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Rocket to the Past: Rainhill
Book One of the Rocket to the Past time-travel series
Dr Liz Marsh has spent her life outrunning a past she never chose. Known as the daughter of an IRA bomber and orphaned at eighteen, she has lived with scandal, grief, and the long memory of a village that never forgot.
Everything changes when a stranger in a hospital bed presses an antique brass key into her hand and whispers her childhood nickname. Hours later, the key burns through her pocket, a doorway opens in the dark, and Liz is pulled back to 7 October 1984.
Rainhill looks familiar, but nothing fits. The shops are open. The cars belong to another era. And standing in the doorway of her former home is her mother, alive and furious.
Liz soon realises she has not returned by accident. In five days, the Brighton bombing will begin a chain of events that destroys her family. Her father will be drawn into something he never understood, and Liz has one chance to stop it.
To save them, she must step into a past that already knows her and confront truths that were buried for a reason. Waiting in the shadows is the Rocket, the engine that brought her here, and whose key may be the only way home.
Rocket to the Rainhill is the first novel in a time-travel series about history, consequence, and the moments that shape a life.
If you could rewrite the moment that broke you, would you dare?
Dr Liz Marsh has spent her life outrunning a past she never chose. Known as the daughter of an IRA bomber and orphaned at eighteen, she has lived with scandal, grief, and the long memory of a village that never forgot.
Everything changes when a stranger in a hospital bed presses an antique brass key into her hand and whispers her childhood nickname. Hours later, the key burns through her pocket, a doorway opens in the dark, and Liz is pulled back to 7 October 1984.
Rainhill looks familiar, but nothing fits. The shops are open. The cars belong to another era. And standing in the doorway of her former home is her mother, alive and furious.
Liz soon realises she has not returned by accident. In five days, the Brighton bombing will begin a chain of events that destroys her family. Her father will be drawn into something he never understood, and Liz has one chance to stop it.
To save them, she must step into a past that already knows her and confront truths that were buried for a reason. Waiting in the shadows is the Rocket, the engine that brought her here, and whose key may be the only way home.
Rocket to the Rainhill is the first novel in a time-travel series about history, consequence, and the moments that shape a life.
If you could rewrite the moment that broke you, would you dare?
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 2, 2026
Review: Rocket to the Past: Rainhill by S. A. Carmody
Rocket to the Past: Rainhill is an engaging blend of time travel, historical fiction and heartfelt drama. While time travel often serves as the backdrop for action and adventure, S. A. Carmody uses it to ask a far more poignant question: if you had the chance to change the single event that shaped your life, would you?
It is a strong and confident opening to what promises to be a compelling series.
Set against the unsettling backdrop of Britain in 1984 and the shadow of the Brighton hotel bombing, the novel intertwines real historical events with a deeply personal story of grief, family, friendship and resilience. What makes the novel particularly effective is that it doesn't focus solely on the consequences for one individual. Instead, it explores the ripple effects of changing history, showing how one altered moment can affect countless lives in ways both expected and unforeseen.
The setting of Rainhill gives the story a real sense of place, grounding the extraordinary elements in an authentic world. The mystery surrounding the antique key and the enigmatic Rocket is woven carefully throughout the narrative, hinting that they will become even more significant as the series unfolds. Rather than providing all the answers, Carmody leaves readers with just enough intrigue to make them eager to discover where the story will lead next.
At the heart of the novel is Liz, a heroine who is impossible not to root for. She is intelligent, independent and refreshingly down to earth. Despite carrying the weight of a difficult past, she retains a sharp sense of humour and a fierce loyalty to both her family and her best friend. Carmody has created a protagonist who feels genuinely human, someone whose strengths and vulnerabilities make her immediately relatable. As the story progresses, we begin to understand not only who Liz is, but why she is prepared to risk everything for the chance to rewrite the past.
The novel's pacing is interesting. It begins at a remarkable pace, drawing the reader quickly into the mystery and the emotional stakes. The middle section deliberately slows, allowing time to explore the characters in greater depth while dealing with the consequences of the earlier events. Rather than feeling like a pause, it serves as the foundation for what is clearly intended to come later, tying up loose ends while quietly building anticipation for the next instalment.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its accessibility. It is an easy read that invites you to keep turning the pages, yet it also gives you plenty to think about once you've put it down. Time travel is, of course, a familiar genre, but Rocket to the Past feels less like a conventional time-travel adventure and more like an exploration of the butterfly effect; how even the smallest decisions can reshape lives, relationships and history itself.
The weakness for me personally in the book, was that I would have liked longer in the first part. Your hooked but then all of a sudden your let go and so much more could have been down there; I felt it was just skimmed upon the surface. This is why I only gave it 4 stars.
This is a novel about far more than travelling through time. It is about loss, hope, impossible choices and the enduring question of whether changing the past would truly give us the future we long for. For readers who enjoy character-driven science fiction with emotional depth, historical context and a mystery that promises to grow with each book, Rocket to the Past: Rainhill is an enjoyable and intriguing beginning to a series that has plenty of potential.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Rocket to the Past: Rainhill is an engaging blend of time travel, historical fiction and heartfelt drama. While time travel often serves as the backdrop for action and adventure, S. A. Carmody uses it to ask a far more poignant question: if you had the chance to change the single event that shaped your life, would you?
It is a strong and confident opening to what promises to be a compelling series.
Set against the unsettling backdrop of Britain in 1984 and the shadow of the Brighton hotel bombing, the novel intertwines real historical events with a deeply personal story of grief, family, friendship and resilience. What makes the novel particularly effective is that it doesn't focus solely on the consequences for one individual. Instead, it explores the ripple effects of changing history, showing how one altered moment can affect countless lives in ways both expected and unforeseen.
The setting of Rainhill gives the story a real sense of place, grounding the extraordinary elements in an authentic world. The mystery surrounding the antique key and the enigmatic Rocket is woven carefully throughout the narrative, hinting that they will become even more significant as the series unfolds. Rather than providing all the answers, Carmody leaves readers with just enough intrigue to make them eager to discover where the story will lead next.
At the heart of the novel is Liz, a heroine who is impossible not to root for. She is intelligent, independent and refreshingly down to earth. Despite carrying the weight of a difficult past, she retains a sharp sense of humour and a fierce loyalty to both her family and her best friend. Carmody has created a protagonist who feels genuinely human, someone whose strengths and vulnerabilities make her immediately relatable. As the story progresses, we begin to understand not only who Liz is, but why she is prepared to risk everything for the chance to rewrite the past.
The novel's pacing is interesting. It begins at a remarkable pace, drawing the reader quickly into the mystery and the emotional stakes. The middle section deliberately slows, allowing time to explore the characters in greater depth while dealing with the consequences of the earlier events. Rather than feeling like a pause, it serves as the foundation for what is clearly intended to come later, tying up loose ends while quietly building anticipation for the next instalment.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its accessibility. It is an easy read that invites you to keep turning the pages, yet it also gives you plenty to think about once you've put it down. Time travel is, of course, a familiar genre, but Rocket to the Past feels less like a conventional time-travel adventure and more like an exploration of the butterfly effect; how even the smallest decisions can reshape lives, relationships and history itself.
The weakness for me personally in the book, was that I would have liked longer in the first part. Your hooked but then all of a sudden your let go and so much more could have been down there; I felt it was just skimmed upon the surface. This is why I only gave it 4 stars.
This is a novel about far more than travelling through time. It is about loss, hope, impossible choices and the enduring question of whether changing the past would truly give us the future we long for. For readers who enjoy character-driven science fiction with emotional depth, historical context and a mystery that promises to grow with each book, Rocket to the Past: Rainhill is an enjoyable and intriguing beginning to a series that has plenty of potential.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 17, 2026
Rocket to the Past: Rainhill kicks off with a genuinely fun and strange idea: a time machine built out of George Stephenson's Rocket, the early steam locomotive, sending Dr. Liz Marsh back from 2024 to 1984 to change the Brighton IRA bombing and keep her father out of prison. It's a clever premise with real emotional stakes, and S.A. Carmody clearly knows how to write: clean, confident prose throughout for a debut.
Where it loses a bit of steam is the pacing around urgency. The ticking clock showing how many hours Liz has left and what happens if she fails gets restated so often it starts to feel less like tension building and more like a safety net. Readers can hold onto stakes just fine without the constant reminders, and easing up here would let this clever premise actually breathe.
Liz herself is the trickier part. She's got a strong sense of duty and self-sacrifice, but it sometimes tips into telling us how noble she is rather than just being it. There's also a wrinkle worth digging into: she accepts the bombing's casualties as the price of saving her father, then later positions herself as someone who can't bear to let strangers die. A Liz who actually wrestled with that contradiction instead of brushing past it could make for something genuinely compelling.
Still, this is a strong opener for a series with a hook you don't see every day and prose that's already in good shape. Tighten the pacing, let Liz trust the reader a little more, and book two could really fly. Four stars, with real enthusiasm for what's next.
Where it loses a bit of steam is the pacing around urgency. The ticking clock showing how many hours Liz has left and what happens if she fails gets restated so often it starts to feel less like tension building and more like a safety net. Readers can hold onto stakes just fine without the constant reminders, and easing up here would let this clever premise actually breathe.
Liz herself is the trickier part. She's got a strong sense of duty and self-sacrifice, but it sometimes tips into telling us how noble she is rather than just being it. There's also a wrinkle worth digging into: she accepts the bombing's casualties as the price of saving her father, then later positions herself as someone who can't bear to let strangers die. A Liz who actually wrestled with that contradiction instead of brushing past it could make for something genuinely compelling.
Still, this is a strong opener for a series with a hook you don't see every day and prose that's already in good shape. Tighten the pacing, let Liz trust the reader a little more, and book two could really fly. Four stars, with real enthusiasm for what's next.
July 15, 2026
I truly enjoyed the core concept behind this book. The storyline is captivating, and I am already looking forward to the next installment in the series.
I appreciate that this is an ARC version that likely has not been through a formal editing process. However, I did notice some repetition in the manuscript, particularly when the narrative revisits the event that needed to be 'corrected.' Tightening these sections would likely help maintain the strong momentum of the plot, so perhaps this can be reviewed during the final editing process prior to publication.
Additionally, I felt the main character adapted to her sudden time travel too easily. Given the immensity of her situation, I personally would have expected her to display a more intense range of emotions, so I think deepening her internal reaction could add a more realistic and compelling layer to the story.
Finally, I was surprised that the question of why the main character was specifically chosen by her predecessor to continue his work remained unaddressed. It felt like a significant question that the main character herself should have been eager to explore.
Overall, this is a very promising start to the series, and I am excited to see how these elements evolve in future books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I appreciate that this is an ARC version that likely has not been through a formal editing process. However, I did notice some repetition in the manuscript, particularly when the narrative revisits the event that needed to be 'corrected.' Tightening these sections would likely help maintain the strong momentum of the plot, so perhaps this can be reviewed during the final editing process prior to publication.
Additionally, I felt the main character adapted to her sudden time travel too easily. Given the immensity of her situation, I personally would have expected her to display a more intense range of emotions, so I think deepening her internal reaction could add a more realistic and compelling layer to the story.
Finally, I was surprised that the question of why the main character was specifically chosen by her predecessor to continue his work remained unaddressed. It felt like a significant question that the main character herself should have been eager to explore.
Overall, this is a very promising start to the series, and I am excited to see how these elements evolve in future books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 16, 2026
Rocket to the Past: Rainhill is pure fun from start to finish. S. A. Carmody keeps the story moving with an easy, good‑natured energy—like hopping onto a time‑travel ride that never forgets to enjoy itself. The Rainhill setting is charming, the characters are lively without taking themselves too seriously, and the whole thing has that “just one more chapter” pull.
