What if the famous Cottingley Fairies—the subjects of photographs that enchanted the world in the early 20th century—were not a symbol of childhood innocence, but a cover for a secret so dark it had to be buried? That is the haunting question at the heart of Camilla Bruce’s novel, “At the Bottom of the Garden.” This book takes a piece of history and twists it into a chilling, atmospheric Gothic tale of obsession, deception, and the grim realities that can hide behind a veneer of magic.
The story is masterfully woven through a dual-timeline narrative. In the early 1900s, we meet Lily, a young woman living on a secluded estate. She becomes famous for her photographs of beautiful, ethereal fairies, captivating a public desperate for wonder after the Great War. But as her fame grows, it becomes clear that Lily’s enchanting world is a fragile facade, built to conceal a sinister truth about what really happens in the garden.
Decades later, in the present day, we follow Iris. After the death of her grandmother, she inherits the very same mysterious house and its overgrown, foreboding garden. As Iris begins to sort through her family’s past, she uncovers Lily’s story and realizes the fairy tales were meant to hide a legacy of tragedy and violence. The house and the garden hold the key, and the secrets they’ve kept are not meant to stay buried forever.
“At the Bottom of the Garden” is dripping with Gothic atmosphere. The garden is not a place of light and beauty but a wild, secretive space where nature has run rampant, covering up the sins of the past. The house itself is a character, full of shadows and unanswered questions. Camilla Bruce’s writing builds a slow, creeping dread that gets under your skin, making you feel the chill of the old manor and the dampness of the earth. The line between what is real and what is imagined is constantly blurred, creating a disorienting and suspenseful experience.
This novel is a must-read for anyone who loves a story that is both beautiful and unsettling. If you’re a fan of authors like Shirley Jackson or Tana French, or enjoy dark historical fiction and psychological thrillers, you will be completely captivated. It’s a powerful exploration of how far people will go to protect a secret and how family trauma can echo through generations.
“At the Bottom of the Garden” reminds us that the most frightening monsters are often human and that some of the prettiest stories have the darkest roots.
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