish the conclusion was a bit more drawn out - now it felt quite sudden and low key.
August 5, 2025
A Waterstones’s YA book for the moth of August 2025, an easy read that is set in the backdrop of the Victorian eara. History accurate in regard to spiritualism, health and punishment of the time. An introduction to the Victorian ear (if readers don’t know much about the time period) and a good place to start exploring.
August 21, 2025
I bought this book without knowing anything about it (I had never heard of it and I only looked it up on Goodreads when i finished it) and I am happy to say that I really enjoyed it.
It does run for a younger audience (I would say transitioning to reading more YA) but I still found it as a light, quick and fun read.
It does run for a younger audience (I would say transitioning to reading more YA) but I still found it as a light, quick and fun read.
September 16, 2025
I enjoyed this. It was something nice and light-hearted in between some rather depressing books I've been reading. Dolores is a nice take on a main character, someone absolutely convinced she's dying, and having to come out of her shell to avenge other deaths.
I'm glad this seems to be turning into a series, because I enjoyed these characters enough to want to see more of them.
I'm glad this seems to be turning into a series, because I enjoyed these characters enough to want to see more of them.
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