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    A Murder in Time: A Novel
    A Murder in Time: A Novel
    A Murder in Time: A Novel
    Audiobook18 hours

    A Murder in Time: A Novel

    Written by Julie McElwain

    Narrated by Lucy Rayner

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Beautiful and brilliant, Kendra Donovan is a rising star at the FBI. Yet her path to professional success hits a speed bump during a disastrous raid where half her team is murdered, a mole in the FBI is uncovered and she herself is severely wounded. As soon as she recovers, she goes rogue and travels to England to assassinate the man responsible for the deaths of her teammates.

    While fleeing from an unexpected assassin herself, Kendra escapes into a stairwell that promises sanctuary but when she stumbles out again, she is in the same place-Aldrich Castle-but in a different time: 1815, to be exact.

    Mistaken for a lady's maid hired to help with weekend guests, Kendra is forced to quickly adapt to the time period until she can figure out how she got there; and, more importantly, how to get back home. However, after the body of a young girl is found on the extensive grounds of the county estate, she starts to feel there's some purpose to her bizarre circumstances. Stripped of her twenty-first century tools, Kendra must use her wits alone in order to unmask a cunning madman.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateFeb 28, 2017
    ISBN9781515989752
    Author

    Julie McElwain

    Julie McElwain is the author of the Kendra Donovan mysteries—A Murder in Time, A Twist in Time, Caught in Time, Betrayal in Time, and Shadows in Time—which are available from Pegasus Crime. Julie lives in Long Beach, California.

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    Reviews for A Murder in Time

    3.5/5

    218 ratings20 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This is hard book to review. On the one hand, it was such a fast and entertaining read. On the other hand, the writing could have used much better and much more extensive editing. The writing is a bit juvenile at times, and the characterization of the protagonist is very poor, and the dialogue, especially the "modern" way of speaking of the protagonist, is very clunky and unrealistic. Kendra Donovan is presented as a genius with a near eidetic memory and able to pull all kinds of dates and historical facts out of her mind, and yet she misses very basic historical facts and clues. The mystery is riddled with holes and not very compelling or twisty. Yet for some reason, I could not stop reading. I don't really know why. I think it part it's because the book has a great concept, and I love Regency stories, and the combination of the time period details with time travel and a disturbing mystery was a lot of fun. It's too bad the execution was not great. It felt like a self-published book, because it really needed quite a bit of editing.
    • 3/5
      I have a love/hate relationship with A Murder in Time, so it earns a solid 3-stars. I enjoyed the overall story and I really liked when Kendra took charge of her ‘destiny’ in the beginning of the novel. However, the pacing of A Murder in Time was way off. Plenty happened during the beginning and ending of the story, but essentially nothing happened for the entire middle of the book. My biggest complaint is Kendra’s insta-love for her companions at the end of the novel, which seemed to come out of nowhere. Nearly every interaction that the readers view throughout the story was regarding the case, so it felt false and unsubstantiated that these people were suddenly her very dear friends. That time travel was easier to believe than the characters’ relationships was a big misstep by the author. I do not intend to continue the series.
    • 5/5
      Kendra is an FBI agent who ends up back to the time of 1815. Confused for a lady's maid, Kendra must adapt to the time period to survive while trying to find a way back to home. A prostitute is murdered and Kendra forces herself into the investigation at the Duke's home. As more murders take place, Kendra and company race against the clock to solve the mystery. I really enjoyed this historical mystery mixed with other multitude of other genres and can't wait for the next book in the series.
    • 5/5
      I was extremely happy that I could not figure out the culprit before the end.The story drew me in and it was hard to put the book down. I'm looking forward to the next installment for Kendra Donovan.
    • 3/5
      I have long been on record as being a total coward when it comes to my reading but recently I've been trying to open myself up to some mysteries. I've been looking for not quite cozies but not nightmare-inducing either and when I read the jacket copy for A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain, I thought it sounded like it might hit that sweet spot. Note to self that if the main character is an FBI profiler and she's tracking a serial killer, even if she has time traveled from the present to 1815, the book is likely to be far too gruesome for my overly active imagination. I had to sit and read this through in one sitting to make sure that the baddie was appropriately punished and I still managed to have nightmares about the graphic and truly evil murders. I loved the premise but the rest was too much and over the top for me, in multiple ways.Opening in 1815 with a clandestine gathering that culminates in an unnamed man reveling in the fear and pain of a specially chosen prostitute, the book then moves to present day US. Kendra Donovan is a former prodigy and the only woman on an elite FBI SWAT team tasked with taking down a terrorist. She has uncovered a larger web of involvement than her superiors anticipated and when she lobbies to be on the field team to make the bust, she is granted her wish. So she's in the thick of it when the mission goes horribly wrong, team members are killed, and Kendra herself is badly wounded. After a long and grueling recovery, she is determined to deliver justice to the man who got away. In trying to administer justice, she inexplicably stumbles through time, ending up in 1815, where, posing as a servant, she will be caught up in the dangerous investigation into a serial killer.Aside from the grisly descriptions of murders, which were always going to be hard for me to read, McElwain has done a beautiful job describing the era, the clothing, and stately Aldridge castle. Her characters are, unfortunately, less believably drawn than the setting is. Kendra, despite being incredibly smart, can be beyond stupid in order to move the plot along. She ignores her own highly specialized training during the investigation, placing herself in dangerous situations, she is incapable of even trying to fit into the time and society in which she finds herself despite knowing she absolutely must stay at the castle to have any chance of going back through the wormhole to her own time, and she cannot simply observe rather than diving in head first before thinking, a trait that actually wouldn't serve her well as a profiler, a job at which she is said to have excelled. The reader is repeatedly told she is incredibly smart but, frustratingly, the bulk of the plot happens to her rather than because of her. And it may seem silly to say that there are unbelievable things in a murder mystery predicated on time travel, but avoidable anachronisms in other pieces of the plot belittle the reader's intelligence. For instance, few of the men, gentry all, exhibit more than a token resistance to not only a woman, but a woman of the servant class, taking charge of an entire investigation and ordering them about. This is passed off as entertaining to them but they will allow it because they recognize her superior intellect and because of her American origins. And Kendra's language is so unchecked and modern that it should be almost incompehensible to the men who rarely seem to need a translation. Their immediate acceptance of everything unusual about Kendra is simply a signal of how enlightened, forward thinking, and intelligent they are.The narration focuses mainly on Kendra but there are occasional shifts to other characters which, while illuminating their take on this odd person in their midst, also effectively rules them out as the murderer, despite the fact that they should be suspects right up until the final reveal. Brief chapters through the murderer's eyes are dropped into the narrative very occasionally to highlight his utter depravity and they are effective and rather stomach churning. There are quite a few historical mistakes, multiple etiquette breaches (in addition to the ones that Kendra seemingly makes intentionally), and the romance in the end feels tacked on for no apparent reason. Yet something kept me reading. I personally won't be reading the next in the series, mainly for the gory bits, but I can see why people who can suspend disbelief would want to continue on despite the very obvious flaws here. This had a strange and intriguing premise, lacked in the execution, and yet I almost liked it. Rather a conundrum at that.
    • 4/5
      An enchanting time travel mystery romance set in 19th Century England in which a 21st Century female FBI agent attempts to find a heinous serial killer without modern science at her fingertips. 1st title in Kendra Donovan series.
    • 3/5
      I read this as part of the worldwide "Big Library Read". It was not a book I would have chosen on my own. The book was enjoyable, as long as you suspend belief, as it is a time travel novel. Kendra Donovan is an agent with the FBI. As her team completes a recent case, she wants to extract some revenge on one of the targets. When in the process of exacting the revenge, she is transported back 200 years into the time of a serial killer who is murdering young prostitutes. Kendra has to come to terms with her time travel, while attempting to fit in with the manor servants. She quickly makes herself useful to the Duke and his family as they deal with several murders. Kendra has to be careful to not give away too much information about how to find clues using her 21st century knowledge, worrying that she could change the course of history. Kendra is also torn between life in the 19th century vs. life in the 21st century. This is the 1st Kendra Donovan novel.
    • 3/5
      Hilariously bad, yet strangely compelling. Kendra makes zero attempt to blend into 1815 society, and yet everyone just automatically accepts her as just being "American". It makes no sense! The whole story was SO DUMB, yet I felt a need to finish it to find out what happens.
    • 3/5
      Just didn't connect with the main characters--not sure I will return to this series.
    • 5/5
      How would a contemporary FBI agent conduct a murder investigation in the early 19th century without the 21st century forensic technology and being required to navigate through the gender and social class constraints? This is the premise behind the first in the Kendra Donovan historical-suspense series.When a FBI sting operation goes terribly wrong resulting in the death of Agent Donovan's comrade, she goes rogue and seeks personal justice. Going undercover in England, she is hired as a maid in an upcoming reenactment of life at an early 19th British manor. While escaping a shooting, she escapes down a private staircase into the 19th century and, shortly after her arrival, to the scene of a serial murder.The technology behind the time travel is not revealed. It appears to be only a plot device to implement the premise I opened this review with and not an essential element to the story. Although Kendra does use contemporary jargon which confused the British aristocracy, it isn't overused. Overall the novel was well written, characters well developed, and an enjoyable mystery and murder investigation. I will be reading further in the Kendra Donovan series.
    • 5/5
      I absolutely loved this novel. I loved the blending of the present with the past and I think the author did a fantastic job with this through the character of Kendra. What I enjoyed most about this novel was the process by which Kendra solves the murders. The author isn't too detailed but the information presented is done in an artful way such that it remains interesting to read. All of the different characters were drawn up really well and did a great job of supporting the main character. The murders were graphic, and there is definitely profanity in the story but it worked with the kind of story being told here; it all made the story seem more realistic. This book was fast-paced and intriguing and I could not put it down! I heard there is a second novel coming out and I am definitely placing it on my list to read as soon as it is released! If you like historical fiction and murders, then this is the novel for you!
    • 4/5
      Kendra Donovan appears to have everything going for her. She's gorgeous, a child prodigy who went to Princeton at fourteen, and now works as a profiler for the FBI. The trouble is, all those assets just seem to make her a liability among her coworkers. During an important mission Kendra is shot multiple times. After several weeks of recovery she is told one of the suspects has been given a deal in return for helping them in the future.

      Now Kendra is out for justice, but she is forbidden to go near the witness. She follows him to a party at an old English manor house, but when she finally confronts him, something happens and she is suddenly thrust back to the same house, but in 1815. She's completely confused and is put to work as a ladies maid, until a woman's body is found in the river, strangled and slashed in a way that Kendra notes is similar to a serial killer. She decides to do the investigation herself. She doesn't have the tools that a 21st Century profiler has, but she feels like she's the only one who can find the killer.

      I wasn't sure if I would actually like this novel when I started it but it incorporates two genres I really enjoy......time travel and mystery. I found this story to be atmospheric, packed with lots of action, and plenty of lively characters. I thought the author made Kendra a bit too stereotypical for this type heroine....too beautiful, too brilliant, etc. But that's not the worst thing that can happen in this type of book either. I found it an entertaining, fast paced read and much better than I originally expected. In fact, I see Book 2 is going to be released on April 4. I might head over to the library website and see if I can put it on hold.
    • 4/5
      I joined in the Big Library Read this round for A Murder in Time. Time travel, historical fiction, a serial killer, it sounded interesting, and I'm glad to say it was! It was kind of like Downton Abbey meets CSI. It seems far fetched that anyone would have paid heed to Kendra's knowledge of a serial killer's reasoning, but that is smoothed over with The Duke, who is a bit eccentric himself, and willing to be open minded when others are not. I really enjoyed his character and would have liked to spend a little more time with him and his interests and hobbies in the story. I also liked the lynch pin that belief in her story rested on for Alec, but I don't want to spoil that tidbit for anyone.

      A Murder in Time was historically interesting, fast paced and kept me guessing! I really wasn't sure who the murderer was. I'm glad to see that there is another book in the series coming next spring, to continue Kendra's story.
    • 4/5
      Super fun time travel romance.
    • 5/5
      I’m not an agent for one of the government alphabet agencies, but this woman’s knowledge and behavior feel realistic to me. Often in stories with these types of leads, the protagonist is a little too amazing, but that’s not the case here. Also, not all time travel stories flow so easily. I did notice the killer’s word slip and figure out some in the mystery of the murders, but so much of the mystery did keep me on edge. I plan to continue the series.
    • 4/5
      Can't wait for the next one!

      A Murder in Time focuses on our hero, Kendra Donovan, as she finds herself thrown back in time to 18th century England where she finds herself investigating a murder. Knowing that this is not her time period, she has to walk the fine line of not trying to alter history while still fighting for the rights of the victims: to find out who their killer is. Will she succeed in her attempt, or will she irrevocably alter history? Only time will tell.

      I'll be honest...I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book. I'm not really into period pieces, especially having to do with 18th century England. It's just not my cup of tea. The start was a little slow, but that's to be expected with any good mystery book. But then once the murder happens, things began to pick up. By the time I was about halfway through the book, I was boarding a red eye 5 hour flight. More time to read? Yes! I ended up reading it all the way through to the end, because I really wanted to find out whodunit. Surprisingly, the characters were really likeable. I was pleasantly surprised to find that these characters were relatable and conflicted, just how well written characters should be. Sure there were a few side characters who were more caricatures of the time period, but your central cast will deliver. The plot had some good surprises, and was fairly balanced between everyday Victorian life and murder mystery investigations.

      Overall, you'll find yourself asking questions like our hero Kendra. If you're looking for some sci if elements, don't hold your breath. There's really not much of that in this offering, and I'm not too sure if there will be in future books. As much as I would enjoy some more sci if explanations in future books, I'd be just as happy even if there wasn't. If you like good murder mysteries with a little twist, definitely check this one out.
    • 4/5
      I found the hunt for the serial killer in 1815 very well done & it was fun watching how Kendra coped with the lack of technology. However, there were two main things that bugged me. The first, relatively minor but repeated many times in the book, was the use of "Duke" as a name (nickname?) for the Duke of Aldridge by his nephew and a few other characters. I have a strong feeling that it would be much more likely for these people to call him "Aldridge" or perhaps even his Christian name...

      The second was the fact that the time travel happens with no reason or explanation. If you can suspend your disbelief to swallow this, then the rest of the book is very enjoyable. It is a murder mystery version of The Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court...
    • 4/5
      I nearly chucked this book after the first chapter (figuratively, since it's an ebook from the library). I'm glad I didn't, as it ended up being a more-than-serviceable time traveling mystery. The only downside is that it is apparently the first in an intended series, which I need like another hole in the head.Kendra Donovan is an FBI agent in present-day America. She is part of a multi-agency raid on a terrorist hideout that goes awry, with bullets flying everywhere and people screaming and dying by the handful. That's the point where I nearly gave up on it, because it seemed so ridiculously like every other bog-standard espionage thriller. I mean, the kind of stuff Nelson DeMille probably writes in his sleep, only without the racism.Fortunately, I kept reading and the book improved dramatically when — through a rather strained MacGuffiny device — Kendra finds herself transported back to Regency England, where she finds herself living in the home territory of a serial killer of young prostitutes. She brings all her 21st century knowledge to bear on the problem while trying to avoid the suspicions of the Duke and other assorted aristocracy that she's landed amongst, who wonder just who she is and how she knows what she knows.All in all, the 19th century mystery is entertaining. It's fun to see uber-agent Donovan try to solve a crime without having the modern crutches of DNA analysis, computer searches, and X-rays. And if the dialogue sometimes sounds like the author swallowed Georgette Heyer's entire oeuvre and then spit it back up on on her word processor's screen, well ... she could have had worse source material to draw from.If you like murder mysteries, and you like Heyer's Regency works, you'll probably find this one to your liking.Note: This book was offered as a Big Library Read by Overdrive, which is a program that allows unlimited downloads of a select ebook across all libraries that use Overdrive. The last book I read from this program was [Shakespeare Saved My Life]. There have been others since but none of them appealed to me.
    • 5/5
      I picked this book up based on a library recommendation during the Big Library Read event. It had favorable reviews and looked interesting.I'm glad I decided to check it out. The storyline was different - a modern day FBI profiler traveling back in time to the early 1800s and becoming involved in the solving of a serial murder case. It was well paced, the action scenes well written and the writing kept me interested.I am definitely going to read the next book in the Kendra Donovan series. Rating: 4.25
    • 3/5
      I wasn't going to finish this book after reading the first couple of chapters. I was afraid it was more about murder and sadism than I like. I was glad I made myself continue as it was hard to put down.. Time travel is involved for a tough, brilliant, female FBI agent, who finds herself in England during the time of Jane Austen. A serial killer is on the loose and she is very involved with the apprehension, to the dismay of the gentry of the time. It was a fun and unexpected good story.