"I absolutely ADORED it. Such a juicy read and written so beautifully. Charming, gorgeous, an utter delight.” — Marian Keyes, author of Rachel’s Holiday
"Oh, I loved this book! Did I ever think I’d identify with a Victorian-era medium’s troubles? No! But then came The Other Side of Mrs. Wood, a delicious insider tale that charmed me with its wit, its loyalties and its betrayals. Brava, Lucy Barker. Thank you for this intriguing and so very smart journey back to London’s medium madness." — Elinor Lipman, author of Ms. Demeanor
"Intriguing, witty and unique. A must read!” — Sophie Irwin, author of A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting
"A joy to read, completely fresh and original with a wonderful cast of characters. The ending is absolutely perfect - so satisfying! The Other Side of Mrs Wood is an exhilarating gallop through the séances of 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. I loved it!” — Lucy Diamond, author of The Beach Café
"Engaging and wonderfully original.” — Katie Fforde, author of One Enchanted Evening
"In Barker’s sprightly first novel, life at the séance table can be fraught with uncertainty for a woman with a carefully camouflaged past. . . . Mrs. Wood needs to spark the possibly flagging interest of her well-heeled clientele. And so she agrees to tutor lovely 16-year-old Emmeline Finch, whose fledgling talents could be an eye-catching accompaniment to Mrs. Wood’s mature expertise. [But] all too soon it is Miss Finch who is the toast of London spiritualist society, [and] Mrs. Wood faces a consequential decision: sink into 'a haze of sherry and humiliation' or give this traitorous girl her comeuppance." — New York Times Book Review
“A sly literary sleight of hand. . . . The novel is set in a sumptuous—and sometimes sumptuously ridiculous—world full of colorful characters. . . . The plot unfolds at a leisurely but satisfying pace, and a twist at the end should tickle readers.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The Other Side of Mrs. Wood is supremely witty, fun, captivating, and also poignant. Debut novelist Lucy Barker gives the inside scoop on a fascinating aspect of Victorian life, while revealing the conflicts and struggles—still relevant today—of women trying to fulfill their dreams in a sometimes hostile world.” — Lauren Belfer, author of Ashton Hall
In Victorian England spiritualism was as popular as bustles among the fashionable set. Narrator Tracy-Ann Oberman presents London's most celebrated medium, the incomparable Mrs. Wood, who connects her wealthy clientele to loved ones on the other side and entertains them with the antics of naughty spirits. Oberman gives Mrs. Wood a regal, well-articulated voice. When Mrs. Wood fears she's becoming stale, she takes on a seemingly docile and talented protégé who becomes very popular--too popular. Oberman gives the young medium, Emmelene, a high sugary voice. The ensuing rivalry and dark backstory provide an interesting plot. Oberman's authentic portrayals complement the story well. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
In Victorian England spiritualism was as popular as bustles among the fashionable set. Narrator Tracy-Ann Oberman presents London's most celebrated medium, the incomparable Mrs. Wood, who connects her wealthy clientele to loved ones on the other side and entertains them with the antics of naughty spirits. Oberman gives Mrs. Wood a regal, well-articulated voice. When Mrs. Wood fears she's becoming stale, she takes on a seemingly docile and talented protégé who becomes very popular--too popular. Oberman gives the young medium, Emmelene, a high sugary voice. The ensuing rivalry and dark backstory provide an interesting plot. Oberman's authentic portrayals complement the story well. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
2023-03-29
In Barker's witty debut, two mediums engage in a battle of wits in 1873 London.
Violet Wood, pushing 40 and trying to keep a grip on the lifestyle her late husband afforded her following a hardscrabble childhood, is precariously holding onto her position as one of the most reputable mediums in the upper levels of London society. With the aid of her beleaguered assistant, Sarah Newman, who's showing signs of abandoning the unappreciative Mrs. Wood for a more rewarding life within the women’s suffrage movement, the medium conducts increasingly predictable “grand séances” at her home as well as private meetings with some of her patrons. Mrs. Wood realizes that her fickle fans have begun to abandon her for younger, hotter talents, but she sees an opportunity to turn things around when pretty young Emmeline Finch begs to become her protégé. As Emmie increasingly inserts her own voice and presence into the séances, drawing attention away from her mentor, the stage is set for crafty confrontations between the two women. Barker—who doesn’t stint on revealing the tricks of the supernatural trade—balances a comic sensibility with a real concern for the weight of her characters’ secrets and problems so that Violet, a figure of fun at the beginning, becomes a character deserving of the reader’s concern as the novel proceeds. The novel is set in a sumptuous—and sometimes sumptuously ridiculous—world full of colorful characters, where rooms are “crammed with taxidermied animals and silent clocks,” crumbs cascade “from mouths to bosoms to carpets,” and “illusion is everything.” The plot unfolds at a leisurely but satisfying pace, and a twist at the end should tickle readers.
A sly literary sleight of hand.
