The London Seance Society Summary, Characters and Themes
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner is a historical mystery with a touch of the supernatural. Set in 1873, the story follows Lenna Wickes, a woman driven by logic and science, as she investigates her sister Evie’s mysterious death. Lenna becomes the apprentice of Vaudeline D’Allaire, a renowned spiritual medium who also mentored Evie.
Together, they delve into the enigmatic and dark workings of the London Séance Society, a male-dominated group claiming to perform authentic séances. As Lenna uncovers the Society’s sinister secrets, she gets closer to the truth behind her sister’s murder.
Summary
Lenna Wickes is determined to uncover the truth behind her sister Evie’s mysterious death, a quest that leads her to the London Séance Society, an exclusive, male-only group where Evie had deep ties.
The narrative alternates between Lenna’s perspective and that of Mr. Morely, head of the Society’s Department of Spiritualism. Morely is grappling with the unexpected murder of the Society’s president, Mr. Volckman, and unbeknownst to Lenna, had a secret connection with Evie.
The story begins with Lenna and her mentor, Vaudeline D’Allaire, a celebrated medium, conducting a séance outside Paris. Although skeptical about ghosts, Lenna is determined to understand séances since her sister was a devout believer and trained under Vaudeline before her death.
Vaudeline, known for her ability to contact spirits who met suspicious ends, is soon called back to London by Morely to investigate Volckman’s murder. Though reluctant to return, Vaudeline invites Lenna to accompany her, and the two women head to London.
In London, Lenna discovers Evie’s initials in the Society’s visitor log, confirming her sister’s involvement on the day Volckman died. Vaudeline’s reluctance to involve Lenna further only deepens Lenna’s suspicions.
At the Society, Lenna notices Morely wearing a hat that belonged to Evie, which intensifies her desire to uncover the truth.
As Lenna and Vaudeline investigate, they visit Mrs. Gray, a widow who claims Mr. Dankwork, the medium who conducted her séance, attempted to assault her, only to be stopped by Volckman.
Mrs. Gray’s account of a woman matching Evie’s description being involved with the Society further fuels Lenna’s suspicions.
Morely’s chapters reveal his role as the mastermind behind fraudulent practices within the Society. He used Evie to bolster the Society’s reputation, luring her with access in exchange for sexual favors.
Evie, however, used these opportunities to gather evidence against the Society, intending to expose its corruption.
In a climactic séance, Lenna, possessed by Evie’s spirit, uncovers that Volckman and Morely were complicit in a scheme to murder wealthy men, so the Society could manipulate their widows.
On the night of her death, Evie discovered this conspiracy and was killed by Volckman, whom she also killed in self-defense. Morely covered up the crime, but his deceit is laid bare during the séance.
In the end, Morely’s plan to eliminate Lenna and Vaudeline is thwarted when Lenna, with Evie’s spirit, confronts him.
An explosion kills Morely, and Lenna traps his and Volckman’s spirits in limbo. Lenna returns to Paris with Vaudeline, where they start a romantic relationship, and Lenna completes Evie’s exposé, ensuring her sister’s legacy and the Society’s downfall.
Characters
Lenna Wickes
Lenna Wickes is the novel’s protagonist, a science-minded and determined woman whose initial skepticism about the supernatural serves as a critical counterpoint to the novel’s exploration of spiritualism. Her primary motivation is to uncover the truth behind her younger sister Evie’s death, which leads her to apprentice under Vaudeline D’Allaire, a renowned medium.
Throughout the novel, Lenna’s character is marked by a strong sense of logic and reason, which often conflicts with the mystical world she finds herself increasingly drawn into. As she delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the London Séance Society, Lenna undergoes significant personal growth.
She grapples with her grief over Evie’s death, her unresolved romantic feelings, and her evolving perception of spiritualism. Lenna’s relationship with Vaudeline adds complexity to her character, revealing her vulnerability and her struggle with her desires, especially in the context of her past relationship with Eloise Heslop.
Ultimately, Lenna’s journey is one of self-discovery. She learns to reconcile her scientific skepticism with the reality of the supernatural events she experiences, culminating in her role in solving the mystery of Evie’s murder and exposing the dark secrets of the Society.
Vaudeline D’Allaire
Vaudeline D’Allaire is a celebrated spiritualist medium with a mysterious past linked to the London Séance Society. She serves as Lenna’s mentor and is pivotal to the novel’s plot, both as a guide in the world of spiritualism and as a key figure in the investigation of Evie’s death.
Vaudeline’s character is complex, embodying both the allure and danger of the spiritualist movement. She is portrayed as confident, knowledgeable, and deeply attuned to the spirit world, yet she harbors secrets that complicate her relationship with Lenna.
Her past connection to the Society and her reasons for leaving London are gradually revealed. Vaudeline is not just a passive conduit for the supernatural but an active participant in the unfolding mystery.
Her interactions with Lenna hint at a romantic tension, further deepening her character’s emotional layers. Vaudeline’s ultimate involvement in Evie’s tragic fate, whether by encouraging her to investigate or by being implicated through Morely’s deception, casts a shadow over her character.
However, she redeems herself by helping Lenna confront the truth and by ultimately escaping the Society’s deadly grasp. Vaudeline’s relationship with Lenna evolves from one of mentorship to mutual trust and affection, ending with them beginning a romantic relationship in Paris, signifying both women’s liberation from their pasts.
Evie Wickes
Though deceased at the novel’s outset, Evie Wickes remains a central figure whose actions and beliefs drive the plot. Evie is portrayed as a passionate and determined young woman, deeply interested in spiritualism, which leads her to apprentice with Vaudeline and ultimately become entangled with the London Séance Society.
Her character is explored through Lenna’s memories, Morely’s narrations, and the revelations that unfold throughout the novel. Evie’s pursuit of the truth about the Society’s practices and her intent to write an exposé highlight her bravery and intelligence, but also her vulnerability.
Her tragic death, a consequence of her investigation into the Society’s fraudulent and murderous activities, underscores the dangers she faced as a woman challenging powerful male-dominated institutions. Evie’s spirit plays a crucial role in the climax of the novel, possessing Lenna during the final séance to reveal the truth about her death and to exact a form of spiritual justice.
Evie’s character embodies the novel’s themes of power, oppression, and the quest for truth. Her posthumous influence is a testament to her enduring strength and agency.
Mr. Morely
Mr. Morely is one of the novel’s antagonists, serving as the head of the London Séance Society’s Department of Spiritualism. His character is a study in deception and ambition, hiding a corrupt and malevolent nature beneath a veneer of respectability.
Morely’s actions are driven by a desire for power and control, both within the Society and over the women he exploits, such as Evie. His initial portrayal as a grieving friend of the murdered Society president, Mr. Volckman, gradually unravels as the story progresses, revealing his involvement in the Society’s fraudulent activities and the orchestration of Evie’s death.
Morely’s manipulative relationship with Evie, in which he exchanges access to the Society’s secrets for sexual favors, highlights his predatory nature. His ultimate plan to murder Lenna and Vaudeline to cover his tracks further cements his role as a villain.
Morely’s character represents the corruption and misogyny embedded within the Society. His downfall, orchestrated by the spirits he sought to control, serves as poetic justice.
His death in the explosion, followed by Lenna’s decision to keep his spirit in limbo, ensures that his malevolence is eternally contained.
Mr. Volckman
Mr. Volckman, the deceased president of the London Séance Society, is another key figure whose true nature is revealed posthumously. Initially, he is mourned as a respected leader who was mysteriously murdered, but the truth about his character is far darker.
Through the investigation, it is uncovered that Volckman was deeply involved in the Society’s corrupt practices, including orchestrating murders to create opportunities for the Society to exploit grieving widows. His character embodies the ultimate betrayal of the Society’s supposed mission of spiritual guidance, revealing it instead to be a front for sinister, profit-driven schemes.
Volckman’s involvement in Evie’s death and his role in the Society’s broader crimes are pivotal to the novel’s critique of the exploitation of power and trust. In the novel’s climax, Volckman’s spirit is summoned alongside Evie’s, and his true role in the Society’s operations is exposed.
His fate, like Morely’s, is to remain in a state of eternal limbo, representing the inescapable consequences of his actions.
Constable Beck
Constable Beck serves as a secondary antagonist, a member of the London Metropolitan Police who is also affiliated with the Society. His character is less developed than Morely or Volckman, but he plays an important role as the enforcer of the Society’s will.
Beck is initially portrayed as a protector, assigned to safeguard Lenna and Vaudeline, but his true loyalty lies with the Society’s corrupt leadership. His involvement in the final act, where he assists Morely in attempting to kill Lenna and Vaudeline, shows his complicity in the Society’s crimes.
However, Beck’s character is also marked by a degree of ambivalence, as he is visibly disturbed by the escalating violence and Morely’s increasingly unhinged behavior. This hesitation ultimately contributes to Morely’s downfall, as Beck’s moral conflict prevents him from fully supporting Morely’s deadly plans.
Beck’s fate is left less defined than that of the other antagonists, but his character illustrates the broader theme of corruption within institutions that are supposed to serve and protect.
Themes
Power and Oppression
In The London Séance Society, Sarah Penner explores the theme of power and oppression, particularly as it pertains to gender and societal structures. The novel is set in a time when women were largely marginalized and had little agency, and this power imbalance is central to the narrative.
The London Séance Society itself is a male-dominated institution that manipulates the grief and vulnerability of women for its own gain, exemplifying how patriarchal power structures exploit those who are powerless. The Society’s male members, such as Morely and Volckman, use their authority to control not just the spiritualist practices but also the women connected to them, including Lenna and Evie.
The Society’s fraudulent activities, including their orchestration of séances to manipulate grieving widows and their involvement in the murders of wealthy men, reveal how deeply rooted and sinister the oppression is. Evie’s and Lenna’s quests for truth and justice against these oppressive forces highlight the ongoing struggle for women to reclaim their power in a society that seeks to subjugate them.
The novel also portrays the idea that even within such an oppressive system, women can find ways to subvert and challenge the status quo, as seen through Lenna’s and Vaudeline’s ultimate triumph over the Society’s leaders.
The Intersection of Science and Supernatural Belief
Another significant theme in The London Séance Society is the tension between scientific rationalism and supernatural belief, which is embodied in the character of Lenna Wickes. Lenna’s initial skepticism about séances and the existence of spirits reflects the broader 19th-century debate between science and spiritualism, a time when many were questioning traditional beliefs in light of new scientific discoveries.
Her journey from skepticism to a reluctant acceptance of the supernatural illustrates the complexity of this theme. Lenna represents the rational mind, trained to question and seek empirical evidence, yet she is drawn into a world where such evidence is elusive and the rules of reality seem to bend.
The novel does not entirely dismiss either perspective but rather suggests that the truth may lie somewhere in between. Vaudeline’s character, who embodies the supernatural element, challenges Lenna’s scientific mindset, forcing her to confront the possibility that there are phenomena beyond the scope of conventional science.
The interplay between these two worldviews adds depth to the narrative. Lenna’s eventual acceptance of the supernatural allows her to access the truth about her sister’s death, suggesting that some mysteries cannot be solved by logic alone.
The Complexity of Sisterhood and Loyalty
The relationship between Lenna and her younger sister, Evie, serves as the emotional core of the novel and highlights the theme of sisterhood and loyalty. Lenna’s investigation into Evie’s death is driven by a deep sense of responsibility and guilt, as she grapples with her failure to protect her sister in life.
Throughout the novel, Lenna’s loyalty to Evie’s memory propels her into increasingly dangerous situations as she seeks to uncover the truth. This loyalty is tested as Lenna uncovers uncomfortable truths about Evie’s involvement with the London Séance Society and her relationship with Morely.
The complexity of their relationship is further explored through Lenna’s realization that she did not fully understand her sister’s motivations or the risks Evie was willing to take. The theme of sisterhood is also mirrored in Lenna’s evolving relationship with Vaudeline, which shifts from a mentor-apprentice dynamic to a deeper bond rooted in mutual respect and eventually romantic affection.
This bond, however, is complicated by Lenna’s discovery of Vaudeline’s potential role in encouraging Evie’s fatal investigation. Ultimately, the novel portrays sisterhood as a source of both strength and vulnerability, emphasizing that loyalty sometimes requires facing painful truths and making difficult choices to honor the memory of a loved one.