Time for a great mystery/thriller!

The 13th Hour pushes the envelope of the suspense genre into the realm of
what I would describe as a metaphysical thriller. Nick, the protagonist, starts off accused of the murder of his wife, and his chances aren't looking too good, even though he knows he isn't guilty. A mysterious stranger appears, and gives him a watch that has the capability of taking him backwards in time, in one-hour increments, in order to find out what really happened, and (hopefully) improve the outcome. Each chapter represents one of those hours, during which he learns something new--generally, not to trust what you believed before
(or after?)--when all of a sudden, time's up, and he's even further back, with a different outlook on the course of events.

It's not the kind of plot you want to say too much about to people who haven't had the fun of reading it yet, but I would say that the recursive storytelling reminded me of the movie Memento (I never read the story it was based on) more than anything. The mechanics in The 13th Hour are external, rather than internal, but the style of revealing information, and then revealing it to be otherwise, is very similar in its cleverness. I also think people who enjoy the "what is going on, anyway?" storytelling of Lost, and maybe this new
Flashforward TV show, would also enjoy The 13th Hour. I was unsure how the ending would be handled, but with no spoilers, I'll say that I found it satisfying, when I was worried that it could easily fall flat.

--Hank


This book is FANTASTIC, a smart and heady thrill ride full of engrossing action. Nick Quinn's wife has been murdered, and he's been accused of the
crime. A mysterious stranger gives him an odd talisman that allows him to move back in time one hour at a time, which he does to try to save his wife. But each change has a consequence, and soon it's more than his wife's life and his own freedom at stake. Fans of The Time Travelers Wife, Memento or The Butterfly Effect will gravitate to this book, as should all thriller fans.

--Jackie