Behind His Time

By: Richard Ridpath

Narrated by: Rick Ridpath

Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

The young woman was in terrible danger. Mike Chance knew it. He wanted to help her, but he just didn’t know how to go about it. He was a 50-year-old finance manager at a community college with a calm and sedate life.

It all started with his neighbor, Trace Poston, revealing a secret that was beyond unbelievable, possibly even the delusions of an unstable person. No device could do what Trace stated as fact that it could.

It had to be a joke. A device that could open a window in time, a look at the future! Then Trace performed a demonstration of the machine, and the drastic consequences became all too real. Life and death real.

©2018 Richard Ridpath (P)2021 Richard Ridpath

Philadelightful Sci-fi Mystery

A quick & delightful sci-fi bent suburban mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. Philadelphians will especially appreciate all the local references and the unmistakable accents. The characters draw on some stereotypical traits but with welcome complexities peppered in, and the plot, while imperfect, kept me wondering the whole way through. The narrator (who is the author’s son) does an excellent job of sculpting each scene with his use of inflection and delivery, and giving each character their own flavor. I hope his father continues to write so we get more of his performances. And the orchestrations (composed and performed by the author’s grandson) are rich and beautiful bookends to the story. Manipulating time isn’t a new concept but Ridpath puts his own spin on the conventional narrative and winds up with an engaging, charming story definitely worth a listen.

Great story to dive into and escape reality

Cool story, a little bit of Sci-fi, part novel, drama and action. Listened to the whole book on a cross country flight.

An enjoyable listen that engages the audience

Behind His Time is an incredulous story set in a nondescript world. The grounded reality of main character Mike Chance renders his actions throughout the story as both plausible and implausible at the same time. The flashback format of the narrative made for an engaging hook, and the fact that the calendar days and dates aligned with the year 2021 as well as when I was actually listening to the book, made it all the more realistic despite the fantastic premise. The stand out character for me was Trace Poston, Mike’s neighbor and instigator of the events that unfold within the story. Trace is almost a caricature, Jeff Spicolli grown up, and his outlandish proclamations and surfer Zen turns of phrase paint a picture of a stereotypical laid-back Californian (although there is no indication that Trace is from there). By the end of the story, his boundless optimism and “veracity with tenacity” endear him to the listener. Overall, the story is well paced, and despite the occasional cliché or noticeable repetition of words, the various plot threads all lead to a satisfying conclusion.

A funny, enjoyable book to read.

Loved it. Like the book written by the book's main character, a funny, light, & enjoyable quick book to read. Love the Audible production by Richard, Rick, & Ricky Ridpath. It helps when a story is staged in place that the narator sounds like he, or she, is from that place. Can't wait till the next Ridpath Audible book.

"Veracity with tenacity."

A fun mystery thriller, more noted for it's main characters, Mike Chance and his larger than life neighbour, Trace Poston. Seemingly very successful whist spending most of his time playing golf, Trace was at first very low on Mike's list of people he liked until, unexpectedly, he was invited to view an artifact left to Trace by his father. It was to dominate his life in the immediate future and change his and his family's life into the future.
Unusual, rather delightfully old fashioned and the mystery' s solution unexpected. Read by Rick Ridpath in a style which fits with the story, and with a musical end excerpt by Ricky Ridpath, author Richard Ridpath has brought about an easy to enjoy short book (about five hours).
I received a free, no strings attatched, download code at my request

Purchase Richard Ridpath’s wonderful audio book for all the reasons in the review below.

“Behind his time” is a captivating, character motivated audio novel by author Richard Ridpath read by his son Rick Ridpath.

Part science fiction, part drama, Part comedy, this wonderful ‘slow burner’ (I mean that in a good way…….a very good way) entices you and draws you in with these well drawn out players. Primarily focussing on our two leads - The Characters of Mike and Trace, Rick Ridpath’s reading of this book makes it really easy and enjoyable to listen to, and to visualize these two leading players in their full spectrum of colors.
The author imbues our two leading players, Mike and Trace with distinct and humorous characteristics that become so identifiable as people we all know, even if Trace seems ‘larger than life’.
Hysterically funny references to a well known celebrity and our nations conspiracy theories add to the fun. As well as some character defining phrases such as “Big Dude”, “ Calm Rage” and “I feel like a drunken sailor without a hangover”!.

The supporting players do just that. They support Mike and Trace and give us a well rounded vision of both of their lives, and in Mike’s case his work as well in a fascinating sub plot about political correctness and misinterpretation of literature.
As the book progressed, as a listener I got more drawn in and could not wait to see what happens next. The author leaves enough questions and suspense, and more importantly possibilities between chapters (of various length) to make you, as a listener anxious and excited to immediately explore the next chapter.

The story is set in Buck’s County PA, with an aside trip or two to Philadelphia, and for those that know the area, you can especially feel the locations as described throughout the book.

I do not want to give away too much in this review, but I do want to say…..no state, that I sincerely hope to listen or read more of Mike and Trace’s adventures in the future…no matter where that damn transmitter ended up!

It would be a shame to end this story where it does, not that this can’t or shouldn’t be listened to as a complete story in itself,but I loved the characters so much that I really want to continue eavesdropping into this ‘opposites attract’ ‘buddy relationship’ between Mike and Trace and to see what happens, or could happen next. the possibilities are endless.

A recent mega hit set in the Pennsylvania area premiered recently on HBO and received many Emmy nominations, the atmospheric Mare of Easttown.
Given my druthers I would much rather follow these adventures of Mike and Trace and hope that you do too!