The Lost Letter

A Novel

By: Jillian Cantor

Narrated by: Allyson Ryan, George Newbern, Betsy Struxness, Jennifer Rubins

“A gorgeous and thrilling novel.... Perfect for book clubs and fans of The Nightingale.” (PopSugar)

A historical novel of love and survival inspired by real resistance workers during World War II Austria and the mysterious love letter that connects generations of Jewish families. A heartbreaking, heartwarming story for fans of The Women in the Castle, Lilac Girls, and Sarah's Key.

Author of the forthcoming In Another Time.

Austria, 1938. Kristoff is a young apprentice to a master Jewish stamp engraver. When his teacher disappears during Kristallnacht, Kristoff is forced to engrave stamps for the Germans and simultaneously works alongside Elena, his beloved teacher's fiery daughter, and with the Austrian resistance to send underground messages and forge papers. As he falls for Elena amidst the brutal chaos of war, Kristoff must find a way to save her, and himself.

Los Angeles, 1989. Katie Nelson is going through a divorce, and while cleaning out her house and life in the aftermath, she comes across the stamp collection of her father, who recently went into a nursing home. When an appraiser, Benjamin, discovers an unusual World War II-era Austrian stamp placed on an old love letter as he goes through her dad's collection, Katie and Benjamin are sent on a journey together that will uncover a story of passion and tragedy spanning decades and continents, behind the just fallen Berlin Wall.

A romantic, poignant, and addictive novel, The Lost Letter reveals the lasting power of love.

©2017 Jillian Cantor (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"I devoured The Lost Letter...an intriguing and very personal story of resistance." (Georgia Hunter, author of We Were the Lucky Ones)

"A total page-turner." (New York Magazine)

“[A]t the center of the novel are two beautiful love stories involving two seemingly star-crossed couples, whose love overcomes all obstacles.... Getting it right is an art, and Cantor is an artist. She got me from that first page, and I stayed hooked throughout. It’s not just that Cantor kept me interested - she got me involved emotionally with the story.” (Jerusalem Post)

Finally! A Great One!

Lately, I'm not having much luck with finding good, solid audiobooks, but this one was fantastic for sure! It kept me wanting to hear every single word! It's a story that leaves you asking, can we actually become different people, based on where we are and the circumstances surrounding us at the time. Make sure to have the tissues at hand near the end of the book. Interesting to learn that the making of stamps was yet another creative way of sending messages during WW II. As for the narration, it too was pretty good! Don't hesitate purchasing this audiobook! It's worth the T credit!!!

Narrator ruined it

The story has a great premise but the narrator for Katie was awful. She spoke with a cadence that got old very quickly. She took a lead character that was searching and made her a clueless idiot. Her reading of conversational passages was horrible. Totally unnatural.I got through the end of a good story despite the narrator but it was hard work.

Loved it!!!!

This book reminded me of "The Nightengale" which I recently read. Although my preference is "Nightingale", this book was equally enjoyable.

Historical and Contemporary Suspenseful Romance

Normally, I read only Christian or Sweet/Clean romance. This story is on the edge of Sweet/Clean. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, and I was very invested in the story, so I continued on. Nothing was really described except that they were intimate. The narration the morning after just mentioned that they made love. Or that their bodies were entagled. So, others might still consider it Sweet/Clean, except they aren't married. That definitely removes it from this category in my mind.

But, it's a fascinating story otherwise. 1939, the stamp makers apprentice at the beginning of Austria's invasion in one half of the story, and 1989, the Berlin Wall coming down and a stamp collector's daughter in California.
A very intriguing mystery about a certain stamp on an unopened letter leads to romance and healing.
The narration was perfect! Absolutely perfect!

A wonderful book

Once you start this book you won't want to put it down. It's a wonderful story of love and incredible survival from the horrors of WWII. I highly recommend it to all.

I couldn’t stop listening!

Hope and love survive when the world around us seems so bleak. To have that kind of strength ...

Interesting, compelling

This was a very good book, told in an interesting way weaving two stories together.
I learned some things and enjoyed it a lot!

Story that keeps you listening

This story keeps you wanting to hear more. The characters are well developed. You feel as your on this journey with them. Wished perhaps there was another chapter with Ben and Kate’s relationship developing more and does Elena stay in the states? Other than these small things I enjoyed this book very much.

Memories live on.

The story moved along at a good pace. a love story but so much more.

A good read

I enjoyed this historical fiction and found the mystery & history of the importance of the stamps and the artistry involved in creating them. I do not think this was as good as the Nightingale, Lilac Girls, or All the Light We Cannot See. However, I believe it is so important in light of our current political climate to recall the past. We will never evolve as humans unless we eliminate intolerance, hatred, racism, and the desire to kill other humans for illusionary power.