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Kendra Donovan
Echoes in Time
The bizarre murder of one of Queen Charlotte’s ladies-in-waiting is only the beginning…
When FBI-agent-turned-time-traveler Kendra Donovan is asked to investigate the suspicious death of Lady Westford, she finds herself on a harrowing journey through Regency England’s most taboo traditions. Every layer she peels back uncovers more puzzles, including Lady Westford’s interest in a dead woman who’d been mysteriously drained of all her blood. This isn’t the first time Kendra has battled a ruthless madman…but one mistake, one misstep and it may be her last.
When FBI-agent-turned-time-traveler Kendra Donovan is asked to investigate the suspicious death of Lady Westford, she finds herself on a harrowing journey through Regency England’s most taboo traditions. Every layer she peels back uncovers more puzzles, including Lady Westford’s interest in a dead woman who’d been mysteriously drained of all her blood. This isn’t the first time Kendra has battled a ruthless madman…but one mistake, one misstep and it may be her last.
324 pages, Paperback
Published December 22, 2025
About the author
Julie McElwain
8 books1,385 followersJulie McElwain began her journalistic career at California Apparel News, a weekly Los Angeles based trade newspaper. She has freelanced for numerous publications from professional photographers magazines to those following the fashion industry. Currently, Julie is West Coast Editor for Soaps In Depth, a national soap opera magazine covering the No. 1 daytime drama, The Young and the Restless. Julie lives in Long Beach, CA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
December 28, 2025
I waited more than two years for this one. I miss Kendra, Alec and the duke so much. Time travel with murder mystery. I can't wait for the next one. Not another two years please.
December 24, 2025
Amazing as always
Sigh... I can't believe I've finished this already and have to wait again for the next. My favourite series by far and I can't wait to read them all again.
Sigh... I can't believe I've finished this already and have to wait again for the next. My favourite series by far and I can't wait to read them all again.
March 10, 2026
In this historical fiction novel, we continue the adventures of FBI agent-turned-time-traveler Kendra Donovan who is pulled into a high-stakes investigation in 1816. Shortly after her wedding to Alec, the Marquis of Sutcliffe, Kendra’s honeymoon plans are delayed when Lady Westford, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Charlotte, is found dead after apparently jumping from the balcony of a London theater. Kendra's initial investigations places doubt that her death was caused by suicide. Later a postmortem examination of her body reveals that Lady Westford's blood has been drained via two puncture marks. As Kendra peels back the layers of this mystery, she is forced to navigate the most taboo traditions of Regency England and track a ruthless, "madman" killer with her new found family who actively assist her stopping the criminal.
Although I find difficulty accepting the ease that Kendra sheds her contemporary culture for those of the early 19th century, I found the mystery engaging. The characters of Kendra, Alec, and the other crime fighters are well fleshed out. I did think the pacing did drag a bit during the middle of the book but it did accelerate at the end.
Although I find difficulty accepting the ease that Kendra sheds her contemporary culture for those of the early 19th century, I found the mystery engaging. The characters of Kendra, Alec, and the other crime fighters are well fleshed out. I did think the pacing did drag a bit during the middle of the book but it did accelerate at the end.
February 25, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up 🌟 I really enjoyed the newest in this FBI time travel series. The mystery was engaging and the medical aspect was interesting. The only thing that kept this from being a full 5 stars for me was the fact that the main character made a stupid mistake at one point and had to be rescued... for the sake of the drama of the story. 😂🤷🏻♀️
January 9, 2026
4.5 stars.
In Echoes in Time, Kendra Donovan is once again dropped into a Regency-era mystery — this time the suspicious death of one of Queen Charlotte’s ladies-in-waiting, which quickly turns into something darker and more complicated than it first appears. Seven books in and this is still a really strong series, with solid 18th-century mysteries and enough forward motion in Kendra’s personal story to keep things from feeling stale or stalled out.
What really stood out to me here was how fully Kendra’s found family has settled into place. Without getting into spoilers, her personal life has shifted in a way she once struggled to even imagine, and instead of narrowing her world, it opens it up. The people around her aren’t just accepting — they actively work with her during her investigations, each contributing in their own way. That dynamic takes away the kind of tension that would otherwise feel repetitive at this point in the series, and it lets the story focus on what works best: Kendra solving crimes in the wrong century, backed by a group that truly has her back.
In Echoes in Time, Kendra Donovan is once again dropped into a Regency-era mystery — this time the suspicious death of one of Queen Charlotte’s ladies-in-waiting, which quickly turns into something darker and more complicated than it first appears. Seven books in and this is still a really strong series, with solid 18th-century mysteries and enough forward motion in Kendra’s personal story to keep things from feeling stale or stalled out.
What really stood out to me here was how fully Kendra’s found family has settled into place. Without getting into spoilers, her personal life has shifted in a way she once struggled to even imagine, and instead of narrowing her world, it opens it up. The people around her aren’t just accepting — they actively work with her during her investigations, each contributing in their own way. That dynamic takes away the kind of tension that would otherwise feel repetitive at this point in the series, and it lets the story focus on what works best: Kendra solving crimes in the wrong century, backed by a group that truly has her back.
February 14, 2026
I don't care, I don't care - Kendra & co. can do no wrong in my eyes!
After six books, it can be challenging to find ways to freshen up a series, but Echoes did just that. The setting in London, with the plots running parallel in the theatre and the medical community, against the backdrop of the Queen's request made book seven feel thrilling. Definitely one of my top three in the series now!
While two years was a long wait for this one, after reading it I can see why; Kendra and her (now official) found family are moving forward in ways that make sense for all the characters. As another reviewer pointed out, if Kendra struggled in the same way at this point, it would have been repetitive. But to see dynamics between one of my favorite casts every just continue to grow warmed my heart.
I am so, so thankful this series is continuing! Finger's crossed Miss Julie takes us up north, and then to Italy sometime soon!
After six books, it can be challenging to find ways to freshen up a series, but Echoes did just that. The setting in London, with the plots running parallel in the theatre and the medical community, against the backdrop of the Queen's request made book seven feel thrilling. Definitely one of my top three in the series now!
While two years was a long wait for this one, after reading it I can see why; Kendra and her (now official) found family are moving forward in ways that make sense for all the characters. As another reviewer pointed out, if Kendra struggled in the same way at this point, it would have been repetitive. But to see dynamics between one of my favorite casts every just continue to grow warmed my heart.
I am so, so thankful this series is continuing! Finger's crossed Miss Julie takes us up north, and then to Italy sometime soon!
January 1, 2026
“I haven’t seen the devil himself, but I see his handiwork.”
Kendra Donavon, now Lady Sutcliffe, receives a call to investigate a suspicious death hours after she ties the knot with Alec. As they are preparing for their honeymoon, the only thing that can deter them is a royal message....which is exactly what happened. As Kendra, Alec, the Duke, and the rest of the team delve into the murder plot, more bodies keep popping up, uncovering an underbelly of shady medical experiments and a conspiracy to hide it.
As always, I will never tire of this series. I was hoping to have Kendra be honest about herself to Rebecca and Sam Kelly, but it didn't happen 😞
The dark side of medical innovation is the liberties it takes with the underprivileged. Grave robberies, organ harvesting, chemical plants etc. There was a short mention of Kendra remembering about the Tuskegee Experiment and its mistreatment of African American men in the study.
I'm really hoping we get another book or, even novella, soon!
Kendra Donavon, now Lady Sutcliffe, receives a call to investigate a suspicious death hours after she ties the knot with Alec. As they are preparing for their honeymoon, the only thing that can deter them is a royal message....which is exactly what happened. As Kendra, Alec, the Duke, and the rest of the team delve into the murder plot, more bodies keep popping up, uncovering an underbelly of shady medical experiments and a conspiracy to hide it.
As always, I will never tire of this series. I was hoping to have Kendra be honest about herself to Rebecca and Sam Kelly, but it didn't happen 😞
The dark side of medical innovation is the liberties it takes with the underprivileged. Grave robberies, organ harvesting, chemical plants etc. There was a short mention of Kendra remembering about the Tuskegee Experiment and its mistreatment of African American men in the study.
I'm really hoping we get another book or, even novella, soon!
December 23, 2025
Well well well! What a great way to start the Holiday season. Curling up to a book by Julie Mcelwain. If you haven't picked up the In Time series yet, you're missing out. Echoes, brings us right back to Regency England with familiar faces. While I would have loved a couple of extra chapters, just to see how side characters are doing once the case wraps up, this book made me happy. The witt, the banter, new faces reminded me why the In Time series is a good novel. A great way to spend a couple of hours reading.
February 6, 2026
Well I enjoyed this audio book so much I just couldn’t stop listening to it. It’s the 7th in a series but I’ve not read any of the previous books and whilst I had no problem understanding I do recognise I’m probably missing out from jumping in so late.
Describing the story might therefore show this gap in my understanding to those who have read previous books.
The book is set in the past, in the time of Queen Charlotte, which whilst set in Bridgerton’s era feels far more modern. Kendra is American and has married into nobility, she is a time traveller and is enlisted by the Queen to investigate a suspicious death.
There’s lots of investigation, talk of illness and medical procedures, death and threat. I think the narrator was excellent. At times the accents seemed comical but the variety helped identify different people. Sometimes the posh men blurred into one maybe a bit more than you would notice in a book you were reading but the different voices helped.
I did love Kendra, I think some of the male characters blended a bit but many of the side characters were vivid and really helped the story come to life. There was not a lot of focus on the time travel and yet I liked the different dimension it added to Kendra. At times I felt so sad that so much of what women have fought for over the centuries is now being eroded in our present day lives. Some of the condescensions feel a bit too close to home.
The love story was touching and there was nothing in the way of sex scenes that would make anyone blush… I don’t think. There was however swearing so you might want to turn the sound down if your within hearing distance of people of a sensitive nature.
I did feel the ending was rushed and I would have liked a few more loose ends tied up, there was lots of sign posts to the outcome, I didn’t mind this. I’d rather there be a logic I can follow than a random reason for what happened. I didn’t mind like being sure at times it was one person then being wrong. I did also rather like being right a few times so I think the balance made me happy.
I am a bit stuffed now and I guess I need to go back and read the other books. I wonder if the previous books are as good though, I also wonder if it was very good because of the narrator.
If you love a time travel, without the mechanics of that being explored, a historical story and a who done it, feeling similar to me to a Sherlock Holmes’s I’d definitely recommend this book. I absolutely loved having a female protagonist being so much in charge and being respected by the people who mattered to her.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this Audiobook for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
Describing the story might therefore show this gap in my understanding to those who have read previous books.
The book is set in the past, in the time of Queen Charlotte, which whilst set in Bridgerton’s era feels far more modern. Kendra is American and has married into nobility, she is a time traveller and is enlisted by the Queen to investigate a suspicious death.
There’s lots of investigation, talk of illness and medical procedures, death and threat. I think the narrator was excellent. At times the accents seemed comical but the variety helped identify different people. Sometimes the posh men blurred into one maybe a bit more than you would notice in a book you were reading but the different voices helped.
I did love Kendra, I think some of the male characters blended a bit but many of the side characters were vivid and really helped the story come to life. There was not a lot of focus on the time travel and yet I liked the different dimension it added to Kendra. At times I felt so sad that so much of what women have fought for over the centuries is now being eroded in our present day lives. Some of the condescensions feel a bit too close to home.
The love story was touching and there was nothing in the way of sex scenes that would make anyone blush… I don’t think. There was however swearing so you might want to turn the sound down if your within hearing distance of people of a sensitive nature.
I did feel the ending was rushed and I would have liked a few more loose ends tied up, there was lots of sign posts to the outcome, I didn’t mind this. I’d rather there be a logic I can follow than a random reason for what happened. I didn’t mind like being sure at times it was one person then being wrong. I did also rather like being right a few times so I think the balance made me happy.
I am a bit stuffed now and I guess I need to go back and read the other books. I wonder if the previous books are as good though, I also wonder if it was very good because of the narrator.
If you love a time travel, without the mechanics of that being explored, a historical story and a who done it, feeling similar to me to a Sherlock Holmes’s I’d definitely recommend this book. I absolutely loved having a female protagonist being so much in charge and being respected by the people who mattered to her.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this Audiobook for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
September 14, 2026
If you were to ask me if I enjoyed Regency-era settings with ladies in big dresses and gentlemen leaving calling cards to allow for guests to visit their house, I would have scoffed at the idea. It's typically not my genre. But with the Kendra Donovan series, I've been hooked.
Kendra Donovan is a modern day FBI agent, except she somehow found herself transported to 1815 England with no way to get back home. There she meets the Duke of Aldrgie and his handsome nephew, Alec, his nephew and Marquis of Sutcliffe. But when someone turns up dead, she uses her abilities as a profiling agent to find out who did it. And with the tethers of Regency-era society on women, she has quite a few challenges to overcome.
By book 7, it has already been a year since she first arrived. She's solved six crimes already, fell in love with and married Alec, and has started to come to terms with living in the Regency era for the foreseeable future. But when she gets a request from Queen Charlotte herself to look into the death of one her ladies-in-waiting, she can't say no.
By this point, I know what to expect from Kendra. She investigates crimes, talks to people who are involved, and demonstrates to all the men that she's not going to faint at the mere smell of a cadaver over and over again. She gets herself into trouble towards the end, and with the support of Alec they overcome another adversary. I love it, I'll keep reading this if it goes on forever. Though honestly, I still would like to see some growth for Kendra. As in, bring in a team for back up? Let's not get into the same predicament again. At least with backup, maybe they all get into another predicament?
Likewise, I would like to see some sort of progression on the overall implications of Kendra being in this time period. Maybe advances in science are happening faster than they're supposed to because of her intervention? Maybe more women get involved in law enforcement? Or maybe, since it has been a year already, there's another person from the future that shows up? That might up the ante and stakes in this series. But maybe I'm asking for too much?
Anyway, I still love this series and will recommend to anyone that loves a good Regency-era story wit a bit of a twist.
Kendra Donovan is a modern day FBI agent, except she somehow found herself transported to 1815 England with no way to get back home. There she meets the Duke of Aldrgie and his handsome nephew, Alec, his nephew and Marquis of Sutcliffe. But when someone turns up dead, she uses her abilities as a profiling agent to find out who did it. And with the tethers of Regency-era society on women, she has quite a few challenges to overcome.
By book 7, it has already been a year since she first arrived. She's solved six crimes already, fell in love with and married Alec, and has started to come to terms with living in the Regency era for the foreseeable future. But when she gets a request from Queen Charlotte herself to look into the death of one her ladies-in-waiting, she can't say no.
By this point, I know what to expect from Kendra. She investigates crimes, talks to people who are involved, and demonstrates to all the men that she's not going to faint at the mere smell of a cadaver over and over again. She gets herself into trouble towards the end, and with the support of Alec they overcome another adversary. I love it, I'll keep reading this if it goes on forever. Though honestly, I still would like to see some growth for Kendra. As in, bring in a team for back up? Let's not get into the same predicament again. At least with backup, maybe they all get into another predicament?
Likewise, I would like to see some sort of progression on the overall implications of Kendra being in this time period. Maybe advances in science are happening faster than they're supposed to because of her intervention? Maybe more women get involved in law enforcement? Or maybe, since it has been a year already, there's another person from the future that shows up? That might up the ante and stakes in this series. But maybe I'm asking for too much?
Anyway, I still love this series and will recommend to anyone that loves a good Regency-era story wit a bit of a twist.
March 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to listen to this book as an ARC copy.
When I initially selected this book, I was excited to read a historical fiction about a who done it mystery. The book did fulfill that on paper, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I debated DNFing it about half way through but was waiting for the story to grab me and it never did.
The plot: Kendra is in a different time period than then one she was born in. Now, as a detective in her old life, she is using her skills and knowledge to help solve cases in her new time period.
The feel: this book was a historical mystery that I think was trying to be a cozy mystery, but it didn’t read like one to me. Some of my fav cozy mysteries are The Thursday Murder Club and Every Crooked Nanny and this book felt more serious than these.
My overall opinion is that I think if you enjoy historical fiction/mystery, there’s a 50/50 chance you’ll enjoy this book. It has all that it needs to be a good story, it just wasn’t the story for me. Also, I picked this book not knowing it was 7th in the series. I’m picky and need to read the first book of a series even if it could be a stand alone. I like having the world built out for me and understanding every little bit. This one referencing previous books made me disconnect because I didn’t get them.
When I initially selected this book, I was excited to read a historical fiction about a who done it mystery. The book did fulfill that on paper, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I debated DNFing it about half way through but was waiting for the story to grab me and it never did.
The plot: Kendra is in a different time period than then one she was born in. Now, as a detective in her old life, she is using her skills and knowledge to help solve cases in her new time period.
The feel: this book was a historical mystery that I think was trying to be a cozy mystery, but it didn’t read like one to me. Some of my fav cozy mysteries are The Thursday Murder Club and Every Crooked Nanny and this book felt more serious than these.
My overall opinion is that I think if you enjoy historical fiction/mystery, there’s a 50/50 chance you’ll enjoy this book. It has all that it needs to be a good story, it just wasn’t the story for me. Also, I picked this book not knowing it was 7th in the series. I’m picky and need to read the first book of a series even if it could be a stand alone. I like having the world built out for me and understanding every little bit. This one referencing previous books made me disconnect because I didn’t get them.
March 27, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Tantor Media for the ARC of this audiobook.
Echoes in Time was a different take on an 1800's English murder mystery that I did enjoy. This is book 7 in the series and I hadn't read the first 6 books and didn't feel like I missed out on too much. Once you know that the FMC is a time traveling FBI agent from current times(all information given within the book), you aren't lost at all. You obviously don't get the answers of how/why/what the time travel includes, but the murder mystery of it all keeps the story moving enough that you don't care too much about that information.
It was a fast listen and the narrator was fantastic. I would absolutely listen/read to other books from this author (in or out of the series).
Echoes in Time was a different take on an 1800's English murder mystery that I did enjoy. This is book 7 in the series and I hadn't read the first 6 books and didn't feel like I missed out on too much. Once you know that the FMC is a time traveling FBI agent from current times(all information given within the book), you aren't lost at all. You obviously don't get the answers of how/why/what the time travel includes, but the murder mystery of it all keeps the story moving enough that you don't care too much about that information.
It was a fast listen and the narrator was fantastic. I would absolutely listen/read to other books from this author (in or out of the series).
January 22, 2026
I honestly didn’t expect the series to continue after the last book, so this was a pleasant surprise to read! I love this series and the characters so much. There seemed to be more backstory and character development for Kendra in this one, and I hope that continues.
February 13, 2026
A delightful addition to the series. Always good to be back with these characters.
June 4, 2026
So good! Literally could not put it down & pushed through jet lag to finish it. Hope there is another in the series and that I won’t have to wait so long for the next one 🤞🏻
August 14, 2026
I always like this series and this was a great installment.
February 24, 2026
Meh…it’s possible that I built up the series in my head while waiting for this 7th book, but I found myself getting bored. Oh, Kendra is sneaking off to do something dangerous…Alec doesn’t know and doesn’t like it…
Maybe I should listen to them all in order to confirm my feelings about this one.
Maybe I should listen to them all in order to confirm my feelings about this one.
November 6, 2026
-In this 7th book in the Kendra / time traveler series, Kendra, the brilliant former FBI agent who had found herself in a vortex that landed her 200 years in the past, has not only resigned herself to the fact that she is in this time period to stay, but has now embraced it, by marrying, Alec, Lord Sutcliffe.
-She was just leaving from her own wedding reception and looking forward to her honeymoon plans. But a messenger from the Queen arrives and requests the assistance of Kendra in a most pressing manner. The Queen had heard of Kendra’s past successes in uncovering killers and now must have her investigate the death of one of her ladies-in-waiting, Lady Westford.
-Lady Westford’s death had been ruled an accident by the physician in charge, Dr. Thornton, but the Queen felt that it didn’t make sense. Lady Westford had been in an empty theatre and had fallen off the balcony from the highest level. She died from the fall. Alec explained to Kendra that when the Queen herself makes a request, it is not to be put off, so the two set off to London.
-Kendra first examined the theatre to see where Lady Westford had fallen. It was too great a distance away from the balcony for her to have just tipped over the edge of the railing. She was also more on the petit size, so that would have made it very unlikely that she went over the rail. She checked the body through the doctor that she had befriended in previous cases, Dr. Munroe, and Lady Westford had fallen on her back, and had bruises on her arms, further proof that she was thrown from the balcony.
-Kendra now began her investigation fully, as it was obvious that a murder had taken place. To do so, she assembled the group of people with whom she worked in the past. Dr. Munroe, Muldoon - the journalist who excelled in investigations, and Sam Kelly, the Bow Street Runner. Alec had Kendra’s slate board brought over, and with it, Kendra began to assemble notes on those close to Lady Westford.
-We were given a look into the murder early on by the author, as the opening scene brought us to that same theatre. A woman who worked and lived in the building was walking into the theatre area when she saw a woman struggling with a man and then the man lifting and hurling the woman over the balcony to her death. She stood there frozen for a few seconds as the man stared at her and then started running down the stairs. She knew she would be next and ran to the exit of the building and kept running. The man ran out to find her and that’s where that first peek ended.
-Additional murders follow as Kendra and her group get closer to a possible suspect. It’s frustrating for Kendra as she knows of the technologies that are available in the 20th century which she can’t avail herself of here, while it’s frustrating for Alec, as Kendra throws herself into danger repeatedly, danger which could end her life.
-The story unfolds slowly and one who begins the book can’t imagine the plot that later reveals itself. Your interest is maintained throughout, and the plot and crime are extremely well thought out by the author. Another very enjoyable read.
-She was just leaving from her own wedding reception and looking forward to her honeymoon plans. But a messenger from the Queen arrives and requests the assistance of Kendra in a most pressing manner. The Queen had heard of Kendra’s past successes in uncovering killers and now must have her investigate the death of one of her ladies-in-waiting, Lady Westford.
-Lady Westford’s death had been ruled an accident by the physician in charge, Dr. Thornton, but the Queen felt that it didn’t make sense. Lady Westford had been in an empty theatre and had fallen off the balcony from the highest level. She died from the fall. Alec explained to Kendra that when the Queen herself makes a request, it is not to be put off, so the two set off to London.
-Kendra first examined the theatre to see where Lady Westford had fallen. It was too great a distance away from the balcony for her to have just tipped over the edge of the railing. She was also more on the petit size, so that would have made it very unlikely that she went over the rail. She checked the body through the doctor that she had befriended in previous cases, Dr. Munroe, and Lady Westford had fallen on her back, and had bruises on her arms, further proof that she was thrown from the balcony.
-Kendra now began her investigation fully, as it was obvious that a murder had taken place. To do so, she assembled the group of people with whom she worked in the past. Dr. Munroe, Muldoon - the journalist who excelled in investigations, and Sam Kelly, the Bow Street Runner. Alec had Kendra’s slate board brought over, and with it, Kendra began to assemble notes on those close to Lady Westford.
-We were given a look into the murder early on by the author, as the opening scene brought us to that same theatre. A woman who worked and lived in the building was walking into the theatre area when she saw a woman struggling with a man and then the man lifting and hurling the woman over the balcony to her death. She stood there frozen for a few seconds as the man stared at her and then started running down the stairs. She knew she would be next and ran to the exit of the building and kept running. The man ran out to find her and that’s where that first peek ended.
-Additional murders follow as Kendra and her group get closer to a possible suspect. It’s frustrating for Kendra as she knows of the technologies that are available in the 20th century which she can’t avail herself of here, while it’s frustrating for Alec, as Kendra throws herself into danger repeatedly, danger which could end her life.
-The story unfolds slowly and one who begins the book can’t imagine the plot that later reveals itself. Your interest is maintained throughout, and the plot and crime are extremely well thought out by the author. Another very enjoyable read.
February 5, 2026
Let me start off by saying that this is book #7 in the series, but the first I've read. So, although I dropped into this one in the middle, I kind of figured out what was going on... and I love time travel stories...so this one was definitely calling me.
Kendra Donovan has just married Alec. They are planning to set off on their honeymoon... and nothing can stop them... except maybe a royal decree. And... guess what? They kind of get just that...
Kendra, in another lifetime (and another century) was an FBI Agent. Now, she is dropped into the early to mid 1800's... when women were most definitely NOT treated equally... and were not considered smart... at all.
And just after her wedding she is called to examine a woman's death that was considered an accident or suicide. BUT, Kendra does not think it was either. And so the investigation begins... and her honeymoon will have to come later.
As she's investigating, another dead woman turns up! This one appears to have had all of the blood drained from her body! =0
And so, she is on a mission to find out what is going on, and why...
But the more tangled up she's getting in this, the less comfortable I am feeling about the whole thing... because what is stopping the bad guys from taking her????
I mostly enjoyed this one, but I did feel at times that it was dragging a bit. But overall, it was a good read!!
4 bold, bright, investigative, cunning, trail-blazing stars for me!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#EchoesInTime (Kendra Donovan #7) by @JulieMcElwain and narrated nicely by @LucyRayner.
I do not see an audiobook edition, so I am leaving my review here...
THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET, BUT LOOK 👀 FOR IT SOON! RELEASE DATE IS 2/10/26!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @TantorMedia and @TantorAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
Kendra Donovan has just married Alec. They are planning to set off on their honeymoon... and nothing can stop them... except maybe a royal decree. And... guess what? They kind of get just that...
Kendra, in another lifetime (and another century) was an FBI Agent. Now, she is dropped into the early to mid 1800's... when women were most definitely NOT treated equally... and were not considered smart... at all.
And just after her wedding she is called to examine a woman's death that was considered an accident or suicide. BUT, Kendra does not think it was either. And so the investigation begins... and her honeymoon will have to come later.
As she's investigating, another dead woman turns up! This one appears to have had all of the blood drained from her body! =0
And so, she is on a mission to find out what is going on, and why...
But the more tangled up she's getting in this, the less comfortable I am feeling about the whole thing... because what is stopping the bad guys from taking her????
I mostly enjoyed this one, but I did feel at times that it was dragging a bit. But overall, it was a good read!!
4 bold, bright, investigative, cunning, trail-blazing stars for me!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#EchoesInTime (Kendra Donovan #7) by @JulieMcElwain and narrated nicely by @LucyRayner.
I do not see an audiobook edition, so I am leaving my review here...
THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET, BUT LOOK 👀 FOR IT SOON! RELEASE DATE IS 2/10/26!
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April 30, 2026
Readers familiar with Kendra Donovan need little introduction: an FBI agent from the 21st century, stranded in Regency England, navigating a world that finds her methods baffling and her instincts invaluable. In Echoes in Time, she has barely made it to the altar with Alec, the Marquis of Sutcliffe, before the honeymoon is cancelled — rather decisively — by Queen Charlotte herself. One of her ladies-in-waiting has been found dead in a London theatre, the official verdict hovering uncertainly between accident and suicide. The Queen is satisfied with neither, and Kendra, as one quickly learns, does not say no to royalty. The trail grows considerably darker when it connects to a second body pulled from the Thames — a young woman drained entirely of blood — and leads Kendra deep into the medical underworld of early nineteenth-century London.
It is here that the novel earns its most distinctive moments. McElwain uses the investigation to illuminate the state of medicine in 1816 with genuine care and detail — the practices, the misconceptions, the slow and contested emergence of what we would recognise as modern pathology. It never reads as a lecture; it is woven into the mystery itself, so that understanding the period becomes inseparable from following the case. Informative and propulsive at once, which is harder to achieve than it looks.
The characters remain what they have always been in this series: well-drawn, layered, and worth spending time with. Kendra's particular friction with the world around her — a 21st-century mind operating in an era that has no framework for her — continues to generate both tension and quiet humour.
A strong entry in a consistently reliable series.
It is here that the novel earns its most distinctive moments. McElwain uses the investigation to illuminate the state of medicine in 1816 with genuine care and detail — the practices, the misconceptions, the slow and contested emergence of what we would recognise as modern pathology. It never reads as a lecture; it is woven into the mystery itself, so that understanding the period becomes inseparable from following the case. Informative and propulsive at once, which is harder to achieve than it looks.
The characters remain what they have always been in this series: well-drawn, layered, and worth spending time with. Kendra's particular friction with the world around her — a 21st-century mind operating in an era that has no framework for her — continues to generate both tension and quiet humour.
A strong entry in a consistently reliable series.
October 19, 2026
The Series Continues
In this book, the author communicates that somehow it was Kendra’s decision to engage in the random time vortex that subsumed her under duress in the first book of the series.
She decides to stay in this timeline. Therefore, the author makes it clear that Kendra’s time-travel escapade was just a device to create a fiction about a present-day FBI detective solving crimes in 19th-century England.
Fine. Now we know where we stand.
In this volume, Kendra is tasked by the Queen, whom we never meet, with solving a murder. All the other characters who were somewhat developed in previous volumes serve as devices and tools to support her in the investigation. Their arcs aren’t developed any further. She leads them in the investigation using their particular skills, but it’s not clear why they participate, since they aren’t being paid by the FBI.
Her husband, Alec, is basically perfect. He tends to all her needs, whether physical or emotional, and even saves her in the end. It’s almost as if nothing is subject to manipulation and everything is taken care of, leaving only the mystery to be considered.
The action scenes are minimal but riveting. Honestly, the mystery isn’t so mysterious because it’s easy to figure out that it was a conspiracy, if only the identities of the particular characters involved weren’t so clear.
One peculiar issue is that Edwina’s character is described at length in the beginning, only for the story to return to her at the end without closing her arc, even though she speaks briefly.
I’ve read all the books in the series, and at this point, it can continue forever. So I’m in until I’m out.
In this book, the author communicates that somehow it was Kendra’s decision to engage in the random time vortex that subsumed her under duress in the first book of the series.
She decides to stay in this timeline. Therefore, the author makes it clear that Kendra’s time-travel escapade was just a device to create a fiction about a present-day FBI detective solving crimes in 19th-century England.
Fine. Now we know where we stand.
In this volume, Kendra is tasked by the Queen, whom we never meet, with solving a murder. All the other characters who were somewhat developed in previous volumes serve as devices and tools to support her in the investigation. Their arcs aren’t developed any further. She leads them in the investigation using their particular skills, but it’s not clear why they participate, since they aren’t being paid by the FBI.
Her husband, Alec, is basically perfect. He tends to all her needs, whether physical or emotional, and even saves her in the end. It’s almost as if nothing is subject to manipulation and everything is taken care of, leaving only the mystery to be considered.
The action scenes are minimal but riveting. Honestly, the mystery isn’t so mysterious because it’s easy to figure out that it was a conspiracy, if only the identities of the particular characters involved weren’t so clear.
One peculiar issue is that Edwina’s character is described at length in the beginning, only for the story to return to her at the end without closing her arc, even though she speaks briefly.
I’ve read all the books in the series, and at this point, it can continue forever. So I’m in until I’m out.
April 3, 2026
I was given an advanced listener copy of this works audio book via NetGalley free of charge in return for an honest review.
The narration was excellent and the narrator really worked at giving each character their own accent and manner of speaking so that as a listener i was never left guessing as to who i was listening too. They really worked hard to bring the story and its setting to life.
I love a good murder mystery having been raised as i was on a steady diet of Murder she wrote, diagnosis murder and other crime shows The idea of Time Travel murder mystery had me hooked. Time period the author chose is one of the most interesting times in Englands history The Georgian era. There was a lot of poverty and yet there was theatre, dances, balls and also lots and lots of advancements being made in science and medicine though not as much as we would like to think.
Add to this setting a time traveling female FBI agent Kendra Donovan who has just marred a Duke to become a member of the Gentry. Throw in the murder of a lady in waiting and then an actress and you have the recipe for a brilliant story.
I loved this story from start to finish and really couldn't wait to see how it would end find out who the bad guy was. My only pet pevee is that I didn't realise that this was book 7 in the series, but even with that I never felt like I was missing anything or that there were things I should know that i didn't.
The narration was excellent and the narrator really worked at giving each character their own accent and manner of speaking so that as a listener i was never left guessing as to who i was listening too. They really worked hard to bring the story and its setting to life.
I love a good murder mystery having been raised as i was on a steady diet of Murder she wrote, diagnosis murder and other crime shows The idea of Time Travel murder mystery had me hooked. Time period the author chose is one of the most interesting times in Englands history The Georgian era. There was a lot of poverty and yet there was theatre, dances, balls and also lots and lots of advancements being made in science and medicine though not as much as we would like to think.
Add to this setting a time traveling female FBI agent Kendra Donovan who has just marred a Duke to become a member of the Gentry. Throw in the murder of a lady in waiting and then an actress and you have the recipe for a brilliant story.
I loved this story from start to finish and really couldn't wait to see how it would end find out who the bad guy was. My only pet pevee is that I didn't realise that this was book 7 in the series, but even with that I never felt like I was missing anything or that there were things I should know that i didn't.
February 6, 2026
I jumped into Echoes in Time by Julie McElwain knowing it was book seven in a series, and it worked surprisingly well as a standalone. The story reads like a serial mystery and fills in enough background that I never felt lost.
If you love Bridgerton–meets–Outlander vibes, this is for you. It blends Regency-era historical fiction with time travel, romance, and a dark, gripping murder mystery.
I especially enjoyed the Regency England setting. The atmosphere felt vivid and well researched, and I truly felt transported. The mystery kept me hooked, with real suspense and a few darker moments that made it hard to stop listening.
Alec and Kendra’s relationship added heart to the story. Kendra is a strong FMC, carrying her skills as a former FBI agent into the past while still allowing herself softness, especially with Alec, who becomes her safe place.
The audiobook performance by Lucy Rayner deserves special praise. She did a fantastic job with distinct character voices and moved seamlessly between British and American accents, which made the listening experience even more immersive.
Overall, this was an easy, engaging listen that balances multiple genres beautifully. I’d happily recommend it, and it’s made me curious to explore the rest of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy.
February 10, 2026
It's been three years since the last Kendra Donovan book, and I've been periodically checking for new releases ever since I binge-listened to the whole series in 2024. So when this audiobook ARC showed up on NetGalley? Absolutely delighted.
I'm very picky about time travel books. The only setup I like is when the time traveler stays themselves—no body swaps, no taking on someone else's life or history. Kendra is from 21st-century America but has traveled to 1815 England, where she's built a new life and found love while keeping her modern sensibilities intact.
The series lets us experience Regency England through a modern lens—the etiquette, social systems, science, and politics all filtered through Kendra's perspective. It's satisfying in a way that scratches a very specific itch.
This story has Kendra settling into her role while her reputation for solving crimes with her unconventional crew (aristocratic family, Bow Street runner, journalist) precedes her. The mystery itself is compelling, and McElwain does an outstanding job threading clues throughout so the ending feels earned and everything wraps up neatly.
I hope McElwain keeps bringing us Kendra's stories. These characters have really grown on me, and I'm already looking forward to the next mystery.
I'm very picky about time travel books. The only setup I like is when the time traveler stays themselves—no body swaps, no taking on someone else's life or history. Kendra is from 21st-century America but has traveled to 1815 England, where she's built a new life and found love while keeping her modern sensibilities intact.
The series lets us experience Regency England through a modern lens—the etiquette, social systems, science, and politics all filtered through Kendra's perspective. It's satisfying in a way that scratches a very specific itch.
This story has Kendra settling into her role while her reputation for solving crimes with her unconventional crew (aristocratic family, Bow Street runner, journalist) precedes her. The mystery itself is compelling, and McElwain does an outstanding job threading clues throughout so the ending feels earned and everything wraps up neatly.
I hope McElwain keeps bringing us Kendra's stories. These characters have really grown on me, and I'm already looking forward to the next mystery.
February 14, 2026
Kendra and Alec are finally married, but the wedding breakfast is interrupted by a royal emissary with a request for the new marchioness to investigate a suspicious death of the Queen‘s Lady-in-waiting. The couple postpone their honeymoon to investigate, involving people of the theater, doctors, and criminals. The background information about medicine of the period was really interesting.
I have read this whole series, and I almost stopped a couple books before because Kendra seemed to enjoy thumbing her nose at the rules of society, even the to the detriment of her guardian. But she has matured a lot and works on compromise and only pushing the boundaries she actually needs to. Of course she is still a 21st-century woman, but I could respect her behavior more. it helps that she is now a peeress and is therefore allowed to be peculiar. Her decision at the end of the last book to stay in the 19th century, even if she could find a way back has made her much more at peace.
This is the seventh book in the series, but the story itself stands alone. Lucy Rayner was excellent on audio, with a good American accent.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
I have read this whole series, and I almost stopped a couple books before because Kendra seemed to enjoy thumbing her nose at the rules of society, even the to the detriment of her guardian. But she has matured a lot and works on compromise and only pushing the boundaries she actually needs to. Of course she is still a 21st-century woman, but I could respect her behavior more. it helps that she is now a peeress and is therefore allowed to be peculiar. Her decision at the end of the last book to stay in the 19th century, even if she could find a way back has made her much more at peace.
This is the seventh book in the series, but the story itself stands alone. Lucy Rayner was excellent on audio, with a good American accent.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
May 1, 2026
Most of the things that make this series so enjoyable are here again in this seventh book. The sights and smells of Regency era London are vivid. So are the class attitudes: from the way that being Lady Sutcliffe now gives Kendra access to circles that were closed to her before (unless her guardian, the Duke, brought her in) to the way that many aristocrats and even scientists view the woman of the streets (and the children of the mudflats) as expendable.
Again, consistent with the rest of the series, the state of 19th-century science is beautifully integrated into the search for the murderer. (This time, it's the science of soils, familiar to us mystery readers now from Sherlock Holmes, and the science of blood transfusion--new, and experimental at the time of this story.)
Thankfully, it seems that Kendra and Alec are in it for the long haul and we don't have to go through any more romance-novel cliches about will he, won't she. We still have to see whether Lady Rebecca and reporter Muldoon have any future.)
Again, consistent with the rest of the series, the state of 19th-century science is beautifully integrated into the search for the murderer. (This time, it's the science of soils, familiar to us mystery readers now from Sherlock Holmes, and the science of blood transfusion--new, and experimental at the time of this story.)
Thankfully, it seems that Kendra and Alec are in it for the long haul and we don't have to go through any more romance-novel cliches about will he, won't she. We still have to see whether Lady Rebecca and reporter Muldoon have any future.)
February 5, 2026
I was provided an free copy to read in exchange for a unbiased review. My opinions are my own.
This was a great book. Fun easy to follow at times but also hard to keep up with all the characters. This is my first book from this series so I was a little confused.
I dont recommend jumping in at the end of a series but it didnt matter for me to understand the story and what was happening.
Kendra is a time-traveling FBI agent going to 1816 and right after her wedding to a Duke in that time period, is thrown into an investigation for the Queen's lady in waiting.
That premise hooked me as it is not a type of book I have ever read before. Historical Time traveling Fiction Mystery.
I love the idea.
It was a good story with topics in medical testing and diseases of that time period.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
4.50 stars rounded down because I had to go back a few times to figure out who the characters were.
Thank you netgalley for this copy
This was a great book. Fun easy to follow at times but also hard to keep up with all the characters. This is my first book from this series so I was a little confused.
I dont recommend jumping in at the end of a series but it didnt matter for me to understand the story and what was happening.
Kendra is a time-traveling FBI agent going to 1816 and right after her wedding to a Duke in that time period, is thrown into an investigation for the Queen's lady in waiting.
That premise hooked me as it is not a type of book I have ever read before. Historical Time traveling Fiction Mystery.
I love the idea.
It was a good story with topics in medical testing and diseases of that time period.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
4.50 stars rounded down because I had to go back a few times to figure out who the characters were.
Thank you netgalley for this copy
February 17, 2026
From how the last book ended, Echoes in Time had so much potential, but ended up being the dullest of the series. The crime they investigate was unexciting and didn’t move me emotionally. I found myself wishing for something exciting to happen in the family, but this book focuses mostly on the case and reflects on past events (including repeated comments from past books).
I want Julie McElwain to remember that this is a FICTIONAL series. There are endless and exciting possibilities for each book going forward. We got seven books in a span of a year of timeline - that’s very slow. Stop making the soap opera of books as far as this series is concerned. Either speed up the timeline or allow the family and friends to live boldly and have lives of their own (think Bridgerton!). There’s a lot to explore with every character we’ve been introduced to, but Echoes in Time didn’t explore anything we didn’t already know. It’s a disappointing read.
I want Julie McElwain to remember that this is a FICTIONAL series. There are endless and exciting possibilities for each book going forward. We got seven books in a span of a year of timeline - that’s very slow. Stop making the soap opera of books as far as this series is concerned. Either speed up the timeline or allow the family and friends to live boldly and have lives of their own (think Bridgerton!). There’s a lot to explore with every character we’ve been introduced to, but Echoes in Time didn’t explore anything we didn’t already know. It’s a disappointing read.
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