Wrong Place Wrong Time

Author: Gillian McAllister
Genre: Psychological Thriller
416 pages
Publisher: William Morrow, 2022

Synopsis
Can you stop a murder after it’s already happened?

It is midnight on the morning of Halloween, and Jen anxiously waits up for her 18-year-old son, Todd, to return home. But worries about his broken curfew transform into something much more dangerous when Todd finally emerges from the darkness. As Jen watches through the window, she sees her funny, seemingly happy teenage son stab a total stranger.

She doesn’t know who the victim is, or why Todd has committed such a devastating act of violence. All she knows is that her life, and Todd’s, have been shattered.

After her son is taken into custody, Jen falls asleep in despair. But when she wakes up… it is yesterday. The murder has not happened yet—and there may be a chance to stop it. Each morning, when Jen wakes, she is further back in the past, first weeks, then years, before the murder. And Jen realizes that somewhere in the past lies the trigger for Todd’s terrible crime…and it is her mission to find it, and prevent it from taking place.

My review
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister is an intriguing and original psychological thriller. While it may not be the best thriller I’ve ever read, it’s definitely entertaining and deserves a solid four-star rating. The premise is particularly noteworthy—a fresh twist on the mystery/thriller genre, incorporating time loops in a clever way. We follow Jen as she tries to save her son, but instead of the investigation playing out in chronological order, the story unfolds in reverse. As Jen moves backward through time, we piece together the clues with her, making for a truly fascinating experience.

The novel started off a bit slow for me, and I found some of the writing a little odd. The overuse of commas and repetitive words stood out, and I wasn’t sure if it had something to do with the time loop or served another purpose. However, the more I read, the more engrossed I became. The story is layered and complex, with numerous clues and elements that all come together in a satisfying conclusion. Now that I know the ending, I imagine a reread would reveal many details I missed the first time.

This was also a story about motherhood, as Jen had the chance to reflect on her life while going back in time. It made me think about how often we simply react to things without truly being present. Although the supporting characters weren’t fully fleshed out, I found Jen to be a compelling protagonist—likable, relatable, and easy to connect with, even within the quirky narrative.

Overall, Wrong Place Wrong Time was a thorough entertaining and clever thriller and one I would happily read again. McAllister has shown herself to be an imaginative and creative writer, and I’m looking forward to picking up another one of her novels soon!

My recommendation: read it!