2024 HWA Debut Crown Award (longlist)
’Gorgeous, an utter delight’ MARIAN KEYES
‘A charming debut that sparks with fun and fizz’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
’A must read!’ SOPHIE IRWIN
’Storytelling at its finest’ STYLIST
A DAILY MAIL ‘novel to devour in 2023
Mrs Wood is London’s most celebrated medium. She’s managed to survive decades in the competitive world of contacting the Other Side, has avoided the dreaded slips that revealed others as frauds and is still hosting packed-out séances for Victorian high society.
Yet, some of her patrons have recently cancelled their appointments. There are reports of American mediums nearly materialising full spirits and audiences are no longer satisfied with the knocking on tables and candle theatrics of years gone by. And then, at one of Mrs Wood’s routine gatherings, she hears something terrifying – faint, but unmistakable: a yawn.
Mrs Wood needs to spice up her brand. She decides to take on Emmie, a young protégé, to join her show. But is Emmie Finch the naïve ingenue she seems to be? Or does she pose more of a threat to Mrs Wood’s reign and, more horrifyingly, her reputation than Mrs Wood could ever have imagined?
Genre: Historical
‘A charming debut that sparks with fun and fizz’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
’A must read!’ SOPHIE IRWIN
’Storytelling at its finest’ STYLIST
A DAILY MAIL ‘novel to devour in 2023
Mrs Wood is London’s most celebrated medium. She’s managed to survive decades in the competitive world of contacting the Other Side, has avoided the dreaded slips that revealed others as frauds and is still hosting packed-out séances for Victorian high society.
Yet, some of her patrons have recently cancelled their appointments. There are reports of American mediums nearly materialising full spirits and audiences are no longer satisfied with the knocking on tables and candle theatrics of years gone by. And then, at one of Mrs Wood’s routine gatherings, she hears something terrifying – faint, but unmistakable: a yawn.
Mrs Wood needs to spice up her brand. She decides to take on Emmie, a young protégé, to join her show. But is Emmie Finch the naïve ingenue she seems to be? Or does she pose more of a threat to Mrs Wood’s reign and, more horrifyingly, her reputation than Mrs Wood could ever have imagined?
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"Crackles with wit and mischief, a delicious read." - Louise Dean
"A joy to read, completely fresh and original with a wonderful cast of characters. An exhilarating gallop through Victorian London, featuring rival mediums, dark secrets and some truly delicious double-crossing. Witty, evocative writing and wonderfully drawn characters add up to a huge treat of a novel." - Lucy Diamond
"What an immensely clever, hugely enjoyable conjuring of Victorian high society - it's clearly so well researched." - Emma Hughes
"Intriguing, witty and unique. A must read!" - Sophie Irwin
"I absolutely ADORED it. Such a juicy read and written so beautifully. Charming, gorgeous, an utter delight." - Marian Keyes
"Think All About Eve, but set in the spellbinding world of Victorian mediums - a brilliantly witty twist on the rivalry between an ageing star and a wide-eyed ingenue who isn't all she seems." - Frances Quinn
"A joy to read, completely fresh and original with a wonderful cast of characters. An exhilarating gallop through Victorian London, featuring rival mediums, dark secrets and some truly delicious double-crossing. Witty, evocative writing and wonderfully drawn characters add up to a huge treat of a novel." - Lucy Diamond
"What an immensely clever, hugely enjoyable conjuring of Victorian high society - it's clearly so well researched." - Emma Hughes
"Intriguing, witty and unique. A must read!" - Sophie Irwin
"I absolutely ADORED it. Such a juicy read and written so beautifully. Charming, gorgeous, an utter delight." - Marian Keyes
"Think All About Eve, but set in the spellbinding world of Victorian mediums - a brilliantly witty twist on the rivalry between an ageing star and a wide-eyed ingenue who isn't all she seems." - Frances Quinn
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