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Wrong Place Wrong Time
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller (2022)Can you stop a murder after it’s already happened?
It is midnight on the morning of Halloween, and Jen anxiously waits up for her 18-year-old son, Todd, to return home. But worries about his broken curfew transform into something much more dangerous when Todd finally emerges from the darkness. As Jen watches through the window, she sees her funny, seemingly happy teenage son stab a total stranger.
She doesn’t know who the victim is, or why Todd has committed such a devastating act of violence. All she knows is that her life, and Todd’s, have been shattered.
After her son is taken into custody, Jen falls asleep in despair. But when she wakes up… it is yesterday. The murder has not happened yet—and there may be a chance to stop it. Each morning, when Jen wakes, she is further back in the past, first weeks, then years, before the murder. And Jen realizes that somewhere in the past lies the trigger for Todd’s terrible crime…and it is her mission to find it, and prevent it from taking place.
It is midnight on the morning of Halloween, and Jen anxiously waits up for her 18-year-old son, Todd, to return home. But worries about his broken curfew transform into something much more dangerous when Todd finally emerges from the darkness. As Jen watches through the window, she sees her funny, seemingly happy teenage son stab a total stranger.
She doesn’t know who the victim is, or why Todd has committed such a devastating act of violence. All she knows is that her life, and Todd’s, have been shattered.
After her son is taken into custody, Jen falls asleep in despair. But when she wakes up… it is yesterday. The murder has not happened yet—and there may be a chance to stop it. Each morning, when Jen wakes, she is further back in the past, first weeks, then years, before the murder. And Jen realizes that somewhere in the past lies the trigger for Todd’s terrible crime…and it is her mission to find it, and prevent it from taking place.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31,150 reviews
June 11, 2023
Wrong place, wrong time and for the first part of the book, I thought wrong person for this story. Then I rolled with it and was very quickly engrossed in the story. I loved the premise, the storytelling and the plot. The characters were intriguing and the suspense was excellent but most of all, it was a mind game with a difference. A mystery thriller that played with your own natural thought process to piece together the story and the plot while the twists kept coming.
The Plot
The story begins with Jen witnessing her son kill another boy and as the police arrive, Jen’s life begins to crumble. Her son is charged with murder, in possession of the knife and the victims blood on his hands and clothes.
Case closed right? Wrong
We then travel back in time when Jen wakes up each day to learn her life is going backwards. Each day Jen is presented with a series of new facts, new events, new people as she begins to learn more about her son, her husband and her own life.
Initially I was not excited about this premise but then got into it and revelled in the new facts, and twists to the story I just didn’t see coming. Well because they were in the past!!!!
Review and Comments
- If you enjoy a mystery, suspense and time travel story with a hints of “Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” then you will love this.
- If you like a book that keeps you gripped and eagerly anticipating the next move, then you will be immersed in this one.
- If you love a book that pulls you away from your normal thought processes then you will adore this.
- If you want a book that solves a crime in reverse. Then look no further because this is the “right” book for you!!!.
Simply excellent, totally absorbing, and a mind game with a difference. A superb thriller.
The Plot
The story begins with Jen witnessing her son kill another boy and as the police arrive, Jen’s life begins to crumble. Her son is charged with murder, in possession of the knife and the victims blood on his hands and clothes.
Case closed right? Wrong
We then travel back in time when Jen wakes up each day to learn her life is going backwards. Each day Jen is presented with a series of new facts, new events, new people as she begins to learn more about her son, her husband and her own life.
Initially I was not excited about this premise but then got into it and revelled in the new facts, and twists to the story I just didn’t see coming. Well because they were in the past!!!!
Review and Comments
- If you enjoy a mystery, suspense and time travel story with a hints of “Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” then you will love this.
- If you like a book that keeps you gripped and eagerly anticipating the next move, then you will be immersed in this one.
- If you love a book that pulls you away from your normal thought processes then you will adore this.
- If you want a book that solves a crime in reverse. Then look no further because this is the “right” book for you!!!.
Simply excellent, totally absorbing, and a mind game with a difference. A superb thriller.
July 9, 2022
Head spinner - 3.5 STARS
When I started reading this, I couldn't put it down, BUT halfway through,I just wanted it to end!
Does that even make sense? I think I was just getting worn out with the jumping timelines and background details (a little too much happening). I swapped books for awhile as I needed a mental break and around 60% the urge to skim a little was happening. My brain cells definitely worked overtime and did some loopy dee loos throughout the book!
My first by this author and it is quite a unique, genre and mind bending read. I was invested in the protagonist, Jen, I felt her struggle, her heartache and her motivation. A complex puzzle with many random pieces that ultimately come in place.
I figured the big twist out just a bit early, but was surprised by other twisty turns the journey took me on! I may be a bit of an outlier, and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't a stand out for me.
Think of second chances, time loops, a mother's unconditional love, smart moves, and unintended consequences.
Book Depository purchase/ June 2022
When I started reading this, I couldn't put it down, BUT halfway through,I just wanted it to end!
Does that even make sense? I think I was just getting worn out with the jumping timelines and background details (a little too much happening). I swapped books for awhile as I needed a mental break and around 60% the urge to skim a little was happening. My brain cells definitely worked overtime and did some loopy dee loos throughout the book!
My first by this author and it is quite a unique, genre and mind bending read. I was invested in the protagonist, Jen, I felt her struggle, her heartache and her motivation. A complex puzzle with many random pieces that ultimately come in place.
I figured the big twist out just a bit early, but was surprised by other twisty turns the journey took me on! I may be a bit of an outlier, and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't a stand out for me.
Think of second chances, time loops, a mother's unconditional love, smart moves, and unintended consequences.
Book Depository purchase/ June 2022
November 21, 2023
(4.5) I'm a big fan of any kind of time loop and this is a fun one!
I would call this a "mom book" because frankly it's the perfect book club read.
Mother sees her son murdering a man and she keeps going back in time every time she wakes up.
Think, "butterfly effect" as she's trying to figure out how they ended up in that situation.
The ending was overall good. These books are always hard to end.
Highly recommend!
*It made it to my best books of 2022: https://youtu.be/WmTndjsYFIc
I would call this a "mom book" because frankly it's the perfect book club read.
Mother sees her son murdering a man and she keeps going back in time every time she wakes up.
Think, "butterfly effect" as she's trying to figure out how they ended up in that situation.
The ending was overall good. These books are always hard to end.
Highly recommend!
*It made it to my best books of 2022: https://youtu.be/WmTndjsYFIc
January 19, 2024
Just as I'm getting jaded, here comes a thriller the likes of which I haven't seen before.
Jen is up one night waiting for her 18-year-old son to come home. She sees him out the window, but before he can reach their door, a stranger crosses his path and he commits an unthinkable crime right in front of her. She is shocked. How could her beloved child do this? When she wakes up the next day, an even bigger shock awaits her. It's not tomorrow, but yesterday. Is this her chance to figure out what's going on and to stop it from happening in the first place?
First, let's take a moment to admire that premise. It's such a fun take on the mystery/thriller genre and time loops. We follow Jen as she tries to figure out how to save her son, but instead of seeing the investigation unfold in order, we see it in reverse. As she goes backwards in time, we're right there with her as she discovers each clue bit and bit. It's all quite fascinating.
I'm a big fan of time loops (or any sci-fi element really), so I can't resist when they show up. But to set expectations correctly, it's important to note that this story isn't science fiction. The time loop is merely a device to set up the premise and enable the story to be told in a different way. And it totally works. The explanation provided was quick and clever, and it allowed the focus to remain on the mystery where it should be.
There were so many twists and turns in here, it made for a most exciting time. I don't want to talk them up though, since whether or not you'll be surprised will depend on what you've seen before. As for me, I guessed a few things beforehand, but there were still plenty that surprised me and kept me on my toes.
I will say though, I didn't love everything. For one, I found the writing style to be a bit odd, especially in the beginning. There was an excess of punctuation everywhere, particularly commas. This isn't the sort of thing I usually notice, but it was really flagrant.
Also, there was a lot of telling and no showing when it came to setting up the main characters. Supposedly Kelly is really witty, and Jen and Kelly banter a lot. We know this because we're told many times, usually right after the characters say something mundane and awkward. Between this and the punctuations, I found it all really distracting. But once the action got going, I was able to block it out and just concentrate on the mystery.
If it weren't for the writing hiccups, this could've easily been 5 stars for me. The more I read, the more impressed I became. This is such a layered and complex story, with lots of clues and parts that all funnel towards one cohesive explanation. I bet now that I know the ending, if I go back and reread it again, I would catch so many things I missed the first time around.
It's not often I come across a book that adds something new to the thriller/mystery genre, and this one sure does. For that alone, it is worth a read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Jen is up one night waiting for her 18-year-old son to come home. She sees him out the window, but before he can reach their door, a stranger crosses his path and he commits an unthinkable crime right in front of her. She is shocked. How could her beloved child do this? When she wakes up the next day, an even bigger shock awaits her. It's not tomorrow, but yesterday. Is this her chance to figure out what's going on and to stop it from happening in the first place?
First, let's take a moment to admire that premise. It's such a fun take on the mystery/thriller genre and time loops. We follow Jen as she tries to figure out how to save her son, but instead of seeing the investigation unfold in order, we see it in reverse. As she goes backwards in time, we're right there with her as she discovers each clue bit and bit. It's all quite fascinating.
I'm a big fan of time loops (or any sci-fi element really), so I can't resist when they show up. But to set expectations correctly, it's important to note that this story isn't science fiction. The time loop is merely a device to set up the premise and enable the story to be told in a different way. And it totally works. The explanation provided was quick and clever, and it allowed the focus to remain on the mystery where it should be.
There were so many twists and turns in here, it made for a most exciting time. I don't want to talk them up though, since whether or not you'll be surprised will depend on what you've seen before. As for me, I guessed a few things beforehand, but there were still plenty that surprised me and kept me on my toes.
I will say though, I didn't love everything. For one, I found the writing style to be a bit odd, especially in the beginning. There was an excess of punctuation everywhere, particularly commas. This isn't the sort of thing I usually notice, but it was really flagrant.
And, right then, it had felt, suddenly, like spring, even though it began to rain again only minutes later.If you're wondering how this got through editing, you and me both.
Also, there was a lot of telling and no showing when it came to setting up the main characters. Supposedly Kelly is really witty, and Jen and Kelly banter a lot. We know this because we're told many times, usually right after the characters say something mundane and awkward. Between this and the punctuations, I found it all really distracting. But once the action got going, I was able to block it out and just concentrate on the mystery.
If it weren't for the writing hiccups, this could've easily been 5 stars for me. The more I read, the more impressed I became. This is such a layered and complex story, with lots of clues and parts that all funnel towards one cohesive explanation. I bet now that I know the ending, if I go back and reread it again, I would catch so many things I missed the first time around.
It's not often I come across a book that adds something new to the thriller/mystery genre, and this one sure does. For that alone, it is worth a read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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August 7, 2022
2.5 stars.
Here we have another book picked by Reese Witherspoon’s book club.
When I heard about it, I immediately ordered a copy from the public library, without even reading the synopsis or the reviews.
I was so excited that, when the book became available to me, I gave it my priority attention.
As soon as I started reading I was immediately displeased with the writing style. It was not, in my opinion, gripping, never mind the excellent concept.
Speaking honestly, I was completely bored and suddenly I was skimming, which is something that I am against.
The development of the storyline was underwhelming and sometimes confusing.
I really wanted to love this book, but it wasn’t for me.
This was my first book by this author. It may take me a long time before I read something else by her.
There are lots of 5 stars, so please, don’t mind me.
My ratings are based on my own personal experience while reading a book and I will not lie about it.
Here we have another book picked by Reese Witherspoon’s book club.
When I heard about it, I immediately ordered a copy from the public library, without even reading the synopsis or the reviews.
I was so excited that, when the book became available to me, I gave it my priority attention.
As soon as I started reading I was immediately displeased with the writing style. It was not, in my opinion, gripping, never mind the excellent concept.
Speaking honestly, I was completely bored and suddenly I was skimming, which is something that I am against.
The development of the storyline was underwhelming and sometimes confusing.
I really wanted to love this book, but it wasn’t for me.
This was my first book by this author. It may take me a long time before I read something else by her.
There are lots of 5 stars, so please, don’t mind me.
My ratings are based on my own personal experience while reading a book and I will not lie about it.
March 25, 2022
Wowza, this is an absolute mindblower. I’ve been a fan of Gilly McAllister for several years but in my opinion this is the best yet. My advice, don’t read the blurb, go in blind for greater enjoyment. All I’m going to say is that on day zero just after midnight Jen is anxiously waiting for her son Todd to come home. She spots him and shortly after her world stops turning. What follows on takes Jen on a journey of discovery after discovery.
Right from the start the author pulls you into the storytelling with shock, horror, disbelief and tension being the tone set and maintained throughout. The concept of the novel is fantastic and very different from her previous novels, yet it’s also full of many clever twists and turns you don’t see coming which is one of her trademarks. It’s very well written, cleverly plotted, pitched perfectly so it just flows and in some ways it shouldn’t but it does, demonstrating real writing skill. Flow is an apt word as it is a go with the flow read and it does feel a bit weird to start with and you’re full of questions but somehow you just accept it conceptually and it comes to feel ‘natural’. I like the fact there are genre crossovers here and it works really well, deepening the mystery and sharpening the thrill element so much so you can’t put the book down. The central characters of Jen, son Todd and husband Kelly are very good and because you grow to like them so much (especially Todd) you go on an emotional journey with Jen as she beats herself up with maternal guilt but so much love for her son. The game at play is a dangerous one and it’s a rollercoaster ride as she makes some shocking discoveries in this voyage of second chances.
Well played Gilly McAllister, what a book and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if movie rights or a Netflix miniseries offers wing their way with this one. The best yet and an easy five stars.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Right from the start the author pulls you into the storytelling with shock, horror, disbelief and tension being the tone set and maintained throughout. The concept of the novel is fantastic and very different from her previous novels, yet it’s also full of many clever twists and turns you don’t see coming which is one of her trademarks. It’s very well written, cleverly plotted, pitched perfectly so it just flows and in some ways it shouldn’t but it does, demonstrating real writing skill. Flow is an apt word as it is a go with the flow read and it does feel a bit weird to start with and you’re full of questions but somehow you just accept it conceptually and it comes to feel ‘natural’. I like the fact there are genre crossovers here and it works really well, deepening the mystery and sharpening the thrill element so much so you can’t put the book down. The central characters of Jen, son Todd and husband Kelly are very good and because you grow to like them so much (especially Todd) you go on an emotional journey with Jen as she beats herself up with maternal guilt but so much love for her son. The game at play is a dangerous one and it’s a rollercoaster ride as she makes some shocking discoveries in this voyage of second chances.
Well played Gilly McAllister, what a book and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if movie rights or a Netflix miniseries offers wing their way with this one. The best yet and an easy five stars.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 30, 2022
*4.5 stars*
I remember reading Gillian McAllister’s debut novel “Everything But The Truth” and I said in my review that it could have come from a very experienced hand, and I can say with some delight that Ms McAllister has maintained that initial promise becoming one of my favourite authors. Her latest being no exception.
Jen witnesses her teenage son Todd murder a complete stranger - an older man. Todd’s victim has lost his life and so has Todd really - his promising future over before it’s begun. Jen is completely devastated, doesn’t know how she can go forward after this. The following morning, Jen finds herself not on the morning after the crime, but the morning BEFORE it happened! If she can go back in time, can she learn enough to prevent this crime from happening at all?
Well this was certainly different, and there were so many twists I don’t know if I’m on my head or my heels! What a cleverly structured plot. How on earth Ms McAllister kept track of this and made it all fit I do not know, but just like that exceptionally difficult jigsaw puzzle, it all fits perfectly in the end. Just like a magician, Ms McAllister was pointing her readers in one direction, when we should have been looking in another direction altogether!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC, in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
I remember reading Gillian McAllister’s debut novel “Everything But The Truth” and I said in my review that it could have come from a very experienced hand, and I can say with some delight that Ms McAllister has maintained that initial promise becoming one of my favourite authors. Her latest being no exception.
Jen witnesses her teenage son Todd murder a complete stranger - an older man. Todd’s victim has lost his life and so has Todd really - his promising future over before it’s begun. Jen is completely devastated, doesn’t know how she can go forward after this. The following morning, Jen finds herself not on the morning after the crime, but the morning BEFORE it happened! If she can go back in time, can she learn enough to prevent this crime from happening at all?
Well this was certainly different, and there were so many twists I don’t know if I’m on my head or my heels! What a cleverly structured plot. How on earth Ms McAllister kept track of this and made it all fit I do not know, but just like that exceptionally difficult jigsaw puzzle, it all fits perfectly in the end. Just like a magician, Ms McAllister was pointing her readers in one direction, when we should have been looking in another direction altogether!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC, in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
January 19, 2024
2.5/5
First of all, look, I really, really, really wanted to like this book. (Does this writing annoy you? Me too. This is how Wrong place, wrong time is written)
TLDR: I closed the book and thought “well, that was a waste of time”
Wrong place, wrong time has a stunning plot.
Jen is watching out the picture window waiting for her son, Todd, to come home. She sees him walking toward the house when a man suddenly appears out of the shadows and her son pulls a knife and kills him.
This begins a time loop as Jen travels back days, weeks, months at a time trying to solve the mystery of who this man was and stop her son's involvement.
✅This was a unique plot, one I've personally never read in a book before.
✅Interesting characters at the beginning, especially Todd
✅Loved that this book is a thriller focused on figuring out why a murder happens rather than who has done it
✅Relatable look at motherly love and how far a mother would go to protect her son
✅Wholesome vibes towards the end
One half star simply because I really like Gillian McAllister usually AND SHE HAS TWO GOLDEN RETRIEVERS. One cannot give less than 2.5 stars to an author with 2 golden retrievers.
❌Sloppy plot. The author never committed to the time travel thing, never really explained how it happened, and there were massive plot holes related to this problematic (missing baby 20 years later?)
❌The narrative drags on and on as repetitive incidents occur over and over again and we get to hear Jen’s inner thoughts about how she’s not a good mother and that she’s a lawyer (If you took a shot each time you explicitly said she was a lawyer, you’d be dead now).
❌Predictable twist
❌The writing was dreadful and difficult for me to read.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞:’
’This is what we did.
This is something I did.
Then we came here.
And then I did this."
Just add a million unnecessary commas.
This is a quote from the book:
‘’𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙩𝙤𝙤, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢.’’
❌So much rambling. So so so repetitive.
❌There are about 100 pages too many
❌Such an anticlimactic ending
Honestly this one felt like a chore to read. Very thankful to my gals for the buddy read cause I would have DNF’d it otherwise.
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First of all, look, I really, really, really wanted to like this book. (Does this writing annoy you? Me too. This is how Wrong place, wrong time is written)
TLDR: I closed the book and thought “well, that was a waste of time”
Wrong place, wrong time has a stunning plot.
Jen is watching out the picture window waiting for her son, Todd, to come home. She sees him walking toward the house when a man suddenly appears out of the shadows and her son pulls a knife and kills him.
This begins a time loop as Jen travels back days, weeks, months at a time trying to solve the mystery of who this man was and stop her son's involvement.
✅This was a unique plot, one I've personally never read in a book before.
✅Interesting characters at the beginning, especially Todd
✅Loved that this book is a thriller focused on figuring out why a murder happens rather than who has done it
✅Relatable look at motherly love and how far a mother would go to protect her son
✅Wholesome vibes towards the end
One half star simply because I really like Gillian McAllister usually AND SHE HAS TWO GOLDEN RETRIEVERS. One cannot give less than 2.5 stars to an author with 2 golden retrievers.
❌Sloppy plot. The author never committed to the time travel thing, never really explained how it happened, and there were massive plot holes related to this problematic (missing baby 20 years later?)
❌The narrative drags on and on as repetitive incidents occur over and over again and we get to hear Jen’s inner thoughts about how she’s not a good mother and that she’s a lawyer (If you took a shot each time you explicitly said she was a lawyer, you’d be dead now).
❌Predictable twist
❌The writing was dreadful and difficult for me to read.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞:’
’This is what we did.
This is something I did.
Then we came here.
And then I did this."
Just add a million unnecessary commas.
This is a quote from the book:
‘’𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙩𝙤𝙤, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢.’’
❌So much rambling. So so so repetitive.
❌There are about 100 pages too many
❌Such an anticlimactic ending
Honestly this one felt like a chore to read. Very thankful to my gals for the buddy read cause I would have DNF’d it otherwise.
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November 18, 2022
Gillian McAllister tells us the story of the relationship between a mother and son through this novel.
The author takes us deep into the story from the first page itself. Jen witnesses her 17-year-old son, Todd, murdering a total stranger on the street outside her house. The police take Todd into custody for the murder.
The readers will be perplexed, just like Jen, as they don't know what is happening in Jen's life. To make things complicated for Jen, she finds out that her life is going in reverse order, and she is time traveling to the previous day every time she wakes up in the morning.
Jen decides to find out the details about the stranger who was murdered. She embarks on a challenging yet exciting journey into the past to unravel the mystery behind everything that happened.
I am happy that I picked up this book to read, which has multiple themes embedded in it and multiple genre crossovers. Almost the whole book is written in reverse order. I found all the books and movies (including the latest Christopher Nolan movie, Tenet) that are created in reverse order fascinating. The author succeeded in making the readers curious to know how far a mother will go to save his son.
What I learned from this book
1) What is the best gift you can give your child?
The author tells us that parenting is the most important gift that parents can bestow upon their children. We can see Jen wondering how she managed to raise a child who is ready to murder another person.
I was so happy to read from an article written by the author that the writing of this book changed the whole outlook of the author towards motherhood which made her decide to have a baby. This book also has the power to influence the reader's perspective regarding the beautiful relationship between mother and children.
2) How can we catch the perfect liars who never get caught?
There are many classifications of liars. Generally, we can classify them into
sociopathic liars,
habitual liars,
pathological liars,
compulsive liars,
narcissistic liars,
occasional liars,
careless liars,
pathetic liars, and
white liars.
Similarly, there are different types of lies and deception techniques
error,
omission,
denial,
falsification,
white lie,
bold-faced lie,
exaggeration,
pathological lying,
minimization.
If you are aware of these techniques used by liars, you can easily detect liars. The polygraph test is also used for detecting liars in certain investigations. Some perfect liars tell lies more convincingly than the facts. It is tough to detect their lies.
It might be scary to read that they even convincingly pass the polygraph test without getting caught. We can see how Jen catches a person lying convincingly only because she saw the future and is coming to the past from the future.
3) What are the painful experiences associated with time travel?
Time travel will be something on everybody's bucket list. The author is trying to discuss something we have never considered regarding time travel.
She is trying to tell the painful aspects associated with it if you come from a family of liars. As you have already seen the future, it will be difficult for you to face the convincing lies your family members tell. How Jen's character is molded reveals why it is better not to time travel to your past if you are coming from such a family. The author beautifully depicts all the difficulties she faced due to the time travel.
My favourite three lines from this book
What could have been better?
The problem with this book is that it takes some time for the reader to get accustomed to the author's writing style and how she crafted the book. Some readers might feel irritated when they start reading it as they won't understand what is happening in the initial part.
Rating
4/5 I think I bought this book at the right place and at the right time to read. It can be considered a thriller with sci-fi elements. There are no mind-bending concepts or extraordinary twists in this book. The author managed to write a complex topic in a simple, effective manner that is palatable to everyone. This will be a great choice for those who want to read a different type of thriller written in an engaging manner.
The author takes us deep into the story from the first page itself. Jen witnesses her 17-year-old son, Todd, murdering a total stranger on the street outside her house. The police take Todd into custody for the murder.
The readers will be perplexed, just like Jen, as they don't know what is happening in Jen's life. To make things complicated for Jen, she finds out that her life is going in reverse order, and she is time traveling to the previous day every time she wakes up in the morning.
Jen decides to find out the details about the stranger who was murdered. She embarks on a challenging yet exciting journey into the past to unravel the mystery behind everything that happened.
I am happy that I picked up this book to read, which has multiple themes embedded in it and multiple genre crossovers. Almost the whole book is written in reverse order. I found all the books and movies (including the latest Christopher Nolan movie, Tenet) that are created in reverse order fascinating. The author succeeded in making the readers curious to know how far a mother will go to save his son.
What I learned from this book
1) What is the best gift you can give your child?
The author tells us that parenting is the most important gift that parents can bestow upon their children. We can see Jen wondering how she managed to raise a child who is ready to murder another person.
“It isn’t time travel that has outsmarted her: it is parenting.”
"Both phases of parenthood – the newborn years and the almost-adult ones – are bookended by sleep deprivation, though for different reasons."
I was so happy to read from an article written by the author that the writing of this book changed the whole outlook of the author towards motherhood which made her decide to have a baby. This book also has the power to influence the reader's perspective regarding the beautiful relationship between mother and children.
"The way things go sometimes when you write novels is that you pour your life lessons into your work, but they very often teach you things in return, too, like they are sentient beings themselves. Some novels have taught me small lessons, some large, and Wrong Place Wrong Time the largest of all: that to have a child will be a lot like falling in love, as simple and as complex as that."
2) How can we catch the perfect liars who never get caught?
There are many classifications of liars. Generally, we can classify them into
sociopathic liars,
habitual liars,
pathological liars,
compulsive liars,
narcissistic liars,
occasional liars,
careless liars,
pathetic liars, and
white liars.
Similarly, there are different types of lies and deception techniques
error,
omission,
denial,
falsification,
white lie,
bold-faced lie,
exaggeration,
pathological lying,
minimization.
If you are aware of these techniques used by liars, you can easily detect liars. The polygraph test is also used for detecting liars in certain investigations. Some perfect liars tell lies more convincingly than the facts. It is tough to detect their lies.
It might be scary to read that they even convincingly pass the polygraph test without getting caught. We can see how Jen catches a person lying convincingly only because she saw the future and is coming to the past from the future.
"In some ways, Jen is taking inspiration from him, who has been so good at lying that his secrets have been hidden in plain sight. There have been no over-explanations, no details at all, in fact. Only a complete lack of them. The best kind of liar. The smartest."
3) What are the painful experiences associated with time travel?
Time travel will be something on everybody's bucket list. The author is trying to discuss something we have never considered regarding time travel.
She is trying to tell the painful aspects associated with it if you come from a family of liars. As you have already seen the future, it will be difficult for you to face the convincing lies your family members tell. How Jen's character is molded reveals why it is better not to time travel to your past if you are coming from such a family. The author beautifully depicts all the difficulties she faced due to the time travel.
“How sinister it is to relive your life backwards. To see things you hadn't at the time. To realize the horrible significance of events you had no idea were playing out around you. To uncover lies told by them. Jen would always have said they were as straight as they come. But don't all good liars seem that way?"
My favourite three lines from this book
“There is no question. There is absolutely no question. She has only the illusion of choice."
“Banter can hide the worst sins. Some people laugh to hide their shame, they laugh instead of saying I feel embarrassed and small."
"But her appearance has set something off, perhaps because Jen knows he is lying, perhaps not. There is some sinister undercurrent now, like a shark in the water."
What could have been better?
The problem with this book is that it takes some time for the reader to get accustomed to the author's writing style and how she crafted the book. Some readers might feel irritated when they start reading it as they won't understand what is happening in the initial part.
Rating
4/5 I think I bought this book at the right place and at the right time to read. It can be considered a thriller with sci-fi elements. There are no mind-bending concepts or extraordinary twists in this book. The author managed to write a complex topic in a simple, effective manner that is palatable to everyone. This will be a great choice for those who want to read a different type of thriller written in an engaging manner.
October 20, 2022
3.5 rounded up to a 4
One sentence review: A unique take on a domestic thriller that falls short due to an inane number of commas and questionable other writing style choices
SYNOPSIS
On Oct. 29, Jen witnesses her 18-year-old son Todd stab a man outside their house. But when she wakes up the next day, it turns out to be the day prior. Jen begins to move back through time to discover what events led her son to become a killer, and hopefully stop it from happening in the future.
MY OPINION
If you plan to read this, bundle your disbelief up and then YEEEEET it out the window. Time travel is the plot device du jour, so if you try to wrangle with the logistics of it all, you will most likely be hella annoyed. There simply is no rhyme nor reason to why she's moving backwards, but it doesn't matter – time travel is used to demonstrate how small seemingly insignificant details can add up to a disastrous event. That at every turn we can look a bit closer, see a bit more, get out in front of the consequences. Instead, we tend to fly through life in our own bubbles and then when the shoes drops, we're forced to react. What if we could be so present that we could recognize the signs and be more proactive? To me, this is what the book was about. Thank you for attending my Ted Talk.
What held this book back was the questionable grammatical and style choices made by the author. She was comma splicing herself into another dimension. And she missed the mark with the groups of threes by using THE SAME DAMN WORD three times in a row. Please ma'am. To be honest, the intricate plot and introspectiveness in the last half had me full-on Ray Charles to the comma splices. But objectively, an editor could've been used. Gillian, ima have to ask you to step the fuck away from the comma key on your keyboard. Just remove it entirely if you can't resist using it.
In the first half, McAllister was doing entirely too much showing and trying to shove character traits down our throats. YES we understand that Kelly has dry wit and is anti-establishment. YES we get it, your father was repressed. YES we can see you struggle with parenting guilt. Thankfully after she stumbled through this first half, she really hit her stride. Homegirl was spittin motherhood AND marriage facts. And she even tapped into some "telling" that evoked many emotions – especially during the scene with her dad.
Okay, let's get to the plot. So, this book was fairly mass marketed along with some not-so-hot thrillers like The Golden Couple, Unmissing, Stay Awake, The Last Housewife etc. In comparison to these books (a fair comparison because the same marketing attention was doled out), this one stands head and shoulders above. Yes, at its core you have the regular degular domestic thriller is my husband a whackjob trope, but McAllister added complexity with the time travel element. She gave it a unique lens which I haven't read this year.
And on top of that, she did NOT go for cheap shock value or OTT shenanigans. McAllister stayed the course by dropping tidbits throughout and then tying everything together in a calm, cool, and collected fashion. In comparison, the aforementioned books slammed together as many illogical twisty twists as possible in the last 10%, which always annoys tf out of me. I hate when an author tries to bamboozle you into a positive rating by overwhelming you with drama. And thank fuck she didn't toss in the "catching up with a friend over coffee" epilogue – you know the ones that summarize what everyone's up to after the final act? So lazy.
I have to say... the whole ordeal had me looking at my mans sideways because he acts the exact same: stoic, unemotional, free of any fucks to give. WELP LOL 😂
PROS AND CONS
Pros: unique premise, thoughtfully executed and interesting plot, calm cool and collected ending, excellent use of a literary device, spittin some facts on motherhood and marriage
Cons: questionable grammar and style choices, took awhile to find its footing, not sure why she kept contacting Andy when he wasn't giving her any science related advice LOL
One sentence review: A unique take on a domestic thriller that falls short due to an inane number of commas and questionable other writing style choices
SYNOPSIS
On Oct. 29, Jen witnesses her 18-year-old son Todd stab a man outside their house. But when she wakes up the next day, it turns out to be the day prior. Jen begins to move back through time to discover what events led her son to become a killer, and hopefully stop it from happening in the future.
MY OPINION
If you plan to read this, bundle your disbelief up and then YEEEEET it out the window. Time travel is the plot device du jour, so if you try to wrangle with the logistics of it all, you will most likely be hella annoyed. There simply is no rhyme nor reason to why she's moving backwards, but it doesn't matter – time travel is used to demonstrate how small seemingly insignificant details can add up to a disastrous event. That at every turn we can look a bit closer, see a bit more, get out in front of the consequences. Instead, we tend to fly through life in our own bubbles and then when the shoes drops, we're forced to react. What if we could be so present that we could recognize the signs and be more proactive? To me, this is what the book was about. Thank you for attending my Ted Talk.
What held this book back was the questionable grammatical and style choices made by the author. She was comma splicing herself into another dimension. And she missed the mark with the groups of threes by using THE SAME DAMN WORD three times in a row. Please ma'am. To be honest, the intricate plot and introspectiveness in the last half had me full-on Ray Charles to the comma splices. But objectively, an editor could've been used. Gillian, ima have to ask you to step the fuck away from the comma key on your keyboard. Just remove it entirely if you can't resist using it.
In the first half, McAllister was doing entirely too much showing and trying to shove character traits down our throats. YES we understand that Kelly has dry wit and is anti-establishment. YES we get it, your father was repressed. YES we can see you struggle with parenting guilt. Thankfully after she stumbled through this first half, she really hit her stride. Homegirl was spittin motherhood AND marriage facts. And she even tapped into some "telling" that evoked many emotions – especially during the scene with her dad.
Okay, let's get to the plot. So, this book was fairly mass marketed along with some not-so-hot thrillers like The Golden Couple, Unmissing, Stay Awake, The Last Housewife etc. In comparison to these books (a fair comparison because the same marketing attention was doled out), this one stands head and shoulders above. Yes, at its core you have the regular degular domestic thriller is my husband a whackjob trope, but McAllister added complexity with the time travel element. She gave it a unique lens which I haven't read this year.
And on top of that, she did NOT go for cheap shock value or OTT shenanigans. McAllister stayed the course by dropping tidbits throughout and then tying everything together in a calm, cool, and collected fashion. In comparison, the aforementioned books slammed together as many illogical twisty twists as possible in the last 10%, which always annoys tf out of me. I hate when an author tries to bamboozle you into a positive rating by overwhelming you with drama. And thank fuck she didn't toss in the "catching up with a friend over coffee" epilogue – you know the ones that summarize what everyone's up to after the final act? So lazy.
I have to say... the whole ordeal had me looking at my mans sideways because he acts the exact same: stoic, unemotional, free of any fucks to give. WELP LOL 😂
PROS AND CONS
Pros: unique premise, thoughtfully executed and interesting plot, calm cool and collected ending, excellent use of a literary device, spittin some facts on motherhood and marriage
Cons: questionable grammar and style choices, took awhile to find its footing, not sure why she kept contacting Andy when he wasn't giving her any science related advice LOL
December 15, 2022
okay. i actually really quite enjoyed this. because i didnt think i would in the beginning. but its the twists and turns that totally save this story for me.
overall, i do think the execution is lacking in some areas. its a little too long/drawn out and the transitions between times and scenes are not great. but the content itself is what kept me reading.
i enjoyed each little surprise along the way and thought jens relationship with her husband and son is quite wholesome. so the ending totally made the process of getting there worth it.
↠ 3.5 stars
overall, i do think the execution is lacking in some areas. its a little too long/drawn out and the transitions between times and scenes are not great. but the content itself is what kept me reading.
i enjoyed each little surprise along the way and thought jens relationship with her husband and son is quite wholesome. so the ending totally made the process of getting there worth it.
↠ 3.5 stars
April 8, 2022
By all rights Gillian McAllister's latest extraordinary and ingenious thriller should not work with its surprising travelling back in time premise, but it really is enthralling to observe how she pulls it off with style and panache. It is not often I give barely any details about a book, but this time, it is for the best. Jen finds herself living her worst nightmare when her teenage son, Todd, finds himself arrested for murdering a complete stranger. She goes to sleep distraught and in despair, only to wake up to find its the day before the horrifying events. As she travels further back in time, she is a mother looking for answers, how did this all come to happen, and more to the point, can she stop it happening? This is an intelligent and compulsive read as all the puzzling parts come together in a emotive, imaginative and unexpected story of twists and turns, so well written, and with characters that hold your interest, in what I think is her best novel to date. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
December 6, 2022
I'm still conflicted on whether or not the audiobook was the way to go with this one. On the one hand, the narrator is fabulous and does a wonderful job inflecting various voices for the differing characters; on the other, it made it more difficult to keep up with the jumping timeline and easier to zone out on the more repetitive parts. Take from that what you will. 🤷🏻♀️
Wrong Place Wrong Time is a clever novel of magical realistic suspense, and I've seen reviews all over the place on people's thoughts, which I think automatically makes a book more appealing for me to try. The FOMO is real. I decided to jump in on The Traveling Friends buddy read, as I knew it was one I'd want to be able to discuss with others, and sure enough, it was a smart move. The synopsis leads you to believe that this is a Russian doll type of tale, and it would be correct, but I found myself in shock that the original mystery of the stabbing that occurs in chapter one isn't really the overarching focus of the plot.
I really enjoyed the Groundhog Day style of storytelling, although I think the middle began to drag a bit, and we go waaaaay back to the beginning of "the story" to finally figure out the "secrets" and "mysteries" of why this family is at the heart of a terrible crime where a mother has no warning as to why her beloved son would stab a seemingly strange man. Answers are given along the way, a few really nice twists that I probably should have seen coming, but didn't, and overall I really liked how it wrapped up. I had to listen to the epilogue twice in order to decipher what was implied, because I forgot how one person tied into things, but that's where having a group of buddies to discuss a book with comes in handy.
Was it my favorite mystery of the year? Probably not, but I had a really great time reading it and discussing with the group. It felt nice to pick up a book with no expectations that I purchased on my own to break up the mountain of arcs I'm needing to catch up on, so I think it was well worth the Audible credit used. If you're looking for a fast, popcorn type of read this one is great, so long as you dial in and don't zone out while cooking dinner.
*Buddy read with the traveling friends
Wrong Place Wrong Time is a clever novel of magical realistic suspense, and I've seen reviews all over the place on people's thoughts, which I think automatically makes a book more appealing for me to try. The FOMO is real. I decided to jump in on The Traveling Friends buddy read, as I knew it was one I'd want to be able to discuss with others, and sure enough, it was a smart move. The synopsis leads you to believe that this is a Russian doll type of tale, and it would be correct, but I found myself in shock that the original mystery of the stabbing that occurs in chapter one isn't really the overarching focus of the plot.
I really enjoyed the Groundhog Day style of storytelling, although I think the middle began to drag a bit, and we go waaaaay back to the beginning of "the story" to finally figure out the "secrets" and "mysteries" of why this family is at the heart of a terrible crime where a mother has no warning as to why her beloved son would stab a seemingly strange man. Answers are given along the way, a few really nice twists that I probably should have seen coming, but didn't, and overall I really liked how it wrapped up. I had to listen to the epilogue twice in order to decipher what was implied, because I forgot how one person tied into things, but that's where having a group of buddies to discuss a book with comes in handy.
Was it my favorite mystery of the year? Probably not, but I had a really great time reading it and discussing with the group. It felt nice to pick up a book with no expectations that I purchased on my own to break up the mountain of arcs I'm needing to catch up on, so I think it was well worth the Audible credit used. If you're looking for a fast, popcorn type of read this one is great, so long as you dial in and don't zone out while cooking dinner.
*Buddy read with the traveling friends
August 8, 2022
Very well done mystery story in the vein of Russian Doll (which I also loved). Even though I figured out what was going on long before it was revealed, the story was fast paced and kept me intrigued.
This unique story starts on Day Zero with Jen waiting for her eighteen-year-old son Todd to get home. She witnesses him stab and kill a man, and Jen and her husband Kelly are horrified when Todd is arrested. What would cause him to do such a thing? When Jen wakes up the next morning, there is Todd, not in jail, but eating breakfast like a regular day. She quickly realizes that she is one day earlier, and each night when she goes to sleep she travels back at least one day, sometimes more. Initially she is puzzled about why but she determines that there must be something she needs to do to stop Todd from stabbing the man.
There are plenty of surprises in this story and once I got into the swing of what was occurring (and once Jen accepted that it was taking place and stopped trying to figure out the how/why/trying to tell everyone around her what was happening) I was able to put on my puzzle solving hat and go with the flow of what Jen was trying to discover.
Was this story perfect? No, there are some parts that didn't really make sense and by the end of the story I believed that Jen had lived the most clueless life possible, yet it was still incredibly fast paced and captivating. There are some fantastic twists revealed at deliberate intervals, and like I said above, although I figured many of them out ahead of time, this was still an entertaining and clever story.
Highly recommended for those looking for a uniquely told mystery tale.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This unique story starts on Day Zero with Jen waiting for her eighteen-year-old son Todd to get home. She witnesses him stab and kill a man, and Jen and her husband Kelly are horrified when Todd is arrested. What would cause him to do such a thing? When Jen wakes up the next morning, there is Todd, not in jail, but eating breakfast like a regular day. She quickly realizes that she is one day earlier, and each night when she goes to sleep she travels back at least one day, sometimes more. Initially she is puzzled about why but she determines that there must be something she needs to do to stop Todd from stabbing the man.
There are plenty of surprises in this story and once I got into the swing of what was occurring (and once Jen accepted that it was taking place and stopped trying to figure out the how/why/trying to tell everyone around her what was happening) I was able to put on my puzzle solving hat and go with the flow of what Jen was trying to discover.
Was this story perfect? No, there are some parts that didn't really make sense and by the end of the story I believed that Jen had lived the most clueless life possible, yet it was still incredibly fast paced and captivating. There are some fantastic twists revealed at deliberate intervals, and like I said above, although I figured many of them out ahead of time, this was still an entertaining and clever story.
Highly recommended for those looking for a uniquely told mystery tale.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
November 1, 2023
Wow! McAllister made me speechless again! This book is more than backwards time loop story with Memento and Back to the future vibes. This is incredibly romantic! And it is also hell of mind bending, twisty mystery guarantees to burn your extra brain cells wit the surprises you never see them coming!
I’ll post more detailed review later after my new brain cell transplanting process completes. This book ROCKED MY WORLD! It’s FREAKING BRILLIANT!
I’ll post more detailed review later after my new brain cell transplanting process completes. This book ROCKED MY WORLD! It’s FREAKING BRILLIANT!
January 4, 2024
Ale bania, kochani
October 20, 2022
I think the concept of this book is really interesting, but the execution of it wasn't my favorite. I was really invested in the first half and started to get really bored in the second half, felt like the story was dragging on too long and made me lost interest.
Here's the reading vlog where I read it: https://youtu.be/ZewT0NdeIUM
Here's the reading vlog where I read it: https://youtu.be/ZewT0NdeIUM
October 14, 2022
I randomly picked up “Wrong Place Wrong Time” by Gillian McAllister at my local library. What a delightful surprise.
The premise is that a mother/lawyer witnesses her 18-year-old son murder a man in the front of their home. This is day zero, or more accurately, night zero. As one can imagine, Jen, the mother, is beside herself. Her son is arrested right in front of her for murdering a man who appears to be in his 40’s. Her son, Todd, is taken into police custody.
Jen wakes the next day, her mind in turmoil, trying to figure out what the heck happened. But surprisingly, it’s the day BEFORE the murder. The reader now learns about “The Bootstrap Paradox” which involves time travel, only backwards. You go back in time to observe an event that you caused that might have resulted in this unfortunate outcome. It’s a time loop, so to say.
Lucky for Jen, her best friend at work is friends with a renown physicist who specializes in this sort of “time travel”. We learn, along with Jen, what is involved in the Bootstrap Paradox. It’s a bit confusing. In her author’s notes, author McAllister wrote that she wanted a story to be like Russian nesting dolls, with something to learn with each paring down.
I loved this writing technique. As a reader, I needed to use my brain backwards. You are given clues slowly, so slowly, yet in reverse. In fact, there is a place where she is so far removed from that date, that she even forgets what exactly she witnessed. She goes back seven thousand two hundred and thirty days!! Could you even remember if you randomly awoke at a date 5 years earlier? Or more? In fact, she goes back to before she even dated her husband.
This is a page-turner that kept me awake way past my bedtime. I thought this was going to be one of those domestic dramas of a mother feeling guilty about her bad parenting which leads to her son misbehaving. Isn’t that what everyone does, blame the mother? It’s not a murder mystery because we know who did it. We don’t know the “why” and “how” did it get to this point. What I also enjoyed is that Jen was able to observe her life when she went back. How often do we just react, but are not truly present in our lives?
My high score for this is because it was such a delightful surprise, being far more cerebral than I anticipated.
The premise is that a mother/lawyer witnesses her 18-year-old son murder a man in the front of their home. This is day zero, or more accurately, night zero. As one can imagine, Jen, the mother, is beside herself. Her son is arrested right in front of her for murdering a man who appears to be in his 40’s. Her son, Todd, is taken into police custody.
Jen wakes the next day, her mind in turmoil, trying to figure out what the heck happened. But surprisingly, it’s the day BEFORE the murder. The reader now learns about “The Bootstrap Paradox” which involves time travel, only backwards. You go back in time to observe an event that you caused that might have resulted in this unfortunate outcome. It’s a time loop, so to say.
Lucky for Jen, her best friend at work is friends with a renown physicist who specializes in this sort of “time travel”. We learn, along with Jen, what is involved in the Bootstrap Paradox. It’s a bit confusing. In her author’s notes, author McAllister wrote that she wanted a story to be like Russian nesting dolls, with something to learn with each paring down.
I loved this writing technique. As a reader, I needed to use my brain backwards. You are given clues slowly, so slowly, yet in reverse. In fact, there is a place where she is so far removed from that date, that she even forgets what exactly she witnessed. She goes back seven thousand two hundred and thirty days!! Could you even remember if you randomly awoke at a date 5 years earlier? Or more? In fact, she goes back to before she even dated her husband.
This is a page-turner that kept me awake way past my bedtime. I thought this was going to be one of those domestic dramas of a mother feeling guilty about her bad parenting which leads to her son misbehaving. Isn’t that what everyone does, blame the mother? It’s not a murder mystery because we know who did it. We don’t know the “why” and “how” did it get to this point. What I also enjoyed is that Jen was able to observe her life when she went back. How often do we just react, but are not truly present in our lives?
My high score for this is because it was such a delightful surprise, being far more cerebral than I anticipated.
August 2, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
What would you do to save the ones you love?
While waiting for her son Todd to return home from a night out, Jen Brotherhood witnesses him murder a man in the street. After he is arrested and taken to the police station that night, Jen goes to sleep and wakes up the next morning, which is the day before the murder. From then on, every night she goes to sleep, she wakes up further in the past. She is caught in a time loop and must figure out why her son committed the murder in order to prevent it from happening. Following the clues all the way to the beginning, Jen hopes to figure out the puzzle and change her son’s future.
This is my third Gillian McAllister thriller and it did not disappoint! I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Lesley Sharp. Her British accent is somewhat difficult to understand, but she does a fantastic reading, so I was able to stay with it.
This Groundhog’s Day premise is engaging from the first chapter. I did figure out part of the twist, but it may not be as obvious to those who are new to this genre. This was a five star read until the last minute of the book, as the ending felt rushed. The reader deserves a more detailed explanation into why the time loop was initiated!
Overall, this book will have you questioning the choices you make and their unintended consequences. It will likely appeal to those who enjoy twisty sci-fi thrillers.
4/5 stars
Expected publication date: 8/2/22
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the ARC of Wrong Place, Wrong Time in exchange for an honest review.
What would you do to save the ones you love?
While waiting for her son Todd to return home from a night out, Jen Brotherhood witnesses him murder a man in the street. After he is arrested and taken to the police station that night, Jen goes to sleep and wakes up the next morning, which is the day before the murder. From then on, every night she goes to sleep, she wakes up further in the past. She is caught in a time loop and must figure out why her son committed the murder in order to prevent it from happening. Following the clues all the way to the beginning, Jen hopes to figure out the puzzle and change her son’s future.
This is my third Gillian McAllister thriller and it did not disappoint! I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Lesley Sharp. Her British accent is somewhat difficult to understand, but she does a fantastic reading, so I was able to stay with it.
This Groundhog’s Day premise is engaging from the first chapter. I did figure out part of the twist, but it may not be as obvious to those who are new to this genre. This was a five star read until the last minute of the book, as the ending felt rushed. The reader deserves a more detailed explanation into why the time loop was initiated!
Overall, this book will have you questioning the choices you make and their unintended consequences. It will likely appeal to those who enjoy twisty sci-fi thrillers.
4/5 stars
Expected publication date: 8/2/22
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the ARC of Wrong Place, Wrong Time in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2022
"They are here, tonight, together, even if they might part again tomorrow, like two passengers on two trains going in opposite directions."
I almost tossed this one.
Wrong Place Wrong Time sets the stage with a murder unfolding right before the eyes of a shocked mother waiting up late one night for her son. Now I'm leaning in and grabbed from the onset. Who are these people and why would a teenage boy plummet a knife into the belly of a stranger just footsteps away from his own front door? We'll meet Jen the mother, Todd the son, and Kelly the father. And the games will begin.
It's all about time in this one. The before, the during, and the after. Time bending in on itself in a dizzying loop suspending you and your mind in a holding pattern. Jen will find herself living in past increments of time trying to retrieve the causal factor of Todd's crime. A mother's tight grip of love forced to travel backwards and relive past moments. Trying to make sense of it all.
And that's where I stood in the beginning stages of this novel. Confused, disoriented, and totally blindsided. And then something clicks to broaden the horizon and you get your bearings. After all, "your time" is watching you. All those moments, those interactions, those individuals you come across are unfolding at rocket speed on an almost predestined course.
That's where Jen stands. She's caught in that loop transcending time to events in the past that may eventually shine a light on that murder that night at the hands of her son. Whoa! McAllister presents a brilliantly crafted novel in which we're actively engaged in shifting through the clues and the circumstances. Individuals will appear in a different light and their identities will become clearer. The puzzle pieces will begin to fit.
So stick with this one. You will be amazed at how it unfolds. And to think that I almost bailed on Wrong Place Wrong Time.......
I almost tossed this one.
Wrong Place Wrong Time sets the stage with a murder unfolding right before the eyes of a shocked mother waiting up late one night for her son. Now I'm leaning in and grabbed from the onset. Who are these people and why would a teenage boy plummet a knife into the belly of a stranger just footsteps away from his own front door? We'll meet Jen the mother, Todd the son, and Kelly the father. And the games will begin.
It's all about time in this one. The before, the during, and the after. Time bending in on itself in a dizzying loop suspending you and your mind in a holding pattern. Jen will find herself living in past increments of time trying to retrieve the causal factor of Todd's crime. A mother's tight grip of love forced to travel backwards and relive past moments. Trying to make sense of it all.
And that's where I stood in the beginning stages of this novel. Confused, disoriented, and totally blindsided. And then something clicks to broaden the horizon and you get your bearings. After all, "your time" is watching you. All those moments, those interactions, those individuals you come across are unfolding at rocket speed on an almost predestined course.
That's where Jen stands. She's caught in that loop transcending time to events in the past that may eventually shine a light on that murder that night at the hands of her son. Whoa! McAllister presents a brilliantly crafted novel in which we're actively engaged in shifting through the clues and the circumstances. Individuals will appear in a different light and their identities will become clearer. The puzzle pieces will begin to fit.
So stick with this one. You will be amazed at how it unfolds. And to think that I almost bailed on Wrong Place Wrong Time.......
August 4, 2022
She can't deal with this. Finding and finding and finding things which she wishes she could forget.
Jen is stuck in a time loop. Each day she wakes up and spends one day in her past. Progressing back in time to keep a crime from happening. To protect her son Todd and her marriage to Kelly. Along the way she picks up a piece here and a piece there. After consulting with a time travelling expert multiple times (he never remembers her), she resigns herself to jumping and combing for clues. This is a five-star concept, in my opinion, and I was thoroughly enjoying the story. Then this British author decided to insert some snide political comments about the 2020 US election. Sorry. Not sorry. There goes a star. That is just arrogant. I would not write a sci-fi thriller and insert extraneous comments about Brexit or the monarchy. It has happened before with other authors and I am tired of looking the other way. Going to start calling them out.
Thank you to William Morrow and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Jen is stuck in a time loop. Each day she wakes up and spends one day in her past. Progressing back in time to keep a crime from happening. To protect her son Todd and her marriage to Kelly. Along the way she picks up a piece here and a piece there. After consulting with a time travelling expert multiple times (he never remembers her), she resigns herself to jumping and combing for clues. This is a five-star concept, in my opinion, and I was thoroughly enjoying the story. Then this British author decided to insert some snide political comments about the 2020 US election. Sorry. Not sorry. There goes a star. That is just arrogant. I would not write a sci-fi thriller and insert extraneous comments about Brexit or the monarchy. It has happened before with other authors and I am tired of looking the other way. Going to start calling them out.
Thank you to William Morrow and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2022
I finished this popular historical-time travel thriller — a Reese Witherspoon pick….
…..equally part family saga …with a mixture of feelings.
“Wrong Place Wrong Time”….
[the book that never ends]
From the very start we are presented with a ‘very-in-our-face’ scene [that we never forget and sets the stage for the rest of the novel]….
But even with the animated memorable scene, I wasn’t all yippy-yeah about it.
I continued reading with caution — a little curious — but I had doubts of liking the ‘groundhog’ day feeling —
(I wasn’t all that into it — it got a little tiring to me)….
I’m not a die-hard time travel reader in the first place —
but I passionately
*loved* Stephen Kings 11/22/63; swooning over the love story …. and there have been a few other time travel books I liked very much —
But ….
many Time Travel books — feel too unrealistic — more far fetched science fiction than I’m comfortable with.
Real life is complex enough —
I’m aware that my imagination is weak in the area of Science Fiction and fantasy — so I’m often out of my element.
But….
…in spite of ‘not’ being a time-travel zealot enthusiast,
I enjoyed the the personal aspects of this book.
I couldn’t begin to predict my own varied thoughts, and manifestations following shocking news that my son killed a person?/!/?/!?
but …
the emotional and intellectual contemplation between Jen and her son, Todd, ‘were’ compelling.
Definitely my favorite parts.
The very surprising ending was pretty cool — I never saw it coming —
But my goodness this book felt more like 800 pages long, rather than 400 pages.
It was the road that did ‘finally’ lead somewhere.
About 3.5 stars ….
Truthfully… I could go with 3 or 4 stars. I just have to choose.
3 … yep 3 stars.
Good …. but also exhausted me too!
…..equally part family saga …with a mixture of feelings.
“Wrong Place Wrong Time”….
[the book that never ends]
From the very start we are presented with a ‘very-in-our-face’ scene [that we never forget and sets the stage for the rest of the novel]….
But even with the animated memorable scene, I wasn’t all yippy-yeah about it.
I continued reading with caution — a little curious — but I had doubts of liking the ‘groundhog’ day feeling —
(I wasn’t all that into it — it got a little tiring to me)….
I’m not a die-hard time travel reader in the first place —
but I passionately
*loved* Stephen Kings 11/22/63; swooning over the love story …. and there have been a few other time travel books I liked very much —
But ….
many Time Travel books — feel too unrealistic — more far fetched science fiction than I’m comfortable with.
Real life is complex enough —
I’m aware that my imagination is weak in the area of Science Fiction and fantasy — so I’m often out of my element.
But….
…in spite of ‘not’ being a time-travel zealot enthusiast,
I enjoyed the the personal aspects of this book.
I couldn’t begin to predict my own varied thoughts, and manifestations following shocking news that my son killed a person?/!/?/!?
but …
the emotional and intellectual contemplation between Jen and her son, Todd, ‘were’ compelling.
Definitely my favorite parts.
The very surprising ending was pretty cool — I never saw it coming —
But my goodness this book felt more like 800 pages long, rather than 400 pages.
It was the road that did ‘finally’ lead somewhere.
About 3.5 stars ….
Truthfully… I could go with 3 or 4 stars. I just have to choose.
3 … yep 3 stars.
Good …. but also exhausted me too!
July 11, 2023
It messed with my mind and i like it
December 5, 2023
CONTROCORRENTE
Antony Gormley: Another Place, 1997.
L’inizio è più che notevole: la madre è di vedetta alla grande finestra panoramica da cui si vede sia la strada che il vialetto d’accesso alla casa. Sta aspettando il figlio diciottenne che negli ultimi tempi si è comportato in modo strano. E stasera è in ritardo: ha il coprifuoco ha le 1 di notte. E invece si presenta alle 2. Ma può permetterselo, perché è la notte di sabato 30 ottobre, gli orologi tornano indietro di un’ora, recuperano l’ora solare e abbandonano quella “legale” (che di legale ha davvero poco). Quindi, il ragazzo è dentro il limite massimo della sua ritirata. E domani sarà Halloween.
Solo che quando il ragazzo arriva, prima che raggiunga il vialetto, si vede un uomo avvicinarsi diretto verso il giovane. La madre intuisce che qualcosa sta per andare storto e si precipita in strada. Ma non riesce a impedire l’alterco. E soprattutto non riesce a impedire che Todd, suo figlio, estragga un coltello e pugnali tre volte a morte l’uomo.
Come se tutto questo non fosse sufficientemente sorprendente nella dinamica, McAllister sfodera il suo primo colpo di scena quindici pagine dopo, all’inizio del terzo capitolo: ci aspettiamo che la notte sfoci nella domenica mattina e invece siamo tornati al venerdì mattina. E ad accorgersene è solo la madre: per tutti gli altri il tempo scorre secondo la regola. Per lei, per Jen, invece, il tempo si arrotola all’indietro, procede a ritroso. E succede ogni volta che si addormenta: perciò, nei limiti della sua resistenza, tenta di non addormentarsi.
Sin dal principio è chiaro chi è l’assassino. Molto meno chi è la vittima. E così McAllister sposta l’attenzione dall’assassino alla vittima, e nel suo viaggio “controcorrente” indaga movente causa e perché proprio andando a scavare nel vissuto del morto.
Inutile dire che l’amor di mamma riuscirà persino a, letteralmente, piegare il tempo.
C’è una ricca letteratura e cinematografia sui viaggi nel tempo.
Ma quello immaginato dalla McAllister – attenzione, Jen è l’unica consapevole del fenomeno, tutti gli altri intorno a lei vivono la situazione come reale e normale, senza coscienza del perverso meccanismo temporale che si è innestato per Jen – ha una sua specifica originalità.
E non lo apparenterei neppure con le storie che fanno rivivere giorni e situazioni ancora e di nuovo: in questo caso penso soprattutto a Groundog Day – Ricomincio da capo e a Edge of Tomorrow – Senza domani, quest’ultimo tratto da un romanzo di Hiroshi Sakurazaka.
Piuttosto, ho in mente il romanzo di Martin Amis Time’s Arrow – La freccia del tempo, la storia di un criminale nazista vissuta, o rivissuta, a ritroso: a partire dalla morte del protagonista per terminare con la sua nascita.
Ma a me la storia della McAllister rimanda ancora di più a We Need to Talk about Kevin il romanzo di Lionel Shriver, forse non altrettanto bello, da cui l’omonimo magnifico film di Lynne Ramsay.
E cioè, mi fa pensare soprattutto a una storia di genitori a disagio con figli adolescenti che crescono e si comportano in modo anomalo (leggi violento).
Mi fa pensare alle storie di madri che hanno faticato ad amare il proprio figlio, che non hanno trovato così “naturale” essere mamme:
La vergogna di quel periodo, per non essersi perdutamente innamorata del suo piccolino, che era arrivato nella sua vita come l’esplosione di una bomba. Jen ci aveva convissuto con quell’inadeguatezza, ci si era abituata. Poi però, anni dopo, provava ancora la vergogna; ma anche l’amore.
La varietà e ricchezza dei riferimenti, sia letterari che cinematografici, trovo che sia un valore aggiunto. Accresciuto dal sapere, la McAllister, ritagliarsi un suo posto specifico e originale.
Un viaggio all’indietro nel tempo che è, di base, un viaggio mentale alla ricerca di una spiegazione, riavvolgendo il rapporto madre-figlio, combattendo il senso di colpa, e la diffusa sensazione di errore, di mancanze. Una “coazione a ripetere” che dovrebbe approdare a una nuova consapevolezza come in un classico processo psicoanalitico. Che dovrebbe svelare a Jen le radici del male, l’origine dell’orribile gesto di suo figlio che fa di lui un assassino, e che lei vuole in tutti i modi impedire, fermare.
“Another Place” è un'opera dell'artista britannico Antony Gormley situata a Crosby Beach nel Merseyside, che è dove è ambientata il romanzo. È composta da 100 figure in ghisa rivolte verso il mare disposte su un fronte di due miglia. Le figure sono tutte modellate sul corpo nudo dello stesso artista. Ogni figura è alta 189 centimetri e pesa circa 650 chilogrammi. Con il flusso e riflusso delle maree, le figure vengono scoperte e sommerse dal mare e sono soggette alla corrosione dell'acqua marina e alla colonizzazione da parte degli animali marini. Dopo essere stata esposta in altre due località, è stata messa in mostra a Crosby il 1° luglio 2005.
Antony Gormley: Another Place, 1997.
L’inizio è più che notevole: la madre è di vedetta alla grande finestra panoramica da cui si vede sia la strada che il vialetto d’accesso alla casa. Sta aspettando il figlio diciottenne che negli ultimi tempi si è comportato in modo strano. E stasera è in ritardo: ha il coprifuoco ha le 1 di notte. E invece si presenta alle 2. Ma può permetterselo, perché è la notte di sabato 30 ottobre, gli orologi tornano indietro di un’ora, recuperano l’ora solare e abbandonano quella “legale” (che di legale ha davvero poco). Quindi, il ragazzo è dentro il limite massimo della sua ritirata. E domani sarà Halloween.
Solo che quando il ragazzo arriva, prima che raggiunga il vialetto, si vede un uomo avvicinarsi diretto verso il giovane. La madre intuisce che qualcosa sta per andare storto e si precipita in strada. Ma non riesce a impedire l’alterco. E soprattutto non riesce a impedire che Todd, suo figlio, estragga un coltello e pugnali tre volte a morte l’uomo.
Come se tutto questo non fosse sufficientemente sorprendente nella dinamica, McAllister sfodera il suo primo colpo di scena quindici pagine dopo, all’inizio del terzo capitolo: ci aspettiamo che la notte sfoci nella domenica mattina e invece siamo tornati al venerdì mattina. E ad accorgersene è solo la madre: per tutti gli altri il tempo scorre secondo la regola. Per lei, per Jen, invece, il tempo si arrotola all’indietro, procede a ritroso. E succede ogni volta che si addormenta: perciò, nei limiti della sua resistenza, tenta di non addormentarsi.
Sin dal principio è chiaro chi è l’assassino. Molto meno chi è la vittima. E così McAllister sposta l’attenzione dall’assassino alla vittima, e nel suo viaggio “controcorrente” indaga movente causa e perché proprio andando a scavare nel vissuto del morto.
Inutile dire che l’amor di mamma riuscirà persino a, letteralmente, piegare il tempo.
C’è una ricca letteratura e cinematografia sui viaggi nel tempo.
Ma quello immaginato dalla McAllister – attenzione, Jen è l’unica consapevole del fenomeno, tutti gli altri intorno a lei vivono la situazione come reale e normale, senza coscienza del perverso meccanismo temporale che si è innestato per Jen – ha una sua specifica originalità.
E non lo apparenterei neppure con le storie che fanno rivivere giorni e situazioni ancora e di nuovo: in questo caso penso soprattutto a Groundog Day – Ricomincio da capo e a Edge of Tomorrow – Senza domani, quest’ultimo tratto da un romanzo di Hiroshi Sakurazaka.
Piuttosto, ho in mente il romanzo di Martin Amis Time’s Arrow – La freccia del tempo, la storia di un criminale nazista vissuta, o rivissuta, a ritroso: a partire dalla morte del protagonista per terminare con la sua nascita.
Ma a me la storia della McAllister rimanda ancora di più a We Need to Talk about Kevin il romanzo di Lionel Shriver, forse non altrettanto bello, da cui l’omonimo magnifico film di Lynne Ramsay.
E cioè, mi fa pensare soprattutto a una storia di genitori a disagio con figli adolescenti che crescono e si comportano in modo anomalo (leggi violento).
Mi fa pensare alle storie di madri che hanno faticato ad amare il proprio figlio, che non hanno trovato così “naturale” essere mamme:
La vergogna di quel periodo, per non essersi perdutamente innamorata del suo piccolino, che era arrivato nella sua vita come l’esplosione di una bomba. Jen ci aveva convissuto con quell’inadeguatezza, ci si era abituata. Poi però, anni dopo, provava ancora la vergogna; ma anche l’amore.
La varietà e ricchezza dei riferimenti, sia letterari che cinematografici, trovo che sia un valore aggiunto. Accresciuto dal sapere, la McAllister, ritagliarsi un suo posto specifico e originale.
Un viaggio all’indietro nel tempo che è, di base, un viaggio mentale alla ricerca di una spiegazione, riavvolgendo il rapporto madre-figlio, combattendo il senso di colpa, e la diffusa sensazione di errore, di mancanze. Una “coazione a ripetere” che dovrebbe approdare a una nuova consapevolezza come in un classico processo psicoanalitico. Che dovrebbe svelare a Jen le radici del male, l’origine dell’orribile gesto di suo figlio che fa di lui un assassino, e che lei vuole in tutti i modi impedire, fermare.
“Another Place” è un'opera dell'artista britannico Antony Gormley situata a Crosby Beach nel Merseyside, che è dove è ambientata il romanzo. È composta da 100 figure in ghisa rivolte verso il mare disposte su un fronte di due miglia. Le figure sono tutte modellate sul corpo nudo dello stesso artista. Ogni figura è alta 189 centimetri e pesa circa 650 chilogrammi. Con il flusso e riflusso delle maree, le figure vengono scoperte e sommerse dal mare e sono soggette alla corrosione dell'acqua marina e alla colonizzazione da parte degli animali marini. Dopo essere stata esposta in altre due località, è stata messa in mostra a Crosby il 1° luglio 2005.
March 20, 2023
Reviewed in the March 2023 edition of Quick Lit on Modern Mrs Darcy:
This was the best kind of brain bender! In the opening pages of this time-travel mystery, a British woman watches in horror from her window as her 18-year-old son stabs a man on the street. A horrific scene ensues, the police take him away, she spends the evening at the station, in shock and agony. But then Jen wakes up the next morning, only to find that it’s not the next morning at all, but the day before the crime occurred. When she wakes up the next morning, it’s the day before that. Jen seems to be living her life backward, and—with the help of a physicist friend-of-a-friend—determines that the only way to break out of the time loop is to “undo” whatever event put her son on the path to murder. To do that she has to go far, far back in time, getting to the roots of her most important relationships. This may end up on my best of the year list; it will certainly be one of my most enjoyable reading experiences.
This was the best kind of brain bender! In the opening pages of this time-travel mystery, a British woman watches in horror from her window as her 18-year-old son stabs a man on the street. A horrific scene ensues, the police take him away, she spends the evening at the station, in shock and agony. But then Jen wakes up the next morning, only to find that it’s not the next morning at all, but the day before the crime occurred. When she wakes up the next morning, it’s the day before that. Jen seems to be living her life backward, and—with the help of a physicist friend-of-a-friend—determines that the only way to break out of the time loop is to “undo” whatever event put her son on the path to murder. To do that she has to go far, far back in time, getting to the roots of her most important relationships. This may end up on my best of the year list; it will certainly be one of my most enjoyable reading experiences.
October 2, 2023
5+ mind-blowing stars!
Brilliant! Clever! Twisty! 2023 Favourites List! 🏆
An extremely unique, compulsively readable and addictive thriller!
A mother shockingly witnesses her 18-year-old son stab a man. Devastated, she and her husband wait for answers at the police station after he is taken into custody. The next morning she wakes up to discover that it is yesterday, the day before the murder. Time keeps falling backward as she searches for clues and the trigger that caused her son to become a murderer.
First thing — time travel books are NOT my thing. So please do not let that deter you from reading this if you feel the same. Time travels backward in this story but it’s not in a magical, step-into-this-closet kind of way. I was completely consumed and engrossed in this novel from the first to last page. It is such brilliant storytelling and a cleverly calculated plot. The amount of planning and organizing it must have taken to write this makes my head spin.
Though the story moves backwards, it isn’t confusing or complicated. There are many twists and surprises, but they all align and add up to jaw dropping perfection as the story unfolds. It is extremely well written and perfectly paced. The mystery, suspense and intensity grabbed me from page one and never let up. I was quite literally hanging on every word!
The atmosphere was thick with autumn vibes. Perfect reading for this time of year!
Overall, an EASY 5 stars! Highly recommend this unique mind bending thriller! It is my first book by this author and I am so excited to dive into her backlist!!
Brilliant! Clever! Twisty! 2023 Favourites List! 🏆
An extremely unique, compulsively readable and addictive thriller!
A mother shockingly witnesses her 18-year-old son stab a man. Devastated, she and her husband wait for answers at the police station after he is taken into custody. The next morning she wakes up to discover that it is yesterday, the day before the murder. Time keeps falling backward as she searches for clues and the trigger that caused her son to become a murderer.
First thing — time travel books are NOT my thing. So please do not let that deter you from reading this if you feel the same. Time travels backward in this story but it’s not in a magical, step-into-this-closet kind of way. I was completely consumed and engrossed in this novel from the first to last page. It is such brilliant storytelling and a cleverly calculated plot. The amount of planning and organizing it must have taken to write this makes my head spin.
Though the story moves backwards, it isn’t confusing or complicated. There are many twists and surprises, but they all align and add up to jaw dropping perfection as the story unfolds. It is extremely well written and perfectly paced. The mystery, suspense and intensity grabbed me from page one and never let up. I was quite literally hanging on every word!
The atmosphere was thick with autumn vibes. Perfect reading for this time of year!
Overall, an EASY 5 stars! Highly recommend this unique mind bending thriller! It is my first book by this author and I am so excited to dive into her backlist!!
December 22, 2023
It’s two o’clock in the morning and Jen Brotherhood is waiting for her eighteen year old son, Todd, to get home. Checking for him through the window, she’s momentarily relieved when she sees him round the corner…until she sees someone she doesn’t recognize approaching him. Suddenly, she’s watching her kind, thoughtful son pull a weapon and stab a stranger. Almost faster than her brain can process, Todd is handcuffed, put in a police car, and transported back to the station to await interrogation.
After a heart-wrenching night, Jen awakens the next morning still in shock. But she has another blow coming, because it is yesterday and Todd is safe at home. The next morning, still trying to grapple with what is happening (is it a dream?), she is dismayed to find that it is now the day before yesterday. Instead of moving forward, Jen watches as her days slip backwards. Each day is the day before the last. Because somewhere in the past is the solution to the present. Jen just needs to uncover it. Can she stop her son from killing? And can she find a way out of the time loop she’s discovered herself in without disrupting the future?
Wow. Just wow. So full disclosure, this was the second time I started reading Wrong Place Wrong Time. The first time around I got about 100 pages in and put it down because I found it too slow and irritatingly repetitive. This time around (where I had, get this, déjà vu), after reading the long list of rave reviews, I pushed through and found myself horrified that I ever stopped in the first place.
Yes, I will admit the beginning was a slow grind full of repetitiveness in the vein of Groundhog Day, but, once the basics were in place (I didn’t get to this point the first time around), the twists and turns were truly mind-blowing. McAllister crafted an entirely original storyline that wove together two timelines and POVs, all ensconced in scientific suppositions that felt viable and logical. As we smoothly rolled backwards in one timeline, the characters slowly morphed into slightly altered versions of themselves, building genuine and realistic individuals who grew in depth along the way. I also found that, as the storyline advanced, even the scientific suppositions felt viable and logical. This built a cloak of believability to the plot, which could have easily swerved into a territory that felt illogical or far-fetched. But with this book, I almost expected to wake up tomorrow morning to yesterday, able to fix the mistakes of my past.
Even the shape of the plot line was superbly executed. Told in dual POVs and timelines, one methodically progressing backwards and the other unspooling forward at an initially unknown point in time, it could have become either strewn with unnecessary details or unbelievably confusing. Instead, it was well-crafted and finely tuned, weaving together an addictive tale about motherhood, second chances, and protecting those we love.
Oh, and the twists! Beginning about a third of the way in, each resulted in just enough of a shift to the storyline that I could no longer guess what was to come (and I definitely didn’t anticipate any of them). With the clues surreptitiously laced into the story, each reveal shattered my preconceived ideas and ratcheted up well-organized tension.
I don’t know why, but I found this review incredibly hard to write (I’ve rewritten it several times). But with lies, secrets, and hidden motivations, I ended up mostly loving Wrong Place Wrong Time apart from the slow burn start, leaving me wishing that the epilogue was a full-blown sequel. On par with the works of Blake Crouch or Michael Crichton, but with an emotional touch, this book was a overwhelmingly impressive work that, while keeping me in suspense, demonstrated the depth of a mother’s love (and which even made me cry). It left me not only shocked by the twists and turns, but questioning my own past and what I would change given the chance. A deep-thinking, mind-bending novel that will keep you riveted, don’t make the mistake that I did and put it down prematurely. Last but not least, make sure to read the acknowledgements! I always manage to forget them, but thankfully caught this one. Thank you, Ms. McAllister, for taking me on this wild ride… I strongly recommend taking the journey with her! Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: stabbing, death of a parent, brief mention of suicide
After a heart-wrenching night, Jen awakens the next morning still in shock. But she has another blow coming, because it is yesterday and Todd is safe at home. The next morning, still trying to grapple with what is happening (is it a dream?), she is dismayed to find that it is now the day before yesterday. Instead of moving forward, Jen watches as her days slip backwards. Each day is the day before the last. Because somewhere in the past is the solution to the present. Jen just needs to uncover it. Can she stop her son from killing? And can she find a way out of the time loop she’s discovered herself in without disrupting the future?
Wow. Just wow. So full disclosure, this was the second time I started reading Wrong Place Wrong Time. The first time around I got about 100 pages in and put it down because I found it too slow and irritatingly repetitive. This time around (where I had, get this, déjà vu), after reading the long list of rave reviews, I pushed through and found myself horrified that I ever stopped in the first place.
Yes, I will admit the beginning was a slow grind full of repetitiveness in the vein of Groundhog Day, but, once the basics were in place (I didn’t get to this point the first time around), the twists and turns were truly mind-blowing. McAllister crafted an entirely original storyline that wove together two timelines and POVs, all ensconced in scientific suppositions that felt viable and logical. As we smoothly rolled backwards in one timeline, the characters slowly morphed into slightly altered versions of themselves, building genuine and realistic individuals who grew in depth along the way. I also found that, as the storyline advanced, even the scientific suppositions felt viable and logical. This built a cloak of believability to the plot, which could have easily swerved into a territory that felt illogical or far-fetched. But with this book, I almost expected to wake up tomorrow morning to yesterday, able to fix the mistakes of my past.
Even the shape of the plot line was superbly executed. Told in dual POVs and timelines, one methodically progressing backwards and the other unspooling forward at an initially unknown point in time, it could have become either strewn with unnecessary details or unbelievably confusing. Instead, it was well-crafted and finely tuned, weaving together an addictive tale about motherhood, second chances, and protecting those we love.
Oh, and the twists! Beginning about a third of the way in, each resulted in just enough of a shift to the storyline that I could no longer guess what was to come (and I definitely didn’t anticipate any of them). With the clues surreptitiously laced into the story, each reveal shattered my preconceived ideas and ratcheted up well-organized tension.
I don’t know why, but I found this review incredibly hard to write (I’ve rewritten it several times). But with lies, secrets, and hidden motivations, I ended up mostly loving Wrong Place Wrong Time apart from the slow burn start, leaving me wishing that the epilogue was a full-blown sequel. On par with the works of Blake Crouch or Michael Crichton, but with an emotional touch, this book was a overwhelmingly impressive work that, while keeping me in suspense, demonstrated the depth of a mother’s love (and which even made me cry). It left me not only shocked by the twists and turns, but questioning my own past and what I would change given the chance. A deep-thinking, mind-bending novel that will keep you riveted, don’t make the mistake that I did and put it down prematurely. Last but not least, make sure to read the acknowledgements! I always manage to forget them, but thankfully caught this one. Thank you, Ms. McAllister, for taking me on this wild ride… I strongly recommend taking the journey with her! Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: stabbing, death of a parent, brief mention of suicide
August 16, 2022
3.5 I'm usually a reader who has a hard time suspending belief and this book certainly requires some of that. It's why I seldom read fantasy or science fiction, just have a hard time going there. So I was surprised when I found myself totally interested in this audio. Since I had Covid a few months back I've had a harder time concentrating on the written word. Hence, my reading has gotten much slower and I've become addicted to audio. Would I have liked this as much if I had read instead of listening?
A mother's love, protectiveness and the fluidity of time. Interesting subjects and wrapped inside a unique framing. Possible? Probably not, but I know many people who wish it was so.
Loved the narration by Lesley Sharp.
A mother's love, protectiveness and the fluidity of time. Interesting subjects and wrapped inside a unique framing. Possible? Probably not, but I know many people who wish it was so.
Loved the narration by Lesley Sharp.
January 31, 2023
Whoa, what a fun ride! Although I do have a bit of whiplash from all the twists and turns. All the stars for this clever mindbender of a novel. Addictive read!🎢
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