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The Time Police #5
Killing Time
A ghost train, lost in Time, hurtles through the night...
Two members of Team 236 are trapped on board. Not ideal under any circumstances but catastrophic when they're at each other's throats.
Hot on their heels, but never quite able to catch up, can Lt Grint and his team overcome all obstacles in their way and save their fellow officers before the train disappears for good?
Nor is TPHQ without its own problems as Matthew risks his sanity to track them through the Time Map. And a Mikey-experiment goes horribly wrong, exposing something better left concealed for all Time. What are the Time Police hiding?
And what will they do to keep their secret?
Two members of Team 236 are trapped on board. Not ideal under any circumstances but catastrophic when they're at each other's throats.
Hot on their heels, but never quite able to catch up, can Lt Grint and his team overcome all obstacles in their way and save their fellow officers before the train disappears for good?
Nor is TPHQ without its own problems as Matthew risks his sanity to track them through the Time Map. And a Mikey-experiment goes horribly wrong, exposing something better left concealed for all Time. What are the Time Police hiding?
And what will they do to keep their secret?
464 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2024
347 people are currently reading
1173 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Taylor
84 books5,387 followersJodi Taylor is the internationally bestselling author of the Chronicles of St Mary's series, the story of a bunch of disaster prone individuals who investigate major historical events in contemporary time. Do NOT call it time travel! She is also the author of the Time Police series - a St Mary's spinoff and gateway into the world of an all-powerful, international organisation who are NOTHING like St Mary's. Except, when they are.
Alongside these, Jodi is known for her gripping supernatural thrillers featuring Elizabeth Cage together with the enchanting Frogmorton Farm series - a fairy story for adults.
Born in Bristol and now living in Gloucester (facts both cities vigorously deny), she spent many years with her head somewhere else, much to the dismay of family, teachers and employers, before finally deciding to put all that daydreaming to good use and write a novel. Over twenty books later, she still has no idea what she wants to do when she grows up.
Alongside these, Jodi is known for her gripping supernatural thrillers featuring Elizabeth Cage together with the enchanting Frogmorton Farm series - a fairy story for adults.
Born in Bristol and now living in Gloucester (facts both cities vigorously deny), she spent many years with her head somewhere else, much to the dismay of family, teachers and employers, before finally deciding to put all that daydreaming to good use and write a novel. Over twenty books later, she still has no idea what she wants to do when she grows up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
June 25, 2024
4 Stars
Dare I say it?
I think I will.
This series, in my opinion, is better than the Chronicles of St. Mary's. Both are enjoyable, but this one is funnier.
Dare I say it?
I think I will.
This series, in my opinion, is better than the Chronicles of St. Mary's. Both are enjoyable, but this one is funnier.
June 10, 2024
Jodi Taylor does it again.
Bloody Bollocking Excellent.
Where does Jodi pick up on these random historical events is a mystery to me. (YES I was googling and getting nowhere thank you Major Farenden!)
Thoroughly enjoyed and looking forward to the next installments of TP, St Mary's and the recovery agents.
Bloody Bollocking Excellent.
Where does Jodi pick up on these random historical events is a mystery to me. (YES I was googling and getting nowhere thank you Major Farenden!)
Thoroughly enjoyed and looking forward to the next installments of TP, St Mary's and the recovery agents.
July 17, 2024
This book is in a series which I always have fun with and once more this didn’t disappoint. I really liked starting this one off on a bit of a disjointed look at the team, 236: Jane, Luke and Matthew. They ended the last book in a bit of a conundrum and they have some hard choices to make about the future.
The story takes some fun turns with a mission back to go and see a phantom train. They are hoping to intercept some illegals, but as team 236 is on the case things never really goo smoothly and of course there’s other factors and people at play too.
I enjoyed seeing Jane in this one as she and her inner voice (bolshy Jane) thought up lots of witticisms and retorts to the situations they got into. I also think that there’s something blossoming between her and maybe someone else we know well…
Matthew has a nap adventure in this one which I liked to see as we don’t see as much of the time map as I’d like. I’m sure there’s a whole lot more to it and Matthew might be the right one to unlock its secrets.
Luke is stuck up and pretentious as always, denying his own feelings in some situations, and yet he’s quite loveable too really. I liked seeing the dynamic of him trying to overcome the blunders he made with his team.
Overall, very solid and as always I’ll keep on with this series :) 4*s
The story takes some fun turns with a mission back to go and see a phantom train. They are hoping to intercept some illegals, but as team 236 is on the case things never really goo smoothly and of course there’s other factors and people at play too.
I enjoyed seeing Jane in this one as she and her inner voice (bolshy Jane) thought up lots of witticisms and retorts to the situations they got into. I also think that there’s something blossoming between her and maybe someone else we know well…
Matthew has a nap adventure in this one which I liked to see as we don’t see as much of the time map as I’d like. I’m sure there’s a whole lot more to it and Matthew might be the right one to unlock its secrets.
Luke is stuck up and pretentious as always, denying his own feelings in some situations, and yet he’s quite loveable too really. I liked seeing the dynamic of him trying to overcome the blunders he made with his team.
Overall, very solid and as always I’ll keep on with this series :) 4*s
July 23, 2024
Team Weird are back for another time travelling adventure, and this time Jane and Luke are trapped on a runaway train hurtling through time and space. Although not my favourite in the series, I can't deny this was, as always, a fun time. I just found that I was more invested in the side stories involving Matthew, Mickey and the time map and the mysterious wall at TPHQ than Grint and Co. on their rescue mission. This feels very much like a bridging book in the series, bringing Team 236 back together and setting up some long game stories that I'm sure will blow my socks off when they come to fruition.
Still a rollocking good time. And I loved learning about the Zanetti ghost train.
Still a rollocking good time. And I loved learning about the Zanetti ghost train.
October 7, 2025
Team 236 (Team Weird) Matthew Farrell, Jane Lockland and Luke Parrish, are barely talking to each other after their adventures and the revelations in the previous two books (Hard Time, and About Time). Jane and Lt Grint are still dancing around each other, a mixture of attraction, insecurity and embarrassment. Mikey (Amanda Meiklejohn) is now doing research for the Time Police, and her experiment with rapid-hardening string leaves a good proportion of officers temporarily encased, so when two teenagers are reported to have built a pod and gone trainspotting to Rome in 1911, Team 235 is called to action. The train being spotted is the notorious Zanetti train which left Rome, entered a tunnel and was never seen again. Things get complicated when Sawney, a misogynistic ex-Time Police Officer who has bad history with Jane, turns up. He and the boys, plus Jane and Luke end up on board the doomed train, which is destined to bounce around the timeline like a runaway ghost train. This book is mostly a linear story of the train, Luke and Jane’s attempts to get off it, Matthew’s adventures in the Time map, trying to discern its whereabouts (and whenabouts), and Lt Grint’s Team 236, efforts hurtling after the train to rescue their missing officers. (Though, let’s face it, Grint is mostly about rescuing Jane and if he saves Luke as well, no harm done.) A straightforward story which enhances the relationship between Team Weird and Grint, who is possibly not as dumb as he has appeared to be in the past, and also reveals a secret that the TP is hiding which sows a little seed for the future. Another excellent book from Jodi Taylor.
November 12, 2025
Jodi Taylor never ceases to entertain.
April 15, 2025
The least successful of the series so far (for me at least). I think this is mainly due to the subject of the Zannetti train - a well know myth about a ghost train which disappeared into a tunnel on its maiden trip and never came back out, consigning the train and it's passengers to who knew where.
Of course this being time travel, anything is possible but I thought the original premise weak.
Apart from that we have the usual action. Jane and Luke are already at loggerheads but they also need to work together, Matthew is hos usual accident prone self and Grint is chasing after Jane.
The best (and most interesting) bit in the book was where Mikey "improved" the rapidly hardening string, which leads to one catastrophe after another. Sometimes I wonder how either St Mary's or the Time Police stay in business. I can't help thinking they should all close down and leave everything to the exceptionally capable Smallhope and Pennyroyal.
Of course this being time travel, anything is possible but I thought the original premise weak.
Apart from that we have the usual action. Jane and Luke are already at loggerheads but they also need to work together, Matthew is hos usual accident prone self and Grint is chasing after Jane.
The best (and most interesting) bit in the book was where Mikey "improved" the rapidly hardening string, which leads to one catastrophe after another. Sometimes I wonder how either St Mary's or the Time Police stay in business. I can't help thinking they should all close down and leave everything to the exceptionally capable Smallhope and Pennyroyal.
June 15, 2024
4,5 stars
Another remarkably funny adventure with the time police! The character developments that started over the last few books, are continuing in this installment. This time the three chaotic main characters have to hold up on their own and it's interesting to see them act and grow in these situations.
A weird critique of this book: The thing that Jodi Taylor writes best is visceral suspense, injecting a real fear in the reader. And somehow this was missing in this book. I was looking forward to the chilling scenes and am a bit disappointed that there were none. Not to say, there was no suspense in this. It just wasn't as intense.
Another remarkably funny adventure with the time police! The character developments that started over the last few books, are continuing in this installment. This time the three chaotic main characters have to hold up on their own and it's interesting to see them act and grow in these situations.
A weird critique of this book: The thing that Jodi Taylor writes best is visceral suspense, injecting a real fear in the reader. And somehow this was missing in this book. I was looking forward to the chilling scenes and am a bit disappointed that there were none. Not to say, there was no suspense in this. It just wasn't as intense.
June 12, 2024
Three and a half stars.
Someone is selling Moai from Easter Island. Mikey has developed Rapidly Hardening String and testing it on Time Police volunteers. Two young trainspotters have built a time machine in their shed and used it to travel back to Italy where they want to witness the inaugural journey of the notorious Zanetti Train which departed Rome in 1911 and was seen entering the Lombardy tunnel as planned, but never emerged from the other end of the tunnel. Various alleged sightings of the train have been recorded in Mexico, in the Ukraine, in Russia, in Modena all through time. The Weird Squad or Team 236 as they prefer to be known are barely speaking to each other. The Time Police are stretched very thin.
I really enjoyed this, but at the same time I wanted it to be longer and have more going on! I'm intrigued with the Grint/Jane/Luke dynamic and I'm warring against myself as to what outcome I'm rooting for (that should probably be 'for which outcome I am rooting' but it feels too stuffy).
Anyway, it isn't really a cliff-hanger, but also, THAT ENDING!
Someone is selling Moai from Easter Island. Mikey has developed Rapidly Hardening String and testing it on Time Police volunteers. Two young trainspotters have built a time machine in their shed and used it to travel back to Italy where they want to witness the inaugural journey of the notorious Zanetti Train which departed Rome in 1911 and was seen entering the Lombardy tunnel as planned, but never emerged from the other end of the tunnel. Various alleged sightings of the train have been recorded in Mexico, in the Ukraine, in Russia, in Modena all through time. The Weird Squad or Team 236 as they prefer to be known are barely speaking to each other. The Time Police are stretched very thin.
I really enjoyed this, but at the same time I wanted it to be longer and have more going on! I'm intrigued with the Grint/Jane/Luke dynamic and I'm warring against myself as to what outcome I'm rooting for (that should probably be 'for which outcome I am rooting' but it feels too stuffy).
Anyway, it isn't really a cliff-hanger, but also, THAT ENDING!
January 17, 2025
Finished book 5 of the Time Police series in one go. Combined eBook and audiobook.
No St Mary's this time, a pure TP affair; but it has a historical component. This time the TP Disaster Magnets, aka Team 236, have to catch a steam train that's gone rogue.
No St Mary's this time, a pure TP affair; but it has a historical component. This time the TP Disaster Magnets, aka Team 236, have to catch a steam train that's gone rogue.
June 16, 2024
This has a distinct Cthulhu Orient Express feel to it and ...oh LT Grint!
Team Weird spends minimal time together and poor Grint!
Team Weird spends minimal time together and poor Grint!
July 14, 2024
Team Weird is usually a fun time for me and I do really enjoy all the shenanigans that seem to happen at the time police. And while St. Mary's is a different kind of crazy there is still a lot of fun to be had with Team 236 as they muddle their way through different time catastrophes
We start off with a quandary of will the team chose to stay together or fall apart. But before we get to find out there is an emergency that puts Jane, Matthew and Luke on the way to search for some kids that time traveled to the past to sightsee a train. Seems the train is slated to disappear and become a ghost train travelling though time. As always when you put team weird on the trail something is bound to blow up in their faces and this time is no exception.
Jane and Luke end up on the train. Matthew and Mikey use some unusual methods to try and help the team working to find them in time and get them off. And Grint, well he isn't going to stop until they find Jane.
Lets just say that in the beginning of this series I kinda wanted Jane and Luke to hook up. But I'm totally loving Grint and Jane and how rubbish both are at being in a relationship. They are completely perfect for each other and adorable in the awkwardness.
There were a few other things going on like relics from Easter Island on the black market and a silly string incident that took out a lot of time police for part of the story. Shenanigans abound in this and while the beginning took a minute get going, after we introduce the ghost train (which is a character all unto itself) the story really picks up pace.
I always enjoy Taylor's writing and Killing Time is no exception to that.
Narration:
Zara Ramm has done all of the books in the Chronicles of St Mary's and Time Police series. I think she really adds to my overall enjoyment of the series as her performance of the British humor really shines through. Her narration is always fun and I believe adds to my overall enjoyment of the entire series.
We start off with a quandary of will the team chose to stay together or fall apart. But before we get to find out there is an emergency that puts Jane, Matthew and Luke on the way to search for some kids that time traveled to the past to sightsee a train. Seems the train is slated to disappear and become a ghost train travelling though time. As always when you put team weird on the trail something is bound to blow up in their faces and this time is no exception.
“Hansen, pull up what you can on the Ukraine sightings and we’ll put together a plan. Everyone else take a break. We’re chasing a runaway train through Time and space – this could take a while.”
Jane and Luke end up on the train. Matthew and Mikey use some unusual methods to try and help the team working to find them in time and get them off. And Grint, well he isn't going to stop until they find Jane.
Lets just say that in the beginning of this series I kinda wanted Jane and Luke to hook up. But I'm totally loving Grint and Jane and how rubbish both are at being in a relationship. They are completely perfect for each other and adorable in the awkwardness.
There were a few other things going on like relics from Easter Island on the black market and a silly string incident that took out a lot of time police for part of the story. Shenanigans abound in this and while the beginning took a minute get going, after we introduce the ghost train (which is a character all unto itself) the story really picks up pace.
I always enjoy Taylor's writing and Killing Time is no exception to that.
Narration:
Zara Ramm has done all of the books in the Chronicles of St Mary's and Time Police series. I think she really adds to my overall enjoyment of the series as her performance of the British humor really shines through. Her narration is always fun and I believe adds to my overall enjoyment of the entire series.
June 7, 2024
Amazing as usual
Jodi Taylor has done it again. An excellent read, I'm just sad I'm going to have to wait some time for the next one!
Jodi Taylor has done it again. An excellent read, I'm just sad I'm going to have to wait some time for the next one!
June 13, 2024
Jodi Taylor has never disappointed me before this--yet here we are. All her characters from previous iterations of the Time Police series are here again; they pop into life without exegesis, so this is definitely NOT a stand alone novel, and I'm fine with that, as one of her most avid fans. I find Team 236 endlessly endearing: Luke Parrish for his devil-may-care-rich-boy attitude, when he really cares deeply about being such a wastrel and yearns to be a better man. Jane Lockland, the bullied child whose alter ego mind-whisperer, Bolshi Jane, encourages her to steadfast greatness with hilarious snark, and Matthew Farrell, the adopted child of St. Mary's, the once enslaved climbing boy sweeping chimneys in the 1800s, who has a strange affinity with the 3-story Time Machine; in a previous novel, he actually broke it. And in this one, the Time Machine speaks to him!
The story revolves around a supposed historical event about a phantom, sentient train that vanishes in 1911 with Luke and Jane aboard in the usual Team 236, unwitting SNAFU. The Zanetti train is said to have celebrated its first (and only) public run in Rome on June 14, apparently with 106 high-falutin passengers aboard. It allegedly disappeared shrouded in white smoke and indeterminate blue lightning shortly before entering the Lombardy Tunnel. Years later, it's claimed the passengers showed up--in Mexico. All insisted they'd arrived from Italy on that same train. The distance between Rome and Mexico is 10,000 kilometers, separated, of course, by the Atlantic Ocean. Now, when I read the book I was completely unaware that there's quite a lot of "news" out there about this alleged event; I was prepared to downgrade Taylor one star, sheerly for the insanity of her tale. Turns out, add one star for her having delved into mystery events beyond my poor scope!
Returning character historian Lt. North, previously of St. Mary's ("Don't call it time travel!") has investigated the Zanetti train and tracked its many appearances over time. It really likes New Zealand and Australia, but also a monastery in the 1500s, among many other "unplanned" stops. It shows up in Mexico in 1840--71 years before it left Rome. Lt. Grint, head over heels for Jane, is determined to rescue her--well, Luke, too, coincidentally. Matthew will almost destroy both himself AND the Time Machine while trying to identify the bare silver threads of the train traversing time. He'll need rescuing, too, and emerges in a semi-permanent fugue state with silvered bits in his eyes. Imprisoned in a Mexican insane asylum, Luke sadly informs a 73-year old Italian gentleman with the perseverance and stoicism of a soldier that if they aren't rescued soon, he will be born in about two years, and nature cannot tolerate a a duplicate of one being in the same time--a conundrum inevitably resulting in an unimaginably painful death. Their reality in the asylum being itself so painfully grim, we can indeed imagine.
This genre is one of those that encourages authors to: "put your beloved characters through hell and only rescue them in the nick of time." And Jodi does this so well, but my goodness, it's long. Mind you, when a novel is fully, thoughtfully rich with the best and worst of us, like, as one example, We the Drowned by Danish novelist Carsten Jensen, I don't mind a thousand pages--another shining example is the Hild sequence by Nicola Griffith, whose two novels together run to about 1700+ pages--I'd thankfully give these supreme works ten stars, if I could, and I'm aware that Taylor is producing entertainment for its own sake. As I was reading it, though, I had the impression that, after some 25 full length novels and who knows how many novellas, Taylor is growing bored. And I shared some of that with her. Along the way, she's milking the budding romance between the giant Lt. Grint and heart-of-gold rookie Jane for all it's worth. I'd like our author to enjoy a heady vacation before tackling Book 6 of the Time Police. Or maybe return to St. Mary's for one--? Frankly, the Time Police series has never quite brought me as much joy, or the same kind of joy, as St. Mary's did.
Apparently her next novel will trace the story of Lady Smallwood and her sidekick Pennyroyal, spies who weave in and out of the series as peripheral characters. I dunno, maybe--? Nevertheless, I miss St. Mary's.
The story revolves around a supposed historical event about a phantom, sentient train that vanishes in 1911 with Luke and Jane aboard in the usual Team 236, unwitting SNAFU. The Zanetti train is said to have celebrated its first (and only) public run in Rome on June 14, apparently with 106 high-falutin passengers aboard. It allegedly disappeared shrouded in white smoke and indeterminate blue lightning shortly before entering the Lombardy Tunnel. Years later, it's claimed the passengers showed up--in Mexico. All insisted they'd arrived from Italy on that same train. The distance between Rome and Mexico is 10,000 kilometers, separated, of course, by the Atlantic Ocean. Now, when I read the book I was completely unaware that there's quite a lot of "news" out there about this alleged event; I was prepared to downgrade Taylor one star, sheerly for the insanity of her tale. Turns out, add one star for her having delved into mystery events beyond my poor scope!
Returning character historian Lt. North, previously of St. Mary's ("Don't call it time travel!") has investigated the Zanetti train and tracked its many appearances over time. It really likes New Zealand and Australia, but also a monastery in the 1500s, among many other "unplanned" stops. It shows up in Mexico in 1840--71 years before it left Rome. Lt. Grint, head over heels for Jane, is determined to rescue her--well, Luke, too, coincidentally. Matthew will almost destroy both himself AND the Time Machine while trying to identify the bare silver threads of the train traversing time. He'll need rescuing, too, and emerges in a semi-permanent fugue state with silvered bits in his eyes. Imprisoned in a Mexican insane asylum, Luke sadly informs a 73-year old Italian gentleman with the perseverance and stoicism of a soldier that if they aren't rescued soon, he will be born in about two years, and nature cannot tolerate a a duplicate of one being in the same time--a conundrum inevitably resulting in an unimaginably painful death. Their reality in the asylum being itself so painfully grim, we can indeed imagine.
This genre is one of those that encourages authors to: "put your beloved characters through hell and only rescue them in the nick of time." And Jodi does this so well, but my goodness, it's long. Mind you, when a novel is fully, thoughtfully rich with the best and worst of us, like, as one example, We the Drowned by Danish novelist Carsten Jensen, I don't mind a thousand pages--another shining example is the Hild sequence by Nicola Griffith, whose two novels together run to about 1700+ pages--I'd thankfully give these supreme works ten stars, if I could, and I'm aware that Taylor is producing entertainment for its own sake. As I was reading it, though, I had the impression that, after some 25 full length novels and who knows how many novellas, Taylor is growing bored. And I shared some of that with her. Along the way, she's milking the budding romance between the giant Lt. Grint and heart-of-gold rookie Jane for all it's worth. I'd like our author to enjoy a heady vacation before tackling Book 6 of the Time Police. Or maybe return to St. Mary's for one--? Frankly, the Time Police series has never quite brought me as much joy, or the same kind of joy, as St. Mary's did.
Apparently her next novel will trace the story of Lady Smallwood and her sidekick Pennyroyal, spies who weave in and out of the series as peripheral characters. I dunno, maybe--? Nevertheless, I miss St. Mary's.
January 20, 2025
Book Four of 2025: love this series and this one was no exception. Instantly googling to see if this was a real thing
June 9, 2024
Ghost train, ghost train!
July 19, 2024
Another Jodi Taylor book demolished in one sitting!
Spoilers for what doesn't happen rather than what does.
This was another rip-roaring trip through time. While there's no appearance from St Mary's this time we do meet with Smallhope and Pennyroyal.
The action is very much contained and felt like the purpose of the book was to get the characters into place for the next book rather than being particularly stand alone. There is only one conversation with Team Weird all together and after that they are split and follow different storylines. For that reason I'm giving it 4* rather than 5. In the overall series, it's great, but as a single book it just feels like it needed a little more.
It feels like there are more questions than answers. How sentient exactly is the Time Map? What is Raymond Parish really up to and does Luke know? Who or what is in the walls of TPHQ? Is Wensleydale truly the best cheese for time travel?
Also, as always, make sure you go to the bathroom before you begin the epilogue because you will be laughing out loud!
Spoilers for what doesn't happen rather than what does.
This was another rip-roaring trip through time. While there's no appearance from St Mary's this time we do meet with Smallhope and Pennyroyal.
The action is very much contained and felt like the purpose of the book was to get the characters into place for the next book rather than being particularly stand alone. There is only one conversation with Team Weird all together and after that they are split and follow different storylines. For that reason I'm giving it 4* rather than 5. In the overall series, it's great, but as a single book it just feels like it needed a little more.
It feels like there are more questions than answers. How sentient exactly is the Time Map? What is Raymond Parish really up to and does Luke know? Who or what is in the walls of TPHQ? Is Wensleydale truly the best cheese for time travel?
Also, as always, make sure you go to the bathroom before you begin the epilogue because you will be laughing out loud!
December 25, 2025
I think the reason I enjoy each of these more and more is because you get to know the ever expanding cast of characters and appreciate them. So many delightful players, and this book was particularly satisfying because it emphasized Jane and Luke, and Mikey was prominent as well. The enigmatic Lt. Grint also became more human. Fast moving with a lot of history.
March 3, 2025
I have read some of the St Mary’s books by Jodi Taylor, but not any of these Time Police books. It did feel like I had gone to a party where everyone else knew each other and I had missed out! However, I soon caught up. It isn’t a literary work of art but it is a fun romp.
When 2 of a Time Police team go to apprehend 2 children who have build their own pod, and time travelled to see a ‘ghost train’ the two Police, along with the children, get inadvertently stuck on the ghost train travelling through time. Can the rest of the Time Police rescue them before they get lost for good?
A fun story which doesn’t take itself too seriously. To be read tongue firmly in cheek.
When 2 of a Time Police team go to apprehend 2 children who have build their own pod, and time travelled to see a ‘ghost train’ the two Police, along with the children, get inadvertently stuck on the ghost train travelling through time. Can the rest of the Time Police rescue them before they get lost for good?
A fun story which doesn’t take itself too seriously. To be read tongue firmly in cheek.
July 21, 2024
Okay, the last quarter of the novel finally caught my interest. I had to make a giant effort, though, to stay focussed on it.
What I will say is that 'Killing Time' would be impossible to enjoy if you haven't read the previous four books. To its detriment, Taylor includes no (even the briefest of) recaps, provides zero backstory, and - what ruined the beginning of the book for me - throws what feels like every single character, every name, every previous jump, every inside joke, every historical reference and every team dynamic at you right away. It would take doing the five books back-to-back within a week off work just to have a chance at keeping up with the infuriatingly flailing gallop at which Taylor launches off this installment. Bleugh!
I'm a fully fledged St. Mary's/Time Police geek and even I felt alienated by Taylor's cocky authorial stance in the first half of this novel.
So, alas, I wonder has the shine rubbed off the Time Police for me? If there's a new St. Mary's novel then I'll judge that on its own merits, but sadly, I feel that Taylor's lost the run of herself with this series.
Zara Ramm's audio narration, though? As always, stupendous!!!
What I will say is that 'Killing Time' would be impossible to enjoy if you haven't read the previous four books. To its detriment, Taylor includes no (even the briefest of) recaps, provides zero backstory, and - what ruined the beginning of the book for me - throws what feels like every single character, every name, every previous jump, every inside joke, every historical reference and every team dynamic at you right away. It would take doing the five books back-to-back within a week off work just to have a chance at keeping up with the infuriatingly flailing gallop at which Taylor launches off this installment. Bleugh!
I'm a fully fledged St. Mary's/Time Police geek and even I felt alienated by Taylor's cocky authorial stance in the first half of this novel.
So, alas, I wonder has the shine rubbed off the Time Police for me? If there's a new St. Mary's novel then I'll judge that on its own merits, but sadly, I feel that Taylor's lost the run of herself with this series.
Zara Ramm's audio narration, though? As always, stupendous!!!
October 20, 2024
Either Jodi Taylor is bored with writing about the Time Police or I am bored with them. Either way, I was not thrilled this one. There was nothing much new, more of the same stuff, although there were a couple of good jokes. But the story dragged on so much that even Zara Ramm could not save it. Giving 3 stars out of loyalty more than anything else. I think I'm going to need a break from the Time Police for a while.
June 29, 2024
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this for at least 6 months and as I suspected, it didn’t disappoint. In fact, when I woke up at 4am this morning and picked it up to read a few pages before turning off my light, I ended up reading the last 150 and found the sun had come up.
As always the dialogue is spot on & so is the characterisation. It is very rare for me to find I have a crush on book character but I have a very big soft spot for Mr Luke Parrish. :D
I also love how Jodi Taylor makes such a complicated topic as time really easy to understand. People jumping around in space & time could be super confusing but this just happens in its stride.
As is usual there are a couple of ‘will-they-won’t-they’ situations in Killing Time and I have everything crossed for one in particular. Every time I thought it might happen here I actually held my breath. & wanted to jump into the book & shout “WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?”. Which is probably the best way a book can be.
I have recommended this series so many times. I’ve not read The Chronicles of St Mary yet but looking forward to starting them. This is the sort of book where not only am I a little bereft that I’ve finished & have to wait a long time for another, but I’m actually a little panicky that there won’t be another. Please Jodi Taylor, keep writing Time Police novels. I need more Team 236.
As always the dialogue is spot on & so is the characterisation. It is very rare for me to find I have a crush on book character but I have a very big soft spot for Mr Luke Parrish. :D
I also love how Jodi Taylor makes such a complicated topic as time really easy to understand. People jumping around in space & time could be super confusing but this just happens in its stride.
As is usual there are a couple of ‘will-they-won’t-they’ situations in Killing Time and I have everything crossed for one in particular. Every time I thought it might happen here I actually held my breath. & wanted to jump into the book & shout “WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?”. Which is probably the best way a book can be.
I have recommended this series so many times. I’ve not read The Chronicles of St Mary yet but looking forward to starting them. This is the sort of book where not only am I a little bereft that I’ve finished & have to wait a long time for another, but I’m actually a little panicky that there won’t be another. Please Jodi Taylor, keep writing Time Police novels. I need more Team 236.
June 9, 2024
Oh Team 236Weird, how I’ve missed you, unresolved differences and all. Because of course those didn’t get resolved tidily in the last book. That turns out ultimately good for Luke’s growth, the team, and a whole lot of unsuspecting Italians. (And I love that Jane is allowed her anger, including some regrettable lashing out possibly thanks to Bolshy Jane.)
Captain Farenden’s briefings and Commander Hay’s response to them continues to entertain me. Grint and Lockland’s awkward, thwarted relationship attempts continue to make me laugh. I’m glad to see more of minor characters like Varma and Rossi, and Grint developing further. Matthew is as delightful as always, and his role in this one hints at exciting Time Map shenanigans in the future.
The mission here results in some serious intensity, although I suppose they always do. A misogynist from the past returns and has truly gross things to say. And time in a 19th century asylum includes treatments as vicious as the punishments.
Can’t wait for the next installment.
Captain Farenden’s briefings and Commander Hay’s response to them continues to entertain me. Grint and Lockland’s awkward, thwarted relationship attempts continue to make me laugh. I’m glad to see more of minor characters like Varma and Rossi, and Grint developing further. Matthew is as delightful as always, and his role in this one hints at exciting Time Map shenanigans in the future.
The mission here results in some serious intensity, although I suppose they always do. A misogynist from the past returns and has truly gross things to say. And time in a 19th century asylum includes treatments as vicious as the punishments.
Can’t wait for the next installment.
October 23, 2024
When I started this series, I knew I would enjoy it. What I did not know was how much! It turns out that it is pretty fabulous that Matthew joined the Time Police. The characters are so well connected, even when they disagree that I get pulled deep into the plot. More Time Police series, please!
July 11, 2024
Another fabulous story for Team Weird
Jodi Taylor continues to amaze me! Her imagination, gift for action telling stories, and characters is worth waiting for, intertwining Chronicles of St. Mary's and the spin off Time Police in such a great fashion! I look forward to each release of these series! Thank you, Jodi Taylor for such great escapes!
Jodi Taylor continues to amaze me! Her imagination, gift for action telling stories, and characters is worth waiting for, intertwining Chronicles of St. Mary's and the spin off Time Police in such a great fashion! I look forward to each release of these series! Thank you, Jodi Taylor for such great escapes!
July 22, 2024
Another rollicking romp through time with the almost-always successful Time Police. This series could go on forever and I'll keep reading them!
P.S. Poor Jane and Grint, that epilogue!
P.S. Poor Jane and Grint, that epilogue!
September 8, 2024
These books just make me happy.
March 18, 2025
Really enjoyed my time with team 236. It's a relatively short timespan but written so well, that I thoroughly enjoyed myself again. Good fun, as always.
August 27, 2025
Things never go to plan for Team Weird and the rest of the Time Police. Highly recommend this series and other works by this author
September 10, 2024
As per usual with a Time Police or St. Mary's book: I laughed, I almost cried in public, I enjoyed the whole damn thing. If she keeps writing them, I'm gonna keep reading them!
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