The Last Postcard: Prepare to be totally swept away by this heartbreaking historical page-turner

by Laura Madeleine

‘Impossible to put down.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Will capture your heart and mind.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I am floored. I loved everything about this novel.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✉🗝🕰💔🌊☀Spain, 1928. One postcard. A lifetime of lies. A woman running from the truth.
In the dead of night, Alejandra flees.

Accused of murder, she crosses the sea to Tangier – the glittering port city on the edge of two worlds. There, she hides in the maze-like streets, where the air is scented with saffron and heat clings to her skin.

Winding alleys conceal danger, every shadow hides a secret – and Alejandra can be whoever she chooses to be. But her new life comes at a cost… And the truth is catching up with her.

Fifty years later, a struggling author pawns his typewriter for an old writing case. When he discovers a single postcard – the trace of a woman who vanished into legend – he is drawn into a story of scandal, love and betrayal.

And some secrets refuse to stay buried.

Lose yourself in the blue skies and baking heat of this richly atmospheric historical mystery spanning decades. Perfect for fans of Evie Woods, Eve Chase and Santa Montefiore. ✉🗝🕰💔🌊☀

🧡 ✉ Readers adore The Last Postcard:

‘Intoxicating, exotic and mysterious, I loved this book.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The reader is sucked straight into the story and, like the mystery at the heart of this book, you are held in its grip until the very last page.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Brilliant read, just could not put it down. From the very first page you are drawn in and just need to discover what will unfold next! It has every ingredient you could wish for in a book. Can’t recommend it enough!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely stunning… This was perfect escapism and I loved it - the sort of book you go to bed early to read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Historical fiction at its very best. As the heat shimmers off the pages, travel back in time to a mystery as exotic as its location. This is a must-read for fans of historical suspense, historical romance, women’s fiction or fans of really great stories! So in essence, for everyone!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘You won’t want to leave these characters behind.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2026

About the author

Laura Madeleine is the bestselling author of The Confectioner’s Tale, Where the Wild Cherries Grow, The Secrets Between Us and An Echo of Scandal.

As Lili Hayward she is also the author of The Cat of Yule Cottage and A Midwinter's Tail.

She lives in Bristol, but can often be found visiting her family in Devon and plotting with her sister, fantasy author Lucy Holland. You can find her on twitter @lauramadeleine or @lilihayward and instagram at lauramadeleineauthor and @lilihaywardauthor.

Laura is represented by Meg Davis at Ki Agency.

Reviews

[Ruth Griggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! I often laugh when I read book descriptions that say they are “atmospheric,” but now I get it. This book immersed me in two different time periods of Tangier, Morocco. I could feel the heat, the exotic sights, smells, and sounds. I could feel the congestion and chaos of the medina. I loved it!

This story was so unique, so different from the usual plots in mainstream mass publication these days. Highly recommend!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Italy I’ve come to really love multiple timeline books if they are done well. This book moves between 1928 and 1978. In 1928 a woman must flee with just a writing case. In 1978 a struggling writer finds the case and searches for the owner, setting off a cascade of unexpected circumstances.