• Be more positive • Eat more fruits and vegetables • Write 500 words per day (reviews count) • And of course…finish tAmong my several goals this summer:
• Be more positive • Eat more fruits and vegetables • Write 500 words per day (reviews count) • And of course…finish the saga of Stephanie Plum
I had a long trip coming up, so I packed this one in my bag for the flight. Knocked it out in a few days. (That’s not a jab at Delta, BTW: everything was on time. I just don’t like any of their movies.)
This might be my favorite premise so far. Connie is held for ransom by anonymous kidnappers who believe Vinnie has a valuable coin someone traded for a bond. Steph goes on a wild goose chase with all the familiars to find it. I didn’t think she bent the rules all that much to justify the title, but Morelli suggests she’s off-book. I trust him, so OK.
The humor, the action, the spice all seemed to click here. No Diesel to distract our heroine, just the usual balance between Ranger and Morelli. Crazy Grandma Bella takes a bigger role here, and I loved it! She even helps with a takedown! But don’t get the wrong idea: she still thinks Steph is a…ahem. Well.
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I thought the chase and wrap-up were fun and just tense enough. I liked the crime they solved, and it was really a team effort. I still kinda miss the bumbling Steph, though, messing up takedowns and getting covered in molasses or something. But the bounty hunter that mixes a solid capture with a little fried hair or animal droppings works well, too. Makes me like her even more.
A note to Lorelei King: Forgive me, for I forswore the audio version for the first time in Plum History. I read it almost entirely in the airport, so there was no need for the audiobook. Fear not: I promise to continue with the next.
And speaking of the next…I’m so close! Only Dirty Thirty remains. (Yes, I know, I haven’t read the “Between the Numbers” books; give me a break. I'll get to them.) See you in Trenton!
An Open Letter to Janet Evanovich, Author of the Stephanie Plum Series
Dear Ms. Evanovich,
I admit it. I started this journey for the most pathetic of rAn Open Letter to Janet Evanovich, Author of the Stephanie Plum Series
Dear Ms. Evanovich,
I admit it. I started this journey for the most pathetic of reasons. But given your seeming affinity for the common woman/man, I think you’ll understand.
I got it for free.
Yes, I needed something to read, and I was on a budget. I went to the library and got the ebook. (Does it help that I’m saving for my daughter’s college tuition?)
Of course, I’d heard about a young Trenton woman who bumbled her way into a job as a bounty hunter. I was on the hunt for a new series of books, having completed and loved the D’Artagnan Romances (Alexandre Dumas) some time before.
Stephanie Plum won me over from the very first page. I’d been there: broke (or close to it), scared, at wit’s end. I’d started a career that was way over my head.
That’s what drew me in. Steph was me. Or, she was who I wanted to be. I wanted the danger, the risk, the romance. I made things happen with mostly luck and my friends’ help, and a small spot of bravado. Her stories were what I aspire to write: accessible, down-to-earth, fun. I kept coming back, whenever the books came off the library queue.
The characters became like family. Their quirks and habits became familiar. I could name them and say what they might do. They felt like friends: Lula, Connie, Vinnie, Mooner, Klaughn, Grandma Mazur, Diggery.
And Trenton became like home. The bonds office, the funeral home, the bakery, Stark Street. The Burg. I felt like I could wander into the Plum house and get a plate of roast chicken and a slice of pineapple upside down cake.
And the Ranger/Morelli debate. Stephanie loves them both, and with good reason. They’ve helped her, they’ve teased her, they’ve…provided the spice. What do I think? Who should she choose?
I say: Keep her choosing.
Because if she can’t choose, the story keeps going. Looks like I’ve reached the end (sort of) but thank goodness there’s more to come. Now or Never: Thirty-One on the Run comes out in November, and I’ve already ordered my copy. And I’m DYING to know what the outcome of the best cliffhanger in the series (from Dirty Thirty) will be.
All of this is the mark of a great writer: she tells a great story, she creates lovable characters, she writes it on my level, she keeps me wanting more. Please keep bringing Stephanie back, year after year, as long as you can.
Also, please keep bringing back Stephanie’s voice, Lorelei King. She’s like an old friend by now. She’s enhanced dozens of long runs and so many otherwise dreary commutes. No one does it better. Thank you, Lorelei.
You’ve forced me to forsake my cheapskate ways and actually buy the books. I have about five left to complete the collection. That’s how much it means to me. I hope one day you’ll sign one or two.
Thank you so much for thirty years of joy. I hope to enjoy thirty more.
Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight reminded me that maybe the series isn’t complete until I read the “tweeners.” There are a few books in between the numbGame On: Tempting Twenty-Eight reminded me that maybe the series isn’t complete until I read the “tweeners.” There are a few books in between the numbers that I kinda sorta skipped. That’s where you’ll find Diesel, a mysterious, dangerous spy (of sorts) with a penchant for sleeping in Steph’s bed sans pajamas. I don’t think this novel does him justice, because I didn’t think his role here was all that impressive. He gets more and more helpful and daring as the book goes on, however. I had that scary/thrilled moment again when Steph gets…in trouble (no spoilers).
I have to say I have a love-hate relationship with Steph’s competence. She’s getting more and more able, although she needs to call Ranger or Morelli (and now Diesel) for help. And yes, she ends up with whipped cream or guacamole or beaver guts all over her after some disaster or another, and yes…she blows up a car. Or cars. But it seems the days of total bumbling and slapstick humor are drifting away. I don’t know: I kinda miss the goofy Steph. But I also like this one: she’s both tough AND smart, and a little more careful. What do you think?
Summer task: read 29 and 30, in anticipation of Now or Never, coming out in November! ...more
I like the premise of 27: Steph and Grandma continue the search for the “fortune” held somewhere secret. Must be a big deal, because out of thin air cI like the premise of 27: Steph and Grandma continue the search for the “fortune” held somewhere secret. Must be a big deal, because out of thin air comes Gabriella Rose, a Lara Croft-like adventurer in search of the same treasure. She calls herself a “recovery agent,” and she’s much that our down-to-earth Stephanie isn’t: sophisticated, organized, meticulous. And is she flirting with Morelli? Hmm. This one had a terrific ending, full of adventure and intrigue. Not sure I’m swayed by Gabriella, but I liked her presence in this one....more
26 picks up, if a little casually, with the cliffhanger from 25. Grandma Mazur has married ancient mob-boss Jimmy Rosolli…who promptly drops dead with26 picks up, if a little casually, with the cliffhanger from 25. Grandma Mazur has married ancient mob-boss Jimmy Rosolli…who promptly drops dead within 45 minutes. Then, all the crazies around her think she has the key to some fortune of his. Then, guess what? After a big search and stumbling through a few bad captures, nothing’s found…but more clues....more
It’s been a stretch. I fell WAY behind. But I did crawl through. And Stephanie helped me.
A high-bond FTA puts up for his collateral…The Red River DelIt’s been a stretch. I fell WAY behind. But I did crawl through. And Stephanie helped me.
A high-bond FTA puts up for his collateral…The Red River Deli? People love the food, but managers keep disappearing, leaving nothing but a shoe right outside the dumpster. Could be mob, could be aliens. Gets worse once one of Ranger’s men disappears.
Steph is again becoming more competent. Not as funny, and more of a mystery solver. Take that for what it’s worth, but it’s growing on me. This story was very detailed, and I even got lost in it. Ranger gets involved, first helping Steph bring in a dangerous skip, then providing surveillance that eventually solves the crime. Morelli’s still a part of the scene, but maybe in the background. Still thinking about a ring for our fave bounty hunter. But…probably not.
Hey, for the first time…a cliffhanger! That was exciting. Wonder what happens…?
The 23-skiddoo entry into the Stephanie Plum romances opens with our heroine and her sidekick Lula behind the wheel of a truck originally hijacked by The 23-skiddoo entry into the Stephanie Plum romances opens with our heroine and her sidekick Lula behind the wheel of a truck originally hijacked by a high-bond FTA. For once, it’s Lula that wrecks a car: she plows into the blue-and-white belonging to Officer Carl Costanza. Carl and his partner decide to open the trailer of the stolen truck…and it’s a bad idea. Because what pops out freezes everyone in their tracks: an iced corpse covered in chocolate and nuts. Shaped and styled like everyone’s favorite childhood treat, the Bogart Bar. As a result, ice cream magnate Harry Bogart hires Ranger for his security services, who in turn hires Steph as an in-house spy of sorts. Meanwhile, Morelli searches both for the killer and for reasons to avoid popping the question.
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Yeah, another itsy-bitsy shark jump, as Steph and Ranger head to Disney World to investigate / protect Mr. Bogart. And while the ice-cream murder is a little weird, you gotta give points for creativity.
Nonetheless, I’m really enjoying Steph’s increased role with Rangeman. James Bond or Lisbeth Salander she’ll never be (probably), but she’s learning, getting smarter and savvier. Sure, the usual Plum luck intervenes, but I like how she’s handling the danger.
And while I’m not up to date on the series yet, something tells me we won’t see Steph and Morelli walk down the aisle. She’ll sneak kisses (and maybe a little more) with the mysterious Ranger and spend the evening lounging (and definitely more) in Morelli’s inherited house.
But you know what? Tom never gets Jerry. Elmer Fudd never gets Bugs (or Daffy). The Knicks never beat Jordan. Yeah, we all dream about the day when it happens, maybe even pine for it. Keep dreaming, folks.
Me? I like the dance. I enjoy the action, the intrigue, the will-they-or-won’t-they. The suspense is better than the resolution. I mean, when the Cubs / Red Sox won the World Series, didn’t we lose a little romance? And who’d wanna watch Tom eat Jerry, anyway? We’d rather see him get his little buddy in his maw…then get brained by an anvil. Isn’t that more fun?
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I read 24 outta sequence. So up next is Look Alive Twenty-Five. Get your extra-crispy Cluck-in-a-Bucket and join me!
Thanks again to Lorelei King for being the signature voice of our favorite bounty hunter!...more
Stephanie meets Animal House in this 2015 edition of Janet Evanovich’s hit series. Her latest FTA is a frat boy named “Gobbles,” King of Zeta House atStephanie meets Animal House in this 2015 edition of Janet Evanovich’s hit series. Her latest FTA is a frat boy named “Gobbles,” King of Zeta House at nearby Kiltman College. Looks simple, but when he goes missing the mystery emerges. The kid was connected to a weird professor and a couple of shady alums, and a few of them are found dead in and around Trenton. She teams up with both Ranger and Morelli, one of which has the audacity to toss our beloved bounty hunter to the curb.
You can go ahead and guess what happens here: visits to Cluck in a Bucket, a car explodes, someone uses the word “doo-dah,” and she gets deep kisses from multiple men. These are comforts to me and my rat race life. Would I want this to happen to me? Hell, no. But can I live in a Stephanie bubble for seven more books and more to come? You bet.
Speaking of which, I get the most antsy, the more scared, whenever Steph gets kidnapped by some psycho. I don’t know how to react: I know she’ll be OK, since this isn’t the last book in the series (and there better not be a damn last book until I’m good and bloody ready. Ahem). But I flinch, I cringe, I yell at the radio. And yet, there’s a thrill here, like the top of a roller coaster. The worst thing that can happen is a feeling of danger, of my sensibilities being shaken. Nothing’s gonna happen to me, or Steph. But there’s that uncertainty, that curiosity about what’ll happen next.
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Steph ponders this herself a few books back. She doesn’t do a lot of monologue / introspection, but I liked knowing that she’s slowly coming around to this bounty hunter biz. In fact, in this one, she contemplates baking or hairdressing as an alternative career…and thinks better of it. Good, because once she starts working for Vinny’s Cupcakes, count me out.
Thanks again to Lorelei King for the great audio reading. Although she might wanna change that last name to “Queen” to suit her.
Stephanie Plum’s latest big-money FTA is Jimmy Poletti, a well-known car dealer and lesser-known human trafficker. He splits on his bond, and lots of Stephanie Plum’s latest big-money FTA is Jimmy Poletti, a well-known car dealer and lesser-known human trafficker. He splits on his bond, and lots of his poker playing buddies, likely accomplices to his crimes, start ending up corpses. On top of this, she’s working again for the shady Ranger (too close for top-cop and on-and-off boyf Morelli’s comfort), this time to root out a dangerous Russian assassin. The madcap escapades wade into a rundown Atlantic City casino, but there are plenty of trips to the Burg, which means a more than occasional stop for Cluck-in-a-Bucket or a box of donuts.
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I was iffy about Stephanie’s adventures in low-level espionage as a part-time Rangeman employee, but I’ve been swayed. She’s drawn in, like most of us would be, by the need to earn a few bucks and stave off eviction. She still bumbles through, making goofy mistakes and getting saved often by Ranger or Morelli. But are we seeing a more competent Steph? Does she smoothly sidle up to a Russian magnate to pump him for info, and does she know how to handle herself facing down a vicious assassin? Well…yeah, kinda.
