I love reading A. G. Riddle's stories and this is another good one. I have to admit that it did take a bit to get into it at the start but that didn't last long. I soon found myself completely into the story and I couldn't put it down.

***4.0**

Overall
I have been a fan of A.G. Riddle since his Atlantis Trilogy. When the opportunity came up to read his next novel as an ARC (thanks to Netgalley) I grabbed it up as quick as I could! This book did not disappoint. No surprises, it is a science fiction based on time travel. The story is fast paced and an easy read. Sometimes with science fiction it can feel like you have no idea what is going on because of a lot of science mumbo jumbo. This book is easily accessible and the science makes sense. At least it did for me. The story centers around a group of 6 individuals who created a machine called Absolom that is capable of transporting matter millions of years back in time. They end up using it to send the worlds worst of the worst back in leu of the death penalty. The story begins with the murder of one of the 6 individuals and love interest of one of our POV characters, Sam. Sam’s daughter is accused of the crime and knowing her fate takes the blame. What ensues is wild ride of questions and answers and figuring out how everything is connected. The only thing I would say is that I figured out a couple of the reveals before they happened, though I wasn’t too disappointed that I was correct.

Cover
The cover is pretty eye catching. I mean it’s pretty blatant with a person falling on to what looks like an island with dinosaurs flying around. How does that NOT make you want to take a second look and make you want to pick it up? I will say that I have a have a subscription with Goldsboro Science Fiction Fantasy Fellowship and there August book is this one. The Special Edition is GOREGOUS!

Recommendation
I would recommend this book to any one who likes: science fiction, time travel (that includes dinosaurs), A.G Riddle books or twist- turny books that keep you guessing until the end.

***I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Head of Zeus, in exchange for my free and honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early #LostInTime #NetGalley ***

Sometimes you are totally surprised by a book. It can be a bad surprise, Atlas Six anyone, or be blown away by how much you enjoyed a book you expected to be run of the mill. Well Lost in Time was that such book. I expected an OK sort of book, but got a twisty wisty, timey wimmey book that was so much more than either the title or the blurb suggested.

Adeline's father is convicted of murder and is sentenced to exile in the Jurassic by the time machine that he helped build and design. She vows to prove he was innocent and bring him back. The only problem is the time machine only works one way. Can she find a way of not only proving his innocence, but also bringing him back before dinosaurs devour her father?

The plot at first, a device that works one way to send a person back in time isn't anew idea. One of my favourite sci-fi authors, Julian May, used one as the basis for her brilliant Pliocene trilogy. At first, I thought this might be a rehash. Oh, boy was I wrong. It's totally different. An easy book to read, the words flow, and you're soon embroiled in intrigue where nothing seems to be true. It doesn't let up until the end. I may also add a very satisfying end.

This is a brilliant book. If you're into sci-fi or Michael Crichton style books, then this one is for you. I can see it being a very likeable film, not that I think it's being made into one. An excellent, twisty sci-fi tale that'll keep me going. 5 stars all the way.

Lost in Time is a stand-alone soft sci-fi novel mashed up with a murder mystery set in the near future. I’d enjoyed one of Riddle’s previous books so was keen to try this, and while I struggled with the premise in the first half, something then happens which changes the whole nature of the book and from then on I was hooked. I strongly recommend avoiding spoilers for this one to get the most out of it, and keeping going even if you’re thinking, like me, “that’s ridiculous, why would they do that?”

In the near future, Sam Anderson is part of a group of scientists who have created a time travel machine called Absolom, which has solved one of society’s biggest problems - what to do with the very worst criminals - by sending them back millions of years through time to an alternate universe where they can fend for themselves. Then Sam’s new partner is murdered, and he and his daughter Adeline are framed for the crime, so to save her, he confesses - and is himself exiled to the Jurassic era. Adeline vows to do whatever it takes to get him back, but how can she change the past without destroying the present?

