Drabets tid

Ali Dawson #2

by Elly Griffiths, Nanna Lund (Translator)

Et mystisk dødsfald trækker tråde til fortidens mørke hemmeligheder i andet bind af Elly Griffiths’ charmerende og originale bestsellerserie om den tidsrejsende efterforsker Alison Dawson fra Londons Politi.

Ali og hendes team efterforsker gamle kriminalsager, der har været henlagt så længe, at de må rejse tilbage i tiden for at opklare dem. Men afdelingen har haft forbud mod at tidsrejse, siden deres tekniske ekspert blev fanget i victoriatidens London og aldrig kom tilbage. For at distrahere sig selv fra kedelige rutineopgaver beslutter Ali at undersøge en helt ny sag: En ung mand har tilsyneladende begået selvmord ved at springe ud fra en høj bygning. Sporene leder Ali i retning af en karismatisk clairvoyant, som skulle have bildt den unge mand ind, at han kunne flyve. Da Alis elskede kat, Terry, forsvinder, trodser hun forbuddet og rejser tilbage i tiden for at finde ham igen. Men rejsen går galt, og Ali strander i 1800-tallets London – hvor hun møder både gamle bekendte og suspekte typer, som viser sig at spille en central rolle i sagen om den døde unge mand.

Genres: Mystery, Time Travel, Crime, Fiction, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Fantasy

358 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2026

About the author

Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton. Though not her first novel, The Crossing Places is her first crime novel.

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing!!!

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much as the first Ali Dawson novel, I like the time travel but the random identity of the murderer totally let the story down. A very disappointing and hurried ending. 3.5 stars

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second novel in the new series featuring police detective Ali Dawson, set against the backdrop of the 2024 General Election and subsequent Labour landslide victory. Ali's son Finn is working as advisor to a Labour MP up in Yorkshire.
Since their adventures back in 1851 in "The Frozen People", Ali and her team have been forbidden to time-travel ever since their technical expert Jones was marooned in Victorian London, never to be seen again.
However, whilst investigating a current case: that of a young man who fell from his death from a high building, she suspects that his death could be linked to medium Barry Power who convinced the boy he could fly. When Ali goes to one of Power's shows, he claims to be in contact with Jones.
Ali decides to break the embargo on time travel when her Siamese cat Terry goes missing. Although she only intends to go back a couple of days to shut his cat flap, he finds herself back in 1851 and encounters Jones, who now goes by the name of Lady Serafina Pellegrini She also encounters a man who could be Power and the mysterious Cain Templeton with whom she has unfinished business.
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as "The Frozen People", probably because now I'm familiar with the overall premise so the impact is decreased. However, Elly Griffiths always manages to create interesting characters and has an appealing prose style, so I can't downvote this too much

[Bob Rudge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Humanity has invented time travel. Hurray! Presumably they will use this awesome power to right historic wrongs and harness the knowledge of the future to improve the world for all mankind?
Well, no. In this Elly Griffiths series, they've decided to limit the use of time travel to a Slough House-knockoff police department in London. And, in fact, even that department is under orders not to use the technology. So we spend the first ten chapters of this book doing precisely nothing.

For some reason they decide to investigate a completely ordinary suicide. A team of four people are set on this, despite the fact there's no evidence any actual crime has been committed.

Then a cat goes missing, at which point the team decide they can use the time travel thing after all. So, definitely don't use it to try and prevent any murders or anything. But, yes, you can try and go back to close your cat flap.

For some reason that is not explained, instead of going back a couple of days, Ali ends up being sent back 150 years. Her cat is also there. Why? You'll never know, even if you manage to make it to the end of this quite terrible book.

While Ali is having a bit of a jolly in the old days, there are some crimes happening in the present. The killer is someone literally mentioned once in the first chapter and never even hinted at again. When Ali goes to speak to them at the dénouement, you will have no idea who they are. I had to search to check they had even been mentioned before. They then just immediately admit everything. Someone then just works out that the boy who killed himself did so because of his acne medication. It is probably the most stupid reveal I've ever read.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but lacking the impact of the new ideas in the first book in the series. And the discovery of the murderer was a disappointing, cheap let down. So, of course it was enjoyable and well written, but definitely not as good as the first book. I’m hoping that book number three redeems the series.

[tinalouisereadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Killing Time is the second book to feature Ali Dawson and gang. Ali is a detective who along with her colleges work on cold cases and and can time travel to solve them.

This time Ali is investigating the death of a young man. When her cat disappears she wants to go back in time to shut the cat flap. However Ali goes back to 1851. The story is basically a continuation of the first book and I highly recommend that the books are read in order.

In the present there are a couple of murders and of course there is a connection. I felt that this particular storyline was ended with a killer from nowhere and it didn't really sit right in the story.

However I do enjoy books by Elly Griffiths especially the Ruth Galloway series and I am enjoying this new series enough to continue.

[James Mcgee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up The Killing Time by Elly Griffiths after hearing a great deal of praise, and I was genuinely looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. While the premise had potential, I found the writing style overly simple, lacking the depth and atmosphere I’d hoped for from a crime novel. The plot itself felt fairly predictable, and the narrative never quite built the tension or intrigue needed to keep me fully invested.

At times, it was a struggle to stay engaged, as the story seemed to move along familiar paths without offering much in the way of originality or emotional pull. I can see how it might appeal to readers looking for a very light, accessible mystery, but for me it felt too basic and ultimately forgettable.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finished this book my one word summing up was "weird". I am still getting used to the idea of time sliding. I am not sure that events should be changed! I am beginning to like Ali as a lead character and also her team, but I still yearn for the days of Ruth Galloway! I enjoyed the historical references, and the literary links, especially meeting Charles Dickens. However I am still not sure whether some other characters such as "Barry" Power were in the past and the present and as for Jones, she is a complete mystery. The novel was a bit too clever for me at times but thoroughly enjoyable.

[Malin Leander · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫Elly Griffith,en av mina riktiga favoritförfattare. Älskade alla Ruth böckerna. Denna serie om tidsresor crime, katter och kärlek är en ny favorit, Denna andra bok i serien är tom bättre än den första, längtar redan till nästa

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series. It’s easy to read but still good. Plus, Barry Power, what a name! Loved it! Looking forward to book 3 already. The actual murderer was a bit random but it’s still good.

[Lena Akerblom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ganska underhållande men lite rörig. För många trådar som inte hänger ihop

[Phil Bradley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Elly’s books, and it’s rare for me to give anything less than 5 stars. But this was shockingly bad, with virtually no redeeming features whatsoever. If you’re going to be talking about time travel there needs to be some sort of basic concept as to how it’s possible. With this series there’s none. Talk of particles, iPhones, maths, people being “linked” together and magical chairs! Absolute nonsense. How does the cat go back and forth in time? Apparently because cats do what they want. Sorry, but that’s pathetic. When Dawson asks Jones about why they just don’t do what they are supposed to do her only reply is basically “trust me bro” and all this stuff about not changing the past goes straight out the window towards the end of the book. As for the murders… surprisingly I didn’t guess the murderer who was introduced right at the end of the book. The writing was pedestrian and boring… really don’t need to know what they all ate at every meal.

The audio version was as dire as the book. The narrators voice was dull and boring. Her ability to speak with an Italian accent was dire, I’ve no idea what accent it was, but it was grim. The scene where she had to speak in English, Welsh, Italian and German accents was so bad I was in hysterics. The editing was poor as well, because she should have been using an accent when she wasn’t and vice versa. Shockingly bad.

Please for the love of god Elly put this series to bed. I certainly won’t be reading any more of them, and you’re doing yourself and your amazing reputation a real disservice with dross like this that even AI could write better.

[Vanessa Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in the Ali Dawson time travel mysteries. Ali is a police detective who leads a special team investigating cold cases. She has just returned from one mission only to leave a colleague behind. She decides to concentrate on current cases to divert her mind. A young man has died by thinking he could fly and throwing himself off a building. Ali
Thinks it is linked to a well known psychic medium. Then her cat, Terry, disappears and she travels back in time to prevent him going through the cat flap. She finds herself back in the Victorian era where she meets up with her missing colleague. Is it all connected and how will she return to her own time again?

Another fascinating instalment in this exciting series. I love the idea of time travel to help investigate mysteries. I like the characters, they’re well drawn. It’s cleverly plotted although I wasn’t too sure about the denouement. It didn’t seem to connect with the rest of the story so I didn’t quite enjoy The Killing Time as much as The Frozen People but still a gripping read nevertheless. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series already! Hopefully there will be one? 4.5⭐️

[Anja Leeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 4 🌟 book 2

Another good Ali Dawson mystery. The cold case team known as the “frozen people” are back.

Terry the cat goes missing and Ali is desperate to find him. Ali convince his bad to time travel her back two days so she can close the catflap but finds herself back into Victorian 1851 where their colleague Jones was trapped 18 months ago.

Current day / They are asked to investigate a mesmerist Barry power, who’s a believed influence 19-year-old Luke to believe he could fly.

I enjoyed the follow up from book one where Ali meets Cain Templeton who declares his love for her.

The beauty of Time Travel, as we really don’t know where the story will take us.

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I like the premise of the series. When reading The first book The Frozen people I felt that the ending (coming back from the past) felt a bit abrupt… I didn’t have the same feeling this time. I like the characters, the writing style. It just all adds up. Very pleasant read.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

After ‘The Frozen People’ which set the scene, I reserved judgement on this new series. Alas the follow up is no better. As well as time travel via mobile phones and magic chairs seeming ridiculously implausible, the plot meanders once Ali arrives back in 19th century London and fails to build up much momentum. Usually I really enjoy Elly Griffiths’s novels, but ‘The Killing Time’ left me cold.

[Sally White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly absorbing and so EXCITING. I cannot recommend this series (2 books only) enough - Griffiths’s imagination knows no bounds.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to Swedish version, since Storytel didn’t have it in English.

[skattkatten_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skulle du resa i tiden för att hitta din bortsprungna katt? Givetvis! Ali reser i tiden även av andra skäl och det är väl det som ger den här serien en annan dimension. Jag är väldigt förtjust i den då den är mycket välskriven, spännande och med intressanta och sympatiska karaktärer.

[Carrie]

2/12

[Kerry Davis]

It’s Elly Griffiths. What more can I say. I adore her writing

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one! Nearly as much as the first installment. Only that this time I felt more disturbed by the loose ends. And I have to wait another year to read what happens next!
I should have wait for the whole serie to be out before reading it, but well, now that I've started it it's too late to think about it so I'll just have to patiently wait for the next book.
Also, the murder resolution felt a bit underwelming, but everything else was exciting and interesting so I wasn't bothered. Going to the Great Exhibitions and meeting Dickens were wonderful moments and I wanted to read more about them. Obviously Ali will go back again in book three, and I hope to get some answers but maybe I'll have to wait another couple of novels for that... Let's hope they'll come out very soon!!

[Alison Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Linda Fallows · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great second instalment to this time travelling detective series. The story grabs you from the first page. Ali Dawson returns to 1851, although she had only wanted to go back in time by a few hours, to save her cat!
The characters in this series are so interesting and the storyline is very different from EG’s Ruth Galloway books. If you love history, historical fiction, or crime stories, you have all three in this book.
Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for the next book in the series.🤞🤞

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, humorous and fun time-travel mystery series.

[Rebecka H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jag har en allergi mot författare som återberättar så många episoder från förra boken att det känns som att de utgör halva texten. Tyvärr är det upplägget här.

[lonnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review for this second installment of the Ali Dawson series is pretty much exactly the same as for the first book: the writing style is engaging and easy, the characters are likable but the plot is so haphazard and wonky that you must not think about plot holes or the workings of it all or the entire thing will collapse (much like in book one, the resolutions of the several almost completely unrelated plotlines was baffling. It's like the author made up things as she went). Still, the series is relaxing and entertaining enough to listen to on audio and the likable characters really are doing the heavy lifting here.

[Sue G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfinished

Sorry this ran out steam and felt decidedly unfinished, so many things left up in the air. A true reflection of life maybe but not agreeable to a well rounded piece of fiction

[Wendy Storey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loving this new series.