Stop

by Mikel J. Wisler

TWENTY YEARS AGO, HIS FATHER VANISHED. Now, with the passing of his mother, Jake returns to his childhood home, where he finds his dad’s old films connected to his scientific research. One reel is still wrapped inside the evidence bag. Longing for answers, he threads the film into the old projector and makes a bewildering discovery.

To his horror, he watches himself as the adult he is now, attack his own father. Turning to the camera, he holds up a small chalkboard where he has scratched a single word, "Stop."

Determined to uncover the truth, Jake dives into a two-decade-old mystery linked to a murdered police detective and the scientific breakthrough his father's former colleagues are about to announce to the world.

For local police, this cold-case rapidly thaws.

Can Jake save his father?

Or is the past set in stone?

Experience the cerebral punch of Dark Matter fused with the creeping dread of Sinister in one unstoppable read.

224 pages, Paperback

Published December 17, 2025

About the author

Hi, I'm Mikel J. Wisler and I am a storyteller.

By day, I'm a documentary and corporate videographer. By night, I'm a science fiction author. Night or day, I live for great stories. Why? Because stories are one of the key ways we make sense of life. Science fiction is a genre uniquely equipped to get philosophical. Through my blog and podcast, I explore how we encounter and wrestle with meaning of life questions in the stories we love.

In addition to writing novels and short stories, I have written & directed many short films that have played at festivals domestically and abroad. Several of those shorts even snagged some nominations and awards.

I was born in Brazil, South America, where I spent most of my childhood, and now live on the south shore of Boston, Massachusetts, with my wife and daughter. When I'm not making documentaries and writing novels, I listen to audiobooks like my life depends on it. Because it sort of does.

I invite you to sign up for my mailing list on my website and grab a free copy of my novel, Unidentified. My mailing list is a great way to keep up with my latest blog posts (2-3 per month), engage me in discussions about stories that you love, and find out about new books and short stories I'm releasing. Let's explore life through stories together!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Reviews

[Milt Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent time travel novel, with a relatable main character (a family man), an intriguing premise (his father has tied the paranormal to time related effects, then promptly disappeared), and a deliciously sweet and cozy ending (after many reveals on the way, all about family). The cast includes cops and scientists, and though this feels like one of those novels where there should be a dog or some pet included as well, fortunately there aren't any. It's a cozy story for the whole family, as long as one keeps straight all the non-linear, time travelling shenanigans. The writing is cinematic, in the sense that most of the descriptions would work rather well on screen (with a younger Nicholas Cage as the star lol). The scientific elements are rudimental, despite the many obscure quotes from well-known physicists.

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

[Connie Rivet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read!

Jake Howell finds a 20 year old video reel of the night his father goes missing. He was just a boy when it happened, but on the video is him as an adult attacking his father. He then holds up a chalkboard with the word “Stop” written on it.

I have never heard of this concept before and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to read it. The story just pulled me in and I kept wanting to go back for more to find out what happened. I mean how can someone see themselves as an adult attacking their own father when they were just a boy at the time? I could feel Jake’s shock, sadness, and just unwillingness to believe this could have happened. I really cared about Jake and his family and wanted to not only figure out the mystery of how/what happened, but also wanted them to be okay.

The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars is things got a little confusing and dry when the scientific theories were explained. I am glad there was some of that in the book as I don’t have any knowledge of that subject, but when it started out with that stuff I almost felt like this book wasn’t going to be for me.

I am so glad I stuck with it though and definitely recommend giving it a read for yourself.

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

[BansheeBibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to the author and Book Sirens for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I didn’t quite know what to expect when I started this book, but it was a wonderful surprise!

Jake Howell’s father, a scientist studying time travel, disappeared mysteriously 20 years ago. After Jake loses his job as a college professor, he returns to his childhood home and discovers a videotape from the day his father went missing. Even though Jake was just a child when it happened, he watches the tape and is shocked to find an image of his adult self at the scene. He watches in horror as he attacks his father and then turns to the camera with a chalkboard bearing one word: “STOP.”

The rest of the book is a nonstop action-adventure as Jake tries to make sense of what he has seen and solve the mystery of what happened to his father.

I thought this book was extremely well written and reminiscent of Blake Crouch. I appreciated the scientific approach and that the author didn’t try to hide behind unexplainable events. It takes a very intellectual approach that really makes you think about space, time, and the fluid nature of both. The mystery is solid, and it left me thinking long after the last page.

I was pleased to learn that this novel was born from a short film (of the same title) that the author wrote and directed back in 2011. I recommend checking that out online—but only after you’ve read the book!

This is a must-read for anyone who loves geeking out over time travel, intellectual thrillers, and action-packed books that read like a movie. 4 stars

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

STOP
Author: Mikel J Wisler
Genre: sci-fi thriller
Tropes: Time Travel, Paradox, Unsolved Mystery

“The nature of time has yet to be fully understood or appreciated.”

If you are a science/theoretical physicist buff this would be a great read for you. While dense with scientific explanations and discussion it is written in such a way that it is easy to follow and understand. I liked that theory of time travel was discussed in multiple ways. You don’t need a degree to enjoy this one. The story is not fully linear but the flow of the story is maintained while providing great character and world building.

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

#bookstagram #reviews #books  #ARC #indie

[Kay Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake Has Recurring Nightmares

He is confronted in the woods by a menacing black-hooded figure, always awakening as the figure advances toward him. He doesn’t know the reason for the nightmare or why it’s the same every time, but he’s been having the same dream off and on for years. Now he’s back in his boyhood home, cleaning out the home after his mother’s passing and he finds his father’s reels of film he left behind, one is still in the evidence bag from the investigation of his father’s disappearance 20 years ago.. Years have passed since his father’s disappearance but his friends have never given up trying to find out what happened to him. He is now getting reacquainted with his father’s old friends and they’ve invited him to ride with them as they recount their mission so far. Jake’s life will never be the same.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that has an exciting premise of time travel. The action begins right from the start. Jake has to clear out his deceased mother’s house before he can sell. While clearing out one of the rooms, he finds some old film reels that contain his father’s scientific work. What happens next can only be described as an unbelievable convergence of horror and sci-fi. I have always wondered what time travel would be like. I only want to visit not interact. I understand the consequences of changing one small part of history and the effects could be devastating. That is what occurs for Jake. He finds situations that are hard to believe and then he becomes embroiled in finding a way to stop what is continuing as time is traveled. This book was fascinating as well as terrifying. I am not sure if humanity is prepared for time travel.

[Zachary G Batson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's about Jake cleaning his mother's house after she passed and finding an old projector and film that his dad recorded. His dad went missing when he was a child so he watches one of the films and sees himself at around his current age attacking his father and leaving "Stop" on a chalkboard.

Once the premise gets going I found it hard to put down there was always another question I wanted answered or something would happen that I wanted to see what would come next. Overall I think it handled the science pretty well and is accessable for sci-fi lovers and newbies alike. If you find the premise interesting give it a shot it's a fun ride!