A Question of Time

by Steven Lazaroff

What if one man could change history?

History professor Johnathan Lambert is on a business trip in the French countryside when his train enters a small tunnel containing a strange phenomenon – emerging from the other side without him and leaving him stranded in 18th century France.

Agent Nadeau, a veteran of the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police is tasked with the investigation of the missing passenger. But there's only one problem with the investigation. Johnathan Lambert doesn't exist, and Nadeau is faced with a difficult question. How do you find someone who doesn't exist?

Lambert wakes up to find himself displaced in time – somehow transported back to the reign of the last French King and Queen, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. How can a modern man survive in the past with only the clothes on his back and his wits, on the eve of the violence and turmoil of the French Revolution?

Can Lambert prevent the revolution? If he does - how is Agent Nadeau's modern world affected by the changes to the past?

Follow the stories of these two men, one struggling to survive in the turbulent past, the other trying to track him down in the modern era, looking at clues to solve the disappearance of the missing passenger on the train.

Genres: Time Travel

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2019

About the author

Steven Lazaroff is an extensive traveller with a passion for history. Able to root out the backstory of a building, an architectural ruin or battlefield, he seeks the humorous side of the story and attempts to convey a story with sarcasm, humour, and style.

His interests are wide-ranging and include Anthropology, history, military history, and cosmology.

Steven Lives in Montreal, Canada with his wife and is currently writing his third book.

Reviews

[Heather W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found A Question of Time to be a wonderful time travel story; history combined with a mystery. The author has obviously done a lot of research into the historical aspects in order to so accurately write about what Johnathan Lambert's exploits may have been when he travelled back in time to 17th century France. The present-day mystery of finding Johnathan is undertaken by Agent Nadeau, a veteran of the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police. Both sides of this story were very interesting to read and speculate about what could be if...

I am looking forward to reading more time travel books by this author.

[Ian Wardell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Will read sequel if he writes one. (author says he says he might).

[russell walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, hope he does a sequel. Well done Mr Lazaroff your hard work paid off in spades

[Alexander M. Higle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fun Mixture of Sci-Fi Escapism and Surprisingly Accurate History

I've read a couple of Steven laser off nonfiction books and was underwhelmed. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that he is significantly more compelling as a science fiction author. The story involves a modern day man who finds himself transported back in time to 18th century France, not long before the French Revolution. Unable to find his way back to his own time, Jonathan Lambert sets out to survive in this primitive era, and in doing so, cheerfully, willingly, throws caution to the wind in terms of changing history. The long term changes are reflected through the constantly altered reality of Inspector Nadeau, the modern day police detective assigned to investigate Lambert's disappearance. My only gripe is a petty one: As a patriotic American, I was dismayed to see Lambert's changes cause France to far exceed the U.S. as a leader among nations. Still, this is highly entertaining, with the bonus of the author's detailed research into the actual history of the specific time, place, and historical figures Lambert encounters.

[rhiannon c gent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story, read it in less than 24 hours.

Really enjoyed this book, I do love a time travel story and this one was a little different. I know very little of French history, so it was also educational. The present day investigation running alongside added an extra twist and although I'm not too sure I'd be a supporter of the societal changes Lamberts involvement causes, it was interesting and added something that many other books of this genre don't bother with. I'd definitely read a sequel, but I'd like to see some more characters get to time travel - investigator perhaps? I'm sure the lovely Eloise would follow...

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an interesting time travel tale. It was interesting seeing how the traveler, Jonathan Lambert dealt with being 200 years in the past and how the police investigation into his disappearance from the 21st century proceeded. I found all the characters were well drawn. The author included many real historical figures and many interesting historical facts. I appreciate the efforts he made to be authentic.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying Trip

There are so many time travel stories where the traveler uses his present day knowledge to provide a livelihood in the past. This interesting version of that has still another twist that makes it stand out but you’ll have to read it to discover the “something extra”. It’s worth a read to find out!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The idea for these books was excellent, original and interesting. The story is well-written, thought-provoking and entertaining. It raises the question of how even our smallest actions might have huge consequences in the future.

[Alan Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have been so much better...but a weak plot and lazy dialogue made this a snore 😴 fest.....gave up half way.

[Thomas Trimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved time travel as a subject. The possibilities are endless and the chance of danger are high too. This is an amazing work in both creating a 21st century France and following a man sent back to 1774 France. Many of the theories of time travel worry about causing a paradox and making things worse in the present. This story blended in the changes as if they were always there. I am a new author and I greatly respect the amount of research that went into structuring this very accurate vision of both times. I completely enjoyed the book. The author at the end mentions the possibility of a sequel to the book, I think I would enjoy kind of a branch off. The cause of the time travel could not have impacted only one person, it must have happened in other places in the city too.?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! I learned a lot about the ancien regime. The book is written in an interesting style and i didn't want it to end. I hope there is a sequel!

[Susan McReynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good. Have already started book 2. I’m actually shocked that there are so few reviews. It was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it for time travel lovers.