Now or Never

For a light entertaining read, Janet Evanovich in her Stephanie Plum series rarely lets the reader down. In this thirty-first book in the series, Stephanie, Lula and Connie continue to locate those who have broken their bond conditions so that they can be rebonded and a new trial date set.

As usual, things do not always go to plan as Stephanie and Lula pursue their targets - Eugene Fleck, Bruno Jug and Zoran (also known as The Vampire). During the investigations Herbert, who used to go to school with Stephanie, insists on helping her refurnish her apartment after it was fire-bombed and also tags along for part of the investigations.

But Stephanie has an additional problem. She is engaged to both of the special men in her life - Ranger and Morelli - and it is time that she made a decision as to to who she really wants to marry.

Now or Never is another fun read in the Stephanie Plum series.

Dirty Thirty

As the title suggests, Dirty Thirty is number 30 in the Stephanie Plum series by American author, Janet Evanovich. Readers of this serious of entertaining, humorous crime novels know what to expect and will not be disappointed. 

When a local jeweller asks Stephanie to investigate a robbery at his store she does not envisage the dangers that she and Lula will encounter as they search for the person accused of the robbery. As Morelli is in Miami on police business Stephanie is entrusted with looking after his dog, Bob. As Bob is inclined to destroy furniture and other items when left alone for too long he joins the team for much of the investigation.

Some of the FTAs that Stephanie and Lula pursue are routine, however some prove to be more of a challenge. With Morelli away Stephanie has to rely on Ranger for assistance, especially when her car becomes undrivable and her apartment is firebombed - routine events in the life of Stephanie Plum. When it is obvious that Stephanie has become a target it becomes necessary to bend the rules to solve the crime.

Going Rogue

Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich is number 29 in the Stephanie Plum series. Stephanie arrives at the office to discover that Connie is not there and is not answering Stephanie's calls. Connie's mother confirms that Connie left for work so where is she? Lula arrives and does not know where Connie is either. Then Stephanie receives a call demanding that a coin given to Vinnie as collateral for bail be handed over in return for Connie who has been kidnapped. The man who originally owned the coin has been murdered and Vinnie has lost the coin. The hunt is therefore on to locate the coin and to to find those responsible for kidnapping Connie.

Assistance in the hunt is provided by Lula, Grandma Mazur, Ranger and and his team and also Morelli. Lots of action, lots of humour throughout the book as the Stephanie and Co. hunt for the kidnappers and also persuade a few bail absconders to apply for a new trial date. Another entertaining read from Janet Evanovich.

Game On - Tempting twenty-Eight

Game On is another easy to read, entertaining crime novel by Janet Evanovich. This time Diesel puts in an appearance after a long absence as he is chasing the same person as Stephanie, though for a different crime. Oswald Wednesday is a computer hacker who Stephanie needs to apprehend as he missed a court appearance. Diesel is after him as it is feared he has plans to cause a major disaster somewhere in the world.

All the usual characters make an appearance including Joe Morelli, Ranger, Lula and Grandma Mazur as they assist Stephanie with her chase. Apparently a group of amateur hackers was able to momentarily break into Oswald Wednesday's computer system and he is out for revenge, murdering any members of the group that he can locate. Stephanie finds two of the group members and she and her friends and associates strive to keep them hidden from the avenger.

All good fun and a great way to spend a warm summer's day reading under a tree. Game On is number 28 in the Stephanie Plum series.

Fortune or glory

Fortune or glory is another entertaining crime escapade from Janet Evanovich - number 27 in the Stephanie Plum series. Readers of the series know what to expect and will not be disappointed as bounty hunter, Stephanie, and her assistant, Lula, attempt to apprehend a range of unruly characters who have broken conditions of their bond by failing to appear in court. Along the way Stephanie does a favour for George Potts who then insists on returning her favour by following her around as a bodyguard.

A major part of the plot revolves around Stephanie assisting Grandma Mazur in retrieving a 'treasure' hidden by Grandma Mazur's gangster husband who died shortly after the wedding. Other members of the gang are also looking for the treasure as is the mysterious Gabriela Rose who suddenly appears on the scene.

Most of the characters seem to carry guns though the weapons may not always be loaded and the characters often do not know how to fire them. There is plenty of action with car chases, explosions, kidnapping and the occasional murder. Readers of the series will also be noting Stephanie's disastrous record for demolishing cars. The on again off again relationship with Joe Morelli continues while Ranger is always there to provide support of all kinds.

Humour, as well as lots of action, is a major feature of the books providing laugh aloud moments for the reader. Looking at the long library reserve list for the book many readers just want to escape for an hour or two into the crazy world of Stephanie Plum.

Twisted 26

In 1994 American author, Janet Evanovich, wrote her first Stephanie Plum mystery - One for the money. The twenty-sixth book in the series is Twisted 26. Each year we look forward to more wacky adventures from the regular cast of these books - bounty hunter Stephanie and her colleague Lula, Joe Morelli and Ranger and, of course, Stephanie's family.

The plot of this installment concentrates on the marriage of Grandma Mazur to a gangster, Jimmy Roselli - a marriage that lasts 45 minutes before Jimmy has a heart attack and dies. Stephanie has to support her grandmother from the wrath of members of Jimmy's family, including a former wife, who suspect that they may be deprived of their cut of the family fortune. A greater threat comes from members of Roselli's former gang who are looking for keys that Roselli possessed. As well as facing these challenges Stephanie and Lula also have a number of bail absconders to apprehend. And yes, a car does explode. Looking forward to next year's episode in the chaotic life of Stephanie Plum.

Look Alive 25

What a great way to start the year with a new Stephanie Plum mystery by Janet Evanovich.

In this adventure Stephanie and Lula are put in charge of the Red River Deli which had recently been acquired by the Vinnie Plum Bail Company after the owner of the business absconded when on bond. It is only when they turn up for work on the first day that they discover that the last three managers have disappeared each leaving behind one shoe.

Lula is an expert with take away food - eating it that is. However, she and Stephanie discover that preparing food and keeping customers happy is not that easy. When too more men disappear from the back of the restaurant Stephanie feels guilty that they disappeared when helping her. The search for the missing men and the perpetrators of the kidnappings intensifies with Morelli and the police, Ranger and his team plus Wulf involved. Meanwhile, when not at the deli, Stephanie continues her role as a bounty hunter. A busy life!

In the tradition of other Stephanie Plum mysteries there is plenty of humour, danger to vehicles [and buildings], lots of junk food, continuation of her relationship with Morelli [when time permits] plus simmering tension with Ranger. An enjoyable holiday read.

Hardcore 24

It must be nearly Christmas as another title in the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series has just been released.

In this volume the police are concerned with the number of headless corpses that are appearing on the streets as well as bodies in the funeral home that have had their brains removed. There appears to be a zombie epidemic in the neighbourhood and whenever Stephanie tries to appehend bail absconders she keeps noticing strange people and behaviours - that is more strange people than she usually encounters in her work.

Added to this Diesel appears in her appartment and settles in to stay until he completes his current assignment. Stephanie and Morelli are continuing their relationship but Ranger, of course, is also in the mix. Stephanie's life is complicated. However the assistance of these three men is required to resolve the Burg's zombie invasion.

Turbo Twenty-three

Christmas must be approaching as a new title in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series has just been published. I find these books an entertaining read so always look forward to catching up with the next installment of Stephanie's eventful and certainly unpredictable life.

The story begins when Stephanie and Lula discover an abandoned freezer truck filled with ice cream plus a frozen body decorated to imitate an ice cream bar. This time most of the action centres around the rivalry between the owners of two ice cream factories. Ranger, who has been employed to install security at one of the firms, asks Stephanie to work undercover at the factories to try to collect inside information relating to the rivalry. Stephanie also continues her work as a bounty hunter and some of the characters she apprehends have links to the ice cream saga further complicating the plot. As the storyline progresses it is clear that working in the ice cream industry can have sinister consequences.

Themes in the other books in the series continue to evolve with the complications in Stephanie's love life continuing and more motor vehicles being damaged when Stephanie is around.

Tricky twenty-two

As the title suggests, this is the twenty-second title in the Stephanie Plum series of books written by Janet Evanovich. Although these books tend to follow a formula it is a formula that provides an entertaining read.

As usual there is an assortment of strange characters, cars are destroyed, Grandma Mazur continues to visit viewings at the funeral parlour, Stephanie's mother despairs of her daughter ever finding a decent job and a good partner while a large number of doughnuts are consumed. Stephanie finds herself in dangerous situations but fortunately, usually, has the back up from Ranger and Joe Morelli. In this book, however, her relationship with Joe appears to be at an end as he struggles with undisclosed problems and this forces Stephanie to also consider her future.

As a bounty hunter her job continues to introduce Stephanie to weird individuals and situations. The main plot-line is the search for Ken Globovic, a member of a fraternity at Kiltman College, who was accused of attacking the college dean of student. When Goltman goes into hiding, his being protected by fellow students make it more of a challenge to find him. However this is not the only problem as Doug Linken, who is associated with the college, is killed when Ranger is employed to protect Linken and his wife. There are many twists and turns as well as laughs as the story evolves.

Top secret twenty-one

A note on the cover of this book describes Janet Evanovich as 'Queen of Kick-Ass Crime'. This is the twenty-first title in the popular Stephanie Plum series featuring bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum who with the aid of an assortment of lovers, friends and acquaintances, attempts to persuade those who missed their court appearance to return to the police station to be rebailed.

The two main plots in this book involve the attempts to apprehend Jimmy Poletti, used car dealer who sells more than used cars, and the search for the person who is attempting to kill her friend and associate, Ranger. As usual there are explosions - buildings as well as cars - over the top characters and, of course, plenty of action and laughs.

Takedown twenty

This is number 20 in the Stephanie Plum series but this series of books continues to to be entertaining to read. The normal cast - Stephanie, Lula, Connie, Joe Morelli, Ranger, Grandma Mazur and Joe's grandmother, Bella, all take part in the action of this story about a bounty hunter attempting to apprehend clients who have missed their court appearance. There is the occasional dead body, people shooting people and cars, plenty of mishaps and near misses and general devastation when Stephanie attempt to do her job. Each book has additional outlandish characters, usually baddies, who contribute to the mayhem.

The main target in Takedown Twenty is Uncle Sunny Sunucchi who likes to kill people. Unfortunately he is Joe Morelli's godfather and the Morelli family and Uncle Sunny's neighbours and associates do all they can to protect him and hide his whereabouts. There is a large price on Uncle Sunny's head but capturing him is a challenge. Naturally there are other subplots in Stephanie's eventful life, not to mention her romantic relationship with Morelli and working relationship with Ranger.

Unusual things happen in Trenton. When looking for Uncle Sunny 'a giraffe loped past us. It continued on down the road, turning at Sixteenth Street and disappearing into the darkness.' (page 4) Lula names the giraffe, Kevin, and his reason for apparently living on the streets of Trenton is a focus as the plot unravels. This is all good fun and once again I enjoyed reading this latest offering from Janet Evanovich.

Notorious nineteen

The first Stephanie Plum novel by Janet Evanovich was published in 1994. The nineteenth book in this series continues the exploits of bounty hunter, Stephanie, her off-sider, Lula, Grandma Mazur, Joe, Morelli, Ranger and a host of zany characters. When conman, Geoffrey Cubbin mysteriously disappears from a hospital in the middle of the night investigations show that he is not the only person to have done so. As well as finding out what has happened to Cubbin Stephanie is also employed by Ranger to act as a guard for him at a social function. Needless to say nothing goes smoothly as Stephanie and colleagues attempt to unravel the crimes and also keep alive. For those who are counting, the number of cars associated with Stephanie that meet a sad end increases dramatically in this book.

Explosive eighteen

 Returning from a supposed holiday in Hawaii Stephanie discovers that the passenger sitting next to her on the first leg of the flight was murdered during the stop-over in Los Angeles. She also discovers a mystery photograph in her bag which she assumes that she accidentally picked up when purchasing a magazine at the airport. Discarding the photograph she is then pursued by two groups of men purporting to be from the FBI, a woman claiming to be the fiancee of the murder victim and a crazed man trying to kill her. As to be expected in a Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum novel there is plenty of action and lots of humour as Stephanie tries to sort out her over complicated life. There is also the unresolved question of her relationships with Morelli and Ranger, problems at the bond office, challenges in apprehending skips plus the effects of a 'love potion'. An entertaining read.

Smokin' seventeen

A continuation of the crazy escapades of Stephanie Plum and friends by Janet Evanovich. When the Vincent Plum Bail Bonds office is being rebuilt bodies are found in shallow graves on the site followed by the discovery of other bodies at other locations. What is the link between these deaths and why are some of the bodies labelled, 'For Stephanie'? Before the finish of the book three people are trying to kill Stephanie and Grandma Bella has put 'the eye' on her. Meanwhile her relationship with Morelli and Ranger continues while her mother tries matchmaking between Stephanie and a former high school football star. Throw in a dancing bear plus bail absconders that need to be returned to the court system and you have another typical Stemphanie plum adventure.

Siizzling sixteen

Another installment in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich with the usual ingredients of cars and buildings destroyed, difficulties in apprehending bail absconders, a cast of crazy characters and, of course, the presence of Morelli and Ranger. In this volume Vinnie has been kidnapped by gangsters and a ransom of more than a million dollars has to be found for his release. Stephanie, Lula and Connie devise a number of plans to rescue Vinnie and save the Company from which Vinnie has been embezzling money. Many of the situations are becoming predictable ( this is the sixteenth book in the series) but there were still a number of occasions when I found myself laughing at the incredible shenanigans portrayed in the book. As usual a fun, relaxing read.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen

Another Stephanie Plum novel, this time evolving around the decapitation of celebrity chef, Stanley Chipotle, witnessed by Lula. Much of the story involves Lula trying to keep out of the path of the decapitators as she devises a plan to lead to their capture, in order to collect the reward, by entering a barbecue sauce making competition. With Grandma Mazur as an accomplice chaos ensues as they experiment with recipes. Meanwhile Stephanie agrees to work part-time for Ranger to help find out who has been trying to sabotage Ranger's security service while Ranger agrees to help Stephanie bring in some of the more difficult bail absconders on her list. As well as the usual destruction of vehicles Stephanie manages to become, at various times, covered with flour, sauce and other foodstuffs, much to the amusement of Ranger and Joe Morelli.

Stephanie Plum forever

Since 1994 Janet Evanovich has been writing a series of novels about Stephanie Plum and her attempts to capture bond absconders whose bail was posted by her cousin, Vinnie. Stephanie is not the most successful bounty hunter in New Jersey often requiring a number of attempts "to get her man". Helping her are an assortment of associates including Lula, Grandma Mazur, Ranger and Joe Morelli, her on again off again boyfriend. Each novel usually includes further zany characters to help or hinder Stephanie carry out her task. These characters often reappear in a later book. Stephanie does not lead a quiet life. Around her things happen. Cars explode or disintegrate or crash, buildings blow up, bodies are found. Frequently she finds herself in situations she would rather not be in but that is all part of the life of being a bounty hunter - if you are Stephanie Plum - as is junk food and questionable fashion. The books can be dangerous to read in public as the larger than life characters and or ridiculous situations can cause the reader to laugh out loud resulting in strange looks from those without the privilege of enjoying the book.

The titles of the fourteen novels so far include sequential numbers - One for the money, Two for the dough, Three to get deadly, Four to score, High Five, Hot six, Seven up, Hard Eight, To the nines, Ten big ones, Eleven on top, Twelve sharp, Lean mean thirteen and Fearless Fourteen.

Reading Stephanie Plum books can be contageous and I have had conversations with many women waiting for the next installment. Since 2002 Janet Evanovich has written additional, often shorter books, containing further adventures of Stephanie Plum - Visions of sugar plums, Plum lovin' and Plum Lucky. Diesel - a bounty hunter with special powers - appears in these books assisting Stephanie in her adventures. The latest in the 'Between-the-Numbers' novels is Plum Spooky, a book the size of the traditional Stephanie Plum novels.

In Plum Spooky Stephanie is looking for Martin Munch who has stolen a magnetometer and disappeared. Out of the blue Diesel reappears in her life and insists on helping her as he is looking for his cousin, Wulf Grimoire, who possibly has Munch working for him. As an added complication Stephanie discovers that she is baby sitting a precocious monkey named Carl who insists on accompanying them and causing additional havoc. Animals often feature in Stephanie Plum novels. In Plum Lucky a horse was a major additional caharacter. The search leads them to the Barrens populated by an assortment of unusual characters and events and after confronting a range of dangerous situations Stephanie, Lula and Diesel, with assistance from Joe and Ranger and Ranger's men, eventually track down their targets. Needless to say various subplots add to the enjoyment of this humourous adventure. Now waiting for the next installment.