Telegrams have an ominous reputation...the bearer of bad news. And so this book begins.
We follow Charles aka Padraig though the majority of life. From joining the war effort in 1914, to passing away in an English seaside town, later in life. A life that is filled with secrets. Charles is a mystery man....to his family and friends. Tilly, Elizabeth and Violet all have him in their lives, but reality is blurry and Charles is distant.
I loved the daily snap shot into these ladies everyday lives....work, family, day to day chores told in three timelines 1915, 1943 and 1960. Their lives were open books. Charles' was not.
A triggering event occurs earlier in Charles life. He is emotionally and physically damaged and sees the only option to run. In essence he spends the rest of his life running, in the hope his desertion doesn't catch up with him.
Debbie Rix's cross generational story is emotional. Every character suffers the ups and downs of life....heightened by periods of world war. Ultimately it is clear that Charles secrets have altered the way people have treated him and how they have perceived him to be. Honesty is the best policy...isn't it? But what if you have signed a secret deal? Secrets do catch up with you, especially if people are keen enough to delve and search for the truth.
"The Telegram" is a poignant story displaying all types of personalities dealing with the gradual unraveling of secrets. I loved the pace and didn't feel rushed nor impatient.
Thanks to Debbie Rix, Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy. This is the first book of Debbie's I have read and I will be keen to explore more

Beautiful. Touching. Well researched as with all of this author's wonderful books. Such an amazing story, so wonderfully told. A book to savour and re-read. A story that makes you think. Just wow! Another masterpiece by this amazing author.

A beautiful story with lots of different timelines. This was quite a heartbreaking story. It deals with loss and romance. As well as other issues such as wartime loss. Worth five stars or more. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Told in three timelines 1915, 1943 and 1960 we see and hear first of the telegram that will change the lives of this family forever. 1915 and 1943 were turbulent times but the discovery of a hidden message only in 1960 uncovers secrets that were never revealed.

Charles Carmichael was an enigmatic man, who kept everything very close to himself not allowing his wife access to what he felt was private. Luckily for him she was not the prying type and seemed resigned to what would appear as indifference both to his wife and baby. A chance encounter with his now grown up daughter brings up another problem. To explain this present wife Violet, that he has a daughter almost the same age as his present wife and there is an ex wife. Keeping so many secrets seemed easy for Charles but created problems all around but he carried on. After his death in 1959 things had to come out and they did. Violets acceptance of it all was questionable, but his daughter dealt with matters in a more believable manner. They each knew only a part of an intriguing character.

The story was interesting, the characters were mixed and added a balance to the story. The description of women’s work during the war years was descriptive though it was irritating to read of the constant second position they were forced to take, despite contributing hugely to the war effort.

I do love a dual timeline historical story set in World War times, which is exactly what this story was, and for sure it has been an interesting and insightful read from start to finish.

The story spans over mainly two time periods, being 1943 and 1960, focusing on characters of husband/father Charles, wife Violet and daughter Elizabeth who all have their individual stories to tell as the story unfolds.

It was a great story, and told of parts of the world war that don’t usually come across in books, not that I’ve come across yet anyhow, like desertion in WW2 times and a couple of other things which I can’t mention as wouldn’t want to let spoilers out for other readers. Suffice to say that as well as enjoying this story, I also learnt a few things.

As quoted from the book blurb “Inspired by a true story crossing two world wars, this is a heart-wrenching, page-turning and unforgettable story of family secrets, forgiveness and loss. Fans of Kathryn Hughes, Kate Quinn and Kate Morton will be utterly gripped by this incredible historical fiction novel spanning WW1 and WW2.”

I literally couldn’t describe it better, it’s a very fitting description for this historical dual timeline set in World War times. So if you like the sound of this and WW historical is your thing, then do give this book a go.

This is an intriguing slow-burning mystery. It is full of lovely characters like Elizabeth and Violet and a few not-so-lovely characters as well. The bond that forms between Elizabeth and Violet is touching. It's too bad not all blended family relationships go this well.

