Spitting Gold

Two estranged sisters reunite for one last con in this darkly comic Gothic historical set in 1866 Paris. As children, Sylvie and Charlotte were essential participants in the family business, posing as spiritists and pretending to connect people with their deceased loved ones. Two years after Sylvie promised to never contact her sister again, Charlotte begs her to take a final job for a wealthy family, as she desperately needs the money. But nothing about the job goes to plan. Sylvie is stunned by the very real paranormal activity she observes, while Charlotte is too busy falling in love with their client’s daughter to pay her sister much mind. This confident debut boasts good pacing, a moody atmosphere, and a dual-POV structure that serves the story. (Psst—don’t miss the meaning of the title!)