I think it was well written because the concept seems interesting in itself that people could go back in time or into the future. Albert Einstein has a better theory though
The answer is "the 1st year of the lost colonies settlements coincided with an extreme drought" and "no member of the lost Colony was ever located"
In cruel tribute, the author build suspense most by: waiting to reveal the minotaur
I the stories, the city where the main character lives annually gave out a sacrificial victim to be eaten by the Minotaur in order to prevent the destruction of the entire city .Because of this, A lot of suspense was created everytime the characters stand and wait for the arrival of the minotaur that come for its victim.