Book Review: Out of Time by Jodi Taylor

BOOK DESCRIPTION

The Time Police don’t think twice about jumping to the past. But, this time, the past has come to them…

What connects a dead dinosaur in Wales with Romulus the founder of Rome, a plot to murder the Princes in the Tower and a shocking cover-up at TPHQ?

It sounds like a joke. It isn’t.

The Time Police are determined to find the answers, helped – and occasionally hindered – by a certain wayward member of St Mary’s and a recently reunited Team 236. Will they succeed before Time runs out?

And, as if all that wasn’t enough, something somewhere in the Timeline is wrong. Very, very wrong. What is the Time Map trying to tell them?

BOOK REVIEW

In this sixth Time Police book, a chilling and horrible secret from the past comes to light, and it will shock almost everyone, except the two who already knew. At the same time, a dead dinosaur has been found in Wales, and it’s no fossil. A team is assembled to find out why, and Commander Hay reluctantly turns to an expert who has actually seen dinosaurs in person, Madeline Maxwell, better known as Max from St. Mary’s, As for Team Weird, Matthew gets trapped in the time map, and Luke is still sorting out his feelings for Jane as they head to St. Mary’s to pick up Max. Wait until they discover who is behind the dinosaur appearances and what their plans are next!

Jodi Taylor is a genius at combining history, time travel, and hilarity with a big dose of sadness and tears. She will literally leave you laughing and crying in many different times and places. Max, the main character from The Chronicles of St. Mary’s series, usually pops up in the supporting cast of the Time Police books, but this time she has a starring role, and you don’t want to miss it. As always, there are big revelations, and I was shocked more than once. The Princes in the Tower are mentioned in The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, and they come up in this book as well, in a very disturbing way. There are bloody battles and a heart-touching moment, but the end will surprise everyone. As always with Jodi Taylor’s books, I’m sorry the story came to an end, and I can’t wait for the next one.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Headline. My review is voluntary, and the opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jodi Taylor is a British author best known for her Chronicles of St. Mary’s series, which originated from her love of history and a self-published first novel, Just One Damned Thing After Another. Before becoming a full-time writer, Taylor had a long career in local government, working as a facilities manager for North Yorkshire Libraries. She retired in her early 60s to run a hotel in Turkey, where she started writing, and has since sold over a million books. 

  • Early life and career: Born in Bristol, she worked for the North Yorkshire County Council for almost 20 years, including as a library facilities manager. She also spent time in the RAF.
  • Path to writing: After retiring, she moved to Turkey and, finding herself bored, decided to write a book at age 60. Her first novel, Just One Damned Thing After Another, was self-published online.
  • Publishing success: The book’s unexpected success led to a publishing deal with Accent Press, which was later followed by a contract with Headline Publishing Group.
  • Current status: As of 2024, Taylor lives in Gloucestershire. She is the author of several successful series, including the Chronicles of St. Mary’s, the Time Police series, and the supernatural thriller series featuring Elizabeth Cage.
  • Writing style: Her work is characterized by a blend of humor, history, and adventure. Taylor is known for engaging directly with her readers and attributes her success to them. 

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PURCHASE LINKS

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The Nothing Girl

Jenny, orphaned as a young girl, goes to live with her aunt and uncle. She has a pronounced stutter and is set aside as an afterthought by the family. While contemplating suicide at a young age, she is suddenly visited by a giant golden horse, and here Jenny’s life actually begins.

This is so well written. The characters just jump off the page, especially Jenny, Russell, and Thomas. Jenny, ignored all her life, begins helping Russell, who has been jilted by the love of his life, renovate his farmhouse. Nudged along by her faithful companion Thomas, the giant golden horse, Jenny begins to live again. There is a wonderful cast of characters, and of course there are pitfalls along the way, and the brilliant Jodi Taylor once again makes us laugh and cry as we cheer Jenny on.

I recommend this for anyone who enjoys a magical, heartwarming story.

Link to The Nothing Girl on Amazon

Link to Signed Copies of The Nothing Girl on Jodi Taylor’s Website

Link to my Goodreads Review: (Like and Follow if you are so inclined)

Joy to the World

Oh how I love everything written by Jodi Taylor! This short story in the Frogmorton Farm series is no exception. You will laugh and cry.

There is a serious message in this short story about online predators, but there is also love, Joy, and a golden horse. Joy feels unappreciated and unloved by her father, Russell, and she feels her mother Jenny is weak and clueless. Her only friend is Tommy, a girl she met online. And that’s where the trouble starts…

I would suggest starting with the first book in this series, The Nothing Girl, so you will know the whole story of Jenny, Thomas, Russell, and more. In The Nothing Girl, Jenny is an orphaned girl who has a pronounced stutter. She lives a loveless life with her coldhearted aunt and uncle, until the arrival of a giant golden horse. This series is heartfelt and addictive. I love it so much that I want to go live at Frogmorton Farm.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, read by Lucy Price-Lewis, who does a great job, especially with the voice of Thomas.

Since I am a huge fan of Jodi Taylor’s, I also recommend you read The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, about an organization of hilarious time-traveling historians, and The Time Police, a spinoff of that. Everything Jodi Taylor writes is amazing.

Link to the story on Amazon

Link to Jodi Taylor’s Website

Link to my review on Goodreads