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Time Hack: A Near-Future Science Fiction Mystery Novel
This cozy sci-fi mystery won the Green Stories Prize. Join Charlotte and Ben as they solve another case!
What if you could have more hours in the day?
ArkTech’s forty-year anniversary is on the horizon, but Charlotte Vance has bigger things on her mind. She’s determined to protect her home – and her best friend, Ben. That means stopping ArkTech’s curious, pun-loving AI from glitching... once and for all.
When Ben wonders why a young man is braving a violent storm, Charlotte can't help but follow the trail. It leads her to a strange new technology that trades in the most valuable currency of all: time.
What begins as a curious puzzle soon turns into a race against the clock. A missing person draws Charlotte deeper into a tangle of secrets, strange encounters, and the most unsettling possibility…
Could Ben’s time be running out?
A glitching AI, a streetwise investigator, and a conspiracy theorist step into a temporal anomaly… but could this punchline be Ben's last?
For fans of Terry Pratchett, Becky Chambers, and Martha Wells, Time Hack is a charming, thought-provoking sci-fi mystery, blending clever puzzles, quirky characters, and a touch of tech-noir intrigue. Book 2 in a series of cozy sci-fi mysteries for anyone who’s ever wished for just a little more time.
What Readers Are Saying…
“This is going to sound like hyperbole, but I assure you it's this is one of my favorite books I've read. Ever.”
“A really fun but still intellectually satisfying sci-fi book about an AI-human best friend relationship and navigating a post climate crisis world.”
“The story is witty and thought-provoking, funny but poignant, with sky-high stakes.”
“An easy read, humorous and gripping. Even if you don't like sci-fi, you would enjoy this book.”
“Loved it. Masterful storytelling and world-building, with profound societal questions. J Michael Straczynski, Terry Pratchett and Margaret Atwood all come to mind.”
What if you could have more hours in the day?
ArkTech’s forty-year anniversary is on the horizon, but Charlotte Vance has bigger things on her mind. She’s determined to protect her home – and her best friend, Ben. That means stopping ArkTech’s curious, pun-loving AI from glitching... once and for all.
When Ben wonders why a young man is braving a violent storm, Charlotte can't help but follow the trail. It leads her to a strange new technology that trades in the most valuable currency of all: time.
What begins as a curious puzzle soon turns into a race against the clock. A missing person draws Charlotte deeper into a tangle of secrets, strange encounters, and the most unsettling possibility…
Could Ben’s time be running out?
A glitching AI, a streetwise investigator, and a conspiracy theorist step into a temporal anomaly… but could this punchline be Ben's last?
For fans of Terry Pratchett, Becky Chambers, and Martha Wells, Time Hack is a charming, thought-provoking sci-fi mystery, blending clever puzzles, quirky characters, and a touch of tech-noir intrigue. Book 2 in a series of cozy sci-fi mysteries for anyone who’s ever wished for just a little more time.
What Readers Are Saying…
“This is going to sound like hyperbole, but I assure you it's this is one of my favorite books I've read. Ever.”
“A really fun but still intellectually satisfying sci-fi book about an AI-human best friend relationship and navigating a post climate crisis world.”
“The story is witty and thought-provoking, funny but poignant, with sky-high stakes.”
“An easy read, humorous and gripping. Even if you don't like sci-fi, you would enjoy this book.”
“Loved it. Masterful storytelling and world-building, with profound societal questions. J Michael Straczynski, Terry Pratchett and Margaret Atwood all come to mind.”
488 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2025
About the author
Marianne Pickles
2 books13 followersMarianne Pickles writes mystery novels set in the future. She grew up in Scotland near Aberdeen, where many people worked on offshore oil rigs in the North Sea. Now she lives on low-lying land in the Fens with her partner, David. They are contemplating learning to kayak.
She holds a first-class degree in English Literature and Classics from the University of Edinburgh. Her novel Time Hack won the Green Stories Novel Prize in 2023 and was shortlisted for the WOB Sustainable Story Award in 2025.
To hear about new releases and to receive a free prequel short story, visit her website and sign up to the monthly Picklesverse emails.
She holds a first-class degree in English Literature and Classics from the University of Edinburgh. Her novel Time Hack won the Green Stories Novel Prize in 2023 and was shortlisted for the WOB Sustainable Story Award in 2025.
To hear about new releases and to receive a free prequel short story, visit her website and sign up to the monthly Picklesverse emails.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 23, 2026
Loved it. Can't wait for book 3.
Time Hack by Marianne Pickles
Loved it, though seemed dry at times. This had a satisfying ending but with enough issues left open that I'm looking forward to the third book in the series.
Time Hack by Marianne Pickles
Loved it, though seemed dry at times. This had a satisfying ending but with enough issues left open that I'm looking forward to the third book in the series.
October 15, 2025
This was another round of this fun Sci-Fi mystery series. It took me awhile to come around to the characters in the first book but now I really enjoy them. :)
November 3, 2025
An excellent book that is easy to read. Great characters, world building and story telling.
As good as book one, Artificial Selection.
As good as book one, Artificial Selection.
March 15, 2026
Interesting ideas and fun, I enjoy the characters, especially Ben!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews