The Last Noel

By Heather Graham

Book Overview

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 her 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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0778325253
• ISBN13: 9780778325253
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: MIRA
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.4" x 1.1" x 5.6"

Customer Reviews

I was on the edge of my seat!

Heather Graham is obviously a master of suspense as indicative by this book. I loved it! The tension began right at the beginning and continued to build until the very end. The characterization was just as masterful. The story is centered around a very typical family dynamic. Dad is too harsh. Mom just wants her family together. The kids can hardly stand one another or stand being around their family. I think anyone could relate to these characters. I was drawn in by the suspense and by the way this family pulled together when in danger. This book is truly worth reading. I highly recommend this holiday thriller. It was great.

A moving family Christmas story

I thought The Last Noel was great. And the writer on the fly leaf is gorgeous. There were pleasant surprises and a story line that I thought was predictable, yet often took a twist that surprised me. It was a very enjoyable read that I finished in one sitting. The story was uplifting and warm. I enjoyed it very much. Curt Gibson Author of Daddy's Tavern http://www.freewebs.com/blackjackcooper/

My first Heather Graham Novel

The Last Noel was chosen for my book club's pick for a certain month. It was my first Heather Graham novel, so I was interested to see how it would be. I was pleasantly surprised, I enjoyed it very much. The Last Noel was a page-turner from page #1. Each page was suspense laden...you could almost cut the tension with a knife as the hostage scenario played out. And through to the end, the story was well-written and thought out. I think I'll check out more of her books in the future, as this one gets a thumbs up from me!

The Last Noel delves deeply into the bonds of family

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques The O'Boyle family wants to spend one more Christmas together at their house in the mountains. The children are all growing up and before long will want to spend the holidays elsewhere. While Skyler is trying to make it a holiday to remember for her husband and children, danger is about to find them. Not too far away, a robbery gone awry leaves the store owner dead and the felons escaping through the mountains, until their car crashes in a snow drift, stranding them within sight of the O'Boyle home. With a nor'easter blowing in, the felons seek refuge at the O'Boyle home, and thus usher the holidays in with terror. Guns trained on her family, Skyler hopes and prays her family will find their way out of this living nightmare. Their only hope, daughter Kat has managed to escape and seeking help. But with the storm growing worse, will she be able to get to help in time? Or will this be The Last Noel for the O'Boyle family? The Last Noel delves deeply into the bonds of family. Here we have a family that has grown distant from each other and has lost the true meaning of Christmas. No one except Skyler really wants to be there and some family members can barely get along. When their holiday getaway is invaded by criminals with a knack for terrorizing, the O'Boyle family learns the only way they'll make it out alive is if they remember what being a family really means and work together to erase the nightmare. Surprisingly, the villains in the story add significantly to the story. Granted, one of them drove me out of my mind he was so darned annoying, but I actually found myself feeling sorry for, and liking one of them, Scooter, by the end of the story. I can't really say much since that may give away some spoilers, but there was a lot more to this seemingly bumbling fool who follows his buddy no matter what, than we see when we first meet him. I love Heather Graham and have for years, and I especially enjoy the direction she's gone lately, veering into thriller territory. While I probably wouldn't classify The Last Noel as her best book ever, it is extremely well done and her characteristic voice shines through clearly. There is a touch of romance, though not much, since the focus on this story is the psychological element of a family in the grips of villains with nothing to lose. © Kelley A. Hartsell, February 2008. All rights reserved.

powerful suspense thriller

On Christmas Eve, Skyler and David O'Boyle, their youngest child sixteen years old son Jamie, their twenty-two years old twins Kat and Frazier, and their Uncle Paddy come together for the holiday. The six have a good time teasing one another and arguing as they imbibe with good cheer. That night a blizzard isolates the O'Boyle party in their cozy home. However, much more than snow arrives when three desperate thugs (Quintin Lark, Scooter Blane and, Craig Devon) who just killed an octogenarian shopkeeper Lionel Hudson hold the O'Boyle family hostage. Only Kat escapes, but she is stunned as Craig is her college boyfriend. As the nor'easter gets worse, Quintin and Scooter act increasingly psychotic and obviously are no strangers to violence. Fearing for her family, Kat prays for a Christmas miracle that her text message makes it to the police and that they can arrive in a timely manner when road conditions are treacherous and visibility is zero. Heather Graham provides a powerful suspense thriller that uses dark humor to somewhat lesson the overwhelming tension of the strong house invasion plot. Readers will realize how in an instant the Yuletide bantering changes into a fear for their lives as the criminals make no pretension of how dangerous they are (mindful of the classic movie The Petrified Forest). THE LAST NOEL is a tremendous drama with a neat late twist as the chances of the O'Boyle clan surviving is extremely slight at the same time the pastoral snow keeps falling. Harriet Klausner