The Last Letter

Rebecca Yarros

56 pages 1-hour read

Rebecca Yarros

The Last Letter

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Ella is a resilient 24-year-old single mother living in Telluride, Colorado. She operates a local bed and breakfast while raising her five-year-old twins entirely on her own. Past abandonments by her father and former husband have left her highly protective of her family and hesitant to trust new men. She dedicates her energy to her children, especially when severe health concerns arise.

Key Relationships

Mother of Colt MacKenzie-Gentry

Mother of Maisie MacKenzie

Younger Sister of Ryan MacKenzie

Friend of Beckett Gentry

Former Wife of Jeff

Employer of Ada

Employer of Hailey

Beckett is a 28-year-old military service member with a background in the foster care system. Lacking a traditional family structure, he considers his military unit his only community and struggles with personal connections. He carries a deep loyalty to his best friend Ryan, which prompts him to travel to Colorado.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Ryan MacKenzie

Friend of Ella MacKenzie

Friend of Colt MacKenzie-Gentry

Friend of Maisie MacKenzie

Handler of Havoc

Subordinate to Captain Donahue

Colt is an active five-year-old boy with a warm personality. He shares a close bond with his twin sister and displays a natural instinct to defend her. Having grown up without his biological father, he is curious about father figures and looks up to the military men in his family's orbit.

Key Relationships

Twin Brother of Maisie MacKenzie

Nephew of Ryan MacKenzie

Friend of Beckett Gentry

Son of Jeff

Classmate of Emma

Maisie is a quiet five-year-old girl who shows a perceptive understanding of the adults around her. Early in the story, she faces severe health challenges that require intense medical intervention. She maintains a gentle disposition and cares deeply about her mother's emotional state during hospital visits.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Ella MacKenzie

Twin Sister of Colt MacKenzie-Gentry

Niece of Ryan MacKenzie

Friend of Beckett Gentry

Daughter of Jeff

Patient of Dr. Hughes

Ryan is Ella's older brother and a dedicated military service member. He deeply loves his family back in Colorado but spends most of his time deployed overseas. He serves as the primary link between his military friends and his sister, caring about the well-being of both groups.

Key Relationships

Older Brother of Ella MacKenzie

Best Friend of Beckett Gentry

Uncle of Colt MacKenzie-Gentry

Uncle of Maisie MacKenzie

Subordinate to Captain Donahue

Colleague of Ramirez

Supporting Characters

Ada is a long-time employee at the Solitude bed and breakfast, having worked there since Ella's grandmother ran the property. She functions as a supportive presence in Ella's life, offering practical help and gentle advice regarding both business and personal matters.

Key Relationships

Employee of Ella MacKenzie

Coworker of Larry

Larry works at the Solitude bed and breakfast, assisting with the daily operations of the property. He has been a fixture at the establishment for years and helps welcome guests.

Key Relationships

Employee of Ella MacKenzie

Coworker of Ada

Hailey is the receptionist at Solitude. She handles guest bookings and occasionally helps look after the children when Ella faces an emergency.

Key Relationships

Employee of Ella MacKenzie

Coworker of Larry

Havoc is a highly trained special operations military dog. She exclusively obeys her handler's commands and provides both companionship and protection.

Key Relationships

Handled by Beckett Gentry

Jeff is Ella's ex-husband who left immediately after learning about her pregnancy. He comes from a wealthy family and actively avoids taking responsibility for his biological children to protect his social standing.

Key Relationships

Former Husband of Ella MacKenzie

Father of Colt MacKenzie-Gentry

Father of Maisie MacKenzie

Dr. Hughes is a physician who practices at the Denver Children's Hospital. She provides critical medical expertise when local doctors struggle to identify a patient's illness.

Key Relationships

Doctor to Maisie MacKenzie

Medical Provider to Ella MacKenzie

Captain Donahue is a military officer in charge of the special operations unit. He manages the deployments, paperwork, and personal circumstances of his unit members.

Key Relationships

Commanding Officer of Beckett Gentry

Commanding Officer of Ryan MacKenzie

Mark is the leader of the local search and rescue unit and works as a lawyer. He looks out for the residents of his town and evaluates new recruits for his crew.

Key Relationships

Colleague of Beckett Gentry

Mr. Halsen is the principal at the elementary school in Telluride. He enforces district policies regarding student attendance and behavior.

Key Relationships

Principal of Ella MacKenzie

Maggie is a mother in Telluride who has a child enrolled at the local school. She takes an active interest in the community sports programs.

Key Relationships

Acquaintance of Ella MacKenzie

Acquaintance of Beckett Gentry

Danielle is an insurance agent tasked with reviewing substantial medical claims. She scrutinizes paperwork and family connections to verify policy compliance.

Key Relationships

Investigator of Beckett Gentry

Emma is a young student in Colt and Maisie's class. She frequently interacts with the twins during school activities and outings.

Key Relationships

Classmate of Colt MacKenzie-Gentry

Classmate of Maisie MacKenzie

Ramirez is a member of the special operations unit who sustains a severe injury resulting in the loss of an arm, ending his military career.

Key Relationships

Colleague of Beckett Gentry

Colleague of Ryan MacKenzie