On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, The Strange Tale Of Mary Smith by Graham Phipps is a haunting novel where a schoolgirl’s dreams of an enslaved girl’s life blur past and present, revealing uncanny connections and timeless truths.
The Strange Tale Of Mary Smith
In Graham Phipps’ newly released novel, The Strange Tale of Mary Smith, readers are drawn into the quiet, yet profoundly unsettling world of a Herefordshire schoolgirl whose dreams weave a tapestry of history, memory, and mystery.
Mary Smith’s nightly visions are not mere flights of fancy—they are vivid, emotionally charged glimpses into the life of Rebecca, a Black girl enslaved on a plantation, and her tender, forbidden bond with Jude, the plantation owner’s son. What begins as a peculiar dreamscape soon blurs the boundaries between past and present, pulling Mary—and the reader—into a haunting exploration of what persists in memory, blood, and silence.
The novel alternates between Mary’s perspective and that of her father, Laurie, a well-meaning but bumbling figure grappling with the pressures of a recent promotion and the demands of family life. Laurie’s humorous, often hapless attempts to navigate his responsibilities provide a grounding counterpoint to the ethereal weight of Mary’s dreams. Yet, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Mary’s visions are more than imagination. Familiar figures from her waking life appear in unfamiliar contexts within her dreams, and the looming threat of a war that could tear Rebecca and Jude apart casts a shadow over both timelines.
A particularly enigmatic presence is Mary’s elderly neighbor, who seems to know far more about the dreams than she should. Her cryptic insights, coupled with the lingering power of a secret word passed down in an African dialect—a word once used to ward off predators and still potent after 150 years—deepen the story’s sense of connection across generations. This word, like the dreams themselves, serves as a bridge between eras, hinting at a metaphysical law that binds people together in ways that are both imperceptible and undeniable.
Phipps’ storytelling is understated yet evocative, favoring emotional resonance over sensationalism. The novel’s strength lies in its accumulation of small, uncanny details: a familiar face in a dream, a word that carries ancient power, a neighbor who sees more than she says. These elements build a quiet but compelling mystery, one that invites readers to ponder the unseen threads that link lives across time. The alternating perspectives—Mary’s introspective journey and Laurie’s comedic missteps—create a narrative that is both contemplative and accessible, rooted in real emotion and laced with subtle wit.
The Strange Tale of Mary Smith is a story about memory and loss, but it is also about the persistence of connection, even when unspoken or unrecognized. Inspired by the author’s own dreams, the novel offers a thoughtful reading experience that blends historical awareness with metaphysical curiosity. It asks a provocative question: What happens when the past speaks, but only in the silence of sleep? For Mary Smith, and for readers who follow her journey, the answer is as moving as it is mysterious.
This is a tale that lingers, much like a dream you can’t quite shake upon waking.
Graham Phipps
Mary’s story begins with a dream – scenes of which came to me as a daydream involving a relationship between an enslaved girl and the plantation owner’s son. It lingered, but didn’t feel substantial enough on its own. I’d also kept notes on a few leftover scenarios from my time as a support worker — small moments that hadn’t made it into my first book. Then a thought occurred: what if I brought the two together? That’s how ‘The Strange Tale of Mary Smith’ came to be. It’s different from anything I’ve written before — more reflective, perhaps, and rooted in something quieter. But it came from the same place as all true stories do… something unshakable that asks to be told.
–Graham Phipps
Graham is retired and lives in Hereford with his wife. He enjoys walking in the Herefordshire countryside and meeting up with friends and family. His first book, Apparently I’m Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea, was a memoir based on some humorous scenarios through his work as a support worker. Having some episodes left over, but not enough to warrant a full book he made a note of them. Sometime later he had a daydream of a relationship between an enslaved girl and the plantation owner’s son, but again felt there wasn’t enough material for a full book. Then a thought occurred to him. Why not combine both elements to create a novel?
Find more from Graham Phipps now:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4e6Z1Zr
Hardcover: https://amzn.to/4e6iSYO
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