Locked in Time
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Lois Duncan |
| Products | Suspense novel |
Locked in Time is a suspense novel released in 1985 by Lois Duncan. The narrative centers on Nore, a seventeen-year-old girl who relocates to live with her father and his new family. She quickly becomes suspicious of their strange behavior. Duncan developed the storyline inspired by her own daughter's teenage challenges, delving into themes related to immortality.
This book received multiple accolades, including the 1988 South Carolina Young Adult Book Award and the 1989 Nevada Young Readers' Award. In 2011, it was republished with revisions to update the content for contemporary readers, accompanied by an audiobook edition.
Plot
Seventeen-year-old Nore Robbins spends her summer at her father Chuck’s plantation in Louisiana, living with her stepmother Lisette Bergé, stepbrother Gabe, and stepsister Josie. Having recently lost her mother, this marks Nore’s first experience with her new family. She soon detects unusual conduct: Josie recounts witnessing the Hartford circus fire from the 1940s, and a local resident identifies Lisette as appearing unchanged over many years. Lisette’s explanation regarding her name only deepens Nore’s suspicions.
During a fishing excursion, Gabe intentionally causes the boat to crash, leaving Nore stranded in the water. Her father dismisses her concerns as an accident. Determined to find evidence, Nore uncovers an old photograph showing Lisette, Josie, and Gabe looking identical despite wearing different clothing styles. Discussions with Dave Parlange, a local employee knowledgeable about the Bergé family history dating back to the 1930s, reveal that Henri Bergé and his wife died in the 1920s, yet their descendants continue to reside on the property. Dave also mentions a locked cabin containing confidential family records.
Nore secretly enters Lisette’s room to gain access to the cabin and discovers marriage certificates revealing Lisette’s six previous marriages along with a journal describing a pact for eternal youth in exchange for companionship. Lisette agreed on the condition that her children would share this eternal life. Gabe catches Nore snooping and later confiscates her findings before their father leaves on a business trip.
When Nore attempts to leave the estate, she finds the gate locked with a padlock. Planning to escape through a dovecote, she returns to gather more proof but is confronted by Gabe inside the cabin. He reveals Lisette’s intention to kill both Nore and Chuck to secure an inheritance, noting that Lisette has previously murdered husbands to conceal their unaging state. Just then, Dave arrives as Gabe demands keys from Lisette outside; she traps them inside and sets fire to the cabin.
Josie arrives with keys given by Gabe and rescues them; Gabe crashes while trying to get help alongside Lisette, both dying instantly. After these incidents, the plantation is sold to Louisiana for conversion into a museum. Josie moves in with Nore and Chuck in New York.
Background
Locked in Time was originally published in hardcover by Little, Brown and Company in April 1985. Duncan created the plot inspired by her thirteen-year-old daughter’s struggles with body image issues, imagining what it would be like if adolescence never ended. The original working title was Clock with No Hands, but after editorial suggestions, it was changed to Locked in Time to better suit its Southern summer setting.
In October 2011, Little, Brown released an updated paperback edition featuring modernized elements. Duncan mentioned that updating this story was simpler than others due to its historical context and secluded location, which minimized extensive changes. One significant update involved adding cell phones; however, to preserve narrative tension, Duncan introduced a dead phone scenario explaining why characters could not call for assistance. The 2011 audiobook version narrated by Jaselyn Blanchard and published by Hachette Audio was praised for its authentic Southern accents and distinct character voices.
Major themes
Duncan explained that the narrative delves into the concept of immortality and the challenges associated with maintaining a constant physical age. Critics have also pointed out a persistent motif in Duncan’s stories: a parent’s skepticism when their child is facing danger. In Locked in Time, Nore attempts to persuade her father about her findings, but he remains unconvinced. Cosette Kies observed that the book merges elements of occult horror with threats of murder.
Reception
Locked in Time received a nomination for the 1986 Edgar Award in the Best Juvenile category. That same year, it was featured on the Children's Choices list curated by the International Reading Association and Children's Book Council, highlighting titles favored by young audiences. Additionally, it was included in the University of Iowa's 1986 Books for Young Adults list, which is based on feedback from students in grades 10 through 12. The novel earned multiple state-level honors: South Carolina Young Adult Book Award (1988), Nevada Young Readers' Award (1989), and Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award (1989–1990). In 1999, the American Library Association recognized a Laurel-Leaf paperback edition as a Popular Paperback for Young Adults.
Lois Duncan named both Locked in Time and Stranger with My Face among her preferred works for young adults. Reviewers commended the book for its fluid prose, well-developed characters, and effective integration of fantasy elements with realistic storytelling, all paced skillfully. Sarah Hayes characterized it as engaging, accessible, and chilling despite its straightforward style. Carolyn Gabbard Fugate emphasized the suspenseful atmosphere created by the setting of an aged Louisiana mansion. Leila Roy found Nore’s narration somewhat melodramatic but still enjoyable. Mari Ness pointed out the novel’s unexpectedly slow conclusion and noted inconsistencies related to legal and financial details.
See also
- Tuck Everlasting – A story centered on characters who live forever