Paradox Bound

This science fiction book by Peter Clines is based on the premise that The American Dream is actually a physical thing "a powerful incarnation of the values of the Founding Fathers, who summoned the Egyptian God of Creation to forge their totem" (Kirkus). It has, however, in spite of the best efforts of the (literally) "faceless government men" to protect it, disappeared. And whoever finds it first, will control the destiny of the country and, therefore, significantly influence the future of the world. There is an entire cadre of people who are roving through history in antique cars and trains (the reasons for this are explained) looking for the hiding place of the dream. Over the decades, the mission of the faceless men has shifted from protecting the Dream to killing those hunting for the dream, the Searchers. Eli Teague has lived a relatively mundane life in the backwater town of Sanders, Maine. There's still a video store in town. There's not great phone access and no internet, so he works as an IT guy in the bank of a nearby town. But the reason he hangs around are two extraordinary encounters he has had when younger with a woman in a frock coat and tri-corne hat driving a souped up Model A. She appears out of nowhere and has, on one occasion, disappeared pursued by a large black car with men shooting at her. Eli, now nearly 30, encounters Harry (short for Harriet) Pritchard once again and this time he goes with her on a fast-paced chase across the country and back, through several time periods in her quest to find the Dream. Occasionally a little tricky to wrap your head around, but a fun read nevertheless. In addition to the review from Kirkus (above), here's a review from Publishers Weekly.