Victorian era murder mystery, with a dash of psychic powers!

The author hasn’t quite perfected the knack of building tension, which is the only thing this book is lacking – it has everything else I could possibly want in a paranormal mystery.

The characters are interesting if a little underdeveloped as this book is clearly the beginning of a series and the author has things in mind for them. You immediately get a sense of something being held back, ready to be unveiled in a later installment; I only hope it isn’t going to be a romance between the two main characters.

The paranormal element of this book was that mediumship is a real thing and that people with psychic powers exhibit their abilities in different ways. During a time that was fascinated with spiritualism, they often found themselves able to take advantage of their gifts and step into the limelight.

It hasn’t quite hit the Agatha Christie level of perfection for me yet but I know she’s going to hit that sweet spot soon, so I look forward to the next installment!

Three and half to four stars, maybe?

I could probably describe The Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief as Sherlock Holmes, but wherein Watson is a woman and the leading character -- and where paranormal activity and psychic powers are a real and dangerous force. I enjoyed the historical setting, in Victorian London at the peak of séances and spiritualism, and the details Tuttle used really added depth to the story. As I said, it reminded me a lot of the original Conan Doyle versions of the Sherlock Holmes stories – which is obviously saying a lot for the author.

Miss Lane is a great character – a sensible no-nonsense woman who investigates the paranormal and, upon starting work for Mr Jesperson, acts as the sensible, logical member of the investigative duo. Just like Watson, she’s the grounding force for her partner’s genius. Although, I would say compared to some of the adaptions of Watson, Miss Lane is incredibly competent and a wonderful detective in her own right. Although Mr Jesperson is the genius, Miss Lane is more than capable all on her own. I was a little less keen on Mr Jesperson as a character in general. Although for the most part he was interesting and kind in a sort of absent-minded way, at times he was petulant and selfish (very Sherlock-y) which annoyed me. He’s also a bit of a cliché – super intelligent with a whole host of exciting and exotic skills from his many travels but unprepared for living a day-to-day existence in London. His mother, on the other hand, is a delight whom I couldn’t help but imagine as Una Stubb’s Mrs Hudson.

The mystery was fun, if a tad predictable but I felt the story was a little too long, veering off in a few places. However, I really liked the duo of Lane and Jesperson and would be interested to see what adventures they’ll get up to next.

This review will go up on my blog, Foxes and Fairytales on 8 July.
https://foxesfairytale.wordpress.com/2017/07/08/review-the-somnambulist-and-the-psychic-thief

This book is like a supernatural version of Sherlock Holmes. Miss Lane, a former psychic researcher, has become disillusioned with the psychic world and joined forces with Mr. Jesperson to focus on more down-to-earth cases. But Miss Lane gets pulled back in when psychics around London start disappearing. The book focuses heavily on the supernatural aspects (yes, psychic powers are real in this book), which I didn’t care for myself. But if you’re interested in a mystery that combines psychic powers and Sherlock Holmes-like deduction, you might check this book out.

It is 1893 and psychics are all the rage in London. Aphrodite Lane (call her Di) has left her employ as a psychic fraud investigator when she discovers her employer, herself, is a fraud. She answers an ad for an investigative assistant to detective J. Jesperson. The money’s not good but she will be provided room and board and, since job opportunities for young women are somewhat scarce, she accepts.

They are soon offered a case to follow a man who suffers from sleepwalking. He wants to know where he goes at night and, hopefully, find a way to stop him. It seems a rather odd job but, as paying cases for detectives are even scarcer than jobs for women, they accept.

At the same time, psychics are disappearing from all around London. Di is contacted by her old employer who believes that these mediums are being kidnapped and wants the agency to investigate. As the pair begin their new investigation while still following the somnambulist, they begin to suspect the two cases are linked especially after being invited to a séance with a visiting American psychic who seems to have some very unusual and amazing skills.

I had rather mixed feelings about The Curious Case of the Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief by Lisa Tuttle. On the plus side, both Jesperson and Lane are very likable protagonists. There is no real attempt to follow the mores of the time especially as they pertained to women - Miss Lane is no delicate Victorian Lady but rather brave, opinionated and very liberated, learning karate and wearing, oh my, trousers – but given the somewhat tongue-in-cheek nature of the tale, that works very well.

