Caite Dolan-Leach can really write beautiful sentences and sharp dialogue. Dead Letters (Random House, $27.00) is the story of identical twins Ava and Zelda, as in A to Z, who unfortunately at birth got switched. The first born was supposed to be Ava, but wound out being Zelda and vise versa.
Despite the lovely writing and sharp character development the book is a bit of a disappointment. Ava is the goody two shoes twin (she calls herself that, I didn’t make it up) and Zelda is the wild child. The story begins with Ava flying back from Paris where she is studying comparative literature, is fluent in French, and has a loyal stockbroker boyfriend. She arrives in upstate New York at the vineyard her parents struggle to run, after she has learned that Zelda has died in a fire in the barn. Suicide? Murder? Ave decides to investigate.
My problem with the book stems from the primary conflict between the two girls, now in their early twenties, over a high school romance. Both girls were after the same guy, who still lives next door. Perhaps I’m old and jaded but high school romances come and go, and should teen flings be a subject of bitter conflict five or six years removed from high school?
Ava, to her shock, receives a text from her supposedly dead sister after she has arrived in New York, thus setting up the mystery. Is she really dead? Whose bones are in the charred remains? The neighbor boy comes by and the sparks fly again for Ava.
Another problem I had with the book was how much alcohol the two young women manage to consume along with a variety of street and pharmaceutical drugs. Self-destruction isn’t pretty. After a while one begins to lose sympathy for people who care so little about themselves. Throw in the fact that their parents are alcoholics and booze is the real driver of this plot. Give Leach credit — the conclusion is a surprise though a bit of a downer. Overall, I’d give the book a B.
Steve E Clark as seen in the New York Times is Author of Justice Is for the Lonely and Justice Is for the Deserving, Kristen Kerry Novels Of Suspense. Steve is a 2017 NY Big Book Award winner and a 2018 Independent Book Awards recipient. You can purchase his books via https://steveclarkauthor.com/buy-the-book/ or request it at your local book store. Want to know more about Steve Clark, read more reviews or speak directly with Steve? Learn more about Steve at SteveClarkAuthor.com
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