The book is extremely well-written in that the resolution actually makes sense and makes everything that happened before make perfect sense as well which is not always true with many mysteries and thrillers that often turn out to be disappointing. The conclusion to the mysterious is unpredictable and shocking. All in all, it's a satisfying read.

Thank you @bookouture & @debbierix & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 10/15/24
328 pages
4.8 stars on Goodreads

This captivating historical fiction novel held my attention from beginning to end. Initially, I found it a bit challenging to keep track of the characters, especially the main character with his pseudonyms, but I quickly grasped the true identity of the protagonist. Despite this, I didn't uncover his secret until it was unveiled. The story carries a poignant theme, illustrating how a single experience in youth can shape an entire life. I particularly appreciated the 1940s London backdrop, the strong female characters, and the exploration of friendships and family connections. I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction.

Historical fiction is a genre I cant get enough of. The best part is when its based on a true story. The Telegram is a novel that is told from two time periods, also a favourite thing for me. The 1940s and the 1960s are the years we visit in this story.

Debbie Rix has successfully written a tale that's rich in detail and packed full of emotions. I found myself feeling like someone was stamping on my heart as I read. The characterisation is done so well. I enjoyed getting to know Charles, Madeline, Violet and Elizabeth as secrets from the past unravel, rippling through generations.

The storytelling is mesmerising. I couldn't tell between fact and fiction, this always adds to my enjoyment. It's certainly clear that the author has done her research and this is a subject close to her heart. I for one, was transported back in time perfectly.

As the pages flew by and I reached the conclusion I was sorry to leave these characters. I can only say it gave me a book hangover! I will be looking out for Debbie Rix's next book, that's for sure! Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the gifted ebook.

The Telegram is written by Debbie Rix. This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it will not be my last. I love how she transported us back to three different eras. The story is well written and will draw you in within the first few pages. The characters are releatable and the author has written such descriptive scenes you will feel like you are watching everything unfold around you.

While this story spans across various eras, the author weaves them together seamlessly. We see a story of a telegram sent in 1915 to a family realizing that Bruv was missing and presumed dead. I cannot even imagine getting a telegram where a loved one that was fighting in a war was missing.

We move forward to 1943. Elizabeth has never known her father. Her mother has told her that she is better off without her. However, one day she sees him on a street and he is as shocked as she is to see her. He is a man of secrets. There is so much that he has kept hidden. He is married to someone knew, who only knew he had a previous marriage. She has no idea there was a child as a result of that marriage.

In 1959, Charles dies. His wife, Violet starts to go through his things and discovers a hidden compartment in his desk. Suddenly all of his buried secrets start to come to life. She starts to piece together Charles' life.

Thank you to the author and Bookouture for allowing me to read a copy of this book, all thoughts are my own.

The Telegram by Debbie Rix takes the reader back and forth between the two World Wars and beyond. It’s an interesting tale of how an incident can impact one man’s life for many years but also how this event can alter the lives of so many others also. The brief prologue had me intrigued and expecting great things. It’s set in 1916 as Tilly and her family receive a telegram with devastating news which shatters their world in two. How will they ever recover from this? I thought that I knew where the book would go from this point but instead it took a different direction and the first chapter was set 23 years later in 1943. Here we were introduced to Elizabeth. There was no mention of Tilly and for numerous chapters I found myself seeking her out and when she didn’t reappear for the majority of the book I was left wondering how she fitted into the overall picture? It made me think was there too much detail in the prologue and should the bare minimum have been provided instead?

Elizabeth lives in London with her mother Madeline. She never knew her father growing up as her parents divorced when she was only a baby. Now Elizabeth has joined the ATS - The Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service - and works in the typing pool in the war office. Her fiancé is away fighting and is part of the R.A.F. One day Elizabeth bumps into a man more or less right outside her front door and he looks very familiar. He is the man who has stared out from a photo on her mantel piece for many years. It’s her long lost father Charles and it turns out he lives on the street that herself and her mother moved into not long ago. At first Charles is standoffish and refuses to engage with Elizabeth but they meet and she wears him down and over several chapters they form a tentative bond. There are many questions as to where Charles has been all these years but these are answered at a slow and gentle pace. To be honest I understood Elizabeth was there as the conduit to Charles having to reveal his story but it was definitely Charles and his wife Violet who I wanted to read about all the time.

It’s very difficult to say anything in depth about Charles without giving away the bones of the story. Suffice to say he is a man who has a mysterious past that he keeps secret from literally everyone except the very select few who need to know specific details. He is full of intrigue and secrets and the word enigma describes him to a t. I could see that deep down he did love Violet but he didn’t know how to let go and relax and be himself around her. I wonder did he even know who he really was as he was so accustomed to keeping up a façade? He has a very complex background and he carries the weight of the world and trauma on his shoulders. He engrosses himself in his work at the war office and by night writes crime novels. It’s almost as he if has no time to dedicate to Violet and she feels the effects of this and it’s as if she is living a single life but yet has to tend to a man. When she learns of Elizabeth her foundations are shook but I admired how she tried to get to know her. But in turn it made her realise that she doesn’t know everything about her husband and if she probed deeper would she be happy with what she discovered? I loved Violet as a character and I would have really enjoyed to read an entire book about her. I thought her actions throughout were admirable. I mean she could have turned tail and ran from her marriage once she knew of Elizabeth but she was loyal and steadfast despite the pair leading virtual separate lives.

I felt throughout this book that there was a strong sense of trying to tell a story but it never really got going or else it very nearly reached a critical/climatic point but then stalled before this occurred. More or less near the very beginning I knew what the secret was. Well not the exact specifics but I was close enough and I would have much rather have been kept in suspense until near the last quarter or so of the book. Yes, there was a big reveal but it didn’t feel as hard hitting as it should have and I think that’s because too much as given away far too early on. The reader knew exactly what was going on throughout and I would have loved to have been able to have read between the lines a bit more and to be left constantly guessing with every turn of the page. Once the reader established something it took some time for the characters to catch up but by that point, I wanted something different and I wasn’t as invested I their reactions as I ought to have been. In the author’s end notes she mentions it’s difficult to know whether to keep the reader in suspense not knowing from the outset or to reveal details at the beginning. In this case, remaining in suspense would have been my preferred option. At the end I learned that this book was based on a true story from the author’s father-in-law and this helped me gain more appreciation for the tale that was told but still overall despite being an interesting and informative read it didn’t fully quite hit the mark for me. I’ve loved books that this author has written in the past and this one had such great potential but wasn’t the best that I have read and I as left wanting more.

The Telegram, a good read, lots of different characters and plots, I enjoyed the book and it was a page turner I just felt very let down with the ending, it seemed rushed and felt as if the author didn’t know how to end the book, there seemed so much left of the story.

Thoroughly enjoyed this heart-wrenching tale about a two wives, a daughter, a sister, and the untold secrets of the man connected to them all. Rix is a master of historical detail in this story that takes place during the eras of WWI and WWII. Love and forgiveness find a way, even when tragic secrets force Charlie Carmichael, to remain distant throughout his life and often run from those who matter to him most. The author's note at the end of the story should not be missed. Though I knew this historical fiction novel was based on the true story of a member of Rix's family, the number of details that seem unbelievable but are in fact true, bring and one last exclamation point to this touching story. A great read! Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Telegram by Debbie Rix appeals to my preference for stories that show the human side of the war. Not just the brave soldiers, but families and civilians. The Telegram is inspired by a true story of one man, two world wars, two wives and one daughter

While each woman affected by Charles Carmichaels choices endures their heartache by attributing his actions to the war(s), Rix entwines three individuals storylines and timelines gracefully around the core storyline of Charles

This was a compelling read which captured the 'other' side of war, and while still embracing the tenacity and fortitude of those who lived through the war years and beyond, it also raises questions and reflection about the level of tolerance such a huge global event can elicit, and would we in contemporary soceity do the same if we found oursleves in these positions?

An intelligent story, intriguing, moving and thoroughly compelling. Highly recommended

Thank you to Bookouture and Debbie Rix for this gorgeous ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Set mostly in Notting Hill, London in the 1940’s, with flashbacks to WW1.
Charles Carmichael has a lot of secrets. His wife Violet does not know he has a daughter from a previous marriage.

Charles works in a government department and in his spare time he writes crime novels.

Life gets a bit more difficult for Charles when his former wife and adult daughter move into the house across the street.

I loved the way Charles lives his life and tries to maintain secrecy about his life.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a chance to read this E-book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Just wow! This gripped me from the start. It was a one-day read!
This story spans three time periods.
1915- Tilly gets a telegram that her brother in missing in action. Then the family gets a letter that their dear son is gone.
1943- Elizabeth works for the War Office. She was raised by her mother but spots her father one day in London.
1959- Violet is dusting an old writing desk and finds old diaries inside that will tie this story together.
As I was reading this, I was thinking that this would be an amazing real life story. Imagine my surprise when I find out that it is mostly based on truth. I recommend this book to everyone. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

In 1915 a telegram is received and with World War I in full swing, it can’t be good news. A family receives a letter and it conveys that their son is injured. Charle’s holds many secrets and the fear of revealing them makes him feel as if he can never speak of them. 1943, London: Elizabeth Carmichael longing for the day that she is reunited with her fiancé. He is miles away in the RAF fighting in the war. As Elizabeth is playing her part in the war effort. While in a hurried rush she runs into a man, whom she immediately recognizes from an old photograph prior to the start of the war. London, 1960 long after the Wars have ended Violet Carmichael finds a hidden compartment in an ole dusty wrings desk. Inside the compartment are old worn diaries. She discovers inside one of the diaries an old telegram speaking of the devastation of a family that were forever scared by two world wars and a man who risked his life for love.

The Telegram, written by author Debbie Rix is a phenomenal story of family, wars and surviving the unimaginable. I absolutely loved everything about this unputdownable story. I was so enthralled by this intriguing story that was filled with so many unexpected plot twist and turns. This amazingly written beautiful and powerful story was captivating and moving. I loved the multiple timelines….WOW!! It stirred in my heart and pulled at my heart strings. I loved that it was a true story and that made it all more phenomenal. I highly recommend this emotional book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Telegram by Debbie Rix. This book is all about secrets and what happens when there are too many. The secrets always come out. This book seemed to be quite different from the book description that I had read. It was enjoyable but not at all what I expected. The writing seemed to be a bit juvenile in my opinion. Not a bad book though. A 3.5 star rating bumped up to 4.

The Telegram by Debbie Rix

A historical fiction with a promising start which had various compelling timelines. It took times to get into the story but then it was an addictive read. The book title already disclosed the story plot which the Telegram changed what happened next and how it connected the different timelines. I enjoyed the story that set in WW2 and in 1960s. The characters all had distinctive personalities which might not be easily relatable, but I still enjoyed reading it. I was waiting for the secrets to be revealed!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for my copy.

A easy to read book set during and between WW1 and WW2.
It tells the story of Charles during the war and the effect of an incident in the first war had on his entire life. The story was told over numerous timelines and I enjoyed all the characters I met along the way.
The standout character was Violet, I’d love to see a book about her. I loved the relationship that developed between all the women in Charles’s life.
Published earlier this week, I’m delighted with a stop of the book tour thanks to @bookouture. Best of luck to @debbierix with the launch.

This was a book that I thought I was getting one thing and it turned out to be something completely different - not going to say what as Spoilers. Debbie Rix, you knew exactly how to grab my heart, squeeze it and rip it out all in one book. I was not expecting half of what I got in the book. The characters all were different and all felt individual - this is a hit or miss for me. I am a very character driven reader and if I can't gel with them then the book is a miss for me. However this had everything that i wanted and more from both the characters and the plot. I can not wait to see what Debbie Rix brings out next.