Wrong Place Wrong Time A Novel
7.92 / 10 460K ratings
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2023
- Publisher
- Penguin Books
- Pages
- 401
- ISBN
- 9781405949842
It starts with a mother's worst nightmare. Jen witnesses her beloved teenage son, Todd, murder a stranger right outside their home. Her world shatters as her funny, happy boy is taken into police custody, his future destroyed. In despair, she falls asleep, only to wake up and discover that it is yesterday. The murder hasn't happened yet. The next time she wakes, it's the day before that. Jen finds herself trapped, jumping further and further into the past each time she sleeps, with a desperate new purpose: to stop the murder before it happens.
Somewhere in the past lies the answer to why her son would commit such a crime. As Jen relives moments she took for granted, she begins to uncover secrets hidden deep within her own family. She is not just trying to prevent a murder; she is on a backward race against time to find the single moment that started it all. This journey into the past forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her son, her husband, and herself, exploring the powerful, and sometimes dangerous, depths of a mother's love.
Somewhere in the past lies the answer to why her son would commit such a crime. As Jen relives moments she took for granted, she begins to uncover secrets hidden deep within her own family. She is not just trying to prevent a murder; she is on a backward race against time to find the single moment that started it all. This journey into the past forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her son, her husband, and herself, exploring the powerful, and sometimes dangerous, depths of a mother's love.
Subjects
Original edition
Wrong Place Wrong Time A NovelOriginally published in 2022 English HarperCollinsPublishers
Other editions (7)
Listen to the summary Narrated summary
Jen Brotherhood, a divorce lawyer, finds her world shattered one late October night as she watches from her window. Her seventeen-year-old son, Todd, a boy she knows to be kind and funny, stabs a stranger to death right outside their home. The police arrive, and Todd is taken into custody, his promising future seemingly over, leaving Jen and her husband, Kelly, reeling in shock and despair.
That night, Jen falls into a restless sleep, hoping to wake from a nightmare. But when her eyes open, it is not the morning after the murder, but the morning before it happened. A profound disorientation settles over her as she realizes she has traveled backward in time. Each subsequent morning, she awakens to find herself a day further in the past, a day before the unthinkable crime. This bewildering phenomenon presents a terrifying, yet hopeful, possibility: a chance to understand what led her son to such an act, and perhaps, to prevent it entirely.
As Jen spirals backward through days, weeks, and even years, she meticulously pieces together the events that culminated in that fateful night. She revisits seemingly innocuous moments, now imbued with new significance, and uncovers details she missed in her present life. Her journey is a frantic race against time, or rather, a race against the current of time, as she tries to comprehend the hidden undercurrents of her family's life.
With each day she relives, Jen unearths shocking secrets, not only about Todd but also about her husband, Kelly. She discovers a past for Kelly she never knew existed, a life shrouded in mystery and danger. His true identity, Ryan Hiles, an undercover police officer with a complicated history, slowly comes to light, revealing a connection to a criminal underworld that directly impacts their lives.
Her father, whom she believed to be a simple, honest man, also becomes a figure of re-evaluation as Jen uncovers his own surprising criminal affiliations. These revelations dismantle her understanding of her family, forcing her to confront the hidden truths that have shaped their lives and ultimately contributed to the tragic future she is desperately trying to avert.
Jen's love for Todd drives her relentless pursuit of the truth, pushing her to make difficult choices. She realizes that her actions in the past can indeed alter the future. In a pivotal moment, a specific time leap allows her to intervene and prevent a crucial car theft. This act, seemingly small in isolation, ripples through time, altering the intricate chain of events that would have led to Todd's desperate act of violence.
Through this extraordinary journey, Jen grapples with the weight of her discoveries and the profound implications of tampering with the past. She learns that the path to saving her son is far more complex and dangerous than she could have ever imagined, requiring her to confront not only external threats but also the deeply buried secrets within her own family. Her determination to protect Todd and her family ultimately leads her to find strength and resilience she never knew she possessed.
That night, Jen falls into a restless sleep, hoping to wake from a nightmare. But when her eyes open, it is not the morning after the murder, but the morning before it happened. A profound disorientation settles over her as she realizes she has traveled backward in time. Each subsequent morning, she awakens to find herself a day further in the past, a day before the unthinkable crime. This bewildering phenomenon presents a terrifying, yet hopeful, possibility: a chance to understand what led her son to such an act, and perhaps, to prevent it entirely.
As Jen spirals backward through days, weeks, and even years, she meticulously pieces together the events that culminated in that fateful night. She revisits seemingly innocuous moments, now imbued with new significance, and uncovers details she missed in her present life. Her journey is a frantic race against time, or rather, a race against the current of time, as she tries to comprehend the hidden undercurrents of her family's life.
With each day she relives, Jen unearths shocking secrets, not only about Todd but also about her husband, Kelly. She discovers a past for Kelly she never knew existed, a life shrouded in mystery and danger. His true identity, Ryan Hiles, an undercover police officer with a complicated history, slowly comes to light, revealing a connection to a criminal underworld that directly impacts their lives.
Her father, whom she believed to be a simple, honest man, also becomes a figure of re-evaluation as Jen uncovers his own surprising criminal affiliations. These revelations dismantle her understanding of her family, forcing her to confront the hidden truths that have shaped their lives and ultimately contributed to the tragic future she is desperately trying to avert.
Jen's love for Todd drives her relentless pursuit of the truth, pushing her to make difficult choices. She realizes that her actions in the past can indeed alter the future. In a pivotal moment, a specific time leap allows her to intervene and prevent a crucial car theft. This act, seemingly small in isolation, ripples through time, altering the intricate chain of events that would have led to Todd's desperate act of violence.
Through this extraordinary journey, Jen grapples with the weight of her discoveries and the profound implications of tampering with the past. She learns that the path to saving her son is far more complex and dangerous than she could have ever imagined, requiring her to confront not only external threats but also the deeply buried secrets within her own family. Her determination to protect Todd and her family ultimately leads her to find strength and resilience she never knew she possessed.
What other readers say
Liked
Reviewers widely praise the book's exceptionally fresh and unique premise, often describing it as a thrilling and mind-bending take on the mystery and time loop genres. Many found the concept of the story unfolding in reverse to be highly original and cleverly structured, drawing them in from the very first page. The plot is frequently lauded for its intricate layering, numerous unexpected twists and turns, and the way disparate clues coalesce into a cohesive and satisfying explanation. Readers were consistently engrossed and captivated, highlighting the novel's ability to maintain suspense and an eager anticipation for each new revelation. Beyond the clever plotting, the book is also commended for its emotional depth, particularly in exploring a mother's unconditional love and sacrifice, making the protagonist's journey relatable and impactful.
Disliked
Despite the innovative concept, a significant number of reviewers expressed frustration with the book's writing style, citing an overuse of punctuation, especially commas, and a tendency towards "telling" rather than "showing" character traits. This made the initial chapters particularly distracting and, for some, led to a lack of immersion. Pacing was another common point of criticism, with many finding the narrative to drag in the middle sections, becoming repetitive or monotonous, and feeling unnecessarily long. While some appreciated the twists, others found certain elements predictable or the ending to be anticlimactic, with a few noting a lack of a clear or satisfying explanation for the time travel mechanism itself, or even perceived plot holes. Character development for the protagonist was occasionally described as uninteresting or clueless, making it difficult for some to connect with her journey.
In short
Ultimately, "Wrong Place Wrong Time" is considered a compelling and inventive thriller that, despite its stylistic and pacing shortcomings, offers a genuinely fresh experience for many readers. Its strengths lie in its ingenious plot, the compelling central mystery, and the emotional core of a mother's determination. It is highly recommended for those who enjoy unique, mind-bending mysteries and thrillers, especially if they appreciate stories with time-bending or sci-fi elements used as a narrative device. Readers who can suspend disbelief and overlook some writing quirks in favor of a clever and absorbing plot, particularly those interested in a deep dive into themes of parenthood and unintended consequences, are likely to find this book a rewarding and memorable read. It is often described as an ideal choice for book clubs due to its thought-provoking nature.
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