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The Séance Murders: Saskatchewan
1908: Regina, Saskatchewan, the railroad hub of the prairies, is booming. The foxtrot is the latest craze hitting the dance halls, and silent movies are all the rage. But it’s the newest fad, séances, that intrigues Myrtle Vanhoff.
Myrtle is tired of the constraints put on her by her father, Reginald Vanhoff, a lumber baron, and her mother, Amelia. Her mother is determined to make her and her daughter’s mark on Regina’s burgeoning social scene. But Myrtle has other ideas. On a lark, the rebellious young woman convinces her twin brother, Leopold, to attend Madame Scarlatta’s notorious séances. They find more than restless spirits. Someone murders a bereaved patron while everyone at the table is holding hands. Myrtle and Leopold are determined to find out who and how. A Regina police sergeant is appalled at Myrtle’s unladylike interest in the murders. But Jonathan Chapman of the Royal North-West Mounted Police is intrigued. Jonathan joins Myrtle and Leopold in their search for the murderer. When Myrtle gets too close to the truth, the murderer targets her as the next victim.
Editorial
The Séance Murders is an intriguing tale of murder and mayhem set at the turn of the century in Regina, Saskatchewan. Forward-thinking Myrtle Vanhoff sees possibilities beyond the restrictions placed on her by her strict parents. Frustrated by their expectation that she should find a husband, she envies her twin brother Leopold’s freedom. Attracted by an advert in a newspaper for Madame Scarlatta’s Séances, Myrtle suggests she and Leopold should attend a session.
Neither of them expects to witness the death of one of the attendees. Spurred by the tales of Sherlock Holmes, Myrtle is sure she can solve the murder. She and Leopold begin to piece together one clue after another, linking a previous death close to Madame Scarlatta’s home with the one they witnessed. What follows exceeds Myrtle’s wish for an exciting life, but what she discovers places her in harm’s way.
This story has several twists and turns before Myrtle and Leopold reach a solution. Ms Havelange’s research blends historical facts about society as it was in 1908 with the growth of Saskatchewan’s capital city and one young woman’s ambition. Throw in the spark of romance between Myrtle and Johnathan Chapman of the Royal North West Mounted Police, and you have a very satisfying read.
Myrtle is tired of the constraints put on her by her father, Reginald Vanhoff, a lumber baron, and her mother, Amelia. Her mother is determined to make her and her daughter’s mark on Regina’s burgeoning social scene. But Myrtle has other ideas. On a lark, the rebellious young woman convinces her twin brother, Leopold, to attend Madame Scarlatta’s notorious séances. They find more than restless spirits. Someone murders a bereaved patron while everyone at the table is holding hands. Myrtle and Leopold are determined to find out who and how. A Regina police sergeant is appalled at Myrtle’s unladylike interest in the murders. But Jonathan Chapman of the Royal North-West Mounted Police is intrigued. Jonathan joins Myrtle and Leopold in their search for the murderer. When Myrtle gets too close to the truth, the murderer targets her as the next victim.
Editorial
The Séance Murders is an intriguing tale of murder and mayhem set at the turn of the century in Regina, Saskatchewan. Forward-thinking Myrtle Vanhoff sees possibilities beyond the restrictions placed on her by her strict parents. Frustrated by their expectation that she should find a husband, she envies her twin brother Leopold’s freedom. Attracted by an advert in a newspaper for Madame Scarlatta’s Séances, Myrtle suggests she and Leopold should attend a session.
Neither of them expects to witness the death of one of the attendees. Spurred by the tales of Sherlock Holmes, Myrtle is sure she can solve the murder. She and Leopold begin to piece together one clue after another, linking a previous death close to Madame Scarlatta’s home with the one they witnessed. What follows exceeds Myrtle’s wish for an exciting life, but what she discovers places her in harm’s way.
This story has several twists and turns before Myrtle and Leopold reach a solution. Ms Havelange’s research blends historical facts about society as it was in 1908 with the growth of Saskatchewan’s capital city and one young woman’s ambition. Throw in the spark of romance between Myrtle and Johnathan Chapman of the Royal North West Mounted Police, and you have a very satisfying read.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2024
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Joan Havelange
8 books8 followersJoan Havelange has been writing fiction since her early twenties, beginning with romance stories. Always a fan of mysteries, she is an avid reader and writer of cozy mysteries.
She is an accomplished actor and director of community theatre, which lends well to her writing. Joan is a world traveler and an enthusiastic golfer. She lives on the prairies and has three grown children
She is an accomplished actor and director of community theatre, which lends well to her writing. Joan is a world traveler and an enthusiastic golfer. She lives on the prairies and has three grown children
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 24, 2024
I've read all Joan's books, this one is something different. I liked the historical mystery aspect. Myrtle is a hoot!
December 27, 2024
A Séance of Murder by Joan Havelange 27th December, 2024
In 1908, Regina Saskatchewan, Myrtle Vanhoff, daughter of the biggest timber company in the city, is bored and rebellious. A fan of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holme’s detective novels she persuades her twin brother, Leopold, to attend a séance conducted by Madame Scarlatta. If the spiritualist claims to contact Myrtle’s fictitious relative, Hortense, they will expose Madame as a fraud, but she announces her spirit guide has warned her there is a negative influence present. While the group hold hands in a circle around the table one of them falls to the floor She has been stabbed and her death is announced. Myrtle and Leopold collaborate with Jonathan Chapman, a cadet with the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, to discover ‘who done it.’ About to discover the murderer’s identity, is her life is in danger. The characters spring to life. Myrtle, daughter of the biggest timber company in Regina, is bored and rebellious. The emerging romance, descriptions of places and the historical details swept me back to the era. I congratulate Ms Havelange on the interesting twists and turns in the tale that held my interest until I reached the satisfying conclusion.
In 1908, Regina Saskatchewan, Myrtle Vanhoff, daughter of the biggest timber company in the city, is bored and rebellious. A fan of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holme’s detective novels she persuades her twin brother, Leopold, to attend a séance conducted by Madame Scarlatta. If the spiritualist claims to contact Myrtle’s fictitious relative, Hortense, they will expose Madame as a fraud, but she announces her spirit guide has warned her there is a negative influence present. While the group hold hands in a circle around the table one of them falls to the floor She has been stabbed and her death is announced. Myrtle and Leopold collaborate with Jonathan Chapman, a cadet with the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, to discover ‘who done it.’ About to discover the murderer’s identity, is her life is in danger. The characters spring to life. Myrtle, daughter of the biggest timber company in Regina, is bored and rebellious. The emerging romance, descriptions of places and the historical details swept me back to the era. I congratulate Ms Havelange on the interesting twists and turns in the tale that held my interest until I reached the satisfying conclusion.
April 26, 2024
Young heroine "s first mystery
Young Myrtle is a Sherlock Holmes fan and soon becomes embroiled I her own mystery. She and her twin brother attend a shady seance that goes awry. With the help of a young Canadian Mounties cadet, they have the adventure of their lives. I enjoyed the young heroine's search for a purposeful life as she fights the strictures of her class and time (early 20th century). Her resources and generosity of spirit kept me involved in the story, along with the historical flourishes about early Regina.
Young Myrtle is a Sherlock Holmes fan and soon becomes embroiled I her own mystery. She and her twin brother attend a shady seance that goes awry. With the help of a young Canadian Mounties cadet, they have the adventure of their lives. I enjoyed the young heroine's search for a purposeful life as she fights the strictures of her class and time (early 20th century). Her resources and generosity of spirit kept me involved in the story, along with the historical flourishes about early Regina.
December 3, 2025
An enjoyable mystery made even more interesting as based locally with historical Regina forming the backdrop.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews