Letter I

Location(s): Los Angeles

Hotel(s): Shutters

Restaurant(s): Shutters (1 Pico)

Site(s): US Census Bureau (Van Nuys)

Signed: Santa Catalina Island, California, September 15, 2017

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COMMENTARY

This is Los Angeles.  The hotel is a dead giveaway as it was one of the ones I was sent to in order to do the translating.  Having that as a reference point, they go from LAX to some house on the westside, then go up into the Valley to a Census Bureau.  The only one of those I can find is in Van Nuys.  

I can't find any recent news stories to corroborate the homicide described in the letter, though.

Letter II

Location(s): Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Unknown

Signed: Hiawatha, Kansas, September 23, 2017

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COMMENTARY

As sure as I am of Letter I, I'm equally ignorant of this one.  I think it makes sense that they leave LA via Union Station, and that could be the one in the text.  But which train they are on, which McDonald's they go to, which stadium they see, and where they end up is a mystery to me.  Obviously, they are going in a not westerly direction, of that I can be sure.  Amtrak discontinued westbound trains out of LA as the trips were becoming a strain on the passengers' lungs.

Letter III

Location(s): New England

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Unknown

Signed: Salem, Connecticut, November 12, 2017

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COMMENTARY

Clam chowder and lobster by the sea?  This has got to be New England but I don't think it's Boston (the town is too small).  They do take a ferry to an island; my guess is it's either Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard.

Letter IV

Location(s): New York City

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Fordham University, the Metropolitan Opera, Columbus Avenue

Signed: Cape May, New Jersey, November 19, 2017

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COMMENTARY

I had friends who went to Fordham.  They recognized the library described in the text as the Quinn.  From that reference point, one can identify the Met and  Columbus Avenue.

Letter V

Location(s): Atlanta

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Atlanta airport and the CDC

Signed: Isle of Palms, South Carolina, December 11, 2017

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COMMENTARY

I used to live in Atlanta so I know I'm right here.  Largest airport in the world?  Yep.  Short drive to a place where infectious diseases are studied?  Yep.  The CDC is next door to Emory University.  I was never enrolled there, but I had a library card to use their collections so I know the area.  And I did love the library!

Letter VI

Location(s): Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Gulf of Mexico

Signed: Hazelhurst, Mississippi, December 26, 2017

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COMMENTARY

I don't know about this one.  Personally, I have no idea where they go.  But as the translator, I think it's really odd that the Gulf of Mexico was mentioned by name.  It's out of step with the rest of the letters where nothing is named outright.  I wonder if it is a slip up, or a calculated move to deceive us?

Letter VII

Location(s): Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Unknown

Signed: Tea, South Dakota, January 6, 2018

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COMMENTARY

They are somewhere cold.  That's about all I can tell.

Letter VIII

Location(s): Richmond, Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): White House of the Confederacy

Signed: Point Pleasant, West Virginia, January 29, 2018

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COMMENTARY

The reference to the letter from Pius IX identifies the house as belonging to Jefferson Davis.  Where they go after that is anyone's guess.

Letter IX

Location(s): Unknown, Seattle

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Vashon Island

Signed: Nyssa, Oregon, March 4, 2018

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COMMENTARY

I used to live in Seattle, but that's not what helped me here.  Search for "Russian Orthodox Monastery" on Google Maps in this country and find the only one that's on an island.  Finding that, the city in the mist with the Ferris wheel has to be Seattle.  Not sure about the restaurant, though.

Letter X

Location(s): Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Unknown

Signed: Jal, New Mexico, March 15, 2018

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COMMENTARY

The only solid clue here is a vast compound, run by an Administration, with Air Force personnel.  And as clues go, it isn't much to go on.

Letter XI

Location(s): Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Unknown

Signed: Vergennes, Vermont, April 7, 2018

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COMMENTARY

No idea.

Letter XII

Location(s): Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Unknown

Signed: Lovell, Wyoming, April 18, 2018

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COMMENTARY

No idea.

Letter XIII

Location(s): Unknown, Salt Lake City

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Temple Square, Salt Lake City

Signed: Carlin, Nevada, May 7, 2018

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COMMENTARY

They end the letter in Salt Lake City.  The references to Jospeh Smith and the Latter Day Saints are obvious.  I wonder how they got into the temple?  Mormons need a recommendation.  I guess the Party has a key.

Letter XIV

Location(s): Philadelphia, Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Independence Hall

Signed: Townsend, Delaware, May 16, 2018

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COMMENTARY

I've seen it.  The description of the grounds and the interior are accurate.  I could guess a hotel based on how long they walked, but it would be just that: a guess.

Letter XV

Location(s): Chicago, Indianapolis

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Field Museum, Motor Speedway

Signed: Manila, Arkansas, June 6, 2018

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COMMENTARY

A huge museum and aquarium next to a vast lake?  Duh.  I also think the reference to the former chief executive is Barack Obama, but like the Census worker, I can't find any news stories about some crazy guy going after him, but maybe they kept it secret since he was a vet?  The second part has to be Indianapolis.

Letter XVI

Location(s): Key West, Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Hemingway House, Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea (possibly)

Signed: Decherd, Tennessee, June 22, 2018

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COMMENTARY

An island paradise in one of the most populous states where there is a museum loaded with cats from the former occupant?  It's true: descendants of Hemingway's cats still prowl the grounds, which I think is really cool.  I'm not completely sure about the church, but I think it's a good guess.

Letter XVII

Location(s): Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Unknown

Signed: Little Compton, Rhode Island, July 14, 2018

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COMMENTARY

An island that only has summer homes?

Letter XVIII

Location(s): Franklin and Asheville (possibly), North Carolina; Detroit

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Tartan Museum

Signed: Two Harbors, Minnesota, August 5, 2018

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COMMENTARY

I Googled tartan museum; it's in the North Carolina mountains (I would never have thought that).  This makes me think the estate from which they drove must be the Biltmore.  I'm pretty sure the second place they visit is Detroit.

Letter XIX

Location(s): Unknown

Hotel(s): Unknown

Restaurant(s): Unknown

Site(s): Unknown

Signed: Campbell, Ohio, August 25, 2018

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COMMENTARY

No idea.

Letter XX

Location(s): London, United Kingdom

Hotel(s): The Ritz

Restaurant(s): The Ritz

Site(s): St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace

Signed: London, United Kingdom, September 14, 2018

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COMMENTARY

This information is given in the text.