I’ve never really been a fan of time travel mysteries, but since this author is one of my favorites, I thought I’d go ahead and give it a try. I found the great writing I’ve come to expect from this author, and I can really tell how mature she is getting in her writing. I wasn’t sure how she was going to pull this off, and she did it beautifully. There was suspense, character development, intrigue, and a good feel for the Victorian era as a historical novel. I’m not much of a reader who likes historical novels, but again, this author does it well enough to keep my attention. This was an altogether great book despite the elements I generally don’t like, and I’m intrigued enough to read the next. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

As a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong's Rockton mysteries, I was reluctant to read something different from her, despite realizing she's better known for her many works in fantasy and horror. "A Rip Through Time" is different even from those, the first in what's projected as a Victorian time travel crime series. Mallory Atkinson, a 21st century Canadian police detective, is in Scotland to attend her dying grandmother when an innocent jog sends her back 150 years and into the body of a Victorian housemaid in Edinburgh. There, she cleans toilet pots while also helping the master of the house in his rudimentary forensics work. "A Rip Through Time" has lots to like about it, but it feels at least 50 pages too long, and we're in Mallory's head so much as to feel claustrophobic at times.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

In 2019, Detective Mallory Atkinson is in Edinburgh to be with her dying Nan. She decides to go for a jog when she’s attacked and strangled…and wakes up in 1869 in the body of housemaid Catriona. Catriona had been attacked in the same spot as Mallory, but 150 years before. Mallory believes that solving Catriona’s attack is the key to returning back to her time. But as Mallory investigates, she discovers more about Catriona’s past. She also discovers that Catriona’s master, Dr. Gray, acts as a sort of medical examiner for the police, who find themselves up against a gruesome murderer– and Mallory fears she may be the only one who can find him.

So, I love Kelley Armstrong. When I saw the blurb for this book, I was SO EXCITED, and I wasn’t disappointed. Time travel and murder? Yes, please. I will say that you could probably find faults in the time travel logic, but I’m just here for a fun read, and that’s what this book is.

One aspect I found very interesting in this book is how Mallory tries to navigate the world. She’s operating on knowledge from old, Victorian novels and the very little history she remembers. This leads to her making assumptions based on stereotypes. I appreciated the breaking down of these stereotypes and the focus on how these people are all human, doing the best with what they have at the time.

The murder mystery of the book is also good. Yes, I had the killer pegged earlier on, but I still enjoyed how it all played out.

Overall, this is a strong first book in a series and I can’t wait to see what Armstrong comes up with next!

✨✨Book Review ✨✨

“A Rip Through Time” by Kelley Armstrong

Mallory Atkinson is a detective from Canada visiting her dying grandmother in Scotland. She goes out for a run one evening and hears cries in an alley. She naturally goes to investigate and ends up being attacked and almost killed. During the altercation, she recognizes a man she saw earlier in the day, right before he puts a rope around her neck and she passes out. Mallory wakes up, but very quickly realizes she is in the wrong century. She’s been transported to 1869 Edinburgh. Not only that, but she's in a different body - that of housemaid Catriona.

Mallory is going to need her detective skills while trapped in Catriona’s body because there is a killer on the loose/her own attacker is still unknown. As with all mysteries, I like to keep things pretty vague. This one is filled with lots of suspense, and a tremendous amount of ingenuity in the storytelling. The story is book 1 in a coming series, and I really like the way the author set it up for the next book. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger so you feel satisfied, but it does leave the reader ready to grab the next one, not quite answering all the question we have. This book has a strong female lead, wonderful supporting characters too (like Duncan and Isla) that transport you to Victorian Scotland. There are sinister characters trying to thwart Mallory/ Catriona at every step. “A Rip Through Time” is a wonderful time travel mystery that keeps you guessing and has a unique take on the genre. 4.5/5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series is one of my very favorites...so I was really excited to get to read an advanced copy of the first book of this new series. And I'm happy to report I wasn't disappointed! Strong, unique characters and sharp dialog drew me in. The setting...Victorian England...a time traveling modern day homicide detective...who just happens to be a female....checks all the boxes for a great book! I loved it and I hope it will be a long running series!
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I hope this becomes a long running series, it's that good. Mallory is a strong no nonsense character dropped into a mind bending situation. One minute she's in Edinburgh 2019 and the next it's 1869. And she's in somebody else's body. In the blink of an eye she goes from being a Vancouver police detective on family leave to being a victorian house maid. Boy, was I hooked.
The story kept me entertained from the first page and I didn't want to set the book aside to take care of other things like walking the dog - a quick trip to the grass patch out back is a poor substitute (I owe him a whole bag of treats). The setting, the Victorian period (one of my favorites) and the character of her employer the undertaker, Dr. Gray who assists the police in homicide investigations all come together to make for an engrossing mystery. I'm adding the series to my 'must be read' list.
My thanks to the publisher, Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. I found this story hard to get into and stay engaged in. The writing was ok but I think I found the story lacking. It was a decent read. I think I might revisit it in a few years to read again.

I loved this story from Kelly Armstrong!

Mallory is a strong kick ass woman, who while out for a jog one night hears a cry and when she goes to help, she is attacked. Next thing she knows she is young, blond, and a housemaid in 1869.

I really enjoyed this story, I couldn't read fast enough to see what was going to happen to Mallory.

I look forward to the next story in this series!

I would like to thank Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Phenomenal story telling! The characters were amazing , the time travel, the serial killer/ vs cop through time was amazing .The differences in each Time frame and how things have changed through the years , its astonshing the details , pefect read!

Overall I really liked this book. Again, a new author for me. I liked all the characters and the underlying story. I am now having to wait for the next novel in this series.

Victorian murder mystery as told by a twenty-first century detective. Mallory is attacked while in visiting in Scotland and Wales up to find herself in the wrong time period and in the wrong body.
I really enjoyed this. I love Victorian police procedure novels and to have it through the eyes a modern day cop was so fun. Kelley Armstrong did great with the story and keeping you hooked into the mystery. I love all the characters, especially Gray. But then again most of my book boyfriends come from her books.
I can't wait for more

Honestly, I wasn’t sure about this book when Minortaur sent me a copy. Historical suspense with a time travel twist… interesting but potentially cheesy. Goodness, though, it’s excellent. Armstrong writes with such detail and made the characters all so realistic, I was immediately sucked in. The touches of historical discoveries in forensic science, racial and feminist tension in Victorian Scotland, and creepy serial killer vibes really keep this book rolling nicely and I truly didn’t want to put it down. I’d highly recommend to fans of unconventional investigators, the Victorian age, serial killers, and historical “fiction.” I look forward to the next installment in this series.

*4-4.5 stars! If you enjoy time travel stories as much as I do, I highly recommend what I hope is the first in new series by Kelley Armstrong.

It's 2019 and Mallory Atkinson, a detective with the Vancouver Police Department, has flown to Edinburgh, Scotland to be with her grandmother in her final days. She decides to take a break from Nan's bedside one evening to go for a run. As she passes a dark alley, she hears a young woman in distress and plunges into the alley to investigate. She gets a quick glimpse of blond hair and a long dress before being abruptly attacked herself and strangled. When she next awakes, she is being treated for a head injury but not in a hospital. She is in the home of one Doctor Gray. In her confused state, she slowly comes to the realization that she has somehow gone back in time to 1869 Scotland AND she's in another's body, that of an 18-year-old young woman named Catriona who is a maid in the doctor's household.

What to do? Cope with everyday life, learn what is expected of her and fake it as best she can until she can figure out how to return to 2019! Interesting story full of twists and turns. Mallory is a strong, intelligent, and likable new character in this genre. I can't wait to read more of her adventures.

I received an arc of this new novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

Time Travel. Serial Killer. Light Moments for Laughter. Kick-Ass Female.

I loved, loved, loved this book! I am always a sucker for time travel. I enjoy imagining how someone from present day adapts to living in a historical period. With this book, I got everything I wanted. It’s going to be a series, and I am already trying to get my hands on book two!

Mallory is a homicide detective in 2019. When she steps into an alley to investigate a scream, she finds herself being strangled. When she wakes up, she’s in 1869 in the body of Catriona, a housemaid for Dr. Gray.

This story gives Mallory an opportunity to feign memory loss due to a head injury, which gives her time to find out how to act in this new body and time period. I enjoyed this idea, and I liked that over time, she finds ways to acclimate, and uses the excuse less. One of my favorite things was seeing how she navigated the wording. She’d use a word, see a reaction, and try for something that would have been more likely to be used. Little moments like this made me giggle!

There are great characters who create friendships, allies, and red herrings. I loved them all. My favorite character besides Mallory was Dr. Gray’s sister. Their friendship is fantastic, and it’s something I’m looking forward to seeing evolve in the second book.

Overall, I thought this was a fantastic read. I loved the story and the characters. The investigative moments were awesome, and I loved how Mallory partners with different characters to solve the murders. I would highly recommend this for readers that enjoy time-travel and murder mysteries!

Yikes! Mallory finds herself first fighting off a killer in 2019 Edinburgh AND then she wakes up in 1869. Talk about a time warp, or rip, as she comes to call it. Luckily, she's been taken in by undertaker Dr. Duncan Gray, not as an act of kindness but because he, and everyone else she meets, believes she is the venal and difficult housemaid Catriona. Mallory, a Vancouver police detective, is suddenly cleaning and hauling but then she manages to insert herself into Dr. Gray's investigation of a bizarre murder. Gray's half sister Isla is a chemist who becomes critical to the story. No spoilers from me but know that this is twisty. I liked this for Mallory's personality (she's a hoot) and for the small period details I'd never thought about (the underpants!). And I liked it for Armstrong's writing- she definitely pulls you in, makes you smell and hear, and keeps you guessing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this- and there's that ending!

Time travel and a murder mystery all in one book. A perfect combination. And, the perfect start to a new series of books by Kelley Armstrong. It reminded me a little of the old TV series, Quantum Leap, starring Scott Bakula.

The main character, Mallory, is a 30 year old police detective in Canada in 2019, who goes to Edinburgh, Scotland to be with her dying grandmother. While she is out for a jog she is attacked and strangled and then finds herself propelled back in time 150 years. She wakes up in a strange bed, in a strange house, not knowing where she is. She soon finds out that it is now May 20, 1869 and she is a 19 year old housemaid in a Victorian era home. She is employed by a doctor of early forensic medicine who is an undertaker and medical examiner, who lives with his widowed sister. A series of murders has Mallory (now Catriona) using her detective skills to hunt down a killer, while also trying to keep her job and her secrets, and attempting to find a way home to the future.

This is the first book that I have read by this author, but it certainly won't be my last. This book has a fascinating concept and a lot of intrigue, along with a plethora of interesting characters. I can't wait to read the next one in this new series.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book.

I'm always a big fan of time-travel books and this one was really fun. I liked how they treated the idea that Mallory wouldn't know what was going on in her new time and didn't make it awkward or unbelievable. The ending was set up for a sequel and I'll be on the look out for it!

After an attack, a time travelling 21st century woman wakes up in the body of a Victorian era maid with a less than stellar reputation. Mallory is challenged with finding out how to get home while also solving the mystery of who attacked her and coping with 19th century attitudes. Throw in two additional murders and overcoming the maid’s untrustworthy name and you will find a tense, action-packed story sure to keep you turning pages.

Just to make the setting a bit more complex, ethnic and racial discrimination vie with sexual inequities, to make the 19th century even more distressing to a 21st century police detective. Who is, by the way, without her cell phone that she would normally use to research every other thing that comes up in the unfamiliar place that is 1869 Edinburgh.

A little humor – as one would expect from a character out of her own time – lightens the mood occasionally. Appealing secondary characters Dr. Duncan Gray and Isla Wallace help to carry the story. The plot is taut and the writing is absorbing. Readers of Julie McElwain’s Kendra Donovan series will enjoy A Rip Through Time, as will historical fiction and mystery readers.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my e-arc of A RIP THROUGH TIME by Kelley Armstrong, in exchange for an honest review. This book publishes next Tuesday, May 31!

This book is a first in a brand new series from Kelley Armstrong, who wrote my all time fav Canadian thriller series, the Rockton books!

A RIP THROUGH TIME is part Murder mystery, part thriller, and part historical fiction, and perhaps a touch of magical realism? The main character Mallory, does in deed rom travel back in time 150 years to Scotland!

This book has such a unique premise- I haven’t read a book quite like this before. While I did enjoy it, it felt a little long winded to me. It could have been a little shorter, in my opinion. Also, we are still left with some questions! But I am hoping some of those questions will be explained in the next book?

I really enjoyed travelling back in time to 1869 Scotland in the Victorian age. Mallory (Catriona in 1869 Scotland), has to basically change her entire personality to fit the time in which she is living in. There is also not the advanced forensics as in 2019, same with how detectives conduct their investigations. It’s a big learning curve for Mallory/Catriona, and I really enjoyed seeing this part of history!

If you are new to Kelley Armstrong’s books, might I suggest her Rockton thriller series to start off with? This book is still good, but nothing can compare to the Rockton thrillers, and I think more readers will pick up more of the author’s books if they start with the Rockton books. ARTT is still good, but not my favourite of hers and I think readers might be a bit disappointed if this is the first of her books they read.

Will I still continue on with this series? Absolutely! I need my questions answered!!

A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong
(A Rip Through Time #1)

Don't think too hard about this one and just enjoy the (t)rip. In 2019 Edinburgh, 30 year old homicide detective Mallory has been at her dying grandmother's bedside. Taking a break to buy coffee, she hears a a commotion, her cop instincts kick in, and she goes to the rescue and almost dies. When she wakes up it's 1869 and she's in the body of 19 year old housemaid Catriona.

How does someone fix a mess like this when she can't even tell anyone about it? Is it even fixable? Mallory fakes memory loss and muddles her way through the her next days, dumping and cleaning chamber pots and ferreting out that Catriona has a lot to answer for. Just how badly is the real Catriona mucking up Mallory's life since she must be in Mallory's body in 2019?

Mallory realizes how lucky she is to have Dr. Gray as her employer. He runs the family undertaking business and is also a medical examiner on the sly. If this wasn't Victorian Scotland, a homicide detective and a medical examiner could be best buds but Mallory can't give herself away because people in this timeline would think she's literally insane if she tells them she is from the future.

From the title of the book we know this is just the first book in this new series and Mallory is slowly laying the groundwork to be able to keep her housemaid job since she realizes how lucky she is to have a job, a roof over her head, and food to eat. Dr. Gray is very interesting and so is his job and Mallory can be a great help to him if she could reveal her situation. How much can she do in this timeline without causing damage to the future? Is there any going back to her own time and body? One thread is solved but there is so much more mystery to solve in a future book. Mallory has a tendency to run towards danger so just hang on and grit your teeth.

Thank you St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.