Murder story problem: A letter written long ago to the murder victim falls into the hands of the?

Question

letter writer's daughter. Where should the letter be found? On the vicitm's body? The possible blackmailer's body? The possible murderer's body? Among the possesions of one of the above? Other? All this ghastliness takes place at a ski lodge where the above mentioned people and others are staying. The letter contains important information but I'm having trouble bringing it into the story. Suggestions? Weird and far fetched is fine.

Answer 1

reminds of The Secret History which all came undone with the late arrival of a letter.
I wouldn't put it on the victim. I always find it hard to believe that carry things like that with them all the time.
I seem to recall in The Silence of the Lambs that Starling found a letter in the room of one of the girls taped under her desk. It was neither forced nor detrimental to the story. People hide things like that - where they can access them but where they aren't likely to be noticed (purloined letter - POE)
We've read in the press of letters turning up 20 years late - things like that do happen. However, those sort of things seem contrived in a story.
what's in the letter? a threat? details of what happened at the ski resort? If there's a blackmailer then I assume the latter.
would this person have shown it to someone else? Given it to them and told them it wasn't a letter (as such?) Perhaps just something to hold? and then when the come comes to no good the person remembers this 'document' and hands it across?

Answer 2

This sounds like a great mystery already, although i can see what you mean about the letter's appearance being hard to add in. If the story begins with an investigation of the crime scene, then have the letter be found on the body a little later once you have introduced the characters and a little of the plot. If it begins before the murder, just write it in the prologue then launch into the story without explaining it's significance until later on. either way keep writing. love julia.

Answer 3

Ski resort? Written long ago? Check around the front desk, stuck in a mail slot or slid under the counter. Somebody drops something, pen, a coin, and when they go to pick it up notice this old letter.

Not exactly original, but plausible if done well.

Good luck.