The book “A Rip Through Time”, by Kelley Armstrong, is a time travel murder mystery novel following Mallory Atkinson, a modern-times detective, a.k.a. Catriona Mitchell, a Victorian-era housemaid.
It’s May 20, 2019, and Vancouver homicide detective Mallory is in Edinburgh to see her grandmother. One early morning, she follows the sounds of a struggle into an alley, only to be attacked and knocked out herself.
It’s May 20, 1869, and housemaid Catriona Mitchell is discovered in that same Edinburgh alley, attacked and left for dead, 150 years earlier.
Mallory wakes up in Catriona’s body and has to adjust to her new reality, as a housemaid to an undertaker in Victorian Scotland. As new crimes begin popping up all over the city, closely mimicking her own assault, she can only hope to catch the murderer and somehow get back to her own time and life.
A Rip Through Time is a thrilling murder mystery with an even more thrilling exploration of Victorian city and atmosphere. The character development is excellent and each person fits well into the story and the time period. This is especially true for Mallory, as a modern-day woman having to assimilate to a new era. The setting and history feel authentic to the point where you can imagine yourself wandering the streets of 1860’s Scotland. There is so much for the reader to discover, even during rereads.
With a 4.02 rating on Goodreads, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and fascinating thrillers. I would also highly recommend Kelley Armstrong’s excellent other series – she has left her mark in supernatural fantasy, historical novels, Yukon-based thrillers, and more.
