What Time Has Kept: A Dual-Era Mystery

by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard

Two women, 150 years apart, linked by an enduring archaeological mystery

"An intriguing and absorbing novel, meticulously researched."
-Fiona Valpy, internationally bestselling author of The Sky Beneath Us

In 1870s Scotland, Christian Maclagan—one of Britain’s first female archaeologists—struggles for recognition in a world determined to silence her. Emboldened by her acquisition of a rare Neolithic carved stone ball, she becomes obsessed with unlocking its ancient secrets. But as she studies the mysterious artifact, disturbing dreams begin to unravel her. Eventually, Christian must grapple with the shocking truths she has unconsciously buried for decades.

One hundred fifty years later, American graduate student Ellen Byrne arrives in Scotland to research her thesis. Reeling from a devastating betrayal and haunted by her father’s suicide, Ellen discovers a Victorian journal leading her to an extraordinary find—a possible companion to Scotland’s most famous carved stone ball. As Ellen races to authenticate her discovery, her increasing obsession with the stone threatens not only to derail her promising career but also to destroy her faith in herself.

An intriguing blend of historical and contemporary fiction, inspired by a true archaeological mystery, What Time Has Kept explores the interplay of memory and consciousness, the emotional power of objects, and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 15, 2026

About the author

Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is a bestselling author of historical and women’s fiction. She has a lifelong interest in human consciousness, metaphysics, extrasensory perception, and spirituality—concepts she often explores in her novels.

Elizabeth’s first career was music. She was a vocalist, traveled extensively, and has written over 100 songs ranging from pop to jazz, rock, and country. She plays piano and flute, both of which she studied formally. Her later careers focused on PR, marketing, and publishing.

At home with her husband, she has two rescue dogs—a Lab and a Boxer mix. One of her favorite pastimes is walking with them in the desert and mountains of Arizona.

HISTORICAL NOVELS

Elizabeth enjoys the extensive research required to make historical fiction compelling and credible. "Writing historical fiction requires a lot of patience and the desire to always dig deeper. I learn a lot from my research and want to pass along the most interesting parts to my readers. Whether I'm writing biographical fiction or a mystery-thriller like The Beauty Doctor, details matter. They have to be right."

THE BEAUTY DOCTOR is a nail-biting thriller that takes place in the early days of cosmetic surgery (Victorian/Edwardian era)—when the world of medicine was like the Wild West and beauty doctors were a shocking new breed of outlaws. A young woman wishing to become a doctor serving New York City's poor becomes entangled in a terrifying plot of deception and possibly murder. Winner, Best Historical Thriller of 2024 (Best Thrillers).

Elizabeth's 2023 release and Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller, SISTERS OF CASTLE LEOD, is set in Scotland at the turn of the twentieth century. The novel, inspired by real people and events, is an emotionally charged story of two very opinionated sisters torn apart by jealousy and superstition as each struggles to discover her own truth. Winner of the 2023 Maxy Award for Historical and Adventure Fiction and an Editors’ Choice of the Historical Novel Society.

THE SEAFORTH HEIRESS: LADY OF THE LAST PROPHECY is an Amazon #1 Bestselling New Release in Biographical Historical Fiction. In 1803, the family of Lord Seaforth lives under the shadow of a dark prophecy. Over a century earlier, Coinneach Odhar, known as the Brahan Seer, foresaw the demise of the Seaforth line. There is little doubt among Scottish Highlanders that the end of the dynasty is drawing near. Inspired by true events, the story follows the incredible journey of Mary Mackenzie, eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Seaforth, as she struggles to save her family’s legacy and become the only woman ever to claim the mantle of Clan Mackenzie chief. Shortlisted for the 2025 Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize.

TEMPTATION RAG, a historical novel featuring real-life characters from New York City's ragtime era, has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as a “resonant novel . . . about the birth and demise of ragtime . . . in which romance and creative passions abound.”

"I strive to write books that leave the reader with plenty to ponder," says Elizabeth. "Issues of trust, faith, and the role of destiny in our lives are themes that I often explore in my novels. I enjoy ambiguity, which is perhaps one reason I am fascinated by historical characters whose lives, in retrospect, can be interpreted in so many different ways."

WHAT TIME HAS KEPT: A DUAL-ERA MYSTERY will be released on October 15, 2026.

To learn about Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard's latest releases, follow her at ehbernard.com

Reviews

[Rand Eller]

In her latest historical novel, “What Time Has Kept,” Elizabeth Hutichison Bernard takes on the challenge of capturing the feelings and rhythms of two very different eras. Jumping from the stiff, formal, and proper style of the 19th century to the more informal style of the 21st century, she succeeds in capturing both temporal periods to create a tale of history and mystery that takes the reader from New York to Scotland to Sardinia.

Her protagonist in contemporary times is Ellen Byrne, a graduate student pursuing her thesis in Scotland about the origin of Bronze Age circular stone mounds. Her Victorian protagonist is Christian Maclagan, an “antiquarian” credited by some as “Scotland’s first female archaeologist.” In her field research of the stone mounds, Ellen is sidetracked by a series of fortuitous accidents into an investigation of the mysterious “Towie Ball”, a carved stone ball with ancient markings inscribed on it. Not to give away too much, but that investigation leads to the discovery of a “mate” to the “Towie Ball”…but that is all I will say. The adventure is in how Ellen gets there.

Having read several of Ms. Bernard’s previous novels, I observe a maturing of her writing over time. She seems more confident in her plot and characters and this latest novel reflects that maturity. In this novel, Ms. Bernard demonstrates her mastery of the art of the “slow reveal” and avoids the instinct of many authors to fully present their character’s personalities early in the novel rather than allowing their personalities to emerge over time like the mellowing of fine scotch whiskey. Ellen Byrne learns piece-by-piece about the relationship between another character, James Duncan, her accidental guide on this adventure, and Kendra, his former girlfriend. That relationship is first hinted at through off-hand comments from another character, Sid Waterhouse, and then expanded through a tense interaction with Kendra’s little sister, Heather.

Linguistically, Ms. Bernard turns some interesting phrases such as ”…my two brothers went off to India to pursue the indigo trade…” juxtaposing going to India with the indigo (“India I go”) trade. Personally, I love word play like that. Her similes like “…the commanding presence of the Reverend Mr. Alexender Beith fills the space like a conspiracy of ravens” evoking a clear mental picture of a scene. And, as a fan of alliteration, I was charmed by phrases like “…frayed braid rugs scattered here and there…”.

While I consider myself to have a good vocabulary, Ms. Bernard’s superior mastery of the English language is exemplified by her description of Sterling Castle’s Great Hall “…with its hammerbeam roof and golden harled exterior…”, which sent me scurrying for my Oxford English Dictionary to learn “hammerbeam” and “harled.” And, as I tell my kids, “Any day I learn a new word is a good day”… and any day I learn two new words…well….

Much of the novel is an historical tour of Olde Scotland going into details of castles, princes, and kings. Interesting if you like Scottish history but, in my opinion, not absolutely necessary to driving the plot or fleshing out the characters. I suppose that in an historical novel, some of that historical detail is necessary. But, to me, it felt like filler. Although those details led me to believe that she went well beyond simple historical research and imagination to actually treading the paths and byways she describes.

In the end, I found this a very compelling novel that, through the slow reveal of the characters and the mystery, drives the reader from one page to the next to discover the unexpected conclusion.

I received a free advance copy of this book and am submitting this review voluntarily.
Rand M. Eller,
Mechanicsville, MD
23-SEP-2026

[Gregory Van Den Berg]

The pupose of the story "What Time Has Kept: A Dual-Era Mystery"written by Elizabeth Hutchinson Bernard was to explore how the past shapes the present. Therefore, buried truths eventually demand to be uncovered. The author employed two parrallel narratives to write the story. In this story, the author utilized the historical mystery genre as an avenue for emotional healing for the protagonists, Christian Maclagen and Ellen Byrne. These archaelogists centered their discoveries around Scotland's mysterious Neolithic stone balls. The author insisted these artifacts were actual physical links which bridged generations, ignited obsessions, and drove emotional energy across centuries. The author's underlying belief was how human experiences and physical objects left behind from the past created an unbreakable on going continuation of truth and identity.

The plot of the story was focused on two women who lived 150 years apart. Even though they lived 150 years apart from each other, their lives intertwined by their obsession with the Neolithic stone balls. The first woman was Ms. Maclagen who was a pioneering real-life Victorian archaelogists who struggled for recognition and acceptance by the male dominated Society of Antiquities. The problem which occurred for her was how her roommates buried the stone artifact she discovered thus erasing its existence and her claim of discovery.

The second woman was Ms. Byrne who was writng her graduated thesis based on the stone balls. Like, Ms. Christian, Ms. Byrne was facing her personal and professional battles. Her research in to the stones brought to light unsettling premonitions. The two lives ultimately intertwined as Ellen discovered Christian's long lost journal. The stone artifacts, according to the story, acted as a magnet which brought these two lives together.

This is a must for everyone. Ms. Bernard uses the two matching stone balls as a symbolic magnet drawing the lives of the two protagonist together. She refuses to use the stereotypical time machine genre in order for the reader to solve the riddle created by her. The riddle to solve is how the two stone balls link human memory, trauma, and destiny across generations. Due to the quality of the writing, story, and uniqueness, the book has a five star rating.

[Susan]

What Time Has Kept is the page turner, cliff hanging, unputdownable, latest, of Elizabeth H. Bernard’s five historical novels. I liked this book and enjoyed the time I spent reading it, for several simple reasons. Here are a few.

Elizabeth H. Bernard carefully thought out and presented the way the story unfolded. I appreciated the reasonably, short, chapters, of this dual time framed story, which took place over a 150 plus-year gap. From 1870 with the middle-aged Scottish, heroine, Miss Christian Maclagan, the story jumps to and fro to 2023 with twenty-something, American, Ms. Ellen Byrne. Both are ambitious, desiring to be recognized in their field of antiquarian archeology. Their stories flow back and forth as we see the differences between the social, political, educational, sex and class differences contrasting the times and place of the United States, and Scotland.

I could easily imagine this dual time story being made into a Masterpiece Theater, limited TV mini-series with beautiful cinematography of the Scottish countryside. The mystery of the Neolithic Scottish carved stone balls is woven around the romance, beauty and adventure of the story.

The author penned the double, heroines' stories, in first person narrative, as though they were speaking to me. Their revealed thoughts augmented their dialogue; thus, enhancing my reactions, which helped me pick up on aspects of their personalities. This drew a picture in my mind, of the characters, affecting a larger, more detailed, observation and impacted me. Including their thoughts, this impact made me feel a closer connection to what had happened to them, and what they thought and felt. I could feel their feelings and reactions to events.

When not reading, I found myself thinking about the characters, at other times of my day. The story and characters projected my thoughts to previous experiences and relationships in my own life. I felt connection. Feeling that connection to the characters, makes a book most memorable.

. I received a copy of the book from the publisher who requested an honest review.

[Rebecca Rosenberg]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Richly Atmospheric and Immensely Satisfying
A beautifully crafted, intelligent dual-timeline mystery. Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard delivers a captivating and thoughtful story in What Time Has Kept, blending historical fiction with a compelling modern-day mystery. Set against the stark, beautiful backdrop of Scotland, the novel seamlessly links two women separated by 150 years through their shared connection to ancient artifacts.
In the 1870s, we meet Christian Maclagan—a fiercely independent, pioneering Victorian antiquary based on a real historical figure—who must fight for respect in a male-dominated field while managing complex personal rivalries and a secret buried on her estate. In 2023, Ellen Byrne, an American graduate student studying Scotland’s mysterious Neolithic carved stone balls, arrives in Aberdeenshire for thesis research only to find herself embroiled in an unexpected theft and an unspooling historical puzzle.
What sets this book apart is its restraint and authenticity. Bernard doesn't rely on cheap gimmicks to tie the two timelines together; instead, the narrative builds its power through atmosphere, character development, and subtle thematic resonances. Both Christian and Ellen are written with genuine depth—they are flawed, stubborn, intelligent, and deeply human. The historical details of Victorian Stirling and the archaeological facts surrounding the real-life Towie ball are meticulously researched and feel completely natural to the plot.
The pacing is steady and engaging, balancing the academic intrigue of ancient stone carvings with personal drama, history, and a touch of suspense. It’s a grounded, deeply satisfying read that respects the reader's intelligence.
If you appreciate well-researched historical fiction, strong female leads, and a good mystery with a real sense of place, this novel is well worth your time.

[Bianca]

This is a captivating historical mystery and a real page turner. The author does a wonderful job bringing two very different centuries to life, taking the reader on a journey from New York to Scotland and Italy.
I particularly enjoyed the two female protagonists. Although they live centuries apart, they have much in common: both are stubborn and intelligent, deeply human and wonderfully flawed, while struggling to find their place in a male dominated field and longing for professional recognition. Their stories felt compelling and made it easy to become invested in what happens to each of them.
The historical details and archeological elements also seem very well researched. As someone who enjoys Scotland and Scottish history, I especially loved the historical journey through Scotland, including the details about Stirling castle, the kings and queens. The descriptions added a wonderful sense of place and made the historical timeline particularly enjoyable.
The novel strikes a nice balance between the mystery surrounding the ancient ball, the personal drama of the characters, history and suspense. The story is engaging from the very beginning, and the author gradually weaves the past and present together in a way that keeps you wanting to know how the two timelines will connect.
Interestingly, the cover was what initially drew me to this book, but it was the engaging plot, the characters and the locations that kept me reading. I found myself genuinely carring about both female leads and wanting to discover where their stories would lead.
Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable dual timeline historical mystery, especially for readers who enjoy history, archeology, strong female protagonists and stories that connect the past with the present.

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

[Janis Daly]

Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard’s What Time Has Kept is a beautifully written, atmospheric novel that reminded me of my reading of Maggie O’Farrell’s exquisite prose in Hamnet. From the first chapters, I found myself invested in both timelines of the story, the characters, and the emotional arcs of each character.

Dual timelines can be difficult to pull off. Too often, one storyline feels like a vehicle for the other. Not here. I was equally engaged by both narratives and genuinely cared about what would happen to both Christian and Ellen. The threads of the past and present weave together with a growing sense of mystery. The enigmatic stone balls create an irresistible pull to uncover what time has kept hidden.

At the heart of the novel, Bernard crafts my favorite part of historical fiction: that almost mystical tug history has on us—the feeling that the past is never truly gone and that if we look closely enough, we may uncover something waiting to be understood. Bernard captures that fascination beautifully.

And then there is the cover—a gorgeous, original design that feels like an invitation to step through the pages and into other worlds, both past and present.

What Time Has Kept is an evocative, mysterious, and deeply engaging novel about the stories time leaves behind and our enduring desire to discover them.

[E Tyler]

Great story by a talented and gifted author!

“What Time Has Kept” by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is a fascinating journey following two women as they explore the meaning behind an ancient and mysterious artifact. Bernard brings to life Christian Maclagan, one of Scotland’s first recognized female archeologists in the 1870s. She weaves Christian’s work, which centers around intricately carved Neolithic stone balls/Towie balls, with Ellen Byrne’s postgraduate research in 2023.

Although living years apart, this story reveals all that these women share: the longing for professional recognition, the need to understand the mysteries of the past, and a desire for love and connection. Through many unseen twists and turns, Hutchison Bernard takes the reader on an exciting hunt for the true meaning of the Towie balls while exploring Christian and Ellen’s own personal secrets and desires.

I loved reading this story! As always, Hutchison Bernard’s lyrical writing is music on the page. I immediately connected with Christian and Ellen and couldn’t wait to discover what happens next! It was so fun trying to figure out my own understanding of the Towie balls and the power they held over these two women’s lives. This is the type of book that makes you sad when you’re done. I’m so happy I received an advance review copy from the Publisher.

[Robert Binder]

I enjoyed this book. What Time Has Kept is a historical fiction set in dual time frames (1870s and modern), linking the paths of two strong willed women separated by 150 years, each trying to unravel the mystery of strange neolithic carved stone balls and each encountering very different obstacles. The mysterious stone balls are actual ancient artifacts. The earlier heroine is a real historical figure, Christian Maclagan. The fictional modern woman is an American graduate student, Ellen Byrne, doing research for her PhD thesis. I found the subject of the mysterious carved stone balls and Scottish archeology fascinating. The author has clearly done extensive research in bringing the story to life and I certainly learned a lot reading it.
The story contrasts how the status of women in society and their challenges in regards to interpersonal relationships have changed over the centuries. The story is well written and compelling. The dialogue, emotions, and interaction of the characters ring true. Although ostensibly written for women, there is a lot here for the male reader.
The book held my interest throughout and I would highly recommend it.

[Mari Kent]

What Time Has Kept by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is a beautifully written work of historical fiction that seamlessly weaves together the dramatic stories of two women from different eras struggling to understand the meaning of the same mysterious artifact from the distant past. Both stories are set in Scotland, one in the Victorian era and the other contemporary. With dual timeline fiction, sometimes one thread dominates or is more interesting, but in this book the author achieves a perfect balance. I found it very unique that the historical characters were based on a real people, while the contemporary characters were entirely fictional. The strength of these character portrayals along with the novel's engaging plot and emotional depth make it a story that stays with you after you turn the final page. I recommend What Time Has Kept for readers who enjoy historical and contemporary fiction about strong, trailblazing women as well as mystery and nonstop twists-and-turns. I received an advance digital copy from the publisher with a request for an honest review.

[Kathleen Snyder]

In reading a dual era book, sometimes you can get lost in the back and forth and it can become very confusing. I found this author’s approach of a set pattern of alternating chapters to be very easy to follow. Each new chapter brought a continuation to one of the two main characters and their story as it unfolded.

I have read many of Elizabeth Bernard’s books and really enjoy her writing style. She finds a way to get the point across with enough detail to set up the story, enough intrigue to keep you interested and provides a clear understanding about the science and history of the period she is writing about.

The similarities and social handicaps that women have had to deal with in their professional lives are outlined in two disparate eras. The affect that personal history plays in their lives and how they do or do not deal with it are also entwined in their story. It is a thought provoking read which will have you searching for your own unattended experiences and feelings about them.

[Deborah Francesconi]

I thoroughly enjoyed What Time Has Kept.
The historical aspects of the story, particularly the archeology surrounding the mysterious neolithic carved stones discovered in Aberdeen, Scotland, were fascinating and gave the book a unique quality.
I especially liked the dual timeline between the two main characters.
Ellen Byrne, an archeology student pursuing her thesis, and Christian Maclagan, noted to be one of Scotlands first recognized female archeologists in the late 1800’s.
Although separated by more than a century, both women face struggles of trying to find a place and be taken seriously in a male dominated world.
The connection between their stories was beautifully developed.
This book is a blend of of history, archeology and two compelling women whose stories are connected across time.

Overall, I would recommend this novel, particularly to readers who enjoy historical fiction with complex characters and an emotional story.

[Lucille Guarino]

Two women, divided by over a century, are captivated by the same enigmatic, jewel-like stone orb, a profound interest that borders on obsession. Christian is a Victorian-era woman and archaeologist from Britain with a heart-rending secret. The contemporary Ellen, an American grad student grappling with past trauma, travels to Scotland for her thesis research, where she makes a remarkable discovery. Scotland’s most famous carved stone ball—sometimes branded an evil play thing, a witch’s ball holding metaphysical power—has a counterpart. Could this mysterious sphere be her undoing? A prehistoric artifact in need of protection, or is it the other way around?

I enjoyed experiencing the Scottish landscape, the mystery and history surrounding the carved balls, and the characters' emotional arcs in this dual timeline story. Impeccably researched and skillfully composed, What Time Has Kept is a riveting read.

[Alison Hoeksema]

This dual timeline story involves the interaction between two women and two Neolithic carved stone balls. Christian is a Scottish archaeologist in the 1870s who is fascinated by one of the artifacts, but her ability to study it is limited by her gender. Discovery of another ball uncovers long-buried memories, and she becomes obsessed, but the ball is eventually removed and hidden. Many years later, graduate student Ellen finds a journal referencing the second ball. Her guide in Scotland is able to find the ball, which leads to conflict between whether to keep it hidden for further study, or reporting the find and losing access to it. The way both women are affected by the ball is revealed gradually and realistically, and the mystery is only slowly unravelled, making it a very satisfying story.
I received an ARC from the author via BookSirens, but my opinion is given voluntarily.

[Becky Durstenfeld]

I had a feeling this would be different from what I normally read, but ended up not liking the book very much. It is well written with good character development, but I really didn't care for the 2 main characters very much. I liked that part of it was based on a real person. I didn't like what was added about her experience with her grandfather. There were some similarities between the two women, what they were interested, looking for and found. It has some technical information that I wasn't very interested in. I appreciated that Christian was a woman of faith, but the way she interacted with others didn't always reflect that. There was also some superstition involving the stone balls as well. There is some drama in the book. I didn't find the ending very satisfying.

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

[Pamela Taylor]

What could Scotland, quantum physics, childhood trauma, archaeology, and a touch of mysticism possibly have in common? If you’re tempted to answer “nothing,” then you haven’t yet read Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard’s latest release, "What Time Has Kept." They’re the threads of two lives separated by 150 years but linked by the mystery of a pair of intricately carved Neolithic stone balls—threads that Bernard deftly weaves into an intriguing tapestry of two women, each trying to make their mark in a meaningful way, both convinced that traditional explanations of the purpose of the carved balls miss something more deeply spiritual. With a bit of modern whodunnit and a touch of romance added to the mix, this one will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

[Cynthia]

This brilliant dual-era mystery swept me away into the atmospheric landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. Bernard masterfully weaves together the timelines of 19th-century archeology pioneer Christian Maclagan and modern-day postgraduate researcher Ellen Byrne.

The central mystery surrounding Scotland's Neolithic carved stone balls kept me guessing at every turn, beautifully blurring the lines between rigorous history and higher consciousness. Bernard's signature talent for rich, period-accurate dialogue and deep thematic exploration of destiny, ancestral links, and hidden memories shines through on every page. It is a rare treat to read a historical mystery that is equally thought-provoking and unputdownable. A flawless 5-star read that will stay with you long after the final chapter!

[Deborah Carr]

Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard's dual-era novel demonstrates excellent development of two strong female characters who each, in their own era, pursue their passion for science within the constraints of the society in which they live. By alternating the eras with each chapter, the reader stays interested in each character without developing a preference for either. The story of the Towie stone and its mysteries offers an opportunity to learn about the Neolithic era as well as Scottish pride in its own history. My favorite line is in Chapter 21, page 185 - "Between husband and wife are two brains, not one."

[Linda Pennell]

Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard’s dual timeline novel, What Time Has Kept, is beautifully written, immersing readers in 1870s Scotland and the present day with vivid descriptions and compelling characters. Using an historical figure’s life and work as a springboard, Ms. Bernard deftly weaves together elements of suspense, mystery, and the intrigues of the past uncovered through archaeological discoveries. Her skillful use of dialogue feels authentic to each time period. Meticulous research, an intriguing plot, and period appropriate dialogue make What Time Has Kept a truly captivating and memorable read.

[Tamara Moerer]

Loved this book! The mystery of the Scottish Towie balls builds as the author weaves the past and present into a captivating story that spans 150 years. She does a brilliant job of constructing a fluid narrative that captures and embraces the distinct personal and professional challenges of the two primary female characters. It is a must read; Hutchison Bernard's best yet!

[Gail Olmsted]

A dual-era novel of two women separated by time yet connected through a mysterious link to the past. Their intertwined stories, which are equally interesting and well-developed, make What Time Has Kept a brilliant and thought-provoking narrative on love, loss and the power of hidden memories.
5 stars!!

[Cheryl]

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