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Reeda (“Ree”) Jones lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia, with her father James, and her thirteen-year-old daughter, Virginia. Ree is a reporter for a local newspaper, covering four to five stories a day on local issues. Her husband, Mason, was killed shortly after they were married while serving in the Army Air Corp in North Korea. Her mother, Mildred, was murdered thirty years ago, when Ree was just twelve-years old. James’ brother (Ree’s uncle), Richard, was accused of her mother’s murder, but he mysteriously disappeared just before the trial. Ree and her father struggled to come to terms with her death, but never believed Richard was capable or responsible for her murder. Since the year after Mildred’s death, James had received an anonymous postcard every December. The postcards were sent from all over Europe and North America, and James believed they were sent by Richard. As James looks through the collection of old postcards again, Ree decides to try and find her uncle. She hopes to clear Richard’s name, and bring the real perpetrator to justice. Ree visits the location of several postcards, and discovers a connection between her mother’s murder, and an infamous serial killer. As Ree learns more about her mothers life, and the tragic circumstances of her death, she receives a mysterious letter that puts her life in imminent danger.
The December Postcards is an intriguing family saga and murder mystery novel, by author Alayne Smith. Set in the early 1960’s against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the book follows a reporter who reluctantly investigates her own mothers murder. As she learns more about her mother’s death, she uncovers dark secrets that have been buried for over thirty years. Ree is a compelling protagonist; flawed and vulnerable, yet strong and determined. The mystery itself is well paced, with plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end.
Readers who enjoy murder mysteries, and thought-provoking fiction that is rich in historical detail, will enjoy this book.
Star rating: 5 Stars
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Top reviews from the United States
BusyDad1
5.0 out of 5 stars An Intriguing Mystery Begins with a Unique Premise
Alayne Smith’s \"December Postcards\" is an intriguing mystery that transports readers to a small Georgia town in 1962. With a blend of suspense and historical detail, Smith's story keeps readers guessing while immersing them in the context of actual local, national, and international events.
The plot centers around anonymous postcards arriving at the main character's home each December. Postmarked from locations around the world, the postcards spark suspicion: Are they the work of a murderer? As the main character becomes entangled in solving this twenty-year-old mystery, Smith unravels a tale filled with twists and turns.
The memorable and relatable characters bring the small town to life—a dedicated newspaper editor, an honorable sheriff, a shady politician, a mysterious librarian, and a headstrong teenage daughter each play their part in steering the story toward its conclusion.
Smith anchors her mystery in larger social and political events of the time, adding depth and authenticity to the story. Readers will enjoy the unfolding mystery and the vivid portrait of life in 1960s Georgia.
SusanSikesDavis
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read.
I grew up in Downtown Lawrenceville in the 1960’s. This book took me back to my childhood as the storyline was focused on the Downtown Square during the Fall and Christmas Season of 1962. Even though the book is fiction, the stores, streets, restaurants and churches were all accurate of those of the day. It was hard to put the book down, and I found myself excited to pick it back up and continue reading. It was suspenseful throughout, and as the book ended, I found myself wanting the author to write a second book picking up where this one left off.
S. Wages
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
This book was written with my hometown as the backdrop! Enjoyed reading of all our shops, etc. My town in Georgia was a great place to grow up on the 50s and 60s!!
Vicki W.
5.0 out of 5 stars Small town Georgia in 1962 - Mystery chock full of memories and fabulous characters
Wonderful walk through Lawrenceville, GA, a small town in the 1960s South, surrounded by a mystery and a full plate of interesting and relatable characters. Set primarily in the fall of 1962, the town is described as it was then, which as a native, I found to be sweet and memory provoking. The mystery is an interesting \"who done it?\" . There is humor, drama, a love story, family dynamics and a host of colorful characters. Oh, and my husband, often a hard to please critic, loved it too!
Stephanie W
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read.
Books need to engage me within the first chapter or two. The December Postcards had me by the second page. Alayne Smith's mystery is an easy, relaxing read but by no means a simplistic story. Her historical research of the actual town of Lawrenceville, Georgia is evident, and the numerous characters are fully developed. The story flows logistically, and Smith maintains the mystery almost to the last page, surprising me with the culprit's identity when I said \"Oh, Wow!\" out loud as I read it.
The December Postcards is a book to take along for the weekend. I highly recommend it!
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Take me back to a Simpler Time...
Ms. Smith invited me to a beautiful hometown setting. I loved how she shared each season while telling an interesting story about this Southern family set back in 1962. You could vision each character and one wants to help Ree with her quest in solving a mystery while falling in love. Thank you for bringing back memories of small-town life.
Fran Worrell
Editor-in-Chief, Georgia Design Magazine
Set in the early 1960s, The December Postcards centers around small-town newspaper reporter Ree Jones, her teenage daughter Virginia, and her father James. Ree’s mother, Mildred, once a pillar of the community, was murdered three decades earlier when Ree was only 12 years old. Although James’ brother was arrested for the crime, he managed to escape from the local jail and hasn’t been seen since. Yet, Ree can’t believe her uncle was responsible for the murder and is determined to solve the 30-year-old mystery. The novel is filled with historical markers, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, that help establish a timeline, as well as quirky characters and plenty of family drama. Although written for a young audience, readers of any age can enjoy this novel, which perfectly captures the essence of life in a small southern town. The story also moves at a brisk pace and keeps readers engaged—and guessing—until the very end.
Goodreads
Ruth Morris
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The December Postcards by Alayne Smith. I am a native of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and was a teenager in 1962. The author brought back so many memories throughout the book of a town where life in the early 1960s revolved around the courthouse square. I found the mystery fascinating and enjoyed following the clues, which took many twists and turns. In addition, the book had many storylines about family, friendship, and romance with so many interesting characters. I highly recommend this book to my friends and family.
Donna Hargrave
The recently published (2024) book The December Postcards by Alayne Smith is a blend of cozy mystery and historical fiction set in Lawrenceville, Georgia 1962. It tells the story of a local reporter seeking answers to her mother’s unsolved murder nearly 30 years ago. The book weaves together Reeda Jones’ quest for answers against the backdrop of historical events of 1962. Each year since the death of her mother, Mildred Martin, Reeda’s father has received a blank postcard. Reeda uses the postcards as a means to solve the mystery. She begins traveling to the originating cities in the southeast, following the postcards like a map. Smith’s writing style is straightforward and easy to read. Her description and details of the Lawrenceville area create an enchanting picture of small-town life in a simpler time. The setting is what attracted me to this book, and it did not disappoint. Smith is a former Gwinnett County Public School Teacher, and this is her fifth novel. I highly recommend The December Postcards to fans of mystery and historical fiction and especially to locals of the Atlanta metro area.
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I am writing to tell you how much I enjoyed your book. As a Central Gwinnett student in 1962–63, your descriptions of the people and places brought back many fond memories and perfectly captured the era as I remember it.
The book was a compelling mystery with a great storyline and interesting characters. Your writing is so evocative that I felt as though I was actually present in many of the scenes. While I particularly appreciated the familiar setting, the story was so well-crafted that I would have enjoyed it regardless of the location.
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