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Do-Overs: A Time Travel Thriller of Sudden Second Chances Kindle Edition

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 796 ratings

He said yes.

It was a trip he had to take.

He was getting a real-life do-over.

He couldn’t mess it up this time.

Roy Hobbs is a big-time newspaper reporter who blew the cash windfall from his best-seller book. Gone was his money, and then somebody murdered his wife. They never caught the killer. Then, a weird stranger makes him a bizarre offer.

The stranger offers to pay Roy the same money as his best-seller book if Roy would write a book for the stranger, who might be the sole reader of the book. Roy must decide before he knows the subject. Yes, weird. Roy’s choices: take the last-chance big payday or walk away from that nutcase?

Roy chooses big money, and his life hurls into a dimension he could have never imagined. He faces the wickedest do-over that could re-purpose his life in stunning ways.

Could he truly have do-overs on his biggest mistakes in life? Would he make those same mistakes again, this time knowing the consequences? Could a do-over allow him to rescue his wife?

Roy Hobbs wouldn’t be writing this strange new book, he’d be
living it. This is a love story that continues to delight. And scare.

If you tire of time travel stories where somebody goes back in time to kill Hitler or another Scottish time travel yarn, you’ll like this story because it deals with people facing real challenges and real opportunities for the elusive do-over in a time-travel world.

Yes, this is a trip you should take. You won’t guess the twists and turns, and probably not even the final destination, but you’ll certainly have fun. Take the trip today.

What readers say

★★★★★ “This is just a fun read that is love story, sci-fi, fantasy, time travel, and mystery wrapped in a neat package.”

★★★★★ “I felt totally immersed in the story; the characters and the plot made me lost in the fiction.”

★★★★★ “There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique.”
★★★★★
“Do-Overs sizzles with time travel adventure, love, mistakes, do-overs and twists that you won’t see coming, but will love.”


From the Publisher

Photo from the Hubble Telescope

Photo from the Hubble Space Telescope. Each bright pinpoint of light is a star and part of a galaxy.

Sky full of stars

When you can see a zillion stars, would you ever think there is life out there or even a parallel world?

White hole express between galaxies

Einstein believed that there could be white holes to traverse between galaxies. What if there was? Would you take the step?

Editorial Reviews

Review

What readers say,

★★★★★ "Well written and completely different from any time travel novelI've read previously."

★★★★★ "This is just a fun read that is love story, sci-fi, fantasy, time travel, and mystery wrapped in a neat package."

★★★★★ "It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It's a first-class sci-fi thriller with perfect pacing."

★★★★★ "There were plenty of plot twists that I didn't see coming and that added to the book's mystique."

★★★★★
"Do-Overs sizzles with time travel adventure, love, mistakes, do-overs and twists that you won't see coming, but will love."

★★★★★ "I read this book in one day. I could not go to sleep until I finished the book. I cried at the end."

★★★★★ "This is a cracking good read. All manner of plausible dilemmas. Loved it. Couldn't put it down."

★★★★★ "This story has the science and a tender love story that most of us can relate to, you know the do-over part."

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00YBOGL22
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (May 26, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 26, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2858 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 796 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Jon Spoelstra
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I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that ‘Take Out’ can mean food, dating, or murder.

Somewhere squishing around that thought, I write murder mysteries about old guys solving murders. If you’re under 40, you should pass on these novels. Wait at least ten years, then you’ll enjoy and appreciate them more.

If, however, you’re over 50, these mysteries might hit your sweet spot, well worth the try.

I’m a Wall Street Journal best-selling author, having written nine novels and four non-fiction books. The Old Guys Murder Mystery series has been, by far, the most fun.

The Old Guys Murder Mystery books are fast reads. Old guys like things fast.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
796 global ratings

Review this product

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Customers say

Customers find the story imaginative with familiar elements. They describe the book as a joy to read, with an exciting plot and well-developed characters. The writing quality is praised as excellent and the author's execution is excellent. Readers find the book easy to follow and hard to put down.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

70 customers mention "Story quality"68 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the imaginative story with familiar elements. They find the plot exciting with plenty of twists and turns. The characters are interesting and believable. Readers describe the book as a joy to read with plenty going on to keep them interested. It's described as a science fiction novel with time travel elements and a fast-paced thriller.

