Back Again

By: Susan May

Narrated by: Anne Johnstonbrown

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Between life and death lies fate and one hell of a fight

Since childhood, Dawn has "lost time." She awakens in strange places, far away from her last memory, confused by the recall of events that cannot be true. Back then, her parents dragged her to counsellors, insisted on medication and wrapped her in cotton balls. Now, all grown up and a single mom, all she wants is to be the best parent she can to her son, while the fear of enduring a sudden “lost time” episode looms over her daily life. 

On this afternoon, only 50 yards from where Dawn has just dropped her son for his weekly guitar lesson, an event is playing out involving a troubled young woman. 

Kylie is having a bad day. She’s had it with her dead-end cashier job which has bored her witless from the start. Her boss is on her back every second of every minute, the moron ex-boyfriend hasn’t stopped harassing her all week and at this single moment she hates the entire world. As she drives from the supermarket lot her phone buzzes, and as usual she picks up. “Don’t drive and text”, everyone says, but that’s never been a problem for her because she’s careful. 

Except this afternoon, when karma intervenes and Dawn’s and her life collide in the most horrific of accidents. 

When the worst tragedy a mother can face occurs, Dawn is devastated and broken, and she doesn’t know how she’ll survive. That is, until 10 days later when she discovers, somehow, she’s been given an incredible gift. Her "lost time" has taken her back again to the morning of the accident. Now saving her son is within her power but there’s a twist she hadn’t figured. She can’t change or do anything differently because she’s become merely a passenger in her own body. 

Only one thing might save her son, but for that she’ll need to discover a simple truth before time runs out. For between life and death lies fate and one hell of a fight. 

Narrated by Anne Johnston Brown, winner of the 2012 Audible Female Voice Award.   

©2014 Susan May (P)2016 Susan May

What would do to save someone you love?

The main character, Dawn, has experienced what the Doctors call "Fugues" all her life. Dawn prefers calling them "slips". Something happens and she loses hours or days of her memory. The most noteworthy slip occurred when Dawn was a young girl and her sister died. However, in reality (or not), Anna didn't die and Dawn was missing for a week. But, Dawn is certain that Anna died and she did something to change time.

Fast forward to Dawn as a single mother. A parent's worst nightmare happens and a tragic accident occurs. Can Dawn somehow change the outcome with her ability? Or, will she just have to relive that horrific day over and over and over again?

I think that everybody has had things happen in their lives that make them say, "If only". If only this, then that. Would we choose to go back in time to change things if we could? Should we? This book had some great moments and some very, very disturbing moments. The author does a wonderful job and you really feel Dawn's anguish throughout the book as she tries to change things. Her descriptions of the "villain", Kylee, was great and I could really picture her in my mind, with her attitude and feeling of entitlement. But, is she really a monster or can she be redeemed?

My only complaint with the book is the middle when Dawn relives that fateful day over and over again. After about 3 chapters, I found myself just wanting to move on. The descriptions of the minutiae involved in trying to change the past got tedious after a while. After several excruciating chapters of this, the ending seemed a little rushed IMHO.

The narrator did a great job and added a lot to the book. I love Susan May's books and her vivid imagination. I also love the Twilight Zone-type story. There is anger, sadness, and finally forgiveness/redemption in this book. All told, a good book to read and maybe learn a little about yourself at the same time as you think about what you would do in Dawn's situation.

Back Again

This was excellent! A harried mother arrives to ick up her sone from a lesson only to see him get hit by a car and killed.The whole story works around her trying to change the past.As time goes on she fears there is no chance to save her son. Anne Johnstonbrown was a very good narrator. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

Wonderful!

How many of us wish we could have a do over? This book gives you a glimpse of what could happen when you get that wish. Well thought out. Made me really get involved with what was happening... maybe this time...

A travel in time!

Loved it! I felt like I was living the life of Dawn! The highs and lows! Narrator makes the story come alive!

Even better than the short story!

Kylie! Oh, Kylie. What a piece of work. I don't want to give anything away so I will just say Kylie is everyone's nightmare. Was her attitude genetic? learned from her parents? learned from school? It is not clear but whoa but she is an unlikable character. I feel sorry for her family, and friends, boss and pretty much anyone whom has to know her. The pity party that girl threw herself was EPIC. I was on edge the entire book. I felt, on many levels, for the mother. What a great book. It is worthy of sequel, should a fitting scenario present itself (hint, hint ).

If you could go back in time....

If you could go back in time to save your child from an accident, of course you would. Since she was a child, Dawn has had "time slips" where she loses random moments of her life. She has never been able to understand why this happens to her, but she has dealt with it as well as possible. When an accident takes her 10 year old son from her, Dawn is determined to try to "control" the time slips in order to go back and save him.
As a parent, I could easily put myself in Dawn's place and feel the despair of reliving her son's death over and over and the desperate hope of trying to change the past to save him, This is a fast-paced drama and another excellent book by Susan May. 5 starts all around!

exceptional

I had first read the short story of this book and I was so sorry it was so short. But Susan May expanded the short story into this fantastic book. My only question or statement I guess is that evidently Dawn didnt let the drs harvest Tommy's organs or the lives of those people would have been drastically changed

A more chilling version of Groundhog Day.

I just downloaded this yesterday and I've already finished it, even listening at work for a little while today. The incredible detail that goes into this story makes it agonizing and enjoyable at the same time, with suspense building all along. I was starting to get frustrated with Kylie until the sun broke through and I discovered the process of learning she was experiencing. Chet is just how I would like to be; accepting and loving and encouraging. Dawn wasn't very likable at first, but then I realized she's just like many of us, struggling to be a good parent, a good neighbor, more accepting of those around us. The performance just moved it along at a brisk pace, keeping me captivated.

It's Susan May, need I say that it's fabulous?

Yes, this is, yet again, another great book by Susan May. The premise is not new (going back in time to prevent a tragedy) but she manages to give it a new twist in the way that it's developed, and she accomplishes to get us interested through wonderfully written characters.

It's easy to sympathise with Dawn and her anguish, her desperation. And yes, the emotional impact of the story makes it hard to read for moments, particularly if you're a mother yourself. Dawn's struggle between hope and agony is terrible to witness but oh, so compelling, and you'll find yourself so immersed in the story that won't note the way you're hurrying to the end.

And I loved the final twist, the way in which Dawn, through what seems like endless, hopeless repetition, finally understands not only her pain, but Kylie's too. I won't say more, because I don't want to spoil the story, but it's wonderful.

A truly great read, the kind Ms May usually delivers.

WOW WOW WOW

best one so far...cannot wait to listen to another..YOUR AMAZING. YOU ARE THE BEST EVER..

Gripping

I found the narrative unique and very moreish. At times the narrator's intakes of breath at the start of a sentence were off-putting and I had to slow down the speed of delivery.

New twist on an old theme.

I do enjoy Susan May’s style of writing. Her characters are believable and easy to picture and the supernatural twists to her stories always add the extra layer. Although I enjoyed this story I will admit to it not being my favourite so far. That doesn’t mean I disliked it.
I did find it difficult at times to listen beyond the narrator’s voice. Although Ann Johnstonbrown is very talented at voices which makes it easy to discern between characters, and even adds another level to the characters, she uses a particular staccato pronunciation for the non dialogue parts which I found irritating.

wonders of the world

I loved listening to this book while I was painting the fence in the lovely sunshine while we are all on lock down.
I felt so sorry for Dawn when her son got killed, all I kept thinking to myself, please let it be a slip and then there it was!! I was left thinking will Carly get with the doctor and have a wonderful life?? Plus is there such thing as slips ? ( it's like dejavu)
wow wonders of the world will never cease

Great story!

Loved the concept of this story. This was the full version of my favourite story from the authors book of short stories ‘Behind Dark Doors’. It’s really was a very emotional rollercoaster and I couldn’t put it down. I’d definitely recommend it if you like stories with lots of suspense and twists and turns!

Worth getting!

I really liked this book it’s definitely worth getting. it was quite emotional and all over the place but in a good way. I had a lot of sympathy for the main character and how she kept having to relive the accident. The narrator has a lovely clear and calming voice so i was able to follow along very easily.

Thrilling, emotional listen by superb combination

Dawn's tragic history is brought to her present with the loss of her son in a tragic accident - can 10 seconds really make a difference?

Anne Johnstonebrown is an award winning narrator and proved why once again, in this thrilling tale. Perhaps a little emotional for the genre, I was however caught up in the ride and the story progressed steadily to an unexpected conclusion.

Worth the credit for anyone looking for an exciting thriller.