Listen free for 30 days
-
Just One Damned Thing After Another
- The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 1
- Narrated by: Zara Ramm
- Series: The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 1
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £21.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
A Symphony of Echoes
- The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 2
- By: Jodi Taylor
- Narrated by: Zara Ramm
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dispatched to Victorian London to seek out Jack the Ripper, things go badly wrong when he finds the St Mary's historians first. Stalked through the fog-shrouded streets of Whitechapel, Max is soon running for her life. Again. And that's just the start. Max finds herself in a race against time when an old enemy is intent on destroying St Mary's. An enemy willing, if necessary, to destroy History itself.
-
-
It keeps the worst from the first
- By Kindle Customer on 28-09-19
-
Doing Time
- Time Police, Book 1
- By: Jodi Taylor
- Narrated by: Zara Ramm
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A long time ago in the future, the secret of time travel became known to all. Everyone seized the opportunity - and the world nearly ended. There will always be idiots who want to change history. And so, the Time Police were formed. An all-powerful, international organisation tasked with keeping the timeline straight. At all costs. Their success is legendary, and the Time Wars are over. But now the Time Police must fight to save a very different future - their own. This is the story of Jane, Luke and Matthew - arguably the worst recruits in Time Police history....
-
-
Brilliant - Another Jodi Taylor Hit
- By Jodi Taylor on 27-02-20
-
The Stranger Times
- Stranger Times, Book 1
- By: C. K. McDonnell
- Narrated by: Brendan McDonald
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A weekly newspaper dedicated to the weird and the wonderful (but mostly the weird), The Stranger Times is the go-to publication for the unexplained and inexplicable. At least that's their pitch. The reality is rather less auspicious. Their editor is a drunken, foul-tempered and foul-mouthed husk of a man who thinks little of the publication he edits. His staff are a ragtag group of misfits. And as for the assistant editor...well, that job is a revolving door - and it has just revolved to reveal Hannah Willis, who's got problems of her own.
-
-
Weirdy McWeird wrtes another cracker so he does
- By simon white on 20-03-21
-
Amongst Our Weapons
- The Brand New Rivers of London Novel
- By: Ben Aaronovitch
- Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
- Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The London Silver Vaults - for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up. Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace - only that's what happened. The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.
-
-
Well worth waiting for
- By Debra K on 08-04-22
-
The Nothing Girl
- The Frogmorton Farm Series, Book 1
- By: Jodi Taylor
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Getting a life isn't always easy. And hanging on to it is even harder.... Jodi Taylor brings all her comic writing skills to this heartwarming tale of self-discovery. Known as The Nothing Girl because of her severe stutter and chronically low self-confidence, Jenny Dove is only just prevented from ending it all by the sudden appearance of Thomas, a mystical golden horse only she can see. Under his guidance Jenny unexpectedly acquires a husband - the charming and chaotic Russell Checkland.
-
-
A stunning story
- By Paul Golz on 10-04-16
-
White Silence
- Elizabeth Cage, Book 1
- By: Jodi Taylor
- Narrated by: Kate Scarfe
- Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Elizabeth Cage is a child when she discovers that there are things in this world that only she can see. But she doesn't want to see them, and she definitely doesn't want them to see her. What is a curse to Elizabeth is a gift to others - a very valuable gift they want to control. When her husband dies, Elizabeth's world descends into a nightmare. But as she tries to piece her life back together, she discovers that not everything is as it seems.
-
-
Damp squib.....
- By L on 01-03-18
-
A Symphony of Echoes
- The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 2
- By: Jodi Taylor
- Narrated by: Zara Ramm
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dispatched to Victorian London to seek out Jack the Ripper, things go badly wrong when he finds the St Mary's historians first. Stalked through the fog-shrouded streets of Whitechapel, Max is soon running for her life. Again. And that's just the start. Max finds herself in a race against time when an old enemy is intent on destroying St Mary's. An enemy willing, if necessary, to destroy History itself.
