Wrong Place Wrong Time

This novel stopped me in my tracks with its disquieting premise: a mother witnessing her son commit a crime and then waking up each day further back in time, desperately searching for a way to prevent the terrible event. As a parent, I find this idea both terrifying and fascinating, as it taps into the innate desire to protect our loved ones at all costs.

Though not officially listed in the time travel category, Wrong Place Wrong Time is undeniably a time-bending story that cleverly highlights the enduring power of family bonds.

This book fascinated me. I love a book told backwards, which is really how this book is told.

Jen’s 18-year-old son commits murder. She doesn’t know the man he’s killed and she doesn’t know why he did it. The only thing she does know is that her life, and the life of her son, is over. Until she wakes up the next day to find that it is the morning of the murder. Can she stop it from happening?

Each night following she wakes up earlier and earlier, travelling backwards through time in hopes to solve the mystery of who… show more.

This book was utterly unique in that the story moves backwards.

As a writer, I admire the author’s ability to tell the story in the wrong direction for everyone except the main character. The story starts in the present when Jen witnesses her teenage son commit a violent crime she cannot comprehend. Every morning, she goes back farther in time as she attempts to figure out how this happened and the underlying reasons.

I loved that the story was so rich and detailed I could picture her struggle. The backward slide is so believable and leaves her completely alone, because… show more.

This book has all the ingredients for an amazing thriller, fast-paced, with lots of twists and great characters.

It’s the type of book that you stay up reading all night just to find out what happens. The premise is so interesting and unique, which is often hard to find in the thriller genre. 

How can you prevent a murder that’s already happened? 

I might be cheating a little with this one, but I enjoyed it so much that I had to include it. Not quite a standard time loop, as the main character, Jen, wakes up each morning further in the past then when she fell asleep, but that’s what makes this book feel so innovative and fun.

I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery of why she watched her son stab a man, following along as Jen had to trace the clues back into her own past. It felt like a refreshing take on a time loop, but in an oddly… show more.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time is the book I have found myself most recommending over the last year.

Gillian McAllister perfectly captures the wide spectrum of feelings that accompany motherhood—overwhelming love, regret, anxiety, courage. This book is thought-provoking, page-turning, and plumbs emotional depths that quickly elevated it to one of my favorite books.

It begins with a mother who witnesses her son committing a brutal murder, and then traces the days and years backward to figure out what led to the crime—and whether she can stop it from happening. An incredibly original story that plays with form, kept me guessing, and… show more.

The thriller genre is so competitive but Wrong Time Wrong Place really stood out for me for several reasons. Firstly, the author takes an unusual concept (time travel) and executes it flawlessly. The pace and plausibility of the novel work together so well that you become completely immersed in the story. Secondly, I found the premise to be original, which is so hard to find these days. Thirdly, the novel was pure entertainment in that I couldn’t wait to get back to it each evening and when I was reading, it captured my attention completely. 

As one who teaches plotting for writers, I can vouch this is a master class in twists and turns. McAllister turns a murder mystery upside down by having the main character go back in time after she witnesses her son commit a crime to determine what was the start of things going bad. 

I love a book that starts discussions. This book had me talking with friends about: How far would you go to save your child? What is the beginning of someone’s life getting off track? What in your own life would you go back and change if you… show more.