It’s the kind of book that reminds you reading can simply be entertaining. A clever premise, a playful tone, and a story that knows exactly what it wants to be. If you’re looking for something light, engaging, and pleasantly mischievous, this one delivers.
It’s the kind of book that reminds you reading can simply be entertaining. A clever premise, a playful tone, and a story that knows exactly what it wants to be. If you’re looking for something light, engaging, and pleasantly mischievous, this one delivers.
May 19, 2026
Thank you to Book Sirens for the opportunity to read and review this novel. Fans of time travel stories will like this book. Plus it is written as the first in a series, so I expect to see the next installment. I liked that the book got right into the action rather than spending the first few chapters with all the backstory. The backstory was explained in the telling of the story of going back in time. My only complaint, the story stalled about two thirds through. Much of that part of the book could be eliminated without losing anything. Other than that, a fun read.
March 6, 2026
An enjoyable time travel adventure, exploring the issues of changing the past and how it might impact personal timelines.
The story is narrated by Liz, a doctor in her 40s, who had a traumatic childhood following her dad’s arrest for involvement in an IRA bomb attack. It would have been nice to have a bit more Irish context as to the background of the troubles but the hatred of Margaret Thatcher was explained.
The overall concept for the time travel is intriguing and Liz is an engaging narrator, although she does repeat herself a little too often. I enjoyed Liz’s journey back to 1984, her relationship with her younger self and her parents. The era of perms and shell suits was brought to life in an authentic way and Liz’s dilemma was certainly a page turner.
I was given an arc of this book and I’m happy to leave my review.
The story is narrated by Liz, a doctor in her 40s, who had a traumatic childhood following her dad’s arrest for involvement in an IRA bomb attack. It would have been nice to have a bit more Irish context as to the background of the troubles but the hatred of Margaret Thatcher was explained.
The overall concept for the time travel is intriguing and Liz is an engaging narrator, although she does repeat herself a little too often. I enjoyed Liz’s journey back to 1984, her relationship with her younger self and her parents. The era of perms and shell suits was brought to life in an authentic way and Liz’s dilemma was certainly a page turner.
I was given an arc of this book and I’m happy to leave my review.
March 7, 2026
I am an ARC reader for Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. If you enjoy time travel, this story is an interesting, different twist in the genre. What if you had a means to go back to specific dates, your vehicle taking care of your clothes and a place to stay, and save specific people from the actions or death that would have claimed them without your intervention? Not famous people. Just ordinary people whose lives make a difference. Dr. Elizabeth Marsh was treating an old man who said bizarre things. She was going to ignore him but the object he gave her and circumstances conspired to change her life forever. This is such an intriguing concept, the book well written and characters so realistic - it's a great introductory book to what looks like a promising series
April 9, 2026
Rocket to the Past earns a steady, confident five stars. The authors deliver a clean, well‑paced adventure that respects its own premise, blending time‑travel intrigue with grounded character work. The writing is measured rather than flashy, which gives the story a quiet credibility and keeps the focus on plot and atmosphere.
What stands out most is the clarity of the storytelling. The historical elements feel thoughtfully handled, the twists land without strain, and the narrative moves with an easy assurance. It’s a solid, satisfying read—smartly built, engaging throughout, and well worth recommending.
What stands out most is the clarity of the storytelling. The historical elements feel thoughtfully handled, the twists land without strain, and the narrative moves with an easy assurance. It’s a solid, satisfying read—smartly built, engaging throughout, and well worth recommending.
February 22, 2026
I was excited about the storyline and actually binge-read it in one day. The concept is an ability of travelling back in time to fix and change some aspects of a parallel timeline. But some things can’t be stopped, especially when it comes to significant dates. Liz Marsh was drawn into these actions as they personally affected her own family.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews