Off the Bookshelf: MY NAME IS MARKHAM and THE STEAM-PUMP JUMP and SHIPS AND STINGS AND WEDDING RINGS, by Jodi Taylor

 

Audible, Audiobooks

Narrated by Piers Wehner and Zara Ramm

The Chronicles of St. Mary's series

Three more shorts from the Chronicles of St. Mary's -- because it's time travel, when you get down to the bottom line.

Lots of fun!

First: My Name is Markham, in which Mr. Markham reports on an assignment in his own inimitable style, and unique opinion on time travel and historians and administrators and getting a really difficult assignment at Christmas, which he has to pull off between rehearsal for the Christmas party and participating. Poor Markham, so misunderstood, and always trying to save the day. In this case, he gets to dress up as yet another servant and investigate the legend of Alfred and whether or not he really burned the cakes. In this case, the historians might just be changing history by the "simple" act of observing. And then of course, getting in trouble with their boss when they return just in time to perform the Christmas play.

Then in the Steam-Pump Jump, Max is out of commission, seriously injured, and she has to rely on Markham to help her play matchmaker during a mission. Markham is at his commonsense snarky best as he carries out his assignment with much grumbling and exasperation, when the targeted lovebirds don't seem to be cooperating, technology fanatics are out of control, and political differences lead to more grumbling and sniping than Markham can handle.

Finishing up with Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings, Max, Markham and Peterson are on a rescue mission -- in this case, rescuing one of their own, who broke a cardinal rule and left a dangerous modern item behind in Ancient Egypt. They need to retrieve it before chaos ripples down through the centuries. Problem: it's hot, there are a lot of bugs, Max is uncomfortably pregnant, and just when victory is in their hands, disaster strikes.

And that's all I'm gonna tell you -- except that yes, as usual, all three stories are lovely, fun, snarky British humor that will keep you in your car or taking your walk long enough to finish the story and get to the final snark and grumble -- and grinning all the while. I'm addicted!