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Stopwatchers
When disaster strikes
When heroics fail
Elite time-travel agents must save the day.
Unfortunately none of them were available. That's why you got me.
My name's Michael Gantt. I used to be a Stopwatcher, part of a secret organization that keeps the very worst of things from ever happening.
That mass casualty event you never heard of? A lot of those take place. But living in a multiverse means we have other realities where they didn't. So a Stopwatcher goes back in time and splices in a different piece of existence. We make it so that the catastrophe in question never actually happens.
I was good--the best, actually. But time travel really messes with your head, and after a while you're left with a lot of migraines and a faulty memory. Even the best of us eventually throw in the towel to kick back with some TV and a cold beer.
It took a mushroom cloud over New York for them to call me out of retirement. Of course I said I would take the case.
There's just one problem.
I think I might be the one who set it off.
When heroics fail
Elite time-travel agents must save the day.
Unfortunately none of them were available. That's why you got me.
My name's Michael Gantt. I used to be a Stopwatcher, part of a secret organization that keeps the very worst of things from ever happening.
That mass casualty event you never heard of? A lot of those take place. But living in a multiverse means we have other realities where they didn't. So a Stopwatcher goes back in time and splices in a different piece of existence. We make it so that the catastrophe in question never actually happens.
I was good--the best, actually. But time travel really messes with your head, and after a while you're left with a lot of migraines and a faulty memory. Even the best of us eventually throw in the towel to kick back with some TV and a cold beer.
It took a mushroom cloud over New York for them to call me out of retirement. Of course I said I would take the case.
There's just one problem.
I think I might be the one who set it off.
- GenresScience Fiction
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 6, 2022
34 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Paul Isaacs
13 books40 followersJonathan Isaacs always loved technology and graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in engineering. Then, after working in it for several years, he ran screaming from engineering.
Isaacs currently lives in Texas with his lovely wife, three children, three cats, two dogs, and no room left on the bed during thunderstorms.
Isaacs currently lives in Texas with his lovely wife, three children, three cats, two dogs, and no room left on the bed during thunderstorms.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 12, 2023
Promising but problematical
I’m a sucker for time travel novels, so when I find one by an author I haven’t read before, well, I’m all over that like flies on s…ugar cubes. I found Stopwatchers to be very reminiscent of the old “7 Days” TV show, which I enjoyed. Stopwatchers has, in my opinion, a few plot flaws though. I’m not at all bothered by the energy limitation, that is a plausible way to limit “solving” everything with time travel. However, the complete dearth of resources available to the agent once they have traveled back is inexplicable. For something on the scale of nuking New York City, the agent should have an abundance of the resources of the United States government at their beck and call as soon as they arrive, triggered by something as simple as a code word (“conundrum”, for example), although a quick DNA scan might be appropriate. After all, they are only going back a few days. Making this a one man crusade, ala “Knight Rider” (complete with AI companion) goes against every sensibility that can be brought to bear. However, the novel did have plenty of science and technobabble mixed in, which I really appreciated. Next time, though, at least assemble a team!
I’m a sucker for time travel novels, so when I find one by an author I haven’t read before, well, I’m all over that like flies on s…ugar cubes. I found Stopwatchers to be very reminiscent of the old “7 Days” TV show, which I enjoyed. Stopwatchers has, in my opinion, a few plot flaws though. I’m not at all bothered by the energy limitation, that is a plausible way to limit “solving” everything with time travel. However, the complete dearth of resources available to the agent once they have traveled back is inexplicable. For something on the scale of nuking New York City, the agent should have an abundance of the resources of the United States government at their beck and call as soon as they arrive, triggered by something as simple as a code word (“conundrum”, for example), although a quick DNA scan might be appropriate. After all, they are only going back a few days. Making this a one man crusade, ala “Knight Rider” (complete with AI companion) goes against every sensibility that can be brought to bear. However, the novel did have plenty of science and technobabble mixed in, which I really appreciated. Next time, though, at least assemble a team!
November 26, 2024
I don't recall how I came across this book, but I want more. I think it was a freebie via Amazon. All that really matters is that I loved it and I will be adding Isaacs to my list of authors to follow.
A different and great approach to time travel. I loved the limitations of the technology and the permutations of the time loops. I was only a bit put off by the title. It just didn't scream out to me that I wanted to read it right away, but at least I didn't bury it in my ever expanding library of books to read for months on end. Not to hint at any "spoilers", but that third actor was not sufficiently explained for my tastes. I will overlook that lack of backstory.
This was a GoodReads and I will be looking forward to more tales of Michael Gantt.
A different and great approach to time travel. I loved the limitations of the technology and the permutations of the time loops. I was only a bit put off by the title. It just didn't scream out to me that I wanted to read it right away, but at least I didn't bury it in my ever expanding library of books to read for months on end. Not to hint at any "spoilers", but that third actor was not sufficiently explained for my tastes. I will overlook that lack of backstory.
This was a GoodReads and I will be looking forward to more tales of Michael Gantt.
February 19, 2023
Twists and Turns Right up until the last page
This was given to me as a gift by the author who is also my friend. I normally do not write reviews, but have to say this book is excellent. It kept me fully engaged and made me always want to make sure I read back a bit to get all the great nuances. I have his trilogy in the queue next as I am now hooked. Well done.
This was given to me as a gift by the author who is also my friend. I normally do not write reviews, but have to say this book is excellent. It kept me fully engaged and made me always want to make sure I read back a bit to get all the great nuances. I have his trilogy in the queue next as I am now hooked. Well done.
May 1, 2023
Really Quite Good
I was absolutely engaged by the author's writing style and main character. I love the idea of a finite ability to time travel. In this type of story it adds to the urgency of the characters accomplishing their mission. My suspension of disbelief wasn't even tested. I look forward to reading more.
I was absolutely engaged by the author's writing style and main character. I love the idea of a finite ability to time travel. In this type of story it adds to the urgency of the characters accomplishing their mission. My suspension of disbelief wasn't even tested. I look forward to reading more.
May 28, 2025
Interesting story. I do tend to like the stories of time agents that are trying to fix problems with the timelines. This story fits right in there. There's some definite surprises in this one, which make for more interesting happenings, and the story is pretty well done, so if you like time loop stories, you might want to add this one to your to read list.
February 10, 2025
A real twister
Couldn't put this one down. Enigmatic plot keeps you on edge with frustrating, seemingly impossible situation featuring down to earth characters with all their human strengths and weaknesses. Serious but laced with a good dose of humor.
Couldn't put this one down. Enigmatic plot keeps you on edge with frustrating, seemingly impossible situation featuring down to earth characters with all their human strengths and weaknesses. Serious but laced with a good dose of humor.
March 31, 2025
After a rather slow start, STOPWATCHERS: A TIME TRAVEL THRILLER left me breathless and freaked out on adrenaline. Before this tale is finished, you will believe the whole thing is true. Michael and Gia are both amazing characters!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews