The Letter: 06/03/09
The Christmas Box trilogy by Richard Paul Evans wraps up with The Letter. Like Timepiece, The Letter is set in the past. It covers a tumultuous time after the death of their daughter. A mysterious letter shows up on her grave and threatens to break apart the marriage of David and Mary Anne Parkins.

Unfortunately for the melodrama to unfold after this letter, David and Mary have to have complete personality transplants. David is consumed by depression and bottles it all up (except for when he isn't) and Mary Anne suddenly falls out of love with him. She decides the best course of action is to high tail it England on a one way ticket.

I just couldn't slog all the way through this book. I did skip to the end to see that sure enough it has a happy ending and all the melodrama is swept aside with some hand waving. Where The Christmas Box was thoughtful and gently sentimental, The Letter feels rushed and manipulative.

books | fiction | Richard Paul Evans | 1997

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