Audiobook Review: The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey by Kathleen Kaufman
🎧 Narrated by Mhairi Morrison

Kathleen Kaufman’s novel is a fascinating blend of historical fiction and the supernatural, centered on the life of a young Scottish spiritualist with real psychic abilities. Nora Grey—born Nairna Liath—is a compelling protagonist whose talents make her both revered and ruthlessly exploited. First by her father, and later by the manipulative American stage actress Dorothy Kellings, Nora’s journey is one of resilience, mysticism, and heartbreak. Despite the world’s attempts to control and use her, Nora's authenticity and power stand out—drawing the attention of both skeptics and spiritualists alike.

The novel also weaves in a second, equally moving timeline following Lottie Liath, Nora’s grandmother. Lottie’s story is rooted more in tragic realism than mysticism. After her husband dies in a mining accident, Lottie dares to challenge a powerful man and pays the price—committed to a Scottish asylum, as so many outspoken women were in that era. Her chapters offer a haunting look at the institutional suppression of women and mirror the injustices faced by Nora in a different generation.

While the dual timelines add depth, the pacing does drag at times. Some parts of the story felt overly long, and had this been a print book, I might have been tempted to skim. That said, the audiobook format helped keep me engaged. Narrator Mhairi Morrison delivers a strong performance, effectively capturing the tone and emotion of both timelines and characters.

Overall, this is a sad but powerful story that highlights the limited rights of women across generations, framed by mysticism, fantasy, and historical truth. If you enjoy layered stories with a touch of the supernatural and a focus on women’s strength in the face of systemic oppression, this audiobook is worth your time.

3.5 Stars

The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey beautifully reveals the stories of two women, Lottie and Nairna, who share a deep connection while being separated by time (no spoilers).

This book beautifully, and hauntingly explores the fascination with spiritualism that took hold across the continents during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It also vividly depicts the absolute misogyny, arrogance, and injustice, that many women of the time endured in the name of 'concern' for their 'mental health' and/or well-being. I think many readers will find this to be infuriating. I did.

This is a slow-burn type of read that is worth sticking with.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the advanced listener copy of this book. My review will be posted to my socials on July 27, 2025, (Fable and Goodreads)

This book started out a bit confusing. There are two timelines, and it alternates between the two before coming together. As a physical book this works as it's easy to flip back and reread. As an audiobook, you really have to pay attention. I often listen to audiobooks while doing other tasks, and can get slightly distracted. This is not a book that you want to do that. I would recommend really sitting and focusing.

That being said, it's a great story. I was intrigued and it's filled with enough magic and intrigue to keep the reader wanting to focus. While not a genre I usually read, it's a wonderful story and was worth the time.

I loved the narrator! She was engaging and I really liked how authentic and pleasant her accent was to listen to. She made the story engaging and kept me listening.

I did find it a bit drawn out, and would say it could be condensed and some details left out without fully loosing the story..

overall, I think it's an interesting story and worth a listen.

Thank you HighBridge Audio for the ALC

The story (I received and ARC from Kensington Publishing) was a wild ride of historical fiction, paranormal experiences and a family saga that was both heartbreaking and eventually hopeful).

The audiobook narration was excellent, mastering the different accents of the characters as we travel with the story between Scotland, Wales and Gilded Age United States. I was fully absorbed in the atmosphere and Mhairi Morrison was excellent.

Thank You RBmedia and NetGalley for the ALC of The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey by Kathleen Kaufman. I enjoyed the book and the audiobook was a great way to engage with this story. The production quality was top notch and the Narrator Mhairi Morrison was superb. This dark and engaging tale was perfect for those that want a bit of gothic atmosphere without too much. It was the Goldilocks of tales in that respect, not too light and fluffy, not too dark and dreary. The characters were well drawn and intriguing, the story came together well. I think you would enjoy this if you enjoyed The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Scwab or The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow.

The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Gray expertly uses some of what I consider the best aspects of historical fiction and magical realism to create an incredible mix of suspense and intrigue along with the tragic, cyclical story of a family torn apart by the darkness of the time period, and the magic that brings them back together, if only in a round about way. It's a fantastic read (pun intended) and if you are a fan of historical fiction, I definitely think this should be on your radar.

Kaufman does what is arguably my favorite thing in historical fiction books, which is to include articles from the future to introduce a section. For example, when we are first introduced to Lottie, it isn't from when she was alive, but rather from an excerpt from a book on ghosts, discussing about the true history of the wailing woman, and the horrible fate that befell one Lottie Liath. It is such an effective tool to create a level of suspense and intrigue, and Kaufman executes it perfectly, revealing just enough information to get you hooked without completely spoiling how it ends. Absolutely fantastic.

The biggest complaint I have is that there is a good bit of repetition in the book. Some of it I have no problem with (being used in line with the hypnosis, for example). Some of it is stuff that I have full faith will be edited out in the final edition of the book (different takes from the narrator) but some of it I'm not so sure about. You can tell that there are some phrases that the author just really likes to use; "for/just a spell" is used about 6 times in 10 minutes of listening towards the beginning, and before Lottie and Nora know each others names, they are constantly being described by "the girl with (feature) so like her own." It can get pretty annoying, and any mystery about Nora and Lottie's relationship to each other is solved almost immediately when they're described as looking nearly identical right off the bat. (I would like to add that I don't think that there is supposed to be a mystery there, I just think its worth mentioning.)

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Nairna has traveled the Scottish countryside with her father, performing fake seances and reading tarot cards for people. As much as these seances aren't real, she does possess the gift, able to read the cards for people and tell them they're fortunes. When a seance ends with her seeing an actual apparition, her and her father are whisked away to join a society of gifted people in Edinburgh. Which is when Nairna meets her spirit guide -- Lottie. Lottie is a widow whose husband died in a coal mining incident. Pregnant and alone, she ends up at an asylum, doing her best to just survive, but when she starts seeing visions of a girl at a table -- a girl who looks remarkably like her -- the doctors begin taking advantage of her "gifts," exploiting her in the worst ways possible. Nairna learns with the society that she isn't just a charlatan but the real deal, a gift passed down to her by her grandmother Lottie. As things get intense, she flees to America. Taking the name Nora Grey, she ends up putting on seances as performances, and each time she does, she gets back in contact with Lottie. As Lottie's story unravels and we learn what happened to Lottie, it becomes clear that their psychic connection will last only as long as Lottie lives.

This was pretty intense. Told in two different perspectives, during two separate timelines, you have Lottie and you have Nairna. Lottie is Nairna's grandmother, but she is forced to spend her time in an asylum after the death of her husband and deemed insane and it's kind of heartbreaking to see her go through everything, especially while pregnant. I mean, to be fair, no one deserves to be experimented on and whatnot, but yeah. I loved the whole healing of generational trauma that Nora accomplishes with her gift, and seeing her relationship with her father shift as the book continued was beautiful. I also like the little snippets of newspaper articles and documentaries between a few chapters and found them to be a nice touch between all of the heavy moments of Lottie's and Nairna's lives. I loved this.

Plus, the audio book narrator did a fantastic job bringing this to life. Definitely recommend it.

I listened to the audiobook of this one and I really liked the narration a lot. It took me a little bit to get into this story, but once it had its hooks in me I could not put it down. This book is historical fiction that enters into the faked and perhaps not so faked fad of memerists. Nora Grey has always had a talent with reading the cards, but her father had them faking seances to make a thin living until she runs into some people who study skills like hers and she discovers she can do more than read the cards. The other perspective from this book is Lottie, a poor woman widowed and cheated and then thrown into an asylum for standing up for herself. This book is beautifully written and tragically sad and also somehow hopeful. I will definitely be looking out for more by this author.

Atmospheric, haunting, and empowering, The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey,
by Kathleen Kaufman, is a gothic historical novel that beautifully weaves dual timelines, supernatural intrigue, and feminist themes.
Set against the lush, moody backdrops of early 20th-century Scotland, Victorian Edinburgh, and turn-of-the-century New England, this spellbinding tale blends gothic suspense, magical realism, and richly layered historical fiction.
At the heart of the novel is Nairna Liath, a young Scottish girl with a true connection to the spirit world, unlike her father, Tavish, a charming but manipulative charlatan scraping a living on fake séances and theatrical trickery. Nairna’s complex relationship with her father, shaped by love, trauma, survival, and betrayal, adds depth and tension to a plot already thick with suspense. After Nairna is discovered telling fortunes with a deck of Tarot cards that once belonged to her grandmother, she is drawn into the elite circles of spiritualism in Edinburgh, and later across the Atlantic in Boston, where her inner conflict between authenticity and exploitation simmers to a powerful boil.
The dual-timeline narrative is beautifully handled, with Nairna’s story interwoven with that of her grandmother, Lottie Liath, a young Welsh widow institutionalized for her righteous rage and abused for her supernatural gifts, decades earlier. Both women’s journeys illuminate the systemic silencing and victimization of women deemed “too much” by a patriarchal society, especially those who dared to speak with spirits or see beyond the veil.
What sets this novel apart is its ability to immerse readers in richly detailed settings, from dark carnivals and sinister asylums to plush séance halls, while maintaining a focus on the emotional lives of its heroines. The author’s use of historical newspaper clippings at the start of each chapter adds an eerie realism, anchoring the narrative in the societal fascinations and fears of the era.
The book is an easy, fast-paced read that doesn’t sacrifice depth. Themes of class, labor exploitation, and generational trauma are explored with nuance, all while delivering haunting séance scenes and a slow-burn tension that keeps the pages turning.
With fully realized characters, a compelling emotional arc, and an atmosphere drenched in autumn shadows and candlelit mysticism, this novel is for lovers of feminist gothic storytelling. Perfect for fans of Sarah Penner, Hester Fox, and stories where the past refuses to stay buried.
For those who are reading the audiobook, you will be enchanted by Mhairi Morrison dynamic narration.
Thank you to Kathleen Kaufman, HighBridge Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.
All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for this audio ARC!

This was a very enjoyable listen, especially the accents of the narrators and performance of the audiobook. This mystical tale of generational connection and trauma was an engaging and well paced read. There were parts that felt slow, but overall the pacing kept my attention throughout. I was more enamored with Lottie’s timeline, and enjoyed her strength and convictions throughout, especially in regard to her pregnancy. The nuns at the asylum were a delightful addition to the character landscape and stood out even though they were more minor characters.

Definitely for fans of Emilia Hart or Alix E Harrow!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review the advanced review copy of the audiobook.

I was genuinely very excited for this book as soon as I read the title. It's ridiculously catchy, even if it's a mouthful. I LOVED the dual POV, Lottie and Nairna. I didn't at any point find myself disappointed when we switched from one POV to another; I found myself invested in both. I was so glad for the gradual nuggets of information we got as to their connection. Some parts were a little predictable, sure. Did I still enjoy being fed the information and enjoy the reveal? Hell yes. I truly enjoyed this moody, gothic read. My only real "complaint" is probably just a me thing... I did have a little bit of a tough time with the narrator's accent occasionally, so it took me a little longer to get through it. I will, definitely, be getting the ebook.

The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey
Kathleen Kaufman
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book: 59

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and HighBridge Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to the NetGalley for The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey.

This book was very good. I loved the world building and the strong move from just a girl in Scotland, being made to con her way through life with her con man father to a very real Mesmerist with her late grandmother as her spirit guide. I am not one for torture in books so Lottie’s chapters towards the end were definitely very difficult for me. However, I am glad that none of the “treatments” hurt the baby. I love that the Nuns kept their promises about the Asylum. The story was very atmospheric and dark at moments. I was so glad that Nairna/Nora finally started standing up for herself.

Told in dual POV during the 1800s to 1900s, we are with Nora, a girl who travels with her father reading tarot cards and doing psychic readings and Lottie who has ended up pregnant and in an asylum. Slowly via their physic abilities, threads are woven between the two women that changes both of their lives.
This book spans several genres including ghost story, historical fiction, fantasy and more, making for an interesting read. The treatment of Lottie by the doctors in the asylum told a lot about the disregard for human life when it came to testing for medical advancements in the 1800-1900s.
The narrator did a great job and I enjoyed her bringing the characters to life.
Thank you to Netgalley and HighBridge Audio for the audiobook arc for review.

Okay, I did not know what I was signing up for, but by the halfway point, I was completely hooked. This is a weird, wild mashup of historical fiction, magical realism, and spiritualist drama, and it hits like a moody playlist on a rainy day.

Nairna (later Nora Grey) starts out running tarot scams with her dad across Scotland, but there’s something real under the surface. That tension, between con and actual gift, makes her story so compelling. Meanwhile, in the past, her grandmother Lottie is being hypnotized and experimented on in an asylum. Both timelines unravel into a bigger generational mystery about rage, power, and freedom.

The vibes are gothic, spooky, and a little sad in a quiet way. It’s not fast-paced, and some parts feel slower or slightly strange near the end, but I still flew through it. The writing is lush without being too much, and the themes hit hard once everything clicks. It’s a story about women who are exploited, underestimated, and silenced, and how they claw their way back into the narrative.

I wouldn’t call this a thriller. It’s more like a haunting little reclamation arc with seances, secrets, and generational trauma, and I mean that in the best way.

The weaving of stories in this gothic historical fiction was amazing. Multiple POV that was very well done. The horrific treatment of women in both timelines was enraging. The two fmc were so incredibly strong and fiercely protective of those close to them. This story is such a tale of survival and perseverance. Very different than what I expected.

🎧Audiobook review🎧

I’m fairly new to the genre, would you call it Historical Spiriritualism? I enjoyed Sarah Penner’s The London Seance Society.

The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesemerist Nora Grey goes deep into the popular frenzy of the era as Nairna Liath progresses from reading tarot cards for pennies at country fairs to leading seances in prestigious company and beyond.

There’s a second strand, decades earlier a miner’s widow was imprisoned in an asylum, with little hope of ever tasting freedom.

The blurb gives too much away in my opinion. I went in blind and found it a fascinating blend of the historical, the fantastical with excellent character development. Perhaps the story dragged a little in the middle but in such a sprawling, epic tale that’s easily forgiven.

The audiobook narration is great and this was a very entertaining, rewarding and informative listen. Very relaxing to slip back in time and into the Spiritualist realm for a few hours.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Highbridge Audio

4.5 rounded up

Alexa, play Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves by Cher

Exempt among these gypsies, tramps, and thieves lays a rare gem

Nora starts on the road with her father doing parlor tricks , trying to scrape up enough to get by. More & more Nora, and those around her start noticing that she IS in fact very special.

This was such a cool & original concept from start to finish. I'm not sure how many of you have seen the movie The Illusionist from 2006. Adapted from Eisenheim the Illusionist. A short story by Steven Millhauser. But the atmospheres from that movie are VERY similar to this book.. Enchantingly historical, somehow both whimsical & gripping. If you need a book to get lost in to forget the world for a while this is the one. Told from two different timelines that come together in the most magical way.


This has been one hell of a year for authors so far & I really can't wait to see what the rest brings. I am NOT an easy reviewer but lately these Netgallery reads have me feeling like early 2000's Opera. Just throwing 4, 5, 6 star reviews out left & right. Every single star that has been given out has been so genuinely earned, it's crazy. This was absolutely BEAUTIFUL & I highly recommend!

In 1901, Nairna Laith and her father traveled the Scottish countryside tricking folks out of their coin to survive. They did this by providing seances and having Nairna contort her body to make the onlookers believe in what they are selling. She also reads tarot cards with an accuracy that brings the customers back. One day, Nairna is approached by a woman who believes she has a real talent and brings her and her father into their society of spiritualists. Discovering she has a real connection with the other side of the veil, while being mesmerized, she garners fame. She is taken to Boston and her name to Nora Grey. As her infamy continues to rise, she learns of the gruesome fate of her spirit guide.

This is a really good story mixing historical fiction, magical realism, and a splash of horror/gothic. Told in a non-linear timeline line we have two stories happening: that of Nora and that of Lottie. The two timelines will eventually come full circle, but where Nora is being elevated in society, Lottie is her opposite. Pregnant Lottie is thrown in a psychiatric hospital because she dared stand up to her dead husband's boss. The doctors in the asylum then perform experiments on Lottie as they think she has connections with the other side. It is hard to see this pregnant, helpless woman continuously being tortured with no real hope of salvation. I do know that stuff like this did happen in real life, but I still don't love it. The story is almost a mystery on what is happening with Lottie and what will become of Nora. In between those stories, you have newspaper articles or textbook entries that relate to whatever is happening in the previous chapter. The story does hold a men are bad and women don't need men to boss us around vibe, which is true, and feminine rage comes out heavy in the end. When you talk about characters, I feel like you have a deterioration of one while the other is strengthened. Plus, I feel like Tavish goes from being this unlikeable father to more empathetic and supportive. The story ends, but it is a bit open-ended. If you want something that is a clearly defined ending, this is not it. Overall, the story is a slow-paced but entertaining foray into the Victorian Era occult with a lot of darkness and a little bit of hope.

At first I was totally in with the historical setting of Edinburgh set in the early 1900s at the height of the spiritualist movement, but because it has a gothic style writing to it sometimes it is a bit more difficult to navigate. That being said the ending was fabulous.

Where I think I struggled: first it was the change in Nairna (Nora)'s name but also in the dueling POV with Lottie. I enjoyed the narrator but without a change in voice for the different characters it was sometimes difficult to follow along with which POV we were in. I found myself zoning out a bit and wishing there was a little more action happening.

Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for the alc

Let me start out by admitting that the rating is almost entirely based on the fabulous, incredible, bubbly narration by Mhairi Morrison and the sheer idea of the story. What a wicked narrator. Morrison's voice was utterly captivating. And she can rock an American accent. Every character was made distinct entirely through her talents.

Now, allow me to share more critical thoughts. I wanted to love this Scottish, turn-o-the-last century tale, with its feminist leanings and ghostly backdrop. But for all the things. To start, the book is simply far too long. It could've been cut by a quarter or even a half. There is oh so much repetition. I can't believe I'm writing this, but this book made me feel like I never want to experience any kind of séance or otherwordly adventure ever again (EVER) because these events were so endless and banal here. I've had enough ... more than enough. Enough! And speaking of "enough" ... not a single supernatural happening was scary enough! I also found the characters blurry and inconsistent. Father dear came across less substantial than peripatetic in form. (My attempt at phantom undercurrents.)

Bumping up the rating for the narration alone.