Doing Time by Jodi Taylor, Headline 2019 (UK), 2020 (US) trade paper science fiction novel, first in series. 468 pages
Jodi Taylor is the author of the delightful and popular time travel series The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, which is up to 10 books so far. Though I’m behind on my reading of that series, I have them all in hand and look forward to reading them when I can. This book is the beginning of a new series, The Time Police.
The Time Police have been mentioned in more than one of the St. Mary’s novels, and not usually in a particularly friendly way. Think of them – St. Mary’s and the Time Police – as adversaries with dissimilar goals using similar methods. In this first book we meet Matthew Ferrell, Jane Lockland and Luke Parrish, new recruits who will form Team 236. They are very different people with different reasons for joining the Time Police, but they need to jell to form a successful team. It’s not easy; some think they are the worst recruits in Time Police history.
After many weeks of training and classwork, they are ready for their first assignment. It seems it should be easy, but things do not go smoothly. Success is…questionable. But there is more going on in the Time Police organization than the routine assignments given to Team 236 and the other, more experienced teams. There is entrenched opinion about the methods the institution has, is and should use to accomplish their goals. Nothing is as obvious as it first seems, as our team tries to succeed in the Time Police. And then there is the murder.
Taylor’s writing is wonderful, full of humor, insight into character and the plot keeps the reader turning the pages. I read this in just over a day, very fast for me, and enjoyed every bit of it.
The next book in the series, Hard Time, is scheduled to be published this coming January, 2022.
Tip the Wink 
I am glad to see that you read this and reviewed it. After I finished Just One Damned Thing After Another, I saw that there was a new series and wondered how it would be. I am very glad you liked it.
It was great, and had St. Mary’s characters in it, natch. I’ll be buying and reading that next one as soon as it’s available.
Matthew is the son of Leon and Max, right? I have it but haven’t read it yet.
One correction: Book 2, HARD TIME, is already out – I have it. The third book, SAVING TIME, is coming out next month.
You must have the hardcover, whist I buy the paperbacks. Amazon, where I have it pre-ordered, shows March 29, 2022 as publication date, and the 3rd book also next year.
I have the Kindle edition of both books.
Ah, yes, they do let those out before physical copy publication. Good job.
Yes, Matthew is Max and Leon’s son.
I’m tempted to start reading Jodi Taylor based on your excellent reviews of her books. I’m a big fan of Time Travel stories.
You might enjoy her series, George.
I haven’t caught up with her yet, but this does sound promising.
Just tried reading a Jodi Taylor. Not for me. Writes like she should be writing cozies or YA.