The Timestream Verdict

by Jordan Berk

A time-travel crime calls for a time-travel jury.

Aaron Barnett falls asleep in 1985 as an ordinary accountant and wakes up sixty years later as a juror for the trial of the century. The utopian society of 2042 is grappling with the murder of the 'Mother of Time Travel.' And only this jury of inadvertent time travelers is equipped to reach an impartial verdict.

The twenty-first century feels like a paradise to Aaron. Far removed from his monotonous life, he savors the advancements and luxuries that the seemingly idyllic future has to offer. That is, until he uncovers the complicated, hidden truths behind time travel, and his own past, present, and future are suddenly at risk.

As it turns out, Aaron and his fellow jurors may be ruling on more than a lone case of temporal homicide. They may be delivering a verdict on the very nature of time itself.

282 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2024

About the author

Jordan Berk is a software engineer by trade, and a certified nerd by nature. He has loved time travel stories for as long as he can remember, and The Timestream Verdict is his first contribution to the genre.

Jordan Berk is a third-generation writer. He is the grandson of screenwriter and novelist Howard Berk, whose credits included Columbo, Mission: Impossible and The Rockford Files. Jordan’s father is Peter Berk, co-author of the award-winning TimeLock series of action/sci-fi novels, and the political/legal thriller First Line of Defense.

​In addition to writing and family time, Jordan enjoys basketball, technology, and songwriting.

Reviews

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1985, Aaron Barnett is just an ordinary accountant, but when he wakes up 57 years later in 2042, he finds himself summoned for an extraordinary duty as one of 12 jurors taken from different points in time, to preside in the first ever trial of its kind: temporal homicide.
The victim is a woman recognised by 2042 society as the 'Mother of Time Travel', whose demise in 1988 is blamed on a person who travelled back in time from 2042, thus threatening the foundation on which the utopian society Aaron now finds himself in is based upon.

Chosen for their unique perspectives as people pulled from different moments in time, Aaron and his fellow jurors must deliver an unbiased and unanimous verdict on this high-profile case.

Aaron is initially captivated by the wonders of the future—technological marvels, societal harmony, and a life that seems perfect in every way. However, as the trial progresses, unsettling truths about time travel and the case itself emerge as Aaron is unexpectedly and somewhat accidentally dragged into events that bring him face to face with future citizens' polarising views on time travel. And the deeper Aaron digs, the more he begins to question not only the integrity of the past and the future, but also his own role within these. Soon, Aaron faces the disturbing reality that this trial may not just decide the fate of the accused—it could redefine the very nature of time itself, with far-reaching consequences for his own past, present, and future.

💭 I may not be a huge sci-fi reader, but I’m definitely a time travel nerd. This probably comes from being an 80’s kid who grew up on Back to the Future, Flight of the Navigator, and the like. So, when I got the chance to read an ARC of this book, I jumped at it.
I was amazed to learn that this is a debut novel. The quality of the writing, world-building, character development, and plot all give the impression of a book crafted by a seasoned writer. Huge kudos to Jordan Berk for absolutely knocking it out of the park.
Although the story evolves around a court case, trial scenes are beautifully balanced with plenty of action, heartfelt moments of human connection and more time travel fuelled world building than you can shake a stick at.
The book tells a classic 'nerd-does-well' story. Aaron, an accountant by trade, isn’t the most spontaneous person, nor by his own admission, is he particularly good-looking, smart, or ambitious. Yet
I absolutely loved the idea of seeing the future through Aaron's eyes. Back in the 80's, life was still very much analogue, but we were looking toward the future, guided by pop culture, which makes his reaction to suddenly finding himself 50+ years into the future plausible, and the jokes about the apparent lack of gravity defying devices are particularly canon.
The book does a great job explaining its central plot elements in simple terms, so it’s easy to follow. Still, like many time travel stories, there are theories that might divide readers. I wasn’t entirely sold on the concept of the immutability of past events. As a firm believer in the 'butterfly effect' and 'grandfather paradox' theories, the idea of linear timelines didn’t quite resonate with me. However, I appreciated the effort, particularly in relation to the possibility of different outcomes in parallel timelines created by fragmentation brought on by time travel. Unfortunately, this wasn't explored as much as I’d hoped, likely sacrificed for the sake of narrative pace and engagement, which I have no complaints about.
With its endearing, well-developed characters and gripping plot, The Timestream Verdict delivers an original and captivating story.

[Nancy Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I confess—I am a fan of the old-fashioned science fiction genre and especially the idea of time travel and life in the future. It’s not so much the “science” part of sci-fi that attracts me but rather the “fiction” part: the stories those incredible writers, including the incomparable Rod Serling, created about people with whom we can identify and situations that we ourselves may have experienced, although granted in the here-and-now and not in some future time.

It’s that ability to meld science and fiction that makes for good storytelling in that genre, and one that Jordan Berk demonstrates in his debut novel, The Timestream Verdict.

The premise is intriguing: a trial takes place in 2042, with a jury composed of time travelers from the past. (And like any of us who have served as jurors, their participation was not by choice.) The victim is Kathryn Simpson, a genius scientist who inadvertently created the formula that made time-travel technology possible and, as a result, gained the title of “Mother of Time Travel”—and who was murdered in 1988.

The protagonist is Aaron Barnett, a modest accountant from 1985, who initially views the twenty-first century advancements as making life a utopian existence. But as the story progresses, he finds himself challenged by the unexpected conflicts and the hidden risks of time travel itself.

Questions abound. Will the jury reach a fair verdict with regard to the person charged with the crime? Can Aaron go back in time and save Kathryn Simpson? Should he? And if he does, how will that affect the future?

And what about the people Aaron meets during his time in 2042? How do those interactions change him, and will any of them play a part in his 1985 life once he returns? And will he return, or will he remain forever in the future?

So many questions, and in true storytelling fashion, Jordan answers them all in a way that you most likely didn’t see coming and yet find perfectly reasonable. The Timestream Verdict is, as one reviewer put it, “a futuristic telescope which opens a new aspect of the world.”

But it’s also a fascinating tale that explores the role of free will, personal beliefs and moral choices—not as theoretical concepts but as very real views held by Aaron as he struggles with his decision and all the possible ramifications of that decision for himself and the others it could impact.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this is technically sci-fi, but it reads much more like literary fiction. That said, I got so wrapped up in the book that I lost track of time, and the next thing I knew, it was practically dinner time. This was time travel, adventure, intrigue, and an exercise in what-ifs and the consequences of mucking about with the time stream all wrapped into one. I really enjoyed the narration style, and the way the future appears. It gives very...boring dystopia vibes, with technology so heavily integrated into everything, and taking care of so many needs it would be easy to become complacent, like the Eloi, or the humans in Wall-E. But I'd be lying if I said it didn't sound amazing in some ways, too! I wish I could find the right words to describe this book, and the way it draws you in and holds you tight once you start reading. The characters, and how they react, feel real. The diverse times, countries, and backgrounds are wonderful, and nothing feels forced. The story moves at a smooth pace, although I wouldn't call it fast, it also isn't dragging along, either. Highly recommend if you're into speculative sci-fi with a literary fiction lilt.

[NinaInkdawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So bookish friends, don't simply call this book science fiction, but it is much, much more. As soon as I started I was so captivated by the book that I never wanted to stop, even at night. This is a journey through time but also an adventure, a story full of intrigue. I loved the way of telling the story and trust me you will be amazed by the story in which you will also find dystopian elements. It gives some dystopian vibes which I really liked, I wanted to know more and more... . A unique book that will win you over with characters that seem truly real. The story never has any problems, quite the contrary. I want to read more by this writer. Absolutely. Rating 4.5

[Sean Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis gripped me here, and I wasn't sure how I felt about the work until our hero goes back to his own time and starts doing things. It then became part farce, part serious attempt to fix things, but the ending did work and left me satisfied. Not exactly a genre-busting novel, but a well-penned entry with a reasonably engaging narrator.

[Sapphyre Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was very different from my usual fantasy read, but I loved it.
The idea of time travel is intriguing, and this was written in a way that was easy to understand and follow. It was easy to read, and I wanted to find out what happened next to Aaron.
The Timestream Verdict was a unique and brilliant read.
100% recommend 👌

[Don Perschau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like time travel books and enjoyed this one. The author had some good original ideas and a pretty good story. In spite of a high level vocabulary the writing wasn't the best. I would still recommend it, especially for those who like time stories. The main character becomes a juror at a trial of someone who is charged with temporal murder.

[George Reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clever premise, but amateurishly written. And, IMO, the ending was a cop out.