-
-
It keeps the worst from the first
- By Kindle Customer on 28-09-19
-
Doing Time
- Time Police, Book 1
- By: Jodi Taylor
- Narrated by: Zara Ramm
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A long time ago in the future, the secret of time travel became known to all. Everyone seized the opportunity - and the world nearly ended. There will always be idiots who want to change history. And so, the Time Police were formed. An all-powerful, international organisation tasked with keeping the timeline straight. At all costs. Their success is legendary, and the Time Wars are over. But now the Time Police must fight to save a very different future - their own. This is the story of Jane, Luke and Matthew - arguably the worst recruits in Time Police history....
-
-
Brilliant - Another Jodi Taylor Hit
- By Jodi Taylor on 27-02-20
-
The Stranger Times
- Stranger Times, Book 1
- By: C. K. McDonnell
- Narrated by: Brendan McDonald
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A weekly newspaper dedicated to the weird and the wonderful (but mostly the weird), The Stranger Times is the go-to publication for the unexplained and inexplicable. At least that's their pitch. The reality is rather less auspicious. Their editor is a drunken, foul-tempered and foul-mouthed husk of a man who thinks little of the publication he edits. His staff are a ragtag group of misfits. And as for the assistant editor...well, that job is a revolving door - and it has just revolved to reveal Hannah Willis, who's got problems of her own.
-
-
Weirdy McWeird wrtes another cracker so he does
- By simon white on 20-03-21
-
Amongst Our Weapons
- The Brand New Rivers of London Novel
- By: Ben Aaronovitch
- Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
- Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The London Silver Vaults - for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up. Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace - only that's what happened. The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.
-
-
Well worth waiting for
- By Debra K on 08-04-22
-
The Nothing Girl
- The Frogmorton Farm Series, Book 1
- By: Jodi Taylor
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Getting a life isn't always easy. And hanging on to it is even harder.... Jodi Taylor brings all her comic writing skills to this heartwarming tale of self-discovery. Known as The Nothing Girl because of her severe stutter and chronically low self-confidence, Jenny Dove is only just prevented from ending it all by the sudden appearance of Thomas, a mystical golden horse only she can see. Under his guidance Jenny unexpectedly acquires a husband - the charming and chaotic Russell Checkland.
-
-
A stunning story
- By Paul Golz on 10-04-16
-
White Silence
- Elizabeth Cage, Book 1
- By: Jodi Taylor
- Narrated by: Kate Scarfe
- Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Elizabeth Cage is a child when she discovers that there are things in this world that only she can see. But she doesn't want to see them, and she definitely doesn't want them to see her. What is a curse to Elizabeth is a gift to others - a very valuable gift they want to control. When her husband dies, Elizabeth's world descends into a nightmare. But as she tries to piece her life back together, she discovers that not everything is as it seems.
-
-
Damp squib.....
- By L on 01-03-18
-
Project - 16
- By: Martyn J. Pass
- Narrated by: Meghan Crawford
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Miller is the last Englishman. It's not a title he enjoys because it means that whenever the looters and the treasure hunters come across the Atlantic to the ruins of his country, it's his job to hunt them down. That is, if the packs of wild dogs don't kill them first. Or the collapsing buildings. Or the disease. Miller soon finds himself helping a former US Ranger, Claudia Riley, hunt for her missing nephew who's disappeared somewhere in England.
-
A Bachelor Establishment
- By: Jodi Taylor
- Narrated by: Anna Bentinck
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
High adventure and dark mystery combine in a sparkling historical romance, by Jodi Taylor writing as Isabella Barclay from The Chronicles of St. Mary's. Bascombe, widowed and tied to an impoverished estate, has learned to ask little of life. With no hope of leaving, the years have passed her by. Lord Ryde, exiled abroad after a scandal, has returned to strip his estate and make a new start in America.
-
-
Almost as good a discovering a new Georgette Heyer
- By Beccameriel on 24-01-16
-
The Eyre Affair
- By: Jasper Fforde
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Kruger
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There is another 1985, somewhere in the could-have-been, where the Crimean war still rages, dodos are regenerated in home-cloning kits and everyone is deeply disappointed by the ending of 'Jane Eyre'. In this world there are no jet-liners or computers, but there are policemen who can travel across time, a Welsh republic, a great interest in all things literary - and a woman called Thursday Next. In this utterly original and wonderfully funny first novel, Fforde has created a fiesty, loveable heroine and a plot of such richness and ingenuity that it will take your breath away.
-
-
Audio problems mar an otherwise entertaining read
- By Charlie on 06-06-13
-
The Invisible Library
- The Invisible Library, Book 1
- By: Genevieve Cogman
- Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission - to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book. Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested - the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene's new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.
-
-
New Narration makes all the difference!
- By Stephen Lynch on 10-06-21
-
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Book 1
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
-
-
Sells its self as always
- By Amazon Customer on 23-01-19
-
The Night Raven
- Crow Investigations, Book 1
- By: Sarah Painter
- Narrated by: Kate Rawson
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lydia has always known she has no power, especially next to her infamous and more-than-slightly dodgy family. Which is why she carved her own life as a private investigator far away from London. When a professional snafu forces her home, the head of the family calls in a favour, and Lydia finds herself investigating the disappearance of her cousin, Maddie.
-
-
Enjoyable listen
- By Kittie Abbott on 16-06-20
-
What Abigail Did That Summer
- By: Ben Aaronovitch
- Narrated by: Shvorne Marks
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is the summer of 2013, and Abigail Kamara has been left to her own devices. This might, by those who know her, be considered a mistake. While her cousin, apprentice wizard and police Constable Peter Grant, is off in the sticks chasing unicorns, Abigail is chasing her own mystery. Teenagers around Hampstead Heath have been going missing, but before the police can get fully engaged, the teens return home - unharmed but vague about where they've been.
-
-
Ruined
- By Mrs. I P. Sowden on 18-03-21
-
The 13th Witch
- The King's Watch, Book 1
- By: Mark Hayden
- Narrated by: Ciaran Saward
- Length: 10 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Conrad Clarke, former RAF pilot and alleged gangster, gets a text – and a visit – from The Allfather. Odin has a challenge for Conrad: Sign up to protect England from wild magick and get a commission in the King’s Watch. All he has to do is find a missing witch. Simple. Conrad never could resist a challenge. Before you can say “Ragnarok”, he’s plunged into a world of gods, mages, witches, dwarves, and one very aggressive giant mole.
-
-
Awful robotic narration.
- By Mel on 22-11-20
-
The Accidental Alchemist
- By: Gigi Pandian
- Narrated by: Julia Motyka
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unpacking her belongings in her new hometown of Portland, Oregon, herbalist and reformed alchemist Zoe Faust can't help but notice she's picked up a stowaway. Dorian Robert-Houdin is a living, breathing three-and-half-foot gargoyle - not to mention a master of French cuisine - and he needs Zoe's expertise to decipher a centuries-old text. Zoe, who's trying to put her old life behind her, isn't so sure she wants to reopen her alchemical past... until the dead man on her porch leaves her no choice.
-
-
excellent
- By J on 11-06-15
-
Some Fine Day
- By: Kat Ross
- Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A generation ago, continent-sized storms called hypercanes caused the Earth to flood. The survivors were forced to retreat deep underground and build a new society. This is the story that sixteen-year-old Jansin Nordqvist has heard all of her life.
-
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- By: Douglas Adams
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One Thursday lunchtime the Earth gets unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this seems already to be more than he can cope with.
-
-
Classic English Comedy Sci-Fi, but...
- By No Longer Submitting Reviews on 24-08-20
-
11.22.63
- By: Stephen King
- Narrated by: Craig Wasson
- Length: 30 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What if you could go back in time and change the course of history?11.22.63, the date that Kennedy was shot - unless.... King takes his protagonist Jake Epping, a high school English teacher from Lisbon Falls, Maine, 2011, on a fascinating journey back to 1958 - from a world of mobile phones and iPods to a new world of Elvis and JFK, of Plymouth Fury cars and Lindy Hopping, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill who becomes the love of Jake's life.
-
-
Return to top form
- By John on 14-12-11
Summary
The first book in the best-selling Chronicles of St Mary's series which follows a group of tea-soaked disaster magnets as they hurtle their way around History. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor.
Time Travel meets History in this explosive bestselling adventure series.
'So tell me, Dr Maxwell, if the whole of History lay before you...where would you go? What would you like to witness?'
When Madeleine Maxwell is recruited by the St Mary's Institute of Historical Research, she discovers the historians there don't just study the past - they revisit it.
