Necromancy

That is the subject of Paul Elwork's first novel The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead, set in 1925. Early in the story, Emily discovers that she can make a knocking sound by moving something in her ankle without appearing to move it. Shortly after this discovery, she and her brother begin to hold performances for their friends. During the performance, Emily contacts the spirit of an ancestor, and those in attendance can ask the spirit questions. Answers come in the form of one knock for “no” and two knocks for “yes.” It’s not long before word gets around, however, and soon some adults are interested in her talent for contacting spirits.  

The author acknowledges from the first that his novel is loosely based on the story of the Fox sisters, who enjoyed some fame as mediums in the late 1800s. In reading reviews of Elwork’s novel, I saw a reference to Captivity, a historical novel about the Fox sisters by Deborah Noyes.

I think one or the other of these novels would make for an interesting discussion. Why do some people want/need to believe in mediums, fortune tellers, etc.? If you could contact a deceased person, who would it be? What questions would you ask?