THE LAST NOEL is Heather Graham's contribution to the slate of 2007 holiday-themed books. In this holiday tale, the O'Boyle family has gathered for their Christmas celebration at their rural vacation home a few hours outside of Boston. Father David O'Boyle is short-tempered with his eldest son while putting up the Christmas tree. Mother Skyler, who forced the issue of this family holiday gathering, is trying to mediate the tension between husband and son while contemplating the too-reserved girlfriend said son brought along; cooking the family meal; and praying everyone makes it through the holiday unscathed.
During a blizzard, a team of thieves, unable to flee the area following a botched robbery, decides to seek refuge with the O'Boyles on Christmas Eve. The story relates the events of the next twenty-four hours, as the O'Boyles and their captors wait out the storm...and each other, all the while trying to celebrate and enjoy Christmas. The family's fate rests with daughter Kat, who is hiding upstairs when the intruders arrive.
I don't read a lot of books I deem more suspense than romantic suspense. This year, I've read two by Heather Graham, and I'm sold. Ms. Graham has a new fan.
Unlike much of the usual holiday fareβeven though I love holiday booksβthere's nothing syrupy about THE LAST NOEL. The story has a satisfying ending, but one that comes only after the charactersβand the readerβendure lots of gripping and frightening suspense. In the end, the O'Boyle family learns lessons about what's important relative to familial relationships, the criminals get their comeuppance, and a twist that is it in plain sight but still very easy to miss puts the top on the Christmas tree.
It's Christmas Eve, and all is neither calm nor bright With a storm paralyzing New England, the O'Boyle household becomes prey to a pair of brutal escaped killers desperate to find refuge.
Skyler O'Boyle is convinced the only way they can live through the night is by playing a daring psychological game to throw the convicts off their guard. Threatened by a pair of Smith & Wessons, she has to pray that the rest of the family will play along, buying them time. Her one hope for rescue is that the men are unaware that her daughter, Kat, has escaped into the blizzard. But as the wind and snow continue to rage with all the vehemence of a maddened banshee, her prayers that Kat can somehow find help seem fragile indeed.
When Kat stumbles on a third felon, half-frozen and delirious, her shock deepens, because she recognizes Craig Devon immediately. What is the onetime love of her life doing back in town -- and in such company? With the threat of death hanging over the O'Boyles, Craig is desperate to unload a vital secret that could change their destiny. But can he trust Kat with the truth? Because one false move and everything he's sacrificed will shatter -- and this could be everyone's final Christmas alive.
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