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Middle Falls Time Travel #21

The Unrepentant Lives of Reggie Blackwell: Middle Falls Time Travel, Book 21

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In the charming town of Middle Falls, Oregon, an extraordinary phenomenon those who die but aren't ready to move on are inexplicably revived at key moments in their lives, with their memories fully intact.

Reggie Blackwell is one such soul—a boy with a tragic past who threatens to grow into a man with a thirst for the easy life. An unrepentant rogue, Reggie seizes the rare opportunity these resets offer, diving headfirst into a life without consequences.

But as Reggie spirals deeper into the hedonistic world he's crafted, a troubling question Is there a price for living without remorse? Can a man who refuses to seek redemption ever truly escape the shadows of his choices?

Can anyone find redemption if they aren't willing to seek it? Will Reggie continue to indulge in reckless abandon, or will he eventually face the consequences of his past and carve out a new destiny?

Part of the captivating Middle Falls Time Travel series, The Unrepentant Lives of Reggie Blackwell can be enjoyed as a standalone tale while deepening the intrigue of the broader series.

Contains a special note from the author.

Audible Audio

Published June 17, 2025

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Shawn Inmon

100 books597 followers

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5 stars
376 (63%)
4 stars
141 (23%)
3 stars
58 (9%)
2 stars
12 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Kathleen Craig.
194 reviews
July 18, 2025
The book started out interesting. Fairly quickly Reggie resolved his issues. He then went into a loop of repeating the same life for a long time. I wondered what this was until something changed and had him reacting to it. Then I realized Reggie is one of the people I know who has very little curiosity about life. Best life for them is comfort without ruffles. They don't even have to love their job or circumstances, just have to get it down. They don't tend to seek out new hobbies. They don't tend to travel or read a lot. They don't need the stimulation of meeting new people. But they are not unhappy. They see no reason to be proactive when 'everything is fine'. Reggie actually helped me understand a few people a little better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ashwin Dongre.
335 reviews11 followers
June 25, 2025
This is the worst MF book so far. The protagonist's character is totally dislikable. Which is fine, you start the same with few other, like Michael Holister, but then there is a character arc and you start to invest in the protagonist as its character evolves. None of it happens here. At around 40% I started wondering, we're just in day 2 of his story, when are we going to move forward? At 60% I started wondering why am I reading this story at all. The character is not likeable at all, and we don't get anything to root for him. Knowing the pattern and limitations of Shawn InmonI started to predict that the character will suddenly change at around 80% of the story, like he did in the story of Karl Strong. Well, it did not happen in this story. As it always happen, (and he admits that that's how he works) Shawn starts with vague idea, starts listening to some song and his fingers types whatever story comes while typing, whether it makes sense or not. In this case, he challenged himself to write a character who does not want to change. He clearly had no idea how to do that. And he finally gave up at around 92%, introduced a new character who you have not had opportunity to develop empathy for (we just have to empathize because Reggie does), and then made Reggie change his ways. Not just little, but almost completely. He leaves the line of crime (only doing few "necessary crimes", which include a murder) and then ended the story.
This is first MF novel which did not move me at all, not a single tear shred, eyes didn't even get watery.
Shawn has done a big mathematical error in this. He mentioned that Reggie lived his sixth life 75 more times exactly the same, then with Sonny 54 more times, and then there is the final life. that brings his total number of lives to 136. But in the last chapter Shawn says he's lived only 127 lives. That's a big miskate. Also this is one character with max number of years lived, whopping 5695 with an error margin of ±272 years (since Shawn didn't mention exact year of death, but said he died in late fifties. So counting late fifties from the year 56-59, it averages out to the above-mentioned number with the said error margin).
Overall this is a YA novel. Barely a storyline, the protagonist is a young adult for almost entire story, and the conclusion is idiotic.
On top of it, the audiobook narration is average. There's almost no voice modulation, and no tone or pitch change. Shawn is going for cheaper option day by day.
All in all, worst ever MF novel. I mean I've even rated Veronica higher than this. Never going to reread.
725 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2025
INTRIGUING!

This was an intriguing book that made me wonder how long it would take for this character to wake up and realize his possible mistakes? He went to jail so many times and hooked up with guys that could be persuaded to follow him, that it felt unnecessarily long to get him to realize his mistakes. I have read all of the Middle Falls books and they tend to turn out the same. So I knew eventually what might happen. But I still had to read it to the end. I was also surprised that there wasn't any love interest who might have helped or turned him towards different out comes. So I was disappointed by this book plus there were grammatical errors that seem to be in every book that Kindle puts out. I do hope that the next book is better because I do love time travel and the author is great. I read this in just one day. Thanks!

Profile Image for Terri M.
207 reviews4 followers
January 20, 2025
If you haven’t read any of Shawn Inmon’s “Middle Falls” series then you are missing out on a real treasure. You don’t have to be a sci-fi or fantasy fan to appreciate his stories of lives re-lived until the protagonist gets a clue about how to do it right. These stories aren’t appreciably religious but have a definite moral tone…they are simply wonderful redemption stories. You will especially like these if you are a boomer because most of them are set in our coming-of-age era and the nostalgia hit is outstanding!

In this story Reggie is set on lifetimes of crime. As he perfects his criminality with each life lived, a spike in his well oiled gears in one lifetime sets him to considering if there’s a better way to do things. I highly recommend this and all the other “Middle Falls” books. I sure wish I lived there!
675 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2025
I was really looking forward to a new book in this series but I didn't like the characters or the story. Reggie was not unrepentant, he was a lazy shit who decided he didn't want to work and thought it was ok to steal from others. He was no Robin Hood just a thief. There was no advance in the overall theme. This book is just a dashed out story with nothing new.
Profile Image for Glenn Younger.
Author 4 books5 followers
October 7, 2025
Outside the law.

Once a crook, always a crook. So the saying goes. For the most part, it’s true for Reggie Blackwell. He’s only fifteen years old when his father kills his mother in a marital rage over how his older brother’s bail was handled in a household that was barely making ends meet.

Reggie is too young to make it on his own and he knows this is going to put him at the mercy of the system. That’s the last thing he wants.

First, though, his hormones put him at the mercy of a hot high school girl who dupes him into breaking and entering a local pawn shop to steal back her mother’s belongings that she’s pawned. They get caught. She and her rich girlfriends get off with a wrist slap. Reggie gets sent to juvie, and thus his lives of crime and incarceration are launched.

The repetition over many lifetimes of the first soul time travel loop where he creates a life of crime and retaliation gets excruciatingly tedious after a while. He’s a bonafide crook with zero introspection and no intention of changing anything but his ability to up his stealing game each time he loops back.

It’s his penultimate life that leads him to the chance to get it right. Even when he finally does go legit, however, he’s still not clean.

Why 3 stars when every single book in the series has gotten a resounding 5 or minimum 4.5 stars from me?

If the author hadn’t glossed over Reggie’s long awaited time of introspection while in prison—covering it almost in passing—the book would be a 4 star read even with all the repetitions of his lives of crime.

However…

SPOILER:

In his last life, when Reggie quietly takes justice into his own hands and kills a bad foster parent before any harm has yet been done in that time line—with zero repercussions—and he still transitions to the Universal Life dimension, it leaves you feeling that an injustice has been done to Reggie’s character arc and, more importantly, to the world premise that is the backbone of the series.

Bottom line, killing is not a reflection of well earned wisdom and should preclude admission into the next dimension. Yes, Reggie did do better in his last go round, but I question why it was enough to ‘graduate’.
Profile Image for Jkane.
719 reviews2 followers
June 26, 2025
This is probably not one of the 5 star books in the series, but I think it was slightly better than many of the 4 star books in the series. This novel is much more about the story and the characters, than it is about time travel. Also, as he is famous for doing, Inmon takes book 21 in the series, and yet makes it fresh somehow. The thing that i found most different about this novel, and completely anew is that Reggie's motivation is unlike any of the other 20 middle falls time travelers. Everyone else is trying to reach and goal, to try and get somewhere. Not Reggie. Our protagonist cruises through life completely content, despite the raw deal he is given. I truly think every other protagonist had a goal, but not our man Reggie. Eventually, (no spoiler) Reggie finds a motivation, and his outlook changes, but only slightly. He is still content Reggie. I thought this was great because many people in real life are like Reggie, but we don't see them in Middle Falls.
14 reviews
January 3, 2025
Reggie doesn’t want to change

We’re back in our favorite town in the PNW, get ready to have a lot of burger baskets and shakes. Reggie has a lot going against him and when he has to decide a path in life he follows in the family business. But when Reggie awakens in his second life he just uses it to implement a better life of crime. That’s the story what if someone does t want to confront their demons or change just suppress and move on. As always Shawn has written a great story that is easy to read and you will not put it down.
Profile Image for Lee Young.
129 reviews2 followers
December 13, 2025
Not one of his best. Not sure why it got a high rating.
In his last life Reggie still stole the stamps and killed Quinton Johnson. Sure, he went legit, but that shouldn’t have been his justification life.

Another issue is how many lives and years he lived with most being a carbon copy of the last. I know this is a fantasy series, but that is pushing the limit. Reggie never got bored and tired of the same life over and over?

Plus, he never found a girl to settle down with?

It just didn’t leave me with a good feeling like all of the other MF books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for John.
541 reviews18 followers
January 9, 2025
I got 95% of the way through the story and still didn’t see the ending. It is seldom that happens to me. I have not read any other series where there were more than six books, and I doubt I ever will. Sean Inmon is just too good a writer to ever back away from. Loved the little Easter eggs. If you read this as your first book in the series, I think you will miss the real impact of the story. This was one of the best in the series. Great job.
Profile Image for Gene.
629 reviews
May 25, 2025
This one was interesting in that the story makes a point to mention that Reggie had lived for over two thousand years. I often think about how much the people in this series live, and I don't think that we've ever seen one as long-lived as Reggie. Not really sure that I'm buying the fact that he lived the same life over 100 times without getting bored with it, but logic isn't a stong part of this series.
Profile Image for Amy Hertz.
72 reviews
January 3, 2025
The latest installment of the Middle Falls series did not disappoint! I particularly like that Reggie’s last “life” was not perfect- I mean, he committed murder! We know from the title that he is unrepentant, and until and unless he can overcome that he will continue to live his lives over and over again. Bravo, Mr. Inmon! I’ll just be over here impatiently waiting to read Tuesday’s story. 📚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Erik Dreiling.
71 reviews1 follower
January 15, 2025
A Great Read

The latest installment in the expansive and ongoing Middle Falls Time Travel Series told an interesting story. The main character, the titular Reggie Blackwell, followed many twisting and often frustrating paths. Some people take longer to learn that valuable life lesson than others, but more often than not, they get there.
Profile Image for Ian.
5 reviews
January 22, 2025
Not your normal Middle Falls storyline

While all of Shawn's Middle Falls time travel stories are different in that each of the title characters has a varied background, Reggie's storyline is completely different. This makes for a most enjoyable read.
I'm not giving away any of the plot, the title says it all.
1 review
February 3, 2025
One of the best in the series

This is one of the best books in this series, because it is hard to see where this will and what progress can be made by someone truly unrepentant. It has a satisfying wrap up and it seemed longer than other books leaving me with a satisfied feeling at the end.
3 reviews
March 13, 2025
The unrepentant lives of Reggie Blackwell

Middle Falls is great sandbox world and I’m glad Shawn Inmon has taken the time to create it. However he’s the story teller and this seemed to lack imagination. Why couldn’t Reggie have been given the opportunity to start his life earlier and prevent a tragedy? Hopefully he comes up with something more interesting in his next book
75 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2025
Brilliant as always!

Loved the different take on this Middle Falls character. I wondered what would change Reggie from the path he followed. The introduction of a younger person into his life solved that. I have read and loved every one of this series and cant wait for the next. Thank you Shawn for so many great reads.
Profile Image for Megan Diiorio.
574 reviews3 followers
July 14, 2025
Yet again this was different from the other installments thus far. The new characters and their different motivations, or lack there of, continues to keep the series fresh. Reggie’s choices were interesting, especially when I thought I understood what was driving him, only to find out that I didn’t 😉
Profile Image for C.J..
31 reviews
January 2, 2025
I’ve read all the Middle Falls books, and this was one of my favorites. Reggie uses his many lives to become a better crook - eventually learning some altruistic lessons, but not completely. Unrepentant - for good reasons.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Marilyn Gast.
31 reviews8 followers
January 3, 2025
another excellent read

Reggie Blackwell has to be the most stubborn man I ever read about again and again and again. . . . , but the ending was worth the wait. I recommend this book highly.
143 reviews
January 3, 2025
One of my favourite middle falls books

I really enjoyed this book. It spent quite a bit of time in the characters original timeline but I really think it was vital to Reggies story. Thanks again Shawn
Profile Image for Paul Eastley.
167 reviews4 followers
January 9, 2025
I could say Shawn, you've done it again, so I will. Shawn, you've done it again. Another excellent tale from the depths of Middle Falls. A rather intriguing story that moves out of repentance through to unrepentance, and our "Reggie" goes through a lot of lives. Trouble is, you still can't help liking the guy. Should he really do what he did towards the end ??? You'll have to read it to find out.
Loved the book although I'm a bit bias as I've loved every one Shawns ever written.
1 review
January 9, 2025
Excellent story in the series

Very interesting to read this new book in the series 😀 I enjoyed the perspective that the character was not trying to necessarily improve himself, right up until the end. Looking forward to the next book.
1 review
January 11, 2025
Another Great Middle Falls Read

I’ve read all the middle falls books and eagerly await Shawn Inmon’s next book in the series. This book took a different path than previous books with its flawed character, but still ends in a great Middle Falls fashion. Give this one a read!
Profile Image for Bob.
426 reviews9 followers
January 13, 2025
still going strong at 21

With #21 now finished in this captivating series, I’ll now have to patiently wait with anticipation for #22 in Mr. Inmon’s very popular Middle Falls Time Travel series. This remains one of my favorite all-time book series.
Profile Image for Ray Smillie.
741 reviews
January 13, 2025
One of the very best of the Middle Falls series. The author takes us down a darker path than usual and a astonishing amount of lives for Reggie Blackwell who hasn't exactly lead a life (many many lives) as an upstanding citizen. Enjoyed this very much indeed.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
8 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2025
these never get old

But they are always different! I love the storyline, the storytelling and, of course, the storyteller. The reoccurring characters, the ever present landmarks and the superb, easy writing makes each a pleasure to read. Come visit Middle Falls!
358 reviews2 followers
January 20, 2025
Interesting But Ine is Enough

This was an interesting concept, well-written.
I can’t, however, imagine myself reading any more in a series, as they would all seem pretty much the same to me. It’s a one-trick pony.
30 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2025
Like the other Middle Falls books, this one is excellent. If you like the Middle Falls books, this is for you. It never surprises me how Inmon can hold your attention even when a mundane event is happening.
It took far longer for the "character arc" to come.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews

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