Beyond the Graves Waits Mist and Sea - Paperback

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by Kathleen Kaufman (Author)

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 Hafdóttir 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 in the grips of a religious cult. 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 . . .

Author Biography

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.

Number of Pages: 384

Dimensions: 1.11 x 8.21 x 5.41 IN

Publication Date: September 29, 2026