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Letters from the Dead #1
Letters from the Dead
This addictive debut novel takes us into an intoxicating world of old money, privilege, and family intrigue as a young heiress must return home from a decade-long exile to face the powerful enemies arrayed against her, including those within her own family.
For the first eleven years of her life, the precocious daughter of a great European family tracing its roots back more than fifteen generations, never set foot on land that her family didn’t own. Cloistered on a sprawling estate in the Alpine foothills, as the youngest sibling of her generation she has little knowledge of the dark forces gathering in the shadows to strike at her family. But, when her insatiable curiosity leads her to uncover a priceless text hidden hundreds of years before, she shines light into corners meant to be left in the dark and threatens to uncover secrets that could trigger an internecine battle for succession.
Then, with no warning or explanation, she is whisked away on a private jet and exiled to an elite but isolated all-girls boarding school in the United States. More than a decade later, now in her twenties, she finds her bank accounts abruptly frozen by her family. She is recalled from her affluent but empty existence abroad. Little does she know that her family has plans for her, including an arranged marriage. Worse, as she draws closer to discovering the horrific act that sent her into exile a decade before, and shadowy enemies close in on her family, she must face her most dangerous and powerful foe: her own father.
For the first eleven years of her life, the precocious daughter of a great European family tracing its roots back more than fifteen generations, never set foot on land that her family didn’t own. Cloistered on a sprawling estate in the Alpine foothills, as the youngest sibling of her generation she has little knowledge of the dark forces gathering in the shadows to strike at her family. But, when her insatiable curiosity leads her to uncover a priceless text hidden hundreds of years before, she shines light into corners meant to be left in the dark and threatens to uncover secrets that could trigger an internecine battle for succession.
Then, with no warning or explanation, she is whisked away on a private jet and exiled to an elite but isolated all-girls boarding school in the United States. More than a decade later, now in her twenties, she finds her bank accounts abruptly frozen by her family. She is recalled from her affluent but empty existence abroad. Little does she know that her family has plans for her, including an arranged marriage. Worse, as she draws closer to discovering the horrific act that sent her into exile a decade before, and shadowy enemies close in on her family, she must face her most dangerous and powerful foe: her own father.
480 pages, Hardcover
Published May 27, 2025
54 people are currently reading
10454 people want to read
About the author
Isabella Valeri
3 books61 followersIsabella Valeri is the author of Letters from the Dead, her debut novel and the forthcoming title The Prodigal Daughter, the second book in the Letters from the Dead series.
She is an avid markswoman, skier, equestrian, and pilot.
She lives under an assumed name somewhere in the Alps.
She is an avid markswoman, skier, equestrian, and pilot.
She lives under an assumed name somewhere in the Alps.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
October 8, 2025
Pre-read Reread: Oct. 7, 2025
A few months ago, I tried to read this book on my laptop but I got bored. (Go figure. 🤦♀️) But then Atria books was kind enough to send me a physical arc of the book, and since it is spooky season, I want to try again and actually finish this. ☺️👍🏼 It’s quite thick, but I think I can handle it. 🤞🏼😂
First Read
I DNF'ed it at 10% and I'm so sad about it. 😢 I was so excited when I was approved to read this book, but I could not read it for the life of me. I'm thinking it's more of "it's not you, it's me" kind of situation we're having here. The premise sounded so interesting and the authors writing is very good and well-thought out. I tried my hardest to read on. But, alas, I failed. 😔 Maybe when it is published, I will try again and see if it was truly me and not the book.
I received a digital arc from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
#LettersfromtheDead #NetGalley
A few months ago, I tried to read this book on my laptop but I got bored. (Go figure. 🤦♀️) But then Atria books was kind enough to send me a physical arc of the book, and since it is spooky season, I want to try again and actually finish this. ☺️👍🏼 It’s quite thick, but I think I can handle it. 🤞🏼😂
First Read
I DNF'ed it at 10% and I'm so sad about it. 😢 I was so excited when I was approved to read this book, but I could not read it for the life of me. I'm thinking it's more of "it's not you, it's me" kind of situation we're having here. The premise sounded so interesting and the authors writing is very good and well-thought out. I tried my hardest to read on. But, alas, I failed. 😔 Maybe when it is published, I will try again and see if it was truly me and not the book.
I received a digital arc from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
#LettersfromtheDead #NetGalley
March 19, 2025
I struggled with this book and found it to be boring, despite the promising premise. It centers on a young heiress who has never left her family’s estate, but is then exiled after seeing something she shouldn’t have seen. The story is told in the first person and we never actually get the protagonist’s name, which left me somewhat disconnected from her.
The first half (ish) of the book goes really deep into history with which I was not familiar- it felt like I was reading an assignment for school and I found it rather boring, though I did enjoy our protagonist’s dynamic with both her teacher and her grandfather. I didn’t really understand why she had to be sent away- what she saw didn’t really seem like a big deal. The book picks up pace when she is in New York but again, I felt like not much actually happened. Finally, I just didn’t understand the epilogue at all and feel like I clearly missed something that left me unsatisfied when I was finished.
Overall, while this is beautiful writing it was a little too deep into history and too light in action/suspense to work for me. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The first half (ish) of the book goes really deep into history with which I was not familiar- it felt like I was reading an assignment for school and I found it rather boring, though I did enjoy our protagonist’s dynamic with both her teacher and her grandfather. I didn’t really understand why she had to be sent away- what she saw didn’t really seem like a big deal. The book picks up pace when she is in New York but again, I felt like not much actually happened. Finally, I just didn’t understand the epilogue at all and feel like I clearly missed something that left me unsatisfied when I was finished.
Overall, while this is beautiful writing it was a little too deep into history and too light in action/suspense to work for me. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2025
Amazing that this is a debut novel. It totally captivated me. I would have given it five stars, but I could only give it four because of the ending, which unfortunately left me wondering how such a wonderful book could have no ending - unless this is going to be a series and that was a cliffhanger. After I finished I did discover it is indeed a series, and the seond book is called The Prodigal Daughter. Now I can't wait to get my hands on it.
Description:
For the first eleven years of her life, the precocious daughter of a great European family tracing its roots back more than fifteen generations, never set foot on land that her family didn’t own. Cloistered on a sprawling estate in the Alpine foothills, as the youngest sibling of her generation she has little knowledge of the dark forces gathering in the shadows to strike at her family. But, when her insatiable curiosity leads her to uncover a priceless text hidden hundreds of years before, she shines light into corners meant to be left in the dark and threatens to uncover secrets that could trigger an internecine battle for succession.
