A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. Astonishingly, Dr Bairstow has declared a holiday. Even more astonishingly - he's paying for it. Needless to say, there are strings attached. They have to record the 1601 performance of Hamlet, with Shakespeare himself in the role of the Ghost. It doesn't go well, of course. With Dr Bairstow and Mrs Mack turning a simple visit to a street market into a public brawl, Professor Rapson inadvertently stowing away on a vessel bound for the New World, and Shakespeare himself going up in flames, it would seem that Max, of all people, is the only one actually completing the assignment. Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'Once in a while, I discover an author who changes everything... Jodi Taylor and her protagonista Madeleine "Max" Maxwell have seduced me' 'A great mix of British proper-ness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun' 'Addictive. I wish St Mary's was real and I was a part of it' 'Jodi Taylor has an imagination that gets me completely hooked' 'A tour de force'

'One of my favourite books of all time' CHARLAINE HARRIS 'Jodi Taylor is quite simply the Queen of Time. Her books are a swashbuckling joyride through History' C. K. MCDONNELL 'A great mix of British properness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ Meet St Mary's - a group of tea-soaked disaster magnets who hurtle their way around History. - If the whole of History lay before you, where would you go? When Dr Madeleine Maxwell is recruited by the St Mary's Institute of Historical Research, she discovers the historians there don't just study the past - they revisit it. But one wrong move and History will fight back - to the death. And Max soon discovers it's not just History she's fighting... BOOK 1 IN THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING CHRONICLES OF ST MARY'S SERIES For fans of Jasper Fforde, Doctor Who, Genevieve Cogman and Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'Once in a while, I discover an author who changes everything... Jodi Taylor and her protagonista Madeleine "Max" Maxwell have seduced me' 'Addictive. I wish St Mary's was real and I was a part of it' 'Science fiction, historical fantasy, love story and more all wrapped up in a fast-paced comedy of errors. Please don't wait to read it, you don't know what you are missing' 'Jodi Taylor has an imagination that gets me completely hooked' 'A tour de force'

In print for the very first time, The Long and Short of It collects eight unmissable short stories from the international bestselling Chronicles of St Mary's series. With introductions plus the brand new short story, A Perfect Storm. When a Child is Born A jump back to 1066 to witness the coronation of William the Conqueror goes slightly astray. Roman Holiday Max and her team become spectacularly involved with Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and a basket of confused asps. Christmas Present An attempt to rescue lost historians involving an enraged pig and Boudicca herself. The Very First Damned Thing From the very beginning of St Mary's. Discover the truth behind Markham s stolen furniture and Professor Rapson s flies. Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings A gun left behind in Ancient Egypt and a race against time to prevent a catastrophe. The Great St Mary's Day Out Hooray! Hooray! It's a happy holiday. For everyone except Max the only one with her mind on the job. My Name is Markham Alfred, the cakes and Mr Markham. The Great British Bake Off it's not!

The first three extraordinary adventures in the Chronicles of St Mary's series, now available together in ebook. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. 'The Chronicles of St Mary's are the stories of a bunch of time travelling historians who investigate major historical events in contemporary time. Do NOT call it time travel. They are frequently described as "a bunch of tea-sodden disaster magnets", bouncing from crisis to catastrophe and back again. For is it not written, where historians go disaster is sure to follow?' - Jodi Taylor In these first three novels, meet the disaster magnets of St Mary's as they hurtle their way around History. JUST ONE DAMNED THING AFTER ANOTHER When Madeleine Maxwell is recruited by the St Mary's Institute of Historical Research, she discovers the historians there don't just study the past - they revisit it. But one wrong move and History will fight back - to the death. And she soon discovers it's not just History she's fighting... A SYMPHONY OF ECHOES Dispatched to Victorian London to seek out Jack the Ripper, things go badly wrong when he finds the St Mary's historians first. Stalked through the fog-shrouded streets of Whitechapel, Max is soon running for her life. Again. A SECOND CHANCE It began well. A successful assignment to 17th century Cambridge to meet Isaac Newton, and another to witness the historic events at The Gates of Grief. So far so good. But then came the long-awaited jump to the Trojan War that changed everything. And for Max, nothing will ever be the same again. Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'Once in a while, I discover an author who changes everything... Jodi Taylor and her protagonista Madeleine "Max" Maxwell have seduced me' 'A great mix of British proper-ness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun' 'Addictive. I wish St Mary's was real and I was a part of it' 'Jodi Taylor has an imagination that gets me completely hooked' 'A tour de force'

The tenth book in the bestselling Chronicles of St Mary's series which follows a group of tea-soaked disaster magnets as they hurtle their way around History. If you love Jasper Fforde, Ben Aaronovitch or Doctor Who, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. 'Jodi Taylor does it again. A brilliant yomp through history' - Reader Review You can't change History. History doesn't like it. There are always consequences. Max is no stranger to taking matters into her own hands. Especially when she's had A Brilliant Idea. Yes, it will mean breaking a few rules, but - as Max always says - they're not her rules. Seconded to the Time Police to join in the hunt for the renegade Clive Ronan, Max is a long way from St Mary's. But life in the future does have its plus points - although not for long. A problem with the Time Map reveals chaos in the 16th century and the wrong Tudor queen on the throne. History has gone rogue, there's a St Mary's team right in the firing line and Max must step up. You know what they say. Hope for the best. But plan for the worst. Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'Once in a while, I discover an author who changes everything... Jodi Taylor and her protagonista Madeleine "Max" Maxwell have seduced me' 'A great mix of British proper-ness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun' 'Addictive. I wish St Mary's was real and I was a part of it' 'Jodi Taylor has an imagination that gets me completely hooked' 'A tour de force'

Merry Christmas from Jodi Taylor. It's time for St Mary's traditional Christmas jump - even though it's only September... St Mary's has never lacked for enemies, but danger has never been closer to home. A state of war has broken out between St Mary's and the Women's Institute - the Raffia Mafia. Markham, Max, Peterson and Miss Sykes must jump to Restoration London in search of real Christmas pie - the honour of St Mary's is at stake. At least that how it all begins, but this is St Mary's after all... Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'The Chronicles of St Mary's is one of the most enjoyable series of books I have ever read' 'Jodi Taylor is a master storyteller' 'I don't think I've ever laughed out loud so much reading a book' 'I am always gutted when I finish a Jodi Taylor book as I know I will have to wait for the next one'

'Not enough stars to do this justice. I loved it' Reader review ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ Introducing THE TIME POLICE - an irresistible spinoff from the internationally bestselling CHRONICLES OF ST MARY'S. A long time ago in the future, the secret of time travel became known to all. Unsurprisingly, the world nearly ended. There will always be idiots who want to change history. Enter the Time Police. An all-powerful, international organisation tasked with keeping the timeline straight. At all costs. Their success is legendary. The Time Wars are over. But now they must fight to save a very different future - their own. This is the story of Jane, Luke and Matthew - the worst recruits in Time Police history. Or, very possibly, three young people who might change everything. A sensational new series for fans of Doctor Who, Terry Pratchett and Jasper Fforde. * Don't miss the brand new Time Police novel - KILLING TIME - coming June 2024, available to pre-order now * *** DOING TIME is a five-star read!: 'I blooming well loved this book' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ 'Excellent start to this St Mary's Chronicles spinoff series. There is Taylor's trademark humour, along with moments of real lump-in-the-throat poignancy' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ 'Clever, witty, humourous, touching, emotional, just about everything anyone could want' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ 'Another superb book from the pen of Jodi Taylor' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ 'Can't wait for the next one'⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