"This is about alternate realities and how a scientist figured out how to travel from one to another...." Read more

"...He avoided the well-worn tropes and presented a thoughtful, intriguing framework of reference. Nice plot twists and satisfying resolution...." Read more

"I really enjoyed the plot, the characters, and twists... but, it is so unnecessarily repetitive...." Read more

"...Beyond the excellent writing, the science part is interesting. This is not the usual go back and kill Hitler to make the current world right...." Read more

50 customers mention "Readability"50 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story engaging and well-told, keeping them hooked until the end. The conclusion is also appreciated, though some readers felt the fun and feel-good aspects faded toward the end.

"First I enjoyed this book a lot. But the idea of parallel worlds being similar seemed wrong, wouldn't they just be all randomly be very divergent?..." Read more

"...There is a serial killer involved which makes it scary and exciting." Read more

"...That being said, I really enjoyed the conclusion of the book." Read more

"...In fact a thrilling, tantalizing way. Let me ask you a question. What would you do if you had the chance at a do-over...." Read more

25 customers mention "Writing quality"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the author's flair and excitement, as well as the detailed descriptions and imagery that make the story easy to read. The premise is well-thought-out and the consequences are exciting.

"...Nice plot twists and satisfying resolution. Great job, I enjoyed it!" Read more

"...Mr. Spoelstra must have lived in Chicago because the details are dead on right down to the Chicagoese idioms...." Read more

"...It was written by a gifted writer, one that described characters and places and experiencesso well, so detailed that I felt like I was living it...." Read more

"The premise is well thought out and it's consequences are well and excitingly presented. The characters are well drawn and Engaging...." Read more

17 customers mention "Character development"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters with interesting personalities and backgrounds. They also appreciate the good villain.

"Mr Spoelstra gives a well crafted story with some great characters that progress and reflect...." Read more

"I really enjoyed the plot, the characters, and twists... but, it is so unnecessarily repetitive...." Read more

"...The story flows quickly, and the characters are well developed and the dialectic of the dialogues used make the story a unique work...." Read more

"...The characters are well drawn and Engaging. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read." Read more

6 customers mention "Ease of use"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to follow and engaging. They say it's harder to figure out than other books, but they enjoy navigating the unusual plot.

"...This is a beverage that I also really enjoy. This one is harder to figure out than other books out there, which is something I really liked...." Read more

"...The author took a fairly simple path in generating the technique for travel here...." Read more

"...He just spilled it out and was so easy to follow. I liked his characters and all the clones of himself and others...." Read more

"A different kind of time travel book. In some ways it’s simple and others ways complex. You end up loving the characters though." Read more

Lots of twists
4 out of 5 stars
Lots of twists
Written tight as a quality news reporter can with a mind-twisting story evolution, deliberately drawn characters, and dry noir humor. The only problem with the book I read had nothing to do with the writing, but rather with the book's production. After many dozens of pages read, pages began to simply, quietly, peacefully slip out of the binding (and, no, I hadn't cracked the spine - I'm a gentle reader). So, if this occurs to you, KEEP READING. Well worth it!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2024
    First I enjoyed this book a lot. But the idea of parallel worlds being similar seemed wrong, wouldn't they just be all randomly be very divergent? Well I got to thinking about synchronization and of course looked it up and found "Kuramoto Model" and yes with weak connections similar systems fall into sync. There is a clip 5 of pendulums on a board on two cans, It's great! and surprising to watch. I love it when I discover. Read this book.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2024
    This is about alternate realities and how a scientist figured out how to travel from one to another. There is a serial killer involved which makes it scary and exciting.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
    Mr Spoelstra gives a well crafted story with some great characters that progress and reflect. He avoided the well-worn tropes and presented a thoughtful, intriguing framework of reference. Nice plot twists and satisfying resolution. Great job, I enjoyed it!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2022
    I really enjoyed the plot, the characters, and twists... but, it is so unnecessarily repetitive. I think the book would have moved a lot smoother if we were not constantly reminded of fierce grape and what happen to Rachel. That being said, I really enjoyed the conclusion of the book.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2024
    I’m an optimist, so I always leave a little room for a villain to reform, but not this guy. He was nasty through and through, and I knew there was no hope for him(s). Good job, Jon.

    That doesn't mean the rest of the novel was seamless. It was evident that the “scientists” had failed to think through how their discovery could be highjacked and what could be done to protect both themselves and their system. Most of us would do the same thing, and I understand why. It’s down to a failure of imagination.

    What? Imagination?

    Yes. Someone once mentioned to me that accidents, namely car crashes, are due to a failure of imagination. They didn't mean imagination in the sense of fanciful thinking but in the sense of thinking through possibilities. I think about that sometimes when I see a driver on a single-lane street pass on the left rather than wait for the driver in front of them to make a left-hand turn or when drivers change lanes in an intersection. Pay attention to situations like that; hopefully, you’ll see what I mean.

    Granted, thinking through a scenario as described here is a lot more complicated, but there were huge indications of what would go wrong, and nobody took steps to prevent it. Why not? Well … the conclusion would have been considerably different and less gratifying for many readers.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2020
    I'm from Chicago and old enough to remember what was going on in 1978, the setting for this story. Mr. Spoelstra must have lived in Chicago because the details are dead on right down to the Chicagoese idioms. Needless to say, this all resonated with me . Beyond the excellent writing, the science part is interesting. This is not the usual go back and kill Hitler to make the current world right. This time travel model is more the block universe type or parallel universes where you can kill your grandfather and still exist. In fact you can go back and meet yourself. No paradoxes to worry about.
    The plot is basically a love story. Most time travel novels today are written by women who go heavy on the love part but light on the science. This story has the science and a tender love story that most of us can relate to, you know the do-over part.
    I enjoyed this book so much, at the end I got sucked into three chapters of Spoelstra noir book, Red Chaser about the 1950s. It's not time travel but just as much a page turner.
    13 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2020
    Do-Overs: A Time Travel Thriller of Sudden Second Chances is best described as freaky, but not in a bad way. In fact a thrilling, tantalizing way. Let me ask you a question. What would you do if you had the chance at a do-over. A chance to redo everything in your life, do it differently, do it right. Correct the mistakes of your past, tell the ones you lost that you love them a little more times, go and visit your near and dear ones a little more, mend a broken heart or relationship, or even catch a murderer? That's exactly what Roy Hobbs encounters when he's approached by a stranger to write a book, just one book, just for him. Roy cannot know the topic of the book until he makes a decision, and the stranger is willing to pay big money for it.

    What starts off as an 'I can't believe I hit the jackpot' job turns into something much more when Roy realizes that he doesn't just have to write the book, but LIVE it. He's given a chance to do things over, save his wife from her murderer, right some wrongs along the way. But what price do you pay for tempting with fate and destiny? For interfering with the plan that's in store for you? For defying time to go back into the past and change the course of things without realizing the collateral damage it can cause?

    Answer? Potentially Catastrophic.
    36 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2020
    The title gives it all away and that is my biggest issue with this book. You want a catchy title but without giving too much away. With Do-Overs: A Time Travel Thriller of Sudden Second Chances you don’t need to read the premise to know what you’re going to get. But that pretty much is my only problem with the book. Jon Spoelstra writes a very balanced book, with plenty of twists and turns and an interesting premise that differs from most time travel novels: here, our main character has the opportunity to do-over some important and defining moments in his life. Given the chance, will he do it? How will it affect the outcome? The action is slow, giving time to the reader to really sink in the story in all its complexities. A very interesting take in the time travel universe.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Don Yaschuk
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in Canada on May 18, 2022
    Greatly enjoyed this work ....breezed through it. Love me some scifi mixed with a thriller twist. Can't beat the price, definitely worth your time!
  • CJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Time travel, true love, and serial killers!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2025
    I really enjoyed this book! Well written, really believable characters, and a very unusual but great storyline! However, sometimes the serial killer storyline and actions got a bit much for me as the character is so well written! Really good book - highly recommend!
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read, and yes time travel is fun!
    Reviewed in Australia on December 29, 2021
    There may, or may not, be some cross over here between time travel and parrelel world travel... It's hard to pin down.. But it was a fun few hours and like the author, I'd do it all again!
  • bushbaby
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2024
    This was a well written story with a good plot and an unusual take on time travel. Unfortunately for me it wasn’t quite the sort of story I enjoy reading, being very involved with the combating of a serial killer, but if you don’t mind that sort of story it is very well worth reading.
  • DENNIS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2024
    Really enjoyed this story well written great characters plenty of action lots of twists and turns and unexpected consequences.New twist on time travel parallel universes.

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