We are so excited to welcome Lucy Barker to the store to discuss her twisty debut novel The Other Side of Mrs Wood, an irresistible historical comedy about two rival mediums in Victorian London.

This is one of our most anticipated books of 2023 and we can't wait to welcome the author to the store and hear her insights. 

Tickets are £5 and can be redeemed against any purchase on the evening of the event. 

About the book

Mrs Wood is London's premier medium. She has survived the competitive world of contacting the beyond where many others have failed, has avoided the slips that revealed others as frauds and is still hosting packed-out seances with the great and the good of Victorian society.

Yet, some of her patrons have recently cancelled their appointments. There are reports of American mediums who are materialising full spirits and audiences are no longer content with the knocking on tables and candle theatrics of years gone by. And then, at one of Mrs Wood's routine gatherings, she hears something terrifying - faint, but unmistakable: a yawn.

Mrs Wood needs to spice up her brand. She decides to take on Emmie, a young protege, to join her show. But is Emmie the naive ingenue she seems to be? Or does she pose more of a threat to Mrs Wood's reign as London's most celebrated medium than Mrs Wood could ever have imagined?

About the author 

Lucy Barker was the runner-up for the Curtis Brown First Novel Prize with an early extract from The Other Side of Mrs Wood. She holds an MA in Victorian Studies from Birkbeck College and is a Curtis Brown Creative and Novelry alumna. Lucy worked for years as a PA in theatre and heritage, including coordinating the Solstice celebrations at Stonehenge, before moving into social media management. She is currently a freelance copywriter and lives in rural Hampshire with her husband, two young children and the dog.

If you have any questions regarding the event or to request accessibility accommodations please contact hello@rarebirdsbooks.com