REVIEW: The Telegram by Debbie Rix

The Telegram by Debbie Rix

Genre: Historical fiction, Wartime fiction

Read: 12th October 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 15th October 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

One message will change everything…

1915, London: Shaking, she opens the faded red front door and her heart races as the young boy on the steps holds out the telegram. The words swim before her. They can’t be true; this can’t be happening. Nothing will ever be the same again.

1943, London: Elizabeth Carmichael rushes out down the steps of her town house in her smart army uniform, daydreaming of her handsome fiancé posted miles away in the RAF, and determined to play her part in the war effort. Not looking where she’s going, Elizabeth collides with a tall man in the middle of the street. She instantly recognises him from a faded photograph from before the war. This chance meeting will change everything Elizabeth thought she knew about herself.

1960, London: Violet Carmichael wipes the dust from an antique writing desk, not expecting to find a hidden compartment, or the old diaries nestled inside. Peeling apart the yellowing pages, a story unfolds of a family devastated by two world wars and a man who risked his life for freedom and for love. It leads her to discover a telegram that will finally unlock a decades-old family secret…

Inspired by a true story, this is a heart-wrenching, page-turning and unforgettable story of the importance of family and the power of love and forgiveness. Fans of Kathryn Hughes, Kate Quinn and Kate Morton will be utterly gripped by this incredible historical fiction novel spanning WW1 and WW2.

MY THOUGHTS:

One message could change everything...

Spanning the decades, this tale sweeps across three timelines beginning in 1915 with the main story centred in 1943 before wrapping things up in 1959/1960. Whilst no one features predominantly as the main character, which seems a little puzzling at first but once things begin to slot into place we see the story is that of Charles Carmichael, the branches in his somewhat complex family tree and the secret he carries throughout his rather puzzling life. It's a secret that is only uncovered after he has gone though as the reader it's one we had suspected for the most part throughout...all but one tiny piece that became the catalyst for what was to become Charles' life of subterfuge. Intrigued?

1915: It's a beautiful day when the boy delivered the telegram into Tilly's trembling hands. Racing inside, she called to her mother to alert her to the arrival and reading out its contents sent her mother into floods of tears. Her beloved brother - "Bruv" as he was affectionately called - was missing presumed dead. And the in the coming days a letter followed, addressed to her parents written in Bruv's hand. A letter that told them little and gave nothing away yet changed their lives. Bruv was gone.

1943: A chilly day in London as Elizabeth Carmichael readies herself for her post in the War Office, assistant to Captain Valentine, a letch in Elizabeth's opinion who cannot keep his leary eyes or suggestive remarks to himself. She and her mother moved to Notting Hill a year before after much of the city had suffered the deluge of the Blitz and people were escaping to the country and safety. But her mother Madeleine saw an opportunity and built on it. It worked for her as she was posted close by in Whitehall and as a result could remain at home rather than doss in a billet, which were few and far between at any rate.

Elizabeth's eyes strayed to the two solitary photos that always took pride of place on the mantlepiece. Her father in his army uniform and her father holding baby Elizabeth. She never knew her father and whenever she pressed her mother for details, she always clammed up saying she was better off without him. All Elizabeth knew about the man she knew as Paddy was that he had gone to China and stayed there rather than return home. Her mother divorced him and the rest was a somewhat spotted history that Elizabeth failed to untangle.

So when she was walking home from the Tube one evening after work, she was shocked to see a man who resembled her father walk out of the house opposite theirs on Clarendon Road. She called to him "Padraig Carmichael?" The man stopped, turned and looked at her. He paled.

Charles Carmichael had left his past behind him, along with a trail of secrets. So when the pretty young woman stopped him outside his door he was speechless. He tried denying any knowledge but it was clear she was his daughter. She was the image of Madeleine, her mother and his ex-wife. And so the two began to meet and develop a relationship. His next conundrum was telling his wife Violet, who knew nothing of his past, except that he had been married briefly before. And even then only because she saw it on their marriage certificate. How was he to break the news of a daughter to her?

