BookLife Review
04/11/2022
Brill sparkles in this sweeping, multi-generational family saga, her debut novel, which opens in 1971, when Joan Dumann realizes that her unethical business partner wants to kill her, and then masterfully steps back in time, exploring the past of a complicated, ambitious woman. Along the way, Brill–who was inspired by a letter written by the real Joan, found hidden in the wall of her former Pennsylvania home more than fifty years later–showcases her protagonist’s all-too-real experiences during critical points in history, especially during World War II, and takes the aspiring businesswoman through decades of painful personal events.
Brill delves into Joan’s trauma, including losing her mother at age three during the 1918 flu epidemic, the birth of her first child during the Great Depression, and tumultuous marriages—a divorce after she becomes pregnant with another man’s child, a brief second marriage to her son’s father, and a third, long-lasting marriage. Brill adeptly examines the dynamics of Joan’s strained relationships, in particular the disconnected interactions with her father and ultimately that disastrous business alliance with a dangerous individual. Joan’s drive and determination for independence are inspiring, even as her frustration at society’s limits leads her into questionable decisions. Brill handles Joan’s difficulties with grace and empathy, and the supporting characters also shine, especially Irish servant Ellen, who is dealing with heartbreak of her own.
Brill’s skill in characterization and spot-on pacing will ensure that readers stay emotionally invested in Joan’s outcome as well as those of her family and friends, especially Joan’s father and their estrangement—and a culminating tragedy. Joan is not always a sympathetic character, but that is the very thing that makes her real and will stir readers of literary fiction to empathize and maybe contemplate their own lives. Fans of generational tales, mysteries, and strong heroines won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough.
Takeaway: An in-depth examination of a woman facing the societal expectations of the early- to mid-20th century, rich with intricate relationships.
Great for fans of: Benilde Little’s Who Does She Think She Is?; Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, Leslye Walton’s The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender.
Production grades Cover: A Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: A Marketing copy: A
From the Publisher
2023 Firebird Book Awards, Winner in Women's Fiction
2023 Firebird Book Awards, First Place Winner in Biographical Fiction
2023 Firebird Book Awards, First Place Winner in Women's Fiction
“Brill . . . wrote a compelling story giving us an inside look through six decades into the life of a woman who wanted to own what was truly hers . . . An ideal read for historical fiction fans.”
—San Francisco Book Review
“Brill sparkles in this sweeping, multi-generational family saga . . . An in-depth examination of a woman facing the societal expectations of the early- to mid-20th century, rich with intricate relationships. . .Fans of generational tales, mysteries, and strong heroines won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough.”
—Booklife
“Told with a tender nod to the days of the past, A Letter in the Wall is a story of a young woman’s journey toward independence and empowerment. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this poignant debut by Eileen Brill.”
—Nicole Meier, author of The Second Chance Supper Club
“This well crafted story captures the life of an emotionally wounded, often calculating woman in her search for self-worth, respect, and fulfillment. It is a page turner not to be missed.”
—Judith Teitelman, award-winning author of Guesthouse for Ganesha
“A profound and captivating portrait of a woman who, after having suffered a devastating loss in her early childhood, struggles to find her identity and independence, while juggling the demands of family life in a world that dictates the role of a woman. With A Letter in the Wall, Eileen Brill poignantly explores how the decisions we make, or don’t make, can change the course of our lives forever.”
—Lene Fogelberg, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Beautiful Affliction
“A fascinating story about a relatable character that reminds us of the ways in which women's choices are shaped either by the expectations placed upon them or their rebellion against those expectations.”
—Jessica Levine, author of The Geometry of Love, a Top 10 Women's Fiction Title in Booklist Nothing Forgotten, Winner of Next Generation Indie Book Award
“An impressively well written and inherently fascinating novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality, character development, and plot manipulation, A Letter in the Wall by author Eileen Brill is all the more exceptional when considering that it is her debut as a novelist.”
—Midwest Book Review
“The feelings that linger after the final page will stick around and burn a hole in your pillow late at night”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
