Reviewed by Shrabastee Chakraborty
for Readers’ Favorite
Alexander Strange specializes in the bizarre. As a reporter, his life revolves around quirky, inexplicable stories to write about in his Strange Files series. Yet, this Christmas couldn’t be more strange. At first, his detective friend Lester enlists his help to retrieve the baby Jesus missing from a defiled nativity scene. Afterward, Mona, the mannequin inhabiting Alexander’s boat, comes to life and utters a dire warning. While convinced that he is hearing the voice of his future granddaughter, Alex is nonetheless skeptical of his visions and sudden feelings of déjà vu. As the story unfolds, it turns out that some mysteries traverse the boundaries of time. Can Alex and his friends solve the puzzle in time? Find out in Strange Timing, a novel by J. C. Bruce.
Strange Timing is a genre-defying read full of thrills, adventure, science fiction, and a little bit of romance. Humor laced every single page, making the read engaging. I loved the satirical anecdotes regarding the religious and political overviews of Florida. There was a certain whimsy to the storyline, which included rampaging triceratops, genetically engineered alligators, a cutlass-wielding mannequin, kamikaze pilots, a psychic extraordinaire, and an impromptu wedding, among other things. While the elements sounded random at first, it was amazing to discover the hidden patterns and interconnections. The time travel paradox was mind-boggling yet made me ponder a lot. With this book, I honestly could not anticipate what would transpire at any given moment. It was just as well because the twists and turns exceeded anything I could have imagined by myself. I recommend Strange Timing to anyone who wants an entertaining package.
Note: When the manuscript for what became “Strange Timing” was submitted for review consideration, it had been tentatively titled: “The Time Angel.” The original version of this review used that title. It has since been updated.
