The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

By Kathleen Kaufman

Book Overview

As spiritualism reaches its fevered pitch at the dawn of the 20th century, a Scottish girl crosses the veil to unlock a powerful connection within an infamous asylum in this thrillingly atmospheric, exquisitely evocative exploration of feminine rage and agency for readers of Sarah Penner, Alice Hoffman, and Hester Fox.

Leaving behind a quiet life of simple comforts, Nairna Liath traverses the Scottish countryside with her charlatan father, Tavish. From remote cottages to rural fairs, the duo scrapes by on paltry coins as Tavish orchestrates "encounters" with the departed, while Nairna interprets tarot cards for those willing to pay for what they wish to hear.

But beyond her father's trickery, Nairna possesses a genuine gift for communicating with the spirit world, one that could get an impoverished country girl branded a witch. A talent inherited from her grandmother, Lottie Liath, widow of a Welsh coalminer, whose story of imprisonment and exploitation in a notorious asylum is calling out to Nairna from four decades past--a warning to break free from the manipulations, greed, and betrayals of others.

What do the cards hold for Nairna's future?

Rescued from homelessness by a well-connected stranger, Nairna is whisked into a new life among Edinburgh's elite Spiritualist circle, including visiting American star Dorothy Kellings. Researchers, doctors, psychics, and thrill-seekers clamor for the rising young medium. But after a s ance with blood-chilling results, a shocking scandal ensues, and Nairna flees to a secluded community near Boston, where she assumes a new identity: Nora Grey.

But Nora can't stay hidden when Dorothy Kellings offers her the chance to face all comers and silence skeptics at a spectacular s ance at Boston's Old South Meeting Hall, where Nora will come face to face at last with her spiritual guide: the courageous Lottie Liath, whose heart-wrenching story and profound messages are indelibly tied to Nora's destiny.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1496753909
• ISBN13: 9781496753908
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Good story

This was an interesting dip into historical fact and fiction with the story of Nairna Liath, later to be known as Nora Grey, traveling with her Da, Tavish, reading cards and performing séances for superstitious commoners (always with the fear of being accused of being a witch) until a member of a spiritual society recognizes her talent as real and from there it is a whirlwind of fame, power, doubters, and men looking to control her for their own purposes. As a foil, Nora comes to the realizaton that her spirit guide is Lottie, a woman also with powers but locked in an asylum and under the control of some completely despicable doctors, experimenting on her for their own research. It is a story of these two women, what they put up with and how they will do whatever it takes to be free. A sad but good message for women, to never give up and be their own women with power and freedom for those trying to stamp down on you. This book was good and felt nicely real with characters that made their mark on the story and I liked the ending, even if it had a bit of sadness with Lottie, though I did like the connection between the two women, each depending on the other to make it through the dark and hard times. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this interesting book.