It all started with a manuscript. . . Anne-Lise Briard discovers a typed manuscript left behind in her room at the Beau Rivage Hotel. Having no book of her own to read, she dives into the manuscript and is immediately enchanted by the storyline and the author’s usage of a quote by one of her own favorite writers. On a whim, she mails the manuscript to an address in the book. What begins from that whim is a flurry of letters to the author, Sylvestre Fahmer, and a quest to find how THE LOST MANUSCRIPT made its way to the Beau Rivage Hotel and who wrote the mysterious ending to the storyline.

The epistolary format is one of my favorites, and Cathy Bonidan uses it beautifully in THE LOST MANUSCRIPT. Anne-Lise is the primary letter writer, but we meet a whole host of other delightful characters, all of whom have strong ties to THE LOST MANUSCRIPT. I have to admit that I empathized with Sylvestre’s annoyance with Anne-Lise at times, as she is pushy and somewhat obsessed with the history of the manuscript’s journey. Her best friend, Maggie, helps temper her personality a bit and I enjoy the back and forth relationship between the two long-time friends. However, I must admit that it’s David Aguilhon’s story that still captivates me even now--and you’ll just have to read THE LOST MANUSCRIPT to find out who and why his story is so powerful!

THE LOST MANUSCRIPT is one of those books where the journey is part of the joy of the story. Seeing various characters share through letters the powerful impact THE LOST MANUSCRIPT has had in their lives is poignant as the emotions come through each letter so eloquently. We delve into lost loves, missed opportunities, and anger at past choices, but more importantly, Cathy Bonidan also shows us the healing power of the written word to provide readers with hope. THE LOST MANUSCRIPT is not a fast-paced story but is one to be slowly savored, just as we used to do when letters were used rather than email. What a beautifully written tale!