On the con side, the book seemed to be unsure what it wanted to be- historical fiction or historical fantasy. The first half of the book seems a sort of homage to Sherlock Holmes – logic and rational detecting skills, rather than psychic phenomena, will solve the case. However, somewhere in the middle of the book, it takes a turn to the fantastical that for me at least kind of upset the rhythm of the story and, not too surprisingly, my willing suspension of disbelief.

Still, overall, I enjoyed the book (and loved the title) and, for people who like their mysteries with likable protagonists, Victorian atmosphere, just a touch of humour, and a bit of the fantastic, this one is definitely worth the read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House –Hydra for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

This is an absolutely delightful Victorian steampunk mystery. With an affectionate nod to Sherlock Holmes, the tale weaves through the world of Spiritualism that swept Europe and America at that time, only in this case psychic abilities are not always sleight-of-hand and charlatanism. The characters are engaging, the mysteries intriguing, and the plot nicely paced.

A fascinating story line involving spiritualism, women's rights, and more.
Eccentric and entertaining characters.
And a mystery that is perplexing and engaging.

Miss Aphrodite Lane is in a pickle. She has run away from her benefactor, Miss Gabrielle Fox, because she discovered that Miss Fox, a stalwart fraud investigator for the Society for Psychical Research, has attached wires to a séance table. Now Miss Lane has arrived in London with no money and nowhere to stay. Being a practical young women of 1893, Miss Lane looks for work before anything else and answers an advert for an investigative assistant. She meets Mr. J. J. Jesperson, a young detective, and his mother Mrs. Jesperson, who keeps the household, and off we go on our adventure.

The current case is that of a man who suddenly has resumed his childhood habit of sleepwalking. He is embarrassed by it and wants Mr. Jesperson to find out what is triggering the walking and how to stop it. It doesn't sound like a job for a detective, but being a paid detective is harder than Mr. Jesperson thought and so he takes up the sleepwalking problem.

Elsewhere in London, someone is kidnapping psychics, but not for ransom or murder. The psychics simply disappear – four so far. Kidnapping is much more interesting than sleepwalking and Mr. Jesperson is eager to apply his skills to solving this mystery even though there seems little prospect of being paid. Luckily, a rash of very crafty jewel thefts in some of London's best houses is far more likely to bring in some reward money.

Miss Lane and Mrs. Jesperson follow these investigations, and Miss Lane starts learning martial arts (and wearing trousers!).

This is the first in a new series of detective stories about Miss Lane and Mr. Jesperson with Mrs. Jesperson as chaperone. It sags a bit in the center and Miss Fox is oddly present yet absent in the story, but readers who like this kind of mystery of manners will enjoy it.

I received a review copy of "The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist & the Psychic Thief" by Lisa Tuttle (Random House – Hydra) through NetGalley.com.

I thoroughly enjoyed the journey that was this book's central mystery. Miss Lane is on the hunt for a new life after leaving her partnership in a paranormal duo due to her partner in the venture being a fraud. She comes across Mr. Jeperson who is on the lookout for a partner in his new venture a detective agency. They get hired to find out why a newlywed husband is sleepwalking and when her former partner shows up why many individuals of the psychic persuasion are disappearing all across London. It is an interesting trip across foggy Victorian London in a mystery full of interesting turns.

Have you ever read a book, and within the first several pages, thought: 1) I love this book, 2) I'm reading too fast! Must slow down to enjoy every page, and 3) I hope there are more books from this author??

That was me. I loved this author's writing style. I enjoyed every chapter of this book, loved the character development, the mystery and the fast-paced plot, the wry observations from the heroine, and the descriptions of the people/places/customs of the time (gently educational but not overly so). I loved Jesperson and Lane, and the lack of romance between the leads (for now? :) ).

I was surprised that some of the paranormal stuff turned out to be true (I thought the whole mystery was about debunking the paranormal stuff and figuring out whodunit, not finding out that it was actually real), but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.

I did think it was strange that Miss Lane and Miss Fox never addressed the issue of their big split. That struck me as quite odd, but maybe it'll be addressed in future books? Please say there will be a sequel!! I can't wait to read more from this author!

The detective partnership of Jesperson and Lane begin their association in this debut novel of a fantasy series set in Victorian London. they have 2 cases to solve - one is to determine where the sleepwalker goes and what he does and a second case to find the disappearing mediums.

the stories are cleverly interwoven with a very satisfactory conclusion.

This book had an interesting plot and I was excited about the premise. The character development left a lot to be desired, however. While the storyline kept me engaged, I found it hard to really identify with the characters because the author seemed to skip over how their relationships developed and evolved. We were introduced to the heroine as she first met the hero, and then jumped ahead several months. This made me feel as though I was being "told" all about how they worked with and related to each other instead of "shown." If more personal moments between the two characters were shared I feel as though this book would have been much better. As it was, it came across as very impersonal. I needed more development of and between the characters. That would have made the solving of the mystery much more impactful. I felt as though I was reading case notes and not a novel.

This book feels like a new genre. It is like a gothic mystery crossed with noir and it is delightful and will keep you turning pages.

This was an excellent introduction to a new series. I love the way the entire book was a set up to a very specific aspect of the rest of the series. Can't say much more without spoilers, but suffice it to say that while the book is a setup and introduction of the characters of Jesperson and Lane and their unique partnership, I love the twist at the end that gives a little hint of things to come. Definitely a series I would like to explore.

Fans of Jackaby by William Ritter, Born of Illusion by Teri Brown, or The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James will certainly enjoy this book.

I finished The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist & the Psychic Thief by Lisa Tuttle last night. I chose this book to review from Netgalley based solely on its title and I did not know at the time that Somnambulist is the correct term for someone who sleep walks. This is a period mystery, a bit cozy and a very respectable paranormal. Great main character, Miss Lane, who finds herself with ut a job and answering the call to become a detective assistant to a very charismatic man who calls himself detective. Living largely by her wits and abilities of observation Miss Lane is a fascinating character. The mystery is especially exciting and somewhat elusive. I hated to put the book down and I found myself thinking about it when had to put it down and walk away. Lisa Tuttle wrote this book for mystery lovers like you and me. I enjoyed The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist & the Psychic Thief.

I love books set in the age of spiritualism and this novel was perfect to satisfy that kind of reader craving. The plot works with an interesting idea that the author took to the next level, providing the reader with a richly detailed atmosphere and a story that won't let go of you once it grabs your attention. If you like literature set in Victorian times, this will be one that you don't want to miss.

This book takes you on a perilous journey, slowly building up the mystery with the introduction of new characters and impossible to figure out situations. I liked that the author took the time to create a good, solid background for her characters before she set out to solve the mystery. I felt like these characters were old friends and there is a certain sly humour to her work that keeps you smiling even at the most intense points in the novel.

Overall, this was a great book that kept me fascinated from the first page to the last and I look forward to hearing the thoughts and opinions of others who have read it. Definitely recommended for the amateur sleuths out there.

This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this read! I found the mystery always kept me guessing, ultimately keeping my attention throughout the entirety of the novel, and I also loved the characters and the overall writing style of Lisa! I would recommend this book to my friends and I plan on doing so - best of luck with this novel!

I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel (London 1883) from Netgalley, Lisa Tuttle, and Random House Publishing Group - Hydra in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your work with me.

This historical mystery written along the lines of Sherlock etc was an interesting read. I enjoyed it, and the mystery involved as well but it left me feeling stymied. I couldn't decided if it was just a bit too long-winded, or in need of another go with an editor. Whatever, it was a fun, fast read.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. It was an interesting set up to a slightly off-beat Sherlock Holmes read-alike, with an even more eccentric Holmes and a female Watson who is not a doctor. On the one hand, their respective eccentricities make Jesperson and Lane closer to partners from the beginning. On that other hand, it also begins as a kind of tweak of the nose at Conan Doyle, because Aphrodite Lane becomes a detective after discovering that her friend and employer Gabrielle Fox, who is supposed to be a skeptical investigator for the Society for Psychical Research, is every bit as much of a fraud and a trickster as every medium they have ever investigated.

Miss Lane is willing to believe, but she wants empirical evidence. Evidence that doesn’t involve secret hooks and pulleys under the table. And I applauded her for that.

But about halfway through, The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief turned into the most infuriating book I have read in a long time, perhaps ever.

I fully realize that sentence requires a bit more explanation.

At the beginning of the story, as Jesperson and Lane get started in their consulting detective business, the setting seems to be the same Victorian London as the Holmes and Watson stories. (There is a tip of the hat to Holmes as a fictional character they are both familiar with). There was, at that time, quite a bit of exploration of and belief in the supernatural, and frauds abounded.

Conan Doyle, in spite of his invention of that most rational detective, Holmes, was himself a great believer in spiritualism (and fairies!). Harry Houdini, formerly one of Conan Doyle’s great friends, practically had a second career as a debunker of mediums and psychic phenomena. Their friendship broke over this fundamental difference of belief.

When the first case is presented to Jesperson and Lane, that of the sleepwalking, Mr. Creavey (in other words, the somnambulist) they are looking for a logical and rational explanation. Which Jesperson eventually finds. Someone is controlling Mr. Creavey through a post-hypnotic suggestion.

And while psychic phenomena are bunk, hypnosis is a well-known and reproducible technique.

And this is where the story goes completely off the rails. At least for this reader. Because the so far rational and redoubtable Miss Lane, who is telling the story in the first-person, becomes completely irrational on the subject of hypnotism and hypnosis, when it is obvious to both Jesperson and to the reader that Miss Lane has herself been hypnotized. The only question yet to be completely resolved is whether her hypnotist is the same as Mr. Creavey’s, but even at the outset it seems all too likely. It would be much too coincidental, in the best detectival tradition, for there to be two different hypnotists involved in the same case.

Whether hypnosis works exactly as portrayed in the story is questionable, but it certainly does work and does exist to a significant extent. That the amount of control the hypnotist has over his victims seems rather greater than is considered the norm feels like it falls within the spectrum of fiction.

But it gets worse. While the formerly rational Miss Lane descends into risible irrationality, what drove this reader off the edge into fury was that the story seemed to change its basic premise. While throughout the book it seems to be part of the historical Victorian era, when mostly gullible or desperate people believed in spiritualism but it was not proven, the ending of the story requires that this setting become a world in which psychic phenomena are real and functional.

In other words, we began in rationality and ended with magic, with no explanation for how the basic way that the world works seems to have flipped on its head.

Escape Rating C-: I did finish, which gets the C grade. And I’m still thinking about the book, and still furious, which also keeps it in the C category. But, but and very definitely but. I am so disappointed. What read like a very promising start descended so far on so many levels. Miss Lane’s descent in particular, from rational action to idiocy was particularly galling, especially as we view the story from inside her head.

I enjoy stories where magic works. I love urban fantasy. But if that’s the case, it needs to be established, or at least hinted at, from the beginning. That’s not what happened here. And yes, I’m aware that some of the promotional materials delve a bit into the supernatural aspects, but a) promotional materials don’t always represent the work in hand, b) the switch between absolute belief in rationality to confirmed belief in “magic” is not even subtext in the actual text, and 3) the point-of-view character still changes from an interesting and rational being to a complete idiot.

Color me extremely disappointed. And very, very annoyed.

Lisa Tuttle's The Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief was a very entertaining read. The story was set in late 19th century London. Ms. Lane worked with Gabrielle Fox researching psychic phenomena, until she finds out her friend is a sham. Leaving Ms. Fox's side abruptly she finds herself penniless with no job and no place to live. She stumbles upon a job as a lady detective and the job offers room and board. Jesperson and Lane's first "big" case is following a somnambulist and determining where he is going when he leaves home at night. Shortly after taking this job the London psychic scene is turned on its head when psychics start disappearing and an American Psychic comes to town to make his London debut. The story held my attention and when I put it down I hurried to return to it and learn more about the mystery and find out exactly what was happening. (ARC)