The Time Seam: Blackston Gold, Book 2

Kelso completes the story started in The Solitaire Ghost with a mix of action-adventure activism, police procedural, and legal manipulation. As lawyer Dorian Wild and time-shifted Irish reporter and activist Jimmy Keenighan fall gently in love, they work to help clear Dorian’s late boyfriend’s reputation and stop evil megacorporation Pan Auric from opening an environmentally dubious mine. Pan Auric is a disappointing caricature of an enemy, but Jimmy continues to charm with quaint dialect (“Ye scabby wee toe rag”), quick thinking, unconventional ways of getting things done, and a deep understanding of the modern world that he never quite becomes part of. The warm, playful, and caring connection between Jimmy and Dorian sparkles, while the underlying plot, while somewhat contrived, still supports the romance with strong writing and fast pacing. Back to back, the two volumes—clearly written as one book—make a solidly imaginative read. (Nov.)