Plan for the Worst

Name: Plan for the Worst
Author: Jodi Taylor
ISBN: 9781472266798

St Mary’s · Novel 11 · 2020

Plan for the Worst begins with plans for Bronze Age research, then turns towards a mystery at the Tower of London that puts Max’s trust under strain.

Book 11 of 15 in The Chronicles of St Mary’s · 14 published; 1 announced

AI-generated illustration inspired by Plan for the Worst; not a book cover.

What it’s about

Plan for the Worst begins with plans for Bronze Age research, then turns towards a mystery at the Tower of London that puts Max’s trust under strain.

The shift in focus gives the novel a layered investigative shape: a proposed journey, an unexpected historical problem and the personal uncertainty that follows. The Institute’s work still begins with careful preparation, but preparation cannot answer every question once events are in motion.

Max must decide how to read the people and evidence around her while the familiar team navigates a less settled situation. This eleventh book continues the series’ interest in the difference between a plan and the world that receives it.

The Tower setting brings a concentrated historical atmosphere, while the Institute’s relationships give the mystery its emotional stakes. It is a continuation for readers who already know Max and her colleagues; the earlier books provide the context that lets small changes in trust feel significant rather than unexplained.

Listen or read

Listen on Audible

Buy from Bookshop.org

Can I start here?

This is book 11 in its series. Start with the first novel for its clearest introduction.

Reader questions

Do I need to read the earlier books first?

Read the preceding novels first. As book 11, this novel comes after an established run of adventures. The numbered route introduces the returning cast in sequence. Shorter companion pieces remain optional reading. Use the series list to check your place before starting this instalment.

Source: joditaylorbooks.com

Who narrates the Plan for the Worst audiobook?

This novel has a UK audiobook narrated by Zara Ramm. The linked Audible listing gives that credit. Match the recording to the book title when browsing editions. Follow the same numbered sequence as print readers. The audiobook guide maps out the wider listening route.

Source: audible.co.uk

Where this fits

This novel is book eleven, after Hope for the Best and before Another Time, Another Place. The paired titles are best read in order, with the rest of the St Mary’s sequence behind them.

A short story sits between these novels in the suggested order, but it is optional; the numbered books carry the main arc.

See readers’ ratings on Goodreads

Why readers love it

Our view

Readers who like mysteries woven through a familiar ensemble will find a lot to enjoy. The story’s historical setting feels purposeful, and the tension comes as much from interpreting people as from identifying what happened.

Max remains a capable guide, but the book gives her uncertainty as well as confidence, which keeps the character work lively. It is also a satisfying example of the series’ ability to turn routine research plans into a more personal question without abandoning its dry humour.

Listening notes

The UK unabridged recording is narrated by Zara Ramm and runs for fourteen hours and four minutes. Its extended runtime suits listeners who enjoy staying with a mystery over several sessions. The established narrator gives the Institute’s familiar voices continuity while the story moves through its different concerns.

There is no separate full-cast adaptation on this page for this title.