Interesting mix of a detective story and time travel adventure. Heroine is Canadian cop visiting her dying grandmother in Edinburgh. When she responds to a cry in a historic area she gets in a tussle with an attacker and wakes up in the body of a young housemaid. Her employer is an undertaker/would-be forensic scientist. Interestingly he's a person of color brought to Scotland to be raised by his father's white wife. There are so many possibilities in the novel--racial and immigrant tension in Edinburgh, class distinctions, and, for course, the limited roles for women in the Victorian era.

I have to say, I LOVE Armstrong's Rockton series but haven't read anything else she's written yet, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I had nothing to fear though - this book was great! It starts in 2019 where a Canadian police detective, Mallory, is in Scotland at her dying grandmother's bedside. She gets jittery and needs some air, so she gets changed and goes for a run. She hears someone calling for help, so rather than getting any backup she goes to investigate - and her life is forever changed when she goes back in time 150 years, to a time and body that aren't hers.

I really liked this story. I really liked Mallory/Catriona - she was put in a hella strange situation and instead of wringing her hands and freaking out she did the best she could, and picked up and moved on. She did what she's good at and helped solve some crimes and helped piece together the life that her body had led before she was in control of it, and by the end she knows what to do to get back....even if she's not prepared to do it yet. I loved this book a lot and I can't wait for the next one in the series to release. I also really likes Isla and Duncan, and I want to see them again too! 4 out of 5 stars and I really want the next book already!!

A Rip Through Time is a time travel murder mystery set in Victorian Scotland. Mallory is a Canadian homicide detective who inadvertently gets pulled back to Victorian Scotland in the body of a housemaid. She must solve her own murder in order to try and go back to present times. Seeing Mallory/Catriona floundering around in Victorian times was so entertaining to me. She has to get used to not only the customs of the time but the expectations people put on her being a lowly housemaid. This book was an enjoyable murder mystery that was very Jack the Ripper-esque. It has been many years since I read a book by Kelley Armstrong and this novel reminded me what I loved about her in my YA days. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series

A Rip Through Time A Novel by Kelley Armstrong is a time travel novel mystery thriller. A Time Traveling Detective posing as a maid. Murder Mysteries with interesting historical medical details. Exciting story with serial killers, unique characters and irresistible plot twists. Hope this will be a long series because I can’t wait for the next book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

A Rip Through Time is a great murder mystery/time travel combination.
I was pulled in from the first chapter and could not wait to find out who the killer was going to be. I enjoyed the pairing of a 2019 Canadian detective with a Victorian maid. It does not sound like it will work, but they come together in the best feasible way.
The story weaves together history and modern detective work to educate the reader on how things change and yet somehow stay the same. Mallory is careful in not introducing modern detective methods before they are well known. We are shown how diversity and social standing are portrayed in Victorian times.
I love the forward thinking of both Dr. Gray and his sister Isla, but given the circumstances of Dr. Gray’s birth, it was not surprising. I was happy with the ending and look forward to reading more books in this series.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for my eArc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Canadian detective Mallory Atkinson goes on a night jog through Edinburgh, she spots a girl being attacked and intervenes. For her trouble, she is strangled nearly to death, then awakens in 1869 in the body of housemaid Catriona. Mallory blames “Catriona’s” amnesia on a concussion and muddles through. Luckily, she is employed by an eccentric doctor willing to overlook the strangeness of his teenage maid’s sudden interest in helping him solve crime, for her best hope of getting home lies in unraveling the series of attacks of which Catriona was only one victim. Mallory is an engaging heroine. The historical fiction balances well with the mystery.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to read this for several different reasons: 1) I'm a big fan of Outlander. 2) I'm a big fan of the Bitten series by Kelley Armstrong, both the books and the TV show. And 3) homicide detective travels back into the 1800s Scotland and solves murders? Sign me up.

Honestly? It delivered. I had such an entertaining time with Mallory in the 19th century Scotland. Was this perfect? No, but was it everything I wanted from it? Mostly. If you're expecting a sweeping Outlander-like romance, this is probably not for you. Mallory is more focused on getting back home than dealing with any entanglements in the past, but it's possible there's a romance in store for us in the future.

But if a twisty, 19th century murder-mystery plot using some modern detective techniques and early-on forensics sounds like fun to you, I think you'd enjoy this thoroughly. I, for one, can't wait to see what is in store for the rest of the series and I loved my time while reading this! I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars, just because I really wanted a little bit more from the ending, which felt a bit abrupt to me, but Kelley Armstrong did it again!

Just terrific. Well written and exciting, with interesting characters and just the right amount of grit for a reader who doesn’t prefer cozies. I loved the mystery in this volume and I loved the overarching mysteries that have been left for future installments. About the only thing I don’t love here is the long, long wait I’ll have to endure before the next book in the sequel is released.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

I absolutely loved this book. 1800s historical mysteries set in England (Scotland in this case) are definitely my jam, and this was no exception. I particularly liked the character device of the time-traveling detective. Often when you have the “fish out of water solving a crime” plot point, there’s no good reason that person should have the knowledge or wherewithal to solve the crime. Here, since Mallory was a detective and in Catriona’s body, it made perfect sense. The time travel wasn’t too confusing (that can be a risk in time travel books!) and I loved the other characters. This is a great start to what I hope will be a long series!

4.5 stars

As someone who has been reading and blogging on and off since the early 2010's, I consider Kelley Armstrong a classic, one of the pillars, best of, holy grails of the genre (fantasy, paranormal, mystery etc). So I knew going into this story I'd get solid, smart, beautiful, interesting reading. And I was not disappointed!🤌

This was a mystery-crime-time travel-historical fiction-gothic-fantasy book, which is not my go-to genre, but I loved every second of it!

When Mallory Atkins passed through time to 19th century Scotland, I expected some floundering, as it happens with time travel stories. But no, not here, not this girl! Her 'jump' from modern day Canadian detective to Victorian Edinburgh maid was tricky, startling, but somehow it seemed seamless, believable. She didn't lose time in denial, lost and panicked. She adapted and made the best she could of the situation.

Despite the somber vibe of the story, she still managed to have a positive, sometimes even snarky voice. And it felt like she was talking TO the reader, like we were her accomplices from the modern world, navigating the streets, concepts, history and prejudice of the past. I'd add her up there with the rest of our badass FMC, she took no sh*t from anyone, despite her new role!✊️

She made friends, discovered enemies, tried to solve crimes and find puzzle pieces, all while keeping the façade of the maid. Watching her adjusting her speech and getting hold back by 'layers of skirts' was hilarious!

I don't know how much of that world was real, but it FELT real, so I don't really care. There's clearly some research into the background story and it helped make things more natural and realistic.

As for the plot, it's what kept me up past my bedtime every night. Well done, moved smoothly, kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat until the end. And I needed more!

There is potential for romance, but it's subtle and it will probably take a while to develop, considering the character's 'roles'.💙 The pace was a bit slow sometimes, which is why it's not a solid 5 stars, but I loved it all anyway!

A great read overall that I'd recommend to anyone, as it's a very interesting, unique story that has a bit of everything!

Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

Historical fiction time travel mystery. I got Stalking Jack the Ripper vibes from this story. It's a very well written and unique story. Even though I was able to correctly guess the killer, it did take me awhile and there was still another really great twist to the story that I was definitely not expecting! It did drag a little in the beginning, but I have come to expect that with most mystery books. Mallory was a particularly great main character. I really love how she acknowledges and accepts when she makes mistakes. Isla was another favorite; I love how she gives people second chances and actually hears them out before judging or jumping to conclusions. I think this has the potential to become a really great mystery series!

I am a big fan of Kelley Armstrong's fiction and really enjoyed this time-travel mystery/adventure story. This twisty new story combines time travel with Freaky Friday: Mallory, our heroine, survives an attack only to find herself in 1869, occupying the body of a pretty housemaid who was also attacked. Worse still, the housemaid was a criminal sociopath whose incessant scams and cruelties had earned her many enemies. While Mallory tries to figure out how to return to her own life, passing herself off as the maid (lots of physical labor) in the meantime, she becomes increasingly caught up in the impulse to catch a murderer terrorizing the city and also put right some of the maid's bad behaviors. On top of that, she's starting to care about the people in her household.

The plot works with two of Armstrong's signature devices: 1) a bit of the paranormal in an otherwise realistic world and 2) a competent female detective character working outside of conventional law enforcement. The opening chapter of the story made me worry that Armstrong had decided to experiment with an incompetent female detective: Ch. 1 introduced us to a Mallory who was frazzled and incapable even of getting takeout coffee without spilling it. This wasn't unreasonable, given the circumstances, but I dislike books where the heroine is supposed to be a veritable genius but repeatedly acts as though she is too stupid to live. If this irks you, too, you won't have to wait it out for long. Armstrong is simply in a hurry to establish some backstory for Mallory and deliver her to Victorian Edinborough. Once there, Mallory will have to use all her skills to masquerade as a stranger, work her tail off cleaning, fight off attackers, navigate a foreign city and time, rescue damsels in distress, and assist a budding forensic scientist in finding a serial killer.

Mallory Atkinson, a Vancouver detective, is in Scotland with her dying grandmother. While out for a run late one night, she hears someone in distress. When she investigates, she is attacked and sucked back in time to 1869 Victorian Scotland. While I am not generally a fan of time travel stories, this one is very well done as it's part mystery and historical fiction. I enjoyed the characters and learning more about this time period. I was particularly fascinated with Dr. Gray's study of forensic science. My only complaint with the book is that it ends on a cliffhanger so now I have to anxiously await the next book in the series. 4 1/2 stars.

A Rip Through Time is another spell binding new series from Kelley Armstrong.

This book has it all: murder, mayhem and time travel.

Mallory in present day 2019 in Vancouver Canada is out for a jog when she is brutally attacked.

When she wakes up she in the 19th century in the body of a young maid Catriona.

Luck would have it that Mallory is a detective in the life she struggles to get back to.

First she must help solve a murder.

I loved the all the characters: Mallory Catriona, Dr Gray and specially his sister Isla.

The book was very atmospheric and left me wanting to read the next book right away.

I will be first in line and can't wait for see what adventures await Mallory/Catriona, Duncan and Isla.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for a great cant wait to read it new series by Kelley Armstrong.

I finished this book about 5 minutes ago, screaming at Kelley Armstrong for ending this book in a way that makes me IMMEDIATELY NEED the next book in the series. Because there obviously needs to be a next book in the series.

Mallory Atkinson is a detective for the Vancouver PD who is visiting her sick grandmother in Scotland. While out for a jog, she gets strangled by a serial killer at the same spot a young woman gets strangled 150 years earlier-- which creates a 'rip in time' that causes Mallory to enter the body of the strangled girl from the 1800s. Weird stuff, but it ended up working pretty well.

Mallory was a kicka$$ heroine and I loved the details and the characters from the 19th century. This book has gotten me out of a reading rut, so I'm especially appreciative of that. I have to admit that when I heard "Scotland+time travel," I thought of Outlander. This is 100% not Outlander. This is very much a mystery book, and not a romance, although I could see that happening in future books. I'm looking forward to seeing where Mallory ends up as her adventures continue.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced e-copy of this book. "A Rip in Time" is available for purchase on May 31st, 2022.

This is one of those "wrong books at the wrong time" type situations. A Rip Through Time is much darker tonally and content-wise than I was expecting, and a very stressful read. I love Kelley Armstrong's time travel stories and was expecting something similar to A Stitch in Time, but this veers into the suspense/dark historical mystery type category, which I was not anticipating and not in the right mood to read. The first-person narrative of Mallory trying to figure out what's happening to her after an inadvertent time jump has her stepping into the shoes of Catriona's life feels nightmarish -- particularly with the gruesome details of Dr. Gray's practice woven in. On a positive note, there are a lot of very interesting historical facts discussed here. My 2-star rating is purely a reflection of my own feelings, and not intended to reflect the quality of the writing. I still enjoy Kelley Armstrong's books, but probably will give this series a pass.

Thank you to Minotaur and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

In A Rip Through Time, Kelley Armstrong creates Vancouver police detective Mallory Atkinson. Mallory is visiting her gravely ill grandmother in Edinburgh, Scotland. The year is 2019. Until one evening when Mallory goes jogging and unexpectedly finds herself waking up in Victorian Edinburgh. She thinks she’s helping a crime victim, but instead ends up switching into the body of a Scottish housemaid—in 1869.

Mallory’s new body belongs to Catriona Mitchell, who’s just 18 to Mallory’s 30. And, of course, the times are far from modern. Mallory reaches more than once for her phone from her back pocket, neither of which exists for Catriona. And that’s just the one indication of the story to come.

Armstrong combines historical fiction, time travel, and a police procedural in this new Rip Through Time series. Mallory must think through every aspect of the situation—from how to make a fireplace fire to whether she’ll find a way back to her own time and body. There’s a lot of internal dialogue, which sometimes gets tiresome.

On the other hand, Catriona works in a unique household and that makes the story intriguing. Her employers are sister and brother, each with their own oddities. Obviously, they think Catriona’s behaving strangely. So, quite a bit of the story is about how Mallory makes all these changes work to her advantage—mostly.

The murder mystery component is my favorite part of this book. Mallory is a pro at her work, but certainly a fish out of water in Victorian Scotland. It’s fun to watch her manage the conflict between the two. And of course, she and Catriona are both suspects and potential victims, while trying to find the killer.

My conclusions
I’m new to Kelley Armstrong’s writing. I’m also eager to read the next book in this series since I like Mallory. Throwing a present-day detective into the relative complexities of Victorian life is my favorite kind of reading. On top of everything, A Rip Through Time adds thrilling mystery.

My only real quibble with this first book is the copious internal dialogue. Mallory needs to sort everything out—from how to wear a corset to whether fingerprinting is used in criminology yet. And she’s got virtually no one to talk to about her situation. So she talks to herself—a lot.

Thankfully, as the story progresses, Mallory finds allies who help her assess options. These additional characters are just as likable as she is, although sometimes it’s hard to imagine a time traveler landing in such a perfect household.

On the whole, A Rip Through Time is a rip-roaring good book. I recommend it if you like your historical mystery with a solid fantasy twist.

Acknowledgments
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and the author for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review. A Rip Through Time debuts on May 31, 2022.

You absolutely can not go wrong with a Kelley Armstrong novel and "A Rip Through Time" did not disappoint.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Even after finishing it two days ago (on May 13,2022) I still don't know what to make of this book. I loved all the characters except for Mallory who is the main character (I almost wished we had a dual pov to break up the monotony of Mallory's inner dialogue). At first, it was cute with the whole "I screwed up so I will blame it on the bump on my head and everyone will believe me". The only problem is the author kind of beat a dead horse with that one and it went from cute to how the heck is everyone so gullible.
My favourite characters are Isla and Duncan (I would die for them) they made the book and I hope we do get their perspectives in the later books (I need something to break up the monotony of Mallory's mind).
If you do read this book be prepared to suspend all beliefs because some of the things Mallory does is ridiculous.
3.75 ⭐️
6.5💧
for full review you can check out my blog post here https://bookgirlreviewsbooks.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-rip-through-time.html

I loved the idea of this book overall. Foreign country, detective, and time travel with some history. A good mix of my favorite things.

But for me, I wasn't sucked into this book in the way I had hoped. The alley attack and sudden jump into a new era, eh I was surprised how quickly it got there and well, it was just really slow for me. Mallory is doing her quick detective thinking and realizing okay, this is happening and its really 1869 now. She needs to figure out how she went from being attacked in an alley, to the past and how to get back to the future before her grandma dies.

While in 1869 things are moving slow, but I guess it goes with Mallory trying to figure out how things work there and so on, but eventually when it did pick up was at the end. BUT what I do love is that Kelley always writes a good strong woman character that I love, I did love Mallorys character.

For me it took a while, but I do want to give the second book a try and see if it gives me the series I know I can get with Kelley.