You know how at first you think you're reading a decently wrought book with time travel and a mystery and a promise of romance and you end up realizing you're reading a great and original take on some recognizable themes, stitched together beautifully? Usually, my reactions to a book along the lines of A Rip Through Time are, "that was good," to "Eh," and on to "why did I finish this?" Armstrong is obviously a best selling author and known to many, but she's new to me and this was a wonderful debut novel! In 2019, Mallory Atkinson, a Canadian police detective, is staying with her dying grandmother in Edinburgh Scotland. While jogging, she hears what sounds like a woman in danger, goes to investigate and her life changes, possibly forever.

There is enough written about this novel for you to already know Mallory wakes up in a Victorian housemaid's body. She is in the home of an unusual brother and sister, he a doctor turned funeral home owner, she a chemist (kind of a pharmacist but careful as a woman about who knows). It is 1869. A childhood friend, a criminal detective, has found Dr. Gray, can assist him in solving crimes, for he has become an early forensic scientist. And there is a murder to solve. Mallory, now Catriona, also has an attack to solve, Who tried to strangle the housemaid who formerly was in this body? Why doesn't anyone trust her? How is she to navigate this era as this person she does not know? This novel is rich with historical observations about the social, scientific and physical differences of the world 150 years earlier than Mallory's time. For example, fighting in layers of skirts and petticoats is challenging! "Antique" toys and books are new.

I like that Armstrong does not surprise us with things a character should not know. The backstories are solid. Mallory's father is a literature professor and her mother a defense lawyer. This, along with her own training and work make her knowledge and skills comprehensible throughout the book. The mystery is fun, with well documented clues. The sister, Isla gets a glimpse of what freedom looks like for women in the future, at least as compared to 1869. The brother, Dr. Gray, is unusually progressive as to people in general and women. There's a reason for this, of course. Wait and see. There is humor, like all the times Mallory's weak grasp on what happened when in history causes her to talk about something that is not invented or discovered yet. The characters are interesting and promise much for the series. We don't know what the future holds, but I want to know and I am certain I will give Armstrong's other novels a serious look.

Wait what?!?! There’s so so much I want to say but I don’t want to give anything away. This is such a unique story and premise! It did take me a few chapters to really get invested and it didn’t end the way I expected but I’m glad I stuck with this one!!

This one was a DNF for me. I really dislike reviewing books I didn’t finish but that agreement is why I received this novel in the first place so here we go.

I was excited at the start. The blurb is fantastic, the premise intriguing, and the reference to Outlander (a comparison that’s a disservice to this book) had me from the get-go. The start of the book itself was good too. I enjoyed the first chapters of Mallory in the present-day for how they gave a good picture of who the protagonist was. I liked her, the writing was good, the attack scene was legitimately terrifying. The first bit of Mallory in the past was interesting enough too though not as much as I hoped. I wasn’t really sucked in but I generally stick it out for a bit anyway.

But as I got deeper into the book after Mallory time traveled, I felt my interest really waning. Mallory’s bumbling in the past is to be expected and I’m very comfortable (lifelong fantasy reader) with letting go of believability in a story but for the life of me I couldn’t let go of how extreme her bumbling was and how there seemed to be no real consequences for her glaring slip-ups (even from rather intelligent characters like Dr. Gray).

By the one-third mark, the most amazing thing to me about the story was that everyone believed Mallory was Catriona, or at the very least thought she was sane. Unfortunately by that point too I wasn’t terribly interested in Mallory’s predicament because I hadn’t connected with her, the time traveling itself seemed to be of no importance or curiosity (who knows if it was ever explained, as much as time travel can be), and the homicide case wasn’t interesting.

As a true crime fan, and a fantasy reader, I’m not quite sure how I went so wrong with this book. It seems to be the beginning of a series, one that I thought I’d like, but it’s not for me. Others seem to enjoy it though so don’t let my negative review sway you. I was pulled in by the blurb too, after all.

Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

I was provided an ARC of A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong courtesy of NetGalley. This is my unbiased review without spoilers.

A Rip Through Time invites the reader to discover Mallory Atkinson, a member of the police force of Vancouver who has come to Scotland to visit her terminally ill grandmother. On her way to visit her grandmother and to face her own fears for the future she stops for coffee.

After purchasing her coffee she spills coffee on a man and apologizes for the mistake, however this is a mistake that is not so easily forgotten. Later that evening, Mallory goes for a run and ends up getting attacked in an alley.

This isn't just your run of the mill typical attack though. While being strangled and attacked by the man in the coffee house Mallory begins to see visions of a girl being strangled in the same place but in the past. As Mallory feels her life fading away she awakens to find herself not only int he past but in the body of someone else.

Mallory has ended up in the body of the housemaid Catriona that was strangled in the past. After being thrown into the body of the housemaid, Mallory has to adjust to her new place in life. Not only that she needs to find out who is strangling and attempting to murder women. As the cases start to escalate Mallory begins to assist her 'Master', Duncan Grey. She quickly earns her place with him as his potential assistant and comes to the shocking realization that her strangler has followed her in the past. Not only this but he is starting to mimic the crimes and killings of the most notorious of all serial killers, Jack the Ripper. However, Scotland is not London and Jack the Ripper isn't meant to find his infamous appearance until 20 years later.

As time progresses and she continues to be trapped in the body of Catriona, Mallory realizes that not only does she have to find a way to return to the future but also how to stop a potential serial killer.

At first when starting A Rip Through Time I had my reservations. I had requested the book to begin because I have an avid fascination with Jack the Ripper and the criminal investigation surrounding him. However, when I began to read I found the story to be quite slow and listless. However, I am so glad I kept reading and did not put A Rip Through Time because this story does not disappoint.

I can admit that for a reader looking for a smack in your face twist on Jack the Ripper, this is not the book for that. Still, the book has it's own intrigue and at the crescendo of the story the tale will certainly captivate the audience. The characters are well fleshed out and while there isn't many credits towards Jack the Ripper or his case, the forensic science included in the novel is absolutely fascinating. If you are a fan of forensic science, police investigation, Scotland, and the Victorian era of time then this is certainly the book for you. I eagerly anticipate the continuation of this series. Until next time, happy reading!

I enjoy the time travel aspect of the Kelley Armstrong novels I’ve read. This was no exception. I really enjoyed this one. Interesting to read about a modern-day female detective trying to stay under the radar and solve a mystery in the past. If you like Armstrong’s other books, you should definitely grab this one and give it a read. Looking forward to the next installment.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I love time travel books and I love everything that Kelley writes so this was a real winner for me! I read it in two afternoons and couldn't read it fast enough. The murder mysteries were fascinating and now I'm eagerly waiting for book 2 of this series. Can't wait to see what's in store for Mallory, Dr. Gray and the rest of the gang back in 1869 Scotland. Hoping Catriona doesn't wreck too much havoc in the present day!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Published 31 May 2022.

This book was an excellent and different take on time travel! Mallory is in the process of being attacked when she wakes up in a different body in a different time! I also loved that I started reading on May 20th which is when the timeline in the book starts!

I love the unraveling of the mysterious killer, the struggles she faces as she realizes who Catriona is, navigating a whole new world while hunting for a way to return home!

This is a book that left me wanting more and I’m hoping that there will be more because I have questions that need answers!

A Rip Through Time is the beginning of a fun adventure series. A young woman who is attacked while jogging in 2019 wakes up in as a young woman who is attacked in the same place in 1869. Just as interesting as it is crazy!
This book and the series is filled with romance, mystery, and fantasy . Who could ask for anything more! Thank you #NetGalley#MinotaurBooks#ARipThroughTmie

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was a dual timeline story which is one of my favourite kinds of books. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more.

In 2019, Mallory is a detective who sees a crime and the next thing she knows she is knocked out and thrown back into the past to 1869 in Scotland. I loved the way the story was told and how Mallory’s character had to maneuver being a maid in 1869 and solving the mystery and to figure out how to get home.

A very enjoyable and engaging book. This author’s books are always enjoyable.

I love Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series. I'm not sure why I never jumped into reading other things by her, but when I saw this blurb for her new series I had to read it. I'm a sucker for time travel stories, so it was an easy choice.

Glad I did -- this story is entertaining, different and just awesome to read!

I started out reading a digital arc of this book....then started the story over when I had a chance to listen to the audio book. The audio book is just shy of 14 hours long and is narrated by Kate Handford. This is the first audio book I've listened to with this narrator. She narrates a lot of mystery/thriller type books. I can see why! She is a talented narrator/voice actor. She reads at a nice pace and brings the story to life.

The story -- love it! The basics: Mallory Atkinson is a homicide detective. She travels to Scotland to care for her ailing grandmother. While out for a run Mallory gets into trouble and is attacked. She passes out and wakes up in that same alley, but 150 years in the past. She's now in the body of a 19-year old chambermaid who works for a local undertaker.

As this is a mystery story and spoilers ruin the plot for readers -- I'm not going to give any other details. I will just say I loved this book! And I will definitely be reading/listening to more! The cover art is gorgeous! Definitely caught my eye when I was trolling for review books. Pulled me right in and enticed me to read this book! Now that I've started reading other books by this author, I'm going to check out some of her other books. It will help me fill the time before there's another Rockton story to read!

**I voluntarily read a ebook arc from St Martins Press and a audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. My apologies to my readers and the publishers for this late review. I just moved 1500 miles from NC to CO.....and it put me very much behind on reading/writing/reviewing. Things are normalizing now and I'm catching up. Thank you for your understanding. All future reviews will be timely.**

Kelley Armstrong does it again! I absolutely love her Stitch in Time series so I had really high expectations for this one! Well, this one gave me everything I was hoping for. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel reading about police/detectives in the current climate, but Armstrong handles it so beautifully. The suspense kept me engaged and once again I fell in love with the characters. This is a fantastic time slip and I recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting read!

2019: Canadian Homicide Detective Mallory is staying in Edinburgh to be with her dying grandmother. She is waiting for her mother to arrive and steps out to buy some coffee for the nurses. Later that day, Mallory goes for a run and is attacked in an alley and loses consciousness.

1869: Mallory wakes up, except she's not in the same place, or the same time, or the same body. She discovers she has inhabited the body of teenage housemaid Catriona and attempts to play the part. She also finds out that her employer is Dr. Gray, who is a medical examiner. Suddenly bodies start turning up that have very similar wounds; they are the same ones Mallory herself acquired that day in the alley. Mallery does some detective work of her own and wonders if her attacker also got sent back in time...and may he's the way out.

I really enjoyed this book! This is my first Kelley Armstrong book and I look forward to reading more from her. A Rip Through Time gives off Outlander mixed with Jack the Ripper vibes, which I thought worked very well. However, the plot was little hard to follow at times. Mallery goes back and forth a lot and some parts of the story almost felt like they weren't relevant to the overall plot. All-in-all, this was very enjoyable and I look forward to the next book in the series!

A Rip Through Time is the first book in a series (which I did not know going in). This is about a modern day female detective. Mallory, getting caught unawares and gets strangled but what is crazy is she sees another phantom image of someone getting strangled. Well Mallory wakes up and finds she is that girl from the image and she is no long in modern day Scotland she is 150 years in the past. Mallory finds the body she is in is a maid and not a very good human being. She tries to write the wrong in the hopes she gets sent back to present day and helps her boss solve crimes. I enjoyed this first installment but it did take a little while to get into it, for some reason I felt like I was just plowing through the first half then it picked up. I think I enjoyed it most when Mallory could be herself instead of pretending to be just a maid. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 and I will be reading the next book when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Two of my favorite book genres in one book. Historical fiction and time travel. I enjoyed the story very much and will be looking for more by this author

