Splinter Effect

A Novel

By: Andrew Ludington

Narrated by: Roger Wayne

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

©2025 Andrew Ludington (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"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 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

Indiana Jones Time Travel

Indiana Jones meets time travel. Appreciate that there is no explicit/spicy romance—although there is a bit of a love story weaved in. I enjoyed the twists in the story line—overall enjoyable! I would read a sequel

One of the best Time travel novels I have read!

I read a couple of great ones in the past that got me to want to find more and this one is the exact thing I had been searching for. I was on the edge of my seat all the way through and can not wait to read or listen to another book from this author! Narrator did a good job as well. But the material was really great. Bravo! Is this his fist book period? If so wow what a great debut!