I’ve read and enjoyed some of the books in this rollicking time travelling adventure tale and wanted more of Max’s escapades after reading a particularly intense YA dystopian tale.
Max and Leon are re-united and looking forward to a peaceful lifetime together. But, sadly, they don’t even make it to lunchtime. The action races from 17th century London to Ancient Egypt and from Pompeii to 14th century Southwark as they’re pursued up and down the timeline, playing a perilous game of hide and seek until they’re finally forced to take refuge at St Mary’s – where new dangers await them. As usual, there are plenty of moments of humour, but the final, desperate, Battle of St Mary’s is in grim earnest. Overwhelmed and outnumbered and with the building crashing down around them, how can St Mary’s possibly survive? So, make sure the tea’s good and strong…
Once again Taylor weaves her magic with this entertaining and uniquely Brit take on time travelling adventure. Very loosely inspired by Bletchley, the institution of St Mary’s investigates specific times in history for a shadowy organisation that we feel are a covert part of the government. Consequently, there is a lot of make do and mend as there is not much money in the kitty. This time around, Max discovers a new threat which not only endangers her and Leon, but also threatens the very existence of St Mary’s itself.
As ever, threading through the overarching threat posed, are a number of entertaining episodes set at intriguing times in history, as Max and Leon desperately try to evade their pursuers. These include struggling to evade Nile crocodiles in ancient Egypt, and dodging burning projectiles and smothering ash during the eruption that wipes out Pompeii. All this is told through the viewpoint of Max. She is an adrenaline-junkie with a troubled past and the desert-dry sense of humour that pervades the stories she tells. I love her character, the magnificent understatements regarding some of the madcap adventures she is describing, which makes the tragedy that inevitably accompanies some of the more dangerous exploits, even more poignant. This is indeed a book where I laughed out loud and a few pages later had a lump in my throat – Taylor is an author always manages to produce that reaction in me when I’m reading her books. The battle is a magnificent climax and, as ever, the book ends just in the right place. Thank goodness I have the next one on my Kindle, ready for me to tuck into…
Recommended for fans of time travelling adventure. Though whatever you do, start with the first book in the series, Just One Damned Thing After Another – see my review here – as otherwise, you simply won’t appreciate all the goodness that is layered within The Chronicles of St Mary’s series.
9/10
Excellent review. I read the first one in the series earlier this year and can’t wait to get back to them. Especially after seeing this post. Thank you.
They are great fun, aren’t they? I love this series and I’m glad you do, too, James:). Have a great week.
Most definitely. You, too
Jodi Taylor is now a buy-on-sight author for me. Glad you enjoyed this one.
Yes – I haven’t read a book of hers that I didn’t love…
Not sure I want to wrestle crocodiles but I do think it would be amazing to time travel.
Hm. I love the idea of time travel – but I wouldn’t want to do with with the St Mary’s lot – they are disaster magnets!
Excellent review and thanks for the warning about making sure to start with the first book. Otherwise I could easily see myself jumping in right here and missing a lot of what came before.
Yes – and as you know, I’m someone who regularly barges midway into a series – and I’m very, very glad I didn’t do that with this gem…
One of these days I must get back on board this series! Every time a new book comes out and I come across a review, I want to pick it up again 😀
When I’m feeling a bit fed up or miserable, I reach for one of these books – and they never disappoint.
This series seems to possess a certain Dr.Who quality, especially where some weirdness seems to occur, that I find very appealing 🙂
Added to the “wanted” list, and thank you for sharing!
Yes… it’s certainly imbued with the madcap energy that David Tennant and Matt Smith brought to Dr Who – and they certainly had the best scripts…
I still have the first book waiting to be read. I need to jump on board soon – these sound so good.
Lynn 😀
Oh do! I think you’d love it – and it’s an ideal summer holiday read:))
I remember this series from your reviews – and even though YA is not my cup of tea, I enjoy reading about your impressions of it. 🙂
Yes, it is definitely a mapcap series – I’ve fallen behind somewhat and I do need to catch up…