Mallory Atkinson is in Edinburgh because her grandmother is in hospital, dying. She goes out for a breath of air and hears a woman being attacked. Catriona Mitchell, living in 1869, is attached by an unknown assailant. Somehow, Mallory ends up in Catriona's body. She has to fight off the attacker and come to terms with her sudden life in the 19th century. Fortunately, her alter ego is a housemaid in a household run by an intellectual woman who believes Catriona/Mallory's tale. Her employer is a undertaker, of mixed race, who also is a curious and intellectual man. Dr. Gray moonlights as a medical examiner and he becomes enticed by discovering who is murdering people around Edinburgh. Can uncovering the murderer in Victorian Edinburgh help Mallory return to her life in the 21st century? An intriguing beginning for a new series.

A great plot for a new series. I loved the characters.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong is the first book in the science fiction fantasy series by the same name, A Rip Through Time. This series is a historical time traveling fantasy that also blends in a thrilling mystery making a nice mix of genres.

Mallory Atkinson is a homicide detective who has been visiting her ailing grandmother in Edinburgh on May 20, 2019 when she goes out for a jog. Mallory hears what sounds like a woman crying and the detective in her can’t help but investigate and that is when she is attacked.

Mallory awakens after her attack and finds that while she is in the exact same spot she is not in her own time or even her own body. Mallory has taken over the body of Catriona Mitchell, a housemaid, and is now in 1869 where to fit in she fills in Catriona’s duties working for a doctor. Mallory soon finds that her employer, Dr Gray, is working on a murder case that mirrors her own attack.

A Rip Through Time is not the first book I’ve read from author Kelley Armstrong so I wasn’t too surprised to find myself enjoying this first book of the A Rip Through Time series. If one is looking specifically for time traveling I’d say move alone as this is more heavily the historical mystery side but I really enjoyed the out of place and time lead character trying to fit into that era. The mystery also pulled me in and would have been good on it’s own but being tied to time travel made it doubly intriguing. Not sure what the second book will hold but I’ll be there for it for sure.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Princess Fuzzypants here: We meet Mallory while she is holding vigil at the hospice in Edinburgh for her dying grandmother. An accident in a coffee shop puts her in unexpected peril from a serial killer. She is a detective back in Vancouver but he is able to overpower her and she thinks she is going to die. What she does not expect is that she wakes up in Victorian Edinburgh in the body of a housemaid. It seems at the same moment 150 years apart Catriona, the housemaid, was being murdered in exactly the same spot and somehow they travel through time and switch bodies.

Mallory is going to have a tough enough time adjusting to being a woman in Victorian times both in her station and in her speech and attitudes. But she has a far worse time as she learns Catriona has not been a very nice girl and has done many nefarious deeds. Thankfully she lands in the household of a brother and sister. He is involved in the nascent field of forensics and she is a kind soul who tries to give Catriona, thus Mallory, many chances to shed her evil ways. The two women become allies once Mallory confesses her story but the sister does not want to tell her brother the truth for fear it would distract him.

He is quite open to listening to Mallory’s observations as they investigate the murder of a young man and the attempted murder- twice- of Catriona. Little does he know until the end of the book that he is working with a professional. The threesome with the aid of a police friend do solve the mystery even though they do not realize while they are doing it that there are mysteries upon mysteries. It seems Mallory is not the only time traveller.

It is a great premise and executed very well into a taut and exciting thriller. I was hooked very early and remained so right until the end. I cannot wait to see where this is going to go. Well done. Five purrs and two paws up.

Time travel, mystery, and well written historical fiction make this story a great read. Mallory, a cop, time travels from 2019 to 1869 Edinburgh after suffering a brutal attack. When she awakes, she finds that she is in the body of a different person, Catriona, a housemaid. Now she has to figure out how she got there, solve a mystery and figure out how to get back to her own time. Recommended.