And yeah: she has too big a heart to leave behind a small-time FTA’s army of chihuahuas, so she brings them home. She won’t just chuck Briggs on the street, or Morelli, for that matter. Her tentative nature, her unwillingness to pack her gun, or stun an FTA at his doorstep and drag him off, gets her covered in chicken feathers or a split lip.
But did we see a not-so-bad takedown? A way to get the body receipt and make everyone happy, including her landlord? Does she make a pretty good sidekick for Ranger? Yes, she does. Huh. Don’t worry, fans: she wrecks a car, she breaks down in tears over her messy life, and she has a few sexy flings with Morelli (and an appliance). Grandma Mazur and Lula and Connie and Vinny all make their appearances. I love them all, but I think GM is my favorite. Who’s yours?
Once more, give it up for Lorelei King for portraying our lovable Steph yet again with style and grace.
Just eight more to get caught up. Think I can get there before Now or Never (31) comes out in November?
Did I plan for Steph’s nineteenth novel to be my nineteenth of the year?
Uh…yeah. Sure, sure I did. Just like Steph never plans for her car to get bloDid I plan for Steph’s nineteenth novel to be my nineteenth of the year?
Uh…yeah. Sure, sure I did. Just like Steph never plans for her car to get blown up.
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This time, she’s looking for Geoffrey Cubbin, wanted for embezzling millions from a retirement home. He went to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy and never came out. Plus, she’s “helping” Ranger protect a fellow Special Forces comrade…by being his date at a wedding. And one of her skips left a tiki idol as collateral on his bond…and it seems to control her behavior.
Now, I’d call these spoilers, but if you’ve read any of these books or any of these reviews, this list of plot devices is simply the checklist of goodies you can find in any Stephanie Plum novel:
• Her car blows up/catches fire • The car Ranger loans her also catches fire (and maybe someone else’s) • She eats huge dinners at her mom’s house • Grandma Mazur gets into some trouble • Someone pays the price for calling Lula “fat” • Cluck-in-a-Bucket, the donut shop, Pino’s Pizza
There’s a great scene where she breaks down after all the destruction in her wake, and Morelli’s there to take care of her. That’s sweet. I like what’s happening between them, but I know it won’t last. That’s what makes it fun and sexy! But the spice seems to have gone PG after some steamy scenes in novels 1-9.
The new characters are great: not all likeable, but complex and interesting. For the first time, some of the plot developments and mysteries were hard to follow, and how she deals with a skip seems out of character. But with each novel she seems to get more and more competent, and yeah, there’s a little dumb luck, but we see more of her ability in getting her man. And there’s a great section where she considers why she hasn’t sought another job: she likes the thrill.
So do we, Steph!
Oh, and great audiobook work yet again from Lorelei King!
Why, yes, I am trying to speed through as many Stephanie Plum novels as I can, using my tried-and-true method: borrowing the audiobook from the librarWhy, yes, I am trying to speed through as many Stephanie Plum novels as I can, using my tried-and-true method: borrowing the audiobook from the library and getting a gently borrowed copy on eBay. Seems a good way to make the commute go faster…
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This time, Steph’s on her way back from a Hawaiian vacation, but she didn’t exactly bring back the best souvenirs. Both men in her life, Ranger and Morelli, are pissed at her for their own set of keepsakes: broken noses and sprained wrists. She’s also heavy one nondescript photograph, which she tosses in the trash. Big mistake, since a gang of weirdos want it: two clumsy goons, the FBI, a psychotic assassin, and a kooky hairdresser. She has no idea of the worth of the photo, and no idea what she’s gotten herself into.
I enjoyed the tech twist here. There’s something behind the photo that’s important, and how it’s revealed is done with everyman flavor, Evanovich’s specialty. There’s a really fun cast of characters here, even as we’re still treated to Lula, Connie, Vinnie, and Grandma Mazur. It’s spicy on the PG-13 scale but it does get the heart racing once in a while. And I liked the Hawaiian story, especially as it got the slow, mysterious reveal. Good ending, and Steph’s starting to seem a little more competent. That should be fun!
So, what’s the Febles-Steph score? I’ve finished 1-18, 20, and 24. Taking a break to listen to Terms of Endearment, but I’ve already got #19 on the queue. Oh, and another great read by Lorelei King.
So this makes the nineteenth Stephanie Plum novel I’ve read (I read 20 and 24 out of order way back when). But that still leaves me eleven short, not So this makes the nineteenth Stephanie Plum novel I’ve read (I read 20 and 24 out of order way back when). But that still leaves me eleven short, not including the “tweenies”! I wanna be all caught up, so that when 31 comes out (at Janet Evanovich’s rate, that’ll be next week) I can say I have them all completed. What to do?
So, here’s the beauty of it: most of the audiobooks are available at the library. And you can generally find a used paperback version somewhere. They’re fun to read, and voiced expertly by the great Lorelei King. And I have a good hour’s commute. Perfect!
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Good premise for this one: Vinny gets kidnapped for too many bad bets. He’s a dirtbag, but he’s a halfway decent bondsman, and without him, Steph, Lula, and Connie are out of work. Not to mention, Grandma Mazur won’t be happy if he gets whacked. So, the ladies set out on a stink-bomb fueled raid on the hideout of one Bobby Sunflower, noted gangster and illicit entrepreneur.
Steph and her crew engage in some maneuvers that skirt the law, just out of the eye of Morelli. She gets a helping hand from Ranger, or more often his Rangeman staff, since he’s out of town for part of it. Again, she’s attracted to both guys, and there’s a little spice here and there, especially toward the end (though sometimes I’d like what I’d seen from the earlier novels; seems to be toned down after number 10 or so).
The story unfolds well. Steph’s a little more competent, and her skips seem to blend into the main plot nicely. And the animal kingdom shows up: gators and cows and hamsters, oh my!
Here’s a thing: whenever Steph gets captured, drugged, tied up or handcuffed by the bad guys…I get so nervous. It feels so tense, even as I know she’s gonna get rescued in some clever way and show up for the next novel. To the Nines or maybe the original (One for the Money) have the best endings, but this was cute and funny, too.
Onto Explosive Eighteen (number 17 was read out of order). It’s already queued into my phone!
Ah, Steph. Been a while! Good to see you, good to be back in Trenton.
This time, a few storylines: • Lula witnesses a murder, and the killers are after Ah, Steph. Been a while! Good to see you, good to be back in Trenton.
This time, a few storylines: • Lula witnesses a murder, and the killers are after her. The victim? Stanley Chipotle, a famous TV chef, and there’s a million-dollar reward for the killers’ capture. • Ranger’s security business has experienced its share of break-ins, and asks Stephanie for help. But that means she’s in close contact with him… • Steph and Morelli are on the outs. But is Joyce Barnhardt on the ins? • Lula has a little fling with the Cluck-In-A-Bucket mascot, Mr. Clucky.
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For once, the title fits, since the ladies enter a barbecue sauce contest to find the killers, and maybe even win the contest. But this one just wasn’t as spicy as past offerings with not nearly as much “action” (wink-wink) between Steph, Ranger, and/or Morelli.
But all the familiar stuff is there: she messes up the simplest of apprehensions, she blows up a car, she solves the crime…sort of. They eat lots of donuts and fried chicken. Steph’s mom crosses herself and her dad grumbles, and she drives the ’53 Buick. But she had a really good insight when helping Ranger with his break-in problem. Could our heroine be turning…competent? I’d love to see that!
Another great story, another fun chapter in the life of Stephanie Plum. And another superb audiobook performance from Lorelei King!
And there it is…I’ve now connected the first fourteen Stephanie Plum novels. If you’ve been reading my reviews (and judging by the number of “likes,” And there it is…I’ve now connected the first fourteen Stephanie Plum novels. If you’ve been reading my reviews (and judging by the number of “likes,” you haven’t), you’ll know I’ve read these out of sequence. Yeah, I know, it’s a cardinal sin. Sorry to you diehards out there.
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In this episode, Vinny gives Steph the assignment of finding Samuel Singh, an illegal immigrant who skipped out on a “visa bond.” But true to form, she witnesses a murder as she’s investigating Singh’s disappearance. Then, she gets mysterious gifts from someone who claims to be “hunting” her. So now she needs to worry not just about finding Singh, but she also needs to stay out of the way of a possible serial killer.
I read an article about Janet Evanovich lately, which made note that through the series, Stephanie has become a more competent and confident bounty hunter. I saw a bit of that here: she didn’t screw up as badly as she used to, but that might have to do with Ranger and Tank being with her for a couple of apprehensions.
This one also gets dark and scary at the end, just like Hard Eight. I was within the last 8% of the audiobook when Steph was in some serious, creepy, horror-movie danger. Maybe Evanovich did what she hoped: even though I knew she’d never be killed off, what with two score books left in the series, I got concerned for her safety. It stopped being funny for a second. An odd shift, but maybe I just need to get used to that.
The romance shifts back to Morelli here. I suppose that makes sense, and Ranger does give his reasons for his interest / position (no pun intended) on Steph. Also, Valerie takes a big role in a side story, and tagging along is Albert Clown. (Oh, sorry, I meant: “Klaughn.”) And the usual stuff is here: Lula, Rex the reclusive hamster, Grandma Mazur, and a visit to Cluck in a Bucket.
I probably should’ve read the back cover a little closer, because then I’d have realized that her jaunt to Vegas, with Lula and Connie in tow, was a central part of the story. That said, I couldn’t help but think this was a teeny, tiny jump of the shark for the Pride of Trenton. How closely connected was Singh with Vegas casinos? Well, he did work for a Trenton slot machine company, one which Steph has some suspicions. Hey, Steph can go anywhere she wants, and she’s far from a shut-in. But I don’t know: it seemed a bit of a stretch.
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No matter what, I love this series. The relatability, the laughter, the mysteries, the clever banter, the give-and-take. (Oh, get your mind out of the gutter!) And now, I can pick it up with #15. Long live Stephanie Plum!
Wow. They’re all good, but this one has some great last chapters. More to come! --- Q: Where do you go when you’re in a reading funk?
A: Trenton, NJ. SpeWow. They’re all good, but this one has some great last chapters. More to come! --- Q: Where do you go when you’re in a reading funk?
A: Trenton, NJ. Speficially, “The Burg.”
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You’ll see a few reviews back how frustrated I got with a certain audiobook. It’s my own fault, trying to read a sweeping, descriptive novel half-distracted by things less important, like work, or driving. So, I got smart for once and tapped that Libby app on my phone, searching for my old friend: Stephanie Plum. Sure enough, there was the next book in the line, another step toward the impossible goal of catching up with the entire series.
Stephanie (voiced by the great Lorelei King) instantly put me in a better mood, starting last Monday as I drove the FDR at dawn. There’s a little comfort in seeing (or hearing) the same scenes, situations, and characters as always. Yes, Steph is still a bumbling bounty hunter, still keeps Lula at her side, still puzzles over Morelli and blanches at Ranger. She eats a few donuts, loses some FTAs, and wrecks a few cars. I like these books the way I liked Diff’rent Strokes or The Hulk: I knew I’d hear “Whatchu talking about Willis,” or see Lou Ferrigno rage in green paint. Ahh…..
Funny as always, and no one does witty, naughty banter quite like Janet Evanovich. Again she does a great job of concealing the mystery, of making me guess. This one’s a little different than the rest: sure, Steph’s got an abusive skip to find in nasty Andy Bender, but she’s also agreed to help her elderly neighbor find her daughter and granddaughter. Just when she thinks it’s easy, she runs afoul of spooky crime boss, Eddie Abruzzi, who swears to…do something to her if she interferes.
But does she listen? Nah. That’s not the Stephanie way. For her trouble, she gets a bag of snakes on her door, and spiders in her car, but that still doesn’t stop her. The story unfolds as it often does, waiting for the moment she nearly gives up for the action to escalate, but it gets just a tad more intense and violent. Steph confronts bad guys differently than she often does, but Dumb Luck plays a major role as always. Ranger was a little deus ex machina, I thought, bringing things to a very quick ending, but I was still satisfied.
Some new elements: Valerie and Mrs. Plum get involved, adding to my feelings of suspense. I liked Albert Klaughn (pronounced “Clown”) since I feel like I’ve met a few guys like this. Oh, and about 2/3 of the way through, I thought the thing lacked the usual spice. But then Ranger calls in his “debt” from the previous novel and into the beginning of this one. And…ohhhhhh, boy. Wink-wink, say-no-more! Don’t worry: Morelli is still here, still in love with our heroine, and…er, uh – no spoilers!
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Take a look at my GR list and you’ll see: I’ve read this series kinda out of order. But once I finish To the Nines, I’ll have bridged the gap: I can say I’ve read 1 through 14. This one seems to push the characters and series along in a good little direction. Not off-course, and it has yet to jump the shark. (Oh, and I visually read a little, more toward the end. Just as good.)
Got a full week of work coming up, and good ol’ Stephanie Plum will be riding shotgun. Which means my car will explode. Just…great.
What’s the traditional gift for an 11th anniversary? Apparently, it’s steel. But Shirley knows me all too well, and instead I got books. Smart lady. BWhat’s the traditional gift for an 11th anniversary? Apparently, it’s steel. But Shirley knows me all too well, and instead I got books. Smart lady. Besides, with my bad Achilles I could never carry around a book made of solid steel.
I went back to my favorite series, the saga of hapless bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. This time she’s after Eddie DeChooch, wanted for skipping bail on his charge of smuggling cigarettes on the Jersey Turnpike. But of course, it’s not that simple. The octogenarian somehow eludes poor Steph at every turn. And with each turn, the web of crime expands.
Yes, it’s the usual thing, with the usual characters. We get good old Grandma Mazur, Lula, Connie. And they eat lots of donuts, cookies from Stiva’s, and greasy vittles from Cluck In a Bucket. But it’s a little twisty this time: Moonie takes a bigger role, and Ranger takes on a much more interesting romantic role. Morelli is talking marriage, but only out of the side of his mouth. Even Vinnie goes on a raid with Steph.
So, while it’s the same kind of plot, the increase in appearance from prior ancillary characters made this one more exciting. The raids made Steph seem a little more competent, but luck still comes into play. Good ending, and always with a romantic cliffhanger. Not as steamy as the prior entries but still lots of winking fun.
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Got me thinking: is someone gonna create a “Steph-a-verse”? I recently watched the new Spiderman movie (3.6/5 for me), and thought, “Gee, what if there’s a universe where Steph gets married, has a ton of kids?” Or joins the police, or works at the button factory, or (gasp), moves outta Trenton? Is there a realm where she gets with EITHER Ranger or Morelli? Or someone else?!? Or becomes a top-notch bounty hunter?
Or…is there a universe where everyone ACTUALLY ages? That would make Steph, oh, about late fifties? And Grandma Mazur…? Wait, never mind. Leave the characters alone. Let them live in a world where Trenton changes, but Steph and her friends never do. A world where we pick up our happy memories, move through the years, and play with them whenever we want. Like the Simpsons. Or that Noah’s Ark at my grandma’s house – I’d love to play with that today. Right?
What do you do when you hit a reading funk? You go back to your old standbys. For me, that means a trip to “The Burg,” the old stomping grounds of bumWhat do you do when you hit a reading funk? You go back to your old standbys. For me, that means a trip to “The Burg,” the old stomping grounds of bumbling bond enforcement agent, Stephanie Plum. [image]
There was a little twist here, as the wanted man in this story is none other than the mysterious Ranger, Steph’s mentor in the bounty hunting biz. A pawn in an organized crime ring is murdered and burned in a building downtown, and Ranger was the last man seen out of the building. Along the way Steph gets mixed up in a number of botched recoveries with Lula in tow and Mooner as a secondary partner of sorts.
It's the usual flair here, so nothing all that new. There’s comfort in meeting familiar characters, seeing what they’re up to. It does get a little creative in terms of developing new people in Steph’s life and accelerating (sorta/kinda) her lovelife, which I thought was a nice touch. Dialogue is snappy and funny, Steph knows everyone who knows everyone, and the suspense is there. It’s a good mystery, maybe just slightly edgier than the last.
It also feels dated: they just started to have cel phones, but they still carry pagers. And I felt like the later versions (remember: I skipped – pardon the pun – around a lot) feel more intricate and funny. So, I’m considering just picking up around #24 or so. What do you think? [image]...more
A missing cheapskate Uncle Fred, a “low-level” FTA computer programmer, and a newly paroled psychopath bent on revenge: Stephanie Plum always seems toA missing cheapskate Uncle Fred, a “low-level” FTA computer programmer, and a newly paroled psychopath bent on revenge: Stephanie Plum always seems to find herself right in the biggest trouble Trenton, New Jersey has to offer. All the colorful characters are there, including would-be partner Lula, handsome cop / love interest Joe Morelli, and the mysterious bounty-hunter Ranger. Spoiler alert: good chance she’ll wreck a car, eat too many doughnuts, and fall down a flight of stairs or something.
