3.5 stars

This was an ambitious and interesting book. There are a lot of characters and different timelines and it sometimes got confusing but it was still an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC.

The Psychology of Time Travel represents a fascinating thought experiment in how the use of time travel technology would effect the personalities and personal relationships of time travelers. A complex, non-linear narrative rich in interesting characters facing difficult choices is woven around a linear chain of events involving the protagonist. Along the way, the author portrays some pretty intricate details regarding the practical implications of time travel for such aspects of modern life such as money and law. Underneath an unfolding murder mystery and related plot twists that consume the reader, the author provides a profound exploration of the fragility of life and the power of love.

In her debut novel, Kate Mascarenhas tells a beautifully woven story with an all female cast. In the late 1960's four women scientists create a time travel machine, and their lives are completely changed in an instant. They're given government funding to build the same thing only bigger, and it really changes how the whole world operates around them. One scientist in particular though, has a hard time dealing with the difference, and suffers a mental breakdown on television while being interviewed. Barbara is then taken into a mental hospital, diagnosed with manic depression, and forgotten about, and never even given any credit in the project. That is, until her granddaughter Ruby takes it upon herself to understand more of what happened. In this intricate book, the viewpoints not only switch between many generations of characters, but also different years, decades in between the last.

I just want to say how much I absolutely loved reading this book, I was drawn in by how different the cover was compared to other books, and the description just leapt out at me. If you loved the Time Traveler's Wife, you're going to love this book. Not only is it a time travel tale, but it's also a murder mystery, and I couldn't put it down for a second. I loved how much the world changed around them because of their invention, not only did it allow people to go back and forth in time to visit past and future loved ones, but it created jobs around it as well. Could you imagine if your career had a time travel aspect to it? Instead of commuting to work, you would be going maybe twenty years into the future to do your job.

My favourite quote in the book would have to be when Ruby is watching old videos of a time travelling lawyer named Fay, and in the last video she says, "When you're a time traveler, the people you love die, and you carry on seeing them, so their death stops making a difference to you. The only death that will change things is your own." It's just so interesting to me, being indifferent to death enough that going to a loved ones funeral is just another thing on your to-do list for the day. The book is very easy to read, and easy to follow, even with all the characters switching around so much. I definitely recommend you checking it out if you get the chance.

Thanks for reading!
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)

A must read sci-fi murder mystery. 

This story is based on four ladies scientists - Barbara, Margaret, Grace and Lucille. These ladies are super talented. In 1967, this team invents the first time machine. They first try to send small objects. Before making a public announcement the team decides to travel first and test the machine. But after the trial, one of the team members suffers the breakdown. This is the starting point of the entire mystery.  

Ruby, grand-daughter of Barbara knows that her granny is one of the pioneers of the invention. But she also knows that Barbara never spoke about it. One day, Barbara receives a newspaper clipping about the death of a mysterious lady. 

In 2018, Odette, a volunteer at the museum discovers a body in the museum, blood everywhere. The crime scene and the mystery hound her.  The story has to find answers to two main questions who was murdered and who is a murderer? The author has very well brought different personalities of these four scientists. It is interesting to read how each character behaves in every situation. These time travellers face different psychological issues, which has been put forward by the author.  For eg. as a time traveller, you can meet all your present and past selves at any time. I am not sure what will be my reaction if I am that time traveller. 

The story also travels through different time spans. The reader needs to focus on the timeline while reading each chapter. The story has raised some interesting points about the time travel. Time travel may be easily possible in the future. The story creates a parallel legal framework to address different crimes considering the fact that a crime may happen different time span. Also, there is a possibility of playing with the evidence, change the crime scene. There is a need for a different currency for time travellers. The author has created a different glossary which is used by time travellers and easily understood by others who are not time travellers. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this sci-fi murder mystery with a psychological angle to it. If you are a fan of murder mystery then this book is definitely for you. 

I give 4 / 5 to this book.

I enjoyed this book on Time Travel. It is told from alternating points of view, which is good because you get to see the story from different vantage points. This book takes you on a journey across time.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.