Out of Time 3: The Cistercian Conspiracy

by Gill Jepson

The third book in the 'Out of Time' series, which pitches a bunch of modern-day youngsters against the secrets of the past. It started as normal day, but ended by throwing Rob headlong into the past, where he becomes entwined in the quest to save an ancient chalice. He is plunged into the midst of an adventure that he neither wants nor understands. Although he doesn't want to believe it, he cannot deny the evidence of his own eyes. Rob witnesses past events and meets a young boy from the 1930s, who seems very familiar to him, the monk John Stell and the first mayor of Barrow, Sir James Ramsden. Help comes from strange places and Rob begins to realise the true value of family. He is faced with deadly adversaries from the present and the past. He soon discovers that his fate and future and that of his family are in peril if he cannot rescue the sacred chalice from the evil creatures that have beset him. The past becomes unstable and evil is able to take the advantage. Rob unites with his siblings to save the abbey treasure and they engage in a crucial race against time! This engrossing children's and young adult crossover fantasy novel is set in Furness Abbey in 2005, but with time slips to previous eras. Out of Time: The Cistercian Conspiracy is suitable for all readers aged 9 and above.

210 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2014

About the author

I'm an author from South Cumbria, married,with 3 grown up children and three young grandsons.I love exploring the beautiful Furness peninsula which is a great inspiration for my stories.I've worked as a teacher and an adult trainer for many years and am passionate about books, reading and children-combined as often as possible!
The Out of Time series is about to be completed with the 4th book (its been a long wait to solve that cliff hanger in Cistercian Conspiracy)It is now available on Amazon and other outlets I love writing but am a bit of a procrastinator-and am easily distracted. In the meantime I have been commissioned by Amberley Books to write some local history books-the seventh title is out next year. I have really enjoyed this and it has been very fulfilling and interesting and I have two further books planned after "A-Z of Barrow-in-Furness".

Reviews

[Verna Sabi]

OUT OF TIME 3 THE CISTERCIAN CONSPIRACY
Another top quality read for all lovers of history mystery and mayhem! Author Gill Jepson writes with an authentic knowledge of the buildings, byways and legends of the Furness area, particularly Furness Abbey, around which the story unfolds. This is the third book in the Out of Time series, and once again features the young people we are now quite familiar with- Nate, Rebecca and their older brother Rob around whom this tale revolves..(Unless you consider the Abbey itself as a character which is entirely feasible. Its’ majestic and brooding walls laying witness to secret acts of treachery over the centuries…) Characters we earlier met in books one and two appear once more. The strange and frightening Mr Dixon and his cohorts appear again and this time appear even more desperate and menacing in their ambition to own the mysterious Chalice. George, or “Titch” the children’s friend (and who, as it transpires, is also a very special and close relative from a different time) pops up again in his cheery and time-honoured way, helping the teens with their quest to save the Chalice. The scary and menacing ravens which appear silently and appear to be watching and waiting..for..what? And the mystical and wise John Stell .who again appears as a beacon of light and hope and is a key to the secrets surrounding the Abbey and artifacts discovered by the children. We are introduced to James Ramsden (a figure immortalised as a bronze statue you can see today in Ramsden square in Barrow-in- Furness) -an early pioneer of the Furness railway, to whom we owe a great vote of thanks for not demolishing the Abbey to make way for the railway –and for diverting it’s route through a tunnel next to the Abbey grounds, rather than cutting a sway right through the middle of it! Such were the economic considerations of the time. This, and similar incidentals of the Furness story are alluded to in such a way that the reader absorbs a great deal of interesting historical fact while following the adventures that befall young Rob. There are the usual family interactions, Rob and his siblings are down to earth kids from a normal Barrow home, with the usual sibling rivalries and 21st century values and attitudes, some of which are contrasted humourously when they meet up with their nineteenth century friends We are treated to descriptions of the town and how it was in days gone by, with references to current day buildings and places (the Concle at Rampside, St George’s Church, the ”Smithy” fish and chip shop -but formerly the blacksmiths, Aldingham church, Abbotts Wood, the home of sir James Ramsden.. now no longer standing unfortunately but still part of the Barrow and Furness embedded collective memory. And of course The Abbey itself, standing sentinel over the centuries and omnipresent throughout this tale)
The book continues the themes first introduced in books one and two, with Rob’s siblings who had also both (at different times) experienced the shifts in time, becoming reluctant time travellers, until their involvement in the quest to save the Chalice and the discovery of old and new friends and fellow adventurers, compels the young people in this latest thrilling chase to save the treasure and in so doing to to save their family which had become imperilled by the evil powers released.
An interesting well-paced and lively read, I can recommend this book either as a stand alone story, or as the third in the Out of Time series. The connections made with people from the past and the influence and power of sacred artefacts are touched upon in this tale of good versus evil, time travel and adventure. The historical detail will delight many readers, who, whether local or from overseas, will be fascinated by the wealth of legend and mystery surrounding many of Britain’s ancient and mysterious ruins. Aimed at a younger readership, nonetheless this book will be enjoyed by teens and adults alike, an enjoyable time travelling journey for all who read within.

[Heather Rookey]

This is Gill Jepson's third out of four in his Out of Time series and I eagerly await the conclusion to this adventurous time traveling tale. Without going into detail, this series centers on the Furness peninsula in Britain and is wonderfully rich in details about the history of the area. Gill Jepson's family is from the area and he grew up on its stories. He uses the people and places from the area and his own family history to create a backdrop of colorful characters that help the heroes on their quest.
With regards to the writing style, there are a few issues with scene transitions that seem a little abrupt. They do not impact the story line, but it can be disruptive for readers. The plot twists and quest elements involve the reader in the chase. Each book builds upon the last and it is interesting to see how the story pieces itself together over the course of the series. Gill Jepson's Out of Time novels are well suited to middle school and high school readers of both genders.

[Angela]

A good book aimed at aged 9 and above.
This is an exciting story, a bit spooky and sometimes a bit scary! The title is apt because the characters literally find themselves out of their time and into another, and I particularly liked how this was accomplished. This really was like a treasure hunt through time.

I wasn't sure if I should have read the first two books in the series before reading this, but I think I picked up enough clues to enjoy it as a stand alone story. However, the ending of this story does lead you to needing to read book 4 in order to conclude the hunt.

A good book which I enjoyed reading.