And so life begins to get a little more complicated for the man with so many secrets.

1959: At the age of sixty four, Charles Carmichael - a conundrum himself - peacefully passes away in hospital alone without his wife Violet by his side. And yet she kept his wishes for his funeral and his resting place to be in the village where he was born and grew up. But the man with so many secrets had left her with so many unanswered questions. His sister remained tightlipped and refused to tell her what she knew.

It's not until she is packing away Charles' things that she comes across his diaries, and travels down a rabbit hole and back to 1914 and 1915 where she meets the idealistic young Charles Carmichael in his prose. And as she reads, the pieces thus begin to fall into place and the secrets of Charles' life finally began to surface.

This was an interesting tale that I almost read almost in one sitting, leaving the final few chapters till the morning to finish. I wouldn't call it emotional and in a way it wasn't gripping either but it was intriguing. Something kept me turning the pages. I wanted to see how it would all end and learn about the secrecy that surrounded Charles' life for so long. What had lead to it and why? That was the biggest secret of all that was only unearthed in the final chapters. But it made everything make sense. Throughout the book we are given glimpses of Charles' early life in snippets and the secrecy surrounding his later years was an obvious given. It didn't take Einstein to work that one out but it was only confirmed at the end.

The characters weren't completely developed I felt with not a lot of depth to them. But they were still likable enough. I admit to Violet irritating me somewhat though I can't quite put my finger on why that is. Elizabeth I felt had more depth to her than most. It was interesting, if maybe not completely believable, how the two families bonded together, remaining across the street from each other until the end. Charles was difficult to connect with but I think that was intentional as those who knew him even found him an enigma, if not frustrating at times.

The book's description I found a little misleading as it felt as if it were a different book than the one I was reading.

I have only read one other book by this author, "The Secret Letter" which I absolutely loved so I was excited to dip into this one. It was enjoyable, a quick read that took about 5 reading hours, that kept me engaged till the end.

Four solid stars.

I would like to thank #DebbieRix, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheTelegram in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Debbie Rix has had a long career in journalism, including working as a presenter for the BBC. Her first novel, The Girl with Emerald Eyes was set around the building of the tower of Pisa and she has since released Daughters of the Silk Road and The Silk Weaver’s Wife. Debbie writes heartbreaking historical novels about love, tragedy and secrets.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Secret Letter by Debbie Rix (ARC)

The Secret Letter by Debbie Rix

Genre: Historical fiction

Read: 22nd July 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon
(release date: 2nd July 2019)

✡ ✡ ✡ ✡ ✡  5 stars

Inspired by the true story of the author's own parents, THE SECRET LETTER is a beautiful tale about bravery, kindness and hope in a time of war and devastation from the perspective of two very different - and yet somewhat comparable - girls. This touching tale is also incredibly heart wrenching, highlighting the horrors of World War 2 from both sides in a unique way. Imogen and Magda, both extremely affected by the war, may be separated by hundreds of miles but they are united by similar convictions...though it was hardly likely they would ever meet. Their stories intertwine as they come of age and grow into strong young women who each play their own important part in the war...and beyond.

It's 1939 and we begin with 15 year old Imogen growing up in Newcastle in the north east of England. As an only child of somewhat affluent parents, she is not spoilt but rather wise, even if a little mischievous. When war breaks out, her school is evacuated to the Lakes District and the girls billeted to various families in the Keswick area. She passes her time writing letters home to her parents and rambling up gorgeous mountains like Skiddaw with her best friend Joy and fellow evacuee Helen, whilst harbouring a secret love for neighbour Freddie who was away at university before joining the RAF.

