The Death Letter

by J. Stephen Beam

A humble, unassuming war hero from a tiny town in northeast Mississippi, Jesse Thomas has dealt with a lot in his short life, including the untimely death of his beloved parents in a fatal automobile crash. What has Jesse perplexed is that no one even talks any more about his wife, Mary, who went missing more than a year ago. Once Jesse himself was cleared of the crime by state investigators and the local sheriff, it is as if Mary never existed. The one clue investigators found was the remains of the dog Mary owned. Although no one in law enforcement seems to find the discovery important, Jesse thinks it matters a lot. But other than sympathy, it is difficult to get much else from enigmatic sheriff Frankie Weatherford, the legal guardian of Jesse and the father of Brax, best friend of Jesse growing up. Mr. Frankie, who has been like a second father, would not have anything to hide, would he? The more Jesse pokes around, the more hostility he seems to encounter, especially from a pair of seedy men he knew from childhood who radiate envy and hatred toward him. Could they know what happened to Mary? Does Brax, a once-promising athlete whose life is in ruins, know more than he is telling? Can Johnny Coats, a hard-to-read friend of the sheriff, be trusted? And how far will Jesse have to go to protect Ellie, his soulmate since middle school? A fast-paced, atmospheric thriller absolutely submerged in the lives of small-town Mississippians, The Death Letter introduces novelist J. Stephen Beam, a natural-born storyteller whose debut is a worthy addition to Mississippi’s rich literary legacy.

Genres: Romance, Mystery

253 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2023

Reviews

[Reeca Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this first chapter will grab you and keep you reading. And be aware, you might need a tissue to get through it!

Jesse Thomas, a humble, unassuming war hero from a tiny northeast Mississippi town, has dealt with a lot in his short life, including the tragic loss of his parents in a car crash. But what troubles him most is the disappearance of his wife, Mary, over a year ago. Cleared as a suspect by investigators, Jesse is perplexed that no one talks about her anymore. It’s as if she never existed.

Being a southern girl, I loved this setting and all the southern references. And these characters, they are straight from my home town! Trust me when I say, this is a southern tale full of charm, emotion and love.

Now, it is a bit slow in spots and the author spends quite a bit of time on things that don’t really matter to the story. But, it is a tale that draws you in and keeps you there.

Need an emotional, southern tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

[M J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started this book. I couldn’t put it down. I got to the last 20 pages and my eyes wouldn’t focus so I had to finish the next morning. This book is well worth the read. Wish he had other books to for me to read.

[Katherine Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift in more ways than one. As a fellow Mississippian, it brought back much nostalgia as I envisioned the location and characters in the book. The plot left me awaiting more and when I got to the climax I couldn't put it down until I knew the ending. It left me yearning for the next book, which is always a sign of a good book!

[Lisa Bickford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Beam does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life for the reader. The Death Letter is the perfect combination of mystery and romance with a few twists and turns. I laughed, cried, and felt full of joy as I turned the the pages and became completely absorbed in Jesse’s life.

[Christy Criddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story! Easy to read and hard to put down!

[Erin Munton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. It captured my interest immediately.

[KayG · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a good storyteller. It’s action packed and interesting.

[Mikayla Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Death Letter is a gripping mystery with a layer of suspense that sucks you in from the first page. Beam creates characters that are not only enjoyable but realistic and relatable. I immediately fell in love with Jesse and his best friend Ellie, and in each scene, I felt like I was walking beside them. This story kept me guessing, and with each twist, I wanted more; therefore devouring the book in less than a few days. The book is fast-paced and told through multiple perspectives from the present and past. Each scene is important and serves as a puzzle piece, waiting for the readers to put together. This book did not disappoint me; I hope every reader enjoys it just like I did. I'm looking forward to reading more from Beam in the future.

-Mikayla Robbins, author of The Coal Miner's Niece and Abide with Me

*All words are mine alone. I was given a copy from the author as a gift and wrote my honest opinion.*