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The Cottingley Secret

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What to expect

The New York Times bestselling author turns the clock back to a time when two young girls convinced the world that fairies really did exist…

1917: When two young cousins, Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright from Cottingley, England, announce they have photographed fairies at the bottom of the garden, their parents are astonished. But when the great novelist, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, endorses the photographs’ authenticity, the girls become a sensation; their discovery offering something to believe in amid a world ravaged by war.

One hundred years later… When Olivia Kavanagh finds an old manuscript and a photograph in her late grandfather’s bookshop she becomes fascinated by the story of the two young girls who mystified the world. As Olivia is drawn into events a century ago, she becomes aware of the past and the present intertwining, blurring her understanding of what is real and what is imagined. As she begins to understand why a nation once believed in fairies, will Olivia find a way to believe in herself?

Critics Review

Praise for The Cottingley Secret

‘Enchanting, magical… This book reminds us that we are never too old to believe in magic.’ Carmel Harrington

‘Perfect fireside read’ Sunday Independent

‘This is a gorgeous, uplifting, magical book that will have you hooked from the start.’ Gill Paul author of The Secret Wife

‘I adored The Cottingley Secret … an enchanting and enthralling tale of childhood magic.’ Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s Tale

‘An artful weaving of old legends with new realities’ Kate Alcott, author of The Dressmaker

‘Brings the mystery of the Cottingley Fairies thrillingly to life’ Kate Forsyth author of Bitter Greens

‘A magical journey in perfect prose’ Books Ireland

Praise for Hazel Gaynor:

‘Addictive, charming and gleaming with Jazz Age glitz’ The Lady

‘Sumptuous, gorgeous, authentic and surprising, Hazel Gaynor has written another hit.’ Sunday Independent

‘Peopled with unforgettable characters…Once begun, I dare you to put it down.’ Kathleen Tessaro, author of The Perfume Collector

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