Night Letter is the story of Travis Hollister, an eighteen-year-old boy just released from the reform school where he has been institutionalized for the past six years. His first act of freedom was a reckless defiance of the institution’s psychiatrist. It endeared him to me immediately. His made an abortive attempt to connect with his mother in California, but decides to head south to Florida where his father lives, more importantly, it’s where his aunt Delia lives.

You learn quite early that Travis and Delia had an inappropriate relationship when he was twelve. He’s still in love, obsessed, but she is married. Will he come to terms with his past crimes and his love for Delia? Luckily, there are a few people who provide him the love and friendship he so desperately needs. There’s the chef Emil who sacrifices a lot for Travis. There’s Dawnelle who wants more from Travis than he can responsibly offer. There’s the widow whose cabin he rents who is willing to add some additional benefits.

Night Letter was a tough book to read. It has the elements of the Southern Gothic noir novel. When I realized early on what happened between Travis and Delia, I put the book away for a long time. I just didn’t want to read about it.  However, the book is more about love and redemption despite its difficult elements. I love the atmospheric writing. I love how complex the characters are. Even Travis’ stepmother, with the smallest role, was multi-dimensional. That’s the kind of book I like reading in spite of the subject matter.

I received an ARC of Night Letter from Akashic Books through LibraryThing.