Book Review: Expiration Date by Duane Swierczynski

Expiration Date is my favorite read this year and has been added to my all time favorites list. It’s fun. No, I mean FUN! REALLY FUN!! Okay, I’ll stop. What’s it about?

Mickey Wade is a recently-unemployed journalist who lucked into a rent-free apartment—his sick grandfather’s place. The only problem: it’s in a lousy neighborhood—the one where Mickey grew up, in fact. The one he was so desperate to escape.

But now he’s back. Dead broke. And just when he thinks he’s reached rock bottom, Mickey wakes up in the past. Literally.

At first he thinks it’s a dream. All of the stores he remembered from his childhood, the cars, the rumble of the elevated train. But as he digs deeper into the past, searching for answers about the grandfather he hardly knows, Mickey meets the twelve-year-old kid who lives in the apartment below.  The kid who will grow up to someday murder Mickey’s father.

This book originally caught my attention in a review on Bookgasm.  When I read that the main character takes Tylenol from a bottle dated back in 1982 and slips back in time, I couldn't resist.  I picked it up, read it in a few days and loved it.

I found this method of time travel unique and comical, which carried over into the personalities of the characters. In addition, Swierczynski creates real and honest characters that you love and hate. I also loved his writing style. It's fast paced and almost like reading a much longer version of a graphic novel. There were times my heart raced while reading and that's a gift. Can't wait to read more by Swierczynski.

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This blog post has been added to the Frightening Fiction Review, a month long blog hop hosted by Blood Reads eZine, for readers and writers who love the night. Join the hop and share reviews of our favorite dark fiction.