Thank you Isabella Valeri and the publisher, Atria Books, for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

Genre: Mystery Thriller
Vibes: 🏰📜🕯️🕵️‍♀️🔍👁️⏳
Rating: DNF
Tropes: gothic setting / suspense / locked-room / dual timeline

I was originally interested in this book because it looked like some that I would typically pick up on a bookshelf -- eerie estate, secrets, kind of like a gothic old-money Knives Out. That being said, while I admired the concept, I did not feel as emotionally pulled in as I wanted to be. The writing seemed very cold and straight-forward, not as animated as I had hoped. I wanted to feel more, not just read about it.

I DNF @ 25%

I think the biggest preface to this book is that the description for the book covers the SERIES rather than the first book - so what you are reading is only half of what you think you will be reading and at a whopping 480 pages, that is a hard pill to swallow.

Overall, it was slow moving. The world building for the MC was great - the world she lived in (a rich dynasty in the Alps) felt very real to me. But as a whole, this just did not capture my attention like I had hoped.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this title!

REVIEW: Letters from the Dead by Isabella Valeri⭐️⭐️⭐️

Letters from the Dead by Isabella Valeri is dark, moody, and full of secrets, but it didn’t fully deliver the chills I was hoping for. It follows a woman uncovering hidden family truths through mysterious letters sent by someone who shouldn’t be able to write them. The premise is highly intriguing, and the gothic vibe is strong.

✨ What I liked:
- Writing that feels eerie and haunting
- Clever twists and turns that kept me guessing
- A storyline rooted in family secrets and tragedies

⚡ What didn’t quite work:
- Slow pacing that dragged in parts
- Some reveals felt rushed
- Characters felt flat at times

Overall, it’s a decent read if you love gothic mysteries and slow-burn suspense. This book just wasn’t quite for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books, for providing me with a free advanced copy for my honest review.

Thank yon so much for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.. this book was super moody and atmospheric and I loved it

So this story was beautifully written - kind of detailed and flowery - but unfortunately, I could not get into it.

It was written like the story was set in the 1800s.

Still, it just couldn't keep my attention. I think this would be a good book to read in the dead of winter, but right now, it just didn't keep my interest.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an e-copy of LETTERS FROM THE DEAD to review.

I rate LETTERS FROM THE DEAD two out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for an advanced copy of this book.

Unfortunately, this book is a DNF.

I made it about a quarter of the way through, and I did not care about the FMC. Additionally, with the meandering prose and a cast of characters (many of which did not posses many defining characteristics) it was a slog to push that far and *still* feel confused and as if I were missing someone. Perhaps the vagueness and allusions were deliberate and would all pay off in the end, but for me, the process of reading and trying to hold all those details in my mind "in case" they became important later was too tiring.

Thank you to Atria for my copy of LETTERS FROM THE DEAD.

Hated the main character, hated everyone else, didn't want to be around these people. Boring and slow and felt like homework.

This book was all about trust funds and heiresses and expectations. Let's face it, the family even has its own coat of arms. And the place is so stuck-in-time and rich that things such as TV and the Eagles aren't even a thing, though they should be. It's a lot of snobbery and old money, with plots that go back generations. When you think of filthy rich, this is it, because this money stinks.
I received a physical ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thought this book had an interesting premise, but it was quite boring in a lot of parts. I often thought of DNFing the book. It was quite slow in some areas. I do like some historical fiction, but this wasn't intriguing enough for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC for in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wanted to like Letters from the Dead but unfortunately it was slow and, although I consider myself an intelligent person, I guess I just like my books not so intelligent. I truly enjoy history so while that aspect did interest me, the book as a whole was a lot for a not so satisfying ending. I think that there are people who would definitely love this book and there is value in it. It just was not as fast paced and thrillery as I like books to be. It definitely leans more towards family drama. Also, the main character was never given a name which was weird but given the circumstances of her life it's kind of fitting that we never learn her name.

I really enjoyed reading this, it had that element that I was wanting and enjoyed from this type of book. The concept was engaging and worked in the historical and mystery element going on. Isabella Valeri has a strong writing style and was glad everything was what I was wanting, and that the characters worked overall.

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.

4 Stars!!

Letters from the Dead is a captivating debut that blends historical intrigue with psychological drama. Isabella Valeri’s atmospheric writing and her focus on complex family dynamics make this a compelling read—especially for fans of gothic suspense and slow-burning family sagas. While the story doesn’t offer full closure, it lays a strong foundation for what feels like the beginning of a much deeper, more layered series.

The main character really stood out to me. She’s clearly the most capable of leading her family’s powerful dynasty, yet because she’s a woman, she’s denied the same privileges and respect her brothers receive. Forced to mature far too quickly, she was raised in a sheltered environment—so when she’s suddenly exiled, her life quickly unravels. That fall from control into chaos was one of the most gripping parts of her journey making her personal growth feel raw and real.

I’ve come away with so many theories about the family’s secrets and what’s truly going on behind the scenes. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book to see how it all unfolds—and if I’m right!

I think it’s really clever that the book cover shows the main character facing the bookshelf since we never learned her name in the book.

I couldn’t wait to start this book. The premise is captivating. The cover is beautiful. But it was so slow and soooooo long and really confusing. It received some really good reviews, but it was just not for me.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully written story about a young heiress who lives in the Alps during the 1990's. The story is interesting but unbelievable in many ways so I liked the story and the unnamed girl, but ultimately couldn't get past the far-fetched parts. The girl and her family live in an estate so huge, she hasn't even seen parts of it. The people are billionaires but live with no electricity (except in a vault), and dress and speak like they are in Victorian times. The girl rarely leaves her " apartments" and her only education was lessons on manners and diplomacy and she has never left the estate. Her two older brothers are occasionally sent off to school and when they are home she sometimes plays games with them. There are also a bunch of maids who quiver and quake in fear of the "madam" the girl's mother when they could easily get jobs in restaurants, hotels or cleaning services. The mother throws grand parties where people come in old fashioned clothes and wear various medals.

The girl has a great relationship with her grandfather which is a good thing since her mother appears to hate her and won't even help her when she is badly injured. Then this girl who has little education is given a professor for a tutor and she immediately at age 11 is reading ancient tomes about war and the rise and fall of civilizations. She then has daily important discussions with her professor and grandfather on topics such as Julius Cesar and his battle plans, the role of finance and logistics in creating dynasties and other discussions which no child would be able to entertain. For fun she reads huge old books about war. She has no knowledge of television, current music or writings, has never seen a movie or had a friend. When it is suggested she accompany her father for a business meeting she is sent to a shop to purchase pencil skirts and blazers. What child would dress like this?

At some point she is caught reading a forbidden book and is sent in the middle of night in her bare feet and nightdress to a boarding school in New York. Somehow she speaks perfect English and excels at all subjects and becomes friends with a rich girl from Iceland named Phoebe. She develops feelings for Phoebe, they party and drink and she becomes accepted at Columbia University at around age 16. The book ends with her mother demanding she return to the estate to be married off to a member of another important family. We never find out the girl's name and I liked the writing style and hoped the girl could escape this unusual family. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

While Letters from the Dead sets up an intriguing story, readers may struggle to wade through the historical details and family drama and hints of something darker. And though they’ll want to find out what happens to the character, they may not want to work through another lengthy read for the final payoff.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

The premise was good, the execution was not. I’m so sorry but I did not enjoy this at all. And struggled to get through it 😭😭😭

Letters from the Dead is a dark, atmospheric mystery full of secrets and strange family ties. Isabella Valeri’s writing is lyrical and immersive, with a gothic tone that keeps you hooked. Some parts are deliberately vague, but they add to the intrigue. A compelling debut that leaves you eager for more.

I wasn’t able to finish Letters from the Dead, but I want to be clear—it’s not because it’s a bad book. The writing is rich and atmospheric, and it’s clear that Isabella Valeri put a lot of thought into crafting a layered, intricate story. That said, the writing style felt a bit dense for me, and I kept waiting for that moment where I’d get fully hooked—the one where I feel like I have to keep turning the pages. Unfortunately, that moment never quite came.

I think part of it is that this book feels more like a slow-burn mystery than a high-tension thriller. And for me personally, I tend to get pulled in more by stories that lean into suspense or emotional urgency early on. This felt more meditative and deliberate in its pacing, which may resonate more with readers who enjoy piecing things together gradually and savoring the atmosphere.

That said, I’m not shelving it permanently. I can see the potential here, and I get the sense this is the kind of book that might hit differently at another time—maybe when I’m in the mood for something slower, more introspective, and patient in its storytelling. I haven’t given up on it, just hitting pause for now.

I'm going to start right off the bat saying I didn't know this was the first book in a series. I really liked the book and the premise and thought it was very well written but as I was getting closer to the end it was very apparent that I was not going to get all the answers I needed. So, my frustration is that I finished and I don't feel like most of my questions were answered.

The world of such privilege and of family dynasty is so foreign to me that I was captivated by the world in which Isabella lives and thrives with the love of her grandfather. Her oldest brother who had been her playmate turns on her and her other brother and casts himself apart as the heir to the dynasty.

To say Isabella is precocious is an understatement but she is very resourceful and seems to soak in all of her grandfather's lessons on life. When she is whisked away to America to a boarding school she has no one in her life to trust. I couldn't help but feel sorry for this young girl. It is a very complex world that Valeri has created, time will tell with the sequel if she can answer all the questions in this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.