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The Time-Travelling Estate Agent
Time takes everything – but what if it could also give back?
It’s December 2019 in a small Welsh town, and 60-year-old estate agent Eric Meek discovers a property which boasts a truly unique garage conversion. Instead of the more customary home office or gym, it contains a hole in space-time that has been developed into a traversable portal.
The portal allows movement between 2019 and the day it was first powered up, 3rd July 1976, which just happened to be the best – and worst – day of 16-year-old Eric’s life.
Presented with a chance to right the wrongs of the past, Eric revisits the moment he believes defined his future. His adventures in time also find him caught up in a decades-old missing persons case while he attempts to improve the lives of those close to him, including his long-dead father.
The Time-Travelling Estate Agent is the story of a first love, a second chance, and a third age redemption.
Will Eric change history? Or will history change Eric?
It’s December 2019 in a small Welsh town, and 60-year-old estate agent Eric Meek discovers a property which boasts a truly unique garage conversion. Instead of the more customary home office or gym, it contains a hole in space-time that has been developed into a traversable portal.
The portal allows movement between 2019 and the day it was first powered up, 3rd July 1976, which just happened to be the best – and worst – day of 16-year-old Eric’s life.
Presented with a chance to right the wrongs of the past, Eric revisits the moment he believes defined his future. His adventures in time also find him caught up in a decades-old missing persons case while he attempts to improve the lives of those close to him, including his long-dead father.
The Time-Travelling Estate Agent is the story of a first love, a second chance, and a third age redemption.
Will Eric change history? Or will history change Eric?
- GenresTime Travel
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 17, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 19, 2025
For a good while, at the start of this tale, I thought I’d be awarding no more than two or three stars. It dragged a little and lacked the smooth storytelling of later chapters.
And therein lies the lesson.. stick with this, it improves greatly after a while as the characters and plot develop.
Good fun, rather clever in places and a couple of times made me laugh out loud. Enjoyable.
And therein lies the lesson.. stick with this, it improves greatly after a while as the characters and plot develop.
Good fun, rather clever in places and a couple of times made me laugh out loud. Enjoyable.
January 21, 2025
This novel is set in the charming region of South Wales, specifically in Cwmbran, which made it all the more enjoyable for me as I recognized many of the local places mentioned throughout the story. It was delightful to see familiar spots come to life on the pages, further grounding the narrative in a locale I am so familiar with.
From a writing standpoint, the book is reasonably well-crafted, and I found the premise of the story to be intriguing. The idea of time travel presented here felt fresh and innovative, sparking my imagination and inviting me to consider the possibilities of such a concept. The author definitely had a clever angle that made me think about how this unique form of time travel could feasibly exist within the realms of reality and fiction alike.
Despite my appreciation for the concept, I struggled to engage with the story on a deeper level, which was disappointing. As I read, I started to notice a certain repetitiveness in the plot—not in the sense of revisiting the same day, which is naturally part of the time travel theme, but rather in the emotional and thematic undertones that felt somewhat stagnant. There seemed to be a critical element missing from the overarching narrative that prevented it from fully drawing me in.
Additionally, I found the characters lacking in depth, particularly Eric Meek, who came across as quite one-dimensional. I wished for more insight into his motivations and emotional landscape, as I feel this would have added significant weight to the story and allowed me to better empathize with him. The lack of character development left me feeling somewhat disconnected from the narrative, which impacted my overall enjoyment.
Another point worth mentioning is the presence of typos scattered throughout, and it was clear that the manuscript could have benefited from a more thorough editing process. A careful review might not only have helped polish the writing but also streamlined the plot, making the story flow more cohesively.
In summary, while the book showcases several commendable elements and hints at the potential for a truly brilliant narrative, it fell short of my expectations. I sincerely enjoyed the opportunity to read about a local area and explore the theme of time travel from a fresh perspective, even though the execution didn’t fully engage me as I had hoped.
I want to thank the author for providing me with an ebook as part of a book club in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to immerse myself in this tale.
From a writing standpoint, the book is reasonably well-crafted, and I found the premise of the story to be intriguing. The idea of time travel presented here felt fresh and innovative, sparking my imagination and inviting me to consider the possibilities of such a concept. The author definitely had a clever angle that made me think about how this unique form of time travel could feasibly exist within the realms of reality and fiction alike.
Despite my appreciation for the concept, I struggled to engage with the story on a deeper level, which was disappointing. As I read, I started to notice a certain repetitiveness in the plot—not in the sense of revisiting the same day, which is naturally part of the time travel theme, but rather in the emotional and thematic undertones that felt somewhat stagnant. There seemed to be a critical element missing from the overarching narrative that prevented it from fully drawing me in.
Additionally, I found the characters lacking in depth, particularly Eric Meek, who came across as quite one-dimensional. I wished for more insight into his motivations and emotional landscape, as I feel this would have added significant weight to the story and allowed me to better empathize with him. The lack of character development left me feeling somewhat disconnected from the narrative, which impacted my overall enjoyment.
Another point worth mentioning is the presence of typos scattered throughout, and it was clear that the manuscript could have benefited from a more thorough editing process. A careful review might not only have helped polish the writing but also streamlined the plot, making the story flow more cohesively.
In summary, while the book showcases several commendable elements and hints at the potential for a truly brilliant narrative, it fell short of my expectations. I sincerely enjoyed the opportunity to read about a local area and explore the theme of time travel from a fresh perspective, even though the execution didn’t fully engage me as I had hoped.
I want to thank the author for providing me with an ebook as part of a book club in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to immerse myself in this tale.
January 6, 2025
The Time Travelling Estate Agent is a dual time story set in 2019 and 1976.
Located in a small Welsh town, this is the story of sixty year old estate agent Eric Meek. A request to value a house where his family once ran a small shop brings back memories of his youth, especially those surrounding Verity, his first love.
During the house valuation, Eric discovered a very unusual room. Out of curiosity he put on a strange suit which seemed to be the only way to open the last door in the garage space. He stepped inside, it certainly was an odd place as he found himself back in July 3rd 1976.
Erik realised that he arrived several hours before significant events on that day played out; what if he could find answers to questions that had bothered him for forty three years?
There follows a tale with recurring details as Eric gains access to the garage space back in 2019 so that he can return to 1976 multiple times. Each time he returns he enters a new dimension where that same day occurs for everyone except Eric.
Filled with detailed nostalgia from the 1970s and some dark humour, this book might appeal to time-travel enthusiasts, especially those who remember the heat wave that took place in the summer of 1976.
Located in a small Welsh town, this is the story of sixty year old estate agent Eric Meek. A request to value a house where his family once ran a small shop brings back memories of his youth, especially those surrounding Verity, his first love.
During the house valuation, Eric discovered a very unusual room. Out of curiosity he put on a strange suit which seemed to be the only way to open the last door in the garage space. He stepped inside, it certainly was an odd place as he found himself back in July 3rd 1976.
Erik realised that he arrived several hours before significant events on that day played out; what if he could find answers to questions that had bothered him for forty three years?
There follows a tale with recurring details as Eric gains access to the garage space back in 2019 so that he can return to 1976 multiple times. Each time he returns he enters a new dimension where that same day occurs for everyone except Eric.
Filled with detailed nostalgia from the 1970s and some dark humour, this book might appeal to time-travel enthusiasts, especially those who remember the heat wave that took place in the summer of 1976.
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April 4, 2025This book had some things that I really liked. I don’t read time travel books all that often because I feel they run the risk of requiring mental gymnastics to understand. However, The Time-Travelling Estate Agent looked like a unique take on the concept. The creativity and accessibility exhibited by the author set this book apart from other time travel novels, sharing a heartwarming story of second chances.
Erik is a character that you can’t help but root for. He has his flaws, but he is clearly trying to be a good person. He’s also older than the usual time traveler, at the age of sixty. He ends up revisiting an important day in his past over and over, trying to understand (or maybe change) events that are pivotal to who he is in the current day.
As is sometimes the case with time travel, I did feel like the story could be repetitive at times. The pacing was a wee bit choppy, although the plot was interesting, and the ending was satisfying. I was caught off guard by the attempted SA (while it was not extremely graphic). It made sense to the story and was not there needlessly, but it is something I wish I had been aware of.
At the end of the day, The Time-Travelling Estate Agent was an entertaining read, and one that would be great for readers who like to ponder, “What if?”
Thank you to the author for providing me with this book. It did not affect my opinion in any way. The Time-Travelling Estate Agent is available now.
Erik is a character that you can’t help but root for. He has his flaws, but he is clearly trying to be a good person. He’s also older than the usual time traveler, at the age of sixty. He ends up revisiting an important day in his past over and over, trying to understand (or maybe change) events that are pivotal to who he is in the current day.
As is sometimes the case with time travel, I did feel like the story could be repetitive at times. The pacing was a wee bit choppy, although the plot was interesting, and the ending was satisfying. I was caught off guard by the attempted SA (while it was not extremely graphic). It made sense to the story and was not there needlessly, but it is something I wish I had been aware of.
At the end of the day, The Time-Travelling Estate Agent was an entertaining read, and one that would be great for readers who like to ponder, “What if?”
Thank you to the author for providing me with this book. It did not affect my opinion in any way. The Time-Travelling Estate Agent is available now.
December 3, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The premise is intriguing enough to make you want to find out what happens to the characters and it is humorous enough to be entertaining. Nicely done.
August 28, 2025
If you look past the improbable time-travelling device (but then is ANY time-travelling device probable?), this was a gentle, fun story with well-developed characters and the expected smattering of baddies. Taking place in a contemporary time space - no going back and hunting for T Rex's or anything ludicrous like that, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would - should have even.
I read it on holiday sitting by the pool so the chilled vibe suited me perfectly - well worth a look.
Chloe
I read it on holiday sitting by the pool so the chilled vibe suited me perfectly - well worth a look.
Chloe
March 4, 2025
Bought this on a friend’s recommendation and I’m glad I did. It’s a bit of a slow burner, but once I got into the main premise, and the plot/characters expansion, I really enjoyed it.
I wasn’t around in the 70s, but as an 80s child I still appreciated a lot of the references. Parts of the book made me laugh out loud!
As the story continued, I built empathy with the main protagonist – and there are some real surprises as the book comes to its conclusion.
Strongly recommend this book for anyone looking for something easy to read, interesting, engaging, funny, clever, witty and refreshingly different!
I wasn’t around in the 70s, but as an 80s child I still appreciated a lot of the references. Parts of the book made me laugh out loud!
As the story continued, I built empathy with the main protagonist – and there are some real surprises as the book comes to its conclusion.
Strongly recommend this book for anyone looking for something easy to read, interesting, engaging, funny, clever, witty and refreshingly different!
April 21, 2025
This book is an entertaining blend of time travel, historical fiction and whodunnit.
In December 2019, Eric Meek is a meek estate agent who discovers a portal in the space-time continuum which can transport him back in time. The catch is that the portal is tethered to just before 1PM on Saturday 3rd July 1976, the hottest day of a heat wave (I was working in a cold store at the time!), the day that Bjorn Borg defeated Ilie Nastase to win his first Wimbledon championship, and the worst day of Eric’s life when he lost his girlfriend, Verity, to bully Len Butcher, a trauma which has blighted his life ever since. It’s also the day his father’s shop is burgled and Verity and Len disappear. So we have a mix of time travel with Groundhog Day. Eric repeatedly goes back to try to change things (fortunately the ‘tethered’ portal stays open until he chooses to return) but is frustrated by the rules of time travel which mean that whatever he does will not affect the future and won’t even be remembered by the participants. To start with he gets into quite a lot of fights, often triggered by the atrociously sexist male chauvinism regarded as normal in 1976, and occasionally he enjoys romantic relations but gradually he endeavours to right wrongs (the portal is increasingly like the telephone box in which mild-mannered Clark Kent turns into Superman). This mission comes into sharper focus when a body is discovered in 2019 and Eric tries to discover whodunnit in 1976.
Meanwhile in 2019, business is bad, the bank wants to review his overdraft, and he is being stalked for takeover by an online estate agency. He starts realising that he has wasted his (mostly loveless) life and so has Carol, his receptionist, who was involved in whatever happened in 1976. He wants to make amends.
If the portal put me in mind of Superman, there was also a hint of James Bond in the way that the narrator gives the details of the cars (mostly posh) and the wines and the brands of smartphones and specific record tracks. This felt like garnish. Far more impressive were the descriptions of the clothes, the groceries, the beers and all the furnishings of everyday life in 1976; this overwhelming level of specifics added an impressive depth of verisimilitude. And the fact that Eric couldn't walk by a house without mentally exploring it and valuing it added credence to the idea that he was an estate agent. But surely even estate agents occasionally eat at home.
Eric's character and those of Carol and Simon/Seb were nicely drawn and given nuance and depth. This made the portrayal of the villains disappointing. It was difficult to suspend disbelief when Alwyn repeatedly flouted direct orders. Eric's dad was two-dimensionally stupid. PC Tanner, Big Ben Butcher, Little Len and Elvis were all too bad to ring true.
Nevertheless, this was a well-written and entertaining read.
In December 2019, Eric Meek is a meek estate agent who discovers a portal in the space-time continuum which can transport him back in time. The catch is that the portal is tethered to just before 1PM on Saturday 3rd July 1976, the hottest day of a heat wave (I was working in a cold store at the time!), the day that Bjorn Borg defeated Ilie Nastase to win his first Wimbledon championship, and the worst day of Eric’s life when he lost his girlfriend, Verity, to bully Len Butcher, a trauma which has blighted his life ever since. It’s also the day his father’s shop is burgled and Verity and Len disappear. So we have a mix of time travel with Groundhog Day. Eric repeatedly goes back to try to change things (fortunately the ‘tethered’ portal stays open until he chooses to return) but is frustrated by the rules of time travel which mean that whatever he does will not affect the future and won’t even be remembered by the participants. To start with he gets into quite a lot of fights, often triggered by the atrociously sexist male chauvinism regarded as normal in 1976, and occasionally he enjoys romantic relations but gradually he endeavours to right wrongs (the portal is increasingly like the telephone box in which mild-mannered Clark Kent turns into Superman). This mission comes into sharper focus when a body is discovered in 2019 and Eric tries to discover whodunnit in 1976.
Meanwhile in 2019, business is bad, the bank wants to review his overdraft, and he is being stalked for takeover by an online estate agency. He starts realising that he has wasted his (mostly loveless) life and so has Carol, his receptionist, who was involved in whatever happened in 1976. He wants to make amends.
If the portal put me in mind of Superman, there was also a hint of James Bond in the way that the narrator gives the details of the cars (mostly posh) and the wines and the brands of smartphones and specific record tracks. This felt like garnish. Far more impressive were the descriptions of the clothes, the groceries, the beers and all the furnishings of everyday life in 1976; this overwhelming level of specifics added an impressive depth of verisimilitude. And the fact that Eric couldn't walk by a house without mentally exploring it and valuing it added credence to the idea that he was an estate agent. But surely even estate agents occasionally eat at home.
Eric's character and those of Carol and Simon/Seb were nicely drawn and given nuance and depth. This made the portrayal of the villains disappointing. It was difficult to suspend disbelief when Alwyn repeatedly flouted direct orders. Eric's dad was two-dimensionally stupid. PC Tanner, Big Ben Butcher, Little Len and Elvis were all too bad to ring true.
Nevertheless, this was a well-written and entertaining read.
December 7, 2024
THE TIME-TRAVELLING ESTATE AGENT by Dale Bradford is an adult, historical, sci-fi, time travel stand alone focusing on sixty year old real-estate agent Eric Meek.
