THE ENTIRELY TRUE STORY OF THE FANTASTICAL MESMERIST NORA GREY

Mhairi Morrison's amiable tone and Scottish accent are perfect for this engrossing historical novel, set amid the spiritualist movement of the early 20th century. Two narratives are interwoven: the story of Lottie, the Welsh widow of a Scottish miner, and the story of her granddaughter, Nora Grey. Both Lottie and Nora are exploited in different ways: Lottie by an abusive mine boss and Nora by her ne'er-do-well father, who forces her to travel the countryside with him to read Tarot cards and tell fortunes. Morrison's delivery of both stories drives home the arduous nature of women's existence in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Listeners with an interest in Scottish history and spiritualism will find much to enjoy here. D.G. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2025]