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The Old Curiosity Shop #1
Fifteen Postcards
History shapes those who travel through it
Determined to save the antiques store she has inherited from ruin after the unexplained disappearance of her parents, Sarah Lester discovers a jumbled collection of vintage postcards which lead her on a journey through time.
Unprepared for the story the postcards weave about their reclusive former owner, Sarah’s life is thrown into disarray as she is transported to Victorian London, colonial New Zealand and to the British Raj in India.
Sarah’s journey through time could solve the mystery of her parents’ disappearance. But one impossible question what will staying in the past do to her future?
Determined to save the antiques store she has inherited from ruin after the unexplained disappearance of her parents, Sarah Lester discovers a jumbled collection of vintage postcards which lead her on a journey through time.
Unprepared for the story the postcards weave about their reclusive former owner, Sarah’s life is thrown into disarray as she is transported to Victorian London, colonial New Zealand and to the British Raj in India.
Sarah’s journey through time could solve the mystery of her parents’ disappearance. But one impossible question what will staying in the past do to her future?
390 pages, ebook
First published May 21, 2015
1454 people are currently reading
1649 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten McKenzie
17 books276 followersKirsten McKenzie fought international crime for fourteen years as a Customs Officer in both England and New Zealand, before leaving to work in the family antique store. Now a full time author, she lives in New Zealand with her family and alternates between writing time travel trilogies and polishing her next thriller. Her spare time is spent organising author events and appearing on literary panels at festivals around the world.
Her work has appeared in anthologies in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, including the NHS fundraiser - Noir From The Bar. She has had non-fiction pieces appear in The Spinoff, and in other New Zealand publications.
In 2024, her short story "The Watchman," part of the anthology Remains To Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa, was shortlisted for the 2024 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Short Story. Remains To Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa won the 2024 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Collected Work. Kirsten’s time travel novel, Ithaca Bound, was shortlisted for the 2023 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel. In 2021, her historical thriller, The Forger and the Thief, was longlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel. Her short story "Paperwork," part of the anthology Noir From The Bar, was also longlisted that same year for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Short Story. Her paranormal thriller, Painted, was longlisted for the 2018 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel.
Kirsten’s current project is a collaboration with best selling time travel author Shawn Inmon, where she is writing time travel stories in his Middle Falls world, but shifting the story over the pond to Northumberland, to the fictional town of Cheviot Hills. The first book in the series is The Deadly Life of Diana Penn, with the second book in the collaboration due February 2026.
You can sign up for her sporadic newsletter at: https://www.kirstenmckenzie.com/newsl...
You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.
Her work has appeared in anthologies in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, including the NHS fundraiser - Noir From The Bar. She has had non-fiction pieces appear in The Spinoff, and in other New Zealand publications.
In 2024, her short story "The Watchman," part of the anthology Remains To Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa, was shortlisted for the 2024 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Short Story. Remains To Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa won the 2024 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Collected Work. Kirsten’s time travel novel, Ithaca Bound, was shortlisted for the 2023 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel. In 2021, her historical thriller, The Forger and the Thief, was longlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel. Her short story "Paperwork," part of the anthology Noir From The Bar, was also longlisted that same year for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Short Story. Her paranormal thriller, Painted, was longlisted for the 2018 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel.
Kirsten’s current project is a collaboration with best selling time travel author Shawn Inmon, where she is writing time travel stories in his Middle Falls world, but shifting the story over the pond to Northumberland, to the fictional town of Cheviot Hills. The first book in the series is The Deadly Life of Diana Penn, with the second book in the collaboration due February 2026.
You can sign up for her sporadic newsletter at: https://www.kirstenmckenzie.com/newsl...
You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
July 14, 2023
I was completely drawn into the storyline and characters right from the beginning with it becoming increasingly difficult to put down as the story unfolded, and resulting in a couple of very late yet enjoyable nights.
I was very impressed with the quality of the writing and cleverness of the plot. Using the history of a family and their heirlooms to create a most imaginative time slip novel with an element of mystery was very inventive. I am truly surprised that this is Kirsten's first novel, such is the quality of the writing.
The ending of the book lends itself to at least a sequel - all those missing people!
I was very impressed with the quality of the writing and cleverness of the plot. Using the history of a family and their heirlooms to create a most imaginative time slip novel with an element of mystery was very inventive. I am truly surprised that this is Kirsten's first novel, such is the quality of the writing.
The ending of the book lends itself to at least a sequel - all those missing people!
April 8, 2021
I had some issues with this book. I was frustrated with not understanding the rules around Sarah's time travel. She would touch an object and go into the past, without the object, and inhabit someone's body (a la Quantum Leap). Okay, that makes sense. But then when she goes back, she brings the clothes and objects and even people with her. Okay... And when she leaves, the person returns to their body, great.... except sometimes the body just disappears all together? Or when Sarah does things that shift the timeline, does it actually do anything? Since it was mentioned about her messing with the timeline but then we don't see anything about it. The lack of consistency was frustrating and kept taking me out of the story.
The spelling and grammar mistakes and missing/extra words were so distracting. There were a few scenes where I had no idea what was happening because the wording was so bad. The last scene with Isaac in New Zealand was an example where it was supposed to be dramatic but instead I kept having to reread to figure out who was doing what. This book desperately needs a good edit.
The PoV also felt awkward. It was Third Person Limited some of the time but also Third Person Omniscient when needed, and it felt jerky. I understand the author was trying to show us what else was happening, but it was so awkward.
I kept waiting for the threads to all be tied together, which is why I pushed through on this book. It was interesting enough that I wanted to see how it all resolved. But the ending left a lot to be desired and I have no interest in continuing to read the series.
The spelling and grammar mistakes and missing/extra words were so distracting. There were a few scenes where I had no idea what was happening because the wording was so bad. The last scene with Isaac in New Zealand was an example where it was supposed to be dramatic but instead I kept having to reread to figure out who was doing what. This book desperately needs a good edit.
The PoV also felt awkward. It was Third Person Limited some of the time but also Third Person Omniscient when needed, and it felt jerky. I understand the author was trying to show us what else was happening, but it was so awkward.
I kept waiting for the threads to all be tied together, which is why I pushed through on this book. It was interesting enough that I wanted to see how it all resolved. But the ending left a lot to be desired and I have no interest in continuing to read the series.
July 1, 2015
Why all the high reviews?
I'm an avid reader and I can't honesty say I don't understand all the high reviews. I decided to give this book a try and I was sorely disappointed. Nothing drew me in. I felt no connection to the characters not any intrigued about the story or Sarah's time jumping each time she touched an artifact. The moment I started to like a character..BOOM Sarah is back in her present time with something from the past.
I skimmed most of the story but found it to be dry and boring like required reading for school.
The editing is wonderful but the story didn't do anything for me but give me a headache trying to read it.
I'm an avid reader and I can't honesty say I don't understand all the high reviews. I decided to give this book a try and I was sorely disappointed. Nothing drew me in. I felt no connection to the characters not any intrigued about the story or Sarah's time jumping each time she touched an artifact. The moment I started to like a character..BOOM Sarah is back in her present time with something from the past.
I skimmed most of the story but found it to be dry and boring like required reading for school.
The editing is wonderful but the story didn't do anything for me but give me a headache trying to read it.
March 5, 2017
Disappointing book. Poorly written with clumsy dialogue and contrived action.
April 8, 2017
Antiques, Foreign lands and time slip. 3.5
Mention antiques and I'm hooked. I enjoyed the concept of Fifteen Postcards and how each of the postcards led the story forward. The detailed research of the places that Sarah 'visited' was superb. I found Sarah a little bit of an air-head at times, but that's a minor point, and it took me a while to make the connections from the past to the people of the present. If you like a story that leaves you wondering what happens next, then this is the one. The story doesn't end, but leaves two threads hanging for you to catch on to. There must be a sequel - check out McKenzie's next book.
Mention antiques and I'm hooked. I enjoyed the concept of Fifteen Postcards and how each of the postcards led the story forward. The detailed research of the places that Sarah 'visited' was superb. I found Sarah a little bit of an air-head at times, but that's a minor point, and it took me a while to make the connections from the past to the people of the present. If you like a story that leaves you wondering what happens next, then this is the one. The story doesn't end, but leaves two threads hanging for you to catch on to. There must be a sequel - check out McKenzie's next book.
August 24, 2015
As a lover of antiques, a collector of old postcards and family who lived in India around the period that Sarah visited, I was excited and intrigued to know that this book was being written.
And I wasn’t disappointed with the result. Fifteen Postcards has been well researched, and the descriptions of both the places Sarah visited and the antiques were vivid and enticing. I want my own katar…
As the story unfolded, the book became un-putdown-able and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel…I highly recommend
And I wasn’t disappointed with the result. Fifteen Postcards has been well researched, and the descriptions of both the places Sarah visited and the antiques were vivid and enticing. I want my own katar…
As the story unfolded, the book became un-putdown-able and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel…I highly recommend
March 1, 2020
Will prob finish the series, but...
there were two major plot inconsistencies that bothered me. First of all , the first and third time the main character travelled back in time, she took the place of someone who existed in that time and switched back with them when she returned to the 21st century. But the second time, she just vanished when she returned to the future and the book said they searched but never found her. And no explanation given
as to where the people whose place she took went during the time she was in the past.
Secondly, when the character sprains her ankle in the past, she takes that injury back with her to the future. But when she has sex in the past, she returns to the future with no consequences but leaves the girl whose place she took in the past pregnant. How does that make the slightest bit of sense?
I guess these plot holes shouldn't bother me if I can suspend disbelief long enough to read a novel about time travel, but they still do!
there were two major plot inconsistencies that bothered me. First of all , the first and third time the main character travelled back in time, she took the place of someone who existed in that time and switched back with them when she returned to the 21st century. But the second time, she just vanished when she returned to the future and the book said they searched but never found her. And no explanation given
as to where the people whose place she took went during the time she was in the past.
Secondly, when the character sprains her ankle in the past, she takes that injury back with her to the future. But when she has sex in the past, she returns to the future with no consequences but leaves the girl whose place she took in the past pregnant. How does that make the slightest bit of sense?
I guess these plot holes shouldn't bother me if I can suspend disbelief long enough to read a novel about time travel, but they still do!
February 22, 2018
I was enjoying the story until *boom* it just finished. I have no problems with books in a series but I think each book ought to be a complete story, so I marked it down a star. So annoyed that I probably won't get the next book, even though I was going to until the end.
October 4, 2015
I enjoyed Fifteen Postcards, it was a book that grew and grew on me as the pages turned.
We begin with Sarah Lester, who runs an antique shop in England called The Old Curiosity Shop, but who has suffered the mysterious disappearance of both her mother and father at different times, and has found herself inheriting and running the little shop on her own.
I liked the setting of the shop, with all its varied left-overs from centuries of everyday life. As the book progresses it becomes the familiar setting of normality, rather than the home of the unusual.
A jumbled boxes of relics from a deceased estate leads Sarah on a journey literally through time, as the touching of certain items spins her back through time to Victorian London, then to an early New Zealand gold rush and finally into the India of the Raj. Each time she takes on the personality of a different woman, trying as best she can to fit her twenty-first century sensibilities into the manners and etiquette of the time.
If time travel were to exist, and I hope it does, I'm not sure it would make you turn into different people. Nevertheless I still enjoyed Sarah's adventures in all the different centuries, and I am sure that I would be with her, bringing back beautiful things from the past, even if this would confuse both history and time itself.
On a different note, editing is probably one of the hardest things for a writer, but this book seems to contain lots of little errors where worlds are run together. There must have been quite a few for me to actually begin to notice them.
We begin with Sarah Lester, who runs an antique shop in England called The Old Curiosity Shop, but who has suffered the mysterious disappearance of both her mother and father at different times, and has found herself inheriting and running the little shop on her own.
I liked the setting of the shop, with all its varied left-overs from centuries of everyday life. As the book progresses it becomes the familiar setting of normality, rather than the home of the unusual.
A jumbled boxes of relics from a deceased estate leads Sarah on a journey literally through time, as the touching of certain items spins her back through time to Victorian London, then to an early New Zealand gold rush and finally into the India of the Raj. Each time she takes on the personality of a different woman, trying as best she can to fit her twenty-first century sensibilities into the manners and etiquette of the time.
If time travel were to exist, and I hope it does, I'm not sure it would make you turn into different people. Nevertheless I still enjoyed Sarah's adventures in all the different centuries, and I am sure that I would be with her, bringing back beautiful things from the past, even if this would confuse both history and time itself.
On a different note, editing is probably one of the hardest things for a writer, but this book seems to contain lots of little errors where worlds are run together. There must have been quite a few for me to actually begin to notice them.
February 19, 2017
I do like a good time-travel historical fiction book to read and Kirsten McKenzie’s Fifteen Postcards did not disappoint. It took me a while to see the connections but once I did, I loved this storyline. The plot felt incomplete and left me anticipating a follow up. If there is one I would definitely read it.
Set across different time periods and locations, there is something for everyone here. The strong points for me were the characterisations and beautiful descriptions. It is obvious that this work has been well researched. The characters are well developed, providing an interesting mix.
I would recommend Fifteen Postcards to all Historical Fiction lovers.
Set across different time periods and locations, there is something for everyone here. The strong points for me were the characterisations and beautiful descriptions. It is obvious that this work has been well researched. The characters are well developed, providing an interesting mix.
I would recommend Fifteen Postcards to all Historical Fiction lovers.
August 11, 2021
Good read, fun
Interesting storyline, great characters. Fun to read. Glad the story continues. I’m still not quite sure how all the characters tie together, but I’m sure that’s why there is a sequel!
Interesting storyline, great characters. Fun to read. Glad the story continues. I’m still not quite sure how all the characters tie together, but I’m sure that’s why there is a sequel!
June 9, 2017
I was intrigued by the idea of this book. Sarah Lester's parents mysteriously go missing, first her mother and then her father some years later, and Sarah takes over the running of their antiques shop. After buying some antiques from an estate, she starts to look through them and is suddenly transported back in time after touching an object.
I really liked the author's style of writing and the research that went into every time period Sarah visits. Sarah herself is pretty level-headed, considering she is constantly thrown backwards and forwards in time, and I like her feisty moments when she stands up for women's rights! The author is very good at creating different characters that you can relate to, both good or bad, and that help make each setting more believable.
I started panicking as I neared the end of the book and there were still a lot of loose ends to tie up, in particular the reason as to why this was happening to Sarah and her parents. In fact, it ends on a cliffhanger, and I hope there will be a book 2 to answer all the questions! A good debut novel that I would recommend.
I really liked the author's style of writing and the research that went into every time period Sarah visits. Sarah herself is pretty level-headed, considering she is constantly thrown backwards and forwards in time, and I like her feisty moments when she stands up for women's rights! The author is very good at creating different characters that you can relate to, both good or bad, and that help make each setting more believable.
I started panicking as I neared the end of the book and there were still a lot of loose ends to tie up, in particular the reason as to why this was happening to Sarah and her parents. In fact, it ends on a cliffhanger, and I hope there will be a book 2 to answer all the questions! A good debut novel that I would recommend.
May 20, 2017
Painfully bad. The writing, patchy initially, became steadily worse, with cardboard characters and very little attention to period language, conduct or customs. The heroine is admired and cosseted, her adventures ending conveniently, and her present-day friends seem not to notice anything odd about her. The dialogue is clunky and full of anachronisms, while random extreme violence peppers the story, yet has little emotional effect on our heroine. This reads like rather elementary creatve writing class material, and is in dire need of a competent editor. Several hours of my life I will never have back again.
October 12, 2024
An intriguing time travel, adventure filled mystery with a smattering of romance.
After Sarah’s parents both disappear under mysterious circumstances, she inherits the family antique store. While cataloguing her latest estate finds, she suddenly travels back in time to London in the early 1840s.
Sarah soon discovers that touching certain items will lead her to an earlier era where she inhabits a different character’s body only to then be unexpectedly thrown back again to modern London.
She embarks on an adventure that finds her in London, New Zealand and India. Emotions and experiences ranging through infatuation, frustration, confusion, uncovering mysteries, discovering she can transport immaculate items considered highly sought after in modern times, only to perhaps face consequences of altering the past.
A mind bending read which ends on a cliffhanger leaving the reader keen to dive into book two.
I was sent this book by the author and all opinions are my own.
After Sarah’s parents both disappear under mysterious circumstances, she inherits the family antique store. While cataloguing her latest estate finds, she suddenly travels back in time to London in the early 1840s.
Sarah soon discovers that touching certain items will lead her to an earlier era where she inhabits a different character’s body only to then be unexpectedly thrown back again to modern London.
She embarks on an adventure that finds her in London, New Zealand and India. Emotions and experiences ranging through infatuation, frustration, confusion, uncovering mysteries, discovering she can transport immaculate items considered highly sought after in modern times, only to perhaps face consequences of altering the past.
A mind bending read which ends on a cliffhanger leaving the reader keen to dive into book two.
I was sent this book by the author and all opinions are my own.
October 12, 2023
4.5 more like a 5
First thing first I’m gonna say the time travel confused me A LOT!
I was completely drawn into the storyline and character(s) right from the beginning with it becoming increasingly difficult to put down as the story unfolded. It was sometimes confusing to remember the time where they are at and I was as confused as the main character. Not gonna lie all these resulting in a couple of very late yet enjoyable nights.
Sarah Lester, Bell,Williams, Betsy, Grace Williams
I will definitely get the trilogy
First thing first I’m gonna say the time travel confused me A LOT!
I was completely drawn into the storyline and character(s) right from the beginning with it becoming increasingly difficult to put down as the story unfolded. It was sometimes confusing to remember the time where they are at and I was as confused as the main character. Not gonna lie all these resulting in a couple of very late yet enjoyable nights.
Sarah Lester, Bell,Williams, Betsy, Grace Williams
I will definitely get the trilogy
March 3, 2017
Engaging
From the get-go this book is an easy read. It blends the mystical nature of time travel seamlessly into the modern world. The places this magic takes the main character are varied and vibrant, telling a legacy beyond the main plot. The writing is excellent, the characters fresh, and the plot keeps up an enjoyable pace. This is a great read for anyone with an interest in antiques and history and how the strands of different stories connect through time.
From the get-go this book is an easy read. It blends the mystical nature of time travel seamlessly into the modern world. The places this magic takes the main character are varied and vibrant, telling a legacy beyond the main plot. The writing is excellent, the characters fresh, and the plot keeps up an enjoyable pace. This is a great read for anyone with an interest in antiques and history and how the strands of different stories connect through time.
January 10, 2022
Enthralling Story
A novel about time travelling, but very different from most cases. Sarah owns 'The Old Curiosity Shop' where she sells bricabrac and antiques. The story continues with intriguing twists which are skilfully constructed, making it a good read. Exciting characters are intriguing and believable.
A novel about time travelling, but very different from most cases. Sarah owns 'The Old Curiosity Shop' where she sells bricabrac and antiques. The story continues with intriguing twists which are skilfully constructed, making it a good read. Exciting characters are intriguing and believable.
March 9, 2021
Loved all the time travel. Looking forward to see how all of Sarah’s travels affects the future, she doesn’t seem to grasp that yet. She’s more focused on bringing back items to auction and get her out of debt. On to book #2 The Last Lettet.
July 22, 2021
Intriguing Time Travel Mystery
The old Curiosity Shop interested me from Dicken's title to the unique manner of time travel to the intricate plot and clues. The history embedded into the plot adds to the interest and heroine Sarah is a quirky and attractive, a character I want to meet again. Excellent read. Brava to the author!
The old Curiosity Shop interested me from Dicken's title to the unique manner of time travel to the intricate plot and clues. The history embedded into the plot adds to the interest and heroine Sarah is a quirky and attractive, a character I want to meet again. Excellent read. Brava to the author!
June 16, 2022
This was decent, there was some convoluted stuff that went on at the end that was a bit annoying. Its clear that this is meant to be the start of a long series and maybe it will clear some of that up. I have to think about this book a little to decide how to properly review it.
#timetravel
#timetravel
February 18, 2024
Time hops/time travel are some of my favorite book tropes. I love how this was a story on found family and making new friendships in the midst of going back and forth between a time where women hardly have any rights and discovering what it means to never stop believing in what you believe in.
November 30, 2020
Loved this time travelling story of London antique dealer Sarah who finds herself thrust back in time to Victorian London, gold rush era New Zealand and colonial India. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 27, 2023
3.5 I enjoyed the stories and writing but got confused because I felt like they weren’t all tied up. If that makes sense. Will definitely be reading book two!
January 8, 2025
Not for me. Too fluffy and I couldnt buy in to the story
April 17, 2021
Delightful read
Good story line , characters were believable, easy to read, nice character development. Read to continue the saga by going to the past go see the future
Good story line , characters were believable, easy to read, nice character development. Read to continue the saga by going to the past go see the future
August 17, 2022
A really fun read!
March 2, 2021
Entertaining but not great literature
This book kept me reading, but I got frustrated with the contrived plot. I may get the second book just to see what happens, but I may not.
This book kept me reading, but I got frustrated with the contrived plot. I may get the second book just to see what happens, but I may not.
June 2, 2022
From the first postcard I was hooked as we weaved through incredible moments of history, told by the time travelling owner of a second hand shop.
Every detail thought of and wrriten so descriptively I could picture it, could imagine the tastes and sights. Particularly adored her time in India and New Zealand, such fabulous characters and so real.
MUST get the rest of the books in the series now!
Every detail thought of and wrriten so descriptively I could picture it, could imagine the tastes and sights. Particularly adored her time in India and New Zealand, such fabulous characters and so real.
MUST get the rest of the books in the series now!
April 11, 2017
I started this after meeting the author in a Facebook group. I bought it, so it was not a freebie in exchange for a review.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book, in a genre I wouldn't usually choose. The writing style was immediately comfortable, with a light descriptive tone and quickly sketched characters that helped immerse me in the story.
It helped not knowing anything about the book before I began reading, as the first unusual occurrence takes place about three chapters in, and from that point I was hooked.
The main character Sarah can be a bit inconsistent, by turns feisty and then, frankly, not particularly bright and passive. That said, she certainly brings some modern colour to the characters' lives she inhabits, and from a reading point of view, the various locations she finds herself abruptly thrust into are very well-realised in unobtrusive prose, and her adventures are engaging and exciting in turn. The part that takes place in India was particularly good, real page-turning stuff!
It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'd be interested in reading the second instalment!
For me, Fifteen Postcards is an unusual and very readable piece of time-jumping fiction which I would recommend to readers of historical adventure.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book, in a genre I wouldn't usually choose. The writing style was immediately comfortable, with a light descriptive tone and quickly sketched characters that helped immerse me in the story.
It helped not knowing anything about the book before I began reading, as the first unusual occurrence takes place about three chapters in, and from that point I was hooked.
The main character Sarah can be a bit inconsistent, by turns feisty and then, frankly, not particularly bright and passive. That said, she certainly brings some modern colour to the characters' lives she inhabits, and from a reading point of view, the various locations she finds herself abruptly thrust into are very well-realised in unobtrusive prose, and her adventures are engaging and exciting in turn. The part that takes place in India was particularly good, real page-turning stuff!
It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'd be interested in reading the second instalment!
For me, Fifteen Postcards is an unusual and very readable piece of time-jumping fiction which I would recommend to readers of historical adventure.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews