A Symphony of Echoes: The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 2

After finishing the first book in this series I went ahead and bought the second. The second novel is a bit episodic, but because of the nature of potential time travel paradoxes the various plot lines all come together in a maddening but entertaining conclusion.

Based in the near future UK, St Mary's Time Travel institution, has a number of traditions, one of which is that a Historian (time traveling variety) gets to choose his or her last jump into the past before their retirement. In this case Maxwell, with her friend Kal Black, have set out to visit the London of Jack the Ripper on the night that Mary Kelly is mutilated and killed. Black is retiring from active duty. That night has a most surprising conclusion. But it's not by any means the conclusion of the book.

It's not a soft and fluffy book although at points I thought it was quite funny. It also has some pathos (that's where one star disappeared because I thought that particular character was a bit of a red shirt, although the author may redeem herself later considering how convoluted time travel plots can be.) There is also some sheer horror.

The narrator is, as I thought with regard to the first book, excellent. I'm hoping that she will also be reading the third book when it comes out on Audible.

I did wonder if the dodo birds were a nod to Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next novels.

I also bought the third novel on Kindle although it was not yet out on Audible. I would definitely suggest that these books be read in order. Now I'm jonesing for the fourth book.

Fun time travel

Max of course. I love her sense of humor and wit. She's a lovable smart ass.

Yes, very much

Yes, but I did save the last hour for when I got home from work.

The author and narrator together tell a really entertaining story. The quick pace is a relief. We don't have to listen to tedious descriptions of a month long research team. It's just research this before we go on our mission, then... We jumped to the past.

I loved the twist on time travel and the eccentricities of St. Mary's. But probably the most remarkable is that the heroine is not hour glass shaped and has to work at being fit - as most of us do. She gets messy, panicked, makes mistakes and feels occasionally hopeless as we all do. But -- she has the chance to fix it. Give this series a listen to - or two... very entertaining as well as addicting!

I'm sure I will. I'm going to read the whole series again, after I read the next two volumes.

Mrs. Partridge, aka History (Goddess of). She's one of those Deus ex machina characters that always shows up at the right time and does what you want her to do.

I haven't read the books in print, but I can't imagine anyone doing a better job with the narration.

Too many moments to pick one. The characters are even more interesting (and complicated) in this book than in the first one.

I love science fiction and particularly love time travel. This series is the best sci fi of this genre I have read in years and I read it all. Witty, sharp, laugh-out-loud funny. Great characters, wonderful concepts, well-executed.

Another fantastic book in the Chronicles of St. Mary's series! Max and the gang at St. Mary's get into all kinds of trouble again in book two. There's something special about this series that I just can't quite put my finger on. I love the richly drawn characters, the narration, the action, the absurdity and the humor. It's fresh and original and absolutely delightful. I enjoy every minute spent reading (or listening) to these books. Narrator Zara Ramm does an excellent job of bringing Max and these books to life. You can't go wrong whether you read them in print or listen to them on audio (or both, like I do). Read them in order or you won't do them justice, but definitely read them!

My favorite thing about this series is the protagonist - Max (a female). She is smart, fearless, and has a sense of humor. I like her a lot.

I also like the use of time travel to visit different eras. It keeps the stories interesting.
The author tells a briskly paced, complex story that includes some laugh out loud funny moments.

Zara Ramm's narration is excellent.

There are more books in this series and they are on my "Wish List".

Zara Ramm is fantastic, and she kept me interested in a book that I might have gotten frustrated with otherwise. It's important to note that this is essentially three books (short ones) in one, brought together with no unifying plot line except casting. Characters in this book feel as though they're there on a timeline that was arranged by their managers, leaving halfway through the season for another gig or just making a guest appearance. The saving grace is that it is actually quite interesting - there are genuine moments of suspense and humor, and what history made it in was compelling and satisfying reading. I love discovering a series when I have more volumes to look forward to, and this was good enough that I'm excited to go on to the next book in the series.

The heroine is both a leader but able to see the absurdities of the working world

I hope Jodi Taylor continues with this series , and Audible l keeps recording them!

Zara Ramm could read Webster's Dictionary and I'd happily listen. She has a warmth and lilt to her voice that are perfect for a book that has sardonic and whimsical undertones. Good thing too, this book needed some redeeming graces.

This is the second book in the series and relies heavily on the fact that the listener has already heard book one. Too much is left unexplained for this to be a standalone book. The storyline (as is true in the first book also) relies heavily on mini-episodes all strung loosely together in one overall plot. The two plot arcs (rocky romance and a rogue time traveler) come across as background frameworks from which the individual scenarios hang. Once you realize this and don't try to have one episode lead to or explain the next one, it's easier to relax and get into the book.

The heroine is definitely a mixed bag. She is an understanding and charismatic leader when put in charge. And then she becomes a churlish and destructive young woman when she's crossed by her would-be boyfriend. The two sides of her personality are so extreme that they were hard to reconcile.

I will get the next book in this series because Zara Ramm is just that good.

It's more of the same kind of fun from the same fabulous people you have been reading about already. Why not keep it up? Love The series.