Letters to the Lost - by Iona Grey (Paperback)

About the Book

Late on a frozen February evening, a young woman is running through the streets of London. Having fled from her abusive boyfriend and with nowhere to go, Jess stumbles onto a forgotten lane where a small, clearly unlived in old house offers her best chance of shelter for the night. The next morning, a mysterious letter arrives and when she can't help but open it, she finds herself drawn inexorably into the story of two lovers from another time. Fate is unkind and they are separated by decades and continents. In the present, Jess becomes determined to find out what happened to them. Her hope--inspired by a love so powerful it spans a lifetime--will lead her to find a startling redemption in her own life.

Book Synopsis

An accomplished novel from a talented writer, Letters to the Lost is a stunning, emotional love story. Iona Grey's prose is warm, evocative, and immediately engaging; her characters become so real you can't bear to let them go.

Late on a frozen February evening, a young woman is running through the streets of London. Having fled from her abusive boyfriend and with nowhere to go, Jess stumbles onto a forgotten lane where a small, clearly vacant old house offers her best chance of shelter for the night. The next morning, a mysterious letter arrives and when she can't help but open it, she finds herself drawn inexorably into the story of two lovers from another time.

In London 1943, Stella meets Dan, a US airman, quite by accident, but there is no denying the impossible, unstoppable attraction that draws them together. Dan is a B-17 pilot flying his bomber into Europe from a British airbase; his odds of survival are one in five. In the midst of such uncertainty, the one thing they hold onto is the letters they write to each other. Fate is unkind and they are separated by decades and continents.

In the present, Jess becomes determined to find out what happened to them. Her hope - inspired by a love so powerful it spans a lifetime - will lead her to find a startling redemption in her own life in this powerfully moving novel perfect for fans of Kate Morton and The Postmistress.

Review Quotes

"A wonderful story." --Rosamunde Pilcher, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Shell Seekers

"Grey's engaging, poignant, and romantic debut treats readers to an absorbing story within a story. Her detailed narrative chronicles the lives of these intriguing characters while fluidly travelling from past to present. The author's subtle depictions to social and moral intolerances of the past and the gentle hand of fate that guides this tale makes her novel an excellent choice for fans of Beatrice Williams (Overseas; A Hundred Summers), Jon Clinch (The Thief of Auschwitz), and Kristina McMorris (Bridge of Scarlet Leaves)." --Library Journal, starred review

"Letters to the Lost is a powerful debut, one of those rare books that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. It's a heart-wrenching, smile-through-the-tears story of love lost and refound - you won't be able to put it down!" --Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author of The Ashford Affair

"Letters to the Lost pulsates with life, offering a vibrant love story that transcends time and the heartbreak of war. Settle in somewhere comfortable; you are in for an enthralling read." --Kate Alcott, New York Times bestselling author of The Dressmaker and A Touch of Stardust

"A captivating tale of love and love lost." --Booklist

"A beautiful, tender story from a naturally gifted storyteller. A wonderful debut!" --Lucinda Riley, international bestselling author of The Seven Sisters

"An epic story of love and loss that will break your heart." --Santa Montefiore, international bestselling author of The Beekeeper's Daughter

"Sweeps you up into the lives of its characters and makes you hope that sometimes lost loves can be found." --Kate Lord Brown, international bestselling author of The Perfume Garden

"A wonderful, double-woven story of two women who must bear the unfair weight of past wounds and who yet tenaciously hold onto the resolve to never give up on love. Iona Grey's engaging prose is resonant and lyrical; a delicious and moving read from page one to the last." --Susan Meissner, author of Secrets of a Charmed Life

About the Author

IONA GREY is the author of Letters to the Lost. She has a degree in English Literature and Language from Manchester University, an obsession with history and an enduring fascination with the lives of women in the twentieth century. She lives in rural Cheshire with her husband and three daughters.