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 fare—even though I love
holiday books—there's nothing syrupy about THE LAST NOEL.
The story has a satisfying ending, but one that comes only
after the characters—and the reader—endure 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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