Beyond the Graves Waits Mist and Sea - by Kathleen Kaufman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A marine biologist's search for an undiscovered species of octopus leads her to an isolated island where long-buried memories rise like specters from the deep, intent on dragging her darkest truths to the surface...

From the author of The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey, this hauntingly evocative novel is perfect for fans of Emilia Hart's The Sirens, Sarah Penner's The Amalfi Curse, and Adrienne Young.

Twenty nautical miles off the coast of Boston lies Bell Island, shrouded in fog, mystery, and legend. Historically a refuge for women fleeing the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials in the 1600s and a way station on the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves in the 1800s, the island is isolated and rumored to be haunted by spirits and . . . other things.

It is to Bell Island that microbial biologist Harper Haole ventures in search of evidence of a new species of octopus, Thalassa, possibly lurking below the swirling water's surface. Along with her equipment, and her luggage, Harper carries with her the burden of past trauma and vivid, recurring dreams.

Swept up in unexplained phenomena ranging from increased seismic activity and a boat-capsizing rogue wave to encounters with island creatures that defy explanation, Harper looks to the island's venerated if mysterious mayor for answers. Lady Loreana Bell comes from a single matriarchal line that has ruled the island for 400 years--and seems to have been expecting Harper's arrival.

It is within the walls of Bell Manor--its gothic grandeur matched only by the intensity of Harper's deja vu--that she discovers the 1690 journal of a young woman accused of witchcraft. As a tsunami threatens the island, Harper finds herself on the verge of a revelation that will ultimately unlock the mystery of her haunted dreams and disclose her true purpose on Bell Island . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Kathleen Kaufman:

"A thrilling supernatural tale and a stirring ode to women's power." --Publishers Weekly on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"Kaufman's novel about feminine rage in the age of spiritualism will delight fans of Alix E. Harrow and Emilia Hart." --Booklist on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"Kathleen Kaufman has penned a novel that is the right amount of spooky, spellbinding, and heart-wrenching. . . Just like its titular character, this novel is mesmerizing." --Historical Novel Society on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"Swift and exciting." --Forword Reviews on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"It's tremendous fun and heartbreaking at the same time." --New Books Network on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"This book is perfect for grey, moody, rainy days with an endless pot of tea and hours to burn. . . a Gothic-era gift! I was enraptured." --Sadie Hartmen via The Lineup on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"A fast-paced tale of magical realism exploring the hardships endured by women seeking autonomy at the turn of the 20th century. Give Kaufman's latest to fans of Alice Hoffman and Deborah Harkness." --Library Journal on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"Everything you want in a Gothic tale, doubled: two timelines, a pair of tragic souls linked through blood, and a cabal of occultists and mesmerists, all entangled in the dark unknown. A supremely satisfying novel of women coming into their own power." --Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"Are you ready for a haunting, unputdownable ride through the thrilling world of séances and secrets? Nairna Liath's rise from a con artist's daughter to a celebrated medium reveals a chilling family legacy--and a mesmerizing destiny." --Danielle Trussoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Puzzle Box on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"A mesmerizing journey through Victorian mysticism, where two determined women--separated by time but united in spirit--fight to break free from society's attempts to subjugate them. Uplifting and richly atmospheric, this novel beautifully captures the tension between destiny and self-determination." --Amanda Skenandore, author of The Medicine Woman of Galveston on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"In a séance of shame and suffering spanning generations, Kathleen Kaufman's Nora Grey is an irresistible alchemy of historical fiction, medical misadventure, and the occult, and a moving force for feminism and female intuition. Mesmerizing." --Lee Murray, five-time Bram Stoker Award(R)-winning author of Grotesque: Monster Stories on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"Evocative, with brilliantly-wrought historical detail, The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey is rich in myth, mystery, and an exploration of fate and the soul." --Kaaron Warren, award-winning author of The Underhistory on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey wields the gripping tensions between power and subordination, faith and fraud, hope and rage, talent and exploitation. By braiding two timelines featuring two, gifted young women who share an undeniable connection, Kaufman creates an enduring tale about women's fight for self-determination in a world pitted against them. This haunting story summons the best of historical fiction and magical realism." --Rachel Rueckert, author of If the Tide Turns on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"A revenge story and an empowering cry for self-determination, from its atmospheric setting to its captivating characters, Nora Grey will stick with readers for a long time. For fans of Tananarive Due and Alice Hoffman, this work is riveting, spellbinding, and nothing short of mesmerizing." -- Mallory Sutton, Bards Alley (Vienna, VA) on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

"Fans of Grady Hendrix and Deborah Harkness will absolutely devour this historical novel blending magical realism and feminist gothic horror." --Sarah Blanton, Bookmarks (Winston-Salem, NC) on The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey

About the Author

Kathleen Kaufman is the bestselling author of magical realism and feminist gothic horror novels, including The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey, Beyond the Graves Waits Mist and Sea, Hag, and the Diabhal trilogy. Her novel The Lairdbalor has been optioned by Screen Australia for a feature-film adaptation helmed by award-winning director Nicholas Verso. A Colorado native and graduate of the University of Southern California, she currently works as an English instructor and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, kitten, and hound. Visit her online at KathleenKaufman.com.