For Readers: Blog

Armchair time travel

Novels that play with the concept of time always make for an exciting read. Whether you're looking for a Groundhog Day–style time loop, an accidental trip to the past, a romantic Outlander-like experience, or an absorbing mystery, take your pick of the following outstanding reads.

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes is a dark read that defies genre. In 1931 Chicago, a man finds a portal that transports him through time and uses it to hunt down young women in different decades. Years into his killing spree, one victim survives her attacker and uses her connections at the Sun-Times to investigate this seemingly impossible time-travelling serial killer. A blend of thriller, science fiction, and urban fantasy, this book is as unique as it is creepy. [e-book | print]

For the classic romance and time travel combination, What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon whisks readers away to 1921 Ireland. During a visit to her grandfather’s hometown to scatter his ashes, heroine Anne is sent back in time to the world of his childhood. What follows is a bittersweet romance with the town’s doctor, as Anne is torn between two lives and eras. Interspersed with real figures from history, this historical fiction is as much about Ireland as it is about the moving relationships. [print | audiobook]

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is a page-turning sci-fi thriller about a scientist trying to return to his own reality. After giving up his research on quantum physics in favor of a quiet life, Jason is kidnapped and sent to another plane of existence. He desperately tries to return to his family, travelling through one parallel universe after another, where the what-ifs of his previous life play out in real time. This thought-provoking thriller makes for a dramatic audiobook experience. [e-book | print | audiobook]

Giving off Stranger Things vibes, Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughn is a fast and fun graphic novel set on Halloween night in 1988. A group of friends are delivering their paper routes when things become complicated by a wormhole, hostile time travelers, and...dinosaurs? Between the '80s references and bold and bright art, this is a trip to read, even if you’re not quite sure what’s happening (don’t worry, volume 2 will help). This is a great title to try on Hoopla, which has an extensive collection of downloadable graphic novels and comics. [e-book | print]

A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain is the first book in the now five-volume Kendra Donovan series. This historical mystery follows a rogue FBI agent as she finds herself thrown back to 1815. As Kendra tries to blend in and make her way home, she ends up on the trail of a serial killer and in more danger than she knows. This is a fun read, letting you lose yourself in another time and place. [e-book | print | audiobook]

A manor house that has seen better days, a party of interconnected guests, and a murder. This classic mystery set-up is given new life by Stuart Turton in The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. One unfortunate guest must repeatedly relive the fateful day, as a different party-goer each time, until he solves the murder. This innovative whodunit is perfect for fans of puzzles or anyone who likes a complicated caper that has them taking notes to solve the mystery alongside the protagonist. [e-book | print | large type | audiobook]

--Laura