Book Log 32/2016 - Jodi Taylor: Chronicles of St Mary’s Short Stories

Jodi Taylor: The Very First Damn Thing
A welcome St Mary's short story which shows Edward Bairstow coming back through time to establish St Mary's, acquiring funding, and drawing together his team of founder members.

Jodi Taylor: When a Child is Born
Max, Peterson and Markham are sent back to 1066 to observe the coronation of William the Conquror, but stumbling across an injured woodcutter on the way they end up missing the main event and doing something more important. Screwing with the timeline can have consequences, sometimes fatal ones. Luckily History had planned it all along.

Jodi Taylor: Roman Holiday
Max, Markham, Guthrie, Peterson and Van Owen are sent back to ancient Rome to get a look at Julius Caesar, his wife, Calpurnia, and his mistress, Cleopatra, who are sharing a house. Whose great idea was that? Of course, nothing goes according to plan.

I've lumped these short stories together, even though they were all purchased as individual titles for my Kindle. They are all written with Ms Taylor's usual feel for voice and with her light, humourous touch, however because they are standalone incidents, apart from the first one, they don't move the story arc forward. I was a little worried that I might read them out of order (I do like to read a series in timeline order if possible) but it's not obvious from the second and third which part of the St Mary's timeline these belong to, They are enjoyable, but not essential reading. Recommended for completists.