Book Two in the madcap time-travel series based at the St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research that seems to be everyone’s cup of tea. In the second book in the Chronicles of St Mary’s series, Max and the team visit Victorian London in search of Jack the Ripper, withess the murder of Archbishop Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, and discover that dodos make a grockling noise when eating … eating cucumber sandwiches. But they must also confront an enemy intent on destroying St Mary’s – an enemy willing, if necessary, to destroy History itself to do it.
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I have read MANY of Jodi Taylor’s books. The Chronicles of St Mary’s are some of my favorite books. Hysterically funny with characters you will fall in never forget. Trust me here, you will not regret starting this series!
I can never remember the order these chronicles were published in but as they’re all brilliant it hardly matters. To be so well educated in history while laughing out loud is surely the sign of a genius author at work
In the second book in the series, the time-traveling historians of St. Mary’s discover that items (and living creatures) that are destined to be destroyed can be safely brought into the future, so the team sets out to save historic treasures where possible, including the dodo. The Great Dodo Hunt is hilarious. Quote: “I was rapidly concluding that their extinction might not have been completely man’s fault. Dodos — our dodos anyway — displayed the parenting skills of a brick.”
Recommended for anyone who enjoys history, time travel and snark.
The second book is just as good as the first. V much looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
3.5 Stars
This was another fun and crazy romp through time with Max and the rest of the St. Mary’s gang. While I’m starting to get used to the break-neck speed with which things happen, it’s still a little jarring just how quickly things move in this story.
My main complaints with this book seem to echo everyone else’s…
What was up with Jack the Ripper? CLEARLY there was some kind of supernatural sci-fi thing going on there, but it was never explored. What was the creature? How did it BECOME that creature and how was it able to survive such injuries??
Also, the relationship between Max and the Chief is incredibly juvenile and over-the-top immature. I actually had to go back and check that I hadn’t missed anything because I could not for the life of me figure out why she was destroying his car. SURELY it couldn’t be because he turned her down for sex, could it?? Yep. Turns out that’s all it was. And they spent months not speaking to one another all because of a huge miscommunication. It was so middle-school and childish.
Outside of those two things though, I really enjoyed the story and the places they went. I’m still mixing characters up and not quite remembering who is who, but I’ll get there. I’m gonna start writing people down and marking who they are so I can keep track when I start Book #3. Maybe that’ll make things a bit easier.
Love the series. Can’t wait to read the next installment. Great character development that grows on the experiences of each book. Would recommend for everyone. The books are an historical novelization that’s fun and well plotted.
I loveth3se books
I like the combination of historical info,adventure and humor. Great characters
Great story, lots of fun history.
This is one of my favourite series, The characters are relatable and genuine, the predicaments surprising and unpredictable. In turns, heart-wrenchingly horrifying, then laugh out loud funny, with a great historical bent. I have learned more history since reading these books than I would have though, her scenarios making me go and investigate on my own 🙂
An entertaining and whimsical time-travel romp. The historical points of reference are always amusing – and sometimes instructional. The characters are fun. I’m always intrigued by the complexities of a story line that is challenged by disruptions of the timeline and the chaos that ensues.
Loved all of the series
These books are a true gem. Wonderful character development and unpredictable storylines. This is the second book in the series. Definitely need to be read in order.
Fantastic! Jodi Taylor is brilliant!
Fast paced and funny time travel romp.
Love this series but it’s not for everyone. I think it’s well written and research has been done on the historical plots. Books have plot twists that you don’t see coming and some you don’t want to see.
I like this series…you don’t have to read all of them, but they are better if you do.
Very technical science focused while being very entertaining and action packed. A very rare combination.
Read about St. Mary’s and you too will be hooked! Anything Jodi Taylor writes I look forward to reading. Her characters and her plots are now my friends and my adventures.
I really liked her first book but even though this one sometimes had the same characteristics of the first, i.e. a good plot, good intelligence behind it, fun events, good characters, etc., it was less well done. Also, it was quite violent. I am hoping the next in the series is better.
A fun idea and a fun read.