Jigsaw: The Face of the Joker is a fast-paced, time-hopping sci-fi thriller that blends historical fiction, pop culture, and dystopian fantasy. The story follows Temporal Guardians Francesca, Noah, Tori, and Josh as they travel back to 1927 Hollywood to prevent a sinister group called Novus Ordo from stopping the production of the film The Man Who Laughs. This seemingly small disruption would create massive ripple effects throughout history, erasing key cultural milestones and potentially altering the trajectory of the entire world. Along the way, the team encounters supernatural foes, historical Hollywood figures, and ethical dilemmas, all while trying to preserve the timeline and protect their loved ones.

There’s a lot I admired about this book. The writing is sharp, cinematic, and often infused with humor that made me laugh. Dialogue feels natural, often snappy, and the character dynamics, especially between Noah and Francesca, give the story warmth amid the chaos. The blend of real-life movie history with sci-fi time travel makes for a truly fun ride, and I loved the creative stakes: that a single movie’s failure could unravel a century of cultural and political evolution. The use of historical film references like The Man Who Laughs, Dracula, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame felt lovingly researched and gave the story a unique, nerdy charm.

I would compare this story to the work of Neal Stephenson for its mix of historical fiction and sci-fi, especially in how it plays with time and culture. It also brings to mind James Rollins or Steve Berry, who write fast-paced thrillers with secret organizations and historical stakes. For the playful tone and pop culture references, there’s a bit of Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One in there, too. And the time-travel team dynamic has shades of Doctor Who and Douglas Adams, quirky, chaotic, and a little bit sentimental.

Jigsaw: The Face of the Joker is a quirky, ambitious, and imaginative adventure that would appeal to fans of sci-fi, alternate history, comic book lore, and classic film. If you’re the kind of person who gets excited about old Universal horror movies, butterfly-effect paradoxes, and snarky banter between badass time-travelers, then this book is definitely for you.

Pages: 174 | ASIN: B0F5N8NRLS