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The Past Lives Chronicles #1
Past Lives
Claire Blackwood’s life is in ruins. Her daughter is dead—killed by corporate greed and indifference—and her husband is in prison. And now, she’s been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. The only hope Claire has left is a crazy idea from her husband about reliving past lives and trying to change the future. But in life—past or present—nothing ever goes as planned.
Malcolm Foster wants to die. Once a famous author and lecturer, his worsening disease has left him wheelchair bound and helpless. When two government agents arrive at his estate, bringing with them long-buried memories of a pretty, black-haired girl named Claire and a ridiculous story about past lives, Malcolm sees his way out. But little does he know that the end he so desperately seeks is really just the beginning of something far greater than he could have ever imagined.
So begins a remarkable story of love, loss, and redemption across the very fabric of time. From the eighteenth century and the golden age of piracy to the Cimbrian migration known as the Wandering of the Tribes—a migration that will ultimately bring the Roman Republic to its very knees—Claire and Malcolm find their past lives irrevocably linked not just by the serum they both share in their veins—but by a dark secret from their own past as well.
Malcolm Foster wants to die. Once a famous author and lecturer, his worsening disease has left him wheelchair bound and helpless. When two government agents arrive at his estate, bringing with them long-buried memories of a pretty, black-haired girl named Claire and a ridiculous story about past lives, Malcolm sees his way out. But little does he know that the end he so desperately seeks is really just the beginning of something far greater than he could have ever imagined.
So begins a remarkable story of love, loss, and redemption across the very fabric of time. From the eighteenth century and the golden age of piracy to the Cimbrian migration known as the Wandering of the Tribes—a migration that will ultimately bring the Roman Republic to its very knees—Claire and Malcolm find their past lives irrevocably linked not just by the serum they both share in their veins—but by a dark secret from their own past as well.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 14, 2021
60 people are currently reading
669 people want to read
About the author
Terry Cloutier
25 books98 followersTerry Cloutier, the bestselling author of the Wolf of Corwick Castle series, The First Emperor series, and The Past Lives Chronicles, is currently writing a stand-alone time travel novel called A Picture in Time, scheduled for release in fall 2025. Following that, he plans to begin work on the tenth book in the Wolf of Corwick series, titled The Wolf at Bay. Terry resides in Canada with his wife and their two dogs. You can contact Terry through Facebook or Goodreads; he'd love to hear from you.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 7, 2021
Escaping a dismal present, can hope for the future be unlocked by exploring past lives? Claire Blackwood is all alone, what with her daughter dead and her husband in prison for murdering the greedy man responsible for killing their daughter. Claire’s got nothing to live for as cancer eats away at her brain cells. But what if her husband’s crazy theory is true? Can reliving past lives and making new decisions lead to changing the future? Is it even possible? Claire’s about to find out just how tenuous life is, and the risks involved in time travel. Along the way, she meets Malcolm, who is also voyaging past lives. Claire and Malcolm are connected through their past lives and a secret that haunts them. Can they change the future by reliving past lives?
Past Lives is a riveting adventure throughout history I couldn’t put down. From the beginning, my heart went out to Claire and her tragic circumstances. When I read the book description, I wondered if the author could deliver what appeared to be a rollicking time travel adventure. Terry Cloutier exceeded my expectations thousand times over. Terry thrusts the reader into Claire’s and Malcolm’s minds with deep POV and intricate description. The plot moved at a fast pace with a large cast of characters, and I found myself whipping through the pages. The historical accuracy was impressive which made for an engrossing read. The moral dilemma in Past Lives allowed the reader to think about the story when not reading. The action was intense in some parts, fun in others, tragic near the end. The characters, both main and minor, are what make Past Lives such an enthralling read. Each character was so vividly portrayed, they truly made the story come alive. The growth both Claire and Malcolm experienced was felt by the reader.
Some might say time travel books are passe, but I say no. In today’s society, time travel is more relevant than ever before. We must learn from the past in order to change the future. If time travel is your reading jam, don’t miss out on Past Lives. If you’re a Doctor Who fan, this is definitely one you want to read. If you’re looking for an escape, you’ll want to read Past Lives. Brilliantly written, I look forward to more in this series and from Terry Cloutier. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Past Lives is a riveting adventure throughout history I couldn’t put down. From the beginning, my heart went out to Claire and her tragic circumstances. When I read the book description, I wondered if the author could deliver what appeared to be a rollicking time travel adventure. Terry Cloutier exceeded my expectations thousand times over. Terry thrusts the reader into Claire’s and Malcolm’s minds with deep POV and intricate description. The plot moved at a fast pace with a large cast of characters, and I found myself whipping through the pages. The historical accuracy was impressive which made for an engrossing read. The moral dilemma in Past Lives allowed the reader to think about the story when not reading. The action was intense in some parts, fun in others, tragic near the end. The characters, both main and minor, are what make Past Lives such an enthralling read. Each character was so vividly portrayed, they truly made the story come alive. The growth both Claire and Malcolm experienced was felt by the reader.
Some might say time travel books are passe, but I say no. In today’s society, time travel is more relevant than ever before. We must learn from the past in order to change the future. If time travel is your reading jam, don’t miss out on Past Lives. If you’re a Doctor Who fan, this is definitely one you want to read. If you’re looking for an escape, you’ll want to read Past Lives. Brilliantly written, I look forward to more in this series and from Terry Cloutier. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
My Rating: 5+ stars
October 24, 2025
I picked this one up on Kindle Unlimited after reading the description, and wow what a ride.
From the author of the Wolf of Corwick Castle series, this book takes a bold step into time travel, blending history, tragedy, and second chances in a way that completely pulled me in. Claire Blackwood’s story broke my heart right from the start losing her daughter, her husband imprisoned, and facing her own mortality. Yet somehow, amid all that despair, the story finds hope through the idea of reliving past lives to change the future.
Malcolm Foster was another standout character for me. His pain felt raw and real, and the way his fate becomes entangled with Claire’s across different eras pirate ships, ancient migrations, and echoes of lost love was fascinating. The pacing was perfect, the writing beautiful, and the emotional depth caught me off guard more than once.
It’s not just a story about time travel, it’s about redemption, grief, and how love and regret can transcend lifetimes. A haunting and beautifully written novel that lingers long after the last page.
Highly recommend this one, especially if you enjoy thought provoking stories that blend historical detail with emotional storytelling.
From the author of the Wolf of Corwick Castle series, this book takes a bold step into time travel, blending history, tragedy, and second chances in a way that completely pulled me in. Claire Blackwood’s story broke my heart right from the start losing her daughter, her husband imprisoned, and facing her own mortality. Yet somehow, amid all that despair, the story finds hope through the idea of reliving past lives to change the future.
Malcolm Foster was another standout character for me. His pain felt raw and real, and the way his fate becomes entangled with Claire’s across different eras pirate ships, ancient migrations, and echoes of lost love was fascinating. The pacing was perfect, the writing beautiful, and the emotional depth caught me off guard more than once.
It’s not just a story about time travel, it’s about redemption, grief, and how love and regret can transcend lifetimes. A haunting and beautifully written novel that lingers long after the last page.
Highly recommend this one, especially if you enjoy thought provoking stories that blend historical detail with emotional storytelling.
September 13, 2021
Past Lives By Terry Cloutier is a historical fiction novel with a touch of science fiction woven in. I really loved the attention to detail that was provided from a historical perspective. It was clearly well researched and I enjoyed learning more about the time period while also being indulged in a great plot line! My only qualm with the work is how little interaction the two main characters have throughout the novel. While I'm sure much more of their relationship will be explored in future books, the lack of relationship building between the two made it a bit hard to relate. None the less I am looking forward to reading the next books in the past lives chronicles!
October 8, 2021
Um livro com detalhes históricos bem inseridos sobre tribos bárbaras X romanos, com bastante ação, porém falhou em desenvolvimento narrativo e psicológico dos personagens protagonistas, não consegui sentir nenhuma empatia para suas jornadas e questões, para o bem ou para o mal. O ponto positivo é este das mortes e várias vidas como num "vídeo game" ,receber uma nova chance, mas para o quê? um looping infinito...
Quero ler o próximo livro da série .
Quero ler o próximo livro da série .
January 9, 2022
Best Ever
One of the best books I ever read. I love reading Historical Fiction, this authors approach was unique. I think it was very well written, surprisingly educational and interesting. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop! Can't wait for the next book in series and hope he uses the same characters
One of the best books I ever read. I love reading Historical Fiction, this authors approach was unique. I think it was very well written, surprisingly educational and interesting. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop! Can't wait for the next book in series and hope he uses the same characters
January 14, 2022
crazy, mixed up
Simplistic and a bit of a mush mash. Too complex and tried to cover a lot of difficult ground from a theoretical standpoint.
Good action when it came. Not always understandable. The smart protagonist acted awful dumb a lot. The lady side of the equation also time traveled and didn’t care about others just what she cared about.
Simplistic and a bit of a mush mash. Too complex and tried to cover a lot of difficult ground from a theoretical standpoint.
Good action when it came. Not always understandable. The smart protagonist acted awful dumb a lot. The lady side of the equation also time traveled and didn’t care about others just what she cared about.
May 8, 2022
as a time travEl fan this is one I greatly enjoyed
this is a new concept, very original, of how the transfer occured, well done. I enjoyed the thought and research that it took to tie this idea together, and the way it bridged to the next books. past lives does explain a lot and I look forward to many more adventures.
this is a new concept, very original, of how the transfer occured, well done. I enjoyed the thought and research that it took to tie this idea together, and the way it bridged to the next books. past lives does explain a lot and I look forward to many more adventures.
August 18, 2021
Weird science
A difficult to follow book. The premise is sound but the execution is somewhat off kilter. The question is difficult to answer. If you’re looking for something interesting this book is for you.
A difficult to follow book. The premise is sound but the execution is somewhat off kilter. The question is difficult to answer. If you’re looking for something interesting this book is for you.
October 5, 2021
Intriguing read
Great blend of great storyline, believable characters and intriguing twists. Some good thought provoking philosophy on time travel that have a nice deeper level to the read. Recommend the book to all!
Great blend of great storyline, believable characters and intriguing twists. Some good thought provoking philosophy on time travel that have a nice deeper level to the read. Recommend the book to all!
Read
February 13, 2022DNF at 28%. I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway (opinion my own) for a science fiction book. While the story begins as time travel for two people, by page 100 it is an historical fiction novel. The writing is fine. The type of story is of no interest to me. YMMV.
February 18, 2022
3.5 really. I did enjoy this. I've found #2 and am sorry it's Jack the Ripper. I'm so over that entire story — in all iterations. I would have enjoyed reading more about Claire and Malcolm. Maybe there will be a #3 that I will find more inticing.
June 20, 2022
Merrie
I loved the historical information in this book. But, the storyline was not quite to my liking. I skipped a bunch till I found something I was interested in. I’m a big fan of Terry Cloutier though! This will not change that. I’m even going to give the sequel a read…
I loved the historical information in this book. But, the storyline was not quite to my liking. I skipped a bunch till I found something I was interested in. I’m a big fan of Terry Cloutier though! This will not change that. I’m even going to give the sequel a read…
October 6, 2022
another adventure
What a story and the premise of past lives has always fascinated me,nthe historical part f this adventure is again quite interesting,
What a story and the premise of past lives has always fascinated me,nthe historical part f this adventure is again quite interesting,
December 4, 2023
what a great read
I started reading this book, thinking I had made a mistake, after one chapter, I could not put it down.
I started reading this book, thinking I had made a mistake, after one chapter, I could not put it down.
December 27, 2024
great read
Very good book could put it down even with tired eyes hope you will enjoy this book very good read
Very good book could put it down even with tired eyes hope you will enjoy this book very good read
February 5, 2022
Past luves
A great read,well written with believable characters.it opens up a whole new world of different stories and events throughout history.really looking forward to the next book. ok
A great read,well written with believable characters.it opens up a whole new world of different stories and events throughout history.really looking forward to the next book. ok
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews