A madcap new slant on history that seems to be everyone’s cup of tea… Behind the seemingly innocuous façade of St Mary’s, a different kind of historical research is taking place. They don’t do ‘time-travel’ – they ‘investigate major historical events in contemporary time’. Maintaining the appearance of harmless eccentrics is not always within their power – especially given their propensity for … for causing loud explosions when things get too quiet. Meet the disaster-magnets of St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research as they ricochet around History. Their aim is to observe and document – to try and find the answers to many of History’s unanswered questions…and not to die in the process. But one wrong move and History will fight back – to the death. And, as they soon discover – it’s not just History they’re fighting. Follow the catastrophe curve from eleventh-century London to World War I, and from the Cretaceous Period to the destruction of the Great Library at Alexandria. For wherever Historians go, chaos is sure to follow in their wake … “History is just one damned thing after another” – Arnold Toynbee
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I enjoyed the first book in this St. Mary’s series so much I ended up buying all the books and reading straight through them. Lots of laugh out loud moments. Love the weaving of history and science fiction.
This series is absolutely FANTASTIC!!! Great characters, innovative storyline, and hands down the funniest, laugh-out-loud stuff I’ve ever read. But this is History, experienced first hand, and there is no whitewashing of nasty detail. Ms. Taylor never lets you forget that History is people, real people. People who loved, hated, laughed, cried, glorified, and died.
This whole series is really engaging. Reading these I can leave my own worries and follow a team with action-packed purpose!
Great starter for possble series. I look forward to reading more of this series and more from this author.
Very amusing characters and setup. I’ve enjoyed this whole series. The history– well, the stuff WE know about– is spot-on and accurate. The eccentricity is great fun.
Childish. Boring. Had to force myself to finish this.
Great little story. Loved it. It really sparks the imagination as should any good time travel novel. Although this one has more relationship development and less time travel. Some romance, and some worthy sex scenes, tasteful and properly motivated. The protagonist is a strong female character that is very believable. As soon as I read the first hundred pages I purchased the next three in the series. By the time I finished the first one I was glad I did. This book is four stars instead of five even though I read it in one sitting. There were a lot of British colloquialisms that tossed me about some along with the language and syntax where I had to go back and reread (and still found it difficult to understand even in context). Overall, loved the story and the characters and I’m strapped in for the rest of the series.
For any time travel aficionados, I highly recommend this one.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
Look forward to reading other books in the series when I can get them free or for low price. Very low
I have the sequel in my reading queue, if that tells you anything.
so much fun chasing history around… if you love Dr WHO come meet the fine folks at St. Mary’s!
Max and her time traveling fellow historians are great fun! Love the whole series!
This is the first novel in Jodi Taylor’s Chronicles of St. Mary’s series, and is pretty much typical of all of them. From first page to last, it’s hard to put down! NOT just another time-travel book! Max is a historian who “investigates historical events in contemporary time”. Every time you think you know what’s coming next, Taylor has another surprise for you. By turns, knee-slappingly funny, tragic, and romantic, Max keeps on going, swinging from one disaster to another as she tries to make sense of her own life while trying to cope with everything from the Cretaceous Period to the 17th century.
The series is now up to 10 volumes, along with numerous short stories to fill in gaps between novels. Take a chance on this book – I guarantee you’ll be hooked and working your way through all 10 plus the shorts!
This is the first of a long time travel series–editing in the first one was a little lax, but the books get better as you move along–there were times when the historical bits left me in the dust (not from Britain), but all in all very entertaining and funny.
Pleasantly surprised at how good this book was, originally self published and now one of a multiple series of historical novels. On the order of the TV show-TIMELESS.
If you like a entertaing ,fast read …this one fits the bill. Starting the second now. Really enjoyed it.
SO, so very glad that I discovered Jodi Taylor’s St. Mary’s series! 😀
Very clever with ‘take no prisoners’ dialog.
I love this whole series – a super fun read!
The best first book of a series I’ve ever read. The characters leap off the page, begging you to go on their next adventure with them. Jodi Taylor rocks.
I enjoy this series so much!
The first book that started me off on the road to St Mary’s. These are just brilliant!