Keef, I have rightly praised a range of books on here very highly and for a variety of reasons. Now I'm going to laud this one:
Brilliant premise. Very ambitious to attempt. never mind pull off - you've done that with accomplishment.
Normally I hate dialected speech but yours is spot on, brilliant. The work already has polish and I noticed no editorial nitpicks.

Your characters are super, the interactions between them flow so naturally that nothing distracts from the gripping story that is unfolding. You have crossed time periods very effectively. The dialogue is crisp and clean. You make each character leap from the page - great names for them too.

There are several works on here that have made me desirous of reading them through but not one other would top a list of imminent priorities for me - just too busy. Funnily enough, I don't read much fiction (I'm very fussy and like doing other things). But I'm away in a few days for a break - believe it or not, I would take this as a paperback and read it while away - and that just doesn't happen because there is always something I'd prefer to do than read.

A marvellous book - I'm sorry but I can't conceive of this not being published. I could be wrong, but if I were it would be hard to imagine anything at all ever being published. Thanks for posting this fine book. And good luck with its promotion. Outstanding.

Alexander *The Wisdom Tree and the Dormouse*

I love this! I love the world-weary theo and the hapless Tybalt. This is funny and interesting and I look forward to buying a copy when it is published. There is no problem I can see with the writing - it's all good and I wish you the best of luck with this fantastic project. Shelved, of course.
Jonathan Watts
Dread Fist

Great concept. I love time travel books and, in view of the economy, this is very timely. And funny, I might add. Your opening was clever and very English (I'm first generation Canadian born of British parents, aye.)

I especially enjoyed it because my historical novel about French Huguenots who escape to London involves a goldsmith/banker by the name of Abraham Thibault. Quite a coincidence.

Really enjoyed the scene where Tybalt finds himself going to be "eaten" by the subway train.

I admire how you are able to stay in the dialect of the time. I haven't done that and I know it's very difficult. You do an excellent job and it certainly keeps us in the moment. I like this. Don't know why I haven't seen it before. Shelved.

Betty K "The Huguenot's Destiny"

This is fantastic! What an incredibly clever idea. I can't say enough about how impressed I am; from the details about London past and present and how they intersect, to the points of view of someone observing the past or future from a sort of involuntary time travel perspective - everything! Even the little asterisk remarks are a crack up. This is what I long to find in a good read and I look forward to finishing it one day.
best,
Georgina - The Time Baroness

Well, I only came here by chance after hearing on the mb that you (and others) were having sytem gremlins - so I clciked on your book and before I knew it, you had me!
You have a great story-telling voice...in other words; you know how to rack up the tension and create the best atmosphere. From London present to past, you nail it beautifully.
This is such a fun read and deserves to do well. Backed with pleaseure!

I love the storyline here - so much can be made of the comparisons between the two times. Fertile field for a novel. Well written. Good luck with it!

John Wickey
Future's End

Keef, I actually don't know what to say as Alexander De Witt has said it all, except- I love this book and can't wait to buy it!!
Backed with pleasure my friend.

Manolya- Love in No-Man's Land

Keef,
I'd read the first chapter before, so I skipped around. It didn't matter which chapter I perused, this is absolutely hilarious! The situations are so well thought out, yet you make them effortless. Theo in the past is particularly hilarious. He's such a wuss compared to all of them. Just got him pictured in my head, trying to kill the chicken. Utter brilliance!

Excellent opening chapter - the kind that makes me want to rip to the next page. I love Theo as a character and am anxious to see how Tybalt is fleshed out. The scenes where Theo is rushing home and blundering through the process are well done - you give us a lot of emotion and tension.

Backed with pleasure - thanks for sharing!

Hello again – back for a further look – I like that line “Oh bloody Hell he’d got himself caught up in one of those time travelling larks.” That made me grin. I am enjoying Tybalt finding out about eating “sticks and little chests with small round loafs of bread.” This must have been fun to write. I still have a problem with the dialect, probably me rather than the writing but there we are. I do think that the book is a bit Terry Pratchett in style and that can only ever be good as far as I can see. I am going to back this but I will keep coming back and reading some more.

Just so that you know, I have my own way of commenting. Instead of reading through and then commenting at the end I am making notes as I go along just as if I was looking at a book in a shop or a library. I only ever comment as a reader anyway, and this seems to work quite well and apart from anything else, it is fun. Hope you are happy with that.

Hello – spotted this as a recommend on the forum and thought I’d have a look. Feeling a bit jaded because I have been reading a lot but this looks as though it might be a change.

Oh Oh she’s pregnant (sorry to say this but that is a bit clichéd)– feeling nauseous and decides to go to the chemist) I’m liking the dialogue in the “market” that sounds as if it is probably quite realistic – not that I would know but it does feel “right”. Yes, that’s a very good observation of human behaviour, he knew that the lift wouldn’t come quicker but he stilled stabbed repeatedly at the button.

Excellent hook at the end of chapter 1 and the chapter length is good for reading on the site.

Not totally convinced by the dialogue of the Tybalt, it doesn’t quite seem to work for me (of course that is only my opinion – tell me to butt out if you so wish LOL)

I am not sure that the King would have spoken with that accent – I wonder if there was a way that you could do this without the “extreme” dialogue.

I like the puzzlement, panic, confusion of Tybalt in the underground that is fun.

I think that the idea is brilliant, and you have the basis for a really good book here, I do think that some of the dialogue needs to be looked at again. I wish you the best of luck with this and will come back later and have another look.

This is tremendously good. You can see that my other reviews tend to be critical, but I find literally nothing in this first chapter to be critical of.

It's funny from the first paragraph. Maybe it's just me, but I think the world muesli is just inherently funny!

Theo is hilarious, and a very believable character. The pacing is great. The writing is crisp and clean and draws no attention to itself. I actually want to read this when it is published--and I mean when, not if. You deserve to head up to the editor's desk here, and I will go off to the forums now to suggest that others read your work.

Thanks for a very enjoyable read. I absolutely love this.

Wow! First chapter held my interest the entire time. Nothing to niptick.

Shelved!

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

Intresting idea, well pitched, that got my attention. Well developed, with some good plot lines developing. I thought that Theo's acceptance of the fact that he'd time-travelled came a little too easily. That aside, the story - stories? - show every sign (in the first few chapters) of fultilling the great potential inherent in the idea! Backed.

This sounds like a truly awesome book from the pitch. I am backing it now (dinner time) and I'll come back later to read a bit.

John Pearson
Learn Me Good

Very interesting the way you go back and forth. I'm backing it.

Kevin Clark
(Will of God)

Very fun read. great pace. Your dialogue surprises because at first glance it looks like too much on the page, but it's really not. It's smooth and bouncy. The prose is even better though. Very logical, clear, and often funny just from the items you choose to notice. Loved the opening image for instance. One note - when putting money amounts in the text (especially in dialogue), spell out "twelve point two billion pounds" - So I'm reading smoothly in the order it would be said instead having to rearrange symbols, numbers and abbreviations ("pounds twelve point two billion").

I am in awe. This is really, really good - really good. I was more hooked on Tybalt's understanding of our world than Theo's of his - you could have done a book on this alone. But you've gone for the double whammy and it has paid off magnificently. When you are published, remember your fans.
Diane
Son of the Ringmaster

This is an entertaining and interesting book. You try to pull something off here - characters switching places in time - that can be very awkward if not done right. Well, you not only tried, you succeeded. I particulary enjoyed Tybalt's reaction to the 2008 world of fast food and his friend Will Shakespeare's playhouse. I'm backing Tybalt and Theo.

This is an entertaining and interesting book. You try to pull something off here - characters switching places in time - that can be very awkward if not done right. Well, you not only tried, you succeeded. I particulary enjoyed Tybalt's reaction to the 2008 world of fast food and his friend Will Shakespeare's playhouse. I'm backing Tybalt and Theo.

Sawdust and baked weevils. Ugh!

Don't think I'd want to go drinking with Theo!

Wonderful ending to chapter 1.

I especially like when Tybalt goes into the future. I'll bet that was fun to write. "Stop, it will eat thee!" lol.

Then I love your discourse between the Lord Chamberlain and King James. Wonderful!

Snyvellyng. Now there's a name.

"Smelled a bit odd, like it wasn't properly rotted..." Ha! "A toff." Ha Ha!

Patty thinking Tybalt is cute is great!

You know, there's a lot of work that's gone into this "behind the scenes," so to speak. The story flows effortlessly, but much, much research was laboriously learned to make it seem so. I especially love how natural the 1600s sounds when you write it. I am with you wholeheartedly in the belief that people of old spoke casually and used slang.

So glad I finally made it round to this! Good luck, Keef. Reb

Great premise. Excellent pitch. I think this book will be very popular. Backed with pleasure.

This has so much to recommend it I simply don't know where to start. What I love is the staccato mix of scenes/times - it cries out to be viewed on my flat screen with split views.

Backed - love it!

Diane
Catholic Schoolgirls

A great blend of past and present, with an amusing thread connecting the two. Keef you waste no time diving straight into the story which grabs the reader’s attention immediately. You have a very comical plot which is very relevant at the moment, what with the current financial downturn we've experienced in recent years. A good read and well worth a backing.

George (The Touch of God)

This is clever stuff. It engages the reader from the onset and is fast paced enough to keep the reader rapt.
I have a busy shelf and have watchlisted it. I'll read it sometime this decade. I never have to visit a bookshop again! I only read the first chapter. I have family commitments to attend to, but I promise to get through it. Some people here seem to be able to get through a book or two a day. I wish I could! Anyhoo, good luck. Gerry

This is clever stuff. It engages the reader from the onset and is fast paced enough to keep the reader rapt.
I have a busy shelf and have watchlisted it. I'll read it sometime this decade. I never have to visit a bookshop again! I only read the first chapter. I have family commitments to attend to, but I promise to get through it. Some people here seem to be able to get through a book or two a day. I wish I could! Anyhoo, good luck. Gerry

This is clever stuff. It engages the reader from the onset and is fast paced enough to keep the reader rapt.
I have a busy shelf and have watchlisted it. I'll read it sometime this decade. I never have to visit a bookshop again! I only read the first chapter. I have family commitments to attend to, but I promise to get through it. Some people here seem to be able to get through a book or two a day. I wish I could! Anyhoo, good luck. Gerry

Hi
The plot of the story is very nice and i like the narration.
All the best.
Backed with wishes.
S. Vinay Kumar

Oh this is fantastic! I would love to find this in a book shop so I could read it all. I love historical fiction and the swapping of the two characters and eras is really well done and interesting. Great writing too. Shelved.

I was actually wondering how you were going to pull this switch off, and then make it interesting. You did pull it off, and very well. I agree with Al De Witte about the dialected speech, but you did it so well! I couldn't hope to have done half as well. And the names carry a very Dickens type feel Snyde, Snyvellyng. There's quite a bit of humour here that brings a nice levity to a story involving two (basically) condemned men. Don't know why--maybe it was the accent--but this really cracked me up: "Dae we hae ta tell yeh everything?" Actually, that whole conversation was great.

I wish I had time to read all the way through, but I'll have to leave off for now. Very nice premise, excellent dialogue (especially the king), and nice description. You already know I've backed you, but I would do it again if I thought it would register twice. Good luck with the story.

Shakespeare's Talking Head
Dropcloth Angels

Wow! How did you think that up? It's Life on Mars on acid! I think it takes a remarkable mind to be able to write what are two separate but joined stories so effectively. Just great! Tania, This Last Summer

An ambitious plan for your book which you carry off well. It's humorous and engaging. I don't think it should be slipping in the rankings after having got so far. Good luck. John / Tacitus 'Where Truth Lies' (oops mine has suddenly got a red arrow; I hope it's not catching.

What a great time-switch idea! You took something that had been used before and stepped it up quite a few notches. I enjoyed reading along as they each experienced these foreign times. Your work was meticulous and there were alot of details for you to keep up with as a writer and that is a hard thing to do. Glad I stumbled upon this! Great way to start the day.

Missy

Great. Really great. Made me laugh a lot. Love the flitting between worlds and you've captured Shakespeare's London perfectly. I'd buy this book if i saw it in a bookshop. Going to come back to this and read more.

Well done.
Shelved.

JJ ( LettersTo My Former Self )

Hi, This story really appealed to my sense of humour. I found myself reading compelled to read it the next funny line. Well done.
Backed
Mark
Another Day in Paradise
PS I would appreciate a return read / comment / backing. Thanks.

This book appealed to my sense of humour and I would keep reading it for the next amusing line. Well done.
Backed
Mark
Another Day in Paradise
PS I would appreciate a return read / comment / backing. Thanks.

This book appealed to my sense of humour and I would keep reading it for the next amusing line. Well done.
Backed
Mark
Another Day in Paradise
PS I would appreciate a return read / comment / backing. Thanks.

Keef - the read from the thread I promised. Firstly I had actually looked at this maybe a couple of times when I first joined Authonomy. Different feel so perhaps you've edited since. Note your position at 29 with a small red flag, with Fiction, HF and Comedy as the genres. I then read through the first 5 Chapters.

With the current position so close to the ED this should be a read with very strong potential, bot necessarily perfect - I still believe publishers will suggest edits.

The premise for the book is wonderful,and perhaps more suited for a film than a book. And you set us right into the action in 2008. You've a wonderful opportunity here to contrast modern life with all it's perceived efficiencies and morals, with society of 400 years ago. That the two MC's are working for essentially the same company is an additional nice touch and something to be explored fully.

And that's how you start. Quick news reports, quick kiss and even quicker quips about POETS Day. Then cut straight back 400 years and life is a loaf of bread. Quick bounce into prison for Tybalt and bounce back to Theo in 2008. It's very fast and sets the scene well and knowing the story from the intro we are not surprised when Theo collapses and finds himself in both Chapter 2 and Newgate Gaol.

From here both men are totally confused. Tybalt is leaving the start of Chapter 2 hungry and heading into the future. That also works well.

My one suggestion relates to the history lead here with the king and then the Guildford scene. There is certainly humour there but I sense it's not supporting your story yet in the right way. Especially at this early stage we see a vague mention of the papists, but the king appears to be more interested in the potential for marrying young girls than anything. Then equally the Guilford manor conspiracy has equal moments of humour. The beetle headed boar pig comment is somewhat reminiscent of Monty Python. Both of these are great scenes and visually work well, and humour is there. But they are standing alone too much together and divert from the main storyline. One may be enough at this stage, add the other in later. You know what your intent is within the story, but some may not.

I'm guessing that Tybalt, sorry Theo, is somehow going to be reprieved and and himself mixed up in all this conspiracy. Perhaps his company is also involved. But Tybalt is your main story and I would suggest splitting those two scenes up, and may be add just a fraction of a clue as to why you want these scenes in - where are you trying to take us with the history. I felt both together diverted from the wonderful two parallel stories your building up for us.

Theo now Tybalt is back in the past still trying to confirm the exact date. I wondered if you were going to have him asking for a newspaper to confirm. I loved the line about not being able to disagree with stealing from the poor.

Tybalt is now in this other story in the future and we see him confused as he must with escalators and then discovers the joy of fast food. Perhaps not such a joy after all.

The opportunities with these two parallel stories is huge. The lead into the hanging and Theo's thoughts, while Tybalt is discovering the globe is all excellent. Equally though your moving two stories along not one. It's a better read than I took on some time ago and am happy to back it. Just suggest those non Theo/Tybalt scenes split them up and make sure they sit comfortably with a very fast flowing story.

Final suggestion is to consider a rewrite for his as a film script. Visually the opportunities for this with the added humour are enormous. Theo, sorry Tybalt getting free burgers alone must be some actors dream role.

Backed - Steve - Hing Dai.

very engaging. I love the idea and find your MCs very personable and entertaining. I think that it is wrong that this has a red arrow! Everyone should read it :)

Orginial, very funny and a very clever plot line.
Backed.

All time new favorite word: 'dribblewort'!
The premise, and the promise, of this book is entirely riveting. The dialogue is very well done, especially the Scots dialect. I look forward to rereading when it is all fleshed out. The chapters that are complete are terrific.

Shelved. I have devoured 5 delightful chapters of your book really fast. Can see a great movie based on your book. Fingers crossed.
M (Weekend Chimney Sweep or Happy New Year)

Having read it I didn't intend to comment but just had to.
Absolutely brilliant !!! Right up my genre so to speak.
Shelved with pleasure.
Teresa
Eye of Erasmus

Keef, I have rightly praised a range of books on here very highly and for a variety of reasons. Now I'm going to laud this one:
Brilliant premise. Very ambitious to attempt. never mind pull off - you've done that with accomplishment.
Normally I hate dialected speech but yours is spot on, brilliant. The work already has polish and I noticed no editorial nitpicks.

Your characters are super, the interactions between them flow so naturally that nothing distracts from the gripping story that is unfolding. You have crossed time periods very effectively. The dialogue is crisp and clean. You make each character leap from the page - great names for them too.

There are several works on here that have made me desirous of reading them through but not one other would top a list of imminent priorities for me - just too busy. Funnily enough, I don't read much fiction (I'm very fussy and like doing other things). But I'm away in a few days for a break - believe it or not, I would take this as a paperback and read it while away - and that just doesn't happen because there is always something I'd prefer to do than read.

A marvellous book - I'm sorry but I can't conceive of this not being published. I could be wrong, but if I were it would be hard to imagine anything at all ever being published. Thanks for posting this fine book. And good luck with its promotion. Outstanding.

Alexander *The Wisdom Tree and the Dormouse*

Fascinating plot. Very funny stuff! Backing it now.

Best of luck,
J. A. Johnson
The Wild, Wild Quest

Wow. This is really good and sadly telling of life over the past year plus. Your timing is great and as accountant turned author, I get the drama and the humor of the whole crazy situation. Look forward to reading more!

Backing the book and wish you much success!

Erika (Neil and Stan: Sanities Collide)

fast pace... engaging characters Theo and Tybalt...Your writing is good. Your strong voice holds the reader to the story...

I began reading this early in the morning and found it quite an enjoyable trip. I felt a bit left out in ch2 when suddenly Tybalt is with Patty and I had no clue how he got there; and Theo is enlisted to kill the king, but I have no idea how he got out of jail.
A few hours later, I got back to this to look at ch3 and now Tybalt is dodging around in confusion and Theo is back in jail. So I'm thinking maybe something happened in the update process?
Nevertheless, good characters. Fun story.
Best of luck.
g.

Very funny and interesting. I did at times wish the switch between times didn't come so quick, but that's a minor complaint. Very happy to back this book.

Fantasy is not always my 'thing' but this is lovely, clever and well written. Good luck with it. Backed.

The characters are fascinating. I especially like how you've taken the various accents and made them approachable phonetically without overdoing them. Can't wait to see how the plot develops and what kind of ending you have planned.

Backed! Backed! Once I stop laughing. One quibble: I wonder whether it might be best, in ch 2, to omit explanation of the barber's role in 17th. (It's tempting to feel you need to educate the reader - but I don't think it should be necessary - unless it enhances the piece in some way in the process. In this case, I think it puts the comic timing a bit off-kilter. I mean, Tybalt's horror at the prospect of a trip to the barber is so ... funny! That to explain it somewhat deflates it.
There's so very much to love here - and it would translate nicely to film.

Keef,
Great premise and you picked great characters to exchange lives. Imagine the culture shock between the 1600’s and today!

Shelved for an entertaining read.

Laurie – Into The Master’s Lair

Keef,

I thought I had read T&L before, but couldn't remember. So I read chapter one and remembered that I had read it before, but loved it just as much the second time around. It still had my heart beating too fast by the end of the chapter! I didn't see anything to pick on, it's polished and flows well. Maybe I've already backed it, too, but it's going on the shelf again just to be sure.

Madison Woods - Retribution

I love the exchange of Tibault and Theo's lives. Both characters are so good that when it switches between times, I'm conflicted because I want to read more about the first one, but then can't wait to read more about the second. lol. It's a good problem to have.

Backing