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THE SEANCE
by John Harwood
Jonathan Cape, April 2008
304 pages
12.99 GBP
ISBN: 0224081861


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

That charming man and talented author, John Harwood, has returned to our bookshelves four years after the appearance of his first novel, THE GHOST WRITER. While it is a long time between drinks, so to speak, it appears that Mr Harwood has been devoting his time to achieving the certain perfection to detail which characterises his work.

The novel unfolds in a number of sections. The first, Constance Langton's narrative, set in 1889, records the effect on her household of the death of her baby sister, Alma. Unforgivably, Constance's mother sank into a deep depression after the loss and refuses to come out of it to bring Constance up as she should. Constance, in an effort to make her mother happy, accompanies that woman to seances. Unfortunately, these visits do not promote any feeling of cheer in the older woman. Even the unveiling of a charlatan by the Society for Psychical Research does nothing to deter Constance's zeal to bring comfort to her mother.

Constance learns she is the heir to Wraxford Hall, but at the same time, receives a packet of papers from John Montague, the family lawyer, who tells her in no uncertain terms to "sell the Hall unseen; or burn it to the ground...but never live there".

Montague's contribution comprises the next part of the novel. His papers record his knowledge of events at Wraxford Hall going back almost twenty years. Thus, the reader is introduced to Magnus Wraxford, the owner of Wraxford Hall in 1870, and learns the tragic story of what happened to Constance's predecessors in that decayed mansion.

Next, and a bit further back in time, Eleanor (Nell) Unwin's journal tells more of the history of the Hall. She, unfortunately, was beset by 'visitations' from people who have died. She, therefore, becomes cursed with the reputation of being a reluctant medium, and this reputation brings her to Wraxford Hall and the attention of its owner.

The author constructs a wonderfully engaging plot, with a dastardly villain and heartbroken heroine. His ability to evoke a creepy atmosphere is astonishing while his attention to detail, as previously mentioned, is wonderful. His ancillary characters, too, are nicely developed -- although I wish he had given us a bit more of a glimpse of the Society for Psychical Research people.

I would like to say something about the author's resolution of the mystery, but unfortunately, can't very well include any spoilers in my review. I can't help but wonder if the author has any other work in mind to delight us at some later stage. If so, I am torn between wanting it now, not a few years hence, even if I realise that the perfection of the text requires sufficient time to perfect the work.

Reviewed by Denise Pickles, March 2008

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