I loved the premise of the British Army using mediums to communicate with soldiers killed in battle in order to find out more about enemy troop movements. This takes place in 1916 during World War I in France during the Battle of the Somme.
This book is a great historical fantasy/mystery but it also addresses issues of class and race in the British Army at the time.
- Ginger is the American niece of the titular head of the Spirit Corps. She attends all the briefings because she is better suited for that duty. Her aunt is in charge though because she is a Lady.
- The most powerful medium is a West Indian woman named Helen. She isn't known to be the mastermind behind the program because she is black and the army command won't consider listening to her.
- Indian soldiers aren't trained on how to report in after death. They feel that it is a slight stemming from the fact that the white officers don't feel that they wouldn't be able to report accurate information.
- Married women regardless of their abilities are not allowed to participate until things get desperate.
- The women of the Spirit Corp are thought to be there to help morale in clubs like USOs. No one outside knows that they also spend time talking to the dead. No one thinks of this because they are women so how could they be doing anything vital?
I can't talk much about the actual plot without giving away some spoilers. No men know how the Spirit Corp trains soldiers to report in. Only a few know who the mediums are. The Germans know that it is happening but want to find out how it all works. There is a spy and Ginger goes to investigate because she is one of the few people who knows all parts of the operation.
I loved the first half of the book. For me the story bogged down a little in the second half so I gave it 3.5 stars instead of 4. I'd recommend this to any historical fiction or paranormal fans.