Showtime

by Ricky Ruszin

You can't outrun your past. But what if you could change it?

College student Jordan Jones's life hasn't been the same since his grandmother, the person who had loved and understood him most, died in a nationally-televised massacre on the show Talent Now!

When Jordan discovers his grandparents' television allows him to travel to the past, opportunity trumps a chance not only to save his grandmother from an untimely death, but to exact revenge against the man who caused it.

But as Jordan investigates the massacre—and the perpetrator—that claimed his grandmother's life, he discovers an awful just because the past allows him entry doesn't mean it will allow him to leave.

Genres: Horror

350 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2022

About the author

Ricky Ruszin is a novelist, film critic, and educator. He earned his bachelor's degree in English from Stevenson University, where he focused on creative fiction. When he's not living in his imagination, he enjoys traveling, watching and writing about movies, and drinking copious amounts of coffee. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland, where he played in cemeteries as a kid and thought it was completely normal.

Reviews

[Amy Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good!!! Suspenseful, Loved it!!

[Jessica Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3 1/2 stars*

Wow what a rollercoaster of a book!

Jordan is unhappy and struggling through life. After the death of his grandma at a popular TV show recording ten years ago, he lost his big support system and suffered childhood trauma. Now, as he cleans out his recently deceased grandpa’s house, he is gifted old VCR tape recordings of the shows his grandma went to. It is not long before he realizes the tapes allow you to travel to the past and he can save his grandma from her fate.

Overall, there are quite a few things I liked about this book. The concept is great. I found myself really connected to Jordan’s struggles and his grief/guilt over what happened years ago. This becomes a story of redemption for him. If you could change or stop a catastrophic event that killed people you loved, wouldn’t you try to change history?

It was also great character development with the main antagonist, Matt. Rather than just leaving the killer vague or generic, the author really took the time to develop him. He created a true monster, someone void of normal human emotion and who manipulates weak people to his bidding.

Overall, I liked this book but what fell flat for me was the ending. This book is almost 400 pages and it took forever for the climax to happen. And then what happens is a little unsatisfying. I understand where he was going with it. It’s a lot of themes on forgiveness and accepting that some parts of the past can’t be changed. I was just hoping for a big climatic showdown and it didn’t really happen. I think it’s still a good book and I can see a lot of people enjoying this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the digital ARC of this.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Showtime is a debut novel that centers itself around deep and realistic characters. Suspenseful time travel theme which is based initially on saving a life. Complex story that keeps one questioning motives and wondering if there will be forgiveness. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this novel for an honest review.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ricky Ruszin's debut novel has it all: great (flawed) characters, deep psychological insight, a complex story, and more than a nod to all those exciting time-travel yarns of old. However, it mostly takes place in the 2010s, providing, in addition, an interesting view of the talent shows that have been so popular since the turn of the millenium. It's a really well done, yet emotionally difficult read, since it covers from all possible angles a seriously upsetting case of mass killing: the infamous (and fictitious, thank heavens) massacre that took place on a nationally-televised talent show, almost ten years before the story begins. Jordan Jones, the bitter and unlucky college student who never overcame losing his beloved grandmother in that event, stumbles on a way to intervene and save her, and perhaps even stop the deadly outcome altogether. Sam, his cousin, a self-doubting 30 year old woman, gets involved and the plot gets more and more complicated. By the second half of the book, we have learnt that the gruesome mass killing is the work of Matt Mason, a textbook psychopath; yet his character stands out for its depth and detailed understanding, because Ruszin chose not to distill him down into a caricature, easily put in a box - as most such characters are in similar books. That for me made for some fascinating reading. But it is the character of the rejected show contestant Charity that really develops during the story, and in diverse and very challenging ways. Still, a lot of times the book had me questioning the protagonists' actions, both theirs and the show runners' utterly naive understanding of security issues in an event of this magnitude; which, I guess, explains the kind of ending Ruszin went for. Nevertheless, this is a minor quibble when one realizes how phenomenal the author is at controlling his story. To sum up, this is a top notch read and highly recommended.

[Michael Baldelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for time travel. TV, movies, books, it doesn't matter, I just love it. With that being said, it's a genre that is well-traveled (pun intended). What's great about Showtime is that it doesn't waste any time explaining its time travel mechanics or justifying the plausibility of it.

What's even more impressive is that Showtime is a debut novel for author Ricky Ruszin. The level of care and patience Ruszin exemplifies here is impressive. A lesser author would rush the story to get to the big moments, but Ruszin takes his time introducing us to the characters and their lives. The importance of this cannot be understated because the crux of Showtime is about family. The book asks the question, "What would you do to save the person you love?"

What I appreciated the most about Showtime is the fact that Ruszin doesn't fall into the same traps and tropes the genre typically has to offer.

Even if you aren't into time travel, I urge you to give Showtime a shot. It's a captivating and thought-provoking novel that seamlessly blends elements of time travel, revenge, and grief.

With such a strong debut novel, I can't wait to see what the future holds for Ruszin.

[Loreta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never look at reality TV in quite the same way after reading this novel. Time travel through a most unexpected device allows Jordan the opportunity to revisit his grandmother's final days. The suspense that is built by the twists and turns in this story draws the reader in to Jordan's world, his worries, his need to save his grandmother, and his desire to avenge the person who is responsible. But as the action builds, it becomes clear that these goals are not easy to accomplish. As each character comes to life throughout this well written adventure, the reader is given the opportunity to join in questioning difficult decisions that change the trajectory of many lives.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This book has it all: Time travel, suspense, flawless writing, and solid characters that don't feel like characters at all. It really is a page-turner that you don't want to put down once you start."

[Francesca Ullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Showtime is a riveting and terrifying tale of what could happen when we try to intervene with the past. This page-turner is equipped with beautifully descriptive scenes, characters that you can't help but empathize with, and a story that you can't help but relate to. What would you do if you found that you had an opportunity to change a tragic event that happened in the past? To what lengths would you go to try to reset the course of events that have already happened?

Ricky's unique voice as an author is what made this such an enjoyable read for me. He could probably write about paint drying and I'd happily read it. He has an undeniable ability to write beautiful descriptions, even about small details as simple as the weather, and this shines throughout his storytelling. In this novel, he has demonstrated his ability to show you all facets of a character: the good, the bad, the flawed, and the beautiful. As I read Showtime, I found myself connecting on a deep level with each character, even the star antagonist (he's my favorite). Ricky is talented at creating characters you'll recognize from your own life quite possibly - people whose experiences, memories, and characteristics are equally marked by good and evil.

The plot was well thought out and thorough, so much so that I wasn't really left with any questions in the end. Ricky ingeniously crafted this story by first setting us up with our main characters and event, then, surprisingly, giving us detailed backstory on the events and characters leading up to the main event, and he leaves us with the culmination of how these characters meet and interact as well as what difficult lessons are learned from trying to change the course of history.

I highly recommend this book and can't wait for future readers to be amazed by Ricky's unqiue tone, detailed writing, and adept storytelling. You will be hooked!

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started reading this book I didn’t know where it would take me, the MC was with his mother, cleaning his grandparents house, and I did feel lots of ill feelings towards the parents, there’s a lot of unsaid things and bad things that happened in the MC childhood and his grandparents house was always his safe heaven, that is until a certain day when all changed… but even then he could always feel the love his grandfather had for him… when he approach the thing his grandfather left for him after he “kicked the bucket” we learn that is an old desk… when he was small this was magical, but with time he start looking that it was only a desk, but it’s in this part when things start to get bizarre, kind of twilight zone strange, and he find some VCR tapes that make him travel to the past, or is it? Maybe it is also a mix with the 1982 poltergeist movie, the book cover have some resemblances…

Actually I didn’t like Jordan that much (he is our main character), I felt he was too whinny and entitled, it is not because your parents were shitty with you, that you need to say, that is the reason for witch I am not successfully (use the example of people that suffered in childhood but rised above that, like Johnny Deep). I did like the idea of using old technology (The VCR tapes) to travel to the past and connecting with people that are no longer among us… I wanted more of the grandfather and grandmother.

Without spoilers, I must say that is a good book to pass some time, there’s more than one side to every situation and if you want to know more I would advice you to grab your copy and start reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkshares for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two cousins are at their grandparents house to say one last goodbye after their grandfather’s funeral. They are both already broken after losing their grandmother years ago to a mass shooting/fire at a Talent Now! live screening.

After a big fight between the two cousins, they find out that their grandfathers tv can transport them back in time using vhs tapes of gameshows their grandmother went to. One of them is the Talent Now! screening that they lost granny to. They try to go back and stop the event. The author uses the time travel theory that the past doesn’t want to be changed.

The author gives us a psychological insight to the shooter/arsonist origin story that would make Mr. Mercedes blush.

A very cool and well written time travel/mass murder/gameshow/suspense story. Loved it.

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[Dez Nemec · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jordan's grandfather dies, he leaves him his desk as he'd always promised. Inside the desk is a box of videotapes from his grandmother's favorite pastime - attending tv show tapings. But the tapings aren't just a view of the past - they are a vehicle to take him back. But can he go back and save Granny from her untimely death? Or perhaps more important, should he? Of course not, but faced with the same opportunity, would you? Could you resist?

A little bit of sci-fi, a touch of a thriller, and some lovely elements of horror all mixed together. The story was very readable - the conversational tone made it feel more as if I was listening to friends, not reading a book. If I'd had the time, this would've been a 1 day read. What an impressive first novel.

[Liberty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! The writing was so good I felt completly immersed in the world. The time travel theme has a fun twist to it and I thought I knew where it was going. I was so wrong, in the best way! The story was so much more exciting and poignant than I could have imagined. I can't wait for Ruszin's next book!

[John Specter · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s always refreshing to read the works of authors who grew up reading Stephen King. The characterization is unique and memorable and this book was no exception.

For those that enjoyed 11/22/63, you’ll likely enjoy this as well. I found myself more invested in certain arcs than others, but overall worth the read

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Interesting concept and great characters, and even some surprises along the way. It's not just a time travel story, but also a story about redemption and forgiveness. Definitely recommend checking this one out.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure where it was headed. Once I got reading, I couldn't put it down until the very end. The story kept moving while continuing to develop the characters. Ruszin uses great detail to describe the emotions of every character. Great read!

[Meghan Maloney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the character development.

[Sidney]

The time-travel-to-fix the past tale has become a horror/science fiction sub-genre unto itself. The earliest I remember encountering is a short story adaptation of Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone episode “Back There.” In that one a man in a club argues with fellow intellectuals about the possibilities of changing time. Soon he finds himself hurled back 100 years to prevent the Lincoln assassination.

Since then, many more stories have gathered under the umbrella with noble attempts to save President John F. Kennedy and more personal corrections in variations like Ground Hog Day.

Ricky Ruszin has served up a very special variation in his new novel, Showtime. It’s a spin made engaging because it’s personal, and the conduit is fresh and nostalgic or perhaps pop-culture history, depending on the reader’s age.

At the core of this story is Jordan Jones. Family turbulence and financial woes have forced Jordan to drop out of community college, but when we meet him, he’s hoping to scrape together the cash to attend art school.

Though he’s young, life’s made Jordan bitter and angry. He immediately emerges as a flawed and textured antagonist when we meet him shortly after his grandfather’s death. After ostracizing his negligent mother, Jordan begins to sift through the few items his grandfather left behind.

We learn Jordan’s grandmother loved to attend live tapings of variety shows and game shows and Granddad saved VHS tapes for glimpses of Grandma in audience sweeps.

We get fun glimpses of things like the old Carol Burnette Show, with authentic details like Carol’s ear tug and Tarzan yell and a guest appearance by a younger Maggie Smith. Unfamiliar readers just need to take in a streaming episode or two to see how real the details of the old shows are.

The tapes aren’t all nostalgic fun, though. Grandma, who helped raise Jordan, died on the set of a reality show in a horrifying incident Jordan is forced to witness as the story conduit for time travel unfolds.

The old television and video tapes reveal Showtime’s unique conduit for getting Jordan “back there.” By watching on Granddad’s TV, a viewer is transported to the point of the taping whether it’s the studio control room or a rogue videographer’s spot in the audience with a camcorder.

Since his grandmother was such a key figure in his life, of course Jordan’s going to try to fix things aided a bit by a cousin who has problems of her own but who Jordan views with bitterness as well.

The character texture is rich in Ruszin’s novel, and that draws the reader in as much as the science fiction premise. Jordan’s real-life struggles believably drive him to want a better world.

Immersion in the on-set massacre are rich and shocking. I don’t want to give them away, but they offer a fresh take on public violence and an intriguing antagonist whose methods slip readily into a carnivalesque reality show.

Of course nothing is going to go easy for Jordan as he attempts to fix things either. That’s a rule of time travel tales as well.

Because Ruszin is clearly a talented writer, gifted in his touch with prose, insightful and a real craftsman. The pages turn briskly here, and readers will keep churning through quick, crisp chapters to see where Jordan will wind up.


(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from goodreads giveaways.

It was interesting and gripping in places and slow in others. I really didn't like the main antagonist and had absolutely no patience for his internal monologue, his actions, basically everything about him. Like another book I read, the protagonists were a bit annoying at times. I stuck with the book just trying to get to the ending and finally finished it. I ended up skimming through large swaths of internal monologue because at that point I was not interested in a character or two. The premise was interesting and the twist was novel in the end. There was some character development at the very end, but it was in the epilogue. In real life, most people incrementally develop and usually learn as they go unless they are absolutely hard headed. I wished the characters in this book had learned their lessons along with their internal monologues instead of sometime after in a three or four paragraphs epilogue.

I donated the book to my local library in the hope someone else will find this book a better experience.

[Hope Pendergast · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to reading the final version of Showtime for quite some time, yearning to finally hold the book and binge-read in a short matter of time! Showtime did not disappoint by ANY means, it kept me on the edge of my seat and had me rooting for the MC, Jordan. I was elated to read more and had to pry the book from my hands to prevent me from reading all night!

The plot was well developed and meticulously executed in a way that everything was wrapped up in the end. Ricky excellently portrayed the antagonist, Matt, very well. He gave Matt the depth of, he’s not a typical antagonist, he’s a manipulative psychopath that prays on the weak to aid in wrecking havoc.

Much like the magnetism the show ‘Talent Now!’ had, this book pulled me in from the first page!