Member Reviews
Thanks to Minotaur Books for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions below are my own.
I generally love a time slip novel. The summary of this one gave me real Outlander vibes in that an accomplished modern woman ends up in historical Scotland. In this case, our MC is a detective and the time period is the Victorian era. I liked the fish out of water aspects of this story. I liked the murder mystery. But Mallory did not have the charm of Outlander’s Claire. I think maybe because she was an older person slipped into a younger person’s body and that there was no real love connection but this one just felt like it was missing something. Also we get no resolution or real explanation about the time slip. That made it much more of a miss for me.
I’ve loved Kelly Armstrong’s work for years and wanted to love this, but I think my total lack of investment in the period of history we travel to made it not a good fit for me personally. That being said, it’s definitely me not the book and if you’re looking for a book with a bit of everything (historical fiction, procedure fiction, sci fi/fantasy, suspense) this might be a good fit!
Thank you so much Minotaur Books & Netgalley!
An interesting mix of time travel and murder mystery. Easy to follow storylines that make A Rip Through Time a great read when you're busy but still want to squeeze a book in. I really enjoyed the book. I didn’t guess the murderer though in hindsight, it was obvious, I got a bit bored in the middle so Isla was a great addition, I liked that there was BIPOC, queer and neurodivergent rep I wasn’t expecting any.
I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I thought this was a fun, easy read. The heroine is dropped in a world she is unfamiliar with, navigating her new bosses and trying to keep her curiosity in check. However, that does not happen. The main question is, will our heroine ever get home?
The characters are interesting and different. The book is written in a way that makes it easy to read. The story is interesting and the mystery intriguing.
I really enjoyed this book. Time travel is an interesting topic and one that people either believe in or don't. I think it is possible to happen, but in my lifetime, I don't think it will. There are twists and turns in this book. The book kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. I cannot wait to read the next book.
It's been several months since I read this book. I really slacked on writing reviews. The story was okay but I kept comparing it to the Kendra Donovan series by Julie McElwain, which I found to be an excellent series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Kelley Armstrong is an amazing author. She didn't disappoint with this book. I love the time travel concept, and how she incorporates paranormal with mystery/thriller. I will continue to read this series. It held my interest from the very beginning.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
This book had such a interesting and good concept but there was plenty of times where it felt like it was dragging on. But it picked up around the half way point, overall a very good and interesting read. Loved the writing style and the historic aspect felt very real.
Unfortunately the file didn’t download no matter how many times I tried, I tried sending it to my kindle many times but it just wouldn’t
I had a hard time getting through this one and had to dnf it. I normally love Kelley Armstrong's books but this one really wasn't for me.
What a delightful book! The characters are relatable and show some development through the story. Even through there’s a supernatural element to the story it’s not front and centre and doesn’t turn everything steampunk or fantastical as other similar stories have a tendency to do. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
I'm kinda hooked on this series now and I just finished listening to book 2 - The Poisoner's Ring too! Both of these books have been amazing and they're probably my newest favorites in historical mysteries!😍 I had read this author's urban fantasy books a few years ago and I loved them but I think I've missed out on reading her thrillers and mysteries(gotta change that now!).
Mallory Atkinson is a Canadian homicide detective who has traveled to Scotland to spend time with her ailing grandmother. While she's out for a run she hears the cries of a woman in an alley and decides to check it out, but she's attacked by a serial killer and loses consciousness. Upon waking up she discovers that she's now in 19th century Edinburgh and she's in the body of a housemaid - Catriona Mitchell, who'd been strangled in the same spot where she was attacked. Not only does Mallory have to adjust to being in a new body and a different time period(talk about a double whammy!) but she also has to blend in while performing her duties and try to figure out a way to go back home. And in the meantime, she ends up assisting her employer - Dr. Duncan Gray, who runs his family's undertaking business and moonlights as a medical examiner, as he works on some cases.
Mallory was such an interesting protagonist because she was very intelligent and resilient. But she's not arrogant either and realizes her shortcomings and analyzes things quickly. I also liked the fact that the other characters weren't any less intelligent than her and not all of them bought her amnesia story 😂 Both Duncan and his sister Isla were amazing and I really enjoyed the murder mysteries! I guessed some things but some other twists surprised me in both of these books! There's also a hint of a slow burn romance and I'm really excited for more 😆 I can't wait to dive into my arc of book 3 now!
MAY 20, 2019: Homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is in Edinburgh to be with her dying grandmother. While out on a jog one evening, Mallory hears a woman in distress. She’s drawn to an alley, where she is attacked and loses consciousness.
MAY 20, 1869: Housemaid Catriona Mitchell had been enjoying a half day off, only to be discovered that night strangled and left for dead . . . exactly one hundred and fifty years before Mallory is strangled in the same spot.
When Mallory wakes up in Catriona’s body in 1869, she must put aside her shock and adjust quickly to her new reality: life as a housemaid to an undertaker in Victorian Scotland. She soon discovers that her boss, Dr. Gray, also moonlights as a medical examiner and has just taken on an intriguing case, the strangulation of a young man, similar to the attack on herself. Her only hope is that catching the murderer can lead her back to her modern life . . . before it’s too late.
Excellent mystery with a twist! Often, time travel stories feel wrong somehow. Not this one! Armstrong weaves a gripping tale a body swap through time. The mystery and magic in this, as well as the mundaneness of a Victorian-era housemaid is a pure joy to read!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!
First off a big thank you to the publisher St. Martin's Press for inviting me to read and review A Rip Though Time , because up until now I had no idea this series existed even though its by Kelley Armstrong, and I love her work.
Going into it I had no idea what to expect and let's just say it didn't let me down, it had me hooked from the very first page .
Upon retiring, Ally has decided to turn a Scottish malt house into a B&B. Her first paying customer is found dead on the property by her helper. Who and why are the questions that haunt her. He was trying to prove he should be the heir to the castle, but was murdered before he showed his hand. To complicate matters his brother and fiancée show up at the B&B looking for answers.
Goodreads
I LOVED this book. I was pulled in right from the start and it was just so much fun and so exciting.
Mysteries aren't usually my go-to genre, but this series has me hooked. I love how we have a thrilling mystery mixed with a historical backdrop, time travel/body switching, and perhaps a dash of romance? The characters are great and so compelling. The crime to be solved was very intriguing and honestly I wasn't sure where we were going until we got there!
Really looking forward to more in this series.
A great first book in a new series by a fav author . I don’t. Normally enjoy time travel but this one was so much fun to read !
"A Rip Through Time" is the fantastic start to an amazing series.
Anyone familiar with Kelley Armstrong's books knows that you can always expect strong female characters as well as suspense and humor. Here, our FMC Mallory is transported back in time where she must not only try to fit in, but also catch a killer before she becomes his next victim. All while trying to return to the present.
If you're a fan of thrillers and multi-layered characters, this book (and the whole series) is for you!
I waited entirely too long to read this book. I downloaded it and guess I forgot, but as soon as I opened it I pretty much devoured it. Can't wait to read more in this series.
I started off by reading the second in this series first so had to go back to the beginning. I did not feel confused just wanted all the story. This is a fantasy time travel mystery and it is addictive. Lots of info on Victorian Scotland, the beginning of forensic science and the start of formal police procedures. Mallory is a police detective in Vancouve. Canada who is attacked in an alley at the same time it is happening to another girl 150 years before. She ends up back in time as a housemaid while trying to figure out how to get home. Great characters, good read.