Publication Date: June 27, 2023
For fans of The Lost Apothecary or The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock, a deliciously atmospheric historical novel about the rivalry between two female mediums during Victorian London’s obsession with Spiritualism.
Mrs. Violet Wood is London’s premier medium, a woman of supreme ambition whose and unique abilities have earned her the admiration and trust of London’s elite. Mrs. Wood is indeed a clever and gifted seer–her skill is unmatched in predicting exactly what her wealthy patrons want to hear from the beyond.
But times are changing. First, a nosey newspaperman has begun working to expose false mediums across London. Many of Mrs. Wood’s friends—and, yes, some of her foes—have fallen to his merciless accusations. Worse yet, though Mrs. Wood’s monthly séance tables are still packed, she’s noticed that it’s been harder to snare coveted new patrons. There are rumors from America of mediums materializing full spirits. . . . How long will her audiences be content with quivering tables and candle theatrics?
Then, at one of Mrs Wood’s routine gatherings, she hears that most horrifying of sounds—a yawn. When a sweet girl with an uncanny talent for the craft turns up at her door, Mrs. Wood decides that a protégé will be just the thing to spice up her brand. But is Emmie Finch indeed the naïve ingenue she appears? Or has Mrs. Wood’s own downfall come knocking at last?
Notting Hill, 1873 — Spiritualism is all the rage, and Mrs. Wood is London’s premiere spiritualist. Her talents have attracted the ton’s wealthiest and most influential. That is, until recently. With talk of full-body apparitions being materialized across the pond, Mrs. Wood is under pressure to step it up.
Enter ingenue Emmie Finch, a waif from the streets with an uncanny ability to conjure spirits. Will she be Mrs. Wood’s answer to prayers or her downfall? This is the premise of The Other Side of Mrs. Wood by debut author Lucy Barker.
Well-written and researched, Barker takes us on a journey to the past when spiritualism was considered mainstream, and even the most influential in society would consult with their mediums to determine their future. These mediums held tremendous sway over their clients and could lead them astray if they had nefarious intentions.
Journalist Mangus Clore, Editor of the Spiritual Times, has exposed fraudulent mediums all over London and endorsed mediums that adhere to high standards. Mrs. Wood is his favorite medium—for now. All that could change as mediumship is a fickle career, and Mr. Clore could expose her as a fraud at any time.
As Mrs. Wood mentors Miss Finch into the mediumship fold, the writing is on the wall. The characters are all very well-developed and have distinctive personalities and traits. The desperation of Mrs. Wood is aptly portrayed, and I found myself wanting to shake her on several occasions as she spiraled out of control.
Conversely, other characters were endearing and loveable, genuinely despicable, truly captivating, and outright annoying, making for a great mix to keep the reader interested throughout. However, the middle did get bogged down—like Mrs. Wood, but picked up speed as we wait to find out how Mrs. Wood will resolve her dilemma. Be prepared for an unexpected ending!
The Other Side of Mrs. Wood is a glimpse into spiritualism, a study of human nature, but 100% fascinating and an absolutely stellar read for anyone interested in historical fiction or spiritualism.
Lucy Barker is the author of THE OTHER SIDE OF MRS WOOD. She holds an MA in Victorian studies from Birkbeck College, University of London, and has a passion for uncovering the real lives of women from this period. Always a dreamer, Lucy has written stories her whole life and is a Curtis Brown Creative and Novelry alumnus. She was the runner-up for the Curtis Brown First Novel Prize with an early partial draft of The Other Side of Mrs. Wood. Born in Sussex, she now lives in Bath with her husband and two small children.