But one wrong move and History will fight back - to the death. And she soon discovers it's not just History she's fighting....
More from the same
What listeners say about Just One Damned Thing After Another
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Charlotte Hobbs
- 30-03-19
Oh Dear
Plus side? The narrator did a good enough job with what she was given.
Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything spectacular, but at least a fun romp through various periods of history. I gave up on about chapter 7 (I think? The main character is about to go see some dinosaurs). I'm going to give my reasons why, so beware that there are spoilers ahead:
1) There's remarkably little time travel for a book about, y'know, secret time travelling historians. Her first trip was 14 days of nothing on a mountain that could have been literally any time, anywhere. A bunch of other trips were entirely glossed over, and the only one that was described in any detail was a World War, which is the most overdone time-travel scenario in the genre.
2) For a specialist in ancient/classical history, the main character hasn't used this specialty once, and is somehow the best suited character to lead a trip to the Jurassic era. The lack of any major detail just makes me feel like the author doesn't feel like researching anything.
3) Speaking of time: it's remarkably unclear how much time is passing. It's mentioned at one point that she's been in Saint Mary's for 4 years - I honestly thought she'd only just finished her training. The lack of development of any of that time is surreal...
4) But matching with everything else. The side-characters are mostly uninspiring. Protagonist who consistently talks about how average she is whilst everyone admires her incessantly? Check. Love interest with dark backstory? Check. Evil woman who competes for the affections of the love interest? Check (Bonus points for his entire family dying and the cartoonishly evil ex-wife, who abandoned him/their kids, only for him to discover the children aren't his as they're dying). Smattering of interchangeable bffs? Check. A few other men who range between smarmy and sexually threatening? Check.
5) The lack of characterisation from the protagonist, Max, is especially egregious. It's mentioned as the book goes on that people try to talk to her but she's always drunk/absent minded/away -- I genuinely can't remember her being described as getting that pissed (she seems to mostly fall asleep in the bath whilst researching), and frankly that sounds like an alcohol problem that you probably don't want for a time-travelling historical agent, y'know. That's representative as well: stuff is just randomly brought up that we've never actually encountered as readers/listeners that we're supposed to take as gospel truth...
I could go on. Suffice to say - if you value books that are well written, I'd steer clear.
75 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 04-03-16
Disappointing
A great premise, utterly ruined by an immature writing style that favours pace over character development and in-world consistency.
It would have been better as a YA novel with the removal of the endless crass alcohol and sexual references. I'm no prude but this just seemed like a cynical attempt to make it an 'adult' story and was jarring alongside the fantastical historical elements that drew me to the book.
Early in the story it's established that 'History' (some nebulous entity with no attempt at an explanation) won't allow timelines and events to be disrupted... and from then on all the characters do is lay waste to this principle (guns in ancient Egypt anyone?) with weakly justified motives.
Chuck in some Dr Who-esque* 'timey-wimey' hand-waving with not even an attempt at justification, a central relationship that it's hard to care about because the characters are so one-dimensional, and a lot of supposedly witty dialogue which borders on the monotonous... and I won't be buying the numerous sequels!
I finished the book because I always do, but this one was not for me.
*At least Dr Who attempts some explanation, convoluted as it usually is, so that suspension of disbelief can be somewhat achieved.
38 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- al
- 02-12-14
Fantastic and fasinating romp through time
Would you consider the audio edition of Just One Damned Thing After Another to be better than the print version?
A fantastic and engaging performance.
What other book might you compare Just One Damned Thing After Another to, and why?
I'm a great fan of time travel adventures such as Arthur C Clarke's Time Odessy and Doctor who. This book brought an unusual but somewhat comfortable and very British feel to time travel.
What does Zara Ramm bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
I enjoyed the portrayal of the characters set out buy the tones and warmth of Zara Ramm's voice. The performance really brought the book to life.
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
A very British romp through time, with tea.
Any additional comments?
Extremely enjoyable - give it a try!
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tuppence
- 19-06-15
New Author
Would you consider the audio edition of Just One Damned Thing After Another to be better than the print version?
I have never read any of these books before, I found them brilliant. I love the character and it is narrated so well.
Many thanks
What did you like best about this story?
The character of Max is great.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
I think the charge of dinosaur alley was the best visually described scene
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
bringing history to life for all
13 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- M Hannon
- 04-10-16
A good idea, ruined. Teen fiction written badly.
What disappointed you about Just One Damned Thing After Another?
Takes a great idea (time travel) and manages to do it very badly indeed. Sociopathic, self-centred, one-dimensional characters. No wit or humour. No plot development or cleverness. Ironically, a seeming contempt for the science and engineering elements of time-travel. Needs serious editing and some help from someone who knows funny.
Would you ever listen to anything by Jodi Taylor again?
Probably not.
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Zara Ramm?
To inject some humour - Brian Blessed.
You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?
Not really.
Any additional comments?
This is my first and, hopefully my last, negative review! :-)
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- happy loon
- 12-06-15
fast paced... a bit bonkers..and a lot of fun!
I enjoyed this even though as the title suggested things just kept going wrong for the intended hard working people of St Mary's.
just downloaded book 2 and the free 2.5 one. action packed and interesting range of characters. something very different for me but I really enjoyed it...now...must get on with the next book!
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon customer
- 28-12-14
Odd mix, jumping around but will buy the next book
What did you like best about Just One Damned Thing After Another? What did you like least?
I liked the voice of the author showing as one liners which came through the story.
The sex scene was unexpected, I'm not a prude but the car was full of my family, and I'm a bloke.
Would you recommend Just One Damned Thing After Another to your friends? Why or why not?
Yes, as a series of short stories.
What three words best describe Zara Ramm’s performance?
Need more words. Zara carried the voice of the author very well. I assumed she was the author.
Was Just One Damned Thing After Another worth the listening time?
Yes, if you have lots of 30 minute journeys in the car. this is not a long story, but lots of shorts.
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mike
- 01-06-14
Good British Chaps win the day by muddling through
The thing I enjoyed most about this book was that St. Mary's, both the institution and the people who give their lives to it, are quintessentially English in the way that they muddle through from one crisis to the next. They break the rules when the rules are silly or even when they're just inconvenient. They are chaotic to the point of recklessness, irreverent and prone to inappropriate humour, they're driven by a passion to do the right thing, they stumble over the simple day-to-day aspects of life, they are emotionally inarticulate, deeply loyal, keep their heads in a crisis, move TOWARDS the gunfire and do what needs to be done to make a bad situation better and, no matter how battered or beaten they are, if someone asks how they're doing the answers is always "I'm perfectly fine. Apart from a few cuts, scratches, a broken arm and a mild concussion. Nothing to worry about."
Of course, the English aren't REALLY like this, but they'd like to be. They're probably the ONLY ONES who'd like to be. Which is where the charm and the emotional impact of this book lies. It gets inside this mindset and helps you fall in love with it. If you're NOT going to fall in love with it, you won't make it to the end of the book. If you do fall in love with it, then, like me, you'll be buying the second book in the series pronto.
I am, of course, aware that this is a most improper review. I should have started by saying how this is about plucky time travelling historians from a near-future England, who, working in secret, find out what really happened in key historical events by the simple expedient of turning up, taking notes and trying not to get killed. I should have described the struggle between the good guys from St. Mary's and the bad guys who started in St. Mary's but didn't stay because they were the wrong sort: serious, power-hungry, organized and with no sense of humour at all. I should have commented on how well Jodi Taylor writes the historical scenes set behind the lines in the Battle of the Somme and gives a remarkably effective pen sketch of what it was like to be an unarmed civilian on the receiving end of a cavalry charged by the 15th Hussars in the Peterloo Massacre in 1819.
Instead, I rushed on to the bits I found most important. Perhaps the spirit of St. Mary's is infectious. I hope so.
This is the book I was hoping for when I bought Connie Willis' "Blackout" and "All Clear" novels (which I didn't manage to finish - so disappointing after her wonderful "Doomsday Book").
Part of what makes the madcap Englishness of St Mary's so appealing is that it is seen through the eyes of Madeleine Maxwell, "Max", a brilliant and brave woman who also has "damaged misfit" written all the way through her like "Brighton" in a bar of rock. Max is insightful and brave and dedicated and also distracted, socially inept, emotionally withdrawn, constantly in trouble with authority and ceaselessly, ravenously curious.
