Dear Laura

De: Gemma Amor

Narrado por: Sasha Higgins

Every year, on her birthday, Laura gets a letter from a stranger. That stranger claims to know the whereabouts of her missing friend Bobby, but there's a catch: He'll only tell her what he knows in exchange for something...personal.

So begins Laura's sordid relationship with her new pen pal, built on a foundation of quid pro quo. Her quest for closure will push her to bizarre acts of humiliation and harm, yet no matter how hard she tries, she cannot escape her correspondent's demands. The letters keep coming, and as time passes, they have a profound effect on Laura.

From the author of Cruel Works of Nature comes a dark and twisted tale about obsession, guilt, and how far a person will go to put her ghosts to bed.

Contains mature themes.

©2019 Gemma Amor (P)2021 Tantor

A sucker punch to the gut with an evil, scummy antagonist.

This novella made my skin prickle with unease. I felt like I could be Laura, in another life. That’s what made the work so successful- how incredibly real everything felt. “Dear Laura” had a solid plot from the first page to the last, demonstrated a strategically careful yet quick pace, and
does not leave the audience wanting more at the end. The trifecta for a good microfiction, really. Furthermore, the level of dread that the author created without explicitly detailing some of the more brutal aspects of the book (despite the subject matter) is impressive. It highlights the effects of stalking, grooming, and child predators in a very real, honest way- but without going all “Modern Hysteria” (which is a great Splatterpunk novel, but a walking trigger warning).

Beautiful, incredibly sad.

I was recommended this as "Extreme Horror" and there are definitely elements of that, but it's a few graphic scenes in a heartbreaking, decades-long story of CPTSD and the inability to move on from grief. Not what I was looking for, but it's beautifully written with an amazing voice performer.

Trigger Warning/Spoiler

I found this book to be supremely creepy and unsettling. The villain is a pedophile, who takes sadistic pleasure out of emotionally manipulating a protagonist who is only 13 years old when their interactions begin. While there are no graphic scenes between them, some of his requests are frankly disgusting.

There are some important questions left unanswered, and I think many listeners will find the ending unsatisfying if you're here for the plot. I think the focus of the book was more the protagonist's psychological state as she grows up under the constant shadows of grief and guilt, and the way they evolve as she's being actively manipulated over the years. Viewed from that lens, I think the author does an excellent job.

A quick good listen

I wish there would have been more answers to the questions. But overall a good listen

Underwhelmed

I really wanted to like this story, but the story was all too familiar. It reminded me too much of Tim Krabbe's story, "The Vanishing" (remake/original--doesn't matter--still the same general guideline) and yet there are still too many questions/plot holes in "Dear Laura." It didn't really manufacture the scares or the creepiness I thought it would.

Ok read

I expected more but it was ok. Well written. My imagination was bigger than the book I think.

Dark, twisted, and profoundly deep

Absolutely enthralled by this. Takes a very dark subject and somehow pushes it darker, but it’s never grotesque. It’s at times vivid, sweet, and beautiful. Gemma Amor is the master of suspense.

Kind of dull

I think the story had interests but it’s never clear on the how much less the why. Also the main character goes from naive to dumb as she gets older

Mixed feelings

I have mixed feelings about the ending. It's an emotional story and my heart really breaks for Laura. However....

*Spoiler*

I kinda feel bad for Frank. The guy loves her and does all he can for her but unfortunately her heart belongs to Bobby. It seems the only reason she marries Frank is because he reminded her of Bobby. She wants to have her ashes spread where X buried Bobby not next to her son's father. And correct me if I'm wrong but I believe her son's name is Robert.

disappointing execution

The idea was great but the manner in which it was executed and played out left me with nothing but disappointment. the character's motivations and actions are frustrating. there is no true conclusion, in the sense that you get a complete story. and as short as the book was, it felt like it dragged on