How to Read Debbie Rix's Novels
If you are new to Debbie Rix, the most important thing to know is that all of her novels are standalone works. She does not write continuous series, meaning you do not need to worry about cliffhangers or reading her books in a strict chronological sequence. Each novel is self-contained, featuring its own unique cast of characters, historical settings, and emotional resolutions.
However, Rix has a very distinct style: she is a master of the dual-timeline (and sometimes triple-timeline) format. Her stories typically alternate between a modern or post-war investigation and a deeply researched historical period. Whether you prefer the romance of Renaissance Italy or the high-stakes tension of World War II Germany, you can choose your starting point based entirely on the historical setting that interests you most.
Recommended Starting Points
While you can read her books in any order, here are the best entry points depending on your favorite historical subgenres:
- For WWII & Nazi Germany Sagas: Start with The Secret Letter (2019). It is her most popular book and offers a heart-wrenching look at the German resistance movement. Alternatively, The German Mother (2023) is a powerful, emotional journey focused on the horrors of the Nazi eugenics program and maternal love.
- For Italian Settings & Art History: Start with her debut, The Girl with Emerald Eyes (2015; originally published as Secrets of the Tower). It tells the fascinating story of the woman who funded the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If Venice and Verona appeal to you, The Silk Weaver's Wife (2017) is an excellent choice.
- For Multi-Era Family Mysteries: Start with The Telegram (2024). Spanning three different eras, this book is particularly special as it was inspired by the true wartime experiences of the author's father-in-law.
Debbie Rix Books in Publication Order
Reading in publication order allows you to see how Rix's style evolved from focusing on classical Italian history to writing intense, emotionally complex World War II dramas. Here is the complete list of her standalone novels:
1. The Girl with Emerald Eyes (2015)
Originally published under the title Secrets of the Tower, Rix's debut novel shifts between modern Pisa and the 12th century. The historical timeline details the life of Berta di Bernardo, the wealthy widow who left a bequest of gold coins to fund the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, while the modern timeline follows a woman named Sam Campbell uncovering the tower's ancient secrets.
2. Daughters of the Silk Road (2016)
This epic tale spans across 15th-century Venice, China, Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam. It follows a merchant family who returns to Venice with a precious Ming vase, exploring the long-lasting impact of family secrets across generations.
3. The Silk Weaver's Wife (2017)
Alternating between 1704 and 2017, this book is set in Venice, Verona, Amsterdam, and London. The historical timeline focuses on Anastasia, a woman trapped in an abusive marriage to a silk weaver, while the modern timeline follows Millie, who discovers a mysterious portrait of Anastasia at a villa near Verona.
4. The Photograph (2018)
This novel alternates between the 1950s and 2017, moving between post-war Sardinia and the English Cotswolds. It follows an anthropologist named Sophie who discovers a hidden letter and a silk bracelet in her grandmother's desk, leading her to uncover her grandmother's past as a young Hungarian refugee in Italy.
5. The Secret Letter (2019)
Set in Bavaria (Germany) and London, this novel spans from 1939 to 2018. It tells the story of Magda, a German girl who joins the White Rose resistance movement against the Nazi regime, and Imogen, an English evacuee who receives a mysterious letter decades later that connects their lives.
6. The Italian Girls (2020)
Set in occupied Italy during the 1940s and the present day, this novel follows Livia, an actress serving as a spy, and Isabella, a journalist. The two women's wartime secrets are eventually brought to light in the modern era via an old film reel.
7. The German Wife (2022)
This novel alternates between Germany in WWII (1939–1942) and America in 1989. It follows Annaliese, who is married to a German doctor assigned to the Dachau concentration camp. As she discovers the truth about the camp, she risks everything to protect a Russian prisoner.
8. The German Mother (2023)
Spanning from 1920 to 1945, this novel follows the deep friendship between Minki Sommer (an Aryan journalist whose daughter is targeted by Nazi eugenics policies) and Leila Hoffman (a Jewish journalist who escapes to London to work for the BBC). It is a devastating but beautiful story about resilience and maternal love.
9. The Telegram (2024)
Rix's triple-timeline novel spans 1915, 1943, and 1960. Inspired by the life of the author's father-in-law, it centers on a family secret involving a telegram, a lost daughter, and diaries found inside a hidden compartment of an antique desk.
What to Know Before You Start
Rix's background as a BBC journalist and presenter shows in her writing: her historical settings are meticulously researched, often utilizing resources from the British Library or extensive on-site travel. Many of her books feature strong women navigating patriarchal constraints or surviving the horrors of war. If you enjoy authors like Fiona Valpy, Victoria Hislop, or Lucinda Riley, Debbie Rix's dual-timeline historical sagas will fit perfectly on your bookshelf.