Stranger in the Mist

Time Thriller Trilogy #2

by Paul McCusker

Why has King Arthur returned in the 1990s? Can he help a world so different from the one he knew?

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Christian, Christian Fiction, Time Travel

175 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1996

About the author

Paul McCusker is a writer of many different kinds of things. You may know him from Adventures In Odyssey and Focus On The Family Radio Theatre. Or the Father Gilbert Mysteries. Or the Augustine Institute audio dramas Brother Francis: The Barefoot Saint of Assisi and The Trials of Saint Patrick. Or plays like The First Church of Pete's Garage and Catacombs. Or C.S. Lewis projects like The Chronicles of Narnia audio dramas or The Annotated Screwtape Letters. Or the film Beyond The Mask. Or lots of other dramas, novels, scripts and lyrics. He simply can't make up his mind what he likes to write.

Reviews

[Rampion · Rating 2 out of 5]

UPDATE: Changing to 2.5 stars.

I was disappointed. I thought I would like this book as much as the first one, but I didn't. This book was weird. The girl who was the main character in Ripple Effect was only mentioned in the first quarter of the book, and briefly once or twice in the rest of the book. Also, even though Jeff and Elizabeth are dating, he never seems to miss her or anything like that when they are far apart (in separate countries). Jeff is mentioned more than Elizabeth, but still not enough. I thought the book didn't have a lot to do with the first one. I took me a while to read, because I couldn't keep my focus on it. I think I would like it better if it were some sort of spin off series, but not in the same series as Ripple Effect. Overall, I still kind of liked the story, but not nearly as well as I had hoped to.

Clean rating: completely clean.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. As a medieval era and Arthurian Legend lover, this was awesome for me. Sequel to Ripple Effect, again, I love the theories about the dimensions and the 'Fault Line'. The plot was great, although this one had prominent themes of Christianity, mostly in the later parts. It was good both morally and plot-wise with great characters.

Elizabeth, the main character in Ripple Effect, was not a very important character in this book. She was pushed back to let Malcolm, Jeff, and Graham take the center stage. And, not to mention, King Arthur. He was awesome, speaking only in ancient Latin (although it is translated to English, no worries). He was awesome to read the legends as told by him, and hilarious to see his reactions to modern times. I will now call modern technology 'enchantments' and 'the trickery of Merlin'.

The end was wonderful and really cool, and although this is set in modern times, it takes a lovely fantasy twist with a miracle. Excalibur is awesome as well... I adore that sword.

I recommend this book just as much as Ripple Effect. Seriously, read this trilogy. It is incredible for anyone loving time travel/time theories.

[Susan Forsgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

In This second book of the Time Thriller trilogy, Jeff and Elizabeth are on their way to a high-school end-of-the-year party when a mysterious mist envelops their car and King Arthur comes riding out of it. Their otherwise ordinary American town of Fault Line that lies on a mysterious time fault line where people are able to travel to different times. Arthur has not quite shown up in the right place, as his legend says that he will "come back to help Britain in its greatest time of need."

[Jocelyn Montalvo Cullum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14245973

[Wyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff and Elizabeth experience another time shift at Fawlt Line but; instead of leaving the present themselves someone from another time arrives. He claims to be King Arthur and only speaks Latin. The story line is interesting and Mr. McCusker has generously explained many of the well-known and not-so-well-known legends of King Arthur and Merlin. He has delved right into the religious ideas of Arthur's time which brings quite a contrast to the present day. The England of our time through Arthur's eyes comes up short and causes the reader to do some real thinking.

A good teen book with good historical references cast in the light of Christianity in medieval times. 4 Stars

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected after the first one. And I'm like 50 pages into the third, Memory's Gate, and that one seems to be more like what I expected.
This one, though, is different, not focused on Elizabeth and Jeff, but King Arthur! That one threw me for a loop. I loved it though!! Myriddn and Adrian, I loved both of them. I love the idea of taking someone from so long ago and dropping him in the present and seeing how he does. Especially when he doesn't speak English!
Fantastically done, and definitely a book I would read over again.

[Dallas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This title was originally published as "Stranger in the Mist" in the "Time Twists" series. Spoilers ahead. I think this had an interesting premise in that King Arthur is transported to modern times to fix his country. The story, however, dropped nearly everything we learned in the first book almost to the point where the main characters are the same in name only. This book gets very, very preachy toward the end. I might read the third one, but only because they have been quick reads.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about King Arthur coming to modern times to save England in it's greatest time of need. He is helped, of course, by the characters we have come to love in this series. I loved the nod to Christianity and glorifying God being more important than glorifying one's self.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one too.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was alright. rather random.

[Flaming Fighter · Rating 2 out of 5]

simple.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good, definitely recommend this book and the first book in the trilogy.