3 Respuestas2026-07-25 11:32:27
The order gets fuzzy because of all the supplemental material. My library only had the main novels, so I read those straight through and loved it. Later, I bought the short story compilations.
It was fine! The novels reference big historical jumps, and the short stories often show you those exact jumps in more detail. It was fun to read a novel mention a trip to Ancient Rome, then later read the short story that depicted that whole chaotic event.
3 Respuestas2026-07-25 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.
2 Respuestas2026-07-25 18:48:34
The integrated orders are great, but they often have you pausing a novel's climax to read a short story about a minor character's tea-making habits. It kills momentum. For page-turning pleasure, just mainline the novels. The short stories are perfect palate cleansers between big books.
4 Respuestas2026-07-25 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.
5 Respuestas2026-07-25 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.
4 Respuestas2026-07-25 07:42:41
The order is explicitly listed in the front of the newer editions, I think. But if not: 1. The Nothing Girl (novel). 2. Little Donkey (novella). 3. Christmas Pie (short novel). 4. The Something Girl (novel). 5. And the Rest is History (short story collection). There's also the short 'A Perfect Storm', which occurs between 'Little Donkey' and 'Christmas Pie'. Following this gives you the complete, uninterrupted narrative of Jenny's life at the farm.
3 Respuestas2026-07-25 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.
4 Respuestas2026-07-25 16:21:24
I love that this question pops up every few months. It means new people are discovering Jodi Taylor! The community always rallies with helpful lists and gentle guidance. It's one of the nicest fandoms because we all remember that initial confusion and subsequent obsession. Welcome, new reader! Grab 'Just One Damned Thing After Another' and clear your schedule.
3 Respuestas2026-07-25 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.
7 Respuestas2026-07-25 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.