Yes, it’s my guilty pleasure: another Stephanie Plum novel. One year I gave myself a New Year’s resolution: read as many Presidential biographies as I could. This year, should I make it, “Read one Stephanie novel per month so I can catch up to #29…sometime in 2025?”
There’s a financial crime angle to the story that took me a look back once in a while to completely understand. That by itself probably wasn’t enough to carry the story, so enter Ramirez, the murderous former boxer released from prison on a technicality. There’s always a dance between Steph and Morelli, always good for entertainment. Now Ranger’s in the mix as well, and a clever ending involving all three. It was a faster-moving plot than the last few.
As always, tons of side characters with crazy and interesting quirks. Evanovich seems to have created a “Trenton culture” out of the place: fewer than six degrees separates Steph from the whole town, since she seems to have gone to grammar school with the whole gang. And all the settings: Stiva’s funeral parlor, the fast-food joints (though no appearance by Cluck in a Bucket), and of course, The Burg.
I’m of the opinion that it doesn’t matter where you start in this series. It’s still good, still familiar, still funny and entertaining.
Look, it’s been a rough week. DM me if you want to whole story, but suffice to say it’s been another of life’s kicks in the gut. The bright side is I Look, it’s been a rough week. DM me if you want to whole story, but suffice to say it’s been another of life’s kicks in the gut. The bright side is I got a chance to read as much as I want.
So, I deserve another Stephanie Plum story. This time, she’s after Maxine Nowicki, an FTA that took off with her boyfriend Eddie Kuntz’s car, then seems to have left a series of clues for him to get it back. But of course, there’s more to the story: Maxine’s family is threatened, and bodies start to drop all over Trenton. All Steph wants to do is catch her woman, but now she’s uncovered a potential counterfeiting operation, and she might just have ticked off the mob. And since someone firebombed her house, she’s moved in with her casual love interest-slash-arch nemesis, Joe Morelli, and the rumors fly all over the Burg.
It doesn’t disappoint! She does it again: bumbles through an apprehension, wrecks another car, nearly gets herself whacked more than once. The characters are colorful, but physically and metaphorically. I love Lula (and her stun gun, and her Firebird), and I loved how Sally Sweet gets added. Ranger appears a bit less, but I love some of his lines (“I’m the wind, babe”). Big, steamy scenes between Stephanie and Morelli, making this an NC-17, but there’s snappy repartee between them, better than the previous 3. There’s something comforting and personal about all the familiar sights, sounds and objects: the Big Buick, Cluck-in-a-Bucket, Carl Costanza. I wish Grandma Mazur would get her own novel!
Good plot development, as I thought Three to Get Deadly labored just a little. This was just complicated, just interwoven enough to run fast and exciting. I enjoyed how everything came together in the end, and the ending was great: a little unexpected, fun and satisfying. There were lots of storylines here, but Janet Evanovich wrapped them all up very tidily. She masters “cringe” humor, dumping poor Stephanie into crazy situations that either put her life, her hair, or her sanity in jeopardy. Again, read something this far back and expect some dated items: they all have pagers! HA!
Great audiobook, too. I listened to a few chapters while on the road, and I can’t confirm it since I didn’t hear credits, but I think it’s Lorelei King. Remember, I’ve skipped around a bit, so King’s narrated most of the later books in the series. She’s wonderful!
Nobody does it better than JE for my money. Onto #5!...more
Because it's better than TV, and I can listen to it in the car. And because Stephanie Plum is one of my favorite literary (?) characters. This one movBecause it's better than TV, and I can listen to it in the car. And because Stephanie Plum is one of my favorite literary (?) characters. This one moved a little slower than others, and feels dated: the principals all seem to carry pagers. Remember those? It was right before Al Gore invented the Internet. It was a good mystery, though, and I just love the provincial feel, the way the story never leaves Trenton, but never has to. Everyone knows everyone, and no one ever grows old, not even Grandma Mazur. Love all these people: Morelli, Ranger, Lula, Connie, Gazara, even Vinnie. I'd read about then any day. (Although I might jump ahead to #15 and up; like I said, this one felt dated.) Boy, am I glad Evanovich watched Midnight Run one day.
What the heck, right? These books are FUN. Come at me, all you MFA's, all you English teachers, all you would-be poets. You read Chaucer, I'll read Stephanie Plum. I'll defend fun reads, beach reads, airplane reads to the hilt. Hmmph!...more
Christopher
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