All The Time in the World by Elizabeth McKay #virtualbooktour #allthetimeintheworld @elizlmckay @crowvuslit @randomthingstours @elizlmckay.bsky.social

 

Imagine a world not governed by time.

When twelve-year-old twins Jake and Abi stumble upon the mysterious Merchiston Hall, they think they’ve found somewhere to work, somewhere to sleep, and, if they’re lucky, a place to stay safe.

Instead, they discover a world unlike anything they’ve ever known.

A house with no clock.
Unicorns roaming the grounds.
And a bridge across the river that nobody wants them to cross.

For the first time since their mother’s death, Jake and Abi begin to feel happy. They begin to feel at home.

But there is an underlying threat of a stolen power - the ability to control all the time in the world.

All The Time in the World by Elizabeth McKay was published on 15 September 2026 by Crowvus. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours virtual book tour 

I don't often read children's fiction. I can't remember the last time I picked up a book aimed at younger readers. However, I'd been struggling with a bit of a reading block, nothing was really grabbing my attention and I fancied something a little different. At just over 200 pages, Elizabeth McKay's All The Time in the World seemed like a good choice. And what a lovely little read it turned out to be.

Twelve-year-old twins Jake and Abi have had a difficult time since losing their mother. When they arrive at Merchiston Hall, they want to find work, somewhere to sleep and to feel safe. What they discover is something quite different.

Merchiston Hall is not an ordinary house. There are no clocks, unicorns roam the grounds and there's a bridge that nobody seems particularly keen for them to cross. For the first time in ages, the twins begin to feel safe and happy. However, there's something sinister lurking beneath the magic, and it soon becomes clear that all is not quite as wonderful as it seems.

I really enjoyed the setting. I really love a mysterious old house where time doesn't behave as it should! Elizabeth McKay has created an imaginative world, with enough intrigue and adventure to keep the pages turning.

Beneath the fantasy and magic are some lovely themes of family, friendship, kindness and belonging. Jake and Abi are children who have experienced real sadness, and their longing for somewhere to call home gives the story real warmth. 

It's an easy, engaging read and exactly what I needed. Sometimes a shorter book, something completely outside your usual reading habits, is just the thing to get you back into reading.

A charming, imaginative little adventure that reminded me children's fiction isn't just for children. I'm really pleased I gave this one a chance.

Elizabeth still lives in the small Ayrshire town she grew up in and likes to get involved in numerous community activities – Tai Chi, art, fitness classes. 

She’s had a go at all of them with variable degrees of success. But her favourite thing is leading the brilliant book group at the library which often entails outings to local bookshops or places they’ve been reading about. 

She is the author of three picture books and has had hundreds of short stories and articles published in magazines, as well as being the winner of several writing awards. 

She believes the best thing about being a children’s author is visiting schools and hopefully helping to instil in children a love of books. 

When she’s not doing writerly things she’s most likely to be found with her feet up, reading a book and eating cake - all at the same time.