Jodi Taylor is the author of the Chronicles of St Mary’s series of books about a bunch of academics who undertake time travel and who quite often find themselves in some sort of bother. They are funny and clever and the author is good at making sure that they are also tender and moving on occasions – I have read the first six volumes. You can read my review of the first of the series here.
Doing Time is the first in an offshoot series from the St Mary’s books. It should not be read before that series and preferably after you’ve read a few of the books so that you understand the references and know about many of the characters who will appear.
In Doing Time and its sequels the author is writing about the Time Police. It’s a nasty, brutal but necessary force that deals with those who try to interfere with time and its natural progress or to make money from time travel. They are not historians. The Time Police are in every way the opposite of St Mary’s but exist in the same world so there’s lots of interesting conflict.
The Time Police recruit three new trainees. One is a much put upon and timid woman escaping a horrifying life. One is a playboy who is arrogant and entitled. The third is the son of two of the main people at St Mary’s who has had a difficult childhood. These three don’t get on with one another and definitely aren’t the usual type of recruit that fits in well at the Time Police, but the Time Police are trying to change and it is possible that they may be the right sort of recruit for the future.
This book has this author’s trademark humour but she also deals with personal growth, change, humanity and difference in an interesting way. These are light and obviously improbable books (I’ve now read the second in the series too) but they are fun and very enjoyable to read – but read the St Mary’s books first.
Anne Is Reading 