Erased

by Christopher Coates

252 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2025

About the author

I grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and moved to Michigan in 1988 to attend Davenport University’s Paramedic school. I reside in Kent City, Michigan, with my wife of 32 years. We have an adult son and daughter who both have graduated college and live out of town.
I am a retired Firefighter/Paramedic who works full-time in Information Systems for a major West Michigan company.
In my off time, I enjoy traveling to unique places, family time, and my two dogs, who keep life fun.

Reviews

[Sam Veltre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this unique take on time travel, which immediately draws you in with the premise of a duo attempting to build a better world. The story centers on Marcy and Connor, who successfully develop a time machine with the initial noble goal of fixing a devastating past event. Their initial triumph in saving a friend’s life emboldens them to take a much bigger leap: setting out to erase evil by entirely rewriting key chapters of human history. This setup creates a compelling hook, making the book an easy, fun read that keeps you invested in seeing how their ambitious quest unfolds.

However, the core of the story explores the terrifying reality that comes with altering the past—that "fixing" one thing can break everything else. Their heroic actions unleash a torrent of unpredictable, shattering consequences that directly impact their own lives, twisting their present into something unrecognizable. As their reality fragments, the narrative shifts into a desperate race against time to repair the damage. I wished a few of the more interesting plot developments had been explored in greater detail instead of being glossed over, but overall, the urgency of their situation—trying to return things to the way they were, or at least find a reality they can call home—makes for a gripping read right up to the end.

[Diane Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, especially highlighting the butterfly effect on time travel. The author writes well and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.