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TimeLock
With crime rampant in the near future, the President authorizes a controversial TimeLock, a cellular acceleration process that instantly ages prisoners the total number of years of their sentence. In other words-three strikes and you're old . . . very old.
Despite ongoing public outcries, two years later the program is up and running and crime is already on the decline. But what happens if you're innocent?
Falsely convicted of murder, 23-year-old Morgan Eberly is sentenced to be aged 40 years in a TimeLock capsule. When a riot interrupts his processing, Morgan--now 43 years old--manages to escape.
With powerful forces on his trail, Morgan enlists the help of Janine Price, the FBI agent who arrested him. Together, they investigate the murders of ex-prisoners who were transformed by TimeLock and soon discover why Morgan is certain to be next.
Can Morgan and Janine unlock the truth about TimeLock before it's too late?
Despite ongoing public outcries, two years later the program is up and running and crime is already on the decline. But what happens if you're innocent?
Falsely convicted of murder, 23-year-old Morgan Eberly is sentenced to be aged 40 years in a TimeLock capsule. When a riot interrupts his processing, Morgan--now 43 years old--manages to escape.
With powerful forces on his trail, Morgan enlists the help of Janine Price, the FBI agent who arrested him. Together, they investigate the murders of ex-prisoners who were transformed by TimeLock and soon discover why Morgan is certain to be next.
Can Morgan and Janine unlock the truth about TimeLock before it's too late?
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2022
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 18, 2022
Favorite Quotes:
Three strikes and you’re old – very old.
Our tour guide is so upbeat and bubbly, you’d think she was welcoming her group to a warped new addition to Disney World. Aging Land.
...her condo is surprisingly colorful. Artistic even... I’m impressed. And beyond grateful we couldn’t go back to my dump of an apartment where the closest thing to fine art is the Three Stooges screensaver on my laptop.
Walter, we’ve got a big-time emergency here! You don’t want J. Edgar to turn over in his dress, do you?
My Review:
While this is not my usual genre, I vastly enjoyed this quick read as the story was somewhat futuristic yet surprisingly realistic at the same time. The writing was keenly honed and smartly detailed with descriptions that pulled sharp visuals to my mind's eye. In sum, was a well-plotted and shrewdly paced action-packed thriller featuring slightly frayed characters and storylines that were cleverly laced together with wry humor and witty snark. All my favorite things!
Three strikes and you’re old – very old.
Our tour guide is so upbeat and bubbly, you’d think she was welcoming her group to a warped new addition to Disney World. Aging Land.
...her condo is surprisingly colorful. Artistic even... I’m impressed. And beyond grateful we couldn’t go back to my dump of an apartment where the closest thing to fine art is the Three Stooges screensaver on my laptop.
Walter, we’ve got a big-time emergency here! You don’t want J. Edgar to turn over in his dress, do you?
My Review:
While this is not my usual genre, I vastly enjoyed this quick read as the story was somewhat futuristic yet surprisingly realistic at the same time. The writing was keenly honed and smartly detailed with descriptions that pulled sharp visuals to my mind's eye. In sum, was a well-plotted and shrewdly paced action-packed thriller featuring slightly frayed characters and storylines that were cleverly laced together with wry humor and witty snark. All my favorite things!
October 23, 2022
From the first page of the novel TimeLock the action begins. We’re introduced to twenty-three-year-old Morgan Eberly who has not a care in the world. That is if you don’t count the fact that he is about to be sentenced to a forty-year age progression for a crime he didn’t commit. Authors Howard Berk and Peter Berk quickly immerse and captivate the reader in a drastic and fascinating world where prison sentences are commuted into time acceleration. Readers will find themselves intrigued and on the edge of their seats waiting to see if Eberly will be able to save himself – in more ways than one.
With prison overcrowding a concern, the President authorizes the use of a controversial new punishment to be implemented. A program known as “TimeLock” will use cellular acceleration to instantly age prisoners based on the number of years of their sentence. Hoping that this will curb crime rates, many politicians are eager to have their states partake. However, what happens if you’re actually innocent of the crime you are convicted of? Such is the case with Morgan Eberly, who has been wrongfully convicted of killing a friend. Even more unfortunate for Eberly is that while undergoing his TimeLock sentencing his process is interrupted! He is now forty-three years old and (much to the readers delight) is able to escape when a riot breaks out. Teaming up with FBI agent Janine Price, the two work together to investigate and help exonerate him. Add in the fact that they are also on a mission to find out who has been murdering ex-prisoners that have also undergone TimeLock and you’ve got yourself one heck of a read!
Authors (and father and son) Howard Berk and Peter Berk know how to write a darn good action-adventure novel! The now dearly departed Howard was known for his novels and screenwriting episodes of hit shows such as “Columbo,” “Mission: Impossible” and “The Rockford Files,” so he was already adept at immersing individuals in worlds of suspense. Son Peter does an exceptional job of lending his own talents as a screenwriter to pick up pen where his father left off and bring this fascinating tale to life.
For those looking to read a book where they can’t help but read page after page, you’ll want to explore TimeLock. Will Morgan be able to clear his name? How will he navigate a world where he’s now an older man? And who exactly is killing people who have had this procedure…and why? Pick up this book and find out. I promise you won’t age a day reading it because you’ll not want to put it down for a minute.
With prison overcrowding a concern, the President authorizes the use of a controversial new punishment to be implemented. A program known as “TimeLock” will use cellular acceleration to instantly age prisoners based on the number of years of their sentence. Hoping that this will curb crime rates, many politicians are eager to have their states partake. However, what happens if you’re actually innocent of the crime you are convicted of? Such is the case with Morgan Eberly, who has been wrongfully convicted of killing a friend. Even more unfortunate for Eberly is that while undergoing his TimeLock sentencing his process is interrupted! He is now forty-three years old and (much to the readers delight) is able to escape when a riot breaks out. Teaming up with FBI agent Janine Price, the two work together to investigate and help exonerate him. Add in the fact that they are also on a mission to find out who has been murdering ex-prisoners that have also undergone TimeLock and you’ve got yourself one heck of a read!
Authors (and father and son) Howard Berk and Peter Berk know how to write a darn good action-adventure novel! The now dearly departed Howard was known for his novels and screenwriting episodes of hit shows such as “Columbo,” “Mission: Impossible” and “The Rockford Files,” so he was already adept at immersing individuals in worlds of suspense. Son Peter does an exceptional job of lending his own talents as a screenwriter to pick up pen where his father left off and bring this fascinating tale to life.
For those looking to read a book where they can’t help but read page after page, you’ll want to explore TimeLock. Will Morgan be able to clear his name? How will he navigate a world where he’s now an older man? And who exactly is killing people who have had this procedure…and why? Pick up this book and find out. I promise you won’t age a day reading it because you’ll not want to put it down for a minute.
November 15, 2022
TimeLock is a high-octane action thriller with a classic feel, reminiscent of Michael Crichton or Tom Clancy. It’s familiar, but in all the right ways.
The central concept is brilliant. Criminals no longer serve out their sentences in years, but they go through a machine that ages them — in essence, providing instant justice. If you get a 40 year sentence, you go from being a twenty-year-old to a sixty-year-old in an instant. Enter Morgan, a genius kid who’s framed for murder and sentenced to lose decades for a crime he didn’t commit.
Morgan is likeable and resourceful. Most of his jokes land. His efforts to clear his name pull you along for the ride well enough. His arc is neat, and he’s good company. As is Janine — she’s the FBI agent who’s persuaded into helping Morgan. She’s strong, tough, and fearless. I would have liked to have spent more time with Janine through the story.
The novella is tightly paced, and there’s not a dull moment. It’s lean, and it’s easy to read, and it builds a lot of suspense in a short time. The introduction is particularly engaging, with an absolutely killer prologue that sucks you in right from the start. The romantic sub-plot felt a little rushed to me, but aside from that, the story remained believable and the pages turned easily.
Reading TimeLock, I felt like I was watching a movie which I know I’ve seen before, but can’t quite remember. It would translate onto the screen seamlessly, and it’s very visual and easy to imagine.
The chapters are short and punchy, and they hit all the beats you expect them to — corruption, conspiracies, FBI, presidents, motorbikes, assassins, and a guy on the run who’s in over his head. But at no point does it feel like a cliche. There’s a really endearing sincerity to the writing which I especially enjoyed. I’d happily return for the sequel.
Overall, TimeLock is a thriller which skims the surface of sci-fi, rather than plunges into it. It circles an interesting premise, and explores ageing in a fresh way. It’s a crowd-pleasing blockbuster of a novella, with all the thrills you’d hope for, and a cracking start to a series. One for the ages.
The central concept is brilliant. Criminals no longer serve out their sentences in years, but they go through a machine that ages them — in essence, providing instant justice. If you get a 40 year sentence, you go from being a twenty-year-old to a sixty-year-old in an instant. Enter Morgan, a genius kid who’s framed for murder and sentenced to lose decades for a crime he didn’t commit.
Morgan is likeable and resourceful. Most of his jokes land. His efforts to clear his name pull you along for the ride well enough. His arc is neat, and he’s good company. As is Janine — she’s the FBI agent who’s persuaded into helping Morgan. She’s strong, tough, and fearless. I would have liked to have spent more time with Janine through the story.
The novella is tightly paced, and there’s not a dull moment. It’s lean, and it’s easy to read, and it builds a lot of suspense in a short time. The introduction is particularly engaging, with an absolutely killer prologue that sucks you in right from the start. The romantic sub-plot felt a little rushed to me, but aside from that, the story remained believable and the pages turned easily.
Reading TimeLock, I felt like I was watching a movie which I know I’ve seen before, but can’t quite remember. It would translate onto the screen seamlessly, and it’s very visual and easy to imagine.
The chapters are short and punchy, and they hit all the beats you expect them to — corruption, conspiracies, FBI, presidents, motorbikes, assassins, and a guy on the run who’s in over his head. But at no point does it feel like a cliche. There’s a really endearing sincerity to the writing which I especially enjoyed. I’d happily return for the sequel.
Overall, TimeLock is a thriller which skims the surface of sci-fi, rather than plunges into it. It circles an interesting premise, and explores ageing in a fresh way. It’s a crowd-pleasing blockbuster of a novella, with all the thrills you’d hope for, and a cracking start to a series. One for the ages.
June 4, 2023
Brilliant concept, but the execution fell a bit short imo.
On the positive side, the concept and plot are very intriguing. The book is fast-moving with lots of high stakes.
The characters are pretty well-written, but I often had trouble relating to them. The MC in particular I had trouble sympathizing with. I was sad for him some of the time, but for some reason I was annoyed with him a lot. However, he’s very funny, so we like that. I did like some of the banter, also. Janine is a fun character overall, too, and Dr. Garvey and Anna are great. To be perfectly honest though, I felt like Morgan’s romance subplot was a little weird, and also kinda forced/rushed. Just in general, Janine initially teaming up with Morgan felt a little too plot relevant.
I have for you today lots of content warnings, bc I went into the book expecting it to be YA, and didn’t look for any content warnings 🥲 I think it’s actually NA, and a lot of the content is not what I’m usually comfortable reading. There’s a lot of swearing, including the f word several times. Also while there isn’t any smut scenes, there are some sexual references ig (idk what to call it), a nude scene (at least it’s a book and not a movie) and a fade-to-black type thing. Ik it’s somewhat a personal preference, but I’m not a fan of that kind of stuff in books, so that’s part of what I disliked about TimeLock. It’s kinda my fault though for not looking up content warnings or anything in the reviews, LOL.
On the positive side, the concept and plot are very intriguing. The book is fast-moving with lots of high stakes.
The characters are pretty well-written, but I often had trouble relating to them. The MC in particular I had trouble sympathizing with. I was sad for him some of the time, but for some reason I was annoyed with him a lot. However, he’s very funny, so we like that. I did like some of the banter, also. Janine is a fun character overall, too, and Dr. Garvey and Anna are great. To be perfectly honest though, I felt like Morgan’s romance subplot was a little weird, and also kinda forced/rushed. Just in general, Janine initially teaming up with Morgan felt a little too plot relevant.
I have for you today lots of content warnings, bc I went into the book expecting it to be YA, and didn’t look for any content warnings 🥲 I think it’s actually NA, and a lot of the content is not what I’m usually comfortable reading. There’s a lot of swearing, including the f word several times. Also while there isn’t any smut scenes, there are some sexual references ig (idk what to call it), a nude scene (at least it’s a book and not a movie) and a fade-to-black type thing. Ik it’s somewhat a personal preference, but I’m not a fan of that kind of stuff in books, so that’s part of what I disliked about TimeLock. It’s kinda my fault though for not looking up content warnings or anything in the reviews, LOL.
Read
October 19, 2022Thank you to @tlcbooktours and @ingram_elliot for including me on the tour for TIMELOCK by the father-son writing team Howard Berk and Peter Berk which went on sale September 22, 2022. It’s the first in a planned five-book series.
I finished this fun read in one sitting. The science-fiction is very light, so don’t let that deter you if you enjoy action-packed, fast-paced, plot-driven books with dangerous technology and hints of conspiracy!
I finished this fun read in one sitting. The science-fiction is very light, so don’t let that deter you if you enjoy action-packed, fast-paced, plot-driven books with dangerous technology and hints of conspiracy!
October 1, 2022
After being wrongly convicted of murder Morgan is sentenced to the new Timelock program. This is where you serve your entire sentence in a matter of hours instead of years, but in the middle of his sentence, he and a few others manage to escape. Now Morgan is on the run 20 years older and trying to prove his innocence.
This is a pretty fast-paced story, what happens in the synopsis goes down in the first couple of chapters, then we are following Morgan as he kind of stumbles from one bad decision to the next, and somehow manages to escape them almost unscathed. When his last resort is reaching out to the FBI agent that arrested him the action picks up even more. Morgan and Janine work really well together and have some great banter while tracking down the real killer and at the same time uncovering some dirty secrets of the Timelock program.
This short book gives us so much action, suspense, and a bit of romance, and after that ending we got, I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
This is a pretty fast-paced story, what happens in the synopsis goes down in the first couple of chapters, then we are following Morgan as he kind of stumbles from one bad decision to the next, and somehow manages to escape them almost unscathed. When his last resort is reaching out to the FBI agent that arrested him the action picks up even more. Morgan and Janine work really well together and have some great banter while tracking down the real killer and at the same time uncovering some dirty secrets of the Timelock program.
This short book gives us so much action, suspense, and a bit of romance, and after that ending we got, I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
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September 30, 2022
TimeLock: A Novel is an IE Read ‘em in a snap! novella that took me about an hour or so to read. The United States is dealing with rampant crime, overcrowded prisons and a failing economy. Despite the public outcry, the President authorizes a radical crime deterrent that will age prisoners the length of their sentence in about 7 minutes.
Morgan Eberly is 23 years old when he’s falsely convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years. When protestors interrupt his TimeLock Capsule he goes on the run to track down the real killers and unravel the TimeLock program.
This novella was a quick and easy read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The will they, won’t they push and pull of Morgan and FBI Agent, Janice Price, was a nice element that provided humor to a dark story. It was action packed with good pacing. This is the first in the series so expect more from authors, Howard Berk and Peter Berk.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review.
Morgan Eberly is 23 years old when he’s falsely convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years. When protestors interrupt his TimeLock Capsule he goes on the run to track down the real killers and unravel the TimeLock program.
This novella was a quick and easy read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The will they, won’t they push and pull of Morgan and FBI Agent, Janice Price, was a nice element that provided humor to a dark story. It was action packed with good pacing. This is the first in the series so expect more from authors, Howard Berk and Peter Berk.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review.
November 13, 2023
I took TimeLock (Ingram Elliot Publishing) with me on a recent trip, figuring I’d read a few chapters each evening at the hotel before I turned in for the night. That didn’t happen. What did happen was that I stayed up way too late the first night to finish it because I just couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next to falsely accused and ultimately convicted Morgan Eberly, where FBI agent Janine Price figured into the story, and why the controversial TimeLock program wasn’t quite functioning as its creators had planned.
The novel is based on the premise that there is a different way of treating convicted prisoners rather than lengthy incarceration. Instead, they will be subjected to a cellular acceleration process, instantly aging them to equal the total number of years of their sentence. It would appear to be an efficient solution to prison overcrowding and rampant crime—assuming, of course, that those convicted are in fact guilty of the crime with which they are charged and that there are no technical glitches in the equipment.
To say TimeLock is a page-turner would be putting it mildly. The construction of the book itself—the short chapters coupled with the use of present tense verbs—added to the “breathlessly waiting on the edge of your seat” sensation that the plot presented. While there’s obviously a futuristic, science-fiction component to the story, the novel is very much grounded in the relationships and emotions that everyone can identify with.
Morgan’s worries about his mother and his friends, who may become collateral damage in his quest for answers, his emotional involvement with Janine, and his overall sense of justice and fairness make him a compelling and sympathetic protagonist. The rest of the cast is equally well defined, and the action scenes are so well done that I had the sense of watching the story unfold, rather than reading it on the page.
Written by father and son Howard Berk and Peter Berk, TimeLock is the first in the series, and I look forward to reading TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy to learn what will happen next to Morgan and Janine in their search for answers and justice.
For more about the book and the collaboration process, listen to my interview with Peter Berk on Living the Writing Life podcast. https://livingthewritinglife.podbean....
September 18, 2025
Authors Howard Berk and Peter Berk bring intriguing questions to the forefront in this exciting and unique plot.
With crime running rampant and prisons overcrowded, how can the government solve the problems plaguing law enforcement and the prison system concurrently? Cutting through everything, Genescence has created the TimeLock program where the guilty are forced to trade their time behind bars by giving up the same number of years on their life, over in a matter of minutes. But what of those that are innocent despite being found guilty? And what of the consequences of this kind of power over the prime years of many people’s lives? These questions and more leave readers contemplating and struggling with the issues of morality within.
As the government, ideologies, and the lives of individuals are in the crosshairs, those set to profit the most have just as much to lose. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Morgan Eberly becomes the sole suspect in the murder of his friend Lonny Myers. Convicted of murder, Morgan is stripped of decades of his life until circumstances allow for his prison escape. Now, on the run, Morgan must clear his name and solve his friend’s murder, all while staying alive in the process.
Action packed, this plot driven thrill ride leaves readers considering the implications of the TimeLock program. As politics take center stage, we are left wondering whether the scientific implications of such technology are worth it. As protests rage and loyalties waiver, Morgan must decide who he can trust in his quest for the truth.
Interwoven with humor, the Berk writing team injects catch phrases, attempted motorcycle stunts, and jokes aimed at the sudden midlife, aging body Morgan is now living in. Showing off their talent for penning thought provoking, suspenseful story lines, “TimeLock” literally ends in smoke and flames as this first in the series is a riotous read.
With crime running rampant and prisons overcrowded, how can the government solve the problems plaguing law enforcement and the prison system concurrently? Cutting through everything, Genescence has created the TimeLock program where the guilty are forced to trade their time behind bars by giving up the same number of years on their life, over in a matter of minutes. But what of those that are innocent despite being found guilty? And what of the consequences of this kind of power over the prime years of many people’s lives? These questions and more leave readers contemplating and struggling with the issues of morality within.
As the government, ideologies, and the lives of individuals are in the crosshairs, those set to profit the most have just as much to lose. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Morgan Eberly becomes the sole suspect in the murder of his friend Lonny Myers. Convicted of murder, Morgan is stripped of decades of his life until circumstances allow for his prison escape. Now, on the run, Morgan must clear his name and solve his friend’s murder, all while staying alive in the process.
Action packed, this plot driven thrill ride leaves readers considering the implications of the TimeLock program. As politics take center stage, we are left wondering whether the scientific implications of such technology are worth it. As protests rage and loyalties waiver, Morgan must decide who he can trust in his quest for the truth.
Interwoven with humor, the Berk writing team injects catch phrases, attempted motorcycle stunts, and jokes aimed at the sudden midlife, aging body Morgan is now living in. Showing off their talent for penning thought provoking, suspenseful story lines, “TimeLock” literally ends in smoke and flames as this first in the series is a riotous read.
September 25, 2022
The concept of this book is very intriguing. I could see it as a form of capital punishment in the future. Maybe not near future but it is at least thought provoking. This would make a really good television show that I would watch. It has plenty of intrigue and action to keep the story interesting. In addition, it moved at a really good fast pace.
Morgan is the type of person that has you cheering for him. You want him to come out on top. Janine and Morgan work well together. There is another duo that started out as enemies like this. That would be Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive. Harrison was on the run to prove his innocence and Tommy was on his trail to catch him. Yet, Harrison like Morgan was able to convince Tommy and Janine that they were not guilty. Timelock is a fast read that will have you losing track of time in a good way. I look forward to reading the next book featuring Morgan and Janine.
Morgan is the type of person that has you cheering for him. You want him to come out on top. Janine and Morgan work well together. There is another duo that started out as enemies like this. That would be Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive. Harrison was on the run to prove his innocence and Tommy was on his trail to catch him. Yet, Harrison like Morgan was able to convince Tommy and Janine that they were not guilty. Timelock is a fast read that will have you losing track of time in a good way. I look forward to reading the next book featuring Morgan and Janine.
December 23, 2022
I'm an action/thriller lover and this did not disappoint! Designed to be a quick-paced read, I loved the humor, action, and unique plot and could see this adapted into a streaming show for sure. In the near future, convicts are instantly aged the number of years of their sentence, but the controversial tech can go very wrong--especially if you are innocent. The main characters, Morgan and Janine, are smart and likeable and I enjoyed the "Moonlighting" will they or won't they aspect of their on-the-run mystery. I don't give away too much, but if you enjoy cinematic fiction that you can easily digest over the holiday, please give this a read--it's fun, clever, and engaging. Look forward to book two in the series!
March 16, 2025
Thank you to @ingram_elliott for the #gifted copy.
Timelock is a new way to deter crime. If you get arrested and sentenced you will be put in a time capsule and aged the length of your sentence! Morgan’s friend Lenny tries to contact him to met not long after he undergoes TimeLock. Morgan winds up witnessing his murder and becoming the prime suspect. It is downhill from there for Morgan. He is determined to find out why Lenny was murdered and why Timelock is at the center of it all.
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, dark and fast paced! I just started book
Timelock is a new way to deter crime. If you get arrested and sentenced you will be put in a time capsule and aged the length of your sentence! Morgan’s friend Lenny tries to contact him to met not long after he undergoes TimeLock. Morgan winds up witnessing his murder and becoming the prime suspect. It is downhill from there for Morgan. He is determined to find out why Lenny was murdered and why Timelock is at the center of it all.
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, dark and fast paced! I just started book
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews