The Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace ★★★★

[John]

First, I want to thank Henry Holt and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to review an advance readier's edition, which I enjoyed.

The novel opens with a woman who awakens on a bus being transported to a state psychiatric facility in 1954, where labotomies and electroconvulsive therapy are often used and major antipsychotics have recently been discovered. The woman has been identified as Dorothy Frasier, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia accompanied by violent delusions. Although much of her memory is clouded by amnesia, she claims to be a time-traveler named Beatrix “Bix” Parris, a rebel soldier sent back from a dystopian 2035 to find an andidote for a virus (“the Guest”) that will decimate humanity. She is suppose to be a troubled housewife married to Paul Frasier, she does possess some extraordinary skills such as lock picking and self-defensive reflexes.

Much of the first half of the book had me guessing who true identity, emotionally-disturbed housewife or time traveler. The author masterfully crafted the novel to keep the reader guessing. The setting in a mid-20th century psychiatric facility with various female wards housing the mentally ill or troublesome women added verisimilitude to this psychological thriller, science fiction, speculative, historical novel genre blend.

This novel also had its weaknesses. Parts of the novel read at times at a breakneck speed while dragging during other parts. Bix Parris was well drawn but other characters seemed to be little more than caricatures. My biggest complaint is that the novel ended with a cliffhanger, which might indicate (or not) that the story will be continued in a sequel.

I thought this debut was engaging and Bix was such a compelling character, I hope there is a sequel. There are too many loose ends to tie up for another book not be in Melissa Pace's future. If someone knows or the author would like to comment, I invite them to do so.

[Booknblues]

This does sound intriguing.

[Nicole]

Ugh, cliffhangers. They feel so manipulative to me and I’m generally inclined NOT to continue a series because of them. I guess I can be stubborn and contrary like that.

[Robin P]

This sounds a bit like Woman on the Edge of Time from 1976. I made the mistake of reading that while I was in the hospital (not a mental one!) where a woman in an adjoining room kept groaning and saying "help me". Apparently she was actually sleeping, but it was really creepy while reading a book like that.