She is a well drawn character who makes the whole novel credible. Her relationships, her actions in the face of disaster, her breakdowns and her triumphs humanize what could otherwise have felt like a description of a slightly smug boy's club.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to meet the English as they ought to be.
By the way, the attitude to History (which of course has a capital H) is also very British. The title of the book is actually the definition offered by the influential British historian, Arnold Toynbee: "It's just one damned thing after another."
133 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Janey
- 24-11-16
Time to collect the t
Any additional comments?
This reminded me of Angelmaker and The Girl With All The Gifts, which is definitely not a bad thing. Dystopia, alternative history, gobby protagonist. All good. It's a pacy gallop from mediaeval times to the First World War to the world of the T. rex and then off to Alexandria. It's definitely a "one more chapter before I go to sleep/work/clean up" story. Time travel which isn't time travel, historians armed with manure powered flamethrowers and characters drawn clearly, with humour and who have something of a history are fun. I think I'll be gathering more of this series soon.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Melanie Preston Lewis
- 23-05-15
wonderful
a wonderful, quirky, typically English story. Lovely, likeable characters and a fun filled, action packed, if only it were true plot. Excellent pace keeps the listener interested from start to finish. Narrator was superb. I will definitely be reading more from this author
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Margaret
- 18-11-14
Lightweight imitation of Connie Willis
After listening to the compelling stories and narration of Connie Willis' time traveling historians, I couldn't get into this flippant imitation.
31 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Sires
- 13-04-14
Action Adventure Time Travel Novel w/ Good Reader
In case this bothers a reader: this is a first person point of view story. It also contains some (brief) sex and adult language. Probably I wouldn't have even thought about either factor except someone had rated it as one star because it wasn't CLEAN enough. I really hate that term applied to books, unless someone if referring to the condition of the pages rather than the content. The setting is the UK at some near future point in time.
Any way, the heroine, a woman who has completed her doctorate in history, is recruited by an old teacher who once at a pivotal moment in her life provided guidance, into a time travel project. There's lots of action and adventure as she has to cope not just with being sent back to dangerous time periods, but also with problems from the future.
People who enjoy Connie Willis' time travel books or Kage Bakers novels of the Company might enjoy at least this first book. It's complete in itself although it is part of a series. It's also science fiction rather than romance.
I would also point out that despite the enthusiasm of what I assume are fans, that Taylor hasn't yet reached the skill level of the other authors I have mentioned. If it were possible to give half stars I would give the story 3.5 stars. On at least two occasions the author dumps a load of information on the reader rather than feeding it bit by bit. Luckily the narrator, who I do not think I've encountered before, was able to wend her way through it. I'm not sure how I would have reacted had I been reading the print version at those points-- probably put it down for a while. But I'm sure I would have gone back because I've developed a bit of soft spot for the heroine.
330 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- William Samuel Cole JR
- 27-11-14
Disappointing
Would you try another book from Jodi Taylor and/or Zara Ramm?
No.
What was most disappointing about Jodi Taylor’s story?
There was hardly any time travel. The description made it sound like there would be a lot (which is why I purchased it) but the majority of the book focused on the relationships between the characters.
What three words best describe Zara Ramm’s performance?
It was okay.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Annissa
- 06-06-14
Does what it says on the tin
This was a moderately enjoyable read. I must admit that it made my historian's heart beat a little bit faster to read about historians living and exploring historical events. However, the characters in the story never really came alive for me. Motivations and personalities never really seemed to gel and when I finished the book I still felt like I didn't know anyone in the book, not even the protagonist. I prefer character-driven stories, and this was very much action-oriented. Not bad, but not really my cup of tea, either. I also had difficulty understanding the time span of this book. What I thought had been a few months had actually been five years and I wonder if I wasn't paying attention or if the passage of time was really glossed over. That said, the story held my interest, even with little nitpicky criticisms I had about plot points, and I don't regret the purchase. However, it isn't likely I'll pick up Book 2 in this series.
Zara Ramm did a good job narrating the book. While she did do accents, she didn't give characters distinctive voices. That, in addition to the aforementioned issues I had with characterization, plus the occasional nickname bandied about, made it difficult for me to tell some characters apart from one another.
This is a fun read, but I would only recommend it to people who want to enjoy a little bit of bubble gum reading.
140 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- OkImListening
- 04-09-19
Just One Darned Premise After……
After I read the summary of this book, I was anticipating a great story. I tried. I really did. Jodi Taylor has a wonderful premise in the idea of historians being able to view history. I actually thought it would be something like remote-viewing. I don’t like time-travel books on principle. The whole notion of time-travel usually frustrates me. I thought this story would be different.
I was very, sadly, aggravatingly wrong.
The main problem is that “Just One Damned Thing After Another” is derivative. At alternate times a romance book; faux thriller; soft sci-fi; mild porn; and (cliché) adventure story. This book is all over the place but never completely arrives at a single destination. The story tries to be “Outlander”, “Jurassic Park”, “Raiders of The Lost Ark” and “Tomb Raider” all at the same time. Instead of being a great story about watching history, in all its glorious anguish, unfold. It’s about a group of people running around being chaotic and silly. Oh, and a power-hungry maniac.
Initially, the main character is humorous in her self-deprecation. Later, as her arrogance unfolds, she is revealed as disingenuous. The words, “false modesty” rang through the storyline. In truth, the heroine is too incredible even for fiction.
It could have been great.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Kathy in CA
- 15-08-14
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!
105 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Sara
- 16-07-15
One Disjointed Story Line After Another
I tried this book because of all the favorable reviews here on audible and all the positive comparisons to Connie Willis' collection of books. I have enjoyed the the first two books in Willis' time travel series very much and hoped for more along that genre with this series. That was not to be. To me, this book had tons of potential--but in the end the story was too light weight, the action jumped around too much and the characters became blurred and vague.
At first, I liked the narration as Hamm's voice was pleasant--but as the reading progressed everything started sounding the same. Flat and monotone --no matter what action was occurring at the time. I agree with another reviewer that it felt like a long string of TV episodes. In the end it wasn't enough to hold my interest. I gave up due to sheer boredom. Can't recommend.
85 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- DCM
- 29-11-16
Interesting premise-falls flat on developing story
What disappointed you about Just One Damned Thing After Another?
I really wanted to like this starting book in the series, so I could have another good series to read.
the basic plot was interesting in the beginning, Where it floundered was in the details. I could list them, but you will have to settle for a few. An agency routinely journeys back to olde England, and not one mention of how they deal with the language? Same agency has routinely done similar journeys - and they keep anything they learn to themselves? Or shadowy "clients"? That's plain silly. One of their first adventures is when they travel to the time of construction of some big church. Right in the center of a large town. And no-one in that time notices them just show up out of the blue? etc etc etc. I like some realism in my time-travel books. I'll believe time travel exists, but you have to make the little bits make some sort of sense or you've lost me.
I lasted until around chapter 5, stopped listening when our 'hero' for no reason at all starts drawing art on a wall with a large piece of chocolate. I know what the author meant with that scene, but it was just more silliness to me.
Has Just One Damned Thing After Another turned you off from other books in this genre?
not at all
How could the performance have been better?
top notch reading
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Peter
- 29-06-15
Plot had great promise
Any additional comments?
This book was a terrible disappointment. The general concept behind the story really excited me. It could have been fabulous if not for the way it was written. The sarcastic main character is annoying and shallow. All the characters are shallow. This is the sort of book that Hollywood might turn into a fast paced action thriller focused on special effects. If thats your thing, than you might like this book. The narration was fine but couldn't overcome the lack of depth to the story.
33 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Sara
- 29-11-16
Very dry and boring
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
People who don't like character depth and just the facts. It is written like a scientific article. Lists and results. I got very bored with it.
Has Just One Damned Thing After Another turned you off from other books in this genre?
No, I still like fantasy and time travel.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Just One Damned Thing After Another?
I would have cut most of it. It was just dry and got really boring really fast. You would think a book about time travel and dinosaurs would be great but it just fell flat.
Any additional comments?
The characters are flat, the story is dry and overall became very boring. I didn't even want to finish it, I was so bored with the book.
5 people found this helpful