Just One Damned Thing After Another

Starred review from February 15, 2016
The first novel in Taylor’s Chronicles of St. Mary’s series (of which six volumes have been published in the U.K., with more forthcoming) takes readers on a carnival ride through laughter and tears with a bit of time travel thrown in for spice. St. Mary’s Institute of Historical Research is kind of, but not quite, attached to England’s Thirsk University; it’s dependent on the educational institution for funding and ostensibly receives some oversight. But St. Mary’s has its own mission to undertake. The Historians, aided by a phalanx of support personnel, are tasked with traveling throughout the past and reporting their findings. They’re restricted to observation only, with minimal interaction. Madeleine “Max” Maxwell, an expert in the field of history, finds herself pulled into the institute’s chaotic orbit, and she brings her own special brand of madcap innovation. Of course, her introduction to time travel doesn’t go smoothly, especially as several people are out to destroy St. Mary’s and all within its hallowed walls. The humor is plentiful, but the comic situations aren’t overly exaggerated. Max’s world is depicted in lush detail, mixed with appropriately interesting historical tidbits. U.S. readers will be impatient for later installments to make their way across the Atlantic.

May 15, 2016

A job interview arranged by a former teachers leads Madeline "Max" Maxwell to a new career as a time-traveling historian with St. Mary's Institute of Historical Research. The researchers are under strict orders to observe only--no interaction with the locals is allowed. But from her first mission rescuing artifacts from the Great Library of Alexandria, Max soon realizes that time travel is a dangerous activity and that history will go to elaborate lengths to protect itself. VERDICT Taylor does a great job of setting up an appealing cast of characters in this new series opener, most especially the intrepid Max. There is plenty of humor, lots of action, and even a touch of romance. Six more entries are out in the UK and due to be published here in the next year.--MM

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