Woman Who Spoke to Spirits

May 1, 2019
Set in London during the Victorian period, Clare's latest is engaging, dark, atmospheric, and, at times, quite charming and humorous. After her career as a maternity nurse in India ended distressingly, Lily Raynor returned to London. Seeking another career option, she opened her own private-investigation agency. After some initial modest successes, she now needs an assistant. Expecting to hire a woman, Lily is surprised when the best candidate is Felix Wilbraham, a young man with hidden talents and a rather mysterious past. The pair soon find themselves with two demanding cases. First, wealthy Lord Berwick asks Lily to find evidence that the actress his ne'er-do-well son plans to marry is an unsuitable wife for a future peer of the realm. Second, Ernest Stibbins is concerned about a potential threat against his wife, Albertina, a gifted medium. While he can't specify what the threat might be, he's terrified that his beloved?and much younger?wife is in grave danger. A clever plot, two engaging sleuths, plenty of period ambience, and a satisfying ending make this a fine choice for all mystery collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)