NOTE: As the author is British, and the story is set in Britain, there are many colloquial British mannerisms, and euphemisms used throughout the story.
Told from omniscient third person perspective (Dale Bradford) following two timelines (2019 and 1976) THE TIME-TRAVELLING ESTATE AGENT focuses on struggling real-estate agent Eric Meek. With the creditors chomping at the bit, estate agent Eric Meek needs to make a sale. When a local resident offers their house up for sale, the eccentric and reluctant husband and physicist refuses Eric’s offer, but not until Eric discovers the truth hidden behind the resident’s walls. The physicist has opened a portal to July 3rd, 1976, an important date for the people of the time but a date that is about to repeat itself with every visit from our story line hero. As Eric embarks on a journey to 1976, to locate the girl he once loved, Eric will discover the secrets and lies long buried beneath in the past.
THE TIME-TRAVELLING ESTATE AGENT is a story of probabilities and impossibilities; of a multi-verse wherein our hero bears witness to the past as it continues to repeat itself with ever visit. A story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, THE TIME-TRAVELLING ESTATE AGENT is an intriguing and captivating story of Improbabilia but entertaining, none-the-less.
Copy supplied for review
NOTE: As the author is British, and the story is set in Britain, there are many colloquial British mannerisms, and euphemisms used throughout the story.
Told from omniscient third person perspective (Dale Bradford) following two timelines (2019 and 1976) THE TIME-TRAVELLING ESTATE AGENT focuses on struggling real-estate agent Eric Meek. With the creditors chomping at the bit, estate agent Eric Meek needs to make a sale. When a local resident offers their house up for sale, the eccentric and reluctant husband and physicist refuses Eric’s offer, but not until Eric discovers the truth hidden behind the resident’s walls. The physicist has opened a portal to July 3rd, 1976, an important date for the people of the time but a date that is about to repeat itself with every visit from our story line hero. As Eric embarks on a journey to 1976, to locate the girl he once loved, Eric will discover the secrets and lies long buried beneath in the past.
THE TIME-TRAVELLING ESTATE AGENT is a story of probabilities and impossibilities; of a multi-verse wherein our hero bears witness to the past as it continues to repeat itself with ever visit. A story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, THE TIME-TRAVELLING ESTATE AGENT is an intriguing and captivating story of Improbabilia but entertaining, none-the-less.
Copy supplied for review
April 4, 2025
(After mentioning a waterbed)
Mrs Ducreux stood very close to Eric, one hand holding her glass and the other gently stroking his face. “Have you ever had sex on one?” she purred. “The motion of the ocean can cause quite a commotion.” “I can’t say I have.” “You have had sex, though?” she teased, tapping his nose with her index finger. “I just assumed that door was closed to me now,” Eric said. “Well, you know what they say,” she whispered in his ear. “When a door is firmly closed, it might just need a good bang to get it open again.”
I note that the author's also written a book on sex toys. Not surprised, after reading that bit.
This had a bit of lovely quaintness to it, and even though the recursion of the day was a bit odd (the opening in particular jarring), I grew up close enough to Cwmbran that it was nice to read about local places doing interesting things.
Mrs Ducreux stood very close to Eric, one hand holding her glass and the other gently stroking his face. “Have you ever had sex on one?” she purred. “The motion of the ocean can cause quite a commotion.” “I can’t say I have.” “You have had sex, though?” she teased, tapping his nose with her index finger. “I just assumed that door was closed to me now,” Eric said. “Well, you know what they say,” she whispered in his ear. “When a door is firmly closed, it might just need a good bang to get it open again.”
I note that the author's also written a book on sex toys. Not surprised, after reading that bit.
This had a bit of lovely quaintness to it, and even though the recursion of the day was a bit odd (the opening in particular jarring), I grew up close enough to Cwmbran that it was nice to read about local places doing interesting things.
January 24, 2026
The Time-Travelling Estate Agent is a quietly brilliant blend of science fiction, nostalgia, and heartfelt reflection. What begins as a clever high-concept premise unfolds into a deeply human story about regret, love, and the long shadow of our past choices. Eric is an instantly relatable protagonist, and watching him confront his sixteen-year-old self is both poignant and gently humorous. The time travel mechanics are refreshingly grounded, serving the emotional core rather than overpowering it. With warmth, wit, and surprising depth, this novel reminds us that redemption doesn’t always mean changing the past, sometimes it means finally understanding it. A thoughtful, uplifting read that lingers well after the final page.
January 9, 2025
I loved this book. The nostalgia, the local (to me) setting and the time travel between the hot summer of 1976 and the cold (ISH) winter of 2019
The dialogue is cracking and I genuinely laughed out loud during some interactions
It's also about one man's battle with letting go, or not letting go of the past. His determination to put things that are wrong, right
I didn't grow up in the 70's but I often ask my parents and grandparents what it was like. This book basically describes what they say to me
I read this in a few sittings, it has a nice pace to it and I enjoyed it more and more as the story developed
Great work, highly recommend
The dialogue is cracking and I genuinely laughed out loud during some interactions
It's also about one man's battle with letting go, or not letting go of the past. His determination to put things that are wrong, right
I didn't grow up in the 70's but I often ask my parents and grandparents what it was like. This book basically describes what they say to me
I read this in a few sittings, it has a nice pace to it and I enjoyed it more and more as the story developed
Great work, highly recommend
May 14, 2026
DNF at 55%
I put this one on my kindle as I saw it advertised somewhere and I'm not far from Cwmbran so I thought I'd give it a go.
It was just OK - if I had nothing else lined up to read then I might have finished it but my TBR pile is large and several books there appealed more than finishing this one. I found the to-ing and fro-ing to 1976 rather repetative and the characters weren't holding my interest.
I put this one on my kindle as I saw it advertised somewhere and I'm not far from Cwmbran so I thought I'd give it a go.
It was just OK - if I had nothing else lined up to read then I might have finished it but my TBR pile is large and several books there appealed more than finishing this one. I found the to-ing and fro-ing to 1976 rather repetative and the characters weren't holding my interest.
March 4, 2026
entertaining
I did enjoy this story and I look forward to the second book of the series. Being a huge fan of time travel fiction, I liked Mr. Bradford's take on it here with a set landing point regardless when the traveler started from. I also found Eric to be a pretty okay main character and I really like Carol. I also like Ryan and hope to see more of him in the next book.
I did enjoy this story and I look forward to the second book of the series. Being a huge fan of time travel fiction, I liked Mr. Bradford's take on it here with a set landing point regardless when the traveler started from. I also found Eric to be a pretty okay main character and I really like Carol. I also like Ryan and hope to see more of him in the next book.
March 9, 2026
Worst book ending ever
Story stopped. No cliffhanger , just stopped. Utter rubbish. There is a second book but its the same story divided in two in an effort to grab more cash from the reader. Don't waste your time or money
Story stopped. No cliffhanger , just stopped. Utter rubbish. There is a second book but its the same story divided in two in an effort to grab more cash from the reader. Don't waste your time or money
February 9, 2025
Good story, with a likeable lead character.
June 15, 2025
Amusing in places, but noy laugh out loud. Time-travel repeating the same events without changing anything in the future. It's okay. 2.8.
July 29, 2026
Novel and intriguing
January 11, 2026
This was a bit of a stab in the dark to be honest. What I wanted was a bloke selling sections of forest to T-Rexs. What I got was a mild mannered Welsh bloke going back to 1976.
All in all it wasn't too bad of a read. It just seemed to lack something. I think it was mainly plot direction: it was obviously setting up a series and the ending just seemed too quick to arrive.
It was a easy, light-hearted read to start the year. Nothing more, nothing less really.
All in all it wasn't too bad of a read. It just seemed to lack something. I think it was mainly plot direction: it was obviously setting up a series and the ending just seemed too quick to arrive.
It was a easy, light-hearted read to start the year. Nothing more, nothing less really.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews