Time Terminus by David B Gittlin is a fast-paced, character-driven novella. Peter has just come from a long trip and plans to dismiss the subject before him as soon as possible. Shaun Hennessy, a former Cambridge University physics professor and a friend of his father, has acquired a strange meteor that he soon discovers can cause the things around it to time travel. Hennessy has come to Peter for financial assistance in harnessing the power of the rock to build a time machine. But Hennessy's proposal makes no sense to Peter. Soon after, Peter calls Issac, a longtime friend, and asks him to look into a $1.5 million loss he believes he has suffered at the hands of a firm. This probe would undoubtedly cost Peter a fortune, and he is now considering Hennessy's proposition in which he plans to travel back in time and reverse his trades to compensate for his recent losses. Will Hennessy's time travel project succeed, or will his collaboration with Peter result in even more losses for Peter?

David B Gittlin kept the complicated tale interesting and simple to follow. I loved this because I was never overwhelmed by the number of characters and moving components in the plot, and I thought he did a fantastic job organizing all the action and suspense. What I appreciated the most about Time Terminus was the author's tremendous inventiveness and vividness in developing the characters and plot. His development of multiple subplots that all contributed to the main plot was remarkable. The plot diversions did not distract me from the core plotline. I loved reading the dialogues, which I felt to be both intriguing and authentic. David let his characters say anything they wanted without having their contributions seem forced. The author's flashback technique allowed him to convey background information to the reader without interfering with the narration. David also added humor to his writing, which never failed to make me smile. One humorous scenario that sticks in my mind is when Tommy jokingly questioned Jaquan about why sensors would be needed in a nation where sheep outnumber people. I couldn't stop giggling at this point and laughed out loud. Along the way, some heartbreaking moments had me turning the pages, eager to get to the conclusion. I was satisfied with this book's ending, which thoughtfully addressed the unanswered problems.

Time Terminus: Expect the Unexpected by David B Gittlin is a fascinating novella that will hold your undivided attention from the beginning. The story unfolds as Peter Alistair arrives in his office on the Orkney Islands in Northern Scotland from New York. Highland Gold is a successful family-owned distillery catering to a wealthy clientele. Waiting to see him is Shaun Hennessy with an unusual proposition. When Peter’s father died, he took over the company and employed Isaac Templeton to terminate his company’s distribution contracts in the US. Templeton is a successful lawyer with a beautiful artist girlfriend, Anna, living a comfortable life. The couple meets at a charity event where Anna has donated a painting to be auctioned. What follows is a series of extraordinary events that will change Isaac's and Anna's lives unpredictably.

David B Gittlin’s Time Terminus is a mesmerizing read. Gittlin is good at creating the unexpected. He will keep you guessing from the first page to the last chapter. There is a revelation at the end that you will never see coming. The plot has many twists and turns for a novella, but the author masterfully weaves them together without needing to use too many words. The characters are interesting, complex, and well-developed. The narration is fast-paced and easy to follow. This short story can be finished in one sitting because you won't want to put it down. If you are a fan of surprise endings, this book is for you!