4 stars

I read the Kindle edition.

Crime Writer Julia Warren takes a temporary position in a large well-appointed house as a ladies’ companion. She is a writer of some success in the 1920’s, but needs the money the position pays, and besides her editor wants her to do it.

The owner of the house is a Mr. Paglar who is an MP and is a rather eccentric older man. He hires Julia to write his memoirs. Almost immediately upon entering the home, Julia begins to experience odd feelings and has strange occurrences while in the house. Shadows and shimmers, are these feelings the result of things supernatural? The obscure clues she learns seem to be about the death of a young maid called Agnes in this same household some years earlier.

Madame Bouvier the medium is a real character. She is as delightful as she is eccentric. Julia doesn’t quite buy her performance, however. And the flappers were so true to form, at least as I have read about them.

I found it interesting to notice that this novel changes language with the times. The 1790’s and 1800’s English was more formal and stilted than in later times, such as the 1920’s. What a clever device to use. The book was well written and plotted and the backstory was detailed enough so as to give valuable clues to the later situations. I liked writer Julia Warren. She seemed so accomplished and ahead of her time in many ways. This is my first B. Lloyd novel and I went immediately to Amazon to look for other of her books. But, alas, no luck there. I am anxiously awaiting the release of her next book.

I want to thank NetGalley and Holland House/Grey Cells Press for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read and enjoy.