A Review of "A Rip Through Time"

Imagine being a modern detective thrown back into the past. To save your life, you have to solve a crime from 150 years ago. This is the main idea in Kelley Armstrong's book, A Rip Through Time .

The book came out in 2022 and kicks off a new series. It feels a bit like Outlander with its Scotland time travel. But it's more of a crime mystery, like The Alienist .

The main character is a detective named Mallory Atkinson. She is sent back in time and has to solve a murder that feels very familiar to her. This review will look at the book's plot, setting, and characters without giving away any spoilers.

What "A Rip Through Time" Is About (No Spoilers)

• Author: Kelley Armstrong
• Genre: Historical Mystery, Time Travel, Crime
• Publication Date: May 31, 2022
• Protagonist: Homicide Detective Mallory Atkinson

The Story's Setup

In May 2019, a detective named Mallory Atkinson is in Edinburgh, Scotland. She’s there visiting her grandmother, who is very sick. While on a run, she hears a woman in trouble down an alley and gets attacked.

But she doesn't wake up in a hospital. She's in the body of a housemaid named Catriona Mitchell in the year 1869. It's the exact same day, 150 years earlier, in the same alley where she was attacked.

Mallory is now a housemaid for Dr. Duncan Gray. He’s an undertaker who also works as a medical examiner. Dr. Gray is working on a new murder case that is strangely similar to Mallory's own attack.

So, Mallory uses her modern detective skills to help him. She thinks solving the 1869 murder is the only way to get back home. She has to deal with the old-fashioned rules for women while also learning about the person whose body she's in.

My Review of the Book

History and Mystery in the Story

• Time Travel: The book doesn't try to explain the science of time travel. Mallory just slips through time, and the story focuses on what happens next. It's a simple setup that gets the story going quickly.
• Historical Setting: The story is set in Edinburgh in 1869, and it feels real. The setting is a big part of the challenge for Mallory. Her modern knowledge about things like fingerprints is useless because the science doesn't exist yet. The book also shows the era's prejudices against women and people of different backgrounds.

• The Mystery: The murder mystery is well-paced and keeps you guessing. It’s interesting to watch Mallory use modern logic to solve a crime with old evidence. The book wraps up the main murder case but leaves bigger questions open for the rest of the series.

The Characters

• Mallory Atkinson: Mallory is a smart and funny main character who is easy to like. She's a modern woman trying to find her place in a world that wants her to be quiet. Her goal isn't romance, it's getting her power back.
• Dr. Duncan Gray: Dr. Gray is Mallory's boss and partner in solving the crime. He is an undertaker and a medical examiner, which gives Mallory a reason to be involved. He and Mallory are both outsiders, so they build a bond based on respect.

• Supporting Cast: The other characters in the book are interesting and feel real. There’s a detective who becomes an ally and a young pickpocket who also works as a maid. They help make the world of the story feel alive.

How the Book Reads

• Pacing: The story moves quickly and is a real page-turner. The historical details are interesting but don't slow down the main mystery.
• Writing Style: The writing is easy to follow and engaging. The characters talk to each other like real adults and solve problems without silly misunderstandings. This makes the story feel grounded, even with the time travel.
• The Audiobook: If you like audiobooks, this one is great. The narrator, Kate Handford, does an amazing job. She uses a modern voice for Mallory's thoughts and a Scottish accent when Mallory speaks as Catriona, which really brings the character's conflict to life.

The Full Book Series

The Books in Order

Here is a clear guide to the series so you can read the books in the right order. It includes both the full novels and the shorter novellas.

Table 1: A Rip Through Time Series in Chronological Order

What's Next for the Series

• The series is still going, with more books planned for the future.
• Book 3, Disturbing the Dead, came out on May 7, 2024.
• Book 4, Death at a Highland Wedding, is set to be released on May 20, 2025.
• A fifth book, An Ordinary Sort of Evil, is planned for 2026.

Later in the series, Mallory becomes Dr. Gray's official assistant. The connection between them also grows stronger. And here's the thing about Book 3: Mallory actually finds a way back to the present.

It is a game changer for the series. This means she isn't stuck in the past forever. The story then becomes less about "how do I get home?" and more about "how can I live in two different centuries at once?"

So, Should You Read It?

A Rip Through Time is a great start to a series. It has a good mix of history, humor, and a solid mystery. The main characters are smart, and their relationship is built on respect.

The only people who might not like it are fans of "hard" science fiction who want detailed explanations for time travel. But for most readers, it's a very skilled and fun take on a familiar idea.

• Recommended For:
  • Fans of Outlander who want a time-travel story with more crime-solving.
  • Readers who liked The Alienist and enjoy stories about the early days of forensic science.
  • Anyone who already likes Kelley Armstrong's other books.
  • People who enjoy other historical mysteries with witty partnerships.
• You Might Want to Skip If:
  • You prefer science fiction that explains how time travel works.
  • You dislike stories where a modern character has a big advantage in the past.

What Do You Think?

This series already has a lot of fans. Here are a few questions to get a discussion going.

• What did you think of the book? Were you surprised by who the killer was?
• What historical details about 1869 Edinburgh did you find most interesting?
• Who is your favorite character? What do you think of the slow relationship between Mallory and Dr. Gray?
• For audiobook listeners: Did the narrator's performance make the story better for you?