The Psychology of Time Travel

In 1967, four female scientists worked together to build the world’s first time machine. But just as they are about to debut their creation, one of them suffers a breakdown, putting the whole project—and future of time travel—in jeopardy. To protect their invention, one member is exiled from the team—erasing her contributions from history.

Fifty years later, time travel is a big business. Twenty-something Ruby Rebello knows her beloved grandmother, Granny Bee, was one of the pioneers, though no one will tell her more. But when Bee receives a mysterious message from the future reporting the murder of an unidentified woman, Ruby becomes obsessed: could it be Bee? Who would want her dead? And most importantly of all: can her killing be stopped?

Traversing the decades and told from alternating perspectives, The Psychology of Time Travel introduces a fabulous new voice in fiction and a new must-read for fans of speculative fiction and women’s fiction alike.

The title of this book intrigued me.  The author, Kate Mascarenhas, is a first-time novelist.  I actually entered the book with meager expectations.  Most authors error in attempting to do time travel fiction; even those with numerous works behind them.  This work appeared to take a completely different approach to the oft-attempted plot device of time travel; Ms. Mascarenhas did and didn't disappoint.

When reading time travel fiction, I'm expecting the author to fall into the trap of paradoxes and plot holes.  Mascarenhas avoided creating any glaring ones that I caught and "black boxed" the ones that inevitably are created when doing science fiction.  I enjoyed her nonlinear time in writing and the beautiful symbolism to the plot.  I found myself in a time fog jumping from time to time attempting to follow the characters.  This is not bad writing IMHO, but the excellent and unexpected use of the craft of writing.  The effect that time travel could have on the psyche is an epistemological unknown.  Attempting to have a reader experience the result was creative and genius.

Well done Ms. Mascarenhas.  I look forward to your follow on novels.