The Alexandrite

After down-on-his-luck actor Jack Cade is mysteriously given a ring with an alexandrite stone, psychophysicist Maggie Partridge contacts him and then sends him back in time%E2%80%94from 1996 to 1956%E2%80%94into the body of his past self: a gemologist named Richard Blake. Cade wonders whether sharing Blake's body is eroding his individuality, as he navigates the difficulties of time travel and has encounters Marilyn Monroe, while Blake's family problems lead to tragedy. Lenz's novel is a baffling exploration of reality and perception. The complexities of this time-travel saga make for an intriguing puzzle, replete with imaginative adventures and unanswered questions. Obscure encounters and enigmatic messages give the book an aura of mystery, though the banality of Cade's ultimate discovery is jarring in contrast to the fantastical past and present interconnections of several of the story's characters.