The Spiritualist

I do not read many historical novels, but a few years ago a friend raved about An Inconvenient Wife by Megan Chance. I read the book and just loved it! Soon after I read Susannah Morrow, also by Megan Chance, (Salem Witchcraft) and was also pleased. Her latest book The Spiritualist was released in May 2008, and it was excellent. Set in 1857 in New York City, I could not put it down. From the paranormal fun of séances, spiritualists, murders, etc., this was a great read. Megan Chance has successfully recreated the time and feel of old New York by accurately depicting the norms of that time period, and the desperation of the living to maintain contact with loved ones who have passed. This novel has many twists and turns to keep readers interested and a great ending that will surprise you.

On a cold night in January of 1957, at her husband Peter's request, a highly sceptical Evelyn Atherton reluctantly attends a séance with him. Peter's interest in spirit circles was born from the need to reach out to his dead mother. Evie wanted no part of the new craze where society's elite paid great sums of money to commune with the dead through self-proclaimed mediums, or swindlers. Having been married for only three years, Evelyn had become unsettled over her husband's apathy towards her. Was it because he married her even though she was far below his station? During the séance, a gunshot resounds which barely missed Peter. Afterwards, Peter, departs in search of answers. Several days pass. Evie does not hear from Peter and she begins to worry. When Peter is found murdered, she learns that not only society, but her in-laws turn on her. Her world takes on a nightmarish quality. Because she is of the lower classes, and because her marriage catapults her into the highest echelons of society, she becomes the primary suspect in his murder. At the reading of the will, Evie learns Peter has left everything to her and has excluded his entire family. This, coupled with the knowledge of her estranged and dwindling relationship with her husband, convinces the police and his family she is responsible for his murder and is arrested. Shunned by society, no one comes to her aid. To make matters worse, her entire inheritance is frozen pending trial. With no means, Evie struggles to find an attorney who will take her case. Peter's law partner, Ben, comes to her aid and readily accepts the case. Dorothy Bennett, the wealthy socialite who arranged the ill-fated spirit circle posts bail and invites Evie to reside with her in the belief that the spiritualist who lives with her, Michael Jourdain, can contact Peter's spirit and learn the identity of the true murderer. Convinced Michael is a fake, Evie comes to believe he is responsible for her husband's demise. Only by living under the same roof with can she find her husband's true murderer and prove her innocence. Soon after her arrival, Peter begins to appear in her nightmares and in visions. Each time, he warns her not to trust a man close to her. Evelyn is soon troubled by Michael Jourdain, whom she finds both intriguing and abhorrent. Confused by her burgeoning feelings, matters go from bad to worse when other members of the spiritualist community realize she is a true medium herself. As time runs out and the time for trial nears, Evie finds herself trapped amidst duplicity, suspicion, charlatans, murderers, and lies. She must unravel the web of mystery and deceit soon, lest her own sanity be at risk and she succumbs to madness like her mother before her. Megan Chance has successfully recreated the time and feel of old New York. In this delicious novel, she serves up a tale of desperation and despair while maintaining historical accuracy to accurately depict societal norms and beliefs and the desperat

This is a very well-written book that evokes quite well the ambiance and atmosphere of New York City circa 1857. We are introduced to the life of the upper crust (I just found it amazing that they couldn't get either dressed or undressed without help!). There is a murder, a family conspiracy, a famed medium to the rich, and assorted other characters, all of whom are drawn extremely well. I don't normally try to figure out "whodunnit?" in a book, for I know that eventually the author will reveal all. In this book, however, despite all of the red herrings, I had a feeling about the real killer, and I was corect. That didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book, for it is uniformly excellent!

Megan Chance delves into the world of mediums into her newest novel, The Spiritualist. When Evelyn, the daughter of an investigator weds Peter Atherton, she marries up into posh 19th century New York's "upper ten" - the top families of the city. Her struggles to fit society's expectations of a successful lawyer's wife are made more difficult by her husband's reluctance to treat their marriage as anything more than a comfortable arrangement; in fact, his proposal is phrased as "doing him a favor." Despite the strain, Evelyn attempts to embrace Peter's world, including his arrogant family and his apparent interest in spiritualism. She attends a spirit circle led by Michel Jourdain and quickly judges him a charlatan bent on duping her husband and the society widow, Dorothy Bennett. But Evelyn is forced into a deeper understanding of Michel's world when Peter is later found murdered and she stands accused of the act. Peter's family and friends ruthlessly turn against her, all except for Mrs. Bennett and Peter's law partner Benjamin Rampling. He boldly steps in to help clear Evelyn's name. But almost everyone in Evelyn's acquaintance is hiding secrets from the past that hold the key to her future. She must rely on help from unexpected sources to avoid the hangman's noose. The Spiritualist is an engaging story, with memorable characters; each fleshed out in full to give the reader a great perspective. Michel Jourdain is striking yet reveals unexpected facets of his personality. Peter Atherton is tragic and tortured, yet he shows a surprising inner strength. Evelyn, who struggles so hard to become what she is not, learns that her destiny is in her own hands. Ms. Chance effortlessly portrays New York society at its worst and best of the period and makes it easy for the reader to dive into that world. There's a temptation to race to the ending of the story but the journey with the characters holds the reader's interest. With unexpected twists and a startling conclusion, Ms. Chance has written a beautiful novel. I highly recommend it.

Evelyn Atherton (Evie to her friends) was living what seemed to be an ideal life until the night of January 15th, 1857, when she attended a spirit circle with her husband, who was seeking to contact his dead mother. Odd events transpired during the circle, including a gun "misfiring" (and nearly hitting her husband) and afterwards Peter, Evie's husband left, with a mission to ask questions because he believed the medium to be in danger. Though she didn't know it, this would be the last time that Evie ever saw her husband alive. When Peter turns up dead Evie's world is turned upside down. Because of her middle class background as a private investigators daughter and then meteoric rise to one of the top ten thousand by marriage into the Atherton family, she is immediately a suspect in his murder. When evidence of their less than passionate marriage, their estrangement and Peter's will, leaving everything to Evie come to light it only reinforces the police's (and the Atherton's) conviction that Evie murdered her husband. Because of her position as a one of the fallen rich Evie believes that no one will help her prove her innocence. But help comes from unexpected quarters when Peter's partner in law Ben takes on her case. And even more oddly, Dorothy Bennett, at whose home the fateful spirit circle took place, places bail for Evie and takes her in, believing they can contact Peter's spirit and learn the truth through her live in medium Michael. Evie believes Michael to be a charlatan but her husband did believe someone was out to hurt him and therefore the answers to her husband's murder must be within the house or his circle. But at the same time she begins to have disturbing dreams and visions of her dead husband, warning her not to trust a man close to her. Seduced by the mystery and magic of the spirit world (and perhaps by the medium himself) Evie is running out of places to turn and people to trust. And as the other members of the circle begin to see her as a medium in her own right, she begins to question her sanity. Trapped by charlatans, people who are desperate to fooled, and somewhere out there, the real murderer, can Evie use the skills her father taught her so long ago to unravel the web of lies and secrets that lead to her husbands death-before time runs out? Or will she collapse to a madness similar to own mother's, who too talked often of spirits... I was so happy when I learned that Megan Chance had another novel coming out I didn't care what it was about, I just ordered it. But I was so happy that she returned to old New York, the site of what I believe is her best book An Inconvenient Wife This novel though, portrays the city and the society of the times less and the semi-hidden, often mocked but still trusted by man world of the spiritualists. Chance expertly portrays the desperate nature of those willing to believe almost anything to speak top or touch their departed loved ones, the haughtiness of high society and their co