Letter from a Stranger - by Barbara Taylor Bradford (Paperback)

About the Book

Justine lost her beloved grandmother a decade agoNthe person who was the only source of comfort in her life. When she inadvertently opens a letter addressed to her mother, Justine discovers that her grandmother is alive and her mom has deliberately estranged the family from her. Martin's Press.

Book Synopsis

Letter from a Stranger

Barbara Bradford

Justine Nolan is a documentary filmmaker who lost her cherished grandmother a decade ago--the only source of love and comfort in her life. Her own mother, Deborah, has always been distant, focusing on her career as an interior designer. But when Justine inadvertently opens a letter addressed to her mother, she discovers that not only is her grandmother alive, but that Deborah has deliberately distanced her from the family for all these years. Justine's search for her grandmother takes her to Istanbul, where she begins to uncover secrets that stretch all the way back to World War II. As layers of deception peel away, Justine begins to understand a woman she never really knew...and she begins to ask questions about the true desires of her own heart.

From the Back Cover

#1 bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford delivers a sweeping, emotional novel of family secrets and betrayals that lead one woman to her legacy, her destiny, and herself...

Justine Nolan is a documentary filmmaker who lost her cherished grandmother a decade ago--the only source of love and comfort in her life. Her own mother, Deborah, has always been distant, focusing on her career as an interior designer. But when Justine inadvertently opens a letter addressed to her mother, she discovers that not only is her grandmother alive, but that Deborah has deliberately distanced her from the family for all these years. Justine's search for her grandmother takes her to Istanbul, where she begins to uncover secrets that stretch all the way back to World War II. As layers of deception peel away, Justine begins to understand a woman she never really knew...and she begins to ask questions about the true desires of her own heart.

Bradford's characters are so real, readers clamor to know them better.

--USA Today

A master storyteller.--Pittsburgh Press

Review Quotes

"Her most exciting series yet...It's filled with romance, suspense and intrigue, and the richly detailed characters come vibrantly alive as expert pacing captures your attention from the very first page." --RomanticTimes BOOKreviews, Top Pick, on the Ravenscar series

"Rife with dastardly internecine struggles, smoldering illicit passion, and cowardly insidious betrayals...[the Deravenels] pack as much intrigue as any Shakespearean royal drama." --Booklist on Being Elizabeth

"The queen of the bestseller list still rules with The Heir." --Miami Herald

"Bestseller Bradford's dynastic epic spanning the 20th century should tide over her fans..." --Publishers Weekly on the Ravenscar series

"Bradford's characters are so real, readers clamor to know them better." --USA Today on the Ravenscar series

"This expertly crafted epic novel further explores the triumphs and tragedies of the Deravenel family. It will enthrall readers with its vivid characters and fast-paced, larger-than-life plot." --Romantic Times BOOKreviews (4 1/2 stars) on The Heir

"The Ravenscar Dynasty has it all--power, betrayal, mystery...The characters are all complex, dynamic, and powerful, leading us through Edward Deravenel's struggles one exciting step at a time." --Romance Reviews Today

"Bradford's fiction has long focused on strong heroines who succeed against great odds. Her latest novel, The Ravenscar Dynasty...is the first of a planned trilogy of novels, all destined for best-sellerdom." --Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"The Harte saga is as much a force of nature as a work of fiction...the issues at stake still compel readers after 25 years. Bradford understood early on readers' hunger for depictions of women who are strong and powerful and whose values embrace family. A quarter-century ago, Emma Harte crossed the no-woman's-land that once divided family and business, and now generations of readers consider her a role model in their own lives." --The Washington Post

"A truly remarkable conclusion to her beloved Harte family saga...riveting and intense. Not many novels have the ability to completely immerse the reader, but this one draws you into the story from the very first page." --Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Just Rewards

"Bradford gives her readers more of what she does best--strong, savvy female protagonists who relentlessly pursue great destinies, characters much like the author herself...well-written and full of emotion...completely riveting...the plot, while always complex, has suspenseful moments to keep the pace sharp...good reading...Unexpected Blessings clearly shows why Bradford is still the premier writer of family sagas." --Miami New Times

About the Author

BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD was born and brought up in England, and started her writing career as a journalist. She has written twenty-five international bestsellers. Letters from a Stranger is her twenty-sixth novel. In 2007, Queen Elizabeth awarded her the Order of the British Empire for her literary achievements. She lives in New York with her husband, TV and film producer Robert Bradford.