The Cottingley Secret

A Novel

By: Hazel Gaynor

Narrated by: Karen Cass, Billie Fulford-Brown

Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling author of The Girl Who Came Home turns the clock back 100 years to a time when two young girls from Cottingley, Yorkshire, convinced the world that they had done the impossible and photographed fairies in their garden. Now, in her newest novel, international best seller Hazel Gaynor reimagines their story.

1917... It was inexplicable, impossible, but it had to be true - didn't it? When two young cousins, Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright from Cottingley, England, claim to have photographed fairies at the bottom of the garden, their parents are astonished. But when one of the great novelists of the time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, becomes convinced of the photographs' authenticity, the girls become a national sensation, their discovery offering hope to those longing for something to believe in amid a world ravaged by war. Frances and Elsie will hide their secret for many decades. But Frances longs for the truth to be told.

One hundred years later...When Olivia Kavanagh finds an old manuscript in her late grandfather's bookshop, she becomes fascinated by the story it tells of two young girls who mystified the world. But it is the discovery of an old photograph that leads her to realize how the fairy girls' lives intertwine with hers, connecting past to present and blurring her understanding of what is real and what is imagined. As she begins to understand why a nation once believed in fairies, can Olivia find a way to believe in herself?

©2017 Hazel Gaynor (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Beautiful story

Being once a young girl with fire red hair who had a vast collection of faerie figurines and books throughout my childhood, this book filed my heart. It is a beautiful story and the narration is perfect.

I loved the wild imagination

I loved this book and the narrators were fabulous. It was an easy listen. It must have taken place near to where I am from and loved to hear of the locations.

Lovely listen!

Lovely listen...great narration for an intriguing story - I really didn't want it to end!

Utterly splendid!

From the start of the book, I knew in my bones, that this was going to be a fantastic book! When I get that feeling, it becomes a very slow listen, as I want to take in every detail of Ms. Gaynor's intricate writing. And also, I do not want the book to end.

Oh and the narration is so wonderful! I love the soothing tones of both narrators.

I loved this book so much.

I loved the whimsical story about the fairies. I loved how the two stories meet each other in the end. I loved the characters. I loved this book.

A Bright Moment of Positivity

I picked up this story on a recommendation from Pinterest. At the time I've listened to it, a lot is going on in the world. I'd hoped it would be a spot of happiness and the little bit of hope I needed. I can't recommend this story enough nor the performances in the narration. Its story is one of hope, love gained, love lost, and confidence in oneself. If you're looking for an escape that is still somehow beautifully grounded, I highly recommend The Cottingley Secret.

Magickal

A lovely story about two cousins who become the best of friends even though one is 5 years older than the other. The younger sees fairies in the garden and tries to inform her mother and aunt that they actually exist. Of course they don't believe her and send her into tears because they don't. The older cousin devises a plan to help her, and her plan mesmerizes the nation.
Wonderfully narration by Karen Cass, and Billie Fulford-Brown.

pleasant upbeat yet thankfully not religious

nice blend of modern and historical storytelling that is pleasant upbeat optimistic and hopeful without being saccharin or some poorly screened weird religious screed. ( sorry i unknowingly got a few of these 'fake historical' christian novels lately! which should come w a warning label)
this lovely bit of storytelling is comforting and nostalgic AND literate and charming.

Beyond Exceptional

This is one of the sweetest books I’ve ever listened to. Adorable story, such vivid description & detail of the characters & scenes. The narrator really brought the story to life!! Top Notch in all aspects. So, so excellent as an audiobook!!

Great book

Loved the different voices and accents. Loved the sweet story. Great family story to listen to as a family. I could visualize the fairies.