A Switch in Time

by Diane Meholick

While portraying John Wilkes Booth in a play at Fords Theatre, actor Roger Eberth switches places in time with John Wilkes Booth at the exact moment that Abraham Lincoln is shot. In the future, Booth is held captive by Rogers fiance, Camille Merce, who enlists the aid of physicist Ernesto Marquez in hopes of switching Roger and Booth back. In the past, Roger must convince those around him that he is Booth so that history will run its course. As he plays his ultimate roll in 1865, Roger hopes that Camille will find a way to bring him home.

284 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2000

Reviews

[Stacey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a great premise....Roger, an actor and playwriter who is obsessed with John Wilkes Booth has great success with a play that's told from Booth's perspective. Performing the play at the Ford Theater leads to a strange occurrence....the two Booth's (real and portrayed) switch places in time. John Wilkes Booth is thrown into the 20th century and Roger is in a run for his life in 1865. What will happen if Booth isn't in his own time when he would be killed? Can Roger get switched back before that? Roger's fiancee, her brother and friends are trying to help him. Booth realizes his good luck and doesn't want to be switched back. Roger although living a life he's often dreamed of living....knows his history and what will happen to him as Booth if he can't find his way home.
An intriguing book, well written and entertaining. The characters pull you in so you care what happens to them. A sci-fi meets historical fiction type book. It gives us knowledge of a man who everyone knows by name, giving him character, a look into the type of man he was and not just the murderer that we know him to be. Also bringing in the strange circumstance of time travel but without a lot of craziness about it. I liked this book for it's uniqueness.

[Helen C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Switch in Time" Before and after actor Roger Eberth and Booth switch places in time, there is plenty happening in both eras to keep you turning the pages. An interesting read through time.