Customer Reviews

The Time Thief (The Gideon Trilogy)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This series is INCREDIBLE! The author, characters, the plots, resolutions are intricate, detailed and fully developed. HOWEVER, BE AWARE that each book in the series has 2 published versions/titles. The first book is "Gideon the Cutpurse" (British version) and "The Time Travelers" (American version). The second book in the trilogy is "The Tar Man" (British version) and "The Time Thief" (American version). So far, the 3rd book is entitled "Lord Luxon" but I do not know if this is the British or American version, or what the other title will be. I prefer the British titles and British versions (the hardcover British "Gideon the Cutpurse" version is AWESOME and creative).

Once I stopped buying the same books but different versions, I absolutely loved this trilogy. It is well worth the money and the wait. This is SO MUCH MORE than just another time-travel story. I would even suggest it for people who don't usually go for time travel themes -- the history, power struggles and choices between good vs. bad and right vs. wrong are truly deep and relevant yet not overdone; Just for the simple plot alone, this one's a keeper -- and yes, I've read the Harry Potter series, and Linda Buckley-Archer's Gideon series is well worth the comparison. You won't regret it. For both children and adults alike.

A thief from the year 1763 finds himself in the 21st century. Just think of all the bad things he can do with the technology now available to him.

This is the second book in the series and keeping track of who is where is getting complicated! This starts out with Kate and Mr. Schock traveling back in time to rescue his son, Peter. The only problem lies in the fact that instead of ending up in 1763, they end up 29 years later! They do find Peter but he is unwilling to admit who he is. Plus, the anti-gravity machine has become damaged and is no longer a working machine. NOW how do they get home?

The Tar Man, the thief, finds himself someone willing to teach him about the technology of the 21st century and who is just as willing to do unscrupulous things. All this time travel has the NASA people concerned about the effect on our history and Kate finds that time travel HAS had an affect on her.

We meet French aristocrats, learn how technology allows the Tar Man to gain wealth and that there might be parallel worlds.

Gerald Doyle, as the reader, uses his talents to create different voices so the listener can tell who is speaking. His inflections are wonderful and you can tell English characters from French ones because of this. His ability to do this makes listening easy.

I can't wait for the third book to come out.

This is the sequel to Gideon the Cutpurse, and it's full of twists, turns, and surprises! The first book ended with Peter accidentally left behind in 1763 while Kate and the Tar Man return to the 21st century. Kate is frantic to go back and rescue Peter, while the Tar Man experiences the ultimate culture shock when he is hurled into 21st century London. The reader (same one as in the first book) is absolutely brilliant and adds a great deal to the enjoyment of the story. Highly recommended for age 10 and up. This trilogy would be a good one to read aloud as well, in my opinion. I can hardly wait for the third and final book/audiobook!

This book is so amusing and funny, I loved the first book of this Gideon Trilogy (Gideon the Cutpurse/Time Travelers) and this second novel, The Time Thief, is even better than the first. A fast paced, exciting, hilarious read. Highly recommended for those who love Harry Potter or time travel type stories. Myself as well as my adult friends and also my 4th grade daughter think this book is A+.

The book is an excellent read. It's filled with suspense and action. The characters face some unique problems and have to make some difficult chioces.

Whether you read it as "Gideon, the Cut-purse" or the "The Time Travelers" you may recall that book one in "The Gideon Trilogy" ends with a bang!!! Just as the Peter & Kate are about to return to their own time with Kate's father Dr. Dyer, Peter is thrown aside by the 18th century villain "The Tar Man".

This is where we pick up the story with the Tar Man learning to work with technology to further his evil goals and raise him to a position in society that he could never have attained in the 1700's.

Meanwhile, Kate takes matters into her own hands and goes back to rescue Peter and ends up taking his father back in time with her. But that rescue attempt goes arry when the coordinates are changed and they end up going back to an England where Peter has lived and grown to manhood.

The sequel was even better than the first book and if this ever hit the big screen it would give Harry Potter and Twilight a run for the money!!! I can't wait for part three!!!

My nearly 8 year old son was so in love with the first title, he could barely wait to get his hands on this copy! I'm so glad I found it on Amazon, because you can't beat such a low price on a hardcover. I have read this when he isn't busy with it, and I must say, the writing is brilliant. The details are rich and wonderful, great depth to the characters, and my son loves the contrast of past and modern times. Definitely up there with the Harry Potter series. Highly recommend!

When Kate Dyer and Peter Schock accidentally traveled back in time to the year 1763 --- after an antigravity machine malfunctioned --- they were befriended by Gideon Seymour, a gentleman who is a former cutpurse. Gideon became their guide as they adjusted to living in the 18th century, as well as rescuer when they met the feared Tar Man and the notorious Carrick Gang. While the overall experience shocked and awed the two young time travelers, they still had hope that they would return together to their lives in the 21st century.

However, when a rescue attempt from Dr. Dyer was interrupted, Kate returned to the 21st century, leaving Peter behind. Kate feels guilty for what happened and wants to go back to save her friend immediately. For Kate's family and Dr. Andrea Pirretti, Dr. Dyer's lab partner, there are other matters to contend with. There are the growing questions of Inspector Wheeler, who is strongly suspicious of the children's disappearance, and the NASA scientists' activities. Then there's the antigravity machine-turned-time-travel device and its potential consequences. Dr. Dyer is concerned about getting Peter safely back to the 21st century, whereas Dr. Pirretti is more worried about the negative effects of time travel, particularly if it was used for sinister intentions.

Kate is determined to bring Peter back, so she seeks out the most unlikely yet important person for help --- Peter's father. When they get back to the 18th century, though, they quickly realize that they are not in 1763, but in 1792! Luckily for them, a man comes forward, introducing himself as Joshua Seymour (Gideon's half-brother who sailed to America), and offers to help. Kate is relieved to meet Joshua, but as time goes by, she begins to question who he truly is. The adventure intensifies as the trio visits old friends, makes new acquaintances, and travels to France in the midst of the French Revolution. Unfortunately for Kate, new problems arise when she begins to experience strange symptoms.

Meanwhile, the Tar Man is intent on making a name for himself in 21st-century London. He employs a teenaged girl named Anjail as his guide and is determined to get his way no matter what, sometimes with hilarious results. However, it's not all relatively harmless mischief, especially when the Tar Man hatches a scheme in order to strike it rich and perhaps change history.

Strange alliances and secrets act as catalysts, driving the characters and readers to a stunning conclusion that will leave them with more questions than answers. THE TIME THIEF is a page-turning adventure that features intrigue and action, along with moments of humor and emotional turmoil, bringing the diverse characters and the situations in which they find themselves (no matter the time period) to life.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle

I bought this book for my daughter (13 years old) and she adore it. she read this book in a week.

I liked the first book, so I decided to get the second. Well, personally I think the first one is better. I read most of it and thought that was good, but when I got ninety pages from the end, that changed. Those pages crawled by and I quit reading it. I might have had my head in a different book, so if you want to read it. You might as well have not read this review!