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The Chronicles of St Mary's #7.7/8.1/8.6/9.5/9.6/9.7/10.5
Long Story Short: A Short Story Collection
Now in print for the very first time, this unmissable collection brings together seven short stories from the internationally bestselling Chronicles of St Mary's series, and one special guest tale from somewhere completely different. **Includes brand-new St Mary's short story When Did You Last See Your Father? and original introductions from the author**From riotous misbehaviour in Victorian London to ingenious feats of scientific invention (powdered water - just add water!), and from a chaotic Nativity play starring a vengeful Angel Gabriel to an illegal expedition to Mars, Jodi Taylor knows how to spin a good yarn. ---Christmas Past The Farrells are together at last for their first St Mary's Christmas, a time of riotous misbehaviour and the traditional illegal Christmas jump - this time to Victorian London.Battersea Barricades A glimpse into the past of some of your St Mary's favourites characters in the throes of Civil Uprisings.The Steam-Pump Jump St Mary's Max is injured and tied to Sick Bay but obviously a good historian would never let that get in her way. Step forward, Mr Markham...And Now For Something Completely Different Who would the St Mary's team be to turn down a little Christmas expedition to Mars? An illegal Christmas jump is traditional, after all.When Did You Last See Your Father? Have you ever wondered how things would go if Max's husband met Max's father? This is the story of what can happen if St Mary's doesn't like someone...Desiccated Water Professor Rapson breaks astonishing new ground with his latest feat of scientific invention. Markham and the Anal Probing When Markham disappears in the middle of nowhere, Max jumps to the logical conclusion - alien abduction. Little Donkey A chaotic Nativity play like no other, starring a donkey intent on eating the baby Jesus and a vengeful Angel Gabriel.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2019
274 people are currently reading
690 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Taylor
84 books5,381 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 65 reviews
July 20, 2019
I have loved Jodi Taylor since I picked up the first book in the Chronicles of Mary’s series. This, her second collection of short stories, mostly centred around the loveable characters of St Mary’s, brings together 7 short stories.
I would have to say that my favourite out of all of these is “And Now For Something Completely Different”, just because of the absolute twist towards the end. And there are a few that feature some very funny moments from Markham, including “Markham and the Anal Probing”, an extremely short story that was previously only available on Jodi’s website. “Desiccated Water” is extremely short, only 3 pages in total, but very funny at the same time, and these were obviously written when Jodi was trying to have a break from writing or in some downtime.
Each short story comes with a quick/lengthy/funny introduction and mostly also the Dramatis Thingummy, a much loved feature.
The last story, Little Donkey, is based around characters from The Nothing Girl. I think this is a bit of a throwaway book, as you’ll only read this if you’ve previously read The Nothing Girl. I haven’t (yet).
A great little collection, but only for purchasing if you’re a lover of the main books.
I would have to say that my favourite out of all of these is “And Now For Something Completely Different”, just because of the absolute twist towards the end. And there are a few that feature some very funny moments from Markham, including “Markham and the Anal Probing”, an extremely short story that was previously only available on Jodi’s website. “Desiccated Water” is extremely short, only 3 pages in total, but very funny at the same time, and these were obviously written when Jodi was trying to have a break from writing or in some downtime.
Each short story comes with a quick/lengthy/funny introduction and mostly also the Dramatis Thingummy, a much loved feature.
The last story, Little Donkey, is based around characters from The Nothing Girl. I think this is a bit of a throwaway book, as you’ll only read this if you’ve previously read The Nothing Girl. I haven’t (yet).
A great little collection, but only for purchasing if you’re a lover of the main books.
December 28, 2024
The second book of St Mary’s short stories. Again Taylor takes the opportunity to provide some back story to the St Mary’s universe such as the creation of the St Mary’s that we know and love as well as traveling to other planets (Mars and the moon to witness the first landings including the creation of urine lined space suits to limit radiation exposure. Yes. Really. We even have an appearance by te Time Police and even a short from Taylor’s Frogmortion Farms universe. Well done!
March 22, 2021
I've been reading these stories as a mix of audio and ebook and they are wonderful. I particularly enjoyed Christmas Past and The Steam Pump Jump. These stories do contain massive spoilers for the novels so make sure you read those first.
August 2, 2020
My Grade = 85% - B
Published 2019.
8 short stories.
I did a lengthy review of this book about two weeks ago when I finished it, but today, because of some Goodreads SNAFU I lost it.
Published 2019.
8 short stories.
I did a lengthy review of this book about two weeks ago when I finished it, but today, because of some Goodreads SNAFU I lost it.
September 7, 2022
This is a mixed bag of short stories, all but the last about St Mary's band of time-traveling historians (or academics who view major historical events in contemporary time). The last story features a donkey in kids' Christmas play and a woman giving birth who has an imaginary friend who is a big horse. I can't say I got the point of that one, but the rest were fun.
January 25, 2025
Not quite as funny as the first volume, but some good stories. Loved the one about Mars. Didn't really need the story about the donkey as I'm not familiar with those characters at all.
March 22, 2022
3.5 stars Half of the stories I've read before but I enjoyed reading them all!
December 2, 2021
I love this, the bits that didn't get into the books, the silly things that happened between the plot points, the fascinating bits of backstory, the massive tangents that just needed to be written... It's like official fan fiction, in the best possible way.
The Battersea Barricades and Christmas Past are the standouts!
The Battersea Barricades and Christmas Past are the standouts!
September 7, 2019
Let's face it, I love every story in this series and they'd all get five stars. This collection of short stories have some very touching moments, and some down right funny moments.
Oh to see this series dramatised - The Battersea Barricades would be very apt right now.
And how lovely to get a tale from Markham's POV!
Of course, don't try and read these without reading the series. You'll be missing out.
Oh to see this series dramatised - The Battersea Barricades would be very apt right now.
And how lovely to get a tale from Markham's POV!
Of course, don't try and read these without reading the series. You'll be missing out.
August 24, 2021
This was a great collection of moments scattered throughout the later 1/2 of the series. I very much enjoyed seeing different sides to the characters and moments that would not have worked in one of the other stories but were still really fun to read. If you have not read the series then you will be lost so don't even bother. Go forth and start with Book #1 and it will be well worth your time!
My favorite line was, "Someone looks like 17th century Barbie and it isn't me.":)
My favorite line was, "Someone looks like 17th century Barbie and it isn't me.":)
November 11, 2019
Nice little fill-in-the-blank short stories that fit in between the regular books in The Chronicles of St Mary's series. Might not make much sense if you haven't read the books, but I recommend the series if you like a little mad-cap, frolic through history as observed by these disaster magnets who study history in contemporary time. "Just don't call it time travel."
March 28, 2022
Some, mainly the free snippets, are three stars. Others, like And Now For Something Completely Different, or When Did You Last See Your Father are solid four stars.
Christmas Past
Max takes Matthew back to early Victorian England to help the two little boys who were chimney sweeps alongside him.
Oh Jodi, you pulled on my heartstrings with this novella. I can't say more without spoiling the story, just let me say that it was a lovely story and reflected what we all hope Christmas will be like.
The Battersea Barricades
For those of us who wondered what happened at the Battersea Barricades, wonder no longer. A novella for St George's Day.
The Steam-Pump Jump
Peterson is a bit down in the dumps after yet another of his girlfriends has died, and the last one was hand-in-glove with his arch-enemy to boot. So Max dreams up a cunning plan to cheer him, but she needs Markham to execute it in his own inimitable fashion.
Cute, sweet and very funny.
And Now For Something Completely Different
Absolutely bonkers holiday trip to witness the first Mars landing in person involving our usual suspects and my favourite Time Police - also a convincing explanation for why the flag fluttered on the first Moon landing.
LOVED IT.
When Did You Last See Your Father?
Told from Leon's POV, we get a potted history of Leon's life before Max, when he met Dr Bairstow, and when he met Max for the first and second times.
Clive Ronan has been meddling again and told Max's wealthy, influential, abusive father that she is living at St Mary's and has a baby. When Max's father arrives unannounced to take Matthew away, claiming that Max is an unfit mother it is up to Leon to save the day. Max's father can't be allowed to see ten year old Matthew when he should only be a toddler, also the years of abuse he suffered in the nineteenth century as a chimneysweep can't be eradicated and would give Child Services cause to remove him from Max's care. Let's not even go with the fact that actually Max is not really his daughter!
Anyway, this short story shows how much everyone at St Mary's loves Max and Matthew as they conspire to ensure that her father no longer has any power to hurt her again.
Immensely satisfying.
Dessicated Water
Very short story, Professor Rapson manages to reduce water to a fine powder for easier transportation on trips ... Reader, he didn't think it through.
Markham And The Anal Probing
Very short (10 pages) story written more to shock Jodie's publishers than anything else. Markham gets lost and Max and Peterson speculate that he's been abducted by aliens.
Little Donkey
My recommendation is don't read this unless you have read The Nothing Girl. This is not an easy entrée into the world of The Nothing Girl free of charge, instead it is choc full of allusions that only make sense if you have read The Nothing Girl.
Given that warning, it is Christmas, the vicar wants Marilyn to be in the nativity play - does he know nothing?
All our favourite characters are here - a lovely Xmas story for existing fans.
Christmas Past
Max takes Matthew back to early Victorian England to help the two little boys who were chimney sweeps alongside him.
Oh Jodi, you pulled on my heartstrings with this novella. I can't say more without spoiling the story, just let me say that it was a lovely story and reflected what we all hope Christmas will be like.
The Battersea Barricades
For those of us who wondered what happened at the Battersea Barricades, wonder no longer. A novella for St George's Day.
The Steam-Pump Jump
Peterson is a bit down in the dumps after yet another of his girlfriends has died, and the last one was hand-in-glove with his arch-enemy to boot. So Max dreams up a cunning plan to cheer him, but she needs Markham to execute it in his own inimitable fashion.
Cute, sweet and very funny.
And Now For Something Completely Different
Absolutely bonkers holiday trip to witness the first Mars landing in person involving our usual suspects and my favourite Time Police - also a convincing explanation for why the flag fluttered on the first Moon landing.
LOVED IT.
When Did You Last See Your Father?
Told from Leon's POV, we get a potted history of Leon's life before Max, when he met Dr Bairstow, and when he met Max for the first and second times.
Clive Ronan has been meddling again and told Max's wealthy, influential, abusive father that she is living at St Mary's and has a baby. When Max's father arrives unannounced to take Matthew away, claiming that Max is an unfit mother it is up to Leon to save the day. Max's father can't be allowed to see ten year old Matthew when he should only be a toddler, also the years of abuse he suffered in the nineteenth century as a chimneysweep can't be eradicated and would give Child Services cause to remove him from Max's care. Let's not even go with the fact that actually Max is not really his daughter!
Anyway, this short story shows how much everyone at St Mary's loves Max and Matthew as they conspire to ensure that her father no longer has any power to hurt her again.
Immensely satisfying.
Dessicated Water
Very short story, Professor Rapson manages to reduce water to a fine powder for easier transportation on trips ... Reader, he didn't think it through.
Markham And The Anal Probing
Very short (10 pages) story written more to shock Jodie's publishers than anything else. Markham gets lost and Max and Peterson speculate that he's been abducted by aliens.
Little Donkey
My recommendation is don't read this unless you have read The Nothing Girl. This is not an easy entrée into the world of The Nothing Girl free of charge, instead it is choc full of allusions that only make sense if you have read The Nothing Girl.
Given that warning, it is Christmas, the vicar wants Marilyn to be in the nativity play - does he know nothing?
All our favourite characters are here - a lovely Xmas story for existing fans.
April 14, 2023
This is Jodi Taylor's second collection of short stories. Some are alluded to in previous books and give spoilers, so be sure to read the books beforehand. This is a mixed bag of stories. A real Curate's Egg... and any other phrases that come to mind. Some are superb, and some, frankly, are a waste of paper. I also still do not like the author's not before each story that in many cases basically tells you the plot before you have read it... but there are interesting insights.
Christmas Past - Max takes Matthew back to his childhood time to see some old friends. Quite hard-hitting and poignant. A good start. 5/5
The Battersea Barrcades - We finally find out more about the event that is mentioned so often. A treat, but had some pacing issues. 4/5
The Steam Pump Jump - A trip to see the first Steam Pump. Miss Lingoss is enraptured by it. A gentle story, and none the worse for it. 4/5
And Now For Something Completely Different - Well... it was different. Taylor trying something more than just time-travel... but space travel. For me it was a noble effort, but just didn't work for me. 2/5
When Did You Last See Your Father - A very dark story that sheds some light on the darker areas of Max's past, and what might have been. Very good. 5/5
If the book stopped here It would have been a 4.5/5 star book. Unfortunately....
Desiccated Water - Just a waste of time. 0/5
Markham and the Anal Probing - After being intrigued by this for so long, it was a massive let down. 0/5
Little Donkey - Insufferable people in a saccharine plot. I won't be buying that series. 0/5
3 stars I think is fair, but the stories really are a varied bunch.
Christmas Past - Max takes Matthew back to his childhood time to see some old friends. Quite hard-hitting and poignant. A good start. 5/5
The Battersea Barrcades - We finally find out more about the event that is mentioned so often. A treat, but had some pacing issues. 4/5
The Steam Pump Jump - A trip to see the first Steam Pump. Miss Lingoss is enraptured by it. A gentle story, and none the worse for it. 4/5
And Now For Something Completely Different - Well... it was different. Taylor trying something more than just time-travel... but space travel. For me it was a noble effort, but just didn't work for me. 2/5
When Did You Last See Your Father - A very dark story that sheds some light on the darker areas of Max's past, and what might have been. Very good. 5/5
If the book stopped here It would have been a 4.5/5 star book. Unfortunately....
Desiccated Water - Just a waste of time. 0/5
Markham and the Anal Probing - After being intrigued by this for so long, it was a massive let down. 0/5
Little Donkey - Insufferable people in a saccharine plot. I won't be buying that series. 0/5
3 stars I think is fair, but the stories really are a varied bunch.
March 7, 2024
Loved the last story the best and...
Laughed so hard it hurt. Cried many times at the joy and pathos. Loved the Mark Ham abduction story. Liked a lot or Loved them all .She is a gifted though, sometimes, silky writer person who can surely bring us alk to tears or cause us all to fall out of our chairs laughing...
You gotta read everything she's written...lots of repetitive phrases...swear words...even paragraphs sometimes...but never lacking in context...she really is one of the brilliant ones who puts you right at the scene...in the middle of the action...
I can't say enough food things that to truly negates all the criticisms I nay have as an avid reader...
I truly Love every word I have read so far and Love every Good character she writes about...really despise the bad guys like I should!
READ these books aloud with someone you love...what joy to share these all.
Laughed so hard it hurt. Cried many times at the joy and pathos. Loved the Mark Ham abduction story. Liked a lot or Loved them all .She is a gifted though, sometimes, silky writer person who can surely bring us alk to tears or cause us all to fall out of our chairs laughing...
You gotta read everything she's written...lots of repetitive phrases...swear words...even paragraphs sometimes...but never lacking in context...she really is one of the brilliant ones who puts you right at the scene...in the middle of the action...
I can't say enough food things that to truly negates all the criticisms I nay have as an avid reader...
I truly Love every word I have read so far and Love every Good character she writes about...really despise the bad guys like I should!
READ these books aloud with someone you love...what joy to share these all.
June 24, 2021
This is a wonderful collection of short stories about the zany antics of the time traveling historians of St. Mary’s. If you are a fan of the novels, you will love this. Not a clunker story among them. My favorite was the unauthorized trip to Mars to witness the first landing of humans on Mars. Naturally, everything goes wrong, and the St. Mary’s historians are read the riot act by the Time Police. I also loved when three veterans (now the St. Mary’s housekeepers) of the second English civil war (in our future but in the past for the historians) describe their roles as rebels against the Fascist government. Turns out that there actually is a Riot Act that the soldiers read aloud to the rebels before attack. All the stories are great.
September 12, 2021
I read all the St Mary's stories in one go, and loved them as I have every St. Mary's installment. The last story in the collection is Little Donkey, which is part of the Frogmorton Farm series. Since I hadn't read that, I put this collection aside until I was caught up. I only realised when I was part way through the second book, that Little Donkey takes place between the first and second books, so my attempt to read the stories in order still didn't work out. As ever, I'm sad to be at the end of a Jodi Taylor book, and am looking forward to reading more of her work.
April 4, 2022
Another good book of short stories following the gang at St Mary’s. The stories were fabulous but again I wish I had read them in between the accompanying novels as the story would’ve flowed nicer. The battersea barricades and the steam pump jump were definitely my favourites.
I was a bit disappointed at the end of the book when I went on to read the last story and found out that it wasn’t St Mary’s related and a completely different short book altogether hence my low rating. Overall I’m glad I’ve read these to fill in my knowledge of the St Mary’s world.
I was a bit disappointed at the end of the book when I went on to read the last story and found out that it wasn’t St Mary’s related and a completely different short book altogether hence my low rating. Overall I’m glad I’ve read these to fill in my knowledge of the St Mary’s world.
October 21, 2023
This edition is part two containing all the in-between-adventure short stories of the St. Mary's gang. These were originally offered as audiobooks only until fans began requesting they turn into print stories. Gathered together in two volumes, these stories allow you to learn a bit more about all the St. Mary's characters & their personalities & histories. This volume also includes a very short story you won't find elsewhere--Dessicated Water--& a non-St. Mary's story, Little Donkey, from the author's Frogmorton Farm series. They are all fun & fascinating.
January 9, 2025
fixed an oopsie
When I first saw this book and glanced over the story list, it seemed I had already covered everything. Then I had an idea to read all the books in chronological order. That was when I came across a small handful of stories I had never heard of before. This book contained two that I was missing. No spoilers, but they are charming, amusing, and endearing as all of the St. Mary’s stories are. Read the book. You will enjoy it.
When I first saw this book and glanced over the story list, it seemed I had already covered everything. Then I had an idea to read all the books in chronological order. That was when I came across a small handful of stories I had never heard of before. This book contained two that I was missing. No spoilers, but they are charming, amusing, and endearing as all of the St. Mary’s stories are. Read the book. You will enjoy it.
September 11, 2020
A mostly fun read. I enjoyed the St Mary's stories, but the last one, Little Donkey, from another series the author has, mostly left me cold. Maybe if I'd read that series I would like it, but as it was, I just found it rather odd. It's not what I would have chosen to end the collection on, since reading it last has no doubt colored my memory of the rest of the collection.
September 2, 2021
I’m a fan of this series and am looking forward to the 12th and impending 13th in the series.
This collection is a mixed bag, both in subject and quality. The first story and the new story were my favourites; I found myself getting very emotional during those.
The donkey story was ideal as it confirmed that I wasn’t interested in the slightest in reading the frogmore farm books. Thanks
This collection is a mixed bag, both in subject and quality. The first story and the new story were my favourites; I found myself getting very emotional during those.
The donkey story was ideal as it confirmed that I wasn’t interested in the slightest in reading the frogmore farm books. Thanks
March 20, 2023
Eight short stories, seven of which are set in and among the volumes of the St. Mary's series and one from the Frogmarten Farm series which was just as amusing.
This fills in some holes and adds a back story about the Civil Uprising and the Battersea Barricades as well as a very moving Christmas story about Matthew's environs when he had been kidnapped and hidden in Victorian London.
This fills in some holes and adds a back story about the Civil Uprising and the Battersea Barricades as well as a very moving Christmas story about Matthew's environs when he had been kidnapped and hidden in Victorian London.
September 16, 2023
A collection of short stories about the disaster magnets at St. Mary’s Institute for Historical Research. They investigate history in real time - do NOT call it time travel. Like most short story collections, some stories are better than others. A couple of the stories fill in the gaps between the novels in the series.
February 9, 2020
I loved this collection of short stories so much! Each one was exciting and I love the extra glimpses into the world of St Mary's. The short Little Donkey also really made me want to read her Frogmorton Farm series. A wonderful little short story collection!
April 15, 2021
Backstories
Long Story Short has the background stories of several characters as well as a future St. Mary's running into trouble with the Time Police over a trip to Mars. The book ends with a Christmas story from another Taylor series.
Long Story Short has the background stories of several characters as well as a future St. Mary's running into trouble with the Time Police over a trip to Mars. The book ends with a Christmas story from another Taylor series.
May 16, 2021
A Fun Collection
Ok, I get it. Writing full novels is either fun for an author, can be done when locked in your child’s apartment or to keep the editor’s at bay. Enjoy these for they are: More insight into what makes St. Mary’s tick.
Ok, I get it. Writing full novels is either fun for an author, can be done when locked in your child’s apartment or to keep the editor’s at bay. Enjoy these for they are: More insight into what makes St. Mary’s tick.
October 6, 2025
Such a disappointment. I don't think short stories are her forte. Her writing with the St Mary's series was so good. Like going from 'The Raiders of the Lost Ark' to a mixture of 'The Archers' and author Miss Read.
July 17, 2019
Fantastic bite-sized tales from the St Mary's Disaster Magnets (plus a bonus story from Frogmorton Farm). Just what you need to tide you over until the next St Mary's book comes out.
July 17, 2019
I've probably heard them all in audiobook, but I still enjoyed reading them.
October 23, 2019
Lovely reminder of those special’ jumps.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews