Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of The 13th Hour

The 13th Hour
The 13th Hour
Author: Richard Doetsch
ISBN-13: 9781439147948
ISBN-10: 1439147949
Publication Date: 6/29/2010
Pages: 416
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 19

4 stars, based on 19 ratings
Publisher: Pocket
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

8 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The 13th Hour on + 44 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
The premise of the book is that Nick, accused of killing his wife, is given the ability to go back in time, one hour at a time, for a maximum of twelve hours, with the goal of preventing her death. It's an interesting premise, especially as unintended consequences play out, and I thought the book had some promise; however, I was less than enchanted by the writing, which at times was preachy and stilted:

"Sadly, tragedy is the great equalizer, Nick thought. It knows no ZIP code, has no country club membership or two-room cold-water flat. It strikes without prejudice, reminding us of the fragility of life, of what truly is important when all things are stripped away. For sorrow and loss, pain and suffering are innate in our hearts, and while they may lie dormant they are quickly remembered when death fills the air."

I rather suspect that a man reeling from the death of his wife and the realization first that he is the suspect and then that he has twelve hours to avert the tragedy would not be engaged in philosophical thoughts.

And later in the book:

"As the door to the locker facility slowly closed, trapping the sounds of mourning within, he brought himself back to his current reality. He would shut out all of the illogic, all of the pain he had experienced. Against the laws of physics so elegantly stated by Einstein, he would bridge the gap of time with his heart."

Is it just me, or should this prose be appearing in purple ink?

The book is a fast read and not necessarily a bad way to pass the time in the carpool line. But the author will not be at the top of my list for my PBS credits.
AmandaLee avatar reviewed The 13th Hour on
Helpful Score: 2
I just could not get into this book. Maybe it was because it started at chapter 12 then counted it's way back down to chapter 12. I only read the first few chapters, then lost interest. But because it was a library book and soon to be due back, I tried it again and still I lost interest. I really wanted to like the book, the synopsis sounded great, the writing was good, and the main character and plot seemed alright, but I just couldn't stick with it. Maybe I should have kept reading, who knows maybe further into the book the story might have grabbed my attention better? It was one of the few books that I actually returned to the library unread!
reviewed The 13th Hour on + 3094 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Different than what I expected but very good. Nick is given the ablilty to go back in time by one hour increments to save the life of his wife but each hour puts a new twist on what is really happening until the very end. The end will shock you.

I never read anything from this author before and I might try another one.
sfc95 avatar reviewed The 13th Hour on + 686 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
By far the best book I have read this year. I was written in a manner that was so different from anything I have ever read. It took my breath away reading it, I felt like I was part of the story. The characters were well developed, the story was thrilling and suspense filled. I cannot say enough about this book, find a way to get hold of a copy and read it! You will not be disappointed.
legal22 avatar reviewed The 13th Hour on + 132 more book reviews
Stupendous book! I have read thousands and thousands of books and never read anything like it!! I read it in two days because I couldn't put it down!
augieandlourock avatar reviewed The 13th Hour on + 117 more book reviews
Wow what a great story!It is a story about a mans wife who dies and he gets a second chance to go back in time and save her life.It goes from chapter 12 backwards to chapter 13 being the last chapter.This story has a lot of twist and turns.It also show you the consequences when you try to change fate.It had a lot of action.You feel sorry for the husband who loves his wifes and gets accused of her death even though he didn't do it.Thats when he sets out to find the real killer.The ending had me saying wow I would never have guessed that.This book had me on the edge of my seat.I was so absorbed in the story I read every minute I could. I hated to see the book end.I picked this book up because the title caught my attention I'm so glad I did.I will definitely read this authors other books.
reviewed The 13th Hour on + 57 more book reviews
This book is amazing! Time travel is difficult yo bring together in itself, but Doetsch takes it on with one of the most exiting stories that I have read in a long time. If you like a good thriller, time travel, love etc. Read this book. It covers them all. Just hope they make a movie of it.
prtyof10 avatar reviewed The 13th Hour on + 75 more book reviews
At 9pm on July 28, Nick Quinn is given an extraordinary opportunity, a chance to rewrite history and save his wife Mary's life.

At 9pm, Nick is being held in jail, accused of Mary's murder. He saw her bloody corpse; he knows that she is dead.
That's when a grey haired gentleman presents him with a talisman that allows him to go back in time, one hour at a time, for a total of twelve hours.

With each hour that Nick journeys back in time, he finds more clues to the identity of Mary's real killer, but he also discovers that his actions in the past have unexpected repercussions on the future.

All his good intentions of saving Mary's life may in fact lead to a far greater catastrophe than he could have imagined. If he hasn't set things right by the thirteenth hour, all will be lost.

A surprising and utterly original thriller that blends a dash of fantasy with page-turning suspense. What I loved about this book is that I had never read one like it. It keeps you turning the page wanting to know what happens next or doesn't happen!!

Worth a read. My copy is in my personal library.