Where Does The First Time Police Book Fit In Jodi Taylor’S Universe?

I'm reading Jodi Taylor's Chronicles of St. Mary's series and found the Time Police spinoff. Need the reading order for these intersecting timelines to avoid spoilers.
2026-07-25 11:45:02
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4 Answers

VioletAsh
VioletAsh
Contributor Photographer
What's interesting is how the tone diverges. St. Mary's feels like a family of disaster magnets. The Time Police feels like a dysfunctional office. The first Time Police book establishes that tone shift beautifully.

Reading it after being steeped in the familial warmth of St. Mary's makes the cold, bureaucratic setting of the Time Police hit harder. You feel the cultural difference viscerally, which makes the recruits' struggle to find their own camaraderie more touching.
2026-07-26 14:10:53
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AustinDay
AustinDay
Bibliophile Assistant
Honestly, the chronological order obsession can ruin the experience. Taylor herself plays fast and loose with timelines. 'Doing Time' works as a standalone entry point if you want a tighter, more procedural vibe compared to St. Mary's madcap adventures.

You'll miss some in-jokes and the emotional weight of certain cameos, but the core conflict—catching time criminals while dealing with hilarious bureaucracy—is perfectly accessible. Try it; if you love the world, then dive into the Chronicles from the beginning to get all the layers.
2026-07-26 23:20:52
4
NicoKlein
NicoKlein
Clear Answerer Veterinarian
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.
2026-07-29 04:08:25
0
Felix
Felix
Bookworm Journalist
Think of the universe in phases: Phase 1 is the core St. Mary's adventures. Phase 1.5 is where the Time Police organization becomes relevant within those adventures. Phase 2 is the Time Police spin-off series running concurrently with later Phase 1 books.

'Doing Time' is the start of Phase 2. So you need the context of Phase 1.5, which is covered in the middle Chronicles books. It's not rocket science, but it's not straightforward either. Just follow the publication list on the author's website.
2026-07-31 16:03:49
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Related Questions

What is the complete Jodi Taylor book order for Time Police?

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.

What is the chronological order of Jodi Taylor’s Time Police series?

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.

How many Time Police books has Jodi Taylor published so far?

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.

What is the correct reading order for Jodi Taylor’s Time Police series?

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.

How do the Time Police books connect to Jodi Taylor’s St Mary’s novels?

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.

How does the Jodi Taylor book order link St Mary’s and Time Police?

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.

Does Jodi Taylor recommend a specific order for reading Time Police?

7 Answers2026-07-25 13:31:05
I borrowed 'Doing Time' from a friend who never mentioned St. Mary's. I read it, loved it, and only later discovered it was a spin-off. I then read all of St. Mary's and had a blast spotting the connections. It was like a fun prequel series. So, my lived experience says starting with Time Police worked just fine. It was a cool way to do it, actually—seeing the 'future' of the world first, then learning its past.

Which Jodi Taylor novellas fit between the main St Mary’s books?

3 Answers2026-07-25 11:30:38
The chronological placement is key for maximum emotional payoff. Take 'A Bachelor's Guide to Murder' – it's set between books 4 and 5, and it genuinely deepens Peterson's character in a way that makes his arc in the later main novels hit so much harder. The 'Fayre's Fair' collection, with stories like 'The Steam-Pump Jump', fills in gaps during the early book timeline. I made the mistake of reading all the main books first and then circling back to the novellas, and I regretted it. Some of the quieter, more personal moments in the short stories provide essential context for the characters' headspace during the bigger crises.

How do I read Jodi Taylor books in order of publication?

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.

How do Jodi Taylor’s short stories connect to her series reading order?

3 Answers2026-07-25 16:38:11
The audiobook route simplifies this a bit. Many of the short story collections are narrated by the same sublime narrator, Zara Ramm, and are produced as full audiobooks. Listeners can just slot the audio collection in where it falls in the series order. It feels very seamless that way. Sometimes a short story provides crucial comic relief or a quieter moment between the often chaotic main novels. I wouldn't say any contain information critical to the main plot's resolution, but they absolutely enhance character development. For Max and Leon especially, some of their best moments are in the shorts, showing sides of their relationship the fast-paced novels sometimes skate over.
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