Just One Damned Thing After Another

The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 1

De: Jodi Taylor

Narrado por: Zara Ramm

'One of my favourite books of all time' CHARLAINE HARRIS

'Jodi Taylor is quite simply the Queen of Time. Her books are a swashbuckling joyride through History' C. K. MCDONNELL

--

They say that History is just one damned thing after another. Welcome to St Mary's Institute of Historical Research - where damned things happen every day.

When Dr Madeleine 'Max' Maxwell is recruited by St Mary's, she finds their methods to be somewhat unorthodox. They don't just study the past - they actually visit it, carefully observing historical events as they unfold in real time.

And not dying. This last part is important.

The whole of History now lies before Max and her new colleagues, but, as she will discover, time travel is never straightforward. Because History doesn't like to be messed with, and danger lurks in every century...

Fast-paced, witty and delightfully unconventional, Just One Damned Thing After Another is the first in Jodi Taylor's beloved and bestselling Chronicles of St Mary's series. For fans of Terry Pratchett, Doctor Who, Genevieve Cogman and Ghosts.

©2013 Jodi Taylor (P)2014 Audible Studios

Adventures in Time Travel!

I know there are folks who buy a book because of its cover. I got this one because of its title--I just couldn't resist it! Besides, time travel is 'in' right now and often can be very entertaining.

Over all, I found the story enjoyable and a fun read. The heroine is surprisingly able and competent to handle herself in difficult situations and to save the day for her colleagues. I found this a bit incongruous with the narrator's particular British accent, in that I just could not imagine someone who talked like that punching someone in the face or being rough and tough enough to carry the story. Yet, Max was just that kind of heroine. I guess you just can't judge a book by its accent!

In contrast to a previous reviewer, I enjoyed this book much more than Connie Willis' two World War II time travel books, which I found very unsatisfying and frustrating. Jodi Tayor's character, Max, has actual relationships with other characters and all these characters are more developed. I found Max's adventures in time travel into the past much more engaging. The Willis books, while expertly researched, were pure drudgery for me.

If you love time travel books and are happy with a very British sounding heroine, this book will be a fun read for you. Go for it!

Great combination of satire, history ,scifi

Would you consider the audio edition of Just One Damned Thing After Another to be better than the print version?

Love the narrator- she adds so much to the story

Who was your favorite character and why?

The protagonist- irreverent but serious about her work

Which character – as performed by Zara Ramm – was your favorite?

The protagonist

Any additional comments?

Fantastic read- no idea why so few reviews!Have read all three; disappointed that book 4 not on audible only on kindle, I hope coming soon.

Great Fun!

I was actually amazed that I like this book so much. It was a purchase in the find a new series sale a while back. This is the first author I have read that I think is a match for Connie Willis. Actually, the story lines are similar, i.e., both academic time travel into the past, but Jodi Taylor puts a major twist on hers. Also, this is a series, whereas Willis' books are all stand alone and differ widely in their plots. I liked the narrator a lot and found her portrayal of the characters spot-on. I doubt that any of these books will surpass Willis' To Say Nothing of the Dog: or How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last, which was pure genius, but these are definitely good value and I will be reading the entire series.

A Nice Place To Visit...

I enjoyed visiting Jody Taylor's St. Mary's and am happy that Zara Ramm took me there. Okay, every character is thin as an anorexic on a hunger strike. But the lead is a strong, independent, and feisty woman who I liked - thanks a lot to Zara Ramm's characterization.

Apparently this is the first in this serial of cliff hangers. I guess the book's aimed at the Harry Potter crowd, only a guess since I've not heard any of that story. The thing is, that painless as this story is, it hasn't hooked me to go on even though the premise is an amusing treatment of time travel. I'll look for Zara Ramm though for future purchases.

Better in Print

What did you like best about this story?

The plot & main characters.

What didn’t you like about Zara Ramm’s performance?

It wasn't a performance, it was a reading. She spoke too quickly with too little inflection & except for an occasional slight accent change all the characters sounded exactly the same. I had to force myself to finish.

Any additional comments?

The story was interesting. If not for the poor narration I'd continue the series.

History IS fun!

"Oh dear, the world is ending; let's have a cup of tea" is the mindset I wish I had preprogrammed in my DNA and the overriding tone for the The Chronicles of St. Mary's. Combining comical dialogue with quirky characters and introducing them into historical events makes for an entertaining and educational read. There are the mind-boggling time travel paradoxes that will play through your mind but never really resolve, as I find in any time travel tale, but accept and read on. I’ve read all four of the Chronicles of St. Mary’s books and am waiting for more. As for the audible performance of Zara Ramm: perfection.

So glad I found this series!

Would you listen to Just One Damned Thing After Another again? Why?

Yes, perfect combination of my favorite elements in a great listen.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Max! Fun, smart, vulnerable and adventurous.

What does Zara Ramm bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She is brilliant. Love her accents and expression. She's one of my new favorite narrators.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Excellent Entertainment!

Would you consider the audio edition of Just One Damned Thing After Another to be better than the print version?

This narrator was great! She WAS Max, the main character, and still made the others believable.

What did you like best about this story?

This novel has adventure, suspense, mystery, history, romance, sci-fi and lots of humor. Maybe a little horror mixed in. It seems to combine all the genres of fiction, a real fun listen.

Have you listened to any of Zara Ramm’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was the first of hers I've listened to.

Any additional comments?

This was a "Deal of the Day." Now I want to listen to the rest of the series.

Witty and fun in a very British sort of way!

-Was going through a bit of a dry spell in my book selections when I remembered this recommendation. Glad I did! The premise is old but with a couple of new twists. I felt the characters could have been drawn better and given more depth but then it's just not that type of book. This isn't an epic novel. It's more of a quick shallow romp through time travel itineraries. A bit Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, I was mentally casting John Cleese and crew in specific parts. Just like those shows, I had to rewind bits and listen more carefully to absorb some of the dialogue. Now I want to use the word "wanker" at least once daily which can't be a good sign. This is a good choice if you just need a break from more ponderous wordy tomes.

This Book Has It All!!!

If you could sum up Just One Damned Thing After Another in three words, what would they be?

Funny, entertaining, captivating

What did you like best about this story?

This story blends humor with suspense in just the off handed way I like.

What does Zara Ramm bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The reader has a way of making the off-handed comments of the author seem real and timely.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Hogan's Hero's meets the The Time Machine

Any additional comments?

This book is the perfect blend of humor, suspense, and drama. Well Done!