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sandysmith's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This is an excellent read. Time travelling backwards, but dont let this put you off. It is a mix of Groundhog Day and Back to the Future, but crime based. It is also about so much more love, parenting, relationships, secrets, and most impactful for me, mum guilt with a psychological thriller added in. It's very cleverly written, well paced, and it must have taken ages to plot. Whilst it is a thriller in that her son murders someone, she is travelling back in time to try to stop it. A why dunit rather than a who dunit, so very clever. Each day, she jumps backwards to find something that is relevant to why. Sometimes jumping back a few days other times weeks. It has compelling characters you invest in, and you root for Jen willing her to get to the bottom of the motivations of her son. It's an original, brilliant concept, ingenious gripping ride of a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
yandichih's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A book that opened my eyes to the fact that a touch of science fiction can be quite delightful! Now, I'm not typically drawn to sci-fi, but the combination of a time-loop with a crime? That intrigued me from the get-go. And you know what? It didn't disappoint!
Admittedly, getting into the rhythm of the writing style and the intricate interplay of time and chapters required some adjustment. But once the story gained traction, it flowed effortlessly. I particularly enjoyed the added depth brought by chapters from another character's perspective, Ryan's – it added a compelling layer to the narrative.
The central characters – Jen, Kelly, and Todd – were all fleshed out beautifully. I relished the interconnectedness of their histories, especially as we pieced together the events leading up to Todd, Jen's son, committing a midnight crime on October 30th. And Andy, the scientist? He was a standout character, offering invaluable guidance as Jen grappled with the complexities of her temporal dilemma.
As for pacing, it struck a satisfying balance – while I tend to prefer a quicker pace, the story's intrigue held my attention throughout. While it might not qualify as a page-turner, it was the perfect bedtime companion, offering a cozy mystery to unwind with.
And those plot twists? While not earth-shattering, they added a nice sprinkle of excitement, especially as we journeyed back through time. Though, I must confess, the big twist was a tad predictable – saw it coming from a mile away. Still, the narrative was solid and thoroughly enjoyable.
It's evident that the author conducted thorough research, seamlessly incorporating technical expertise into the storytelling. Overall, it's left me eager to delve further into her body of work in the months ahead!
⚠️ Content Warnings
Murder - Kidnapping
✨ Rating : 4/5
Admittedly, getting into the rhythm of the writing style and the intricate interplay of time and chapters required some adjustment. But once the story gained traction, it flowed effortlessly. I particularly enjoyed the added depth brought by chapters from another character's perspective, Ryan's – it added a compelling layer to the narrative.
The central characters – Jen, Kelly, and Todd – were all fleshed out beautifully. I relished the interconnectedness of their histories, especially as we pieced together the events leading up to Todd, Jen's son, committing a midnight crime on October 30th. And Andy, the scientist? He was a standout character, offering invaluable guidance as Jen grappled with the complexities of her temporal dilemma.
As for pacing, it struck a satisfying balance – while I tend to prefer a quicker pace, the story's intrigue held my attention throughout. While it might not qualify as a page-turner, it was the perfect bedtime companion, offering a cozy mystery to unwind with.
And those plot twists? While not earth-shattering, they added a nice sprinkle of excitement, especially as we journeyed back through time. Though, I must confess, the big twist was a tad predictable – saw it coming from a mile away. Still, the narrative was solid and thoroughly enjoyable.
It's evident that the author conducted thorough research, seamlessly incorporating technical expertise into the storytelling. Overall, it's left me eager to delve further into her body of work in the months ahead!
⚠️ Content Warnings
Murder - Kidnapping
✨ Rating : 4/5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Kidnapping
jules1090's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Very cool concept. Lots of twists but not predictable or too outrageous. I'm tempted to immediately read again, knowing what I know now. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Kidnapping
_caroline's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Violence, and Kidnapping
lindsaybrown's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Death of parent
ksilvio's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia
taylorfield's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Long Story Short: Jen Brotherhood is shocked when she witnesses her 18-year-old son, Todd, murder a stranger. This shock amplifies when she wakes the next morning to discover she is reliving the previous day. As Jen travels further into the past, she must reevaluate the life she's lived in order to save her son.
A twisty thriller with a sci-fi element. I loved the narration but almost wished I had a physical copy, because there were a few times I needed to flip back to a specific scene and that's hard to do on audio. Science fiction isn't a genre I usually go for, so I didn't quite understand the explanation of the cause of the time travel - whether that's due to personal flaws or the writing, I can't say. The story was a little predictable and confusing, mostly in a good way, but it was fun to pause and work out my thoughts out loud (don't ask how many times I told my dog, "I'm confused," or, "Aah I've figured it out.").
CW: murder (obviously), crime, kidnapping
Enjoyment: 4/5
Craft: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
A twisty thriller with a sci-fi element. I loved the narration but almost wished I had a physical copy, because there were a few times I needed to flip back to a specific scene and that's hard to do on audio. Science fiction isn't a genre I usually go for, so I didn't quite understand the explanation of the cause of the time travel - whether that's due to personal flaws or the writing, I can't say. The story was a little predictable and confusing, mostly in a good way, but it was fun to pause and work out my thoughts out loud (don't ask how many times I told my dog, "I'm confused," or, "Aah I've figured it out.").
CW: murder (obviously), crime, kidnapping
Enjoyment: 4/5
Craft: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping
funkaroo12's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual content
kelly_e's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Title: Wrong Place Wrong Time
Author: Gillian McAllister
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: August 2, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Intriguing • Creative • Anticlimactic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Can you stop a murder after it’s already happened?
Late October. After midnight. You’re waiting up for your seventeen-year-old son. He’s late. As you watch from the window, he emerges, and you realize he isn’t alone: he’s walking toward a man, and he’s armed.
You can’t believe it when you see him do it: your funny, happy teenage son, he kills a stranger, right there on the street outside your house. You don’t know who. You don’t know why. You only know your son is now in custody. His future shattered.
That night you fall asleep in despair. All is lost. Until you wake...
... and it is yesterday.
And then you wake again...
... and it is the day before yesterday.
Every morning you wake up a day earlier, another day before the murder. With another chance to stop it. Somewhere in the past lies an answer. The trigger for this crime—and you don’t have a choice but to find it...
💭 T H O U G H T S
Wrong Place Wrong Time is a book I probably wouldn't have picked on my own, but when it was selected as the February book for my in-person book club I knew I would give it a shot. I was interested in the time travel aspect, but was definitely hesitant about the rest of the premise.
I was deeply invested in the unique narrative at the start and could not put it down. The time travel aspect was intriguing, but the middle was an absolute slog and I found myself just wanting it to end. Eventually the pace would pick back up, but it was too late, my interest had already waned. In fact, the ending was a little anticlimactic for me. I understand the slow pacing is due to the way in which it is written - backwards through time - yet there wasn't the tension I carved.
There were several themes I appreciated. Firstly, I liked how this novel explore how what may seem like small choices and actions at the time, can have huge impacts on our future lives. And how if you change one thing, it can change everything. It's an interesting concept that leads to a lot of contemplation. Second, I thought it was a very realistic depiction of motherhood and the impact of mom guilt.
Gillian McAllister gets my praise simply for the creativity of the plot, and for all of the planning I imagine went into putting it into words. It's certainly unlike any thriller I've read and that deserves credit. I just wish it could have been executed a little more smoothly with more tension and quicker pace.
Overall, Wrong Place Wrong Time didn't do it for me. I know I am in the minority, as this is beloved by so many, but the pace didn't pick up until the final 25% and by then it was too late. I did really like the concept, but the execution faltered and I had to push myself to get through. I don't think I will be reading anything else by this author in the future, but I can understand why she's a favourite author of many readers.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• time-travel enthusiasts
• readers looking for unique thriller
⚠️ CW: murder, gun violence, blood, injury/injury detail, death, death of parent, grief, stalking, kidnapping, cursing, mental illness, suicide, addiction, drug use, drug abuse, fatphobia, sexual content, pregnancy, gaslighting
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"But knowing the future is worse than not knowing."
Author: Gillian McAllister
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: August 2, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Intriguing • Creative • Anticlimactic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Can you stop a murder after it’s already happened?
Late October. After midnight. You’re waiting up for your seventeen-year-old son. He’s late. As you watch from the window, he emerges, and you realize he isn’t alone: he’s walking toward a man, and he’s armed.
You can’t believe it when you see him do it: your funny, happy teenage son, he kills a stranger, right there on the street outside your house. You don’t know who. You don’t know why. You only know your son is now in custody. His future shattered.
That night you fall asleep in despair. All is lost. Until you wake...
... and it is yesterday.
And then you wake again...
... and it is the day before yesterday.
Every morning you wake up a day earlier, another day before the murder. With another chance to stop it. Somewhere in the past lies an answer. The trigger for this crime—and you don’t have a choice but to find it...
💭 T H O U G H T S
Wrong Place Wrong Time is a book I probably wouldn't have picked on my own, but when it was selected as the February book for my in-person book club I knew I would give it a shot. I was interested in the time travel aspect, but was definitely hesitant about the rest of the premise.
I was deeply invested in the unique narrative at the start and could not put it down. The time travel aspect was intriguing, but the middle was an absolute slog and I found myself just wanting it to end. Eventually the pace would pick back up, but it was too late, my interest had already waned. In fact, the ending was a little anticlimactic for me. I understand the slow pacing is due to the way in which it is written - backwards through time - yet there wasn't the tension I carved.
There were several themes I appreciated. Firstly, I liked how this novel explore how what may seem like small choices and actions at the time, can have huge impacts on our future lives. And how if you change one thing, it can change everything. It's an interesting concept that leads to a lot of contemplation. Second, I thought it was a very realistic depiction of motherhood and the impact of mom guilt.
Gillian McAllister gets my praise simply for the creativity of the plot, and for all of the planning I imagine went into putting it into words. It's certainly unlike any thriller I've read and that deserves credit. I just wish it could have been executed a little more smoothly with more tension and quicker pace.
Overall, Wrong Place Wrong Time didn't do it for me. I know I am in the minority, as this is beloved by so many, but the pace didn't pick up until the final 25% and by then it was too late. I did really like the concept, but the execution faltered and I had to push myself to get through. I don't think I will be reading anything else by this author in the future, but I can understand why she's a favourite author of many readers.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• time-travel enthusiasts
• readers looking for unique thriller
⚠️ CW: murder, gun violence, blood, injury/injury detail, death, death of parent, grief, stalking, kidnapping, cursing, mental illness, suicide, addiction, drug use, drug abuse, fatphobia, sexual content, pregnancy, gaslighting
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"But knowing the future is worse than not knowing."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Stalking, Blood, Gun violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Minor: Grief, Cursing, Suicide, Drug use, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Addiction
bookishchaos's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I liked it! It was very different from other thrillers I've read. I enjoyed the time travel aspect and the switching narratives. This book was like a puzzle and it was quite fun to read, but it started to drag in the middle, which is why I didn't rate it five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Stalking
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping