Wrong Place Wrong Time By Gillian McAllister: Book Review

Warning: There are spoilers in this review!

Mummies and daddies, what would you do if you had the chance to rewrite a terrible moment in your child’s life? That’s the heart-wrenching question at the core of Wrong Place Wrong Time. Gillian McAllister’s gripping novel takes you on a journey through time, exploring love, fate, and the endless sacrifices of parenthood in ways that feel both thrilling and deeply relatable.

The story begins with Jen Brotherhood, a mum in Liverpool, who witnesses her son Todd stab a man in their driveway. Her horror is unimaginable. But instead of moving forward into the aftermath, Jen wakes up the next day to find it’s the day before the murder. As she continues leaping backwards in time, she uncovers shocking truths about her family’s history and a web of secrets that led to that fateful night. Each day gives her another chance to understand her son and the decisions that shaped him, an opportunity every parent wishes they had, though perhaps not under such dire circumstances.

I guess as a mum, everything I engage with is through the perspective of motherhood or being a parent making one of the most poignant aspects of this novel its portrayal of parenthood: “Everything in parenthood feels so endless until it ceases.” Reading this quote in the book, I felt that sharp sting of recognition. Parenthood is filled with routines that can feel unending; school runs, meals and bedtime stories, but the moment they’re gone, you’d give anything to have them back. Jen’s journey reminded me how often we overlook these moments while we’re living them, only to yearn for them when they’re out of reach.

The novel nudges us to think about how much we focus on what goes wrong in life, ignoring the “what ifs” that could’ve been worse. As one line beautifully puts it: “We only think of the bad things that happen, rather than those that, through fortune, pass us by.” This theme resonates as Jen rewinds time, uncovering small moments that might have prevented Todd’s crime. It’s a stark reminder that life is as much about near-misses as it is about what actually happens.

And then there’s the theme of deception; how easily we mask the truth with humour or charm. “Banter can hide the worst sins,” McAllister writes, and this couldn’t be truer in Jen’s family. Imagine finding out your partner, after years of marriage and companionship, isn't who they say they are. Jen's husband, Kelly, hides his past as an undercover cop, and their seemingly ordinary life is built on secrets he’s kept for decades. As Jen delves deeper into her family’s past, she realises that not everything is as it seems. It’s a sobering reminder of how well we can hide the darkest parts of ourselves, even from those we love the most.

Despite its heavy themes, the book is an addictive page-turner, which is difficult for me to admit because I do not enjoy time travel plots in movies or books. I stay far away from them, except for The Time Traveller's Wife, which took me by surprise at how much I enjoyed it.

The time-travel plot in this book is handled with clarity and purpose and I guess that made all the difference for a time-travel-hating-reader like me. The twists will keep you guessing and engaged, though the middle drags a bit, and the ending ties things up a little too neatly. Still, it’s a story that lingers, especially for parents who’ve ever wondered if they could’ve done something differently.

Reading this book made me think of my own parenting fails like the time I convinced myself that my toddler’s refusal to eat brussel sprouts was “just a phase.” 15 years later, these are still enemy number one. Much like Jen’s journey, it’s a reminder that small decisions, good or bad, can snowball into bigger consequences over time.

If you’re a fan of thrillers that delve into emotional depth, Wrong Place Wrong Time is a must-read. It’s a powerful reflection on love, regret, and the lengths we’ll go to for our children. If you’re just here for the twists and suspense, don’t worry, there’s plenty of that too. And the best thing is you don't even need to be a fan of time travel stories to enjoy this one.

If you enjoyed this review, or if you’re dying to share your thoughts about the book, come join me on Read Read Rant. It’s my little bookish corner of the internet, where I rave about the books I love, rant about the ones I don’t, and share a laugh or two with fellow readers. Got a book you think I should review next? Drop me a line! Until then, keep reading, keep ranting, and let’s celebrate the joy of stories together.