Discover new books and much-loved classics to inspire a love of reading in every child

Books

The Society of Free Spirits: A Deadly Scandal

YA murder mystery with a ghostly, supernatural twist

Felicity Epps, Author

Series: The Society of Free Spirits

Imprint: Tempest

Publication date: August 27, 2026

Category: Crime & Mystery Fiction

ISBN: 9781444980080

Sisterhood, séances and solving murder, perfect for fans of Bridgerton and Laura Wood!

An occult device leaving threatening messages. A dinner party featuring a fatal main course. Was it a tragic accident, or is something foul at play? The Society of Free Spirits invites you to investigate, in this YA crime series with a supernatural twist.

17-year-old Ada Hawthorne would much rather be hunting for ghosts than for a husband. So when the Society of Free Spirits is invited to host a séance investigating the Spirit Hand – an occult device haunting its owner with threatening messages – Ada can’t wait to show off her spiritualist talents to London’s elite.

But then a guest is fatally stabbed with a hatpin during the séance, and Ada ends up with more on her plate than a fancy dinner!

The society’s reputation is hanging on by a thread, and Ada can’t afford her family name being dragged through another scandalous gossip column. But when visions of the ghost appear and demand that the murder be solved, Ada and her friends have no choice but to engage in some less-than-ladylike behaviour to uncover the mystery. They’ll soon learn that in high society, everyone’s watching – including the ghosts.

Reviews

All the Victorian gothic vibes and a murder to be solved too! Creepy, playful and intriguing - I loved it!

Lucy Strange, author of The Secret of Nightingale Wood on A Grave Inheritance

An atmospheric mystery for teens, the story mixes Victorian high society, spiritualism, ghostly visions and a group of determined young women

School Reading List

Felicity Epps

Felicity Epps studied English Literature as a degree before completing a Masters in Eighteenth-Century Studies, where her research focused on female murderers in true crime writing! Felicity finds inspiration in history; researching strange and spooky subjects. She enjoys exploring cemeteries, collecting old books and hunting for ghostly Victorian photographs in antique shops. Felicity currently lives in Broadstairs, Kent, UK, with her partner, Josh, and their baby daughter, Madeline. When she isn’t writing, Felicity loves going to the beach, knitting colourful jumpers and drinking far too many cups of hot chocolate.