Clara was one of only two women practising law in San Francisco, as such she had a lot to prove, but she also had good instincts. Instincts that saw her befriend Adeline, a young woman she found in distress. When finally she returned to her senses, Adeline confesses to witnessing a murder, in fact, of the witnesses called she was the only who witnessed it happen, and yet she was refused the right to testify, why? Because she not only witnessed the murder, she heard the thoughts of the one committing it. The killer was set free, and Clara is determined to use Adeline and her perfect recall along with her ability to channel other people's thoughts and memories to get to the bottom of what happened. But how can you prove something when your evidence is only the word of someone who could be called crazy? You search for evidence of course, but Clara must be careful, the killer believes he can control anyone, but why commit these acts in the first place, is it to show their power, or is there something else afoot?

Written in a style suitable for the era James Musgrave's The Spiritualist Murders: Portia of the Pacific Historical Mysteries book 2 delivers an intense and vivid scene of San Francisco in the 1880s. While I can't speak to historical accuracy due to unfamiliarity, the feel of the work if very authentic to the time. Musgrave possesses an enjoyable narrative that will appeal to a mature audience, as well as those who enjoy a well-worded and conceived plot. As a murder mystery, you are of course asking yourself the how and why, and the spiritual twists gives this book a little something extra. Controversy, challenges, sexism, manipulation, and agendas both concealed and visible drive the mysteries and the characters forward in a novel that is bound to please lovers of the genre who are looking for something just a little bit different.1 Goth Gone Grey1,124 47

Historical women's paranormal fiction

The second book of a growing series, this builds on everything established in the first volume and adds in a strong dose of the paranormal. Women's rights and strengths are significant. Historical figures are the basis of many of the characters, which adds an extra layer of interest to the plot.

Clara, a keen minded lawyer in a time when women weren't lawyers, is the lead character, along with her family, lover (scandalous!) and friends from the first book. Chinese American characters return - there's a fine line between stereotype and accuracy for minority characters, which the author does well not crossing. New characters and mysteries are woven into the story with a a deft hand.

As with the first book, the writing and editing are top notch. I found this volume a bit more convoluted than the first, requiring a bit more suspension of disbelief than I'd typically . An example of the style:

"Clara could hear the pipe organ playing as they approached the Grand Ballroom. If she wasn’t mistaken it was the Camille Saint-Saëns piece, “Danse Macabre.” Inside, the parquet wood floor was covered with the feet of some of the wealthiest men in the world. The American men Clara could recognize from newspapers were J. P. Morgan, the banker and financier, Andrew Carnegie, the steel industrialist, John D. Rockefeller the oil man, and Cornelius Vanderbilt II, whose family had made their money from railroads and shipping."

The author gave me a copy of this book to review. 2018 author-copies mystery Kari167 6

Clara Foltz and Ah Toy are back with another mystery, but this time, there is more of Clara's family, and the stakes are much higher. We really get to know two of Clara's children, and we get to know so much background of Ah Toy and her familial ties as well.
I really enjoyed this novel, as I did the first in the series, Chinawoman's Chance. I cannot get over how much I love the way Musgrave brings new intrigue and mystery to historical figures. There is so much empowerment for not only women, but for varying minority groups as well, and for the characters in this time period, it is amazing. Another addition to this novel was the paranormal aspect. Some people believe in the paranormal, and some do not, and that is another thing that is proven within the story. Whether you do or don't, I think the subject was brought up objectively and everyone can enjoy this story regarding just that.
The characters were well developed from beginning to end. We get snippets of all their lives and personalities as we move through the story, and that is just how you get to know someone in real life, slowly over time. I LOVED that aspect.
The mystery keeps you going the whole time. I had guesses and conclusions all thought up, but I was not expecting the ending to be as it was. I was wrong, and I love when I can be surprised by a book. There were a few conversations that seemed a bit formal to me, it was something you wouldn't really find yourself saying to friends or colleagues, and that is why only 4 star, but honestly this book is so good! I highly recommend it.
*Thank you to the author who gifted me a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own* Amy ShannonAuthor 108 books122

Loved this story

This is a powerful story, and it's not something that should be read lightly. I enjoyed the premise of the story, and I read the first book in this series. It's a unique story that mixes paranormal powers with historical settings. I read this book from beginning to end, and I just was so engaged with this story. ""We grow daily beyond our yesterdays and are ever reaching forth for the morrow..." sets the tone for the story, and this reader was definitely engaged. It's a terrifying and interesting trek to figure out the truth behind women murdering their husbands. Full of entrancing mesmerizing intensities and mysteries of the mind, and control over someone else. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Carla489 3

Once again, Mr. Musgrave tells a tale with many twists and a few surprises. Murder, wealth, friendship, burgeoning love, and family dynamics all play a part when a woman is convicted of killing her husband.
Clara, Ah Toy, and Captain Lees are joined by the lawyer for the convicted woman in the twisty pursuit of the instigator of the this and other murders for money and power. Clara's son and Ah Toy's uncle play important parts in the resolution of this case, also.
I very much enjoyed this second book in the series and am looking forward to the third. Brett WallachAuthor 18 books18

A delicious stew of murder, feminism, clairvoyance, and the supernatural in late nineteenth century America make The Spiritualist Murders an excellent and exciting read, and clairvoyant in its own way as to the societal changes that would take place over the next 130 years. I know you will this novel, and if I were to ask you after you've read it, you might actually say, "Me too". Meg198 5

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