The Time Police Series
A full guide to the Time Police series with comments by Jodi Taylor
The Time Police series is a thrilling and humorous exploration of time travel, filled with action, intrigue, and a generous dose of wit. Set in the same universe as Taylor’s beloved Chronicles of St Mary’s, the series shifts focus to the Time Police, an organisation tasked with maintaining the integrity of the timeline by preventing interference and chaos across history.
At the heart of the series is Team 236, an unlikely trio of misfits who navigate the highly structured and often absurd world of the Time Police. Their team consists of Jane, a rule-abiding recruit trying to escape her past; Luke, a disgraced aristocrat seeking redemption; and Matthew, the reluctant son of St Mary’s historians who is exceptionally talented in understanding the time map. Together, they form a team that’s equal parts unconventional and endearing, as they tackle time-related crimes, face bureaucratic challenges, and uncover conspiracies within their own ranks.
Taylor’s signature humour and sharp characterisation shine throughout the series, balancing fast-paced action with moments of heartfelt camaraderie. The books blend speculative fiction with mystery and comedy, offering readers a fresh perspective on time travel through the lens of strict enforcement and chaotic teamwork.
With its clever writing, imaginative plots, and a cast of memorable characters, The Time Police is both a natural companion to the Chronicles of St Mary’s and an engaging series in its own right, appealing to fans of science fiction, adventure, and offbeat humour.
A long time ago in the future, the secret of time travel became known to all. Unsurprisingly, the world nearly ended. There will always be idiots who want to change history.
Enter the Time Police. An all-powerful, international organisation tasked with keeping the timeline straight. At all costs.
Their success is legendary. The Time Wars are over. But now they must fight to save a very different future - their own.
This is the story of Jane, Luke and Matthew - the worst recruits in Time Police history. Or, very possibly, three young people who might change everything.
Jodi Taylor writes:
I was writing a St Mary’s story – sorry, I can’t remember which one – and I suddenly thought, ‘How irritating must St Mary’s be to those whose job is to police the timeline and keep everything on the straight and narrow? How about looking at things from another point of view?’
So I did. And because I like a challenge, I deliberately spent a couple of books making the TP as unpleasant as possible just to see if I could bring people around to regarding them as sympathetic characters. Well – most of them.
Hard Time - Book Two
There have always been idiots who want to change history. But now temporal tourism is on the rise. Highly illegal, highly risky - and highly lucrative.
The Time Police despatch their toughest undercover agents to take out the perpetrators. Then the unthinkable happens. Replacements are needed fast and who better than three young officers who barely look the part?
Step forward Team Weird - Luke, Jane and Matthew. They might still be in training. Their methods might be unorthodox. But, as the Time Police face their greatest ever threat, Team Weird might be their only shot at survival.
Jodi Taylor writes:
I don’t normally remember when various ideas occur to me but I do for this one. I was in Derby at the time so blame Derby – I do. I spent a happy afternoon thinking criminal thoughts – don’t blame Derby for that – that was all me – and coming up with some very nasty people. Of whom we may not have seen the last …
SAVING TIME - Book Three
Life is good for Team Weird, now heroes and fully fledged Time Police officers. Luke can't wait to bear arms. Jane has a date. And Matthew still hasn't had his hair cut.
But Time waits for no one and neither do criminal masterminds. A major threat to the Timeline is looming, one far deadlier than mere idiots who want to change history. And when a familiar face becomes a Very Important Lead, will conflicting family loyalties spell trouble for Team Weird?
One missing. One guilt-ridden. And one facing the end of their Time Police career before it's even begun. Not so good then, after all.
Jodi Taylor writes:
This story came about because I had a sudden picture in my head of a couple of very nasty TP officers watching Jane walk past, all full of new-found confidence after Team Weird’s recent success, and one turns to the others and says, ‘Fancy some fun, boys?’ The whole book was written around that scene.
And, of course, there’s THAT DATE …!
ABOUT TIME - Book Four
Twenty-four hours is a long Time in the Time Police.
When a fateful mission to apprehend a minor criminal selling dodgy historical artefacts goes very wrong, Commander Hay faces the longest day of her career.
An officer is attacked within TPHQ. A prisoner is murdered. And investigations are about to lead to the one place where no officer can legally tread.
Worst of all, trouble is brewing for Luke, Jane and Matthew as a shocking revelation threatens to tear Team Weird apart for good....
Jodi Taylor writes:
I did enjoy writing this one. Particularly having Varma and Max work together. Not a partnership made in heaven but somehow it works. I was quite amazed neither shot the other. However, I really enjoyed bringing the two of them together so who’s to say that will never happen again …
KILLING TIME - Book Five
A ghost train, lost in Time, hurtles through the night...
Two members of Team 236 are trapped on board. Not ideal under any circumstances but catastrophic when they're at each other's throats.
Hot on their heels, but never quite able to catch up, can Lt Grint and his team overcome all obstacles in their way and save their fellow officers before the train disappears for good?
Nor is TPHQ without its own problems as Matthew risks his sanity to track them through the Time Map. And a Mikey-experiment goes horribly wrong, exposing something better left concealed for all Time. What are the Time Police hiding?
Jodi Taylor writes:
Such a lot of research for this one. Pages of it everywhere – and I didn’t use most of it which is just typical. The Zanetti Train is great fun – check it out. Especially now Captain Farenden has re-written the legend.
And Jane and Grint – will Romance occur?
Out of Time - Book Six
The nail-bitingly tense, rib-crackingly funny new TIME POLICE mission from the million-copy bestselling author of THE CHRONICLES OF ST MARY'S.
The Time Police are accustomed to jumping to the past. This time, however, the past has come to them.
What connects a dead dinosaur with Romulus the founder of Rome, a shocking cover-up at TPHQ and a plot to murder the Princes in the Tower?
The Time Police are determined to find out, helped - and occasionally hindered - by a wayward member of St Mary's and a recently reunited Team 236. Each in their own unique way, obviously.
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?
Can the Time Police find the answers before Time runs out?
Jodi Taylor writes:
Sex, drugs and rotting offal!
Something the Time Police forgot to mention on their recruiting posters.
Santa Grint - short story
It all begins when the Time Police hold their first Children's Christmas Party. Their most dangerous mission yet . . .
No good deed ever goes unpunished. Lt Grint succumbs to his softer side and soon lives to regret it. The combination of bubble universes, candy floss, a small boy, a toad named Mr Fluffy, Mount Fanboten, £6.5 million, and a love-struck Officer Lockland are all hard enough to believe, but imagine a situation so dire that only Officer Parrish can save the aforementioned Grint from a lengthy stay in prison. At least, he can - but will he?
And, most unlikely of all, has Commander Hay's long-suffering adjutant finally experienced the first faint stirrings of romance? Is such a thing even possible?
Jodi Taylor writes:
Here’s another story that got away from me. I had no idea what it was going to be about when I started it. There would be a children’s Christmas party – subject to Time Police rules, of course. Eating by numbers, strict discipline to be maintained at all time, no cheating during the three-legged race – all that sort of thing. Well – I think we all knew how that would turn out. But, as Max is fond of saying, ‘Nothing happens in isolation. Everything is connected to everything else.’
I hope this story is a fine example of how one disaster can lead to another and before you know where you are it’s the end of the universe and how will they keep Lt Grint out of prison?
Out of time is also shown as book four. Very confusing and it meant I missed About Time so there were quite a few things in Killing Time which didn't make sense. Will go back and read About Time now to catch up with what I missed. That said am really enjoying the series and also reading St Marys at the same time or perhaps I have read then already and just didn't realise?
You have both About Time and Killing Time listed above as the fourth book in the Time Police series.