Thank you for granting me access to this ARC of The Lost Letters from Martha’s Vineyard, I’ve been searching for a book that captures old Hollywood like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and this book did just that! Add a little mystery and I was hooked. I can’t wait to see what Michael Callahan comes up with next.

It’s 1959 & Mercy Welles is an Oscar nominated actress who has the world at her fingertips. She is far removed from her Nebraska home and it seems as if nothing could take her from this life. Until one day she is gone and no one knows where she has gone away too. Sixty plus years later Kay O’Neill’s grandmother has passed away and she is tasked with going through her things. Kit is a junior journalist and is intrigued by one particular box she finds. This box, once opened is like Pandora’s box and what she learns cannot be forgotten. It also sets her out to find out who her grandmother was and it leads to Martha’s Vineyard. Told from Mercy and Kit’s perspective we learn about Mercy’s heartbreak, new love and her simple life on the Vineyard. We see how finding out the truth makes Kit a stronger, happier soul. This story has a bit of everything. Intrigue, scandal, loss, love and wealth. This was a very enjoyable read. The characters and the storyline kept me engaged. The Lost Letter of Martha’s Vineyard by Michael Callahan was such a sweet read. I want to thank Netgalley, the author and Mariner Books for my copy for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.

Intriguing and engaging. The plot unfolds at a measured pace with dual timelines, revealing secrets and connections in a way that keeps the reader turning pages. The emotional resonance and the vivid descriptions make this book a memorable journey.
Many thanks to Mariner Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book made me bawl my eyes out and literally GASP out loud. In car line waiting for my kiddo I gasped so loud the person next to me looked over.

This is my first book by this author and it absolutely will not be my last.

I thought I might like this one; I didn't know how much I'd love it.

I am a major sucker for books set on the "other island" so, when I saw The Lost Letters fro Martha's Vineyard, I was immediately intrigued. I absolutely adored this book.

The island setting was perfect. The characters were rich and well developed. The love stories are so sweet. The subplots were exquisite. The mystery was perplexing and kept me guessing. The little nuggets of detail that are planted and revisited later are absolutely BRILLIANT! And the ending was divine. Well done, Callahan!

I can see myself reading this one again and will DEFINITELY be recommending it!

I wasn't sure about this book at first, but once it got going, I couldn't read it quickly enough! Mercy and Red had the most amazing love story, but watching Kit evolve and find out more about her grandmother's store was fantastic. The plot twist near the end had me flipping through the pages as quickly as I could, but the end had me in TEARS! I would absolutely read this book again!

The Lost Letters from Martha's Vinyard is an incredible mystery attached to a beautiful riveting love story. Between the secrets and intrigue and the heartbreakingly superb romance you will cling to this story and not want it to ever end!

When Kit finds a box while going through her late grandmother Edith's belongings, she discovers pamphlets and programs from the 1950's for a woman named Mercy Welles. She also finds a picture and other information about some play which was done on Martha's Vinyard. But to her shock, a picture holds the most stunning surprise. It is of her Nan as a young woman with the same name...Mercy Welles. How is this possible since her Nan's maiden name was Edith Stoppelmoor?

She and her sister were raised by her Nan and Pop after her parents were tragically killed. Never did she mention this part of her life or even ever going to Martha's Vinyard! Kit, a television producer decides she must try and find out who Mercy Welles and Edith Stopplemoor are.

In 1959 Mercy Welles was a young actress who had been nominated for an Oscar in her first movie. She was an up-and-coming movie star, and everybody wanted her. All except it seems her fiancé who she discovered was cheating on her. It was then Mercy decided she needed to get away for a while and be alone to think about her life and what she really wanted to do. She decides to go to Martha's Vinyard, a secluded island where she figures no one will know who she really is.

There, she meets wonderful people, and especially a very handsome oyster fisherman. As the summer progresses, she discovers the island is small but holds many secrets. By the end of the summer, Mercy's life will be changed forever as will many others on the island. She will discover that finding out answers to secrets can be quite dangerous.

As Kit investigates, she tries to find people who knew her Nan back then. Some have died and others are hiding things. When she is finally able to track down her Nan's best friend at the time Cass whom she knew she corresponded with, she is heartbroken to learn Cass had destroyed the letters years ago.

With the story told by both Kit in the present and Mercy in the past, the reader begins to learn what Mercy was doing during that mysterious summer on the island, and how her relationship with her oyster fisherman progresses. But there was also lying, jealousy and hatred going on at the time and secrets buried with dead bodies.

Kit decides she herself must go to the island for herself and see if she can put the pieces of the puzzle together. What Kit will discover is something she already knew. Her Nan was a strong woman who had to make the most difficult decision of her life which changed the trajectory her path would take. And just like her Nan, Kit's life will be changed as well when she steps foot on Martha's Vinyard the place she will finally find the answers she has been searching for.

The Lost Letters from Martha's Vinyard is heartwarming, heartbreaking and more importantly brave!

Thank you #NetGalley #MarinerBooks #MichaelCallahan #TheLostLettersfromMartha'sVinaryard for the advanced copy.

This story has a little bit of everything, mystery, history, romance and lots of secrets. In this dual timeline book we meet Mercy in 1959 and her granddaughter Kit in the present. Mostly set on Martha’s Vineyard, where Kit is trying to fill in the gaps of her grandmothers life. An interesting read.

I loved this book! It would make a great movie or series!

There are so many layers to this book. It is historical fiction, a mystery, and there is a murder. Underneath the layers is a romance that is heartbreaking, brings you to tears, and is everlasting.

The author’s writing draws your attention immediately in the prologue.

The main character, Kit O’Neill, is a producer for a news program. She and her older sister, Claire were raised by their grandparents after the death of their parents. The two sisters are cleaning out their grandparents’ house after the death of their grandmother. In the attic Kit finds some items belonging to their grandmother, Edith, that reveal a secret past. A past the grandmother kept secret from them. This sends Kit on a quest searching for answers about her grandmother’s secret. Her search takes her to Hollywood and Martha’s Vineyard. The story is told in dual timelines - 1959 and 2018.

“Always Be Brave.”

Since I love the Vineyard as a setting and it was billed as a mystery I decided to read this book. It is a good summer read. It is a bit predictable-old family-old skeletons however the author employs the device of changing time periods effectively. While it was truely not based in reality-well that’s a summer read for you. Entertaining.

This book has everything. It’s beautifully mysterious and has an old school charm about it.
I loved the dual timelines and POVs and letter excerpts.
I knew the second I read the synopsis I would love this book, and that’s exactly what happened.
Read this. It’s positively gorgeous!
Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

I am a sucker for good historical fiction and this was a knockout! Lovable, relatable characters combined with an idyllic setting really set this one up for success and excellent writing was the cherry on top!

4.5 ⭐️’s
In 1959 Mercy Wells is on the brink of stardom when she takes a break to mend a broken heart. Leaving Hollywood for a two week vacation on Martha’s Vineyard sounds like the perfect place to put herself back together, but Mercy is never heard from again.
In 2018 Kit and Claire’s beloved Nan has passed away. When Kit discovers a picture in Nan’s attic she’s immediately intrigued. Soon she’s seeking information about a mysterious summer long ago and answers that are long overdue.
Callahan’s writing switches effortlessly between 1959 and 2018. With a mystery at its core, this book is so much more, and Callahan proves that he is a master storyteller! Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book wrapped up nicely, but some parts dragged on. The characters were a little flat for me, but overall, they were fine. I think the interweaving of the time periods made a lot of sense and made the story flow

This book was not my cup of tea, but it was not bad. I struggle with history based books so it is no fault of the writer.

I found the perfect summer mystery! Get swept away to Martha's Vineyard in 1959 and discover hidden family secrets and a scandalous love affair. This story has everything I love in a novel: strong, independent women; a beautiful setting; old Hollywood; and a murder mystery! It has a really well-done dual timeline, as a present-day TV producer named Kit discovers her grandmother has a secret past through some letters found in her attic after she passes away. Kit retraces her life hoping to find out why her grandmother never shared this part of her life with the family. It will suck you in with the mystery and make you lose all sense of time as you see how it all plays out. I was particularly intrigued by the fact that this amazing story was written by a male author! He wrote these two women so well that it could be compared to many female authors like Diane Chamberlain or JoJo Moyes. I will be recommending this one all summer!! It begs to be read on the beach (especially if you find yourself on the east coast!)

Bonus: Callahan draws many references to Nancy Drew, the very first detective I loved reading about growing up! These little connections made me love it even more.

This story is told in dual timelines, 1950's Hollywood and present=day Manhattan. The mysterious life of Mercy Welles unfolds..

Kit O'Neil sets out to clean her grandmother's home and discovers a box of letters and photos that reveal her grandmother had a secret past. The mystery is why did Kit's grandmother leave her glamourous life behind and went into hiding?

This story was very interesting from start to finish. . I enjoyed Kit's determination to find out the missing piece of her grandmother's life.

There is so much discussed in this book! Romance, passion, murder, and deception!

This book will grab you from the very beginning! I did NOT want to put this book down. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Mercy Wells. A must read!

4.25stars-THE LOST LETTERS FROM MARTHA’S VINEYARD by Michael Callahan is an adult historical story of woman’s fiction focusing on Hollywood actress Mercy Welles aka Edith, and journalist Kit O’Neill

Told from several third person perspectives and numerous timelines ( 1944, 1959 and 2018), using present day, memories and letters from the past THE LOST LETTERS FROM MARTHA’S VINEYARD follows journalist Kit O’Neill as she goes in search of her grandmother’s past. After hunting through the attic of her late grandmother Edith’s home, Kit discovers a collection of letters, pictures and memorabilia focusing on the Hollywood actress Mercy Welles, a woman she will come to learn is her grandmother Edith aka Nan. Retracing her grandmother’s past, Kit will discover somethings were better left behind.

Meanwhile, back in 1959, Mercy Welles is struggling with betrayal and heartbreak. Needing a short break from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, Mercy Welles spends the summer on Martha’s Vineyard, where her life will be forever changed.

As the past collides with the future, threatening to repeat itself, Kit O’Neill is caught between the secrets and lies for which people were willing to kill.

The secondary characters include Mercy’s best friend Cass Goldman; Mercy’s summer romance lover Warren ‘Ren’ Stewards, his brother Patrick, and their mother Mint; Kit’s sister Claire, and an eclectic cast of characters, most of whom with an axe to grind or secrets to hide.

THE LOST LETTER FROM MARTHA’S VINEYARD is a thought-provoking story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, murder and chaos, family and friendships, love and loss. The premise is detailed, dramatic, and heart breaking; the characters are determined, desperate and animated.


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She thought that her grandmother was the person she knew best, inside and out.

Kit O’Neill and her sister Claire were raised from a young age by their grandparents after their parents were killed in an accident. Kit was not an easy child to raise, especially during her turbulent and rebellious teenage years, but with her grandparents love and support (plus a major tough love moment from her indomitable Nan) she turned things around and is now a producer for interviewer Lucinda Cross’ successful TV show in NYC. Her romantic relationships tend to be superficial and brief, but that’s the way she wants it. Now that Nan has passed away, several years after her grandfather Pop’s death, Kit and Claire are cleaning out the family home in preparation for putting it on the market. Kit comes across a box in the attic that holds a few items that hint at a time in Nan’s life of which she was completely unaware….a playbill for a production on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, a picture of Nan as a young woman with a handsome man who was definitely not Pop, and an empty box with a cryptic note and an envelope embossed with the word Sycamore. As a producer, Kit is used to ferreting out details through research to develop a story, and those skills are about to be put to use to uncover Nan’s secret life. It will involve a Hollywood actress named Mercy Welles whose career after an Oscar nomination in 1959 was on the rise until she abruptly and without explanation left Hollywood and a broken engagement behind, one of Martha’s Vineyard’s founding families who zealously guard their privacy and their secrets, a budding African American playwright from the talented ranks in Oak Bluffs on the island, and an ill-tempered but intriguing man who made his living from the sea. Kit will travel from Hollywood to Martha’s Vineyard, unearthing what happened so many decades ago, and she may just find some needed insight into her own life in the process.
The island of Martha’s VIneyard is a place that holds a special place in my heart, as I have been fortunate enough to spend time creating memories there over the the last 30 years or so, often in the company of my mother and my daughter (who, coincidentally, called my mother Nan). I am drawn to books set there, though more than a few have proven disappointing in their ability to adequately invoke the feel of the island. This novel is NOT one of those disappointments….author Michael Callahan has clearly spent time there, has absorbed much of what attracts people to its shores, and skillfully evokes its atmosphere and inhabitants. He deftly weaves the glamour as well as the backbiting that was Hollywood in the mid century years with a rustic spot off the coast of Cape Cod that was not the celebrity magnet then that it is today, all while unraveling the mystery of Nan’s life between her growing up years in Nebraska and her time working in New York as an adult where she would meet and marry. Pop. The novel starts with a quote from Gabriel García Márquez, “Everyone has three lives: a public life, a private life and a secret life,”, and that is true of the many characters in this story of love, family, secrets and difficult choices. I found the book and its narrators Kit and Mercy grabbed my attention from the very first page and never let go…..it is a tale whose conclusion you desperately want to know while never wanting it to end. If you like the works of Chris Bohjalian, Anne Rivers Siddons, and Elin HIldebrand, or if you have a connection to or fascination with Martha’s Vineyard and/or Hollywood of an earlier age, then I urge you most strongly to pick up a copy of The Lost Letter from Martha’s Vineyard….right now. You will not regret it! Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for allowing me access to an early copy of this enchanting novel, and to Mr. Callahan for so ably sharing the magic that is Martha’s Vineyard.

Claire and Kit are sisters who lost their parents at an early age. Their grandparents stepped up to raise them to the women they are today. When Nan their grandma passes away, they are left to clean up her house and sell off the items they do not want. When Kit is tasked with cleaning out the attic, she finds a linen box with play hand bill for a play on Martha's Vineyard which she finds strange as Nan was never on Martha's Vineyard or so she thought. With Kit having curiosity she begins to explore on the internet to find some crumbs of a past grandma had that was never revealed to the girls. The story moves back and forth with modern day with Kit trying to find out her grandmas past along with the sisters dealing with their modern-day problems and Grandmas past as a Hollywood star and a summer spent on Martha's Vineyard. From the opening pages there are many mysteries to solve, and the author does a masterful job weaving the stories of discovery together with many interesting twists and you think you have the story figured out. This book is a nice easy read that holds your attention all the way through and makes you want to keep reading to the end to find out what happens. This was a definite five star read.