Short Story Sunday: Severance: The Lexington Letter

Severance: The Lexington Letter
Author: Anonymous 

Published: March 1, 2022
E-book: 43 pages

Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: January 20, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars

Short Story Description:

When does the cost of staying silent become greater than the price of speaking up?

A desperate woman risks everything to expose the sinister company at the heart of Severance, the thrilling Apple Original series from director and executive producer Ben Stiller and creator Dan Erickson, now streaming on Apple TV+, about a daring experiment in “work-life balance.”

From the minds behind the series, this is the story of Lumon Industries employee Margaret “Peg” Kincaid.

When Peg gets hired at Lumon, she undergoes Severance, a surgical procedure pitched by the company as an effortless way to separate her personal and work lives. Everyone has their reasons for wanting the easy solution Severance promises, but when Peg realizes that not all is as it seems at the company, she uncovers a reality that’s far worse than the problems she wanted to escape.

At the heart of this story, Peg’s shocking confession reveals the darkest side of corporate America. It raises a chilling question: How far will Lumon Industries go to protect its secrets?

Jessica’s Review:

Before you read this short story Severance: The Lexington Letter you need to have watched season one of Severance, which came out in 2022.  If you have never heard of the show the trailer is here:

I don’t remember when I watched season one, I think 2023 and it is so good!  It leaves you thinking about so much, especially with that ending! And it also leaves you with so many questions!  It took way too long for the second season to come out due to some filming issues and then the Hollywood strikes, but season two is finally here! It started back on January 17th and will becoming out weekly through March 21st.  I had planned to rewatch the season one finale, but after reading The Lexington Letter I will have to rewatch that first season again! 

The Lexington Letter is short at just 43 pages consisting of an email originally from a former Lumon employee contacting a reporter and telling her what seems hard to believe story. (If you have watched the show then you know the truth!)  It then consists of emails from the reporter to her editor, whom has a familiar last name to those who have watched the show. This short story is cannon to the television show, so it adds to the mystery of the show.

Reading this short story has me all excited for the show again!  If you are intrigued by the trailer, watch season one, read The Lexington Letter, then watch season two!  Then if there is to be a season three let’s hope it doesn’t take three years to come to fruition.

Purchase Links:
The Lexington Letter is available on Apple Books for free.

Apple Books