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Kendra Donovan #1
A Murder in Time
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2016)Beautiful and brilliant, Kendra Donovan is a rising star at the FBI. Yet her path to professional success hits a speed bump during a disastrous raid where half her team is murdered, a mole in the FBI is uncovered and she herself is severely wounded. As soon as she recovers, she goes rogue and travels to England to assassinate the man responsible for the deaths of her teammates.
While fleeing from an unexpected assassin herself, Kendra escapes into a stairwell that promises sanctuary but when she stumbles out again, she is in the same place - Aldrich Castle - but in a different time: 1815, to be exact.
Mistaken for a lady's maid hired to help with weekend guests, Kendra is forced to quickly adapt to the time period until she can figure out how she got there; and, more importantly, how to get back home. However, after the body of a girl is found on the extensive grounds of the county estate, she starts to feel there's some purpose to her bizarre circumstances. Stripped of her twenty-first century tools, Kendra must use her wits alone in order to unmask a cunning madman.
While fleeing from an unexpected assassin herself, Kendra escapes into a stairwell that promises sanctuary but when she stumbles out again, she is in the same place - Aldrich Castle - but in a different time: 1815, to be exact.
Mistaken for a lady's maid hired to help with weekend guests, Kendra is forced to quickly adapt to the time period until she can figure out how she got there; and, more importantly, how to get back home. However, after the body of a girl is found on the extensive grounds of the county estate, she starts to feel there's some purpose to her bizarre circumstances. Stripped of her twenty-first century tools, Kendra must use her wits alone in order to unmask a cunning madman.
498 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 2016
1531 people are currently reading
32049 people want to read
About the author
Julie McElwain
10 books1,363 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 2,371 reviews
October 5, 2019
This is a very enjoyable mystery with a sprinkling of time travel dusted on top. The modern day scenes, obligatory at the beginning and end are perfunctory and uninteresting; however the 1815 time period which encompasses the rest of the story is done well, especially the scenes in which a modern woman tries and fails at being a lady.
Only a few things annoyed me, the use of "mayhap" continuously through the narrative, and the use of anachronistic words like "sociopath" without explanations to the denizens of 1815.
Only a few things annoyed me, the use of "mayhap" continuously through the narrative, and the use of anachronistic words like "sociopath" without explanations to the denizens of 1815.
March 7, 2016
The premise of this book sounded very intriguing, and I really wanted to enjoy it. I had a hard time with it, though. It seemed as though the author spent too much time setting up Kendra, the heroine, and providing background/motive for her actions. While that is important, a great deal of what went on in the first several chapters was completely unnecessary to the rest of the book. I really did not get into the story until Chapter 11. I also had a hard time relating to Kendra. She was supposed to be a brilliant FBI agent, yet once she realized she was in Regency England she for some reason was not able to filter her language or adjust her behavior to better fit in and stop rousing suspicion among those she encountered. I do not feel as though people would be so accepting of a woman using such foul language in the early 1800s. And, not to give away any spoilers, at the climax of the book, Kendra's actions do not seem to jive at all with a highly-trained FBI agent.
The mystery, murders, and suspense of the book were very well done, however. The reader was kept guessing until the end, and there were some very impactful twists and turns.
I am not sure if I would recommend this to high schoolers because of the graphic nature of the violent crimes in the book.
If one can over look Kendra's expletives and reckless behavior, this is an enjoyable read. Just a few tweaks with the character of Kendra would make this a fabulous book.
The mystery, murders, and suspense of the book were very well done, however. The reader was kept guessing until the end, and there were some very impactful twists and turns.
I am not sure if I would recommend this to high schoolers because of the graphic nature of the violent crimes in the book.
If one can over look Kendra's expletives and reckless behavior, this is an enjoyable read. Just a few tweaks with the character of Kendra would make this a fabulous book.
July 1, 2016
I was 1/4 way through this book before I got fed up with details that rang false and a heroine I had no sympathy for. I should have quit when her hair went from "Her scalp had been shaved for surgery, but a half inch of dark hair had grown in" to "styled with blunt cut bangs and a sleek bob that curved an inch below her jaw" in 3 months. The library Big Read committee should be embarrassed to promote such drivel.
October 4, 2016
I had such high hopes for this book, and it was such an utter disappointment. Reading this book was like being promised something akin to the time period/genteel witticisms of Jane Austen and the murder mystery chops of Agatha Christie, and instead ending up with the blandness of "Death Comes to Pemberley" and the mystery-solving finesse of a little kid wearing a Sherlock Holmes deerstalker with his finger up his nose. There was just SO much wrong here that I don't even know where to properly begin.
I suppose first are the weak characterizations. Kendra Donovan is one of the most unsympathetic heroines I've ever encountered in fiction. Can't we just once have a heroine who is a badass female and is proud of that fact? Kendra speaks several languages, went to college at age 14, and is basically supposed to be a certified genius, yet all she does is whine about how much of a "freak" she is. I can think of more than a few people who would love to be able to speak several languages with little to no effort and make insane amounts of money for just being a genius... *raises hand*
Besides that, she also is an ornery, bitchy person. Almost every sentence she utters has some form of profanity in it (which, let me tell you, got old real quick). She's always snapping at the other characters. Once she realizes she's somehow traveled back in time, she doesn't even attempt to blend in with the society at large, even when it might behoove the murder investigation she's working on to fly under the radar. Instead she barrels around using slang terms and swearing, not giving a crap about how a woman of this time period would be expected to behave, her only explanation being either evasion or saying that it's because she's "American". She tells all of the men what to do and when to do it, and they somehow never really question her on it. I'm all for women being in charge, especially in a time period like 1800s England where women's value compared to men's value was thought to be significantly less, but I'd think at least someone would be like, "Hey, you're not behaving like a lady and you've got no right to tell us what to do; leave my estate at once." But no, the Duke takes a liking to this jerk for no reason that is ever explained, except as an excuse for the author to keep Kendra around to "solve" the mystery. "Solve" is in quotation marks because despite how much of a crime genius Kendra apparently is, the mystery just happens around her and nothing that she does really ends up having any affect on anything. She's basically "We're doing everything my way because I know what I'm doing" and the rest are just "Righto Miss Donovan, we're going to just turn a blind eye to you because we're the side characters after all, carry on." She even interrogates a suspect relentlessly in an extremely cruel manner, provoking him so far as to try to strangle her - not going to lie, I didn't really blame him...
Mr. Darcy -- I mean Alec -- is just a bad copy of an idea that Jane Austen came up with first. He dislikes and is extremely suspicious of Kendra for the first half of the book, culminating in him confronting her about why she knows all this weird future stuff and she gives him no answers and he's angry about it, and then all of a sudden a couple scenes later he loves her and they're making out. Zero to sixty, no sense was made. The author is the editor of a soap opera magazine and I think this is her roots showing for sure.
The servants all speak with terrible text approximations of Cockney accents, like Hagrid from "Harry Potter" if he was Cockney: "'W'ot we goin' ter do?" "''Twas before 'er Ladyship's nuncheon. Eleven, Oi think. Mebbe 'alf past." It was extremely annoying at first but by the end when a bunch of servants are speaking at the same time and it's pages of this, I just started laughing. The author also has no idea how the upper classes speak, trying to use modern contractions combined with Austen-esque wording, like "Where'd you come from, pray?"
Even with all this crap aside, my main problem with this book is that the author, Julie McElwain, does not know how to write or how to construct a story and this is obviously her first novel. She is under the impression that the last sentence of every chapter should be foreshadowing. She thinks adding one or two random POVs of other minor characters makes her story better rather than muddling it. She names other characters in the POV of her murderer fairly early in the book, thereby giving away to the reader that that character is not the murderer and ruining any theories the reader may have thought up (I stand by my opinion that my ruined theory would have been a better ending than the actual ending, anyway). She reuses the same character descriptions and thinks her reader won't notice that every time we see them, Sam's features are "elfin", Gabriel's hair is "tousled", and something about the Duke's blue eyes. She overexplains concepts to her readers as if we are children who won't be able to follow her plot and she needs to handhold. She refers to women characters repeatedly as either "chits" or "bits 'o muslin". Her main character's hair is shaved and described as being only "a few inches" long but somehow 3 months later she has grown it to a sleek bob and it is not a wig. Most unforgivingly, she can't even remember the NAMES OF HER OWN CHARACTERS: Mrs. Griffith becomes Mrs. Griffon, Georgette becomes Georgina, and Sarah Rawdon becomes Sarah Rawlins, all just a few pages later. Like, come ON, lady. This shouldn't be this hard.
When I first got this book along with a few others from the library, one of my cats jumped up onto our coffee table and deliberately knocked it off with his paw. Now, this is the same cat who just today decided it might be a fun and not at all dumb idea to lick an electrical socket with a plug in it, so I didn't take it as any kind of sign that I shouldn't read this book. Sorry, Willow -- I'll listen to your wise judgment next time.
Because I don't like to be an entirely Negative Nancy, I will say I did like how the descriptions of the 1800s estate, rooms and foods were presented, it gave me a nice mental picture. Thank you for reading and have a pleasant day :)
I suppose first are the weak characterizations. Kendra Donovan is one of the most unsympathetic heroines I've ever encountered in fiction. Can't we just once have a heroine who is a badass female and is proud of that fact? Kendra speaks several languages, went to college at age 14, and is basically supposed to be a certified genius, yet all she does is whine about how much of a "freak" she is. I can think of more than a few people who would love to be able to speak several languages with little to no effort and make insane amounts of money for just being a genius... *raises hand*
Besides that, she also is an ornery, bitchy person. Almost every sentence she utters has some form of profanity in it (which, let me tell you, got old real quick). She's always snapping at the other characters. Once she realizes she's somehow traveled back in time, she doesn't even attempt to blend in with the society at large, even when it might behoove the murder investigation she's working on to fly under the radar. Instead she barrels around using slang terms and swearing, not giving a crap about how a woman of this time period would be expected to behave, her only explanation being either evasion or saying that it's because she's "American". She tells all of the men what to do and when to do it, and they somehow never really question her on it. I'm all for women being in charge, especially in a time period like 1800s England where women's value compared to men's value was thought to be significantly less, but I'd think at least someone would be like, "Hey, you're not behaving like a lady and you've got no right to tell us what to do; leave my estate at once." But no, the Duke takes a liking to this jerk for no reason that is ever explained, except as an excuse for the author to keep Kendra around to "solve" the mystery. "Solve" is in quotation marks because despite how much of a crime genius Kendra apparently is, the mystery just happens around her and nothing that she does really ends up having any affect on anything. She's basically "We're doing everything my way because I know what I'm doing" and the rest are just "Righto Miss Donovan, we're going to just turn a blind eye to you because we're the side characters after all, carry on." She even interrogates a suspect relentlessly in an extremely cruel manner, provoking him so far as to try to strangle her - not going to lie, I didn't really blame him...
Mr. Darcy -- I mean Alec -- is just a bad copy of an idea that Jane Austen came up with first. He dislikes and is extremely suspicious of Kendra for the first half of the book, culminating in him confronting her about why she knows all this weird future stuff and she gives him no answers and he's angry about it, and then all of a sudden a couple scenes later he loves her and they're making out. Zero to sixty, no sense was made. The author is the editor of a soap opera magazine and I think this is her roots showing for sure.
The servants all speak with terrible text approximations of Cockney accents, like Hagrid from "Harry Potter" if he was Cockney: "'W'ot we goin' ter do?" "''Twas before 'er Ladyship's nuncheon. Eleven, Oi think. Mebbe 'alf past." It was extremely annoying at first but by the end when a bunch of servants are speaking at the same time and it's pages of this, I just started laughing. The author also has no idea how the upper classes speak, trying to use modern contractions combined with Austen-esque wording, like "Where'd you come from, pray?"
Even with all this crap aside, my main problem with this book is that the author, Julie McElwain, does not know how to write or how to construct a story and this is obviously her first novel. She is under the impression that the last sentence of every chapter should be foreshadowing. She thinks adding one or two random POVs of other minor characters makes her story better rather than muddling it. She names other characters in the POV of her murderer fairly early in the book, thereby giving away to the reader that that character is not the murderer and ruining any theories the reader may have thought up (I stand by my opinion that my ruined theory would have been a better ending than the actual ending, anyway). She reuses the same character descriptions and thinks her reader won't notice that every time we see them, Sam's features are "elfin", Gabriel's hair is "tousled", and something about the Duke's blue eyes. She overexplains concepts to her readers as if we are children who won't be able to follow her plot and she needs to handhold. She refers to women characters repeatedly as either "chits" or "bits 'o muslin". Her main character's hair is shaved and described as being only "a few inches" long but somehow 3 months later she has grown it to a sleek bob and it is not a wig. Most unforgivingly, she can't even remember the NAMES OF HER OWN CHARACTERS: Mrs. Griffith becomes Mrs. Griffon, Georgette becomes Georgina, and Sarah Rawdon becomes Sarah Rawlins, all just a few pages later. Like, come ON, lady. This shouldn't be this hard.
When I first got this book along with a few others from the library, one of my cats jumped up onto our coffee table and deliberately knocked it off with his paw. Now, this is the same cat who just today decided it might be a fun and not at all dumb idea to lick an electrical socket with a plug in it, so I didn't take it as any kind of sign that I shouldn't read this book. Sorry, Willow -- I'll listen to your wise judgment next time.
Because I don't like to be an entirely Negative Nancy, I will say I did like how the descriptions of the 1800s estate, rooms and foods were presented, it gave me a nice mental picture. Thank you for reading and have a pleasant day :)
October 21, 2017
This is my Book Of the Month- September 2017, with GR group- Nothing But Reading Challenges- Category: Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy BOM.
I also had a lot of fun discussing this book with Nameeta
I started this book without reading the blurb I had read the blurb before deciding to join the group read but did not remember a word of it, which worked out for the best as everything that happened was a pleasant surprise and I kept looking forward to the next great twist in this story.
This story is a great combination of Historical, Fantasy- time travel and Mystery. Our main protagonist(Kendra) is a child prodigy and working for the FBI, finds herself transported to a different era (nearly 200 yrs back). Her reaction to this was believable and even after she accepted this reality, there were flashes of doubt in her mind which made the whole thing more acceptable to me.
Kendra starts working as a ladies maid in a Duke's castle and finds herself in some difficult situations which was fun to read.
There are also flashes of humor which we see in Kendra's thinking...
But this is not all that happens. There is a murderer out there who is killing young girls and it is up to Kendra to put a stop to it. It was again fun watching her investigate with the limited access to developed technology but still being way ahead of that time!
There were some things not quite right with the story:
It was weird the way everyone lets a mere unknown servant to take control of the investigation. It is absolutely unbelievable but I chose to ignore this obvious loophole as I absolutely enjoyed reading this!
The book does not focus on the historical details and the dialect used may not be accurate but again I chose to ignore this as I enjoyed the humor and the investigation to resolve the crime.
The final reveal again was not as shocking as it could have been and till this point the book was more a 3 to 3.5 stars for me. My preferred ending would have been . This would have made for a much better ending in my opinion.
So what tipped the scale to 4 star? Well, after the culprit is caught with this weird confession thing that happens, there were some thoughts that came to Kendra's mind which added this extra dimension to the story which make me really like the book -
The book ended on a very interesting read and this is a series and the 2nd book is already out. I am for one sure going to read this one!
I also had a lot of fun discussing this book with Nameeta
This story is a great combination of Historical, Fantasy- time travel and Mystery. Our main protagonist(Kendra) is a child prodigy and working for the FBI, finds herself transported to a different era (nearly 200 yrs back). Her reaction to this was believable and even after she accepted this reality, there were flashes of doubt in her mind which made the whole thing more acceptable to me.
"Could she be sitting in some psychiatric ward, her body confined to a straitjacket, while her mind conjured up this alternative reality?"
Kendra starts working as a ladies maid in a Duke's castle and finds herself in some difficult situations which was fun to read.
If the situation wasn't so serious or bizarre, Kendra would've laughed at the irony. Here she was- onetime child prodigy, the youngest agent ever to make it through Quantico- taking orders from two snobby debutantes."
There are also flashes of humor which we see in Kendra's thinking...
"Kendra watched the ladies with their absurdly small parasols. It took her a minute, but she finally figured out that it was meant more for flirtation than a protection from the sun. That was the root of this entire affair: the house party, the nineteenth century's version of Match.com."
But this is not all that happens. There is a murderer out there who is killing young girls and it is up to Kendra to put a stop to it. It was again fun watching her investigate with the limited access to developed technology but still being way ahead of that time!
There were some things not quite right with the story:
It was weird the way everyone lets a mere unknown servant to take control of the investigation. It is absolutely unbelievable but I chose to ignore this obvious loophole as I absolutely enjoyed reading this!The book does not focus on the historical details and the dialect used may not be accurate but again I chose to ignore this as I enjoyed the humor and the investigation to resolve the crime.The final reveal again was not as shocking as it could have been and till this point the book was more a 3 to 3.5 stars for me. My preferred ending would have been . This would have made for a much better ending in my opinion.So what tipped the scale to 4 star? Well, after the culprit is caught with this weird confession thing that happens, there were some thoughts that came to Kendra's mind which added this extra dimension to the story which make me really like the book -
The book ended on a very interesting read and this is a series and the 2nd book is already out. I am for one sure going to read this one!
April 6, 2017
The novel fits in to the time-slip genre; an FBI profiler gets hauled back to the early 1800s and becoming involved in a murder case which she believes is the work of a serial killer. Her investigation is hampered by her gender, the complete lack of investigation (they don't even have a proper police force in England yet) and the biases of class.
It was well paced, the action scenes decently written and the plot kept me reading until the end. There was an underwritten romance, I didn't have much of an opinion on it- which is sometimes much worse then hating something.
You really only remember books you hate or ones you love. This was ok. It was pretty forgettable with one exception. It had this really odd "male gaze" thing going on which baffled me.
I know I sound like a whiney little bitch constantly carrying on bout "mah feminism"… hopefully I will get a run of good books so I don't have to keep hopelessly beating this goddamn drum.
I want to make clear that this is nowhere on the level of some other books I've recently reviewed. But it was pretty frequent and it just didn't seem tonally consistent in novel about a woman written for other women.
I'll give some examples:
"Fifty that I’ll be the first to put nonlethal bullets into both bastards,” Landon revised.
“Make that fifty and a date with Kendra.”
Noone shot her a lopsided, lascivious grin. It didn’t matter that he was, at forty-nine, old enough to be her father, and married, to boot.
She shot him a cool look.
“Funny. I don’t remember putting myself on the auction block, Noone.”
“Ah, come on, sweetheart. Everybody needs an incentive.”
"You are too young and too pretty to be always business.”
"They could’ve stepped out of the pages of a history book. Almost. If you ignored the tattoos and body piercings—most of which were sported by women.
"...thanks to a cosmetic surgeon’s careful scalpel, the judicious use of Botox, and the latest collagen fillers."
"There was a lot of flirting going on, plenty of fluttering of ivory fans and eyelashes. It was weird to think that in another two hundred years people would flirt by pole dancing, twerking, and sexting."
I dunno… it just all seems really judgemental.
Like I think the author is trying to establish that Kendra is a natural beauty, hard working (rather then one of those bitches that coasts on her looks), and is also moral (because she doesn't have a tramp stamp, or date older men)… but it all just felt really unnecessary.
Why do we have to judge other people for such mild choices? It also had nothing to do with the story at hand. It wasn't used as a backdrop for Kendra's experience in the past. It was just derogatorily commented on then promptly forgotten.
Look this isn't going to be a big rage fest because it is pretty mild... but it made me tired. Books written about women, for women should be capable of writing from a perspective that respects various women's choices, you know?
Anyway, if you enjoy time slip mysteries this is a decent one. I had guessed what was going on but I realise I have a greater background in history (especially greek and roman) then the average reader so maybe that wouldn't have been true for others.
This is one of those two star books that absolutely earns its two stars- "it was ok."
But this tattooed, twerking slut is going off to find something better to read. ;)
It was well paced, the action scenes decently written and the plot kept me reading until the end. There was an underwritten romance, I didn't have much of an opinion on it- which is sometimes much worse then hating something.
You really only remember books you hate or ones you love. This was ok. It was pretty forgettable with one exception. It had this really odd "male gaze" thing going on which baffled me.
I know I sound like a whiney little bitch constantly carrying on bout "mah feminism"… hopefully I will get a run of good books so I don't have to keep hopelessly beating this goddamn drum.
I want to make clear that this is nowhere on the level of some other books I've recently reviewed. But it was pretty frequent and it just didn't seem tonally consistent in novel about a woman written for other women.
I'll give some examples:
"Fifty that I’ll be the first to put nonlethal bullets into both bastards,” Landon revised.
“Make that fifty and a date with Kendra.”
Noone shot her a lopsided, lascivious grin. It didn’t matter that he was, at forty-nine, old enough to be her father, and married, to boot.
She shot him a cool look.
“Funny. I don’t remember putting myself on the auction block, Noone.”
“Ah, come on, sweetheart. Everybody needs an incentive.”
"You are too young and too pretty to be always business.”
"They could’ve stepped out of the pages of a history book. Almost. If you ignored the tattoos and body piercings—most of which were sported by women.
"...thanks to a cosmetic surgeon’s careful scalpel, the judicious use of Botox, and the latest collagen fillers."
"There was a lot of flirting going on, plenty of fluttering of ivory fans and eyelashes. It was weird to think that in another two hundred years people would flirt by pole dancing, twerking, and sexting."
I dunno… it just all seems really judgemental.
Like I think the author is trying to establish that Kendra is a natural beauty, hard working (rather then one of those bitches that coasts on her looks), and is also moral (because she doesn't have a tramp stamp, or date older men)… but it all just felt really unnecessary.
Why do we have to judge other people for such mild choices? It also had nothing to do with the story at hand. It wasn't used as a backdrop for Kendra's experience in the past. It was just derogatorily commented on then promptly forgotten.
Look this isn't going to be a big rage fest because it is pretty mild... but it made me tired. Books written about women, for women should be capable of writing from a perspective that respects various women's choices, you know?
Anyway, if you enjoy time slip mysteries this is a decent one. I had guessed what was going on but I realise I have a greater background in history (especially greek and roman) then the average reader so maybe that wouldn't have been true for others.
This is one of those two star books that absolutely earns its two stars- "it was ok."
But this tattooed, twerking slut is going off to find something better to read. ;)
June 26, 2019
Kendra Donovan is a rising star at the FBI. But, after a catastrophic raid where half her team is killed, and she nearly also, she is furious to learn that the man responsible for the deaths is going scot-free. So, she decides to go after him no matter what. She goes rogue and travels to Aldrich Castle, England, where she plans to assassinate the man in question. But, something goes wrong, in a stairwell running from a foe she is suddenly transported back in time, to 1815. There she must try to act as a lady's maid and adapt to the time period in question, but that's not easy for a 21st century woman. And, then the body of a dead girl is discovered and Kendra realizes that there is a killer loose. And not an ordinary killer, it's a serial killer.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
December 29, 2016
I really enjoyed this, though, it was a bit rough around the edges. Much of the dialogue I found unbelievable, however, the story was so well developed that I can not give this less than 4 stars. I was completely engaged and did not see the end coming. If McElwain can polish up some of the smaller details & continue developing this story there's no reason the rest of this series can't be 5 star reads.
March 13, 2017
A Murder in Time is a bit of a mess, as far as rating it on a stellar representation of Georgian England's time period, the manner of speech and the distinct class and gender divisions. The promise of time travel, too, proved one simple shift, with Kendra the FBI agent finding herself in a duke's castle in 1815 rather than the one she began with today.
However, it's a bit of improbable fun - when there is time travel, anything goes! Kendra blows into the household in a lady's maid costume, gradually being demoted as she proves her uselessness in the household. The old Duke finds her intriguing, this woman who shakes hands and treats everyone the same, and as luck would have it, a corpse is discovered.
The suspense is thick, Kendra's twenty first century verbal blunders are funny - especially those that the author herself misplaced- and all in all, I enjoyed this light, somewhat loopy crime novel.
However, it's a bit of improbable fun - when there is time travel, anything goes! Kendra blows into the household in a lady's maid costume, gradually being demoted as she proves her uselessness in the household. The old Duke finds her intriguing, this woman who shakes hands and treats everyone the same, and as luck would have it, a corpse is discovered.
The suspense is thick, Kendra's twenty first century verbal blunders are funny - especially those that the author herself misplaced- and all in all, I enjoyed this light, somewhat loopy crime novel.
July 21, 2016
A modern day prodigy FBI serial killer profiler is transported back to 1815 England. She discovers a a serial killer who fancies himself similar to Sir Frances Dashwood, founder of the infamous Hell Fire Club. The body of a horrifically tortured prostitute is only the first of his murders. Can a modern day FBI agent find the serial killer all the while keeping her time travel a secret?
So this is an interesting premise. I was hooked on the description. To sum it up in a sentence: I thought it was a decent book, not terrific, not awful, just passably decent. Why this somewhat apathetic of a reaction? Well, several items stood out to me that made this a novel that seems to try a little to hard. It felt like there was some overcompensation in the characters and explanations that strained the story and made me wish McElwain would have given the reader a little credit.
1. I'm not a prude and swear quite frequently with pointed flourished phrases unique to my vocabulary. However, there was so much profanity in the book. I truly get it: Kendra Donovan is a woman trying to make her place in a male dominant club that is the FBI. Swearing must really make her seem tough and like "one of the boys".-insert eye roll-
2. Kendra's explanations on serial killer profiling, psychology, and behaviors, albeit interesting, really were nothing earth shattering that a fan of any crime series (television or literary) wouldn't have known. This was probably my biggest disappointment. It seemed so elementary. And the fact that two gentlemen of peerage were able to overlook her forays so easily into the macabre was definitely a plot of fantasy. Yet, to tell this plot I can see it as a necessary piece of fantasy.
HOWEVER. If you are able to willfully suspend your disbelief, it can be an enjoyable book. I stayed up past my bedtime reading it. Simply accept the story at face value and expect to be entertained. It is a fast paced novel with many parts to recommend it. Keira's intelligence, wit, and sense of humor make her a delightful protagonist. One character who I wished received more face time.. Lady Rebecca. She was a terrific addition to the Scooby Gang. I can say I am a fan of the series and look forward to a Book Two. I mean, I hope there is a Book Two as we are left with an open ending that could really go two different directions. Well done with the ending, Julie McElwain.
So this is an interesting premise. I was hooked on the description. To sum it up in a sentence: I thought it was a decent book, not terrific, not awful, just passably decent. Why this somewhat apathetic of a reaction? Well, several items stood out to me that made this a novel that seems to try a little to hard. It felt like there was some overcompensation in the characters and explanations that strained the story and made me wish McElwain would have given the reader a little credit.
1. I'm not a prude and swear quite frequently with pointed flourished phrases unique to my vocabulary. However, there was so much profanity in the book. I truly get it: Kendra Donovan is a woman trying to make her place in a male dominant club that is the FBI. Swearing must really make her seem tough and like "one of the boys".-insert eye roll-
2. Kendra's explanations on serial killer profiling, psychology, and behaviors, albeit interesting, really were nothing earth shattering that a fan of any crime series (television or literary) wouldn't have known. This was probably my biggest disappointment. It seemed so elementary. And the fact that two gentlemen of peerage were able to overlook her forays so easily into the macabre was definitely a plot of fantasy. Yet, to tell this plot I can see it as a necessary piece of fantasy.
HOWEVER. If you are able to willfully suspend your disbelief, it can be an enjoyable book. I stayed up past my bedtime reading it. Simply accept the story at face value and expect to be entertained. It is a fast paced novel with many parts to recommend it. Keira's intelligence, wit, and sense of humor make her a delightful protagonist. One character who I wished received more face time.. Lady Rebecca. She was a terrific addition to the Scooby Gang. I can say I am a fan of the series and look forward to a Book Two. I mean, I hope there is a Book Two as we are left with an open ending that could really go two different directions. Well done with the ending, Julie McElwain.
April 8, 2017
Big Library Read title--June 23-July 7, 2016.
*2.5 stars, generously rounded up. My grandmother, admittedly not a great cook in her later years, used to make a dish for me she called 'mishmash'--a mixture of ground hamburg and canned vegetables (think Veg-All). Believe it or not, at ten-years-old, I liked it; there's no accounting for taste.
I kept thinking of mishmash as I read this book--perhaps because it is a great mess of things that actually sort of work in the end (after simmering a bit.)
Special Agent Kendra Donovan is an exceptional FBI agent, a brilliant young woman who has worked in the Behavioral Science Unit and has recently been moved to a field team of several departments to try to apprehend a deadly terrorist. When the joint maneuver goes terribly wrong, a seriously-wounded Kendra plots her revenge.
In pursuit of this, she flies to England under a false identity and takes part in an historical reenactment at the ancient Aldridge Castle, where she is assigned the role of a maid of the 1800s and dresses the part. She has a plot to poison her enemy, who is one of the wealthy guests attending the party, but another armed assassin beats her to it with a well-aimed bullet. Trying to escape the killer herself, she dashes up a hidden staircase leading to the tower...where she experiences some strange and painful sensations that leave her reeling. What just happened? she wonders.
When she comes back down the staircase, she slowly becomes aware that things have changed. Is this an elaborate hoax being played on her? When she asks a young maid what year it is, the stunned girl replies, "Why, it's 1815!"
The rather curious Duke generously allows her to stay and work at the castle as a maid but she bungles everything and makes little attempt to style her speech to fit the era, using being 'an American' to cover up her mistakes.
When the body of a brutally murdered young girl is found on the estate, Kendra steps forward to offer her knowledge of forensics and serial killers to help the investigation, using esoteric terms like 'unsub' and 'vic' which leave the men scratching their heads. Who IS this bold young woman who is dressed like a maid, but speaks like a scientist? Can American science be so much more advanced, the men wonder?
The 'investigation' is really little more than a series of interviews: "No matter how complex an investigation, it always boiled down to the basics, Kendra thought. Canvassing the neighborhood, questioning colleagues, friends, family, neighbors. The techniques changed, but the approach remained timeless. There was something comforting in that."
Kendra feels a sense of guilt when two more women are killed. Why was she brought to the past if not to stop this killer?
I generally enjoy well-done time-travel fiction. This one gets low marks in that area, especially when compared to great books in the genre. It seemed remarkably silly, to tell you the truth. I also enjoy a good murder mystery--in this case, the MO of the murderer is pretty shocking but the investigation is dull--comprised mainly of shocking the gentry with pointed questions such as, Where were you on the night of...? etc.
The characterizations are cardboard, so much so that I had trouble remembering which man was which. (Is he the one whose mother is insane? Is he the one whose wife disappeared?) The author seems to feel the same confusion with her characters as she occasionally slips and uses a slightly different form of a minor character's name. Bad checking from the proofreaders to let those mistakes slip by! Kendra is supposedly a brilliant behavioral scientist and agent, but misses several clues and really, for all her expertise, doesn't do much to help catch the killer. And of course, there is a little sizzling romance thrown in, ala Outlander.
At about the 70% mark, the story picks up the pace as the killer becomes more unpredictable and Kendra senses she has made a serious mistake. Those last chapters redeemed the book for me. I will give her a second chance and plan to read book two in the series: A Twist in Time which I've gotten from Net-Galley. Will Kendra ever make it back to the future? We'll see.
*2.5 stars, generously rounded up. My grandmother, admittedly not a great cook in her later years, used to make a dish for me she called 'mishmash'--a mixture of ground hamburg and canned vegetables (think Veg-All). Believe it or not, at ten-years-old, I liked it; there's no accounting for taste.
I kept thinking of mishmash as I read this book--perhaps because it is a great mess of things that actually sort of work in the end (after simmering a bit.)
Special Agent Kendra Donovan is an exceptional FBI agent, a brilliant young woman who has worked in the Behavioral Science Unit and has recently been moved to a field team of several departments to try to apprehend a deadly terrorist. When the joint maneuver goes terribly wrong, a seriously-wounded Kendra plots her revenge.
In pursuit of this, she flies to England under a false identity and takes part in an historical reenactment at the ancient Aldridge Castle, where she is assigned the role of a maid of the 1800s and dresses the part. She has a plot to poison her enemy, who is one of the wealthy guests attending the party, but another armed assassin beats her to it with a well-aimed bullet. Trying to escape the killer herself, she dashes up a hidden staircase leading to the tower...where she experiences some strange and painful sensations that leave her reeling. What just happened? she wonders.
When she comes back down the staircase, she slowly becomes aware that things have changed. Is this an elaborate hoax being played on her? When she asks a young maid what year it is, the stunned girl replies, "Why, it's 1815!"
The rather curious Duke generously allows her to stay and work at the castle as a maid but she bungles everything and makes little attempt to style her speech to fit the era, using being 'an American' to cover up her mistakes.
When the body of a brutally murdered young girl is found on the estate, Kendra steps forward to offer her knowledge of forensics and serial killers to help the investigation, using esoteric terms like 'unsub' and 'vic' which leave the men scratching their heads. Who IS this bold young woman who is dressed like a maid, but speaks like a scientist? Can American science be so much more advanced, the men wonder?
The 'investigation' is really little more than a series of interviews: "No matter how complex an investigation, it always boiled down to the basics, Kendra thought. Canvassing the neighborhood, questioning colleagues, friends, family, neighbors. The techniques changed, but the approach remained timeless. There was something comforting in that."
Kendra feels a sense of guilt when two more women are killed. Why was she brought to the past if not to stop this killer?
I generally enjoy well-done time-travel fiction. This one gets low marks in that area, especially when compared to great books in the genre. It seemed remarkably silly, to tell you the truth. I also enjoy a good murder mystery--in this case, the MO of the murderer is pretty shocking but the investigation is dull--comprised mainly of shocking the gentry with pointed questions such as, Where were you on the night of...? etc.
The characterizations are cardboard, so much so that I had trouble remembering which man was which. (Is he the one whose mother is insane? Is he the one whose wife disappeared?) The author seems to feel the same confusion with her characters as she occasionally slips and uses a slightly different form of a minor character's name. Bad checking from the proofreaders to let those mistakes slip by! Kendra is supposedly a brilliant behavioral scientist and agent, but misses several clues and really, for all her expertise, doesn't do much to help catch the killer. And of course, there is a little sizzling romance thrown in, ala Outlander.
At about the 70% mark, the story picks up the pace as the killer becomes more unpredictable and Kendra senses she has made a serious mistake. Those last chapters redeemed the book for me. I will give her a second chance and plan to read book two in the series: A Twist in Time which I've gotten from Net-Galley. Will Kendra ever make it back to the future? We'll see.
May 13, 2020
Ok, I really enjoyed this book. I think it's my mood and I needed a good murder mystery - something to keep me guessing which this definitely did.
Overall I found myself wanting to read the story, wanting to know what happened and rooting for the good guys. I love the setting and pace of the story.
I liked the end and personally I hope Kendra decides to stay in the past. She has lots to look forward to if she does. If I were her, that's what I would do. Especially since she's being hunted in the present!
I look forward to the next book. If you enjoy historical mysteries or time travel, read this series!!
Overall I found myself wanting to read the story, wanting to know what happened and rooting for the good guys. I love the setting and pace of the story.
I liked the end and personally I hope Kendra decides to stay in the past. She has lots to look forward to if she does. If I were her, that's what I would do. Especially since she's being hunted in the present!
I look forward to the next book. If you enjoy historical mysteries or time travel, read this series!!
March 26, 2017
An FBI special agent and profiler gets flung back to Regency England to find her expertise is needed when an horrifically murdered young girl is found in a nearby lake.
I found this book entertaining and a compulsive read despite some fairly significant flaws, most of which I would classify as bad-romance-novel writing issues.
Firstly, the positives. Most of the characters are well-drawn and react believably to Kendra's presence. The mystery plot is handled well with clues to be picked up by a careful reader. There's a romance subplot, which is surprisingly understated given the romance-writing techniques used here. There's a lot of well-researched information regarding the things a 21st century woman would find jarring about living in the early 19th century.
So what do I mean by bad-romance-novel issues? Firstly, while it's not egregious, there's head-hopping throughout. In some ways that's a worse issue than if it was rampant, because it feels like something that could have been corrected with a good edit. Secondly, many of the chapters end with a foreshadowing sentence. "But little did she know how bad it would get." That can be forgiven in the first chapter or so, or if it's used only once or twice, but this happens throughout and, like head-hopping, tends to throw the reader out of the story by reminding them that it is a story. Finally, Kendra is very much that uber-competent too-young-for-her-position protagonist that suddenly realizes she's terribly lonely, just in time for a change of circumstances to give her life some meaning. That's not so much bad writing as overused cliche, but it probably still counts.
Ultimately these things were minor and not pervasive enough to ruin the book for me, and I really enjoyed the rest of it. Looking forward to the next one.
I found this book entertaining and a compulsive read despite some fairly significant flaws, most of which I would classify as bad-romance-novel writing issues.
Firstly, the positives. Most of the characters are well-drawn and react believably to Kendra's presence. The mystery plot is handled well with clues to be picked up by a careful reader. There's a romance subplot, which is surprisingly understated given the romance-writing techniques used here. There's a lot of well-researched information regarding the things a 21st century woman would find jarring about living in the early 19th century.
So what do I mean by bad-romance-novel issues? Firstly, while it's not egregious, there's head-hopping throughout. In some ways that's a worse issue than if it was rampant, because it feels like something that could have been corrected with a good edit. Secondly, many of the chapters end with a foreshadowing sentence. "But little did she know how bad it would get." That can be forgiven in the first chapter or so, or if it's used only once or twice, but this happens throughout and, like head-hopping, tends to throw the reader out of the story by reminding them that it is a story. Finally, Kendra is very much that uber-competent too-young-for-her-position protagonist that suddenly realizes she's terribly lonely, just in time for a change of circumstances to give her life some meaning. That's not so much bad writing as overused cliche, but it probably still counts.
Ultimately these things were minor and not pervasive enough to ruin the book for me, and I really enjoyed the rest of it. Looking forward to the next one.
June 26, 2016
Could not get past the first few chapters - boring boring boring. Can't believe this is the selection for the entire library district to read - sex scene(s) did not contribute to advancing the plot. Must have missed something as this book had many positive reviews.
December 15, 2020
Where has this book been all this time? LOL
I love time travel when it's good and here it's excellent!
Add with it a good mystery, a great heroine and secondary characters and you have the recipe for a truly great book!
I loved how the time travel part is not exaggerated and fits perfectly with the mystery part!
Also excellent is the way the heroine, Kendra, deals with her being pulled into 1815! She does and also thinks everything I would if in her shoes! She's in a very complicated situation. She's alone and she doesn't know how things work in that period and she doens't have anyone to ask or to help her in any way!
But, she's a highly intelligent woman and, even with several bumps along the way, manages somehow.
Her luck is to meet a very enlightened duke how is more intrigued than suspicious with her behaviour which is rather shocking and particular. But it's also logical and that appeals to the duke who's a logical and scientific kind of man.
I loved the mystery part too, even if it was rather violent and deviant. Still the resolution and how it was achieved with Kendra's applying modern techniques to murder-solving and serial killer-catching was truly wonderful! Even with limited resources that hinder her, she's able to discover who did it!
It was like watching Criminal Minds in 1815! WOW!
Also the (small) romantic part was very well done without that overpowering the whole story. It was tastefully done with Kendra's modern views clashing with that period's morality. I just loved that too!
A truly great story that I don't know in which shelf to place... I'll go with historical!
I love time travel when it's good and here it's excellent!
Add with it a good mystery, a great heroine and secondary characters and you have the recipe for a truly great book!
I loved how the time travel part is not exaggerated and fits perfectly with the mystery part!
Also excellent is the way the heroine, Kendra, deals with her being pulled into 1815! She does and also thinks everything I would if in her shoes! She's in a very complicated situation. She's alone and she doesn't know how things work in that period and she doens't have anyone to ask or to help her in any way!
But, she's a highly intelligent woman and, even with several bumps along the way, manages somehow.
Her luck is to meet a very enlightened duke how is more intrigued than suspicious with her behaviour which is rather shocking and particular. But it's also logical and that appeals to the duke who's a logical and scientific kind of man.
I loved the mystery part too, even if it was rather violent and deviant. Still the resolution and how it was achieved with Kendra's applying modern techniques to murder-solving and serial killer-catching was truly wonderful! Even with limited resources that hinder her, she's able to discover who did it!
It was like watching Criminal Minds in 1815! WOW!
Also the (small) romantic part was very well done without that overpowering the whole story. It was tastefully done with Kendra's modern views clashing with that period's morality. I just loved that too!
A truly great story that I don't know in which shelf to place... I'll go with historical!
March 21, 2017
3.5 that I'm rounding up. If - and this may be a big IF for some people - you can accept the central conceit of a 21st century FBI agent being transported back to the 19th century and not immediately being locked up or sent to Bedlam for her shocking behaviour, then it's a quite entertaining serial killer loose in the Regency tale.
NB: there is some sexual violence and the victims are very young.
NB: there is some sexual violence and the victims are very young.
July 7, 2017
This is more of a 2.5 stars book. And what I'm about to say is going to be very contradictory...
I enjoyed this book, but it also drove me crazy. The overall concept of a FBI agent time travelling to the past and solving crime is amusing, clever and unique. Also the time period of the 1800s is a personal favourite.
And yet there were so many things I had to look over in my enjoyment of this book:
1) It rambled on and on, often. It could be 200 pages shorter and you'd sacrifice no story or character development; instead you just loose some extremely detailed autopsy info, details about maids and servants that are irrelevant.
2) A lot of our lead gal, Kendra thinking (also easily cut out) includes stupid one liners (think Caruso in Miami Vice bad comments) that are just unnecessary and frankly is a cheap trick that an inexperienced author uses at chapter ends.
3) If you are going to do a book on time travel you had better be ready to deal with a few things... your character desperately trying to return, some actual science or myth/lore, and your character trying to return... Kendra puts ZERO thought put into returning to her own time. And while she may not want to in the end, the reality is that she should have tried something for a day or two... or just been more frantic.
4) Accents. I get it servants have accents and nobels/aristocrats don't. But I do not need an apostrophe in place of every single 'H' muttered by a servant. There were entire lines I couldn't read even after three tries. Ridiculous over emphasis of accent.
5) Speaking of not understanding things; while it was only done once it as almost an entire page of actual conversation in French. No translations. Now for m this is fine as I'm bilingual but had it been any other language I'd have been screwed. This is a rude disservice to readers in my opinion.
6) Id have liked to see more effort put into researching the time period for historical issues. Many, many small things drove me crazy... but I love historical fiction that is well researched. So maybe I just expect too much of a fun book like this.
And yet I really LIKED this book. Confused yet? LOL
A Murder in Time is like Outlander meets J.D.Robb. I'm not a big murder mystery person per say but I enjoy a bold, break all the rules female that kicks ass every once in awhile.
I also really enjoyed how Julie McElwain demonstrated the intelligence of our 1800s characters even though they didn't have our current technology. I think we often think people in the past were dumb which is just not true as they got us to where we are today.
I will read the second book as I now want to know about the romance that was just getting started, more about the time travel aspect and how Kendra continues to manage her situation(s).
And because this was a decent read, even if it wasn't amazing.
It would make for a fun beach read or lazy Sunday afternoon. Just don't over think it.
I enjoyed this book, but it also drove me crazy. The overall concept of a FBI agent time travelling to the past and solving crime is amusing, clever and unique. Also the time period of the 1800s is a personal favourite.
And yet there were so many things I had to look over in my enjoyment of this book:
1) It rambled on and on, often. It could be 200 pages shorter and you'd sacrifice no story or character development; instead you just loose some extremely detailed autopsy info, details about maids and servants that are irrelevant.
2) A lot of our lead gal, Kendra thinking (also easily cut out) includes stupid one liners (think Caruso in Miami Vice bad comments) that are just unnecessary and frankly is a cheap trick that an inexperienced author uses at chapter ends.
3) If you are going to do a book on time travel you had better be ready to deal with a few things... your character desperately trying to return, some actual science or myth/lore, and your character trying to return... Kendra puts ZERO thought put into returning to her own time. And while she may not want to in the end, the reality is that she should have tried something for a day or two... or just been more frantic.
4) Accents. I get it servants have accents and nobels/aristocrats don't. But I do not need an apostrophe in place of every single 'H' muttered by a servant. There were entire lines I couldn't read even after three tries. Ridiculous over emphasis of accent.
5) Speaking of not understanding things; while it was only done once it as almost an entire page of actual conversation in French. No translations. Now for m this is fine as I'm bilingual but had it been any other language I'd have been screwed. This is a rude disservice to readers in my opinion.
6) Id have liked to see more effort put into researching the time period for historical issues. Many, many small things drove me crazy... but I love historical fiction that is well researched. So maybe I just expect too much of a fun book like this.
And yet I really LIKED this book. Confused yet? LOL
A Murder in Time is like Outlander meets J.D.Robb. I'm not a big murder mystery person per say but I enjoy a bold, break all the rules female that kicks ass every once in awhile.
I also really enjoyed how Julie McElwain demonstrated the intelligence of our 1800s characters even though they didn't have our current technology. I think we often think people in the past were dumb which is just not true as they got us to where we are today.
I will read the second book as I now want to know about the romance that was just getting started, more about the time travel aspect and how Kendra continues to manage her situation(s).
And because this was a decent read, even if it wasn't amazing.
It would make for a fun beach read or lazy Sunday afternoon. Just don't over think it.
October 26, 2016
Not going to lie, this book sounded a little weird to me…..FBI agent time travels back to Regency England to solve grizzly murder? It doesn’t quite sound like a novel that really makes sense but oddly enough it worked out really well.
I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did. There were aspects of the novel that I wasn’t a fan of, but on the whole I was actively engaged in the mystery and invested in the characters.
I think the biggest thing that I struggled with was the relationship between Kendra and Alec….while not entirely unlikely, I didn’t feel like there was any sexual tension or anything besides suspicion between them.
I hoped that there would have been more build up between them and I don’t know, just a more believable romance. Sure there was attraction but the focus of the book was the murder investigation and I didn’t feel like Alec and Kendra had enough one on one time throughout the novel to constitute the attraction they both felt.
The other thing that was a little annoying was I felt like I was constantly being told or reminded about aspects of the story. For example, the author frequently reminded the reader about the social standing of the characters, the psychological profile of the killer, and the fact that Kendra didn’t belong in that time period. Sometimes I felt like this slowed the story down but on the whole I got used to the writing style and just accepted it. It wasn’t so bad that I didn’t want to keep reading, I just noted that it wasn’t necessary to the flow of the story.
I loved how the author mixed past and present when it came to the investigation. I loved seeing how Kendra profiled the killer….while it wasn’t necessarily a ‘new’ or ‘innovative’ profile, it was entertaining nevertheless. I loved how the murder mystery unraveled and I loved how there were multiple suspects up until the end.
While this book had a few rough edges, in the end it was still a great read! I love how the ending left the reader wondering what would happen next and I am excited to read the next installment.
It was such better than I expected it to be, the merging of the two time periods was well done and the time travel element wasn’t the only focus of the novel. At it’s heart its a good old fashion murder mystery/whodunnit. I look forward to seeing what happens to Kendra in the next book…..I’m just upset that I need to wait until April 2017 to find out what happens next!
See my full review here
I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did. There were aspects of the novel that I wasn’t a fan of, but on the whole I was actively engaged in the mystery and invested in the characters.
I think the biggest thing that I struggled with was the relationship between Kendra and Alec….while not entirely unlikely, I didn’t feel like there was any sexual tension or anything besides suspicion between them.
I hoped that there would have been more build up between them and I don’t know, just a more believable romance. Sure there was attraction but the focus of the book was the murder investigation and I didn’t feel like Alec and Kendra had enough one on one time throughout the novel to constitute the attraction they both felt.
The other thing that was a little annoying was I felt like I was constantly being told or reminded about aspects of the story. For example, the author frequently reminded the reader about the social standing of the characters, the psychological profile of the killer, and the fact that Kendra didn’t belong in that time period. Sometimes I felt like this slowed the story down but on the whole I got used to the writing style and just accepted it. It wasn’t so bad that I didn’t want to keep reading, I just noted that it wasn’t necessary to the flow of the story.
I loved how the author mixed past and present when it came to the investigation. I loved seeing how Kendra profiled the killer….while it wasn’t necessarily a ‘new’ or ‘innovative’ profile, it was entertaining nevertheless. I loved how the murder mystery unraveled and I loved how there were multiple suspects up until the end.
While this book had a few rough edges, in the end it was still a great read! I love how the ending left the reader wondering what would happen next and I am excited to read the next installment.
It was such better than I expected it to be, the merging of the two time periods was well done and the time travel element wasn’t the only focus of the novel. At it’s heart its a good old fashion murder mystery/whodunnit. I look forward to seeing what happens to Kendra in the next book…..I’m just upset that I need to wait until April 2017 to find out what happens next!
See my full review here
March 1, 2023
Reading reviews to this novel, it really struck me that the reviewers really loved the story or they really hated it. And being honest, it was this that kept me from buying it for a long time. Trusting the review from a friend I decided to give the book a go... and, boy, was I ever glad that I did!
The main problem that many reviewers seemed to have was the idea of time-travel and the comparing this story to other books about time-travel that they really enjoyed. I personally do not really like comparisons and hope in every book that I read that the story is fresh, different and if the author can put in new ideas so much the better! The most important is that the author can write so that I float along and am not "thrown" out of the story.
I think that A Murder in Time was different and extremely exciting. I really think that Julie McElwain had a terrific sense of time, that her 21st century heroine retained the "feeling" of the 21st century, while the other character definitely came from the 19th century. I probably could "nit-pick" if I thought hard enough. But as I was never thrown out of the flow of the story why ruin a invigorating experience?
The main problem that many reviewers seemed to have was the idea of time-travel and the comparing this story to other books about time-travel that they really enjoyed. I personally do not really like comparisons and hope in every book that I read that the story is fresh, different and if the author can put in new ideas so much the better! The most important is that the author can write so that I float along and am not "thrown" out of the story.
I think that A Murder in Time was different and extremely exciting. I really think that Julie McElwain had a terrific sense of time, that her 21st century heroine retained the "feeling" of the 21st century, while the other character definitely came from the 19th century. I probably could "nit-pick" if I thought hard enough. But as I was never thrown out of the flow of the story why ruin a invigorating experience?
January 12, 2020
Fabulous read!
If you like this type of story.
It’s a time travel historical mystery, oh dear! 😳
The mystery is good, I kind of guessed who was the villain but I wasn’t totally correct, so I’m happy with it. Not too predictable.
The hero though, another let down for this type of book.
I really want someone who is equal with the heroine’s cleverness, someone like the Duke.
But probably will be hard with this one, our heroine is a designer baby, a prodigy.
She is super intelligent woman!
Oh well, it’s still book #1, the hero is better be improves in the next books.
Okay, I will continue to book#2.
❤️❤️❤️
If you like this type of story.
It’s a time travel historical mystery, oh dear! 😳
The mystery is good, I kind of guessed who was the villain but I wasn’t totally correct, so I’m happy with it. Not too predictable.
The hero though, another let down for this type of book.
I really want someone who is equal with the heroine’s cleverness, someone like the Duke.
But probably will be hard with this one, our heroine is a designer baby, a prodigy.
She is super intelligent woman!
Oh well, it’s still book #1, the hero is better be improves in the next books.
Okay, I will continue to book#2.
❤️❤️❤️
July 4, 2016
I tried. I really did. DNF at 60%. The premise was interesting, but the book was just bad. Maybe because Connie Willis sets a high bar for time travel mysteries, I just couldn't finish.
First, it moved SO SLOWLY. Trying to slog through this book felt like punishment.
The characters aren't well fleshed-out; the main character is the worst. Kendra has no substance - but at the same time, she grated on my nerves so. bad. ~Strong female lead~ my ass. Sorry, all she does is barely-react to what's going on around her.
And, OK, of course if you're suddenly transported back 200 years, you're going to slip up and say things that don't make sense and be totally bewildered. And, like, IDC about all the cursing (I curse more than Kendra does), but am I supposed to believe that all these 19th century dudes don't care either?
I'll just re-read Doomsday Book, thx.
First, it moved SO SLOWLY. Trying to slog through this book felt like punishment.
The characters aren't well fleshed-out; the main character is the worst. Kendra has no substance - but at the same time, she grated on my nerves so. bad. ~Strong female lead~ my ass. Sorry, all she does is barely-react to what's going on around her.
And, OK, of course if you're suddenly transported back 200 years, you're going to slip up and say things that don't make sense and be totally bewildered. And, like, IDC about all the cursing (I curse more than Kendra does), but am I supposed to believe that all these 19th century dudes don't care either?
I'll just re-read Doomsday Book, thx.
July 4, 2016
I got 5 pages in. And quit. It reads like a harlequin romance - swirling silk capes and blood dripping onto their cravats. Cannot believe this mess was recommended.
February 22, 2025
Outlander meets criminal minds
May 6, 2017
Trigger warnings: rape, murder, a metric fuckton of slurs against sex workers.
I don't quite know what to make of this book. On the one hand, it's a pretty damned fabulous concept - badass FBI agent somehow finds herself sucked through time and space to England in 1815. Just as she's starting to realise that she's ACTUALLY IN 1815 OMG, girls start being murdered and it's up to her to use her 21st century knowledge to track down the murderer.
However.
This book requires a LOT of suspension of disbelief. The fact that a bunch of rich people find her and are all "You say you're a lady's maid, you must be a lady's maid! Here's a bedroom!" and then never bat an eyelid when she starts investigating the murders is...odd.
There was a lot of sloppily done historical research, including but not limited to women attending funerals, the correct forms of address for various members of the nobility, the number of servants that the nobility had (FOUR *THOUSAND* SERVANTS??? Where the heck would you house them all?!) and how servants worked (I call extreme bullshit on a nobleman not having ANY staff at his London house when he was in the country, if only to prevent it from being robbed) and the way women were treated in general.
Add in the fact that I pretty much guessed who the murderer was as soon as Kendra saw a particular painting, and the fact that the romance was kind of shoe-horned in there for no reason, and it was...fun but also kind of headdesk-worthy?? So yeah.
TL;DR version? Dear Americans: please stop writing historical fiction without running it past anyone who knows the correct forms of address for royalty and the nobility. K thx bai.
I don't quite know what to make of this book. On the one hand, it's a pretty damned fabulous concept - badass FBI agent somehow finds herself sucked through time and space to England in 1815. Just as she's starting to realise that she's ACTUALLY IN 1815 OMG, girls start being murdered and it's up to her to use her 21st century knowledge to track down the murderer.
However.
This book requires a LOT of suspension of disbelief. The fact that a bunch of rich people find her and are all "You say you're a lady's maid, you must be a lady's maid! Here's a bedroom!" and then never bat an eyelid when she starts investigating the murders is...odd.
There was a lot of sloppily done historical research, including but not limited to women attending funerals, the correct forms of address for various members of the nobility, the number of servants that the nobility had (FOUR *THOUSAND* SERVANTS??? Where the heck would you house them all?!) and how servants worked (I call extreme bullshit on a nobleman not having ANY staff at his London house when he was in the country, if only to prevent it from being robbed) and the way women were treated in general.
Add in the fact that I pretty much guessed who the murderer was as soon as Kendra saw a particular painting, and the fact that the romance was kind of shoe-horned in there for no reason, and it was...fun but also kind of headdesk-worthy?? So yeah.
TL;DR version? Dear Americans: please stop writing historical fiction without running it past anyone who knows the correct forms of address for royalty and the nobility. K thx bai.
November 20, 2017
3.5/4*
How to describe this novel? Flawed but compelling?
Let’s get to the beginning. The blurb intrigued me, especially the time travelling aspect, but upon starting the book, I found it a bit difficult to get into - it wasn't grabbing me. Nevertheless, I carried on and lo and behold, as soon as the narrative switched to 1815, it became much more interesting. Not only are we thrown into this early 19th century setting, with its different social hierarchy and rules, but there is a serial killer on the loose! Pages flew!
Weirdly enough, ‘flawed but compelling’ fits the main character too. Kendra is your super intelligent, driven and beautiful protagonist (!), which doesn’t stop her from making lots of mistakes and errors of judgement. Her shock at finding herself back in time is understandable but her behaviour, and especially her way of talking, isn’t. She should have known better. On the other hand, I guess this would have changed the plot majorly. Additionally, had she been found by anyone else in that time, of lesser social standing or character, you can be assured that she would have been thrown in an asylum or something worse...
As it stands, if you forgive these ‘errors’, the story holds and becomes rather captivating. Kendra uses her knowledge of Profiling and FBI training to gather data in order to hunt the murderer, adapting to the lack of modern technology and law enforcement. The rest of the cast works too, most being well-drawn and behaving in a believable fashion, enhancing the whole story.
How to describe this novel? Flawed but compelling?
Let’s get to the beginning. The blurb intrigued me, especially the time travelling aspect, but upon starting the book, I found it a bit difficult to get into - it wasn't grabbing me. Nevertheless, I carried on and lo and behold, as soon as the narrative switched to 1815, it became much more interesting. Not only are we thrown into this early 19th century setting, with its different social hierarchy and rules, but there is a serial killer on the loose! Pages flew!
Weirdly enough, ‘flawed but compelling’ fits the main character too. Kendra is your super intelligent, driven and beautiful protagonist (!), which doesn’t stop her from making lots of mistakes and errors of judgement. Her shock at finding herself back in time is understandable but her behaviour, and especially her way of talking, isn’t. She should have known better. On the other hand, I guess this would have changed the plot majorly. Additionally, had she been found by anyone else in that time, of lesser social standing or character, you can be assured that she would have been thrown in an asylum or something worse...
As it stands, if you forgive these ‘errors’, the story holds and becomes rather captivating. Kendra uses her knowledge of Profiling and FBI training to gather data in order to hunt the murderer, adapting to the lack of modern technology and law enforcement. The rest of the cast works too, most being well-drawn and behaving in a believable fashion, enhancing the whole story.
June 1, 2017
This was a little slow going in the beginning but once it picked up it was so easy to get caught up in the story and the murder mystery. I really liked the blend of both Kendra's modern world of being a profiler and her "new" world in the nineteenth century where profiler had yet to be a term or idea.
It was neat to see how the author took on the role of women in the nineteenth century with the role of women in our world today. Throw in an English setting and castements and this really was a fun and engaging read with just a touch of romance.
It was neat to see how the author took on the role of women in the nineteenth century with the role of women in our world today. Throw in an English setting and castements and this really was a fun and engaging read with just a touch of romance.
April 5, 2016
I didn't think too much of this one in the early chapters - too much setting up her 'present day' life/secret raid - but once things got rolling I was completely hooked and ended up enjoying this one far more than I initially expected! Great characters, an awesome setting, and an intriguing plot all make A Murder in Time an excellent debut.
full thoughts to come!
full thoughts to come!
May 1, 2017
We meet FBI agent Kendra Donovan in the hospital. She is in a coma as we learn about the undercover case that left her wounded and her teammates dead. Once recovered, Kendra is intent on revenge and goes rogue. She travels to England to seek out the killer. While in the Aldrich Castle, she finds herself in peril. In her efforts to escape she slips into a hidden stairwell and soon finds herself in the same castle but in the year 1815.
McElewin quickly pulls us into the tale, as Kendra Donovan comes to term with her surroundings and soon finds herself working as a lady's maid. She is determined to find her way back, but a murder soon pulls her into this world when she realizes they are dealing with a serial killer.
I loved the attention to details, although for me I found a few discrepancies in descriptions and quite a bit of head hopping. However, these were minor. Kendra, of course, stands out from her mannerism to speech garnishing the attention of the Duke of Aldridge and his nephew Alex. When the body of a young woman is found in the fountain, the agent in her cannot help but become involved. A Lady of the ton who is outspoken on the rights of women elevates Kendra's position to companion and she soon finds herself actively working the case. Secondary characters like Rose, Rebecca, and Molly added depth and interest.
The murder-mysteries and Kendra's inclusion in the investigation were wonderful and engaging. While she stumbled a few times with her knowledge, Kendra tried to use her skills, steer the investigation and catch the killer all why avoiding Bedlam. I loved how open minded the Duke and eventually, Alex was with Kendra's knowledge. Kendra even managed to impress the Bow Street Runner. This was a clever mystery with a cast of suspects and multiple murders. All of it, kept me listening as Kendra tried to apply her 21st-century knowledge and skills. It was fun seeing her back peddle or use her knowledge of history to explain terminology when the group questioned things she said or did. She was quite the eccentric.
There was a romantic thread, but it was never in the forefront as Kendra hoped to return to her time. There was a turning point and we see the potential for their relationship to become more. Either way, I was not invested in this thread. The tale is truly a time-traveling murder mystery case and we will have to wait and see if more develops.
The tale was narrated by Lucy Rayner and she did a decent job despite my dislike of her male voices. I thought she captured Kendra well.
The 1815 murder mystery wrapped up nicely with a satisfying conclusion but things don't go as planned for Kendra. We do get an update on happens in the 21st century and if left me anxious. I cannot wait to listen to A TWIST IN TIME. Even though I am not thrilled with Rayner's male voice, I will continue to listen as she is the voice of Kendra.
Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
McElewin quickly pulls us into the tale, as Kendra Donovan comes to term with her surroundings and soon finds herself working as a lady's maid. She is determined to find her way back, but a murder soon pulls her into this world when she realizes they are dealing with a serial killer.
I loved the attention to details, although for me I found a few discrepancies in descriptions and quite a bit of head hopping. However, these were minor. Kendra, of course, stands out from her mannerism to speech garnishing the attention of the Duke of Aldridge and his nephew Alex. When the body of a young woman is found in the fountain, the agent in her cannot help but become involved. A Lady of the ton who is outspoken on the rights of women elevates Kendra's position to companion and she soon finds herself actively working the case. Secondary characters like Rose, Rebecca, and Molly added depth and interest.
The murder-mysteries and Kendra's inclusion in the investigation were wonderful and engaging. While she stumbled a few times with her knowledge, Kendra tried to use her skills, steer the investigation and catch the killer all why avoiding Bedlam. I loved how open minded the Duke and eventually, Alex was with Kendra's knowledge. Kendra even managed to impress the Bow Street Runner. This was a clever mystery with a cast of suspects and multiple murders. All of it, kept me listening as Kendra tried to apply her 21st-century knowledge and skills. It was fun seeing her back peddle or use her knowledge of history to explain terminology when the group questioned things she said or did. She was quite the eccentric.
There was a romantic thread, but it was never in the forefront as Kendra hoped to return to her time. There was a turning point and we see the potential for their relationship to become more. Either way, I was not invested in this thread. The tale is truly a time-traveling murder mystery case and we will have to wait and see if more develops.
The tale was narrated by Lucy Rayner and she did a decent job despite my dislike of her male voices. I thought she captured Kendra well.
The 1815 murder mystery wrapped up nicely with a satisfying conclusion but things don't go as planned for Kendra. We do get an update on happens in the 21st century and if left me anxious. I cannot wait to listen to A TWIST IN TIME. Even though I am not thrilled with Rayner's male voice, I will continue to listen as she is the voice of Kendra.
Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
August 29, 2020
I can’t believe I didn’t write a review after I read this story the first time. I just completed Shadows in Time (loved it!) about a week ago and decided to reread the first story. I finished it within 24 hours and am bumping it from 4 to 5 stars.
A modern day FBI agent who captures serial killers is inadvertently thrown back in time to 1815 England. If you read this story, your mantra should be, ‘Kendra is a modern day woman, a wonderkind.’ If you say this every time she struggles during this Regency era, you will understand her frustrations and dilemmas.
She forms new friendships, makes some enemies and finds romance in the most unexpected places.
Of course, she searches for the gruesome murderer with some help from nobility. Don’t worry, all will make sense if you believe in time travel.
As for the negative reviews, I believe some readers are forgetting that Ms. McElwain’s writing is similar to a contemporary thriller with the TT element. Kendra continually wrestles with why she was sent back in time; it is difficult for her to hide her American identity and 21st century beliefs.
I like a good thriller, enjoy the Regency era and, IMHO, I think this is one of the better TT stories I have read in recent years.
A modern day FBI agent who captures serial killers is inadvertently thrown back in time to 1815 England. If you read this story, your mantra should be, ‘Kendra is a modern day woman, a wonderkind.’ If you say this every time she struggles during this Regency era, you will understand her frustrations and dilemmas.
She forms new friendships, makes some enemies and finds romance in the most unexpected places.
Of course, she searches for the gruesome murderer with some help from nobility. Don’t worry, all will make sense if you believe in time travel.
As for the negative reviews, I believe some readers are forgetting that Ms. McElwain’s writing is similar to a contemporary thriller with the TT element. Kendra continually wrestles with why she was sent back in time; it is difficult for her to hide her American identity and 21st century beliefs.
I like a good thriller, enjoy the Regency era and, IMHO, I think this is one of the better TT stories I have read in recent years.
May 11, 2017
So fascinating! If you like time-travel, kick-ass heroines and Diana Gabaldon's novel, then this one is for you! Kendra Donovan is a tough as nails FBI profiler who is ready to climb walls when she is transferred to Regency England and none of her skills are applied to female roles of the era. Then the murders start, and she realises that she does have a purpose here after all: to find the killer. A lightning-fast, gripping read, one of the highlights of the year for me.
* * *
Очень захватывающе! Если вам нравятся путешественники во времени, романы Дианы Гэбэльдон и крутосваренные героини, то вам сюда! Кендра Донован - специалист по профилям серийных убийц в ФБР. Когда она случайно проваливается во времени в Англию Регентства, она от отчаяния на стенку лезет, так как всё, что она знает, не входит в рамки гендерных ролей эпохи. Однако когда вокруг неё начинает происходить цепь убийств, она наконец понимает, что в это время попала не зря, и что её задача - найти и остановить опасного преступника. Прям от книги оторваться было невозможно, читалось на одном духу. Очень рекомендую!
* * *
Очень захватывающе! Если вам нравятся путешественники во времени, романы Дианы Гэбэльдон и крутосваренные героини, то вам сюда! Кендра Донован - специалист по профилям серийных убийц в ФБР. Когда она случайно проваливается во времени в Англию Регентства, она от отчаяния на стенку лезет, так как всё, что она знает, не входит в рамки гендерных ролей эпохи. Однако когда вокруг неё начинает происходить цепь убийств, она наконец понимает, что в это время попала не зря, и что её задача - найти и остановить опасного преступника. Прям от книги оторваться было невозможно, читалось на одном духу. Очень рекомендую!
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