This is not a book for serious sci-fi fans, or physicists, but if you like nonsensical Doctor Who-style timey-wimey shenanigans with clever twists, give this one a go. As mentioned previously, the idea that a government would use all that energy and cost to get rid of people they could just execute - since the outcome is the same, stopped me from engaging fully here in the first part. I’ve also decided I’m not a fan of split timelines or character perspectives in alternating chapters, as I find it too distracting. However after the first big twist, I was all in, and raced to the end to find out what on earth was going on - and was not disappointed!

As in The Extinction Trials, this has a range of likeable characters, with believable flaws but mostly good intentions, minimal violence (apart from some brutal dinosaur on dinosaur attacks that is), no sex and no swearing. The writing won’t win any prizes but that’s not what you look for in this kind of book, and more importantly it’s well paced and plotted with a denouement that hangs together if you don’t think too hard about the science. This was a fun read and I plan to check out more of his earlier books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
Lost in Time is published on September 1st.

When his daughter is falsely accused of murder, a scientist must travel 200 million years into the past to save her. But there are secrets waiting there. And more than her life is at stake

I am new to A.G Riddle's books and dont read alot of sci-fi, but this book was phenomenal. A mystery/thriller turned sci-fi.
The beginning was slow but still intriguing, pulling me in with physics and time travel, by 50% though I couldn't put it down wanting to unravel all of the mysteries.
This was definitely one of the reads that have a deeper meaning revolving around family and life. The relationships, in particular father and daughter, were beautiful and emotional, and a very strong connection between the scientists.

The character development was mind blowing, and the technology was great. The technology paved the way for this 5 star read, you do not need to understand the technical terms to really fall in love with this one, and the emotional, tear-jerking ending.

And I thank netgalley and Head of Zeus, for the opportunity to read this early copy. Which will be out to purchase on 1st of september, so please give this one a chance.

I must admit I’m a fan of Riddle’s work! I enjoy some sci-fi but I’m very picky with what I read. Riddle’s books just hit that sweet spot for me.

If you hadn’t already guessed this story is about time travel, but in an interesting way. Set in the near future, a company called Absolom now has a stranglehold on dealing with violent criminals - murderers, serial rapists and terrorists - by sending them into the past. But not some cushy, Middle Ages or Stone Age past, oh no, they get sent to the Jurassic/Triassic era with no tools or weapons. It doesn’t look very promising for these exiles!

When one of the six founders of Absolom, Dr Nora Thomas, is killed CCTV footage shows only that Dr Sam Anderson and his 19 year old daughter, Adeline, visited her on that night. Even though they are both innocent, Sam confesses to the murder to protect Adeline and he asks his colleague Daniele Dannero to look after his children as he knows he will be sent back through time. That’s when it starts to get really interesting because the Absolom founders are planning to retrieve Sam although it is not yet technically possible.

You don’t need to get caught up in all the technical detail to enjoy this story. It’s all very speculative and I did get a little lost at times but if you press on and just go with it it is a very different and entertaining story.

One thing I love about Riddle’s books is that, while the plots are always interesting, the stories are, at heart, always about people - their relationships and how they deal with what life has thrown at them. His world building is not the main game, his characters are. And they are always very relatable and dealing with issues not much different to our own. So, while it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, for me, this was another winner. Many thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

3.5 ⭐⭐⭐
There is so much going in on this book it's that type where you get to the end, need some time to process it and then want to start it again because it makes more sense the second time around. Definitely keen for the audiobook

In this world set in the future, murders are treated a little differently. Murderers aren't given a death sentence. Instead they are sent to the past with the possibility of living, or getting eaten by a dinosaur, dying of starvation, etc. This came to be by an invention, Absolom, by Sam and his group of scientists,

Sam and Adeline were the last seen the night that a scientist dies. Both of them are accused of murder, but the blame falls on Adeline, the one who was seen fighting with the scientist. However, both Sam and Adeline know they didn't kill the scientist.

Sam takes the blame and is sent to the past. It becomes his daughter, Adeline and his friend, Daniele's problem to solve. How to prove his innocence and bring him back. But Adeline can't figure out which of the scientists to trust and the story quickly takes a spin you would never see coming.

I loved this book. This book ranks among the top 3 that I've ever read. The amount of twists and unseen plot changes was insane and that made this book a complete page turner. I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed trying to guess what was happening (even though I was often entirely wrong) and I think that's what made this book such a fun read.

I would recommend this to anyone, but especially people that like sci fi, crime, or disorienting novels.

Lost In Tine
A.G. Riddle
Dr. Sam Anderson and several other scientists created the Absolom machine; they were working on Absolom 2 when Nora, one of the scientists was murdered. Nora was against Absolom 2 and demanded it be destroyed. Sam (a widower) and Nora cared deeply for each other. The night of her murder he and his daughter Adeline were at Nora’s home; they planned to reveal their relationship to Adeline. She was hurt and angry; she left the house furious, feeling her father was betraying her deceased mother. Sam left shortly afterwards. Nora was still alive when he left but the next morning she was found lying in her own blood. Sam and Adeline are accused of Nora’s murder. Sam confesses to the murder to protect his daughter. In Absolom murderers are not imprisoned or put to death; they are sent back in time 200,000,000 years in the past through the Absolom machine. They must live out their life with the dinosaurs. Nineteen-year-old, Adeline refuses to accept her father’s fate; she is determined to prove him innocent and bring him back from the past. Adeline is surrounded by naysayers; but they all have secrets.
WOW! What a tale! While this may sound farfetched think about it. The crime rate decreases, who wants to take their chances facing a T-Rex. This tale is told from 2 points of view in alternating chapters. Sam tells his fight for survival. We watch/listen as he hunts for food, search for refuge, makes a fire, survives earthquakes, and uses his brains to remain alive. He describes the dinosaurs as he sees them. Sam hangs on to life determined to see his daughter and son again. Adeline shares her struggle to discover the real murderer. The deeper her investigation the more danger she faces. Each of the scientists that created the Absolom machine have secrets. I found it fascinating watch Adeline develop into a mature young woman. Author A.G. Riddle is a genius. He has included scenes that bring out raw emotion. There are twists and turns galore. The ending is unexpected. I have read several books by author A. G. Riddle while I enjoyed them all this one has now moved him to my Top Ten Authors list. Kudos Mr. Riddle.

I can’t start an A.G. Riddle and actually stop reading it. I devoured Lost in Time in a 24 hour period and it didn’t disappoint. I love the twists and turns that Riddle puts into his books. Each and every time he surprises me so much.

Time travel is a reality but what is the actual use for it. Send prisoners back in time as punishment but that is really only a small portion of this fast paced novel where it comes together wonderfully. Riddle has become a favorite author of mine and I was so excited to get this ARC from NetGalley to read.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Lost in Time is a fantastic blend of sci-fi, time travel and thriller. Sam and his daughter, Adeline, are accused of murdering Sam’s colleague and lover, Nora. Sam confesses to the murder. In the future the world’s worst criminals aren’t sent to prison, they’re sent through the Absolom machine. This machine will send Sam back in time to the Triassic period, the era of dinosaurs. As the novel progresses Adeline plunges into an all consuming quest to prove her father’s innocence, to discover a way to bring him back. Everyone around her is a suspect, everyone holds secrets, and what Adeline eventually uncovers changes everything. The author switches each chapter to alternate between Adeline, who investigates the murder mystery element and Sam who delivers us a survival story. There are scenes of Sam foraging for food, seeking shelter, building a fire and using every ounce of his wits to stay alive. I have to say the ending of the book was nothing like what I expected it to be. the author drops a completely mind blowing twist and changes the perspective of the entire novel. I felt at the end of some chapters, we were left hanging, but the author tied things up really well I. The end. I have to say, my husband really enjoyed it also, and he never likes the books I do!!

# netgalley

Welp, I just don’t know how I feel.

Overall:
The book started slow, so slow that I couldn’t even read it. And then by the end, it as going so fast I could barely comprehend.
The twists and turns made my head hurts, and even after getting all the answers, I still don’t get it.
Time travel is such a hard topic to wrap a head around. I feel like there are some assumptions made in this book that just make it hard to get it.
The dad, Sam, whole role was frankly unnecessary. His time travel POV’s were not necessary to the story at whole. They only provided a glimpse to what was going on with him. Then halfway throughout the book, his POVs dropped off.
Adeline had a great storyline, and I loved the twists and turns of her characters. But I still don’t understand why? Why did she do what she did half the time? Her constitution swayed so much between who and what she trusted.
If you read this book, you have to hold out til the last half to get sucked in.
What I Liked:
• Twists
• Secrets
• Time travel
What I Didn’t:
• The machine didn’t make a whole lot of sense
• Bored
Read This If You Love:
• Science fiction
• Time travel
• Dinosaurs

Star: 2.5

OBSESSED!!!! I'm not a huge sci-fi nerd. My eyes tend to glaze over when we start talking about the intricacies of time travel. But I've really enjoyed other AG Riddle books so I was excited to try this one out.

The way that I explained this to others when I read reading it was that they yeet criminals into the time of the dinosaurs. After I finished, there is absolutely a deeper story line than that but the concept of sending criminals into a past alternate history is fantastic.

The character development was great. Story was great. Reveals were A+. I loved the ending and stayed up all night to finish!

Control the Past.
Save the Future.

WOW. The premise was not something I have come across in the past, the idea of punishment being prehistoric in its nature was fascinating. As a personal lover of dinosaurs I was so excited to see where this went. I was hooked from the get go, the story was fast paced and unique. I could not put it down!

I've read a few AG Riddle books before and while I enjoyed them, they didn't wow me but i have to say this one changed all that for me. I finished it a few days ago and I am still thinking about it, trying to get my head around it all and unravel the knots that this book tied me up in. Time travel stories make my head hurt, but I love them. I loved all the plot twists in this one. The middle third of the book was a little bit like something out of a Michael Critchton book Jurassic Park book and was a nice side plot from the rest of the story which I'd class as more of a techno-mystery. I am keen to see what AG Riddle writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of this book.

Brilliant! I enjoyed Lost in Time more than I could have imagined. Intelligent, thought provoking with good science. A.G. Riddle presents a fascinating concept with great characters. My only question was about the paradox of both iterations of the same person sharing a timeline. Well done! A must read.

Pub Date: 11/01/22
CW: minor depictions of violence

A big thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for approving me for an eARC. As always, it’s much appreciated.

I started this book the day I lost my cat, so there’s always gonna be that memory attached to reading this book, but one thing that made it just a tiny bit better was the publisher’s name is Head of Zeus. Zeus was my cat’s name and it took everything in me not to burst into tears when I saw that name.

So, one of the things I didn’t like was that it took 100 pages for us to learn exactly what Absolom was and what it did. I spent the first pages when Absolom was mentioned trying to figure out what it was but it was only vaguely referred to as to what it did.

Adeline, understandably, was a very angry character, at least in the first 20% of the book or so. Ryan hardly made any appearances despite how much Adeline and Sam cared for him. And when he did make appearances, he never talked. Ryan probably said maybe, maaaaaaybe, twenty words the entire book.

Things really began to get into gear at the 30% mark. That’s when I found myself reading chapter after chapter after chapter. And the chapters were relatively short too, so it made it easier to binge.

Some of the science just didn’t make sense and as a result, I had to reread and reread to try and make sense of it all. But then again, the super complicated sciency stuff like time travel and quantum entanglement and wormholes have never really been something I’ve been able to wrap my head around so maybe that’s my fault. I love science fiction and my being unable to wrap my mind around something like that isn’t going to stop me from enjoying a book.

This book had so many frickin plot twists it was like a labyrinth. It was insane. I NEVER saw any of the twists coming and I’m usually pretty good at predicting how a book will turn out. That’s one thing I love about sci-fi; it’s wildly unpredictable.

I’m aware I read an ARC, so there’s bound to still be mistakes, but I did notice some continuity issues… little things that just didn’t make sense based off what I had already read. I had to go back and reread and then just ignore the issue because otherwise I’d be thinking about it all day and wouldn’t be able to finish the book.

But all things considered, this was a REALLY good book. I really enjoyed this story and the twists and turns that came with it. I’ve found so many good books thanks to NetGalley and their generosity and I have no doubt this book will be a wonder when it’s publication date finally comes around.

This book is a little difficult to get into - the final push to start the plot actually rolling takes place 20% of the way into the book - but once that threshold is crossed, it's like you've adopted the pace of the story - everything starts crashing down on you and you start searching for the clues the characters might have missed, for anything that will tell you the Whodunnit.

I finished this book in 4 days. There were points that it was easy to put the book down, and there were points where it was extremely difficult. I had the wrong character pegged from the start, but I've also absorbed a lot of fictional media, and am used to lazy writing. I'm glad this book did something different.

Would have loved more ancient-era scenes, and the writer could have written longer chapters or joined a few together, but that is a matter of personal taste.

Probably not a reread book, but definitely a read-once book.

I want to thank Head of Zeus and Net Galley for the opportunity to read tis book as an ARC. This book is a combination murder mystery/time travel storyline. It is set in the near future, a few years after the pandemic. Scientists have discovered a way to send things back in time.It is called Absolom. It has been licensed to the US Government for crime control. Violent criminal are sent into the past- 200 million years in the past, to the time when dinosaurs roamed. The criminals are sent to an alternate time line from our universe. This is so that the time continuum is not altered. The scientists who developed it are a close knit group. They all have secrets and loss in their past. They all have their own reasons for wanting to go back in time.The book begins with a murder. Sam and Nora are 2 of the scientists. Sam's wife passed away a few years before and he has a teenage daughter and a preteen son. Nora and Sam are in a relationship. Sam has taken his daughter, Adeline, to see Nora and to explain that they are seeing each other. Adeline take it as a betrayal of her late mother . Adeline and Sam leave. The next day, they are arrested for Nora's murder. The first section of the book is an investigation of the murder. Sam knows they didn't do it, but the police have iron clad evidence. Sam confesses to save his daughter, knowing he will be put in the Absolom Machine and sent back in time.Adeline promises to find the real killer, with the help of the other scientists, and Daniele, who was the venture capitalist that brought everyone together. The next section of the book was my favorite. The chapters alternated between Adeline in the present, looking for answers, and Sam, in the past( late Triassic era), trying to stay alive. It was riveting, and I was tempted to skip around and read all the present day chapters and then the past chapters in sequence.( I didn't,).Then there is a huge plot twist. I cannot even tease it , for fear of spoilers. It involves Adeline, in a way I never would have imagined. The next section is focused on the development and use of the Absolom machine. It is a bit convoluted, and this was the section that I had the hardest time understanding. Two of the scientists are involved in another project, another version of Absolom . The explanation of this was a bit murky for my taste, however, I was hooked throughout the book. The fourth section ends with another huge plot twist. The last section is a wrapping up of sorts, but more intense.It attempts to close all the plot holes, and find satisfying endings for all of the characters. I felt like I had a few more questions that were not answered. I also felt like the ending was a bit pat. Hence the 4 stars as opposed to 5. However, it was a good twisty ride and I am glad I took it! I looked up the meaning of Absolom- in Hebrew Absalom( slightly different spelling)means Father of Peace.

What a fun book to read! Lost in Time is the first book I’ve read by the author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sam Anderson,one of the creators of the Absolom machine used to transport convicted killers into,the past of an alternate universe, self confesses to the murder of one of his colleagues in order to protect his daughter from being convicted. The story then takes parallel tracks, following Sam as he tries to survive in the late Triassic era, and that of Adeline, his nineteen year old daughter, who seeks the identity of the killer. It’s then that first of the many twists occurs, many of which I never saw coming. Lost in Time then takes many of the conventions we are used to in time travel stories, and flips them on their heads.

A minor annoyance was that each short chapter in the first half of the book ended in cliffhanger style. Otherwise, a fast and very entertaining read.

My thanks is to Head of Zeus and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the book.