Just as Madame Ispenska goes into a trance, the lights go out in Ten Downing Street. When they come back on, the Prime Minister’s other daughter, fourteen-year old Megan is missing. A brief search of the house turns up nothing. Not wanting to contact Scotland Yard, George asks Conan Doyle for his help, and he turns to Professor John Darnell, an investigator who has a knack for disproving paranormal events and finding the truth in them.

Hoping that recreating the séance will yield some clues to the girl’s disappearance, George holds a second séance during which the lights again go out. When they come up this time, one of his aides has been stabbed to death. At this point, George agrees to bring in Scotland Yard, whether or not they think it silly that the Prime Minister holds séances.

A ransom note stating that Megan will be released if George agrees to the Germans’ peace proposal to end World War I helps narrow down the field of suspects, yet it still seems to take the team of investigators quite awhile to locate Megan, given their combined expertise.

The 2nd Séance is set toward the end of World War I and while the flavor of the time period is given, there is not a great deal of detail provided. Conan Doyle does not come across as offering a lot of insight into the investigation as one might expect. Rather, his interest in the paranormal is highlighted rather than his mystery novels. Some insight is given into John Darnell’s past that may explain some of his interest in this field. His life with his wife Penny is beginning to take on a quiet, comfortable aspect on dry land after one adventure aboard the Titanic and one on the famed Orient Express.

The answer to the mystery is pretty obvious, and the last twist is not entirely unexpected, still the pace is kept up enough to hold the reader’s interest. The Case of the 2nd Séance is a fast, light historical mystery for those looking for a quick read.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry