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lterech's review against another edition
4.0
funsizedrachie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
shawna_lewis_cevraini's review against another edition
4.0
snick3l's review against another edition
I read this as it was this summer's Big Library Read and so immediately available to borrow the ebook.
I enjoy the window into historical times, but felt the character and plot development were lacking. I don't think I'll read the sequels unless I'm bored and they're readily available.
judysutherland's review against another edition
4.0
sbloss92's review against another edition
5.0
karaelise's review against another edition
4.0
Some less than believable moments, but thoroughly entertaining. Interesting intersection of genres, too.
karinapplesauce's review against another edition
2.0
I think I have it though—this reads like a, what is the term? Dime Novel? but it’s masquerading as a serious novel. The saying is never judge a book by its cover, but I always do, because that’s how I can figure out what kind of book it is and whether or not I’m interested. Bright colors, curlicue font, cartoon caricature of a woman? Chick lit
[bc:I've Got Your Number|12033455|I've Got Your Number|Sophie Kinsella|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327956732s/12033455.jpg|16327730].
Dark cover, big & bold font, author’s name perhaps bigger than the title? Mystery/action.
[bc:Buy a Bullet|32076616|Buy a Bullet (Evan Smoak #1.5)|Gregg Hurwitz|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476162014s/32076616.jpg|52725329] (I typically avoid these books)
Scene of an idyllic setting? Romance and/or a study of a small town. [bc:The House on Tradd Street|4505161|The House on Tradd Street (Tradd Street, #1)|Karen White|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1344586077s/4505161.jpg|4554187] (I also avoid these books as well unless they’re recommended)
Anyway, you get the idea…in the same way that movies are advertised through certain types of trailers, same goes for me here.
When you’re a genre mix, I can acknowledge that it can get tricky. After all, what is Outlander? A romance novel? Definitely. But it’s a lot more complex and detailed than the typical meet-cute, conflict, resolution that most romance novels follow. Time travel is important. Honestly, it’s a little on the gross side (in terms of blood and guts all over the place) than a standard romance novel. Romance novels are, well, romance first, formulaic, and the stuff in the background is just so you can make it a little different than the slew of others out there.
Okay, I took a long time to actually get to my point. Murder in Time is a time-travel, romance, mystery, but it reads like a dime-a-dozen romance novel. I understand that I’m holding it up to Outlander’s standard (which I love, can you tell?). I mean, I’ve accidentally read a romance novel that featured time travel, but the romance part was the most important, so it could have sold itself that way. The heroine is an FBI agent stuck in the past, so I acknowledge that there needed to be something for her to do. (After all, Claire had to go around stitching up an alarming number of people and ridiculing/berating everyone for being idiots about hygiene and eating poorly. Okay, I know I’m resentful because she gets to bone Jamie. And they’re both fictional, so I need to relax).
Maybe I didn’t give this book a chance, because I was already perplexed by Kendra’s seemingly pointless back story. She was a designer baby from indifferent scientist parents…ok, so essentially an orphan that could disappear into the past without anyone caring. I get how plot devices work. It just seemed…unnecessarily complicated for a book that was already going to get complicated with time travel.
I hate to say it, but when a
Spoiler
dead body
In summary, I’m not really sure how this made it onto the Goodreads best of 2016. It’s a fair enough book, but not anything super special. This is probably one of those things where I should leave the second book alone….
I came back later and demoted it to two stars. Not coming back for book 2.
dogmomirene's review against another edition
5.0
I downloaded this mystery and got completely caught up in the story. Loved it! As part of the Big Library Read, the title was immediately available for me to download, and I had the title for the full three-week check out period even though I didn't download it until the end of June. Loving this Overdrive partnership with public libraries as well!
Interested in the next Big Library Read? Me too. The check-out period for the next book will be October 20 - November 3, 2016. They haven't revealed the title, but I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what they choose.
My one big complaint about this story is the over-emphasis the author places on how special Kendra Donovan is. Her parents are scientists who participated in some genetics program to give birth to Kendra, some kind of enhanced gifted child. Huh? Is she part of Clone Club too? I just didn't see why she needed to be SO intelligent that she graduated from Princeton by 18. Plus she's super model beautiful. And she speaks multiple languages. Overload!
Her exceptional qualities, though, didn't make her unlikable for me. She had some humor about her that I enjoyed.
At one point in 1815, Kendra was questioning a member of the upper class about his whereabouts on the night of the murder. His answer was not helpful. One of the characters asked Kendra, "Would you prefer that he be evasive and unhelpful?" To which Kendra replied, "I prefer he had an alibi." I snorted when I read that. And pretty much any book that makes me snort, gets some leeway in how the author chooses to describe all the extra special specialness of their main character.
The modern day exposition seemed a bit long. We have to meet Kendra and her FBI team, they have to try to take down a bad guy, several of her colleagues die, Kendra is seriously wounded, she has to spend months in rehab, she has to have an awkward conversation with her horribly detached father, she has to plot revenge, she has to travel to England to confront the bad guy, and finally, she has to time travel back to 1815.
When I was reading, I was a little annoyed at how long it took for Kendra to actually time travel. However, when I checked Goodreads, I saw that this book is labeled as Kendra Donovan #1. The sequel, A Twist in Time, is scheduled for release in April 2017. If you don't want the plot of this first book spoiled, though, do not read the plot synopsis of the sequel. Knowing that a sequel exists, and a possible series, does put a different spin on why the author may have spent so much effort describing Kendra in modern times.
And once Kendra did time travel, the pages flew by for me. Sure, the plot depends on several of the other main characters believing that Kendra's eccentricities are merely because she's an American. I actually found that explanation funny. And Kendra really does not try to blend into her surroundings. An American trait?
She does try to identify the serial killer, and her chase is worth the read.
Being immersed in upper society at Aldridge Castle in 1815 certainly hampers the technology available to Kendra. However, her keen observations and logic impress the scientifically-minded Duke, who gives her cart-blanche to investigate.
Kendra creates an evidence board from a slate located in the old nursery classroom. She theorizes with the Duke and a few other trusted support characters. She interviews various suspects and continues to build the facts on her evidence board.
As the story progresses, there are a few times where the unidentified serial killer makes a first person appearance. I found myself re-reading his sections for any scraps of a clue. And when a second victim disappears, the chase gets even more intense.
There are several scenes where the violence gets graphic. If you're not okay with reading descriptions of violence, particularly violence against women, then you may want to avoid this book. If you've read G.R.R. Martin or watch Game of Thrones, I think you'll be fine.
Kendra makes some dumb decisions, a few that put her life at risk. And some of the writing is a bit long: repetitively descriptive. Hey, what color were Alec's eyes again? I'm not sure that I picked up on the fact that they're green. Jeez, is he related to Harry Potter too?
Even with these flaws, though, the main story of catching this serial killer kept me guessing and referring to the slate board of evidence within my own mind. Looking forward to reading how this series progresses.