4 Answers2026-07-25 12:50:02
The short story collections are key if you want the full picture. 'The Long and Short of It' and 'What Could Possibly Go Wrong?' contain many of the bridging stories. Publishers really should include a recommended reading order in the front of each book; it would save new readers so much confusion.
Until they do, we have to rely on fan knowledge. My advice is to get those two collections and slot the stories in as per the author's website list. It's extra effort, but the short stories are often hilarious and heartfelt, adding depth to both series. They're not throwaways.
7 Answers2026-07-25 01:06:15
For a series about time travel, it's pretty important to experience it in the right order. Don't be a time criminal. Read 'Doing Time', then 'Lies, Damned Lies, and History', then 'The Good, the Bad, and the History'. The Time Police would approve.
7 Answers2026-07-25 22:50:48
The juxtaposition is genius. St. Mary's historians observe; the Time Police intervene. One series is about preserving history by witnessing it, the other is about preserving history by controlling it. The conflict between these philosophies is the heart of the universe. So, the 'complete' order is philosophical. Read a few St. Mary's books, then jump to 'Doing Time' to see the other side. It enriches both. Reading them isolated means you only get half the argument.
5 Answers2026-07-25 09:39:28
Three novels, but an expansive feeling world. Taylor packs so much detail, humor, and character into each one. You finish feeling like you've consumed more than three books' worth of story. It's a testament to her efficient, engaging writing style. No filler, just brilliant storytelling.
2 Answers2026-07-25 18:48:34
The integrated orders are great, but they often have you pausing a novel's climax to read a short story about a minor character's tea-making habits. It kills momentum. For page-turning pleasure, just mainline the novels. The short stories are perfect palate cleansers between big books.
4 Answers2026-07-25 11:45:02
Don't overthink it! Jodi Taylor's books are about chaos, not neat timelines. Jump into 'Doing Time' whenever you want a change of pace. The humor is sharper, more satire-of-bureaucracy, and the new trio has fantastic chemistry.
You can always loop back. The author does a good job of filling in necessary backstory without massive info-dumps. If a reference flies over your head, just note it and keep going; the plot itself is self-contained about their first chaotic case.
4 Answers2026-07-25 08:10:08
Matthew's journey is the spine. Read St Mary's 1-10 to get his parents' epic love story and his weird childhood. Then jump to Time Police 1. Seeing this kid we watched grow up in the background of St Mary's now as a trainee, dealing with his famous parents' legacy, is incredibly satisfying. His perspective links the two series more than any plot event.
4 Answers2026-07-25 16:21:24
I love that this question pops up every few months. It means new people are discovering Jodi Taylor! The community always rallies with helpful lists and gentle guidance. It's one of the nicest fandoms because we all remember that initial confusion and subsequent obsession. Welcome, new reader! Grab 'Just One Damned Thing After Another' and clear your schedule.
3 Answers2026-07-25 07:39:58
I love how the connection isn't static. It evolves. Early on, the Time Police are almost boogeymen to the St Mary's crew—the impersonal enforcers. But as the spin-off develops, we see the individuals within the organization, their struggles, and their own brand of loyalty. Characters from St Mary's pop in not just for fan service, but because their ongoing lives intersect with Time Police operations. It makes the universe feel lived-in and continuous. An event in a late St Mary's book might be the direct catalyst for a Time Police plotline a few books later.
5 Answers2026-07-25 14:32:23
What's the worst that could happen if you read out of order? You'll be spoiled for some plot twists. Big deal. In a series where the history is the backdrop and the characters are the foreground, spoilers aren't the end of the world. Sometimes knowing a fate makes the journey there more poignant. Don't let perfect order be the enemy of good fun.