Then, with no warning or explanation, she is whisked away on a private jet and exiled to an elite but isolated all-girls boarding school in the United States. More than a decade later, now in her twenties, she finds her bank accounts abruptly frozen by her family. She is recalled from her affluent but empty existence abroad. Little does she know that her family has plans for her, including an arranged marriage. Worse, as she draws closer to discovering the horrific act that sent her into exile a decade before, and shadowy enemies close in on her family, she must face her most dangerous and powerful her own father.
My Thoughts:
Very well written and thoroughly engrossing. There is quite a bit of history since the family is a dynasty that dates back to Leopold I, so I see where many reviewers found it boring, but I think it fit and provided the foundation of Isabella's education. Isabella is a great character and I also liked her grandfather very much. The book was mysterious and many things are left unrevealed. The pace was faster when Isabella was whisked away from the estate and went to boarding school in the United States. The trip with her father to Africa was also interesting and there was a twist there that set some things in motion it seemed - although I think things were being planned in the background all along. I was angry at the end because almost everything was left open and unexplained. With such a cliffhanger I expect some answers in the next book in the series.
Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
For the first eleven years of her life, the precocious daughter of a great European family tracing its roots back more than fifteen generations, never set foot on land that her family didn’t own. Cloistered on a sprawling estate in the Alpine foothills, as the youngest sibling of her generation she has little knowledge of the dark forces gathering in the shadows to strike at her family. But, when her insatiable curiosity leads her to uncover a priceless text hidden hundreds of years before, she shines light into corners meant to be left in the dark and threatens to uncover secrets that could trigger an internecine battle for succession.
Then, with no warning or explanation, she is whisked away on a private jet and exiled to an elite but isolated all-girls boarding school in the United States. More than a decade later, now in her twenties, she finds her bank accounts abruptly frozen by her family. She is recalled from her affluent but empty existence abroad. Little does she know that her family has plans for her, including an arranged marriage. Worse, as she draws closer to discovering the horrific act that sent her into exile a decade before, and shadowy enemies close in on her family, she must face her most dangerous and powerful her own father.
My Thoughts:
Very well written and thoroughly engrossing. There is quite a bit of history since the family is a dynasty that dates back to Leopold I, so I see where many reviewers found it boring, but I think it fit and provided the foundation of Isabella's education. Isabella is a great character and I also liked her grandfather very much. The book was mysterious and many things are left unrevealed. The pace was faster when Isabella was whisked away from the estate and went to boarding school in the United States. The trip with her father to Africa was also interesting and there was a twist there that set some things in motion it seemed - although I think things were being planned in the background all along. I was angry at the end because almost everything was left open and unexplained. With such a cliffhanger I expect some answers in the next book in the series.
Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
May 28, 2025
The premise of this book sounded interesting, and I was expecting a story filled with twists and intrigue.
Yes, the pacing was slow, but the big issue was the plot. I’ve mentioned this in past reviews, but when you’re writing a series with the intention of building up to a big “moment,” you still need to provide smaller payoffs along the way to keep the reader engaged.
This book never answered any of its questions. It was confusing from start to finish, but not in a mysterious way. Even as I finished the last page, I found myself thinking, "What was the point of any of this?"
Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for this physical ARC.
Yes, the pacing was slow, but the big issue was the plot. I’ve mentioned this in past reviews, but when you’re writing a series with the intention of building up to a big “moment,” you still need to provide smaller payoffs along the way to keep the reader engaged.
This book never answered any of its questions. It was confusing from start to finish, but not in a mysterious way. Even as I finished the last page, I found myself thinking, "What was the point of any of this?"
Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for this physical ARC.
February 4, 2025
This is a very intellectual book. There is a lot of history and factiods throughout that are very interesting.
I liked the story. However, I really feel like, in the end, it was a pointless story. The first part was boring, and around 40 percent in the book really picked up and was interesting to read, but the ending was not great. The Mc journey is really for nothing.
Sad to say, I will not be recommending this read.
I liked the story. However, I really feel like, in the end, it was a pointless story. The first part was boring, and around 40 percent in the book really picked up and was interesting to read, but the ending was not great. The Mc journey is really for nothing.
Sad to say, I will not be recommending this read.
April 28, 2025
This book has a beautiful cover and an intriguing title. Unfortunately it did not hold my interest and it took me a long time to finish it. Because I requested an ARC of the book I felt obligated to read it in it’s entirety. I am still confused and have many unanswered questions about what I just read. I do note that other reviewers have high praise for this book so this opinion is my own.
May 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for this honest review.
Despite being marketed as a mystery/thriller, this book reads more like a coming-of-age family drama with a bit of historical fiction on the side. The main character is the daughter of a very wealthy (and very old) European family. Most of the book follows her adolescence as she begins her formal education and comes to understand how deep her family’s secrets really go.
The writing style is verbose and flowery, and you will need to suspend some disbelief about the level of detail, intellect, and perception the narrator displays. But as you learn how the MC has been raised, I actually think the writing style makes some sense. The author’s voice may have been unrealistic at times, but I enjoyed it. The author, Isabella Valeri, also does a beautiful job creating a sense of atmosphere. Some of the characters were very engaging, but I struggled to know how they fit into the overall story.
Much of the family’s activities are very mysterious (and perhaps nefarious), but there are so many different threads, that no one mystery ever emerges. We’re following the MC and her development more than an actual plot. I expected mystery and suspense. I expected the tension to build as the MC faced off against her powerful family and uncovered the darkest secrets of their past. But instead, I got a young woman learning about history and etiquette as she grows up and wrestles with the expectations of her emotionally distant and controlling parents. And I didn’t dislike it. But it felt like the set-up for a more dynamic story that I never actually got. This is a breakdown of the pacing: Also, this is a small detail, but I found it odd that we don’t learn the MC’s name.
It wasn't bad, per say, but it wasn’t at all what I expected. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if the marketing was more accurate. I actually found the first half pretty interesting, but it floundered after that, and based on how poorly it delivered on what it promised, I have to go with two stars.
Perhaps this book would be more enjoyable for people who like family dramas. There is an emphasis on history as well, especially as it relates to the family, so maybe fans of historical fiction about the ultra-rich would be interested.
Content warnings: sexual content (including non-consensual), language, drug and alcohol use (including underage), implied child neglect/abuse.
Despite being marketed as a mystery/thriller, this book reads more like a coming-of-age family drama with a bit of historical fiction on the side. The main character is the daughter of a very wealthy (and very old) European family. Most of the book follows her adolescence as she begins her formal education and comes to understand how deep her family’s secrets really go.
The writing style is verbose and flowery, and you will need to suspend some disbelief about the level of detail, intellect, and perception the narrator displays. But as you learn how the MC has been raised, I actually think the writing style makes some sense. The author’s voice may have been unrealistic at times, but I enjoyed it. The author, Isabella Valeri, also does a beautiful job creating a sense of atmosphere. Some of the characters were very engaging, but I struggled to know how they fit into the overall story.
Much of the family’s activities are very mysterious (and perhaps nefarious), but there are so many different threads, that no one mystery ever emerges. We’re following the MC and her development more than an actual plot. I expected mystery and suspense. I expected the tension to build as the MC faced off against her powerful family and uncovered the darkest secrets of their past. But instead, I got a young woman learning about history and etiquette as she grows up and wrestles with the expectations of her emotionally distant and controlling parents. And I didn’t dislike it. But it felt like the set-up for a more dynamic story that I never actually got. This is a breakdown of the pacing: Also, this is a small detail, but I found it odd that we don’t learn the MC’s name.
It wasn't bad, per say, but it wasn’t at all what I expected. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if the marketing was more accurate. I actually found the first half pretty interesting, but it floundered after that, and based on how poorly it delivered on what it promised, I have to go with two stars.
Perhaps this book would be more enjoyable for people who like family dramas. There is an emphasis on history as well, especially as it relates to the family, so maybe fans of historical fiction about the ultra-rich would be interested.
Content warnings: sexual content (including non-consensual), language, drug and alcohol use (including underage), implied child neglect/abuse.
June 17, 2025
I'm conflicted on this one. It was so slow that I ended up putting it down for a while and taking a break from it. I felt like I kept waiting for the story to begin and it never really did. The writing was beautiful and the premise was intriguing however it was so much longer than it needed to be and nothing ever really happened. I enjoyed the tidbits of history throughout and I liked the air of mystery surrounding the family. I just wish there had been more of a payoff in the end. It seems like there's going to be a sequel and I'm hoping for more answers and action in it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read
May 26, 2025This book has a very interesting premise, but I tried multiple times, and I could not get past 25%. I just could not stay interested in the FMC or the plot. Unfortunately this was a DNF for me, but maybe it will be better for someone else.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
April 20, 2025
Wow! 5 ⭐️! I have read 32 books so far this year, and this book is now at the top of my favorites list for 2025. I am so grateful I received this as an ARC.
This story follows Isabella, the young daughter of an aristocratic, dynastic European family, during her formative years on her family’s estate, until one day she is sent away to a boarding school in the US with no warning or explanation, due to secrets and conspiracies among her family and their enemies she has begun to uncover.
The world building is clever and deep, the storyline intriguing throughout, and I loved the writing style. The espionage, mystery, and history layered throughout created an immersive and deep experience and as I was nearing the end of the novel I kept wishing for this experience to be ongoing. Additionally, while there were two instances of sexual violence, I respected the way the author handled these scenes, leaving out gratuitous details and allowing the reader to glean necessary details without an in-depth, unnecessary description of the event. I am so excited to read the next books in the series and fall back into this fictional world.
This story follows Isabella, the young daughter of an aristocratic, dynastic European family, during her formative years on her family’s estate, until one day she is sent away to a boarding school in the US with no warning or explanation, due to secrets and conspiracies among her family and their enemies she has begun to uncover.
The world building is clever and deep, the storyline intriguing throughout, and I loved the writing style. The espionage, mystery, and history layered throughout created an immersive and deep experience and as I was nearing the end of the novel I kept wishing for this experience to be ongoing. Additionally, while there were two instances of sexual violence, I respected the way the author handled these scenes, leaving out gratuitous details and allowing the reader to glean necessary details without an in-depth, unnecessary description of the event. I am so excited to read the next books in the series and fall back into this fictional world.
April 18, 2025
WOW! This book was incredible. I started it the same day I finished it because the storyline dug its claws into me and did not let go till I finished it. The story of Isabella and all the terrible things she had to endure made me feel deeply for her. I just wanted to envelope her in hugs and tell her everything was going to be all right. I was shocked this was a debut book because I felt like Isabella Valeri had been writing for years. A well written book full of mystery, suspense and intrigue. I cannot wait to read more of Isabella's writing. Bravo job, Isabella!
January 23, 2025
Extremely well written novel that is also mysterious and odd. This was an intriguing story/plot with many strange characters and events
March 9, 2025
I really wanted to love this (which is why I don’t DNF) but it just didn’t do it for me. The premise is so interesting - a young from an extremely wealthy and powerful European family is exiled after discovering something, but the writing just lost me. There are so many references to ancient war and history it almost felt like homework to read. And it felt so wordy and almost over-written if that makes sense? Things felt dragged out, and I had to keep reminding myself this is the first in a series. Idk just unfortunately not for me.
May 27, 2025
This was an absolutely addicting read that kept me up way, way too late.
You know that friend that tells really long stories with dozens of detours and details that seem irrelevant but manages to keep an audience captive? That is the voice of our narrator a “daughter of the direct line” of a mysterious, archaic, and incomprehensibly wealthy family based out of the Swiss Alps.
Secluded and naive, we meet her at eleven years old— just before a series of life-shattering events occur. Danger abounds, while our young protagonist throws herself into studies beyond her years, uncovering long kept secrets and uncomfortable clues about her family’s past.
The story bears witness to the tumultuous next decade of her life, all while collecting information that points to instability it the dynasty. I love the way little tidbits were shared in an offhand way, but circled back to be vitally important in later chapters.
The stakes are high and the setting is lush. The only thing that would make this book better is if I had a copy of the second book in my hands immediately.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
You know that friend that tells really long stories with dozens of detours and details that seem irrelevant but manages to keep an audience captive? That is the voice of our narrator a “daughter of the direct line” of a mysterious, archaic, and incomprehensibly wealthy family based out of the Swiss Alps.
Secluded and naive, we meet her at eleven years old— just before a series of life-shattering events occur. Danger abounds, while our young protagonist throws herself into studies beyond her years, uncovering long kept secrets and uncomfortable clues about her family’s past.
The story bears witness to the tumultuous next decade of her life, all while collecting information that points to instability it the dynasty. I love the way little tidbits were shared in an offhand way, but circled back to be vitally important in later chapters.
The stakes are high and the setting is lush. The only thing that would make this book better is if I had a copy of the second book in my hands immediately.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2025
3.5 Stars
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of Letters From the Dead through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
A young heiress from an estate in the Alpine foothills has lived a sheltered life, as the youngest daughter in a European family that can be traced back 15 generations. Left to her own devices most of the time, she finds herself discovering family secrets that no twelve year old should uncover. As her grandfather notes her growing curiosity, he brings in a tutor to guide her education. But as more secrets are revealed and the questions of family succession come into play, she is mysteriously sent away to an all girls boarding school in the United States. Years pass with no contact from her family, and now in her 20s, she is ordered to return home, and face the unknown plans her family has set in place, to secure her role in the long line of their dynastic control.
Letters From the Dead is a well-written story of powerful families and the machinations of holding on to that power throughout each new generation. I enjoyed the mystery behind the FMCs family, and the doubts that her grandfather has for her father as the next in line as the family’s patriarch. It sets up a great storyline of family drama and intrigue, and brings some interesting questionable characters into the mix.
I was most invested in the relationship between the FMC and her grandfather. They had a heartwarming relationship, since she was mostly neglected by her parents, in a be seen and not heard household. While the family presents a polished front to the outside world, there are secrets and betrayals that makes the FMC a pawn among her family, without knowing fully what secrets are being kept from her.
While I did enjoy the book’s premise and following the life of the FMC, I did have some problems with the story. The FMC is twelve years old throughout 65% of the book, and I found that made it hard for me to stay connected to her as a character. From the situations she found herself in, I felt like her age progression should have taken place faster. Also, the book is set in the early 1990s, but because of the behavior, mannerisms, and speech of the family, it felt like the story was in the late 1800s, early 1900s. I just found myself having a hard time reconciling the setting, throughout the book.
I did enjoy the pacing of the latter part of the book, once the FMCs time at boarding school ended. This was a much longer read for me, at 11 days, and I think some shortening and editing of the first 65% would have made a big difference in the pacing and holding my interest in the story.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, and I am definitely interested to see where the story goes in the next book, now that the FMC has reached adulthood. If you love stories with family secrets, historical references, wealth and power, and a sense of mystery, then I would recommend reading Letters From the Dead.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of Letters From the Dead through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
A young heiress from an estate in the Alpine foothills has lived a sheltered life, as the youngest daughter in a European family that can be traced back 15 generations. Left to her own devices most of the time, she finds herself discovering family secrets that no twelve year old should uncover. As her grandfather notes her growing curiosity, he brings in a tutor to guide her education. But as more secrets are revealed and the questions of family succession come into play, she is mysteriously sent away to an all girls boarding school in the United States. Years pass with no contact from her family, and now in her 20s, she is ordered to return home, and face the unknown plans her family has set in place, to secure her role in the long line of their dynastic control.
Letters From the Dead is a well-written story of powerful families and the machinations of holding on to that power throughout each new generation. I enjoyed the mystery behind the FMCs family, and the doubts that her grandfather has for her father as the next in line as the family’s patriarch. It sets up a great storyline of family drama and intrigue, and brings some interesting questionable characters into the mix.
I was most invested in the relationship between the FMC and her grandfather. They had a heartwarming relationship, since she was mostly neglected by her parents, in a be seen and not heard household. While the family presents a polished front to the outside world, there are secrets and betrayals that makes the FMC a pawn among her family, without knowing fully what secrets are being kept from her.
While I did enjoy the book’s premise and following the life of the FMC, I did have some problems with the story. The FMC is twelve years old throughout 65% of the book, and I found that made it hard for me to stay connected to her as a character. From the situations she found herself in, I felt like her age progression should have taken place faster. Also, the book is set in the early 1990s, but because of the behavior, mannerisms, and speech of the family, it felt like the story was in the late 1800s, early 1900s. I just found myself having a hard time reconciling the setting, throughout the book.
I did enjoy the pacing of the latter part of the book, once the FMCs time at boarding school ended. This was a much longer read for me, at 11 days, and I think some shortening and editing of the first 65% would have made a big difference in the pacing and holding my interest in the story.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, and I am definitely interested to see where the story goes in the next book, now that the FMC has reached adulthood. If you love stories with family secrets, historical references, wealth and power, and a sense of mystery, then I would recommend reading Letters From the Dead.
May 30, 2025
Isabella Valeri’s Letters from the Dead is an intoxicating debut that unfurls like the petals of a poisonous flower—beautiful, intricate, and hiding sharp thorns beneath its surface. Set against the haunting elegance of aristocratic wealth and betrayal, this contemporary mystery thriller drags readers into a world where bloodlines are both privilege and prison, and where secrets do more than haunt—they kill.
With a blend of rich prose, a tightly wound plot, and haunting psychological depth, Letters from the Dead offers much to admire, even as it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its ambition.
Inheritance of Secrets: Plot Overview
The novel opens with a sense of quiet dread. The unnamed protagonist—an heiress banished from her ancestral home as a child—is suddenly recalled after her bank accounts are mysteriously frozen. The once-sheltered girl, now a sharp and composed young woman in her twenties, must reenter the insular world of her family’s Alpine estate. But this return is no homecoming. Instead, it’s a reckoning.
Over the course of the novel, Valeri unveils a complex tale that spans generations. As the protagonist investigates the true cause of her exile, she begins to uncover long-buried family secrets, including an ancient manuscript, hidden alliances, and the brutal politics of aristocratic succession. Most disturbingly, her own father emerges as a figure of shadowy power and psychological control.
The plot is a deft blend of:
Gothic atmosphere: The isolated estate, its hidden passages, and spectral memories echo the best of Rebecca and The Secret History
Psychological drama: The central mystery isn’t just what happened, but why it happened—and to whom her loyalties should belong
Sociopolitical commentary: Beneath the melodrama lies an incisive look at wealth, legacy, and patriarchy
Characterization: A Study in Control and Defiance
The heroine, who remains unnamed for much of the book—a choice that’s both bold and symbolic—is no passive victim. She is a carefully crafted contradiction: outwardly polished from her elite American boarding school years, yet internally seething with unanswered questions. Her voice is intelligent, lyrical, and often laced with irony. It’s a testament to Valeri’s literary maturity that she resists turning her into a caricature of female rage. Instead, the protagonist’s evolution is quiet, devastating, and believable.
Other key characters include:
The Father – A chilling embodiment of authoritarian rule. His scenes seethe with tension, yet he never raises his voice
The Cousins and Uncles – A tableau of power-hungry men circling the family legacy like vultures. Each has a distinct agenda, and Valeri plays them off each other with delicious precision
The Mother – A tragic figure, both complicit and powerless, echoing gothic maternal archetypes
What makes these characters memorable is not just their intrigue, but the emotional claustrophobia they induce. The protagonist is not just navigating enemies; she’s unraveling her own sense of self.
Themes: Memory, Power, and the Rewriting of History
At its heart, Letters from the Dead is a novel about who gets to tell the story. Throughout, Valeri interrogates the narratives handed down through lineage, questioning what is myth, what is lie, and what was buried out of convenience.
Key thematic explorations include:
Legacy vs. identity: Can one break from family without losing oneself?
Female agency: The protagonist’s arranged marriage looms large, symbolizing the control exerted over women’s choices under the guise of tradition
The unreliability of memory: Her return to the estate triggers fragmented recollections, and Valeri masterfully uses these as puzzle pieces, letting readers sort through what’s real
Writing Style: Lush, Controlled, and Unapologetically Literary
Isabella Valeri’s prose is one of the novel’s standout elements. Evocative but not overwrought, lyrical without sacrificing clarity, her sentences shimmer with quiet menace.
Her style recalls the psychological nuance of Tana French combined with the visual decadence of Sarah Waters. It’s evident that Valeri draws from the gothic tradition, but she updates it with a distinctly modern feminist sensibility.
Strengths of Letters from the Dead
Atmosphere: The Alpine setting, with its snow-laden silence and cold opulence, is practically a character in itself
Character depth: The protagonist’s voice is magnetic, intelligent, and emotionally layered
Structural design: The gradual unraveling of past and present timelines maintains tension and rewards patient readers
Feminist undercurrent: Without preaching, Valeri critiques systems of control that masquerade as tradition
Where the Book Falters
While Letters from the Dead is undoubtedly impressive, it’s not without flaws:
Pacing in the middle third: The narrative slows as the protagonist revisits her childhood memories, and some scenes feel overly introspective without advancing the plot
Underdeveloped side characters: Some family members, particularly female cousins or staff, are hinted at but not fleshed out
Exposition-heavy passages: At times, the novel leans too hard on backstory, with entire sections of dialogue serving as thinly disguised info-dumps
Still, these issues are minor compared to the richness of the world Valeri builds and the questions she provokes.
Verdict: A Riveting, Lyrically-Charged Debut
Letters from the Dead is a rare kind of debut—one that arrives fully formed, with a distinct voice and a confident grasp of both genre and language. It blends the eerie elegance of gothic thrillers with the contemporary edge of domestic suspense. Isabella Valeri doesn’t just tell a mystery; she explores the moral cost of knowing the truth.
This is a book that lingers, not for its final twist (although there is one), but for the slow, unsettling realization that history is often rewritten in whispers, and that silence—especially within families—is its own kind of violence.
With a blend of rich prose, a tightly wound plot, and haunting psychological depth, Letters from the Dead offers much to admire, even as it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its ambition.
Inheritance of Secrets: Plot Overview
The novel opens with a sense of quiet dread. The unnamed protagonist—an heiress banished from her ancestral home as a child—is suddenly recalled after her bank accounts are mysteriously frozen. The once-sheltered girl, now a sharp and composed young woman in her twenties, must reenter the insular world of her family’s Alpine estate. But this return is no homecoming. Instead, it’s a reckoning.
Over the course of the novel, Valeri unveils a complex tale that spans generations. As the protagonist investigates the true cause of her exile, she begins to uncover long-buried family secrets, including an ancient manuscript, hidden alliances, and the brutal politics of aristocratic succession. Most disturbingly, her own father emerges as a figure of shadowy power and psychological control.
The plot is a deft blend of:
Gothic atmosphere: The isolated estate, its hidden passages, and spectral memories echo the best of Rebecca and The Secret History
Psychological drama: The central mystery isn’t just what happened, but why it happened—and to whom her loyalties should belong
Sociopolitical commentary: Beneath the melodrama lies an incisive look at wealth, legacy, and patriarchy
Characterization: A Study in Control and Defiance
The heroine, who remains unnamed for much of the book—a choice that’s both bold and symbolic—is no passive victim. She is a carefully crafted contradiction: outwardly polished from her elite American boarding school years, yet internally seething with unanswered questions. Her voice is intelligent, lyrical, and often laced with irony. It’s a testament to Valeri’s literary maturity that she resists turning her into a caricature of female rage. Instead, the protagonist’s evolution is quiet, devastating, and believable.
Other key characters include:
The Father – A chilling embodiment of authoritarian rule. His scenes seethe with tension, yet he never raises his voice
The Cousins and Uncles – A tableau of power-hungry men circling the family legacy like vultures. Each has a distinct agenda, and Valeri plays them off each other with delicious precision
The Mother – A tragic figure, both complicit and powerless, echoing gothic maternal archetypes
What makes these characters memorable is not just their intrigue, but the emotional claustrophobia they induce. The protagonist is not just navigating enemies; she’s unraveling her own sense of self.
Themes: Memory, Power, and the Rewriting of History
At its heart, Letters from the Dead is a novel about who gets to tell the story. Throughout, Valeri interrogates the narratives handed down through lineage, questioning what is myth, what is lie, and what was buried out of convenience.
Key thematic explorations include:
Legacy vs. identity: Can one break from family without losing oneself?
Female agency: The protagonist’s arranged marriage looms large, symbolizing the control exerted over women’s choices under the guise of tradition
The unreliability of memory: Her return to the estate triggers fragmented recollections, and Valeri masterfully uses these as puzzle pieces, letting readers sort through what’s real
Writing Style: Lush, Controlled, and Unapologetically Literary
Isabella Valeri’s prose is one of the novel’s standout elements. Evocative but not overwrought, lyrical without sacrificing clarity, her sentences shimmer with quiet menace.
Her style recalls the psychological nuance of Tana French combined with the visual decadence of Sarah Waters. It’s evident that Valeri draws from the gothic tradition, but she updates it with a distinctly modern feminist sensibility.
Strengths of Letters from the Dead
Atmosphere: The Alpine setting, with its snow-laden silence and cold opulence, is practically a character in itself
Character depth: The protagonist’s voice is magnetic, intelligent, and emotionally layered
Structural design: The gradual unraveling of past and present timelines maintains tension and rewards patient readers
Feminist undercurrent: Without preaching, Valeri critiques systems of control that masquerade as tradition
Where the Book Falters
While Letters from the Dead is undoubtedly impressive, it’s not without flaws:
Pacing in the middle third: The narrative slows as the protagonist revisits her childhood memories, and some scenes feel overly introspective without advancing the plot
Underdeveloped side characters: Some family members, particularly female cousins or staff, are hinted at but not fleshed out
Exposition-heavy passages: At times, the novel leans too hard on backstory, with entire sections of dialogue serving as thinly disguised info-dumps
Still, these issues are minor compared to the richness of the world Valeri builds and the questions she provokes.
Verdict: A Riveting, Lyrically-Charged Debut
Letters from the Dead is a rare kind of debut—one that arrives fully formed, with a distinct voice and a confident grasp of both genre and language. It blends the eerie elegance of gothic thrillers with the contemporary edge of domestic suspense. Isabella Valeri doesn’t just tell a mystery; she explores the moral cost of knowing the truth.
This is a book that lingers, not for its final twist (although there is one), but for the slow, unsettling realization that history is often rewritten in whispers, and that silence—especially within families—is its own kind of violence.
August 26, 2025
There is much within Letters from the Dead that immediately beckoned me: the weight of long-buried family secrets, the elegance of a crumbling Austrian estate, whispers of WWII espionage, and that delicious undercurrent of inherited privilege and peril that so often draws me in. These are the elements I tend to chase — shadows of the past wrapped in velvet and dust. And yet, at times, I found the novel veering into something bordering on affectation.
