Alan Williams (17)

The Blackheath Séance Parlour by Alan Williams is a thrilling Gothic novel that is quite fascinating. Set in the 1800s, this exciting story combines supernatural elements with an intriguing mystery, the tiniest hint of romance and a riveting novel within a novel. The resulting tale is richly atmospheric and quite compelling.

Maggie and Judy Cloak are sisters who open a séance parlour after their chocolate business fails. Oldest sister Maggie is very reluctant to agree to Judy's plan to open the parlour but Judy gives her no choice but to go along with the plan. Judy recruits medium Netta Walters to conduct séances and Netta insists the sisters learn to read tealeaves, tarot cards and the crystal ball. In the midst of their preparations, Judy feverishly pens her Gothic novel and the town of Blackheath is paralyzed in fear by a murderer preying on young women.

Maggie is strong willed, stubborn and very reluctant to make any changes in her life. She is skeptical of Judy's plan and she is also very fearful of becoming involved with contacting spirits. Maggie is impatient and although she is quite skilled at reading tea leaves, she is quite discouraged by her inability to learn how to use the crystal ball. Growing more frustrated and disenchanted as Judy's and Netta's popularity increases, Maggie becomes almost manic as she tries to perfect her psychic abilities. In a stunning turn of events, Maggie is soon in high demand when she is able to channel spirits.

Judy is the more likable of the two sisters and she is genuinely thrilled by not only her success but Maggie's as well. Her Gothic novel consumes her and she is ecstatic when it is published first as a serial in the newspaper and later as a novel. She eventually becomes quite concerned about Maggie's obsession with their long missing father but Maggie's jealousy over Judy's success drives a wedge between them. Judy's loyalty to her sister leaves her future happiness in jeopardy when she is forced to choose between the man she loves and Maggie.

Netta is a wonderful character and her backstory is quite interesting. Her abilities as a psychic began early in her life and took her down a very unexpected path. She jumps at the chance for a more secure future, but she is annoyed by the sisters' lack of commitment to their enterprise. However, she is delighted by Judy's natural talent for the crystal ball and although she becomes exasperated by Maggie's impatience, she does continue to try to help her focus on honing her skills. Netta is also haunted by her past and when she comes to face with it, she is shocked by what she discovers.

Alan Williams immediately sets the tone for The Blackheath Séance Parlour and while it is a little slow paced in the beginning, by the middle of the novel, it is impossible to put down. At first, the two different storylines make the story a little disjointed and confusing, but it soon becomes easy to keep the two story arcs straight. Both stories are very riveting and the cliffhanger endings of some of the chapters definitely build anticipation for upcoming events and revelations. All in all, The Blackheath Séance Parlour is an absolutely unique and delightful read that fans of Gothic novels are going to love!
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I am not sure how I feel about this novel. I was attracted to it because I live near Blackheath village and it is a place we visit a lot for walking, eating/drinking and general pottering around. It is set in 1842 and the geographical descriptions of the village, the heath and Greenwich Park remain largely true today. At the same time, though, the narrative felt strangely timeless and disconnected from reality, as though it took place in some slightly parallel world version of mid-19th century Blackheath. The narrative themes of séances ghosts added to this feeling, naturally, but I thought most of the live human characters did not feel real either, with the possible exception of Judy. There is a narrative within a narrative which forms the text of a gothic horror novel Judy is writing also set in Blackheath, but it is never quite clear whether or how this will link up with the main narrative, and the resolution of this was an anti-climax. So all in all a bit disappointing.… (más)