When Constance Langton’s little sister Alma dies, she takes her grieving mother to a séance. She has her doubts as to whether it’s really possible to summon spirits, but she hopes it might offer her mother some comfort. Unfortunately though, Constance’s decision has tragic consequences that she couldn’t have foreseen. Alone in the world, Constance is contacted by solicitor John Montague and learns of an inheritance connecting her with Wraxford Hall, a crumbling manor house surrounded by gloomy woods. The dark secrets of the Hall’s sinister past are revealed to the reader through the narratives of Constance, Montague and another young woman, Eleanor Unwin, whose fate also becomes linked with the house. It’s not surprising that Constance is advised to “sell the Hall unseen; burn it to the ground and plough the earth with salt if you will; but never live there…”
The Séance is a wonderfully atmospheric gothic mystery set in Victorian England. The book was published in 2008 but has everything you’d expect to find in a Victorian ghost story or sensation novel: a derelict mansion said to be haunted, bad weather (complete with thick fog, heavy rain, howling winds and dramatic thunderstorms), wills and inheritances, dangerous scientific experiments, mesmerism, spiritualism, mysterious disappearances, ghostly apparitions and family secrets. There’s even a haunted suit of armour! The story is told in the form of the various characters’ narratives, letters and journal entries – a style reminiscent of The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, for example. I would be very surprised if Collins is not one of John Harwood’s influences, but there are shades of other Victorian gothic/sensation fiction writers too. Harwood’s writing is not as flowery and descriptive as a typical Victorian author but at the same time he perfectly captures the mood and tone of a piece of 19th century writing.
The plot does start to become very complicated – much more complicated than it needed to be, in my opinion – but it does keep the reader guessing and wondering what the next plot twist will be. The villain was very easy to identify though! The changing viewpoints were handled well, and the author chose the right points to end one character’s narrative and move onto the next – although there was such a long gap between Constance’s two narratives that by the time I came to the second one I’d almost forgotten about her. This made Constance feel slightly disconnected from the other two narrators and she didn’t seem such a vital part of the novel as Montague and Eleanor. I also thought the voices of the different narrators could have been more distinctive (this is an area where Wilkie Collins really excels but where so many other authors seem to have difficulties). But although the characters could have been stronger, the real heart of the novel is the house, Wraxford Hall, which is almost a character in itself.
About thirty yards from the house I stumbled over the remnant of a low stone wall, where I settled myself with my tablet and pencils. The air was still and cold; somewhere in the distance a fox barked, but no answering cry arose from the blackness opposite. Minute by minute, the clearing brightened; the Hall seemed to be inching its way upward out of darkness. As the moon rose higher, the proportions of the house appeared to alter until it loomed above me like a precipice. I reached down for my tablet and, as I straightened, saw a light spring up in the window immediately above the main entrance
The Séance is the second book I’ve read by John Harwood; the first was The Ghost Writer, which I read almost exactly a year ago. Of the two, I enjoyed The Ghost Writer more (I loved the ghost stories in that one) but both are very creepy, very gothic and perfect books to read at this time of year.
She Reads Novels 
I enjoyed The Seance as well. The Ghost Writer is on my list; I’ve heard from others that they preferred the latter.
I liked them both, but I thought The Ghost Writer was more original. I would definitely recommend reading it since you enjoyed this one.
Thank you! I didn’t know about this and now I’m definitely intrigued.
I’m glad I could bring it to your attention, Ludo!
The writing structure doesn’t sound great (I know what you mean about disconnect with multiple narrators) but other than that it sounds very good, a much better version of the creepy books they used to write for children, at least that’s what it reminds me of.
The problem was having Constance narrate the first and last sections of the book, so she didn’t appear at all for most of the story. And all three narrators had such similar voices too!
I read this book a couple of years ago now. I was totally drawn in by that wonderful cover. Like you I loved the setting but overall was left with the feeling that this was a good but not a great book. I have popped The Ghost Writer down on my list though as you enjoyed that one more.
The cover is very striking, isn’t it? I hope you like The Ghost Writer more than this one, if you decide to read it!
This sounds rather good for the time of year, I agree. I think I’ll put the ghost writer on my list first, although I do like the gothic Victorian atmospheric sound of this one!
It just doesn’t feel right reading books like this in the summer! I’ve been meaning to read this one for a while but decided to save it for the dark nights.
I can remember reading this in bed one dark, dismal winter’s night and being so scared, but too engrossed to put the book down. I might have to check out The Ghost Writer when I am feeling a little braver!
I found The Ghost Writer scarier than this one, I think. There were some short stories within the story that were really creepy!
I’ve read both of Harwood’s books and enjoyed them. Thanks for reminding me – I’m not sure if he was written anything else. Have you read any F G Cottam, who writes in a similar style?
No, I haven’t read anything by F G Cottam but I’m definitely interested if he’s similar to John Harwood. Thanks for the suggestion!
I bought this book some time ago and now… I have just realized that 50 pages are missing! I am missing pages 219-249. I did not even understand it right away: then a character called Edwin was mentioned and I found myself lost.
By the way soon another book by Harwood wil be out: the title is Asylum.
Where were the diamonds found? I missed that bit!