Splinter Effect

In Splinter Effect, an action-packed debut by Andrew Ludington, time traveling archaeologist Rabbit Ward maneuvers through the past to recover a long-lost, precious menorah hidden in ancient Rome.

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.

"Ludington debuts with a rip-roaring thriller.... Rabbit's quick wit and fast fists make him a winning protagonist... [and] Ludington demonstrates a knack for fleet action sequences. Readers will be eager for the sequel." --Publishers Weekly

"Readers who love adventure, time travel, sf, and history will find a new favorite series here." --Booklist

"A splash of sci-fi pulp, Ludington's time-travelling jaunt evokes the fun of Indiana Jones adventures. ... Genre fans who need something light will be happy to spend the afternoon on this trip." --Variety

"Propulsive... Splinter Effect reads like a great Michael Crichton book, only not written by Crichton, a mantle Ludington appears prepared to claim for himself. Supremely effective storytelling that never lets up or lets us down." --BookTrib

"A smart, inventive, wildly original adventure featuring a chrono-archeologist who is tasked with going back in time to save a famed menorah from ancient Rome, Splinter Effect combines time travel, archeology, history, and a dash of romance to great effect. Fans of Indiana Jones will flock to this rollicking story. A superb debut!" --J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of A Very Bad Thing

"Imaginative, fast-paced, and clever, Andrew Ludington's Splinter Effect is a first-rate time-traveling thriller. Rabbit Ward, a present-day archaeologist with a well-honed and intuitive grasp of the past, must navigate the fraught political landscape of sixth century Constantinople, using all his wits, some humor, and a bit of luck to retrieve a long-lost artifact. Already perfect for history buffs and time travel enthusiasts, a splash of romance adds to the intriguing start of this promising new series." --Susanna Calkins, author of the award-winning Lucy Campion historical mysteries and the Speakeasy Mysteries

"Splinter Effect has all the fun of Indiana Jones and the rapid-fire thriller pacing of James Rollins... Read this now!" --Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Cave 13 and Kagen the Damned

"A smart, action-packed thriller with a clever time-travel twist. Exactly the literary vacation I needed." --Kelley Armstrong, New York Times bestselling author

ANDREW LUDINGTON writes transportive adventure stories intended to make you forget your commute. He graduated from Kenyon College with a BA in English Literature and lives in Evanston, IL where he moonlights as a technologist for Northwestern University. Splinter Effect is his first novel.

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