Our nameless narrator — an echo of du Maurier’s haunted heroines — is the youngest daughter of an old-money family whose legacy winds its way back to the grandeur of the Habsburg empire. Valeri paints a world thick with excess: stables filled with gleaming horses, private airstrips accessible by helicopter, every inch of the family’s existence dipped in gold. But rather than let these luxuries speak for themselves, the prose lingers — sometimes indulgently — on opulence, page after page. The difference between telling us about wealth and allowing us to feel its isolating chill is a subtle, yet important, one.
Valeri’s writing is dense — richly woven, layered with allusions, and brimming with sensory detail. It demands patience. Each sentence is a heavy tapestry, stitched with emotion and historical nuance. This density, though at times overwhelming, rewards a slow and careful reader; it’s not a book to be skimmed, but one to be steeped in.
From its opening pages, the novel wraps you in atmosphere. Foggy mornings, locked rooms, distant screams — all underscored by the gnawing uncertainty that haunts our heroine. As she’s torn from the only world she’s ever known and exiled to a foreign country, we stumble along beside her, just as unmoored and aching for answers. Why has she been sent away? What danger brews behind closed doors? And will she ever find her way back — or truly want to?
What enchanted me most was the quiet, measured way the story unfolds. Secrets are not dumped but gently unspooled, like heirloom ribbons. Each new revelation feels earned, each character a piece of a fractured puzzle slowly reassembled. There’s a persistent hum of dread, a sense that danger is always a breath away. The cast — an unfeeling mother, a cruel and petulant brother, the heavy mantle of expectations — all shimmer with gothic intensity.
Yes, this is a book saturated with aristocratic excess and eccentricities, but somehow it all sings in harmony. It carries the grandeur of a sweeping historical saga while still managing to feel fresh and intimate. I found myself pulled back to its pages again and again, eager to lose myself in its stormy elegance.
And when the final page turned, I knew one thing for certain: I will follow this series wherever it dares to go next.
Our nameless narrator — an echo of du Maurier’s haunted heroines — is the youngest daughter of an old-money family whose legacy winds its way back to the grandeur of the Habsburg empire. Valeri paints a world thick with excess: stables filled with gleaming horses, private airstrips accessible by helicopter, every inch of the family’s existence dipped in gold. But rather than let these luxuries speak for themselves, the prose lingers — sometimes indulgently — on opulence, page after page. The difference between telling us about wealth and allowing us to feel its isolating chill is a subtle, yet important, one.
Valeri’s writing is dense — richly woven, layered with allusions, and brimming with sensory detail. It demands patience. Each sentence is a heavy tapestry, stitched with emotion and historical nuance. This density, though at times overwhelming, rewards a slow and careful reader; it’s not a book to be skimmed, but one to be steeped in.
From its opening pages, the novel wraps you in atmosphere. Foggy mornings, locked rooms, distant screams — all underscored by the gnawing uncertainty that haunts our heroine. As she’s torn from the only world she’s ever known and exiled to a foreign country, we stumble along beside her, just as unmoored and aching for answers. Why has she been sent away? What danger brews behind closed doors? And will she ever find her way back — or truly want to?
What enchanted me most was the quiet, measured way the story unfolds. Secrets are not dumped but gently unspooled, like heirloom ribbons. Each new revelation feels earned, each character a piece of a fractured puzzle slowly reassembled. There’s a persistent hum of dread, a sense that danger is always a breath away. The cast — an unfeeling mother, a cruel and petulant brother, the heavy mantle of expectations — all shimmer with gothic intensity.
Yes, this is a book saturated with aristocratic excess and eccentricities, but somehow it all sings in harmony. It carries the grandeur of a sweeping historical saga while still managing to feel fresh and intimate. I found myself pulled back to its pages again and again, eager to lose myself in its stormy elegance.
And when the final page turned, I knew one thing for certain: I will follow this series wherever it dares to go next.
May 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Letters from the Dead.
We all know the common saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover."
It should also be 'don't judge a book by its title.'
That definitely applies here.
I was intrigued by the title and excited my request was approved.
I'm always up for a debut novel and a suspenseful story.
Sadly, this bored me to death. Now I'm a zombie and I'm still bored. Double zombie?
In my experience, when a book is dubbed 'literary' it means it's well written to the point of purple prose but painfully slow and boring.
I thought this was a mystery. It's not.
I thought it would be suspenseful. Nope.
I thought I would like the characters. Uh-huh.
Is this well written? Sure.
But it's not suspenseful or mysterious; its a history lesson, a lesson in affluence and wealth and family dynasties, none of which I care about.
I don't care about the uber wealthy and their mansions and their hoity-toity parties with the rich and politically connected.
There's also plenty of drinking, drugging, sleeping around, blah blah blah.
The typical shenanigans rich people do when they have too much money and nothing else/better to do.
Stuff happens but it's more like a sidebar to the history and political lessons and how the precocious daughter must use her wiles and intelligence to figure out what her family is hiding.
Which is what...exactly?
Not sure, since the ending is open=ended which I guess there's a sequel...which I definitely won't read.
The first half of the narrative demonstrates the tutoring and tutelage of said daughter and her precarious relationships with her parents, her tumultuous relationships with her brothers, and her deep love she has for her grandfather.
I'm always confused about books like these.
What's the frickin' point?
Why should I care about this crazy wealthy family who lives and talks like they live in the 19th century and have more money than a small country?
Why should I care about their secrets and lust for power and glory and terrible deeds they have perpetrated?
Why should I care about the main character's grab for her own power and independence?
I don't like anyone; I'm indifferent to the main character.
She's smart and well educated but after slogging through the narrative, I still don't know her.
To be honest, I don't know much after trudging through all those words and quotes and Latin in the book.
I need a brain break.
We all know the common saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover."
It should also be 'don't judge a book by its title.'
That definitely applies here.
I was intrigued by the title and excited my request was approved.
I'm always up for a debut novel and a suspenseful story.
Sadly, this bored me to death. Now I'm a zombie and I'm still bored. Double zombie?
In my experience, when a book is dubbed 'literary' it means it's well written to the point of purple prose but painfully slow and boring.
I thought this was a mystery. It's not.
I thought it would be suspenseful. Nope.
I thought I would like the characters. Uh-huh.
Is this well written? Sure.
But it's not suspenseful or mysterious; its a history lesson, a lesson in affluence and wealth and family dynasties, none of which I care about.
I don't care about the uber wealthy and their mansions and their hoity-toity parties with the rich and politically connected.
There's also plenty of drinking, drugging, sleeping around, blah blah blah.
