About this Item
An exceptionally attractive copy of Caite Dolan-Leach's debut novel, selected as the Book of the Month Club's March 2017 featured title. Set against the backdrop of New York's Finger Lakes wine country, the novel follows Ava Antipova as she returns home after receiving news of the death of her estranged twin sister, Zelda. When mysterious messages begin arriving, Ava is drawn into a literary scavenger hunt through family secrets, hidden identities, and psychological manipulation. Praised for its blend of domestic suspense, literary fiction, and modern gothic atmosphere, Dead Letters established Dolan-Leach as an exciting new voice in contemporary psychological fiction.
Fine book in Near Fine dust jacket. The hardcover remains tight, square, and exceptionally clean, with crisp pages and no ownership markings or remainder marks observed. The dust jacket shows only the lightest evidence of handling with minimal shelf wear. Included are the original Book of the Month Club March 2017 judge recommendation card featuring an original handwritten endorsement and signature by acclaimed crime writer and critic Sarah Weinman, along with the original "You Be the Judge" contest insert- ephemera that is frequently absent. A particularly well-preserved and complete BOTM copy.
This is the Book of the Month Club March 2017 issue, identified by the BOTM branding on the dust jacket and boards, the 'March 2017' club designation, and the original promotional inserts. The copyright page shows Copyright © 2017 by Caitlin Dolan-Leach and publication by Random House. Although not the trade first edition, this represents the first Book of the Month Club appearance, issued simultaneously with the novel's debut and preserving the original publisher's text and design. The presence of the complete laid-in promotional materials substantially enhances its appeal as a collectible BOTM example.
Caite Dolan-Leach is an American novelist, translator, and essayist raised in New York's Finger Lakes region. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin and the American University of Paris, she drew upon the landscape and wine culture of western New York to create the atmospheric setting for Dead Letters, her debut novel. Her fiction is noted for blending literary prose with psychological suspense, family drama, and intricate mysteries centered on identity and memory.
The dust jacket was designed by Jaya Miceli, an award-winning book designer known for striking contemporary literary covers that combine bold typography with evocative photography. The jacket photograph is credited to Nancy Honey / Millennium Images, UK, whose moody composition reinforces the novel's themes of duality, hidden identities, and psychological tension. The stark black-and-red BOTM branding integrates cleanly with the original design, making this one of the more visually distinctive early Book of the Month Club selections.
Sarah Weinman is a Canadian journalist, editor, and crime fiction authority known for her sharp nonfiction, critical writing, and deep engagement with the mystery genre. She is the author of Without Consent (2025), Scoundrel (2022), and The Real Lolita (2018), all of which have received major awards and widespread acclaim. The Real Lolita explores the kidnapping of 11-year-old Florence Sally Horner, a case that inspired Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, while Scoundrel examines how a convicted murderer influenced public opinion and legal outcomes. Without Consent is a landmark account of the first major spousal rape trial in America and its long-term impact on women's rights.
Seller Inventory # F.DOL.2017.1
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