Even at 15, Imogen displays a strength of character in her stubbornness and determination. Her letters home are filled with a contrariness as she describes her thoughts on the war and then asking for money for new shoes in the next line. It was quite amusing but also a reflection of the times from the perspective of a young girl still coming to terms with her own journey through adolescence. She meets young Dougie who amuses her as they spend a lot of time together, growing closer, and yet while she is drawn to him she still finds herself carrying a torch for Freddie back home.

The girls go back home to Newcastle during the holidays which begs the question - why is it safe to return home for the holidays but not during the school term? Imogen said it best when she stated "I think the idea was for our schooling not to be disturbed. If we die in the holidays that’s not so important." I thought that an amusing line. A little bit of humour amidst a troubling time, one needs to keep their sense of humour.

Imogen completes her schooling in the Lakes and returns home to Newcastle a couple of years later to attend university where she wanted to study engineering but her gender deems her unable. So she turns to architecture and completes her first year before she is required to join the national service upon turning 19. She joins the Wrens, along with best friend Joy, and she serves as a plotter whilst Joy is a typist having been to secretarial school. Her time as a plotter leads her to London, then later Portsmouth and even Paris where she thrives as a Wren, serving under some important military powers of the time. She comes into fleeting contact with Prime Minister Churchill, King George VI and General Eisenhower as the war begins to culminate. During this time, she is fortunate to have Joy alongside her as they both find love and heartbreak in equal measure  before the war is over.

It is during this time she meets American Ben who falls in love with her and asks her to marry him. Imogen enjoys his company and despite being wary, graciously accepts. However, she is moved to Portsmouth under the cover of secrecy leading up to D-Day and she hears nothing from him again until her station in Paris. But the giddiness she felt in his presence has been replaced by discontent and irritation. Does she really love him or was it just a fascination? She realised that she knew nothing about him such was the secrecy of his involvement. Her mother says when you marry someone you will love them forever, with all their foibles and their faults as well as for their gifts and advantages. The problem is the secrecy surrounding Ben's involvement in the war was promising to continue afterwards, and Imogen wasn't sure she wanted that. She was enjoying her new-found independence and she was unwilling to give that up.

Then there is Magda, who is just 13 years old and living amidst the growing unrest of Germany. She is devastated by the loss of her best friend Lotte who was cruelly snatched along with her family and sent to a concentration camp - the Star of David sewn into their coats. Magda didn't understand why she could no longer be friends with Lotte. The fact that she was Jewish was not important; she was her best friend. When Magda receives a letter from her brother Karl, who is studying in England and a staunch objector of his country's new ways, she is shocked by the contents unable to comprehend much of what he was alluding to. At the end of the letter, Karl urged her to show no one and to burn after reading it. But Magda could not. What if it was the last letter from her beloved brother? She desperately wanted to show her mother so she could shed some light on what he was saying...but to do so would be a betrayal to her brother. Instead, she secreted it away in her Bible.

As the Nazi's power takes hold, Magda begins to see a new Germany - one that she does not like nor agree with and the one Karl had alluded to in his secret letter. The fanatical new rules of the Hitler Youth, a group a boys who instill fear in villagers if they do not conform to the new way of the Fuhrer, makes her seethe with anger and yet she cannot escape. On her next birthday she must join the Young Maidens, a group of young, ripe girls who must strive to become the epitome of the perfect German woman/wife - blonde, blue-eyed and submissive - as broodmares for perfect Aryan children. But Magda secretly refuses to conform and joins the White Rose movement, a German resistance who rebel against the oppressive frightening world around them.

But what Magda does not count on is Otto. He is one of the Hitler Youth - a bully - aspiring to the Fuhrer and exclaiming his proclamations. Otto claims Magda as his own (whether she likes it or not) and unfortunately, to save herself and her family from death, she must agree to be Otto's girlfriend - as much as the idea repulses her. When he rises to the rank of an SS officer, Magda is relieved to be reprieved from Otto's wandering hands and ever-watchful eye.

