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yandichih's review against another edition
- 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
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
Moderate: Kidnapping and Murder
jules1090's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Kidnapping and Murder
alex_luck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Murder
author_d_r_oestreicher's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Stalking and Murder
_caroline's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
taylormoore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
ksilvio's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia
taylorfield's review against another edition
- 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
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
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping
nelly1507's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Death and Murder
kelly_e's review against another edition
- 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
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."
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy