Terror Undone: A Turn Back Time Novel

by Jessi Gage

“Wow! Terror Undone, by Jessi Gage, is one of the best books that I've read in a long while.”—5/5 Stars, NetGalley Reviewer Jill Tatter“Absolutely stunning… Terror Undone is a proper page-turner, a thriller that will keep you riveted to the very end.” –5/5 Stars, NetGalley Reviewer John Derek"...A wonderful romantic subplot that will bring all the feels readers know and love about Jessi, but in a nail-biting 'how the heck are they going to pull this off' adventure." --Author A. M. RobinsonAn impossible wishAs the twentieth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, trauma nurse Lydia Clay still struggles to make sense of the tragedy. When she sees an unusual star streak across the sky, she can’t resist making a wish. It may be impractical. It may be impossible. But that doesn’t stop her from wishing that somehow the attacks of 9/11 could have been stopped and all those people saved.The next morning, she wakes up in the Brooklyn apartment she called home during nursing school. The date is September 10th, 2001. Impossibly, she has been given the opportunity to answer her own wish. The only question is, how?An unlikely allianceWashington Post journalist Ian Greenberg wants to write about terrorism but according to his editor, it’s a non-topic. With his local politics column due, he needs to spend his Monday writing. But a cagey woman derails his plans when she calls and promises a lead on a terrorism story. By meeting with her, he thinks he’s risking his career, but there’s much more at stake. Because Mystery-Lead Lady doesn’t have a lead for him at all. What she has is information about an attack scheduled to take place the very next day. And she needs Ian’s help to stop it.A race against evilTo undo a terrible wrong, a woman from the future and a skeptical journalist with government connections must turn back the clock on evil."I wasn't sure how I'd feel reading a book like this. Would it bring up terrible memories? Evoke emotions I worked hard to not feel again? Well, I dove in and I'm so happy I did.... If you're on the fence, I highly recommend giving it a chance." --Author A. M. Robinson

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2021

About the author

Jessi lives with her husband and children in the Seattle area. She’s a passionate reader of all genres of romance, especially anything involving the paranormal. Ghosts, demons, vampires, weres, faeries...you name it, she’ll read it. As for writing, she's sticking to Highlanders and contemporaries with a paranormal twist (for now).

For updates, visit Jessi's website at www.jessigage.com. Using the contacts page to sign up for her newsletter will ensure you never miss a new release.

Reviews

[Jane Shambler · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many things in life that I know I'd like to turn back time and I bet thats the same for you too. But to turn back time to the only terrorist attack on American soil must be a big wish for everyone in the USA. But saying that isn't history there for us to learn and improve on. What happened was horrific but could you relive that?

Well this book answers that question. It's a brilliant book of what if? You know what if I'd turned right instead of left idea. Well a woman does wake up on September 10th 2001. The day before the atrocity. How does she convince people what's going to happen, can she change history.

It is really well written and if you can you should read this. I'm not telling you anymore you'll have to read it to find out.

[Suz Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lydia is a charge nurse in 2021 who just lived through the COVID pandemic. She divorced her husband a year ago and recently moved to her family home in Nebraska with her teenage daughter. Like many Americans, Lydia has always been fascinated and horrified by the events of 9/11/2001. She has read every book on the subject and knows all the details.

Early in the novel (through a completely unscientific event), Lydia wakes on September 10, 2001. She quickly realizes that perhaps she has the opportunity to prevent 9/11. The only problem is that she appears to be her younger self; a 23-year-old nursing student with no government ties.

Lydia decides that the best person to help her is Ian Greenberg a fictitious young journalist. In Lydia’s “memory” of 2021, Ian is credited with predicting 9/11 before it happened and going on to win Pulitzer prizes for his books about the horrible day. Part of the story is told from Ian’s point of view.

I won’t share anymore about what happens because you have to experience this one. Lydia’s determination to be heard and believed is admirable and compelling. Ian’s transition from skeptic to believer is realistic.

The attraction between the main characters is bittersweet, since the 2001 Lydia is newly married. She knows she must stay in her marriage to ensure that the son and daughter she remembers from 2021 are born. Lydia and Ian spend one incredible day together, trying to convince the “powers that be” of the horrors that are coming on September 11.

I won’t say whether they succeed or not. But as a huge time travel fan, I predicted part of the ending, and I was happy to be exactly right.

This doesn’t have the eerie, supernatural tone of Stephen King’s 11/22/63, but it’s the same general theme: is it possible to undo the defining moment of an entire generation?

Disclaimer: As the author states in the opening, if you have any personal ties to 9/11 or are triggered by descriptions of that day, you may want to skip this one.

The audiobook narrator, Marian Hussey was new to me and quite good.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully written "What if?" novel. The story flows nicely, the characters are well written and believable and the ending...well, you'll just have to read it to find out about that. Looking forward to more books being published in this series!

I was given a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. In all honesty though this book is worth the buy and I will probably pick up a paperback copy at my local bookstore.

[Audiblelovers.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t heard about JG yet, but I have to admit, that the best novels I read/ listened to so far in 2021 are:
• Weir’s Project Hail Mary
• Gage’s Terror Undone
• Silvey’s Meet Me in Another Life

“Terror Undone” is no romance novel btw. Not really.

I was 25 and I am from Germany, but I visited NYC 4x times and I really felt the emotions. It was galvanizing.
I wonder how long you struggled with the end…
There is an end, but the end could have been quite different following a sequel(s) …. concerning especially the events in the last 60 minutes (audiobook).

I hope you will write another contemporary novel with less romance like in this novel.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty Years September 11, 2001-2021

I chose this book to read near the 20th anniversary of 9/11 to remember and never forget. I never dreamed that as I am typing this that I would be watching the news and the headline is "America ends Afgan War." Nor did I ever think we would put our our tail and leave in disgrace. But when a political party wants a photo op for the 20th anniversary, the rest of us don't have a choice.

I enjoyed the book and it had great historical reference. It was also the first book that I've read to mention Covid 19. The book was a nice escape and a wish to change such a great tragedy that afflicted our nation.

[Laurel Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Especially since so many actual facts about 9-11 were detailed in the remembrances of protagonist, Lydia Clay. The book would make an excellent movie or mini series but I feel this will never happen. The fact that thousands of innocent people did perish on 9-11 would not sit well with their survivors. Too soon, even twenty years later.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the chance to read the German version of the book :)

Was würdest du tun, wenn dein größter Traum über Nacht in Erfüllung geht? Du dafür aber 20 Jahre in die Vergangenheit reisen und einen der schlimmsten Anschläge auf amerikanischen Boden verhindern musst.

Lydia bekommt diese Chance und sucht sich Hilfe beim Journalisten Ian, welcher als Reporter der den 11. September voraussagte bekannt ist. Doch schaffen die beiden es zusammen diesen zu verhindern?

Ich war begeistert von dem Grundgedanken! In die Vergangenheit reisen zu können und dort etwas so schlimmes zu verhindern. Wer wünscht sich das nicht manchmal, auch bei kleineren Dingen.
Die Autorin schafft es gut die Emotionen der Protagonisten auf den Leser zu übertragen, man fühlt sowohl die Erleichterung wie auch die Verzweiflung. Allerdings hätte Lydia die meiste Zeit über doch etwas mehr Selbstvertrauen nicht schaden können.
Die Charaktere sind angenehm, harmonieren miteinander und man versteht zum Großteil ihre Handlungen.
Zwischendurch gibt es eine tolle Darstellung der Notizen von Lydia, welche sich gut in die Story eingefügt haben.

Leider gab es sehr viele Übersetzungs-, Rechtschreib- und auch Zeichensetzungsfehler, wodurch ich persönlich doch einige Male aus meinem Lesefluss gerissen wurde, was man sicherlich hätte vermeiden können.
Außerdem denke ich, dass man einen besseren Spannungsbogen hätte aufbauen können, wenn nicht von Beginn an alle Details die Lydia kennt auch dem Leser präsentiert wäre. So hat man zu Beginn des Romans bereits alles gehört und aber im Verlauf, wenn Lydia mit jemandem darüber sprach oder jemanden zu überzeugen versuchte, die Geschichte erneut gehört. Zwar in etwas anderen Worten, aber der Inhalt blieb nunmal immer gleich. Für mich waren es im Endeffekt zu wenig Infos die dann in die Länge gezogen wurden.

Allerdings habe ich unglaublich viel Neues über den 11. September lernen können, da Jessi Gage sich auf den wahren Begebenheiten beruft.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, but not unique concept, where a woman goes back in time to change history. In Terror Undone, 43 year old Lydia awakens one morning, twenty years earlier, on 9/10/01, and tries to get someone to believe that the next day the US will experience the worst terror attack on US soil in history. Delicately and sensitively written, the author does a good job weaving the true events of 9/11 with a fictional outcome that develops into an engrossing thriller, and does so deftly without a political agenda. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Carolynn Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, read it in one sitting. This was a book I just couldn’t put down, I needed to know what happened next, each chapter makes the story more interesting, more thrilling. The development of the story in only 300 pages is amazing in this fast paced, exciting read. Such as amazing read cannot wait for more with these characters.

[Tanya Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read a Jessi Gage book in several years, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was blown away at how much I loved it. I was excited with the premise of this book. The timing was just right as well as the 20th anniversary is close . This was everything I could’ve hoped for. The narrator was wonderful. The story was tense yet respectful.
I received this as a free copy for a review, though it didn’t change my review.
Listen to this book.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hesitant to read this because I decided to read it around the anniversary of 9/11 this year. It was a huge deal for me to actually pick it up and not feel guilty by reading about this horrific attack.

Lydia is a charge nurse in 2021 who just lived through the COVID pandemic. She is divorced and recently moved to her family home in the state of Nebraska with her daughter. Lydia has read every book on the subject of 9/11 due to her fascination with the horrifying events that took place.

Early in the novel, through a completely unscientific event, Lydia wakes on September 10, 2001. She realizes that she may now have the opportunity to prevent 9/11 from ever happening. The only problem is that she appears to be her younger self; a 23-year-old nursing student with no government ties.

Lydia decides that the best person to help her is a guy named Ian Greenberg who is a fictitious young journalist. As Lydia goes back into her memory of 2021, Ian is credited with predicting 9/11 before it happened and going on to win Pulitzer prizes for his books about the horrible day.

Did that interest you at all? If so, just pick up this book and read it. It's refreshing to have an alternate ending to such a horrific event. The author has done their homework on reviewing the events and the details in this story are flawless. I loved experiencing Lydia's determination to be heard and attempt to undo one of the most horrific events in history.

[Cynthia Kumanchik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time Travel? Suspense? Romance? You'll find all those elements in Jessi Gage's novel,
Terror Undone, a fast-paced story that grips you with an unusual premise. What if one person could stop the 9/11 terror attacks and save thousands of people?

Lydia Clay goes back in time to September 10, 2001, by wishing on a star. She wakes up in her younger body, as a nursing student, married to her ex, and living in her old apartment. Realizing this twist and the fact that she could possibly stop 9/11 before it happens motivates her into action. Having been a 9/11 junkie and read numerous books and articles, Lydia knows all the details and develops a plan. She contacts news reporter Ian Greenberg and jumps on a plane from New York to Washington DC with only some charts and facts from her memory. It turns out that Ian was the "journalist who predicted 9/11", winning the Pulitzer Prize and writing four best-selling books in the future.

Lydia lays all the facts on a skeptical Ian who takes her to visit his Aunt Marge, an ex-CIA agent with an influential friend, Socks, who gives her access to top CIA officials. She cajoles and pleads her case to get a complete plan in motion. A romance is brewing between Lydia and Ian even though she's still technically married to Tristan, her ex.

Gage's novel is told from Ian and Lydia's perspectives and is suspenseful and gut-wrenching until the end. Will Lydia stop the terror attacks, and will she have to relive her past twenty years? Gage neatly wraps up the story and promises more with her new Turn Back Time series. Can't wait for the next novel!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terror Undone by Jessi Gage drew me in with its premise: a trauma nurse goes back in time to the day before 9/11 so that she can stop the tragedy from unfolding. Wouldn't we all love to see that happen?

I struggled between rating this three or four stars. The plot was thrilling, and I wanted to keep reading to find how she might pull off this feat. I should have known that one must suspend belief when reading a book about time travel, but our protagonist, Lydia Clay, showed some nearly superhuman powers of deduction and memory recall in foiling the plot. Obviously, she had the benefit of hindsight, but some points were pretty unbelievable.

The supporting characters were fun and quirky, but the writing style was not my cup of tea.

I will recommend this to readers who like alternative histories and stories about 9/11.

Thank you to the author, Jessi Gage, the Independent Book Publishers Association and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Orlanda Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rated this book 1.5 stars. I love a good time travel book with some thriller/suspense thrown in. The synopsis of this being a fast pace book, along with mentioned above had me raring to read. It had elements of romance, which isn't my favorite genre, but i was willing to read since it had all the other elements. In the end it just wasn't for me. I really hated to write this review. I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, it wasn't engaging and it couldn't hold my attention. This was after putting it down for a while, then come back to it. The premise was there, it was interesting, I wanted to see how it played out. I cared nothing about the characters, which led me not to care about the situation. I realize that it was a book that required suspension of disbelief, but between the writing style and the overall structure, it just wasn't for me. NETGALLEY provided me a ARC for an honest review.

[Sébastien Haté · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon on Instagram
@seb.reads

[Susan Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Loved this whole idea of turning back time! I only wish this were a true story instead of fiction! So many lives would be different!