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A World’s End Bureau Victorian Mystery #1
The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits
London, 1880. “I’m dreadfully afraid someone is threatening to kill my wife …” When accounts clerk Ernest Stibbins approaches the World’s End investigation bureau with wild claims that his wife Albertina has been warned by her spirit guides that someone is out to harm her, the bureau’s owner Lily Raynor and her new employee Felix Wilbraham are initially sceptical. How are the two private enquiry agents supposed to investigate threats from beyond the grave?
But after she attends a séance at the Stibbins family home, Lily comes to realize that Albertina is in terrible danger. And very soon so too is Lily herself …
But after she attends a séance at the Stibbins family home, Lily comes to realize that Albertina is in terrible danger. And very soon so too is Lily herself …
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2019
42 people are currently reading
1066 people want to read
About the author
Alys Clare
46 books222 followersAlys Clare is the pen name used by Elizabeth Harris for the Hawkenlye series of historical mysteries.
Alys Clare is the pseudonym of a novelist with some 20 published works to her name. Brought up in the countryside close to where the Hawkenlye Novels are set, she went to school in Tonbridge and later studied archaeology at the University of Kent. She lives for part of the year in Brittany, in a remote cottage deep in an ancient landscape where many past inhabitants have left their mark; on her doorstep are relics that date from the stone circles and dolmens of the Neolithic to the commanderies, chapels and ancient tracks of those infamous warrior monks, the Knights Templar. In England, Alys's study overlooks a stretch of parkland which includes a valley with a little spring. The waters of this spring are similar in colour and taste to Tunbridge Wells's famous Chalybeat Spring, and it was this that prompted Alys's setting of her fictional Hawkenlye Abbey in the very spot where her own house now stands.
Alys Clare is the pseudonym of a novelist with some 20 published works to her name. Brought up in the countryside close to where the Hawkenlye Novels are set, she went to school in Tonbridge and later studied archaeology at the University of Kent. She lives for part of the year in Brittany, in a remote cottage deep in an ancient landscape where many past inhabitants have left their mark; on her doorstep are relics that date from the stone circles and dolmens of the Neolithic to the commanderies, chapels and ancient tracks of those infamous warrior monks, the Knights Templar. In England, Alys's study overlooks a stretch of parkland which includes a valley with a little spring. The waters of this spring are similar in colour and taste to Tunbridge Wells's famous Chalybeat Spring, and it was this that prompted Alys's setting of her fictional Hawkenlye Abbey in the very spot where her own house now stands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
April 14, 2019
I loved this! I am a fan of historical fiction and Victorian historical fiction in particular, so I was eager to give it a try. A few chapters in, throughly enjoying it, I looked up the author and Goodreads and saw that she has written many other books. I wasn’t surprised because the writing was great. I liked her two main characters very much. I liked the author’s use of the present tense. The plot was good and kept me guessing until the end. I like the fact that features of Victorian culture played a part in the mysteries- interest in the Egyptians, mediumship and seances and the Demi monde of the theatre world. I’ve read a lot of Victorian style mysteries and this was one of the best examples I’ve read. I’m really looking forward to reading some of Alys Clare’s other work while I’m waiting for the next in this series to come along. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
August 1, 2022
I view this book as being in 3 parts. The first part was really interesting, and I totally enjoyed Felix's investigation into the background of an actress. Lily's investigation of a medium and her growing working relationship with Felix. The middle really just did not click for me. It was too long. The wrap-up to both mysteries was great. I give the book a 3.5* and will read the next book in the series.
May 2, 2019
Alys Clare ventures into the London of 1880 and a fine time is had by all. Very definitely different in tone from her earlier series--a bit more bawdy, a bit more humorous (both thanks to Felix).
Lily Raynor is the owner and sole investigator of the World's End Bureau. She has had a few successes that leave her in need of someone to do the filing, answer the mail. Enter Felix Wilbraham, a young and very down on his luck gentleman of good education. Felix is quite willing to work for the pittance that Lily can afford to pay--a little steady money is better than no money at all, as far as Felix is concerned. I quickly came to like both Lily and Felix, even when they clashed.
The blurb (and title) focus on the more sensational of the two cases that the Bureau was handling. There were some lovely twists and turns (and a little touch of the uncanny) as Lily goes undercover to attend the seances and investigate those who attended them. I certainly did not see where this storyline was headed, in spite of several hints (which were lost to me among all the red herrings). Marvelously dramatic climax.
The secondary story is more prosaic: a nobleman hires the Bureau to investigate an actress whom his young son has sworn to marry. Papa is not amused and wants some dirt to discredit the woman. Felix gets the job of digging into Violetta's life and comes to admire her. This storyline reaches a fairly predictable conclusion, alas. It also leads to a doozy of an argument between Lily and Felix that is very illuminating for the reader.
The author has done a good job of setting up the series. Bring on the next book; I want more, please.
Lily Raynor is the owner and sole investigator of the World's End Bureau. She has had a few successes that leave her in need of someone to do the filing, answer the mail. Enter Felix Wilbraham, a young and very down on his luck gentleman of good education. Felix is quite willing to work for the pittance that Lily can afford to pay--a little steady money is better than no money at all, as far as Felix is concerned. I quickly came to like both Lily and Felix, even when they clashed.
The blurb (and title) focus on the more sensational of the two cases that the Bureau was handling. There were some lovely twists and turns (and a little touch of the uncanny) as Lily goes undercover to attend the seances and investigate those who attended them. I certainly did not see where this storyline was headed, in spite of several hints (which were lost to me among all the red herrings). Marvelously dramatic climax.
The secondary story is more prosaic: a nobleman hires the Bureau to investigate an actress whom his young son has sworn to marry. Papa is not amused and wants some dirt to discredit the woman. Felix gets the job of digging into Violetta's life and comes to admire her. This storyline reaches a fairly predictable conclusion, alas. It also leads to a doozy of an argument between Lily and Felix that is very illuminating for the reader.
The author has done a good job of setting up the series. Bring on the next book; I want more, please.
June 16, 2022
I have been meaning to read something by this author for years. When I saw that she started a new mystery series that took place during Victorian times, I couldn't resist. Sadly, I only got as far as the halfway mark before I started to skim. And it took me days to get to that point.
My local library always tags the stories they have on hand. In the case of The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits, it listed the story elements as atmospheric, engaging, intricately plotted and the characters as likeable and well-developed. To me, those words describe a winner.
I liked Lily Raynor, but I sensed there was much more to her makeup. It would have helped me understand her early on if I knew what happened in India to make her leave the nursing profession and what exactly happened to her father? Felix Wilbraham was...different; secretary, maybe friend eventually and something else down the road? And the elusive Tamez and the point when he was introduced. Will he return? I needed more character development.
I found the secondary story about Violetta annoying, pure and simple. It detracted me from the first mystery about The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits. There was too much telling in the form of taking notes. I needed some action. Lastly, I guessed early on who I thought was the villain and I was correct.
My local library always tags the stories they have on hand. In the case of The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits, it listed the story elements as atmospheric, engaging, intricately plotted and the characters as likeable and well-developed. To me, those words describe a winner.
I liked Lily Raynor, but I sensed there was much more to her makeup. It would have helped me understand her early on if I knew what happened in India to make her leave the nursing profession and what exactly happened to her father? Felix Wilbraham was...different; secretary, maybe friend eventually and something else down the road? And the elusive Tamez and the point when he was introduced. Will he return? I needed more character development.
I found the secondary story about Violetta annoying, pure and simple. It detracted me from the first mystery about The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits. There was too much telling in the form of taking notes. I needed some action. Lastly, I guessed early on who I thought was the villain and I was correct.
May 26, 2019
Readers will find The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits speaking to them in an entertaining fashion. The author, Alys Clare has honed her trade with her medieval mysteries, and brings her creativity and depth of detail to this, the first in the “World’s End Bureau’ series, set in Victorian times.
A murder is announced at the very beginning. A prostitute, used and cruelly abused. Is this to be the first of many, is that what this book is all about? It is and it isn’t, as readers will see.
Lily Raynor is the proprietor of the World’s End Bureau, an investigation bureau, as she describes it to her newly employed (male) clerical assistant, Felix Wilbraham. Describes it in present tense, which is used throughout and which I dislike very much in a book. That’s a personal quirk. It doesn’t distract from my enjoyment of what’s eventually found on the pages, but I find the author’s use of it annoying.
Felix, having settled in, takes a case while Lily is away – a man says his wife is being threatened by Spirits from Beyond, and can the WEB do something about it? Well, Felix says they will do their best – but what will Lily say when she returns? And then Lily has a case, and so they trade. Lily will investigate the psychic and Felix will try to dissuade a wealthy lord’s son from ruining himself over an actress.
Lily attends a séance, to see Mrs. Stibbens first hand. And Mrs. Stibbens tells her something only Lily should know. Ah, a paranormal mystery. Not my favorite, either. But it does play a large part in how everything is resolved, as it leads inexorably to a murderer. And Ms. Clare handles it well, building the tension and the fear that Lily feels, making the reader feel, it too. Eventually it becomes clear that there is something else going on – the disappearance of women in the neighborhood. Prostitutes, mostly. So of course, the police don’t care and won’t investigate. But Felix and Lily do.
And the second plot line, the lord’s son and the actress, is followed through by Felix and also by Lily. Shadows from the past play a part here, and the author fills in the blanks sufficiently to build to an outcome here, too.
What is hidden but shouldn’t be hidden is the dogged investigation within these pages. Both protagonists perform the necessary steps of a murder investigation, one that any modern detective would recognize and be proud of. This fight to find the truth leads to a terrible evil, and this revelation leads to someone’s life in danger.
Lily has issues in her life – every fictional heroine does, it seems. Something the author calls The Incident. I realize that a single woman in Victorian times that had a brain probably wouldn’t have a job like Lily’s, but do we really have to have yet another something that the heroine Has To Forget teased, so she has a reason for doing what she does? And there is some sermonizing going on, something that happens a lot in books set in this time frame (terrible conditions in the slums, disparity between the rich and the poor, etcetera).
To offset this, our two lead players, Lily and Felix, interact with each other in a natural way that avoids being overly Victorian, thank goodness. Even when real differences of opinion happen, they handle it in a mature fashion. To which I say, hear, hear. It bodes well for the future of the World’s End Bureau. Let’s see more from Lily and Felix.
Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
A murder is announced at the very beginning. A prostitute, used and cruelly abused. Is this to be the first of many, is that what this book is all about? It is and it isn’t, as readers will see.
Lily Raynor is the proprietor of the World’s End Bureau, an investigation bureau, as she describes it to her newly employed (male) clerical assistant, Felix Wilbraham. Describes it in present tense, which is used throughout and which I dislike very much in a book. That’s a personal quirk. It doesn’t distract from my enjoyment of what’s eventually found on the pages, but I find the author’s use of it annoying.
Felix, having settled in, takes a case while Lily is away – a man says his wife is being threatened by Spirits from Beyond, and can the WEB do something about it? Well, Felix says they will do their best – but what will Lily say when she returns? And then Lily has a case, and so they trade. Lily will investigate the psychic and Felix will try to dissuade a wealthy lord’s son from ruining himself over an actress.
Lily attends a séance, to see Mrs. Stibbens first hand. And Mrs. Stibbens tells her something only Lily should know. Ah, a paranormal mystery. Not my favorite, either. But it does play a large part in how everything is resolved, as it leads inexorably to a murderer. And Ms. Clare handles it well, building the tension and the fear that Lily feels, making the reader feel, it too. Eventually it becomes clear that there is something else going on – the disappearance of women in the neighborhood. Prostitutes, mostly. So of course, the police don’t care and won’t investigate. But Felix and Lily do.
And the second plot line, the lord’s son and the actress, is followed through by Felix and also by Lily. Shadows from the past play a part here, and the author fills in the blanks sufficiently to build to an outcome here, too.
What is hidden but shouldn’t be hidden is the dogged investigation within these pages. Both protagonists perform the necessary steps of a murder investigation, one that any modern detective would recognize and be proud of. This fight to find the truth leads to a terrible evil, and this revelation leads to someone’s life in danger.
Lily has issues in her life – every fictional heroine does, it seems. Something the author calls The Incident. I realize that a single woman in Victorian times that had a brain probably wouldn’t have a job like Lily’s, but do we really have to have yet another something that the heroine Has To Forget teased, so she has a reason for doing what she does? And there is some sermonizing going on, something that happens a lot in books set in this time frame (terrible conditions in the slums, disparity between the rich and the poor, etcetera).
To offset this, our two lead players, Lily and Felix, interact with each other in a natural way that avoids being overly Victorian, thank goodness. Even when real differences of opinion happen, they handle it in a mature fashion. To which I say, hear, hear. It bodes well for the future of the World’s End Bureau. Let’s see more from Lily and Felix.
Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
July 14, 2019
Unusual, riveting, period mystery!
A strong period mystery with a hint of the supernatural set in the Victorian England of 1880. When Lily Raynor, of the World’s End Investigation Bureau is approached by Ernest Stibbins to investigate his wife's frantic insistence that someone wants to hurt her, Lily and her new assistant Felix Wilbraham are somewhat in doubt seeing as the information comes from Albertina's spirit guide.
Mediums were all the rage at this time, and the stepping into the medium's parlour is a delicious slant Alys Clare has given to a mystery. However it seems that Albertina's is a gifted spiritualist, and indeed she and her cohort become persons of interest. Lily and Felix follow these leads, and indeed, when Lily joins the seance she does feel the presence of--something! "Lily’s skin is crawling. She can almost see the menace."
And then there's this, as Felix discovers, ‘Missing women. Five in the Battersea area, one in Chelsea.’ But it seems there may be more! What does this have to do with their case?
And Lily's inquiries have revealed the same factors.
"One: there have definitely been cases of women going missing and the general view seems to be that they are women of the street whose movements are not easy to trace. Two: there is, however, a persistent rumour that something very sinister is happening, with suggestions of women being snatched for unspeakable purposes."
Lily and Felix investigate each of the circle Albertina's involved with and each have their own particular interest that might just throw light on Albertina's plight.
As the investigation continues it seems that Lily too might be in danger.
Lily is wonderful character,with a strong code of ethics with a vulnerability lurking below surface. Felix is super like able as well, as he endeavors to prove his usefulness to Lily. I love the way Felix and Lily's relationship as employer and employee develops. Felix applies for the post of clerical assistant, mistakingly thing his possible employer will be a Mr. He is taken aback to discover L. Raynor is a woman. For Lily's part she was looking for a female assistant. Employed, Felix does lend so much more to Lily's investigations, going places she can't and seeing things from a different perspective. I look forward to more from this unusual pair of detectives.
A Severn Press ARC via NetGalley
A strong period mystery with a hint of the supernatural set in the Victorian England of 1880. When Lily Raynor, of the World’s End Investigation Bureau is approached by Ernest Stibbins to investigate his wife's frantic insistence that someone wants to hurt her, Lily and her new assistant Felix Wilbraham are somewhat in doubt seeing as the information comes from Albertina's spirit guide.
Mediums were all the rage at this time, and the stepping into the medium's parlour is a delicious slant Alys Clare has given to a mystery. However it seems that Albertina's is a gifted spiritualist, and indeed she and her cohort become persons of interest. Lily and Felix follow these leads, and indeed, when Lily joins the seance she does feel the presence of--something! "Lily’s skin is crawling. She can almost see the menace."
And then there's this, as Felix discovers, ‘Missing women. Five in the Battersea area, one in Chelsea.’ But it seems there may be more! What does this have to do with their case?
And Lily's inquiries have revealed the same factors.
"One: there have definitely been cases of women going missing and the general view seems to be that they are women of the street whose movements are not easy to trace. Two: there is, however, a persistent rumour that something very sinister is happening, with suggestions of women being snatched for unspeakable purposes."
Lily and Felix investigate each of the circle Albertina's involved with and each have their own particular interest that might just throw light on Albertina's plight.
As the investigation continues it seems that Lily too might be in danger.
Lily is wonderful character,with a strong code of ethics with a vulnerability lurking below surface. Felix is super like able as well, as he endeavors to prove his usefulness to Lily. I love the way Felix and Lily's relationship as employer and employee develops. Felix applies for the post of clerical assistant, mistakingly thing his possible employer will be a Mr. He is taken aback to discover L. Raynor is a woman. For Lily's part she was looking for a female assistant. Employed, Felix does lend so much more to Lily's investigations, going places she can't and seeing things from a different perspective. I look forward to more from this unusual pair of detectives.
A Severn Press ARC via NetGalley
December 7, 2021
Lily Raynor works as a private inquiry agent and hires Felix Wilbraham as her clerk, but he quickly becomes an investigator. They have two clients on their docket, but Felix feels compelled to also look into the disappearances of seven women in the general area.
The book is written in the present tense, which took some getting used to. The action moved very quickly, sometimes with just a sentence marking the passage of hours of time. The groundwork is laid for Lily and Felix to become partners and their interactions are endearing.
I’m definitely continuing with this series!
The book is written in the present tense, which took some getting used to. The action moved very quickly, sometimes with just a sentence marking the passage of hours of time. The groundwork is laid for Lily and Felix to become partners and their interactions are endearing.
I’m definitely continuing with this series!
April 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this tale of an investigation bureau hired to find out details of an actress who wishes to marry a Lords son and also look into a why a medium thinks she is in danger. Both mysteries kept my attention and had interesting results.
I'm fascinated by The Incident that caused Lily to give up nursing - it's alluded to a few times but by the books ending we still don't know what that is. Hopefully more on her past will come out in future books. It's a great start to the series and can't wait for the next one
I'm fascinated by The Incident that caused Lily to give up nursing - it's alluded to a few times but by the books ending we still don't know what that is. Hopefully more on her past will come out in future books. It's a great start to the series and can't wait for the next one
July 13, 2019
This was such a treat! I’ve enjoyed Alys Clare’s writing over the years, slowly ( I’m working my way through the Hawkenlye and Aelf Fen historical mysteries, and love her first two Gabriel Taverner mysteries), but didn’t want to rush ahead in case I ran out of books! Then to see her jump ahead to Victorian London, hmmmm, very intriguing...
Well, this is a great start; Lily and Felix are wonderful lead characters, and like all of Clare’s characters, strong, smart, resilient, and having lived enough to have suffered, lost loved ones and be very human. They are also somewhat alone in the world, making them poignant, sympathetic characters, and very likable. This is a great premise for a series, as well; upon leaving nursing in India after an as yet unspecified Incident (Lily capitalizes it in her internal monologues), she starts up the World’s End Investigation Bureau in the home left to her by her beloved grandparents and aunt. They took her in after her father died when she was 12 and her beautiful, flighty mother remarried with rather indecent haste. Felix - who Lily hires as a clerical assistant, but clearly will be more of a partner with his diligence and capabilities - also has had an interesting past.
I think future outings will be very enjoyable getting to know these two strong, clever characters better, along with the cases and additional characters that will come into their orbit. A great start to what I feel will be another addictive series from one of my favorite historical mystery writers.
Well, this is a great start; Lily and Felix are wonderful lead characters, and like all of Clare’s characters, strong, smart, resilient, and having lived enough to have suffered, lost loved ones and be very human. They are also somewhat alone in the world, making them poignant, sympathetic characters, and very likable. This is a great premise for a series, as well; upon leaving nursing in India after an as yet unspecified Incident (Lily capitalizes it in her internal monologues), she starts up the World’s End Investigation Bureau in the home left to her by her beloved grandparents and aunt. They took her in after her father died when she was 12 and her beautiful, flighty mother remarried with rather indecent haste. Felix - who Lily hires as a clerical assistant, but clearly will be more of a partner with his diligence and capabilities - also has had an interesting past.
I think future outings will be very enjoyable getting to know these two strong, clever characters better, along with the cases and additional characters that will come into their orbit. A great start to what I feel will be another addictive series from one of my favorite historical mystery writers.
February 20, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for the eGalley of this novel.
Alys Clare is one of my favorite authors so I've read almost all the books in her Gabriel Taverner, Aelf Fen and Hawkenlye series of historical mysteries. I was delighted to see there was to be a series set in Victorian times and eagerly began reading this book. The feel of this one is different and it took me a little while before I settled in with it. There are a few instances of profanity in this one, but not many; the fact that they are there at all definitely caught my attention because I've never encountered that with this author's work. There are also some descriptions of what prostitutes do to earn their money. Frankly, if I had come across these two things in a book by another author I would not have been surprised, I would have just kept on reading. I am including the information so you will have more warning than I did that this historical time period has allowed Ms. Clare to explore subjects kept mostly in the background in other novels she has written.
I think No. 3 Hob's Court, London, the location of the World's End Bureau, has the potential to become an evocative address causing me to link it with pleasurable reading experiences. This is the address where L. G. Raynor (Lily) lives and has her private investigations business. Lily has placed an advertisement for a clerical position and is surprised when one of the applicants, F. Wilbraham turns out to be Felix, a man. They get on well in the interview so Felix begins a month long trial. This was another clue that this novel was going to be taking some chances because this time period would not have had many men willing to work for a woman in this type of job. Lily and Felix immediately find themselves involved in several cases and the novel follows both of them as they work to find facts to present to their clients.
The descriptions of Victorian London are very good and establish the mood the author wants by moving around the city to show different areas and living conditions. The tension is very high when Lily and Felix find themselves, almost against their will, looking for clues into the disappearance of many prostitutes. Officials aren't concerned, the public isn't concerned, but the two investigators quickly find there is definitely danger involved in asking questions about these women who seem to have simply vanished.
This was a good mystery for me because I enjoyed watching the story unfold. Since it is the first in a series I'm hoping there will be a few changes made in the second book but, all in all, it was a good beginning. There is one question I would love to ask the author but it would be a whopper of a spoiler so I'll just keep wondering.
Alys Clare is one of my favorite authors so I've read almost all the books in her Gabriel Taverner, Aelf Fen and Hawkenlye series of historical mysteries. I was delighted to see there was to be a series set in Victorian times and eagerly began reading this book. The feel of this one is different and it took me a little while before I settled in with it. There are a few instances of profanity in this one, but not many; the fact that they are there at all definitely caught my attention because I've never encountered that with this author's work. There are also some descriptions of what prostitutes do to earn their money. Frankly, if I had come across these two things in a book by another author I would not have been surprised, I would have just kept on reading. I am including the information so you will have more warning than I did that this historical time period has allowed Ms. Clare to explore subjects kept mostly in the background in other novels she has written.
I think No. 3 Hob's Court, London, the location of the World's End Bureau, has the potential to become an evocative address causing me to link it with pleasurable reading experiences. This is the address where L. G. Raynor (Lily) lives and has her private investigations business. Lily has placed an advertisement for a clerical position and is surprised when one of the applicants, F. Wilbraham turns out to be Felix, a man. They get on well in the interview so Felix begins a month long trial. This was another clue that this novel was going to be taking some chances because this time period would not have had many men willing to work for a woman in this type of job. Lily and Felix immediately find themselves involved in several cases and the novel follows both of them as they work to find facts to present to their clients.
The descriptions of Victorian London are very good and establish the mood the author wants by moving around the city to show different areas and living conditions. The tension is very high when Lily and Felix find themselves, almost against their will, looking for clues into the disappearance of many prostitutes. Officials aren't concerned, the public isn't concerned, but the two investigators quickly find there is definitely danger involved in asking questions about these women who seem to have simply vanished.
This was a good mystery for me because I enjoyed watching the story unfold. Since it is the first in a series I'm hoping there will be a few changes made in the second book but, all in all, it was a good beginning. There is one question I would love to ask the author but it would be a whopper of a spoiler so I'll just keep wondering.
March 5, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for a review copy of The Woman who Spoke to Spirits, the first in a new series of Victorian detective novels to feature Lily Raynor and her new assistant Felix Wilbraham.
Lily is trying to build up her business, a private enquiry agency called World’s End Bureau, and gladly accepts a commission from Lord Berwick to investigate the past of Violetta da Rosa, his son’s much older actress fiancée. While she is doing this Felix accepts new business from Ernest Stibbins who says that his wife, Albertina, a medium, has received messages from her spirit guide about a threat to her life.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Woman who Spoke to Spirits which is a good adventure with an interesting plot and some strong characterisation. The novel has the two plots running concurrently through the novel with Lily taking the lead in the Stibbins’ case and Felix doing most of the work on Violetta da Rosa. They are completely different in nature but both are very Victorian in their theme, suitable marriage and spiritualism. I must admit that I had a good idea from early on where the Stibbins case was going (although I got the motive totally wrong) but it didn’t detract from my reading pleasure as the joy is in the detail. The da Rosa case is different. There are some surprises in her history and how events play out but it’s more an exploration of Felix’s character and Victorian moral standards than crime investigation.
The pairing of Lily and Felix is unusual with a female boss and a male employee. I wonder if it would have worked at the time when men were so much in ascendancy. Whatever, it works well as fiction with the pair of them forming an effective team and perhaps more in future as they seem to have feelings for each other. There are hints of tragedy in Lily’s past and hardship in Felix’s which will be explored in future novels, I assume.
The Woman who Spoke to Spirits is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Lily is trying to build up her business, a private enquiry agency called World’s End Bureau, and gladly accepts a commission from Lord Berwick to investigate the past of Violetta da Rosa, his son’s much older actress fiancée. While she is doing this Felix accepts new business from Ernest Stibbins who says that his wife, Albertina, a medium, has received messages from her spirit guide about a threat to her life.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Woman who Spoke to Spirits which is a good adventure with an interesting plot and some strong characterisation. The novel has the two plots running concurrently through the novel with Lily taking the lead in the Stibbins’ case and Felix doing most of the work on Violetta da Rosa. They are completely different in nature but both are very Victorian in their theme, suitable marriage and spiritualism. I must admit that I had a good idea from early on where the Stibbins case was going (although I got the motive totally wrong) but it didn’t detract from my reading pleasure as the joy is in the detail. The da Rosa case is different. There are some surprises in her history and how events play out but it’s more an exploration of Felix’s character and Victorian moral standards than crime investigation.
The pairing of Lily and Felix is unusual with a female boss and a male employee. I wonder if it would have worked at the time when men were so much in ascendancy. Whatever, it works well as fiction with the pair of them forming an effective team and perhaps more in future as they seem to have feelings for each other. There are hints of tragedy in Lily’s past and hardship in Felix’s which will be explored in future novels, I assume.
The Woman who Spoke to Spirits is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
January 4, 2022
Interesting and entertaining little Victorian mystery. I had worked out the ‘whodunnit’ bit but not quite the why. Will read the next in the series as I enjoyed many of the characters and had a few laugh out loud moments. ab
March 26, 2023
Well, I liked this book. The characters were nice, the setting was nice. It was written well and kept me engaged. And I would definitely read more from this author (I've already read the second book in this series and remember liking it more though it had a bit of a bizarre ending). There was just something missing from the story. It definitely had potential but I feel it didn't come together at the end as neatly as it could have done. Still, a good read.
February 3, 2020
I try to to cut some slack for first book in the series, as in addition to plotting the author has to introduce an entire world for the main character to inhabit. I felt she did that well enough here, while still maintaining some sort of mystery about Lucy's father's death, and implied tragic episode in India. Felix proved an interesting enough character, though I kept seeing him as perhaps a bit older than intended.
In critic mode, I'll say that I did get a feel at times that these were modern characters dropped into a Victorian setting. Was "the F Word" really all that common, as Felix uses it on more than one occasion? Similarly, the journalist's feminism was a bit heavy-handed for the time I thought. It's possible that a woke male might have existed, but here it felt contrived.
I do hope that he, and the actress, are both intended as regular series secondary characters. On the other hand, I'm a bit concerned that the sailor might prove part of a love triangle, which really would be a negative for me.
Excellent narration! The present tense was something I got used to, though it never really bothered me much.
In critic mode, I'll say that I did get a feel at times that these were modern characters dropped into a Victorian setting. Was "the F Word" really all that common, as Felix uses it on more than one occasion? Similarly, the journalist's feminism was a bit heavy-handed for the time I thought. It's possible that a woke male might have existed, but here it felt contrived.
I do hope that he, and the actress, are both intended as regular series secondary characters. On the other hand, I'm a bit concerned that the sailor might prove part of a love triangle, which really would be a negative for me.
Excellent narration! The present tense was something I got used to, though it never really bothered me much.
October 6, 2020
That was interesting. There are a few investigations apart from the main one so it's not on the nose from the beginning who is the real culprit. And I didn't get that I think until the second part of the book.
I really like the setting, Victorian era is very nice for such a plot. And an idea of a 'lady-boss' is perfect. I really hope that in the next book there will be more interactions between main characters. For the first one it was splendidly done, their relation wasn't that important but still we got some development.
Can't wait for the next one in this series.
I really like the setting, Victorian era is very nice for such a plot. And an idea of a 'lady-boss' is perfect. I really hope that in the next book there will be more interactions between main characters. For the first one it was splendidly done, their relation wasn't that important but still we got some development.
Can't wait for the next one in this series.
May 15, 2024
Meh, this was merely okay. I struggled a lot with the present-tense narration of the story, mixed with some third person POV semi-stream-of-consciousness that just rankled on my nerves.
The story itself wasn't that great, either. There was comparatively little time spent on the case mentioned in the title/blurb of Albertina Stebbins; Lily literally stumbled into the answers in the penultimate chapter of the book, and the murderer took time out of his murdering to twirl his mustache and deliver a nice long villain monologue to her about how and why he'd killed. Instead, most of the investigating is a case of a titled aristocrat wanting to know more about his son's actress girlfriend. While diverting, the author's 21st century morals gushed over in waves during this investigation and the conclusion of this case, which just brought me out of the story that much more.
Layered on top of this is the now cliche UST between Lily and Felix, from basically the moment they meet, because heaven forfend men and women working together and not developing pants feelings for each other, which they ritually deny to themselves and others.
Unfortunately, I don't think I can continue with this series. I have checked another of this author's books out from the library, from a different series. Hopefully the narrative tics are limited to this series.
The story itself wasn't that great, either. There was comparatively little time spent on the case mentioned in the title/blurb of Albertina Stebbins; Lily literally stumbled into the answers in the penultimate chapter of the book, and the murderer took time out of his murdering to twirl his mustache and deliver a nice long villain monologue to her about how and why he'd killed. Instead, most of the investigating is a case of a titled aristocrat wanting to know more about his son's actress girlfriend. While diverting, the author's 21st century morals gushed over in waves during this investigation and the conclusion of this case, which just brought me out of the story that much more.
Layered on top of this is the now cliche UST between Lily and Felix, from basically the moment they meet, because heaven forfend men and women working together and not developing pants feelings for each other, which they ritually deny to themselves and others.
Unfortunately, I don't think I can continue with this series. I have checked another of this author's books out from the library, from a different series. Hopefully the narrative tics are limited to this series.
July 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this and it would have been 4 stars, however the ending felt a bit jumbled and with more than one loose end 😒
December 5, 2021
I enjoyed this. I enjoyed the setting, the friendships, and the world being created.
This is a story about a female investigator and her new clerk in late 19th century London, and their two newest cases.
As I was reading,I realized I was really enjoying the fact that it doesn't centre on the aristocracy, but it also doesn't centre on characters who are in a really desperate financial situation (okay, Felix is close). Money is certainly a consideration (no one is wealthy by any means, but at no point does anyone feel financially desperate). It's more interesting, because it's not the norm. Though I think more books set it in this sort of working class are being written.
I really liked both Lily, as head of the agency, and Felix her new employee. They felt like real people, and real people in a way that wasn't particularly sterotypical (by which I mean neither of them felt over the top or exaggerated in any way. I adored their burgeoning friendship. I liked Felix slowly realizing that he quite likes Lily as a person, when she relaxes a bit and is more comfortable around him. I liked Lily realizing she would miss Felix if he wan't there. And I really liked that Felix was concerned, and felt a bit protective at times, but without ever overstepping, given their working relationship.
Also loved Lily's non-traditional friendship with the Irish boatman. I haven't read anything quite like that before, I don't think.
I also have to say that this book features a very well-written argument between Lily and Felix. I felt it was well-written because the text clearly showed that both of their positions were valid, and both of them were upset for different reasons (Lily, because she does like Felix, but she has to run her business as ethically and impartially as possible, and Felix because they will be releasing information that may be damaging to someone who may not deserve it). I definitely agreed with one position over the other, but usually in these situations, I feel like the text is trying to sway you one way or the other, without realizing it. And this didn't. It also sets up a potentially interesting conflict between the two investigators as they move forward.
However, I did dock a star, because I felt like the ending undercut the strength of th tb to marry (at the request of the groom's father). They find out some stuff about her past that will likely be useful in disillusioning the boy. Some of the information is actually not the fault of the woman in question, but rather a previous man in her life that she trusted when she shouldn't have. (Not all, but for some reason this is never brought up.) Felix doesn't want to release the information because the actress acted in good faith. Lily points out they have to and does. Long story short, the she does, and the groom-to-be kills himself, ostensibly after hearing the news. Except then you find out that really, the actress has told him she can't marry him, out of a kind of crisis of conscience - it's complicated. I felt like that resolution sort of swept the broader issue under the rug. I actually don't mind the conversation between Felix and the actress in and of itself, but I think I would have preferred if there'd been another conversation between Lily and Felix about the fact that the need to be objective, prior to having the issue in question sort of disappear, because it turns out they weren't the ones who prompted the tragedy anyway... It sort of absolved the issue, instead of resolving it.
All that said, this is enjoyable, and I'm going to track down the next one in the series.
This is a story about a female investigator and her new clerk in late 19th century London, and their two newest cases.
As I was reading,I realized I was really enjoying the fact that it doesn't centre on the aristocracy, but it also doesn't centre on characters who are in a really desperate financial situation (okay, Felix is close). Money is certainly a consideration (no one is wealthy by any means, but at no point does anyone feel financially desperate). It's more interesting, because it's not the norm. Though I think more books set it in this sort of working class are being written.
I really liked both Lily, as head of the agency, and Felix her new employee. They felt like real people, and real people in a way that wasn't particularly sterotypical (by which I mean neither of them felt over the top or exaggerated in any way. I adored their burgeoning friendship. I liked Felix slowly realizing that he quite likes Lily as a person, when she relaxes a bit and is more comfortable around him. I liked Lily realizing she would miss Felix if he wan't there. And I really liked that Felix was concerned, and felt a bit protective at times, but without ever overstepping, given their working relationship.
Also loved Lily's non-traditional friendship with the Irish boatman. I haven't read anything quite like that before, I don't think.
I also have to say that this book features a very well-written argument between Lily and Felix. I felt it was well-written because the text clearly showed that both of their positions were valid, and both of them were upset for different reasons (Lily, because she does like Felix, but she has to run her business as ethically and impartially as possible, and Felix because they will be releasing information that may be damaging to someone who may not deserve it). I definitely agreed with one position over the other, but usually in these situations, I feel like the text is trying to sway you one way or the other, without realizing it. And this didn't. It also sets up a potentially interesting conflict between the two investigators as they move forward.
However, I did dock a star, because I felt like the ending undercut the strength of th tb to marry (at the request of the groom's father). They find out some stuff about her past that will likely be useful in disillusioning the boy. Some of the information is actually not the fault of the woman in question, but rather a previous man in her life that she trusted when she shouldn't have. (Not all, but for some reason this is never brought up.) Felix doesn't want to release the information because the actress acted in good faith. Lily points out they have to and does. Long story short, the she does, and the groom-to-be kills himself, ostensibly after hearing the news. Except then you find out that really, the actress has told him she can't marry him, out of a kind of crisis of conscience - it's complicated. I felt like that resolution sort of swept the broader issue under the rug. I actually don't mind the conversation between Felix and the actress in and of itself, but I think I would have preferred if there'd been another conversation between Lily and Felix about the fact that the need to be objective, prior to having the issue in question sort of disappear, because it turns out they weren't the ones who prompted the tragedy anyway... It sort of absolved the issue, instead of resolving it.
All that said, this is enjoyable, and I'm going to track down the next one in the series.
February 12, 2019
From the 1840's to the 1920's, mediums and spiritualism fascinated many; even the educated and famous flocked to seances in hopes of communicating with the dead.
The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits is set in the 1880's in London. L.G. (Lily) Raynor, owner and only investigator of the World's End Investigation Bureau, needs a clerk to take care of filing and accounts so that Lily can meet with clients and carry on her investigations.
She hires Felix Wilbraham, who is in desperate need of a job and is more than capable of handling the paperwork.
While Lily is out of the office to meet with a client, Ernest Stibbins rushes in, mistakes Felix for L.G. Raynor, and in a frightened manner says someone is threatening his wife with harm--can the private inquiry agent help him? He explains that his young wife Albertina is a medium and holds seances for a regular group of attendees several days a week. Felix doesn't correct the mistaken identity and takes the case.
Worried about how Lily will react to his assumption of her role as head of the agency, Felix dreads her return to the office. Lily, however, is not at all disturbed by the acquisition of a new case. Felix will take the role of investigator, and Lily will find a way to become part of the seance crowd.
When Lily attends a seance, she is shocked to feel a terrible menace directed at Albertina. A sense of dread and a fear for Albertina's safety makes Lily uneasy. And how could Albertina have possibly known about an incident in Lily's own life?
I enjoyed this first in the World's End Investigation Bureau Victorian mystery series and look forward to more. The backgrounds of both Lily and Felix are hinted at and will most likely be developed in future books, but they are already interesting characters in a partnership with many possibilities.
Read in February; blog review scheduled for May 19.
NetGalley/Severn House
Victorian/Mystery. June 1, 2019. Print length: 226 pages.
The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits is set in the 1880's in London. L.G. (Lily) Raynor, owner and only investigator of the World's End Investigation Bureau, needs a clerk to take care of filing and accounts so that Lily can meet with clients and carry on her investigations.
She hires Felix Wilbraham, who is in desperate need of a job and is more than capable of handling the paperwork.
While Lily is out of the office to meet with a client, Ernest Stibbins rushes in, mistakes Felix for L.G. Raynor, and in a frightened manner says someone is threatening his wife with harm--can the private inquiry agent help him? He explains that his young wife Albertina is a medium and holds seances for a regular group of attendees several days a week. Felix doesn't correct the mistaken identity and takes the case.
Worried about how Lily will react to his assumption of her role as head of the agency, Felix dreads her return to the office. Lily, however, is not at all disturbed by the acquisition of a new case. Felix will take the role of investigator, and Lily will find a way to become part of the seance crowd.
When Lily attends a seance, she is shocked to feel a terrible menace directed at Albertina. A sense of dread and a fear for Albertina's safety makes Lily uneasy. And how could Albertina have possibly known about an incident in Lily's own life?
I enjoyed this first in the World's End Investigation Bureau Victorian mystery series and look forward to more. The backgrounds of both Lily and Felix are hinted at and will most likely be developed in future books, but they are already interesting characters in a partnership with many possibilities.
Read in February; blog review scheduled for May 19.
NetGalley/Severn House
Victorian/Mystery. June 1, 2019. Print length: 226 pages.
August 3, 2019
I wasn't thrilled with the first person, present tense narrative choice. I thought it really distanced the reader from the characters. But beyond that I mostly really enjoyed this book. I'll grant that I wasn't particularly surprised a the identity of the villain, having guessed it very early on, and I thought there was a subtle centering on Felix that made him feel more the main character than her (when I also sense it was meant to be her). But there was good writing, interesting characters, not-quite-banter (but working in that direction), and a couple moral quandaries I appreciated thinking on. Mostly though I really liked both Lily and Felix, as well as them together. I look forward to reading future books in this series.
March 27, 2019
Lily runs a private inquiry bureau in London in the late 19th century. She and her assistant Felix are asked to look into some threats against a young medium who runs a seance circle. She's also investigating the actress 'friend' of a young gentleman and the fact that women are going missing is brought to her attention. At first it seems like there are too many threads running through this novel but, as expected, they all pull together in the end. The villain of the piece was easily spotted within the first few pages of being introduced but there was some nice characterisation and this was a good easy read.
November 10, 2019
I did finish it, but will not seek out#2.
June 3, 2020
Slow, sluggish, difficult to maintain flow or interest. The disjointed ending with all kinds of loose ends did nothing to make me glad that I pushed through to the end.
July 10, 2022
The story was good, but I find it difficult to read a story written in the present tense. Especially since it's set in the late 1800's!
October 8, 2024
An excellent start to this series! I loved it.
April 24, 2019
I received this ARC book from Netgalley for honest Review.
What a great thrill and suspense it was to read. What a great psychological thrill! This novel had everything in it. The thrill, the suspense, the psychological, romance and the twist is crazy. This novel will keep you thinking and guessing. When you think you right, well let me just say that you might be wrong. This had me all over the place. My heart beating so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page, every chapter was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.
The storyline was very good!
The theme and setting was well put together. The characters was well put together in the story.
This story will have in a rollercoaster with all the spooky and secrets. Was so well put in the story.
Everything all in one book.
It was just perfect!
I highly recommend everybody get this and read it.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. What a Rollercoaster! The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled so in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel would have you guess and thinking all the way to the end. What a great thrill and suspense. I love a great suspense that would have me think and guessing. This novel did just that to me. To the point that am wrong. When the ending comes am on shock. I wouldn't of never believe or guess. Like OMG!
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for her next book.
#thewomanwhospoketospirits
What a great thrill and suspense it was to read. What a great psychological thrill! This novel had everything in it. The thrill, the suspense, the psychological, romance and the twist is crazy. This novel will keep you thinking and guessing. When you think you right, well let me just say that you might be wrong. This had me all over the place. My heart beating so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page, every chapter was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.
The storyline was very good!
The theme and setting was well put together. The characters was well put together in the story.
This story will have in a rollercoaster with all the spooky and secrets. Was so well put in the story.
Everything all in one book.
It was just perfect!
I highly recommend everybody get this and read it.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. What a Rollercoaster! The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled so in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel would have you guess and thinking all the way to the end. What a great thrill and suspense. I love a great suspense that would have me think and guessing. This novel did just that to me. To the point that am wrong. When the ending comes am on shock. I wouldn't of never believe or guess. Like OMG!
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for her next book.
#thewomanwhospoketospirits
February 23, 2019
I have long been a fan of this Author , especially the Hawkenlye , Gabriel Taverner and Aelf Fen series which were wonderfully atmospheric . So I was looking forward to this new series set in Victorian London .
World's End Bureau is a private investigation business ,which unusually for the times , is owned and run by a woman . Relying on referrals , business is beginning to thrive and Lily has placed an advert for a clerical position . To her surprise the best applicant is a man , Felix Wilbraham …………….. not many men are willing to work for and take orders from a woman . Employing Felix on a months trial they are soon embroiled in several cases ……….. which takes them to various places around London . The world of seances is well established and their newest case soon takes Lily undercover …………… can they solve the case , or will their investigation put them both in further danger .
The book shows the disparity between the different areas and living conditions in terms of wealth and position of the people at this time .
The Author has the skill to draw a reader into the times and places in which she sets her stories , a skill that many others lack .
I found , once I got into the book , that this new story has the beginnings of a very good new series .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
World's End Bureau is a private investigation business ,which unusually for the times , is owned and run by a woman . Relying on referrals , business is beginning to thrive and Lily has placed an advert for a clerical position . To her surprise the best applicant is a man , Felix Wilbraham …………….. not many men are willing to work for and take orders from a woman . Employing Felix on a months trial they are soon embroiled in several cases ……….. which takes them to various places around London . The world of seances is well established and their newest case soon takes Lily undercover …………… can they solve the case , or will their investigation put them both in further danger .
The book shows the disparity between the different areas and living conditions in terms of wealth and position of the people at this time .
The Author has the skill to draw a reader into the times and places in which she sets her stories , a skill that many others lack .
I found , once I got into the book , that this new story has the beginnings of a very good new series .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
September 26, 2020
I really enjoyed this story, and am looking forward to more books in this series!
Lily and Felix are both likable, intelligent, smart characters, and their shared misfit status makes them a perfect pair of investigative partners for the World's End Bureau investigation agency.
The sense of place of Victorian London is very well delivered here. You can smell the Thames, see the fog and feel the energy of the city and its inhabitants as if you are there. If Victorian London is your era/location, this is a great book!
The mystery itself was also well conceived. I liked the multiple investigations that Lily and Felix were working on through the story. They were different but both interesting and engaging.
One of the things I liked most here was that it was Felix, and not Lily as might have been expected, who was the emotional, soft-hearted member of the team. I thought that was an interesting approach, and could offer some good moments between the partners in future books depending on what kind of cases the bureau takes on.
This was just an entertaining, well-written plot with likable, interesting characters that will be a series I watch for future books coming out, and which I will definitely read!
Lily and Felix are both likable, intelligent, smart characters, and their shared misfit status makes them a perfect pair of investigative partners for the World's End Bureau investigation agency.
The sense of place of Victorian London is very well delivered here. You can smell the Thames, see the fog and feel the energy of the city and its inhabitants as if you are there. If Victorian London is your era/location, this is a great book!
The mystery itself was also well conceived. I liked the multiple investigations that Lily and Felix were working on through the story. They were different but both interesting and engaging.
One of the things I liked most here was that it was Felix, and not Lily as might have been expected, who was the emotional, soft-hearted member of the team. I thought that was an interesting approach, and could offer some good moments between the partners in future books depending on what kind of cases the bureau takes on.
This was just an entertaining, well-written plot with likable, interesting characters that will be a series I watch for future books coming out, and which I will definitely read!
May 2, 2019
London 1880 and Lily Raynor has recently employed a clerical assistant, Feliz Wilbraham, in her investigative firm, The World's End Bureau. While out working on another case for Lord Berwick, Felix is mistaken for L Raynor, and accounts clerk Ernest Stibbins details the threat to his wife, Albertina. Meanwhile several woman seem to have disppeared south of the river but nobody really cares considering their employment.
I admit not being a fan of stories written in the present tense, but I found it less of a distraction the more I read. It certainly didn't take long to settle into this well-written story. It certainly helps that the two main characters are likeable, each with a history. A very enjoyable mystery, and a very good start to a new series.
A NetGalley Book
I admit not being a fan of stories written in the present tense, but I found it less of a distraction the more I read. It certainly didn't take long to settle into this well-written story. It certainly helps that the two main characters are likeable, each with a history. A very enjoyable mystery, and a very good start to a new series.
A NetGalley Book
October 1, 2019
This book would normally be just right for me, but it fell flat. It read like a book report, and I could not really feel any connection to the main character. The secondary character Felix, showed more emotion, and passion. The book constantly mentions something that happened to Lily that stops her nursing career, and is detrimental to her life, and caused her to go into private investigation, yet never tells you what it is. I gave it a three because the book went toward its ending in a very unique way, that was not seen at all. It was both frightening, and exciting. The rest not so much. I did finish it , and even read the epilogue, but although interesting I still did not feel that I would enjoy book two. 3 stars.
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