At St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research, the historians don’t just study the past, they revisit it. Behind the strait-laced façade of a conventional academic institution, the secret of time travel has been discovered and is being used for ground-breaking and daring historical research. The series takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride through history: from the destruction of Pompeii to … to the trenches of the First World War; from the Great Fire of London to the burning of the library at Alexandria; from Bronze Age Troy to the time of the dinosaurs… Meanwhile, within at St Mary’s itself, there are power struggles, romances and intrigues worthy of a book in themselves.
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A hint of supernatural is tossed in as Max and crew try to rectify a mistake with Arthur’s sword. Yes, THAT Arthur, and again in a very, very, very early Stonehenge.
And no discussion of Stonehenge can not include a Spinal Tap reference and quote.
“I do not, for one, think that the problem was that the band was down. I think that the problem may have been that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf.”
Ok, I’ve noted in the past (I’m looking at you Book 5) that Max’s reckless behavior was starting to get to me, but fortunately, she redeemed herself in Book 6. I started this book expecting to absolutely hate it. I read the synopsis and a handful of reviews and I really thought this would be it for me. That Max would push everyone too far (including me), and I would scrap the series.
Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be my favorite of the series thus far! I’m sorry, but I TOTALLY side with Max, Peterson, Markham, Sands, and Roberts on this one. I believe that while what they did was incredibly stupid, it was also right. I also think it was good for Max to finally see and feel what it’s like to be on the outs with everyone. I think it will help her be a little more stable and cautious (but not TOO cautious!) in the future.
The ending was CRAZY! Talk about nail-biting suspense. Of course, you know that’s it’s all going to work out in the end, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t pop on over to the beginning of the next chapter just to see where she was.
Overall, I loved this installment. My favorite of the series at this point. Max has shown real growth and maturity (strange, I know), and some of the background characters are starting to become much more visible and personal. Peterson and Markham especially are coming into their own within the series, and I’m really enjoying it.
A couple of mini-stories in-between, then it’s off to Book 8!
Love this series!
I enjoyed this story and in fact all of the books on the series. Unique storytelling.
Although this series has a sadly altogether too appropriate a jaundiced view of America, it presented wry Brit humor at its snarkiest. I believe this series was one of the most original versions of the time traveling genre that I have had the pleasure of reading, and I wound up working my way through the whole series. I am crossing my fingers that someone picks this up as either a British TV series (they do better casting) or at least as a movie.
Such a great series with a neat premise and great characters.
A rollicking good time! Highly recommended. The whole series is amazing fun to read.
What can I say – really? These books are my guilty pleasure, and I love everyone of them.
Another brilliant St Mary’s book. I am going to sound like an old record on here but this series is totally and utterly first class.
I don’t know how Jodi Taylor does it. Every single book in this series is GREAT. Wonderful humor, glorious characters, and hysterical plots. Brava!!