The typical shenanigans rich people do when they have too much money and nothing else/better to do.
Stuff happens but it's more like a sidebar to the history and political lessons and how the precocious daughter must use her wiles and intelligence to figure out what her family is hiding.
Which is what...exactly?
Not sure, since the ending is open=ended which I guess there's a sequel...which I definitely won't read.
The first half of the narrative demonstrates the tutoring and tutelage of said daughter and her precarious relationships with her parents, her tumultuous relationships with her brothers, and her deep love she has for her grandfather.
I'm always confused about books like these.
What's the frickin' point?
Why should I care about this crazy wealthy family who lives and talks like they live in the 19th century and have more money than a small country?
Why should I care about their secrets and lust for power and glory and terrible deeds they have perpetrated?
Why should I care about the main character's grab for her own power and independence?
I don't like anyone; I'm indifferent to the main character.
She's smart and well educated but after slogging through the narrative, I still don't know her.
To be honest, I don't know much after trudging through all those words and quotes and Latin in the book.
I need a brain break.
June 16, 2025
LETTERS FROM THE DEAD by Isabella Valeri
From the opening chapters until the very end, LETTERS FROM THE DEAD pulled me into the drama, the emotion, and the intrigue. Valeri’s storytelling is only made better by the eloquence and compelling nature of her writing.
In the tradition of a grand-sweeping family saga, there are buried secrets, privileged behaviors, and duplicity. But there are also heartfelt moments as our young heiress navigates the complex emotions experienced through complicated family relationships. When she is ushered out of her home and essentially exiled in another country, the reader is just as in the dark as she is. And the questions are always looming. Why? When will she see her family again? Is she still in danger? How will she survive after never really experiencing the world because of her sheltered existence?
What I loved was how the story unfurled. The threads of the truth are carefully revealed and placed within the narrative to propel the story forward. Each new experience, each discovery, and each person brought in and back into her life are all part of the larger picture. Then, there is always a sense of danger or threat hovering in the air. It all read like the best type of historical fiction, complete with a harsh and unloving mother, a cruel and entitled brother, and undesired familial expectations.
If it sounds like I am a fan of this book, it is because I am. I started reading and couldn’t wait to sit back down and immerse myself in these pages. It has the gothic flair, all the while feeling fresh and unique. And yes, there may be wildly aristocratic notions and eccentric personalities, but it all fell perfectly into place within the narrative for this read. I cannot wait to read the next in this series.
Reviewer Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
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✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
From the opening chapters until the very end, LETTERS FROM THE DEAD pulled me into the drama, the emotion, and the intrigue. Valeri’s storytelling is only made better by the eloquence and compelling nature of her writing.
In the tradition of a grand-sweeping family saga, there are buried secrets, privileged behaviors, and duplicity. But there are also heartfelt moments as our young heiress navigates the complex emotions experienced through complicated family relationships. When she is ushered out of her home and essentially exiled in another country, the reader is just as in the dark as she is. And the questions are always looming. Why? When will she see her family again? Is she still in danger? How will she survive after never really experiencing the world because of her sheltered existence?
What I loved was how the story unfurled. The threads of the truth are carefully revealed and placed within the narrative to propel the story forward. Each new experience, each discovery, and each person brought in and back into her life are all part of the larger picture. Then, there is always a sense of danger or threat hovering in the air. It all read like the best type of historical fiction, complete with a harsh and unloving mother, a cruel and entitled brother, and undesired familial expectations.
If it sounds like I am a fan of this book, it is because I am. I started reading and couldn’t wait to sit back down and immerse myself in these pages. It has the gothic flair, all the while feeling fresh and unique. And yes, there may be wildly aristocratic notions and eccentric personalities, but it all fell perfectly into place within the narrative for this read. I cannot wait to read the next in this series.
Reviewer Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Follow the Art, Books, & Coffee:
Website | Instagram | Facebook Group
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
May 5, 2025
Rating Breakdown:
Characters - 3
Plot - 3
Setting - 3
Writing - 3
Enjoyment - 3
Total Rating - 3
Review:
I was very intrigued by the cover and premise of this one. The main character provides an interesting view into a centuries old, dynastic family that is full of secrets. I loved the relationships between the main character and her grandfather, professor, and middle brother.
I just wish those things had been enough to fully hold my interest. I think this was trying very hard to be dark academia based on the writing style, but the side quests into deep family history and philosophical musings distracted from the plot of the story for me. I found myself not wanting to pick this book up because of the pacing.
Bottom Line:
I thought this book was fine. It's an interesting story, if you have the stomach for pages of family political info-dumping.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher for review.
Characters - 3
Plot - 3
Setting - 3
Writing - 3
Enjoyment - 3
Total Rating - 3
Review:
I was very intrigued by the cover and premise of this one. The main character provides an interesting view into a centuries old, dynastic family that is full of secrets. I loved the relationships between the main character and her grandfather, professor, and middle brother.
I just wish those things had been enough to fully hold my interest. I think this was trying very hard to be dark academia based on the writing style, but the side quests into deep family history and philosophical musings distracted from the plot of the story for me. I found myself not wanting to pick this book up because of the pacing.
Bottom Line:
I thought this book was fine. It's an interesting story, if you have the stomach for pages of family political info-dumping.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher for review.
March 14, 2025
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC! This was a cerebral read, and not something that I would be able to devour in one sitting. It was enjoyable and intellectual, with beautifully written prose and an intriguing look into the politics and power struggles of a dynastic family. There were definitely slow points, and many historical facts that occasionally felt they bogged down the pace of the book. Things picked up in the second half, though I wish you learned more about the tomes, Augustin and Bastien as young adults, and the relationships of the family while she was in exile. Further, I understand that she had to choose, but I am disappointed that her ending is one which she fought so hard against. Overall, 3.75*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Emily Bestler Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately I had to DNF this one at 25%. The premise sounded so intriguing, a family mystery, it was described as addictive and it centred on a book. At 25% I felt like I got nothing from the book, nothing has happened to keep my attention and it just was not working for me and I didn’t want to fall into a slump.
Unfortunately I had to DNF this one at 25%. The premise sounded so intriguing, a family mystery, it was described as addictive and it centred on a book. At 25% I felt like I got nothing from the book, nothing has happened to keep my attention and it just was not working for me and I didn’t want to fall into a slump.
May 24, 2025
Overall I did enjoy this book. It is well written and the premise was interesting, but the first half of the book delves deep into history and is rather dry and boring. When the MC is sent out of the country to boarding school, things became more interesting and I started to enjoy it more. The ending was just OK for me though.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 7, 2025
This book is the literary equivalent of the person who thinks they’re the smartest one in the room. But no one wants to talk to them because actually they just make no sense.
I liked the history and philosophy for about the first 20% of the book; after that, it felt like the author was just trying to bury the reader in details but in doing so, lost the plot.
I liked the history and philosophy for about the first 20% of the book; after that, it felt like the author was just trying to bury the reader in details but in doing so, lost the plot.
April 14, 2025
Just finished this ARC. THANK YOU to author @isabella_valeri_ig and to @goodreads for the beautiful book in exchange for my honest review.
📚
Book title: Letters from the dead. This is the debut novel from author Isabella Valeri.
Genre: Historical Fiction/ thriller
✨️Old Money
✨️Young heiress
✨️Historical estate tracing back 15 generations on an estate in the Alpine foothills
✨️Battle for succession
✨️Secrets uncovered from hundreds of years before
✨️Exile
✨️her father is a dangerous and powerful foe
✨️Murder
✨️Mystery
If I could change anything, it would be to lessen the number of pages/ length of the book overall. There were a few areas in the book that were slow to get thru.
Now, with that aside, I can say I will be looking forward to reading the sequel!!!
If you enjoy reading books about historical fiction or old European family royalty, you'll enjoy this book!!!
Isabella used these exact words in the book about a character, but I feel it sums up her writing very well: " Has a talent for drawing the listener into the vision of a place in time". AND it's a place and time so different from what I live!
📚
Book title: Letters from the dead. This is the debut novel from author Isabella Valeri.
Genre: Historical Fiction/ thriller
✨️Old Money
✨️Young heiress
✨️Historical estate tracing back 15 generations on an estate in the Alpine foothills
✨️Battle for succession
✨️Secrets uncovered from hundreds of years before
✨️Exile
✨️her father is a dangerous and powerful foe
✨️Murder
✨️Mystery
If I could change anything, it would be to lessen the number of pages/ length of the book overall. There were a few areas in the book that were slow to get thru.
Now, with that aside, I can say I will be looking forward to reading the sequel!!!
If you enjoy reading books about historical fiction or old European family royalty, you'll enjoy this book!!!
Isabella used these exact words in the book about a character, but I feel it sums up her writing very well: " Has a talent for drawing the listener into the vision of a place in time". AND it's a place and time so different from what I live!
Read
May 20, 2025DNF at 30%
The writing is actually good in this book but the plot is all over the place, losing my attention. For a book this long, I need to be more intrigued.
The writing is actually good in this book but the plot is all over the place, losing my attention. For a book this long, I need to be more intrigued.
June 14, 2025
I'm at page 112 and I dnf the book. I tried to enjoy the book but I couldnt.
May 30, 2025
Dnfed this at 7% I just didn’t care was happening and couldn’t get into it.
June 10, 2025
The youngest daughter of an old and wealthy family is abruptly sent away when she is only 11. What has she done to deserve being banished? Well, since the story is told from only her perspective, there are clues, but I was never sure if they were reliable.
She is left at a boarding school in the United States. No notes. No communication before she departed. No idea how long she will be here. She is, however, extremely smart and everything her beloved grandfather taught her helps her to navigate this part of her life.
She grew up in extreme isolation and it is years before she manages to make a friend. The relationship grows, and they both leave for university together. At that point, her smart brain seemed to fade into the background a bit. Partying and traveling takes center stage. But when her family appears again… Well, let’s just say that if it was me, I would’ve run in the opposite direction.
I was captivated until around the 70% mark. Then I just could not figure out how this would be wrapped up. I was left with unanswered questions and I really hope that there is another book planned. There is so much more to discover about this family.
She is left at a boarding school in the United States. No notes. No communication before she departed. No idea how long she will be here. She is, however, extremely smart and everything her beloved grandfather taught her helps her to navigate this part of her life.
She grew up in extreme isolation and it is years before she manages to make a friend. The relationship grows, and they both leave for university together. At that point, her smart brain seemed to fade into the background a bit. Partying and traveling takes center stage. But when her family appears again… Well, let’s just say that if it was me, I would’ve run in the opposite direction.
I was captivated until around the 70% mark. Then I just could not figure out how this would be wrapped up. I was left with unanswered questions and I really hope that there is another book planned. There is so much more to discover about this family.
May 27, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Letters from the Dead
Author: Isabella Valeri
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
Happy Publication Day! “Letters from the Dead” is a wholly original novel that delves into profound themes such as secrets, murder, inheritance, dysfunctional families, duplicity, and more. This is a thought-provoking read that requires intellectual engagement. The narrative begins with three children of a very affluent Austrian dynasty, left to fend for themselves as feral rich children in the upper two floors of their massive castle. Their parents were preoccupied with their lives and only intervened when the children became a nuisance, necessitating their enrollment in private boarding schools. The story is narrated by the youngest and only daughter, a heiress who resists the customary role of last place after her two brothers due to gender. Set against the backdrop of post-World War II high society, where women were primarily expected to secure marriage matches, the novel reveals the daughter’s exceptional intelligence, sharp wit, and cunning nature. These attributes would alter the course of the family’s history. The narrative is filled with intricate plots, schemes, and significant challenges. The author effectively sets the mood by describing the macabre and imposing castle setting, which is said to harbor ghosts. While the plot may be complex and challenging to comprehend fully, I found Ms. Valeri’s storytelling engaging and enjoyable. Her portrayal of a capable and cunning young woman who outsmarts men is admirable. Bring it on!
#LettersFromTheDead @isabella_valeri_ig #isabellavaleri #Austria @netgalley #NetGalley #Mystery #thriller #Fiction #adult #inheritance #castleLife #castle @atriabooks
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
Letters from the Dead
Author: Isabella Valeri
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
Happy Publication Day! “Letters from the Dead” is a wholly original novel that delves into profound themes such as secrets, murder, inheritance, dysfunctional families, duplicity, and more. This is a thought-provoking read that requires intellectual engagement. The narrative begins with three children of a very affluent Austrian dynasty, left to fend for themselves as feral rich children in the upper two floors of their massive castle. Their parents were preoccupied with their lives and only intervened when the children became a nuisance, necessitating their enrollment in private boarding schools. The story is narrated by the youngest and only daughter, a heiress who resists the customary role of last place after her two brothers due to gender. Set against the backdrop of post-World War II high society, where women were primarily expected to secure marriage matches, the novel reveals the daughter’s exceptional intelligence, sharp wit, and cunning nature. These attributes would alter the course of the family’s history. The narrative is filled with intricate plots, schemes, and significant challenges. The author effectively sets the mood by describing the macabre and imposing castle setting, which is said to harbor ghosts. While the plot may be complex and challenging to comprehend fully, I found Ms. Valeri’s storytelling engaging and enjoyable. Her portrayal of a capable and cunning young woman who outsmarts men is admirable. Bring it on!
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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