Then an enemy plane - a Lancaster bomber - crashes just beyond the boundary of their farm, and Magda and her father find six dead airmen and one barely alive. Magda insists on helping him and hides him in the secret attic of their farmhouse. By now, Magda is 16 and is incredibly resourceful for her age but she is also determined not to let the abhorrent new rules of her country quash the basic laws of humanity nor dictate her ability to help someone in need. She didn't ask for this war, she didn't want it and she doesn't agree with anything the new regime stands for. And so, over the course of the next few weeks Magda becomes friends with the British airman, Michael. She has never met anyone like him nor he her. Locked away in the small dark attic room, Michael sees no one but Magda and her kindness towards him - the enemy - touches him. Inevitably, they fall in love. But when Otto returns suddenly, Magda must keep Michael safe as the unthinkable happens, tearing her world apart. She must help Michael escape before Otto returns, lest they all be killed. Their parting words for him to return after the war so they could marry, and it is these words, and the promise of brighter days, that keep Magda soldiering on.

So how do Imogen and Magda's worlds intersect? Hundreds of miles apart and even worlds away from one another, these two women's stories tells of life in such a frightening time. The sheer horror of hearing bombs dropping, of having them fall in your path, the panic each time an air raid siren sounds - a sound which now reduces my own dad to tears at the memory of being a child during the war - all of this and more is just mind-blowing that the strength of mankind can live through such a horrific and turbulent time.

Most of us only hear about the war from the British side but what was it like for the Germans who rebelled against Hitler's regime? What makes this story so unique is that we not only hear the British aspect but we also hear a German's perspective. Back in the day, all Germans were seen as the enemy but not all Germans WERE the enemy. This story shows us just that. The abhorrent rules inflicted on the German people under Hitler's despicable and repulsive dictatorship were abominable, to say the least. I would not have liked to have lived under those conditions, against everything I believed in, under a dictator as repugnant as him. Christmas was even taken away from them. No longer could you decorate your trees with stars as it was seen too similar the Star of David and that was assigned to the Jewish people who were banished from their country. Instead they had to decorate with gold swastikas. They even began to pray to the Fuhrer. All schools had to teach the ways of the Fuhrer and not historical fact or even fact, for that matter. It was eye-opening to read just how these new rules were forced upon the Germans and if they dared to go against them, they faced imprisonment or even death.

THE SECRET LETTER is so beautifully written I was completely captivated by every aspect that I didn't want it to end. It was emotional, it was heartbreaking, it was touching, it was eye-opening, it was compelling but most of all it was just simply beautiful. What people of the time had to live through at the hands of a dictator wreaking havoc on a world he wanted to make perfect for himself, it was an horrific reminder of what mankind could do to fellow human beings.

The narrative between the two perspectives of Imogen and Magda is both intriguing and heartbreaking. Both young woman experience first loves, new emotions, heartbreak and disappointment. I loved reading their stories, noting how different their childhoods and journeys into womanhood were, but appreciating them just the same. Each girl/woman had a story to tell and each played an important part to that tale. The beautifully intricate way in which their stories entwine made THE SECRET LETTER a compelling read.

The fact that Imogen's story was based on the author's own parents added to the book's believability. Her mother was a WREN and her father was an RAF pilot who was shot down over Germany. Using her mother's letters, her father's logbook and diaries, she was able to draw a picture of Imogen based on her mother. Some of Imogen's letters were even her mother's written verbatim. It gave a whole new element of realism to the story that made for compelling reading.

I truly appreciated THE SECRET LETTER so much more than I ever expected - I think for being so unique in its perspective. Unlike many others, I don't care how much is actually based on historical fact or how much has been embellished because I am not reading a reference book - I am reading a story. And what a beautiful story it was! Basically, I adored this book from start to finish.

THE SECRET LETTER is a book I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to any fans of WW2 era historical fiction. In fact, I can't recommend it highly enough. If I could give it 10 stars, I would!

I would like to thank #DebbieRix, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheSecretLetter in exchange for an honest review.