Splinter Effect
Splinter Effect, #1 by
Andrew Ludington
Publisher : Minotaur Books (March 18, 2025)
Publication date : March 18, 2025
Print length : 310 pages
A 5 star review
"Smithsonian archaeologist Rabbit Ward travels through time on sponsored expeditions to the past to secure precious artifacts moments before they are lost to history. Although exceptional at his job, Rabbit is not without faults. In a spectacular failure twenty years ago, he lost both the menorah of the second temple and his hot-headed mentee, Aaron. So, when new evidence reveals the menorah’s reappearance in 6th century Constantinople, Rabbit seizes the chance for redemption.
But from the moment he arrives in the past, things start to go wrong. Rabbit quickly finds out that his prime competition, an unlicensed and annoyingly appealing “stringer” named Helen, is also in Constantinople hunting the menorah. And that’s only the beginning. The oppressed Jewish population of the city is primed for revolution, Constantinople’s leading gang seems to have it out for Rabbit personally, and someone local is interested enough in the menorah to kill for it.
As the past closes in on him and his previous failures compound, will Rabbit be able to recover the menorah before it's once again lost in time? With new and old dangers alike hiding behind every corner, time might just be up for Rabbit’s redemption—and possibly his life."
I'm impressed with this debut book. I hope this author brings more adventures with Rabbit Ward. Fast paced, action-packed, entertaining and informational. The encounters with his competition, a woman named Helen are frustrating because she wins a few times and grabs the prize. This jump into the past however they're thrown together as partners when things don't add up historically. Without a clear timeline of events, it's impossible to easily figure out where the menorah really is. Becoming more friends that enemies takes time and is like pulling teeth for either of them to open up. Lying is a big part of the job when you have to fit in to grab the antique making telling the truth unnatural. Rabbit has become complacent and something close to jaded. The man needs a vacation or hobby and Helen wakes him up. The mysterious Helen is smart, challenging, attractive and turns out to be his equal. Together they encounter people from evil to good and kind, a real-life mix. I had fun from start to finish. There was plenty of interesting people and events for me to do my own research rabbit hole later.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Minotaur Books.
