Telegram Home

The Old Curiosity Shop #3

by Kirsten McKenzie

Sarah Lester's mother is missing and the Indian uprising holds her father captive. The police want to question her, and even the church is demanding its pound of flesh. Her return to The Old Curiosity Shop raises more questions than answers.

Waiting in the shadows is a vengeful Richard Grey. After discovering Sarah’s ability to travel through time, nothing will stop him from restoring his name to its former glory. Not even time.

Can Sarah reunite her scattered family before Grey closes the doorway to the past?

History will change.

Genres: Time Travel, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2019

About the author

Kirsten 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.

Reviews

[Sue Trav · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted closure on the story and that is the only reason I picked up this book. It does bring some of the story lines together but it still had WAY too many characters that could have been omitted!

I actually skimmed through sections as I was not interested in some of the characters. There were also glaring errors with names and there were so many misspelled words. Did this book actually get edited? I am glad I finished the series but there were way too many holes in the plot for me to really like it. A really great idea for a book series and I wish it has been executed better.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very satisfactory conclusion (mostly).

Telegram Home concludes the time travel adventures of Sarah Lester that started in Fifteen Postcards and continued in The Last Letter. Sarah owns The Old Curiosity Shop, an establishment that procures and sells antiques and curios and was inherited from her mother and father when they disappeared in mysterious circumstances.

After purchasing items in a house clearance Sarah found herself tumbling through time and continents. From London to Australia and New Zealand and to India. As she tries to get to grips with her travels she gradually pieces together what happened to her parents whilst trying to keep one step ahead of Richard Grey who wishes to acquire the family heirlooms that he believes are rightfully his.

Telegram Home is part 3 in the series, neatly finishing several of the main character’s story lines in a very satisfactory manner. The one exception to that is a character called Sanjay who obviously has a lot of inside knowledge of the time travel mechanism that is not really explained and I think there may be an untold story there.

This book also proves that authors really do appreciate the reviews that they receive. I am the real Nicole Pilcher, who in the book runs The Old Curiosity Shop in Sarah’s absence. Kirsten named a character for me after I reviewed Fifteen Postcards. Thank you Kirsten I have loved being a part of this series.

Now when are you writing the next book?

[sharon mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah steps in & out of her shop with the frequency of a Jack-in-the-box.

Having read this, the last of The Old Curiosity Shop series, there are 3 points I would emphasize. The 3 books are long and with so much time travels back & forth to many different locations & times, it can be dizzying. Each time travel introduces a lot of characters, major & minor. From gold fields in New Zealand to the English & Maori wars to an Indian raja and tiger hunt to antiques being sold in modern London, well, the list goes on. An adventure in time travel this series surely is and Ms. McKenzie has a good handle on her storyline but the series is afflicted with atrocious editing, thus the greater reason for a minor 3 stars.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed

I had high hopes for this book series but the back story became the leading story too often throughout books 2 and 3 pushing the main characters aside. Three books could have been consolidated into 1 and the many questions that are left hanging in the wind are not truly answered. I've never read a book that tries to tell multiple stories at once and I can say its exhausting. I'm ready to move on.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confusing jumble of stories with an ending that made sense. I enjoyed much of it but felt confused when unnecessary characters were introduced. What happened to Colin and the baby? What became of Stirling? There are too many stories left unfinished to give this book of this series a good rating.

[Gretchen A Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good books but bad editing

I thoroughly enjoyed these three books but but the editing done in the manuscripts was, at best, sub par. The sentence structure was missing essential words. There were an amazing number of incomplete sentences. I found myself rewriting sentences in my head. The third book was an obvious, "I have to wrap up this whole story" effort. The ending was unsatisfying. However, I would read more of this author's books, even with the extra editing I would have to do in my head.

[patricia tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

okay so this is book three. I really liked book one. book two started to get a bit too much. too many characters. this one was crazy...way too many characters! The main character seems a bit empty to me...falls in love..each time. has someone go back to the future with her who she now loves, but then ends up in the past...never even thinks about the guy again...starts crying over one who now loves someone else. Characters in this book seem to have forgotten things they did and said in the first book. very confusing and difficult to follow!

[Louise E Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hope that this is the end of this series. It’s been a tough and confusing series to read with disparate threads that don’t always weave together. This book has been just as scattered as the others. The premise is interesting but it’s been a very long journey to get to what I hope is the end. This book ties up a lot, but not all, of the threads. Enough that I don’t feel that I have to read the next book.

[Amy Allen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought the trilogy and read the whole thing, but now I wish I’d bought and read just the first book, because I would’ve stopped there. The main thing I can say about these books is it was a good idea, but not well executed. That’s particularly true in the second and third books. For me there was too much time spent on peripheral characters, like several chapters spent on the customs agent (?!!). I thought there must be a reason for this, maybe he’ll figure into the ending somehow. But no. Other characters (e.g. Sinclair) were featured and given sub-plots and lots of description, that didn’t seem warranted, because they were never seen again. The main characters were not consistent in personality. For instance Sarah, the protagonist, stripping down and having sex with the Rajah. She wasn’t depicted in “present” time as a person who jumped in bed with men. In fact she seemed like the opposite, a wallflower even. I also was disappointed with the ending, because the reader can see the connections between the different characters and time periods, but Sarah, never seems to figure it out. Also there was a big error in time chronology, ironically. (Spoiler alert) Robert Williams is the name of Sarah W.’s illegitimate son, and shows up later as a father of a grown woman, and Patricia is only in her 50’s. That doesn’t add up.. Lastly, I saw lots of grammatical errors. That’s not something I want to see in a published novel.

[Tanyaradzwa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to skip through chapters of this

This was the most infuriating book I’ve read in a long time. I didn’t know I could get so annoyed and frustrated by a book. Ha. Author rambles so much. For most of the 3 books actually. The main character is featured less and less as the series goes on. In this third book she’s barely in it. There are about 100 different characters. Most of them the author goes into so much depth about, they are just side characters, add nothing to the story. And after whole chapters on them they are never mentioned again. Leaving me wondering “What?! Why???”. Even the author gets confused. Some names are wrong. Dates don’t make sense. So many loose ends, or ends that just don’t make any sense.

This could have been such a great series and I think that’s why most people keep reading past book 1. The summary of the series pulls you in, the actual execution and written book in a huge anticlimactic disappointment

[Yvonne Milroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kirsten created a complex embroidery of tales in the first two books and wove them together in a fascinating manner that left me desperate to read Telegram Home, the final in the Old Curiosity Shop trilogy. She didn't disappoint as all the threads were tidied away and all my questions were answered.

I thoroughly enjoyed this time travel across continents, and each location gave me a real sense of the era the characters found themselves in. I kept thinking that this story would make a fantastic movie, so fingers crossed that Hollywood comes knocking. Congratulations, Kirsten.

[Mrs designer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this journey!

I love history, and have come to enjoy well- written time travel novels: this series is both. The twists and turns even with the author's fictional changes made it so interesting that not only did I not put it down, I did not want it to end. That said, I loved the ending. It was complete; but as it is my habit, I will not re-tell the story, this was already done-very well --by the author! I do recommend that you read this book if you enjoy a really good read!

[Meme Tucker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished the series but...I now feel it was kind of a waste of my time. So many continuity errors throughout the series. The end of book 3 was supposed to resolve a few questions, but I was left with more. I'm still not sure how the scar-faced man from ancient Egypt fit into the conclusion. How were we assured that Sarah wouldn't time travel anymore? What about Brooks and his desire to return to his time? Very confusing and convoluted. My advice, don't...just don't.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd book in the Old Curiosity Shop series does not disappoint. Catch up on the lives of Sarah Lester, her family and friends. Throughout the book Kirsten weaves a story that keeps the reader wanting to know more, as well as including brilliant snapshots of world history. I have really enjoyed this series and book number 3 was worth waiting for.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out so promising, but went in so many directions with too many characters. And nothing tied up in the end. Sadly disappointed after 2 great books.

[Happy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had both anticipated and dreaded the final installment of this trilogy for a while, as I had been wondering from the first book, Fifteen Postcards, how the threads would be tied together. At the end I yelled both "Noooo!" and "Yes!" (in my head, as I was trying to get my son to sleep) as it was both frustrating and satisfying at the same time!

The author has done a lot of background research to ensure plausible historical accuracy, and I really appreciated the short chapter that told a story about early Chinese migrants to New Zealand. It was well written and respectfully done.

[me · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series has been an amazing read! I'd been so unsure as to how all this would end and the author did not disappoint. All the threads wrapped neatly , leaving no loose ends...
Bravo!!

[Dawncee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Lover of Time Travel

This series is an absolute must read as far as I am concerned. The descriptions of the people and various locations / times is magical, letting you feel as if you are there. The characters and situations they find themselves in are well developed. I highly recommend this series!

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Changed my rating from 4 to 3 because I just can't get past a few things:

1) Sarah's story was engrossing and entertaining but there are WAY too many characters involved throughout the series and too many loose threads at the end for my taste. Several characters could have been left out and the story would have been just as good. I found myself wondering if I should bother remembering a particular person- will they show up later or not??

2) Kristen McKenzie needs to fire her editors. A third-grader could have done a better job. I found several places where characters' names were incorrect- wrong person in the scene, etc. Sentence fragments, misspellings, etc. GALORE.

3) Several plot holes: Example- in the first book, she "took over" someone else's body. But the other time traveling characters don't do this. By the third book, it seems she went back in her own body. This change was never explained. Biggest thing: where did the "magic" start? With Sanjay? With the raja who owned the betel box?? Oh, so many questions....

4) I feel like the author rushed to finish this series without following through on all the plot lines- there were so many! To me, with few exceptions (Patricia, for one), the characters' stories just ended in the middle. Where did Richard Grey go? What became of Sarah's parents? Did Sarah stay with Brooke??

McKenzie wove a wonderful tale- loved the history! But it was too much crammed in to too few pages.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, BUT...

This, like the other two books in the series, is an engaging story that is intriguing and full of twists and turns, but is also full of errors. I wish the books had better editing, as the errors are distracting and detrimental to the books individually and as a series. There is an error of Sarah being the one eavesdropping, but then Annabelle's name is used to reference the woman who is actually Sarah, as Annabelle was in a different location. There is a sentence that begins with, "Upon his return" but ends without actually finishing the sentence in an appropriate way. It is frustrating and takes away from the book greatly. There are such a number of other small errors that it just makes it annoying, as opposed to easy to write off as an oversight. I enjoyed the stories, but they would benefit greatly from better editing.

[Roland Taub · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, but ....

After.a interesting start I felt the story had to be quickly ended without a fully satisfactory conclusion. I feel there were too many unresolved plot lines left hanging. One flaw that may go unnoticed was this : in the first book of the series when Sarah went to the past her mind was placed in another person's body. But in the other two books she travelled in her body. I wonder if Mrs McKenzie was even aware of this flaw.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Telegram Home

Sarah Lester lost her parents through time. Her mother gone for ten years then her father gone for five years. One day Sarah went back in time. What a life she had. Back and forth to the past and back to the future. She found her parents and they had a life going for them. Back to the future to stay and live her own life.

[Jan Bandich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the 3 books in this story of time travel to India and New Zealand and life as an antiques dealer, but know that these are not stand alone stories, it is a serial read. The characters and locales are interesting and there is never a dull moment, sometimes hard to keep track of all the heroes and villains in this sweeping saga.

[Kelley McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but could have been so much better

This book series had the potential to be the most epic time travel book series of all time but it ended with so many loose ends that I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. I kept waiting for some big reveal and a satisfying wrap up to all these wonderful characters but it just ended rather abruptly.

[Tab sage · Rating 1 out of 5]

disappointed

Three books, that’s what I’ve read. Only to come up with more questions than answers. No loose ends tied up, just left swinging. No epilogue to let me know what happened to the characters and way to many story lines that just ended without really finishing. A complete waste of “time”.

[Nancy Lauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending felt rushed and disappointing. There were mysteries introduced in this book or the previous one that were never resolved. Characters were introduced that didn’t seem to have any purpose in the story.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying conclusion to a fascinating series that travels through time and place, from England to India and New Zealand showcasing antiquities, personalities, greed and the power of love.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to know what happens feeling kind of sad that it's the end.

[Gloria S. Grimm · Rating 2 out of 5]

G

Too many characters in these books. They watch and move and never end in any way that is good or bzd,just blah.

[Sandra Guzdek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I don’t regret finishing the series. It was original in concept and interesting all around. There were some particularly vividly written scenes in the beautiful, wild New Zealand frontier; the Auckland fires were depicted in a realistic and terrifying manner. I appreciated that the chapters were organized by location and not jumping around from place to place. But.

The wheels really came off the bus in this one. This book spends way too much time off in the weeds of secondary characters and there were too many unresolved points. I carried on, thinking there would be a payoff in the broader sense, but that payoff was minimal.

The New Zealand subplots did come together… eventually. The Liverpool and India subplots, involving the importers (Williams and Samer) and the customs inspector (Meredith) and even Patricia’s horrific death, I still have a hard time figuring out what the point of all of that detail was. So much time was spent on these side stories that by the time Sarah makes an appearance again, I had forgotten she had touched something to go back in time. I don’t even remember what she touched, only that she was with the police detective Fujimoto (would have loved to know what his reaction was to her just disappearing!). Come to think of it, what about the dude from the past who is just on the loose, Sinclair? So he just decides to stick with the rich American woman to take advantage of her? What about the WWII leather jacket that so much was made about in the previous book? Does Sarah stay with Major Brooke? How does he carry on in the present with no identity?

There’s that whole opening sequence in India with the lightning storm and then the silversmiths, which brings me to the deus ex machina, the… time guardians (?), Sanjay (the mysterious carver) and Neumegen (the jeweler with the stash of Reeboks and jeans). Where did that come from? Not a hint of this in the first two books. I don’t know who they are (and there’s no further explanation of who they are) in the grand scheme. Are they working together or are they on opposite sides working against each other? I have no idea.

I was also extremely frustrated at Sarah not getting to talk to her mother. What was the point of Neumegen sending Sarah back before she got to talk to Annabel? That would have provided some closure to that storyline and he could have tricked her into touching the necklace afterwards.

And then there’s the elephant in the room: the police investigation into the murder and into the artifacts that Sarah consigned to and sold through Christie’s is not touched on again after Sarah disappears from Fujimoto’s presence. I suppose that happens after the final scene in the book—why didn’t the same detectives investigate the shooting at The Old Curiosity Shop?—but man, that feels like a real loose end.

I’m still not precisely sure what the titular telegram is referencing. I can think of two telegrams during the book and while they delivered important news in the moment, they weren’t a ticket home. Unless I missed a throwaway reference, I don’t know what the title means.

And then suddenly the book was just over. If you skipped all of that, let me sum up: I felt like I’d invested time in a murder mystery, wondering the whole time who the killer would be, only to find that the killer was a character that was only introduced in the last chapter (shoutout to Murder by Death).

The editing is, well, no better than the previous two. Extraneous/misplaced commas, sentence fragments, “American’s” as a plural, Edith is both Broadhead and Broadbent again… Then there are the head scratchers like this scene. Albert Lester is surprised when Sanjay uses Sarah’s name when he shouldn’t have known it:

‘…Sarah is lucky to have you as her father. Keep the tiger with you, and you will always be able to find India should you need her.’

Before Albert could register the use of Sarah's name, the carver ambled away…

However, Albert had just said her name moments earlier!: ‘The tiger, Sarah is more a tiger. She's never been a peacock?’ (Also, why is he asking a question? Is he unsure?) Sigh.