Chasing Time by Thomas Reilly is a thrilling blend of realistic and supernatural fiction. The narrative begins in Rome in around A.D. 40-50 with Lucius Fabius Antonius, a Roman oil merchant with an aptitude for predicting events, and his mysterious bronze Janus key ring. It then takes a great leap to Brooklyn in 1965 with the Roman merchants’ mirror image, Anthony Lucas, an eighth-grader. The story revolves around Anthony’s arduous journey to seek a cure for a terminal illness, with the help of a clue he found from an uncanny bronze Janus ring he found by chance 54 years ago.

In order to provide readers with a plot that fills them with eager anticipation, no stones have been left unturned. Along with the protagonist of the story, I found myself trying to put together several puzzle clues. Also, the fact that the latter part of the novel is connected with contemporary life adds more realism to the story. There’s talk of a time prediction key ring on one hand, but there’s also talk of baseball, Google, and the ever-expanding technology on the other.

The plot is clearly shaped by the author Thomas Reilly’s knowledge and expertise as a retired scientist with a background in pharmaceutical and biotechnology. He did inculcate his vast knowledge within the plot, with many instances in the book with terms and language associated with a scientist’s role, but it took me two readings to fully comprehend those particular paragraphs. It did not, however, prevent me from enjoying the novel’s intriguing plot.

Another interesting aspect of the book is the historical facts in it that are again a testament to the amount of research that went into the writing. Everything in the book is well examined to fit them to the overall development and excitement of the story, whether it is Janus key ring, Olive Oil, or several facts about ALS disease.

Chasing Time is as fascinating as it is unpredictable. At times, the plot twists and supernatural elements had me believing that I was watching a movie. Chasing Time is a perfect book for readers who like the thrill of adventure and mystery. One can also discern many hidden messages within the fictional plot by digging deeper. Whether it is the faith of Anthony’s family in him and his mystifying stories, or the several cooperative and significant people he encounters along the way, the story demonstrates hard work and resilience are essential to achieve any unimaginable goal.

Pages: 213 | ASIN: B09DTJPPLR