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Maddox Storm #1
Worst Laid Plans
All Maddox Storm wanted was to come home and hide from the world in peaceful solitude for a few short weeks. Oh, and give her soon-to-be ex cheating scumbag husband a fat headache while she’s at it. He hates all small towns, and Silver Firs in particular, with the kind of passion most men reserve for the bedroom.
So call it revenge, or call it poetic justice, but investing his savings in the town’s founding inn seemed like the perfect plan for all her needs.
But everything goes out the window when Maddox finds her arch-nemesis dead as a doormat in the kitchen downstairs.
Before she knows it, she’s embroiled in a murder investigation and tangling with the smoky-eyed detective on the case. Not that she doesn’t trust him to do his job, but he may not be quite as motivated as she is to bring the guilty party to justice. After all, she’s the one who unwittingly incriminated upstanding townsfolk and worse, she may be living under the same roof as a pair of unlikely murderers.
So call it revenge, or call it poetic justice, but investing his savings in the town’s founding inn seemed like the perfect plan for all her needs.
But everything goes out the window when Maddox finds her arch-nemesis dead as a doormat in the kitchen downstairs.
Before she knows it, she’s embroiled in a murder investigation and tangling with the smoky-eyed detective on the case. Not that she doesn’t trust him to do his job, but he may not be quite as motivated as she is to bring the guilty party to justice. After all, she’s the one who unwittingly incriminated upstanding townsfolk and worse, she may be living under the same roof as a pair of unlikely murderers.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2016
280 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Claire Robyns
40 books118 followersClaire Robyns writes mystery, romance and adventure, because sometimes one life really can have it all (between the pages of a book, at least.)
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 3, 2019
A good cozy mystery, funny and with likable characters. Maddox is a woman that I relate to. Not perfect but usually smart with just occasional lapses. Of course there are all the usual cozy characters with enough small town charm to keep everything a bit quirky. The ending was a little abrupt but a good set-up for a continuing series. I enjoyed this book and I will be reading the next one.
February 14, 2016
The first half was slower for me and easy to put down once I hit 50% it sped up and I flew through the last half. I think it was well written and I really had no idea who did it until the end! Way to keep me guessing!
Want to read
January 4, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (1/4/2018)! 💝
Blurb:
All Maddox Storm wanted was to come home and hide from the world in peaceful solitude for a few short weeks. Oh, and give her soon-to-be ex cheating scumbag husband a fat headache while she’s at it. He hates all small towns, and Silver Firs in particular, with the kind of passion most men reserve for the bedroom.
So call it revenge, or call it poetic justice, but investing his savings in the town’s founding inn seemed like the perfect plan for all her needs.
But everything goes out the window when Maddox finds her arch-nemesis dead as a doormat in the kitchen downstairs.
Before she knows it, she’s embroiled in a murder investigation and tangling with the smoky-eyed detective on the case. Not that she doesn’t trust him to do his job, but he may not be quite as motivated as she is to bring the guilty party to justice. After all, she’s the one who unwittingly incriminated upstanding townsfolk and worse, she may be living under the same roof as a pair of unlikely murderers.
Blurb:
All Maddox Storm wanted was to come home and hide from the world in peaceful solitude for a few short weeks. Oh, and give her soon-to-be ex cheating scumbag husband a fat headache while she’s at it. He hates all small towns, and Silver Firs in particular, with the kind of passion most men reserve for the bedroom.
So call it revenge, or call it poetic justice, but investing his savings in the town’s founding inn seemed like the perfect plan for all her needs.
But everything goes out the window when Maddox finds her arch-nemesis dead as a doormat in the kitchen downstairs.
Before she knows it, she’s embroiled in a murder investigation and tangling with the smoky-eyed detective on the case. Not that she doesn’t trust him to do his job, but he may not be quite as motivated as she is to bring the guilty party to justice. After all, she’s the one who unwittingly incriminated upstanding townsfolk and worse, she may be living under the same roof as a pair of unlikely murderers.
August 10, 2024
It’s giving hallmark murder mystery and it’s wonderful
February 24, 2017
To annoy her soon-to-be-ex-husband and acquire room and board at the same time, Maddox invests their joint money in shares in Hollow House, her hometown's not exactly thriving inn. Of course, stumbling over the dead body of a despised former teacher in the kitchen on her very first morning in her new domicile definitely wasn't part of the plan... and neither was getting embroiled in the ensuing murder investigation.
Light and funny with a bit of murder and little romance thrown in - not exactly an edge-of-your-seat kinda mystery, but certainly an entertaining read.
Light and funny with a bit of murder and little romance thrown in - not exactly an edge-of-your-seat kinda mystery, but certainly an entertaining read.
August 14, 2016
I feel that up to about 50% through the book it was a little slow for me and easy to put down. However, once I got to the halfway point it really picked up and I was able to fly through it fast! Maddox Storm is an understudy in a Broadway play. And happily married to Joe until she walks in on him and the star she understudies for. After cleaning out her husband’s savings she high tails it back home to Silver Firs where she becomes a stake holder in Hollow House. She's not there long when she finds MS Daggon dead in the kitchen. MS Daggon was not well liked so the list of suspects seems to be long and forever changing. Maddox finds herself right in the middle of a murder investigation and tangling with the detective on the case Detective Nate Bishop. She unwillingly incriminated upstanding citizens of Silver Fir and could quite possibly be living under the same roof as a pair of unlikely murderers. So she feels that she needs to help solve the murder to essentially not have townsfolk people mad at her. It is a small town so I imagine it's rather awkward. She finds herself in a seriously bad predicament and the whole time I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen. I really had no idea who the murderer was until the end. Great way to keep us guessing! You can tell that Maddox is snarky and fun. Definitely someone I could see myself being friends with! I honestly could see myself cleaning out the bank account as well. Lovers scorned and all that. I think the book was very well written. And like I said at the beginning once I got to the midway point the story took off and I finished in one sitting! I would definitely read others in the series.
February 11, 2016
Maddox Storm is a fabulous character, feisty and likable, with her own issues, such as a cheating husband. Now as a stake holder in Hollow House, in her small town of Silver Firs, she moves in and finds herself in a murder mystery. Ms Daggon isn't well liked and Maddox finds herself in more than enough trouble.
This first, in a series, novel will delight. It gives the reader a new 'book boyfriend' with Detective Bishop and a chance to enjoy a girlie relationship with Maddox and her best friend Jenna.
Worst Laid Plans, really is a brilliant who did it read. No way did I guess the ending and with hidden clues, there was no suggestion to who it might be.
There are funny moments and Claire Robyns has written the beginning of what looks like to be fantastic and interesting tale. I can't wait to see what happens next.
A delightful and exceptional read.
This first, in a series, novel will delight. It gives the reader a new 'book boyfriend' with Detective Bishop and a chance to enjoy a girlie relationship with Maddox and her best friend Jenna.
Worst Laid Plans, really is a brilliant who did it read. No way did I guess the ending and with hidden clues, there was no suggestion to who it might be.
There are funny moments and Claire Robyns has written the beginning of what looks like to be fantastic and interesting tale. I can't wait to see what happens next.
A delightful and exceptional read.
March 17, 2016
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
“I’d always concluded Ms Daggon was alone because she was so mean. But maybe she was so mean because she was alone. I’d been alone and discarded for less than two weeks, and already I was a lot snarkier and harder than I’d ever been.”
My Review:
I don’t know how I had missed noticing her before, given her long list of published works, but The Worst Laid Plans was my first Claire Robyns read, but it certainly won’t be my last as I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story. It was humorous, insightful, intriguing, and always entertaining. I enjoyed the storyline and unpredictable mystery as well as the main characters. I hope I am paying attention when the series continues as I look forward to returning to Hollow House and following Maddox’s adventures with the inn.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
“I’d always concluded Ms Daggon was alone because she was so mean. But maybe she was so mean because she was alone. I’d been alone and discarded for less than two weeks, and already I was a lot snarkier and harder than I’d ever been.”
My Review:
I don’t know how I had missed noticing her before, given her long list of published works, but The Worst Laid Plans was my first Claire Robyns read, but it certainly won’t be my last as I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story. It was humorous, insightful, intriguing, and always entertaining. I enjoyed the storyline and unpredictable mystery as well as the main characters. I hope I am paying attention when the series continues as I look forward to returning to Hollow House and following Maddox’s adventures with the inn.
February 2, 2016
I really enjoyed getting to know Maddox Storm. She is kind of snarky and I liked that in her. She has had a bad turn of events in her marriage, so she has returned home to lick her wounds and move on. Suddenly she finds herself curious about the possible murder of a woman that just happens to be her most least favorite person in the world. But she doesn't like to speak ill of the dead, no matter how much she wants to.
It was a fun mystery with interesting people throughout. I liked her family and her friends and even the people that seem to annoy her. It is witty.
I now want to read the next book in the series. I want to see where she goes from here. There was a very strange turn of events there towards the end.
It was a fun mystery with interesting people throughout. I liked her family and her friends and even the people that seem to annoy her. It is witty.
I now want to read the next book in the series. I want to see where she goes from here. There was a very strange turn of events there towards the end.
February 2, 2016
I loved it! Maddox is a delight and the secondary characters are brilliant - full of life and verve. Fast paced and light hearted this was super entertainment - I got quite annoyed when real life intruded on my reading. Some interesting developments wait in the next book in the series - especially with Maddox and her relationships. The characters evolve nicely and the book left me with feeling warm and fuzzy - this book is filled with very human characters, flawed but warm, loyal and very likeable (even the villians are appealing, especially when seen through the eyes of the heroine Maddox.) A fun, quick read.
February 1, 2020
I think I kinda like this 😁
I didn’t have high expectations for this freebie, but I thought I’d give it a whirl anyway. And you know what? I really enjoyed it.
The characters were quirky and caught my attention as I started sorting out who was who. The dynamics of small town relationships always get me (I live in a town of <300 people) and the author got it right in his case. Before you can walk home from the local corner store someone has managed to call your mum to spill the tea (true story)🤨
Anyway, I enjoyed the story and I’m looking forward to picking up the next book to see what happens.
3.5 stars ⭐️
I didn’t have high expectations for this freebie, but I thought I’d give it a whirl anyway. And you know what? I really enjoyed it.
The characters were quirky and caught my attention as I started sorting out who was who. The dynamics of small town relationships always get me (I live in a town of <300 people) and the author got it right in his case. Before you can walk home from the local corner store someone has managed to call your mum to spill the tea (true story)🤨
Anyway, I enjoyed the story and I’m looking forward to picking up the next book to see what happens.
3.5 stars ⭐️
August 16, 2022
Good
A little slow in the beginning as the author does world and character building. I do love the characters. The mystery was interesting, a little slow to solve, but good clues that made sense. I liked that the heroine was not "I am going to solve this myself" as so many cozy books do. She was bright and curious and had an instinct for something being not quite right. The book wrapped up the mystery in an awesome way. It was well worth the wait. I am on to book 2 in the series now.
A little slow in the beginning as the author does world and character building. I do love the characters. The mystery was interesting, a little slow to solve, but good clues that made sense. I liked that the heroine was not "I am going to solve this myself" as so many cozy books do. She was bright and curious and had an instinct for something being not quite right. The book wrapped up the mystery in an awesome way. It was well worth the wait. I am on to book 2 in the series now.
January 25, 2018
Worst laid plans
At first I thought this would be one of those corny stories that I would just stop reading after a few paragraphs, but I found myself caught up in the twists and turns in Maddie's story. A humorous good read
At first I thought this would be one of those corny stories that I would just stop reading after a few paragraphs, but I found myself caught up in the twists and turns in Maddie's story. A humorous good read
March 25, 2018
Wow, great story. I love Maddie and especially detective Bishop. Some chuckles in the story and some tense moments, also an unexpected ending. I will be reading more of Maddox Storm mysteries. A fun mystery.
December 23, 2020
Smart and entertaining
I particularly enjoyed this cozy mystery. The story held my attention the entire time. I really liked the characters. I felt as though I had retreated to Silver Firs with Maddox.
I particularly enjoyed this cozy mystery. The story held my attention the entire time. I really liked the characters. I felt as though I had retreated to Silver Firs with Maddox.
April 3, 2024
Pleasantly Surprised!
To be honest, I didn’t expect much b/c I’ve gotten away from cozy mysteries but hey! Maddox and Nate are my new favorite non-couple couple! I shipped them from the beginning! Now we just need to get Joe out of the way. On to book 2!
To be honest, I didn’t expect much b/c I’ve gotten away from cozy mysteries but hey! Maddox and Nate are my new favorite non-couple couple! I shipped them from the beginning! Now we just need to get Joe out of the way. On to book 2!
May 29, 2025
I loved this book, WORST LAID PLANS! It’s funny, it’s a good murder mystery, the plot is tight, the characters are fully fleshed out, the dialogue is realistic, and there’s even a tiny touch of romance. What more could anyone ask for in a cozy mystery?! I’ve already purchased the next in series.
December 20, 2025
Enjoyable cozy mystery
I THOROUGHLY enjoyed 'Worst Laid Plans' by Claire Robyns. It is a small town mystery involving a well-delineated cast of characters. Maddie Storm's voice is snappily sarcastic and humorous. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 4.5 stars
I THOROUGHLY enjoyed 'Worst Laid Plans' by Claire Robyns. It is a small town mystery involving a well-delineated cast of characters. Maddie Storm's voice is snappily sarcastic and humorous. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 4.5 stars
April 16, 2018
Great Storyline and characters. Can't wait to see what happens next with Nate and what drama Joe brings to the mix.
July 11, 2018
Good story. A bit of a twist and I never saw it coming.
April 19, 2019
Nicely done !
A bit hard to follow the first few chapters. Gets more interesting as you go along. Then more into a interesting mystery.
A bit hard to follow the first few chapters. Gets more interesting as you go along. Then more into a interesting mystery.
Want to read
July 23, 2019EBookDiscovery
July 24, 2019
This is a laugh out loud cozy that will keep you amused!'
A good story line with excellent characterization.
I will look forward to the next one
A good story line with excellent characterization.
I will look forward to the next one
August 15, 2020
Fun read
Predictable but fun to read. Great summer read by the pool. Looking forward to the next in series. What happens with the ex?
Predictable but fun to read. Great summer read by the pool. Looking forward to the next in series. What happens with the ex?
January 31, 2021
Good story.
March 16, 2021
Entertaining
I was engrossed with the story. I found Maddox Storm's character delightful. Can't wait to read the next book of the series!
I was engrossed with the story. I found Maddox Storm's character delightful. Can't wait to read the next book of the series!
July 29, 2021
Gripping
Gripping and fun at the same time. A real page turner with surprises around the corner when you least expect them!
Gripping and fun at the same time. A real page turner with surprises around the corner when you least expect them!
August 15, 2021
Great read
Really enjoyed this book, a very entertaining, kept you guessing till near the end, looking forward to the next book.
Really enjoyed this book, a very entertaining, kept you guessing till near the end, looking forward to the next book.
January 12, 2024
Very good read
The story is very funny and I enjoyed the plot very much. The plot keeps you guessing until the end.
The story is very funny and I enjoyed the plot very much. The plot keeps you guessing until the end.
February 5, 2024
Wow::::loved this book
Downloaded this from Freebooksy, started reading it last night and just finished it this evening, great characters and loved the writing,. Well done!
Downloaded this from Freebooksy, started reading it last night and just finished it this evening, great characters and loved the writing,. Well done!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews