The thirteenth in the series has just come out (Thursday in fact) and I’m on a bit of a binge, so here we are with a series I love post about the time travellers, sorry historians who investigate in contemporary time at the St Mary’s Institute for Historical Research. If I had to describe these in a sentence I would go for: time travel adventure books with a comic (mostly darkly comic) twist.
Now this is one series where you definitely want to read in order, because it’s complicated and there is a running plot and a running enemy. And at the start of the first book, Just One Damned Thing After Another, we are introduced to St Mary’s as Max joins the staff – which is great because it means that you get everything explained to you as it is explained to her and you meet all the characters you’re going to get to know and love as you go through the series. And then soon you’re hurtling through history with the disaster magnets of St Marys as they try to find out what really happened at various historical events or research what life was really like centuries ago.
A couple of warnings: there’s some sexual violence in the first book that may be a no no for some people. And when things go wrong, they really go wrong – and some times it’s not fixable. Oh and Jodi Taylor is also not averse to killing characters off. Try not to get too attached to anyone. I also think that the series has gone way beyond what Taylor was originally anticipating – and sometimes when you read a lot of them back to back you can see that a little bit.
But either all that out of the way, this series is a rollicking ride through history – which is accurate enough about the things I know about not to make me ragey, is able to make you cry as well as laugh and isn’t afraid to make major changes to the lives of its characters – no endless love triangles a la Steph Plum here. Taylor seems able to write a couple of novels a year and there are also stacks of short stories that fit in between the full length novels. Oh and there’s a spin of series which I own but haven’t started reading yet. So if you do get into it you have plenty to work your way through.
Happy long weekend everyone!
Verity Reads Books (lots of them) 
I love, love, love this series as well. I have a shirt that reads, and then the world went white I have yet to meet anyone that has understood – but I know if I ever do, they will be a kindred spirit.
If you have any suggestions for a series to read after finishing this one, I’d love to hear them. I’m already in withdrawal after book 13, lol!
I don’t think there is an equivalent. If you haven’t read To Say Nothing of the Dog, that has the time travel-y side of things, but it doesn’t have the rest of it.
Try The Invisible Library, not the same precis but still a great series.
I’ve read the first one – and I have a couple more on the kindle I think. I should try and read them right?!
Is there any romance in this book series? It seems interesting but 13 books is a commitment and I wouldn’t mind a little bit of slow burn drawn out if possible?