What do you think?
Rate this book
Iris Dittmeyer #1
The Columbus Letter: An Iris Dittmeyer Mystery
Iris Dittmeyer’s life is losing its luster. The retired widow needs a distraction after her granddaughter’s daycare enrollment means she's no longer needed for babysitting. The discovery of an acclaimed Columbus letter in a battered filing cabinet provides just the mystery she’s been craving. But when her new diversion turns deadly, it’s up to Iris to find the killer—before her family becomes his next target.
Giovanni di Caro claims knowledge about historic documents and, and with a little coaxing, he agrees to assist Iris in the investigation. The charming Italian considers himself a craftsman, but the international authorities have another name for Giovanni. He’s the notorious forger of Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius.
They’re a mismatched duo from opposite sides of the world. She’s an early riser, a tea drinker, and a busybody. He’s a night owl, coffee devotee, and country music fan. Their relationship?
It depends on who you ask.
Giovanni di Caro claims knowledge about historic documents and, and with a little coaxing, he agrees to assist Iris in the investigation. The charming Italian considers himself a craftsman, but the international authorities have another name for Giovanni. He’s the notorious forger of Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius.
They’re a mismatched duo from opposite sides of the world. She’s an early riser, a tea drinker, and a busybody. He’s a night owl, coffee devotee, and country music fan. Their relationship?
It depends on who you ask.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2021
82 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 28, 2025
Iris Dittmeyer is a new grandmother and likes to spend time with her granddaughter Veda. She has also been a widow for three years and still hears the voice of her husband Peter in her head, saying the things that he used to say frequently.
Iris' daughter Jessie works at the Walker Museum in Gunsmore, Oklahoma. Aftter Archibald Leggitt, the museum director, dies in a fall down the museum stairs, Jessie finds an unusual old document in his filing cabinet. An acquaintance of Iris', Giovanni Di Caro, identifies the document as a copy of a letter purportedly written by Christopher Columbus.
How much is the letter worth, and what was it doing in Leggitt's filing cabinet? With Giovanni's help, Iris begins pursuing the answers to these questions. This is a fun mystery with some interesting, well-developed characters.
Iris' daughter Jessie works at the Walker Museum in Gunsmore, Oklahoma. Aftter Archibald Leggitt, the museum director, dies in a fall down the museum stairs, Jessie finds an unusual old document in his filing cabinet. An acquaintance of Iris', Giovanni Di Caro, identifies the document as a copy of a letter purportedly written by Christopher Columbus.
How much is the letter worth, and what was it doing in Leggitt's filing cabinet? With Giovanni's help, Iris begins pursuing the answers to these questions. This is a fun mystery with some interesting, well-developed characters.
September 2, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it had a little bit of everything! There was always a hint of romance leaving you wanting more as you read along. There was a lot of mystery, hints and clues, leading you to predict and read on. I enjoyed the historical facts and valued that I was adding to the files of history in my mind. The humor lifted my spirits and allowed me to really enjoy the characters, wondering what they would say next! I want more from these characters!
October 8, 2021
A good story, with some gems, but also some awkward narrative techniques that make the novel choppy and hard to read. An entire chapter on Celeste is needed because the author is unable to use the storyline to explain her back story. The remaining characters need some serious fleshing out, which I imagine would be done in further Iris Dittmeyer mystery volumes. I'll likely not be finding out.
December 17, 2021
Finally!
A great read, a dry humorous book with interesting characters, chock full of trivia, AND NOT ONE INDICATION that the book can only be completed by others in a series. Kudos to the author!!
A great read, a dry humorous book with interesting characters, chock full of trivia, AND NOT ONE INDICATION that the book can only be completed by others in a series. Kudos to the author!!
April 9, 2025
Exciting and intriguing
Iris is a menopausal widow, who loves her daughter and granddaughter more than life, she decides as she prepares to save them at her expense.
Thievery, art forgeries, murders, and an attempted kidnapping- murder mix with an unusual heroine.
Iris is a menopausal widow, who loves her daughter and granddaughter more than life, she decides as she prepares to save them at her expense.
Thievery, art forgeries, murders, and an attempted kidnapping- murder mix with an unusual heroine.
May 26, 2025
A good read
I enjoyed this book which was a good mix of drama and humour. I liked Iris and her gorgeous, and yet strange, granddaughter, Velma. The characters were well developed and felt like real people. The twists kept the suspense ramped up and the drama intense.
I enjoyed this book which was a good mix of drama and humour. I liked Iris and her gorgeous, and yet strange, granddaughter, Velma. The characters were well developed and felt like real people. The twists kept the suspense ramped up and the drama intense.
November 3, 2021
Fun way
A fun way to learn about history and the intricacies of the document market. This charming story inspired me to read about the Columbus Letters.
A fun way to learn about history and the intricacies of the document market. This charming story inspired me to read about the Columbus Letters.
June 27, 2021
I took a while to warm up to the main character, and the plot was a bit scattered, but I enjoyed the overall plot and liked where this one ended. I might try the next in the series to see if the writing gets a little smoother.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews