I received this book for free from Kensington Books, Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey by Kathleen Kaufman Published by Kensington Books on July 29, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Historical / General, Fiction / Occult & Supernatural, Fiction / Sagas
Pages: 448
Format: ARC
ISBN: 9781496753922As 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.
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 séance 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 séance 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.
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A beautiful and heartbreaking novel about a time when women were controlled or taken advantage of by men. Nairna and Lottie’s interwoven stories bring to light the horrible conditions of asylums and helps Nairna chart her own path.
The only real issue I have with the book is really a publisher issue (I think, at least) because the summary really gives away everything that happens in the book. The only real mystery is what happens to Lottie once in the asylum, it’s pretty easy to figure out that Lottie and Nairna are grandmother/granddaughter. But for a while, I assumed that when Nairna talked about her Nann, she was talking about Lottie. It wasn’t until Lottie went through a few “treatments” that I realized she wasn’t going to survive the asylum. Besides all of this, it was still a beautiful and tragic novel.
The cast of characters was probably the best part of it all with Nairna being controlled by all these different people. It was fascinating that it wasn’t just men who were taking advantage of Nairna but women too. Really, everyone in her life besides Lady Bell only cared about what Nairna could do for them. I do like the arc of Nairna and her father’s (Tavish’s) relationship. Yes, he’s just as bad as all of the spiritualist in this for money, but once he realizes Nairna’s connecting with Lottie in the seances, his whole demeanor changes. He doesn’t become a perfect father but a better companion in the end for his daughter. Plus, him letting her live her own life at the end seems to be his way to apologize for what he did when she was growing up.
The supernatural and paranormal elements were fun and pretty spooky. I’m always here for a good ghost story, and this one hits the spot with asylums and mistreatment of patients. There’s a long history of medical malpractice not just among women and not just in the United Kingdom. But having even this (fictional) glimpse into the horrors makes me want to learn more about this history. Not only do I want to read more about medical horrors but also I need to find books about the spiritualist societies of this time period.
If you’re looking for a historical fiction book with paranormal elements and strong women trying to survive, then you should definitely pick this up (once it’s out).
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