I have become a bit of a Ben H. Winters fan, so I encourage you to check out his The Last Policeman trilogy (https://www.margueritereads.com/home/the-last-policeman-by-ben-winters), which is excellent. Next, take a look at my reviews for two of his other books, Golden State (https://www.margueritereads.com/home/golden-state-by-ben-h-winters?rq=golden%20state), and The Quiet Boy (https://www.margueritereads.com/home/the-quiet-boy-by-ben-h-winters?rq=ben%20h%20winters).

Big Time is an examination of the concept of time, looked at from different characters’ points of view, using a science fiction device, within a suspenseful mystery and race against time to save a woman in serious trouble. Grace is a mid-level bureaucrat at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who in the course of her work investigating medical devices, learns of a woman with a portacath (an implanted device for delivering medicine, or drawing blood by accessing a direct venous line) that needs to be identified. Grace feels that her life has passed her by, sandwiched between the needs of a souless job, her live-in aging mother, and teen daughter. When confronted with this woman in obvious trouble, Grace instinctively cannot resist, and feels compelled to find her, and save her from the trouble she is trying to escape.

Winters juggles several action threads apart from Grace. We see the kidnapping of the mysterious woman, and get a sense of her mental crisis, as she appears to be losing her identity and memories, which are wrestling for control with another identity and set of memories. Previously known as Allie, but with the identity of Ana trying to take over, she is able to escape her abductor, trying to figure out who did this to her, and how it can be undone. We also follow her kidnapper, Desiree, who is a ruthless machine unaccustomed to failing to deliver on time. Desiree is thwarted at every turn, but relentlessly in hot pursuit. Grace, Allie/Ana, and Desiree are careening to an exciting climactic meeting at the home of Dr. Stargell, the scientist who started this entire episode years ago, with her real world attempt to prove her theory about the true nature of time in the human body and psyche.

Dr. Stargell posited that time is a physical entity residing in our bodies, that can be removed, added to, or transplanted, like any other organ. Stargell sought to prove that our bodies hold durational element, a physical deposit of the time we have for our lives. I am not familiar with all time travel literature, but this is a novel concept for explaining our experience of time, to me. Time as a journey, a river, sands in an hourglass, time pressure, making time, time dragging and time gone in a blink of an eye— we experience, and seek to express all the ways we feel time in our lives in these and many more ways.

Grace’s family each represent a different part of the life span and time experience. Kathy, Grace’s mom, is aging, losing autonomy, approaching the end of her life. River, Grace’s non-binary teenage child, is impatient and bored, looking for meaning and adventure. Grace herself has felt life pass her by, stuck with work and family pressures, and missed out on her dream of crusading in court for those in need. Allie/Ana is losing memories, losing the time she lived. Desiree is losing time, for her experienced as losing money as a contractor. Time is money, control, memories of our life.

Winters has an entertaining voice. He can switch between distinctive characters, describe inner thoughts, make complicated action between several characters clear. You will root for Grace and her family. I have not told you about all the plot twists and characters, since the surprises are part of the fun and suspense. Another great beach read, page turner, maybe even lighter fare for a summer book group.