The Story

In a future where time travel is regulated, someone commits a baffling crime. They don't try to kill Hitler or steal treasure. Instead, they smuggle a crate of modern rifles back to a tribe of Neanderthals. Time Police agent Verkan Vall is assigned the case. His job isn't just to arrest the culprit, but to understand the motive. Why arm prehistoric people? The investigation becomes a race across time, from the futuristic Paratime Police headquarters to the dangerous, icy plains of the past, as Vall uncovers a scheme that's both shockingly simple and brilliantly audacious.

Why You Should Read It

Piper's genius is in making time travel feel like a logistics problem. The Paratime Police are less superheroes and more like very specialized detectives. The fun isn't in epic battles, but in the methodical piecing together of a puzzle where the clues are separated by centuries. Vall is a great guide—competent, thoughtful, and just as curious as the reader. The book makes you think about cause and effect in a fresh way, focusing on unintended consequences and weird loopholes instead of grand paradoxes.

Final Verdict

This is a classic for fans of smart, idea-driven science fiction. If you love stories where the 'aha!' moment comes from clever deduction rather than a laser fight, this is for you. It's also a fantastic pick if you're tired of overly complex time travel plots; Piper's version is clean, logical, and surprisingly down-to-earth. A tightly written, satisfying puzzle of a book that proves the smallest crime in time can have the biggest implications.