I love a great time travel book and this one had a great premise. In this novel, archaeologists go back to the past to find artifacts that have been lost and save them for the present. The novel did a great job explaining how time travel works and what happens if you try and change a significant event. It was a great take on parallel worlds.

Rabbit is a Smithsonian archaeologist who has been very successful for twenty years except for a gold menorah that he couldn't recover. While trying to get the menorah he also lost his mentee to the past. It has eaten him up and strained his relationships in the present. With his career about to be washed up, he decides to travel to 6th century Constantinople to try one more time for the menorah. When he gets there he makes friends with a Roman soldier named, Andor. Andor was one of my favorite characters and I would love to know more about him if there is a sequel. While Rabbit tries to make a plan to get the menorah he runs into more trouble and things begin to spiral out of control. Rabbit has some difficult decisions to make if he is going to successfully save the menorah and himself.

Overall, this was an action packed time travel book. There were a few slow parts but the ending was fantastic and I would definitely read more. If you like time travel or stories about parallel worlds you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to Minotaur Books/St. Martin Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

4.5 stars rounded up. I'm so glad I was offered this ARC by St. Martin's Press! It's not a book I probably would have found otherwise. The premise of a time-traveling archeologist was so interesting, and I loved the mix of historical & science fiction, and thriller. It looks like this might be the first book in a series and I would be excited to read any future instalments.

Splinter Effect is a fun read and the fun starts immediately. Dr Rabbit Ward is a time traveling archeologist who goes back in time to retrieve lost treasures for wealthy donors.
On his last assignment, there was another time traveler who forced him to share his find. He needs to redeem himself - his career is at stake.
The author has an easy writing style which I really enjoyed. I also enjoyed the historical aspect.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Andrew Ludington for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC of Splinter Effect to review. Splinter Effect comes out on March 18, 2025, and will published by St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books.
Imagine Indiana Jones with the power to use time travel to recover long-lost historical treasures and bring them back to the present day. Great Concept!
The action in Indiana Jones stories blended well with the quest and personal interactions. The Splinter Effect could have been done with less historical detail. Having said that, the action, along with the twists and turns, kept me guessing. I rate it a 4 out 5.

2.5/5 ⭐️

I was expecting a lot from this book, specially when U read it was time travel related. Unfortunately it was not for me. I was not invested in it, thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy.

2.5 stars rounded up-Splinter Effect is advertised as a time traveling thriller but it read as more of a historical fiction novel. Rabbit is supposed to be like an Indiana Jones traveling archeologist but really he does a lot of thieving. He’s not supposed to change things but seems to play loose and fast with that rule too. The story seems to drag somewhat but does touch on historical events. I didn’t really like Rabbit as a character but I am sure there are readers who would. Overall I’m just a little disappointed as this book was not as I expected and is not for me. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

This book meshes Indiana Jones and time travel.
Well written. It would make a great vacation read
Great story made to be a movie or a streaming TV show.
I could say more but I don't want to give anything away.

Thanks to Netgalley for the privilege.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Andrew Ludington for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Splinter Effect coming out March 18, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I received it directly from NetGalley. I really love the time travel genre. There were a few things that seemed a little complicated dealing with the time travel aspect. Sometimes I just prefer simple explanations when it comes to that. I don’t need all the science behind it to be into the time travel. I really enjoyed the historical research in the book. I loved the focus on Rabbit in the past. I think the writing was fast-paced and had tons of action. I would check out more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys time travel books!

Thank you Net galley for the early access to this book! I’m excited to read. Indiana Jones vibes with time travel. Count me in!

Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington is a gripping, thought-provoking thriller that explores the fragility of truth in a world fractured by technology and human ambition. Ludington weaves an intricate narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat, blending suspense with moments of deep introspection about morality and the consequences of our choices.

The story revolves around a protagonist caught in a web of lies, betrayal, and hidden agendas. Ludington’s characters are well-drawn and multifaceted, with flaws and motivations that make them feel real and relatable. The pacing is sharp, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and the stakes are consistently high.

What sets Splinter Effect apart is its exploration of timely themes like the impact of technology on relationships, the blurred lines between reality and manipulation, and the ripple effects of our actions. Ludington’s writing is both engaging and intelligent, challenging readers to think beyond the immediate plot.

If you enjoy thrillers that combine a fast-paced narrative with deeper questions about human nature and societal pressures, Splinter Effect is a fantastic read. It’s the kind of book that stays with you, sparking reflection long after the final page. Ludington has delivered a compelling debut that’s sure to resonate with fans of contemporary suspense.

I didn't realize this was the start of a series. It is an interesting story and I liked the writing style. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Other reviewers have provided synopses and plot details, and I will not repeat their efforts.

I am reminded of an older comedic sci-fi book by Connie Willis, "To Say Nothing of the Dog," in which time travelers attempt to rescue a particular artifact from Coventry Cathedral before it is destroyed by the Luftwaffe. "Splinter Effect" is also about traveling through time to obtain artifacts before they are forever lost to history. Most of the story takes place in and around Constantinople, in the 6th century AD. It romps along at a very fast pace, and was hard to put down between reading sessions. There were a few surprises along the way, which I will not spoil. All in all, a good read, if you like that sort of thing.

I liked the time hopping aspect of this but I will admit that, for a thriller, it was average. Those new the genre I would recommend this to, but to others it will feel like they've been there done that

4.5 Stars. What a wonderful debut novel by Andrew Ludington! I'm a sucker for time travel stories, there's just so much potential for exploring new worlds. This one explores a past, so long ago, most of us cannot relate, but in SPLINTER EFFECT, Ludington makes it real and relatable. Partly, he does this by NOT trying to write dialogue using ancient-suggesting dialects or manners of speech. This works extremely well (with one exception that's not worth mentioning in detail). Like many reviewers, I found the middle to bog down a bit, but it was still fun to wade through. For me, I figured out a major plot twist early on, but that added to the tension pulling me forward.

Thank you to Macmillian/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy

time-travel, archaeology, archaeologist, Jewish-history, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, action-adventure, thriller, suspense, debut-novel, first-in-series, historical-fiction, sci-fi*****

Clive Cussler meets up with Dr. Who working for the Smithsonian in a Quantum Leap.
Dr. Rabbit (AKA Robert) Ward is a contract archaeologist with the Smithsonian, as well as a time traveler who "lost" a historical Menorah and is on the hunt for it once again. I geek history and delight in diving into whatever a book brings me to investigate for history vs imagination only. In this one the time travel aspects and international laws are super imagination, but the Constantinople/Rome/Jewish history is totally researchable. Great plot complete with quixotic twists and all kinds of unexpected fun!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Avail Mar 18, 2025 #SplinterEffect by Andrew Ludington #SplinterEffectBk1 @MinotaurBooks @StMartinsPress #NetGalley #TimeTraveler #HistoricalSciFi

Splinter Effect gives you a little bit of Indiana Jones alongside a little bit of Jumper. We start the hunt for a lost holy relic by studying historical records of where it was last seen, then jump back in time to secure the relic. - what a fun job! Amid the constraints of not changing the events of the known time line, there is also the danger of of being caught in a more brutal period, or missing your return jump and remaining in the past. I very much enjoyed the history lesson, and the discussion about the changes to the landscape over time. I enjoyed the adventure, but also appreciated the connections that Rabbit made with Aaron, Helen and Andor. The twist at the end was a refreshing surprise! The book is fun all around, and although the quest is complete, the door was still left open for future adventures!

A time-traveling archaeologist named Rabbit goes on planned missions to the past to recover specific artifacts. This time he's trying once again to recover a special menorah that had escaped his grasp before. Not only did he lose the menorah, he lost a mentor and friend. Now it's payback time. So it's Indiana Jones with a time machine...what could go wrong?

It reminded me at times of Indiana Jones, but with time travel, and a bit more history to it. Overall enjoyable, but suffers from pacing issues, which is something I think can be corrected in any sequels.

Uneven book, especially the pacing. Archaeologist Rabbit Ward is a time traveler, who seeks patrons to go back in time to recover lost artifacts from the ancient world. Unfortunately, he remains traumatized by losing the son of a patron on a mission from 20 years ago. Rabbit gets a rare opportunity to return to the period to try to recover the golden menorah once; however, things begin to go wrong as soon as he arrives in 6th century, Constantinople, because he seems to have a competitor or two from the future. I thought the author really left Rabbit's relationship with Helen unexplored, perhaps leaving this for future books in the series, but it was unfulfilling. 2.5 stars, reluctantly rounded up.

3.5 stars, rounded up

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for an ARC!

I thought this was pretty solid. Artifact recovery via time travel is a fun concept. The Splinter Effect is much more historically focused than I expected though. Which isn’t a flaw by any means, but also not quite what I thought was getting into. It didn’t stop me from enjoying it, but perhaps I could have appreciated it a bit more if I were more knowledgeable.

Though I did enjoy the story, it also never had a complete grip on me. I found the pacing a bit uneven and there were a few parts that I skimmed through. Certain aspects were predictable to me, so I felt like I was constantly waiting for the reveal. Rabbit felt like a character that I’ve read about many times, just in a different font. I wanted more from him as to be a bit more engaging.

As the author’s first novel, I thought this was solid start and a fun read overall. I’m glad I had the opportunity to pick it up!