No. 8) - A Stephanie Plum Novel - Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum

Fans of the Stephanie Plum series will rightly regard "Explosive Eighteen" as necessary reading. Lula and Granny are in great form, and Ranger is a benevolently cool demon, as usual. What makes everything work so well, though, is Stephanie in her two manifestations, narrator and actor in the story. As narrator she's as hilarious as Lula. As main actor, she's the sane voice in the room. We wouldn't know she was beautiful if it weren't for her faithful admirers, the cool cop and the cooler private eye. Does "Eighteen" have any flaws? Only the usual one: the hair-brained chaos of the story precludes a genuine, driving plot; so we go from one episode to the next. On the other hand, each episode is sharp, witty, and pregnant with action. If you don't require a single plot, you can give this one five stars.

Once again, Stephanie Plum is in the middle of mayhem, hijinx and dealing with a scary killer, or two. She's embroiled in one case regarding the bonding agency, involving the annoying Randy Briggs (from previous books) and also helping Ranger find a man he used to know when he was in special ops, who happens to be planning an act of terrorism that will kill thousands of people. Not to mention he wants revenge on Ranger for a past incident, and he's set his sights on Steph to get back at him.

Still funny, but not as funny as books of the past, but Lula and Grandma Mazur quite often steal the show and make me laugh until I cry. Stephanie seems to have the patience of a saint when it comes to those two and what they get up to. Always a fast paced read, and yes, probably the same type of story over and over again, but still a fun, easy read. Stephanie has pretty much chosen Morelli, but can't seem to let Ranger go. Can't fault her for that, since I probably wouldn't either and it keeps the story interesting. This is the perfect summer beach read. You don't necessarily have to read them in order, but it's a lot more fun if you do.

Stephanie Plum is the biggest klutz and worst bounty hunter this side of, well, anywhere. It is always by sheer dumb luck or with the help of the uber sexy Ranger that she actually catches any of her skips. But what can I say, the girl does it with flare.

Over the last twenty books we have watched Stephanie scramble and struggle to be a bounty hunter. She has blown up cars, been kidnapped, shot people, been shot at, caught things on fire, and all sometimes within one book. She has the worst luck when it comes to bounty hunting and is the walking poster for Murphy's Law. One place she doesn't need help? The men department.

She has two very sexy and successful men chasing her. First, there is Morrelli, the Trenton cop, that would give anything for Stephanie to stop being a bounty hunter. And then there's Ranger, the drop dead gorgeous private security specialist that is always there to rescue Stephanie when she finds herself in a pickle. Both men want Stephanie... Stephanie wants both men, but she can't decide which to have. She knows that Morrelli is the safe way to go, he's stable, sweet, and would no doubt be a great dad. But Ranger... oh Ranger would be hands down steamy. Ranger is dangerous in the best ways.

In every book there is incredible sexual tension between these three as Stephanie is torn between the sexy cop and the panty dropping security specialist. And with every book I become more aggravated that Stephanie can't make a dang decision or manage to not get her car blown up, stolen or vandalized. Frankly after twenty books the whole story is getting a little old.

I still love Stephanie and really want to follow this story to the end just to see who she finally ends up with, but when is enough enough? These books used to be laugh out loud funny and now I can predict pretty much everything that is going to happen and I am not laughing nearly as much as I used to. I am saddened to say that these books have become rather cookie cutter... Stephanie chases skip, skip get's away... with her car, it get's blown up, ran over, smashed, destroyed... Ranger has to step in and save her. Morrelli doesn't like it. Stephanie tries again, get's better, does something klutzy... solves a big crime by accident and stumbles over which man to bed with. Yup that's it in a nutshell.

With every book I hope it will be better. That it will be the laugh out loud riot it used to be, but I am sorry to say that Janet Evanovich just needs to end this series and give us all a little closure. Does that mean I won't be tuning in for Top Secret Twenty-One??? Unfortunately I am a glutton for punishment and think that I must suffer to the end, so yea I will probably tune it... I just hope I won't regret it.

I love Janet Evanovich! Her novels are so entertaining! Its kind of a bummer that they didn't have Lorelei King reading the Audio books until 4 or 5. She makes them come alive! If you haven't heard the Audio Books yet, you are missing a real treat! Just make sure you get them after the fifth one! Maybe one day, they will get smart and have Lorelei read the first five books! I for one would buy them all over again! Lula and Grandma are just hilarious! Thank you Janet for making the best books out there!

I've read all Janet Evanovich's book with Stephanie Plum. Before her new book comes out I wanted to refresh my memory on the characters and their growth. I like Janet's writing and levelopment of characters. For those critics who want faster relationship decisions and more Stephanie growth should go back and re-read all the books and you can see that Evanovich is taking her characters through normal changes and growth without rushing commitments that may ruin the story line. I love Joe and Ranger and would be hard pressed to make a decision between the two also. Perhaps the only thing I would do is show a bit more of Joe's roaming eyes so Stephanie can see that tigers don't change completely as they grow older. She's a bounty hunter and she always gets her man. Our long time question will be which one in her real life will she end up with. Personally I like tall, dark and handsome....but then both men are of the same character. Guess it's up to Evanovich to decide eventually which one, if either, Stephanie ends up with. But can I please have the one left over if she decides on one?????

I admit, I picked the killer when introduced but I found this to be a fun story. Several reviews say it isn't one of her best but I really liked it. Goes to show you that everyone's tastes are different!

Lizabeth is divorced, with two small boys and a fixer-upper Victorian home. She needs a job and applies to a local construction company owner, Matt, for a job as a carpenter, or wherever he can use her. She figures her aunt can babysit the kids during the summer and the work hours will be compatible with the kids' being in school. He, himself, is quite attractive and unmarried. He takes an immediate interest in her and is concerned about whether his new employee has the strength and know-how to do the job. He finds out about her house needing work and volunteers to help. There is a dog, a naked flasher, and the irrepressible outlook of Elsie Hawkins, the aunt. One thing leads to another. It's well written and has some very funny situations.

I have just finished reading all 19 books, one after another, in the last 3 weeks and I have not read one that didn't satisfy my funny bone and my insatiable appetite for good books. I have already pre-ordered number 20 and can't wait to get it.
I think that Janet Evanavich is one of the best writers of semi-serious and totally hilarious books ever. If you want serious, factually, and totally believable mystery novels then buy some other author's books. But if yoou want an enjoyable book that will make you LOL and occasionally make you cry a little then keep reading Evanovich. She is one of those rare authors who can do both.
The characters may seem at times to be totally unbelievable and silly but if I am looking for total believably I would read the newspaper or non-fiction. I read bothh by the way.
I have spent time in Jersey by the way, even in Trenton, and I have to say, that I don't find much of the things she writes to be totally unbelievable.
I read very fast and have very catholic taste in psubject matter, so I have read many different authors and in her field Janet is the best.
She has over the course of these books made many readers, myself included, wish they; 1) could meet Stephanie; 2) go looking for FTA with her; 3) get their hands on Joe; 4) get their hands on Ranger; 4) sit down to dinner in the Plum dining room; 5) last, but not least, meet Lula.
So to sum it all up, if you want a fun read then by all means look for an Evanovich book, if you want total believablty go find a non-fiction book.

When it comes to books in a series -- particularly one that I've read more than 3 of (so the Plum books qualify several times over) -- I don't bother to read the back cover, I just want to read whatever's next. So I had no idea how tough a sell this book would be for me until I got a few pages into it.

Vinnie Plum is probably my least favorite character in the Plum books (well, other than Joyce Barnhardt, now that I think of it). His character isn't that interesting, almost never contributes anything to the story that couldn't be handled by someone less-skeevy, say, Connie. So when the big story of the novel is going to be about rescuing Vinnie, I'm not going to be that invested. Actually, I'm going to root against Stephanie and her crew saving the day. A happy ending to this book would be Vinnie getting capped and Connie taking over. Or, fine, if he has to live -- he's so shaken by the experience that he sells his business to Ranger.

Of course, I knew that this is a Stephanie Plum novel, so the odds of that happening are pretty low, if not non-existent. Typically, everything resets at the end of the novel, and that status is quo going forth.

So, I had to seek fulfillment elsewhere -- how many cars will Steph blow up? (her car's in the shop for mechanical difficulty, of all things, when the book starts) Will Lula's diet and the breaking of it annoy me? (not too bad, really) Will Stephanie's efforts to bring in a pretty easy FTA or two be stupid flops, or actually funny? (eh, not bad...not as funny as they could've been, but not annoyingly stupid) Will Grandma Mazur's antics seem like they'd be a better fit for The Nanny's grandmother than a crime novel? That kind of thing.

And overall, Evanovich pulled it off. This isn't her at her best, but it's her doing her thing. It'll satisfy long-time readers, but probably wouldn't win a first-timer. Pleasant enough way to spend 300 pages.

At first I was pretty hopeful this book would turn a corner from the past few "Eh" books. For me it started out good. I liked the chemistry between Stephanie and Ranger. I liked the direction it seemed to be taking. Then it just fell flat. It seemed like Janet Evanovich either got tired or ran out of time and had to finish quickly. It went from actual interaction between characters to characters basically being mentioned. Ranger would call and just say "Babe". Joe would just show up ask if she was okay, give a quick kiss and he was off again. Joe would show up...take care of police work...pass her off to Ranger...then Joe shows up again. It was just okay. I'm a sucker I guess, but I'll keep reading for a while anyways. Maybe even Janet is bored of these characters. It might be best for everyone if she ended the series. I would love to see where this is all headed...if anywhere. If anyone reads this please let me know if there is a comparable series that doesn't seem to fall as flat as these do. Thanks!

I almost decided to let other reviews run unchallenged since I agreed so highly with them but then I thought they did not make their point hard enough. That point is the books are not Evanovitch writing, it must be some one else. The most obvious change is the way Plum regards sex, it is almost pornographic and received a lot of attention. This was not true of the better Plum books, up to the lower teens before they began to shift to bad. I bought them, now I hate myself for so doing. A lot of the reviews make this point, I shall not belabor it. The books are no longer any good, the characters have lost their redeeming features, the plots stink if there are any plots, there seems a lot of reruns here, noted by many others, originality has beat a hasty retreat. I looked forward to destroyed cars, hard to lock up FTA's, mysterious and hidden Ranger, and Morelli's strong sex appeal, not the attempt to keep the men around and keep Plum guessing, instead of making her such a willing bed partner, she has taken over from Lula. Who wants to keep reading this dirty brown word stuff? I don't know how hard it is to convince me an author has lost her stuff, that is why I believe in ghost writers, I can't believe Evanovitch wrote such stuff. I admit I am complaining, I am not reviewing the book, it is too obvious, too poorly written, and I think I am giving it two stars more out of my remembrance of how Evanovitch used to write than present value. I finally got a Kindle for Christmas, I may save some money now and will not mind not completely reading the next Plum books hoping we will get the real author back

I have no intention of writing a review that summarizes the initial storyline of this particular novel, the 20th in the Stephanie Plum series. If you are this far into the series, you know that there will be two action plot threads: a caricatured bail bonds jumper with a ridiculous name and a Rangeman security issue. The names of the perps change from novel to novel but the basic scenarios do not.

Plus, if you are a long-time reader, you know that there will be one romantic plot line. In this, the names of the perps do not change, have never changed in 20 books and its basic scenario is as stale as week old bread.

And, thirdly, you know exactly when Evanovich jumped the shark with the series – after Stephanie saved Ranger and his daughter from a psychopath in Twelve Sharp. Since that point, we have been presented with inane drivel, no character growth and an inexorable decline into absurdity and slapstick.

Finally, this novel showed a glimmer of hope, a small chance that Evanovich may be returning to her former level of competency. First, the two major action scenes, which I will identify only as the “bridge” and the “basement” scenes, evoked as much bone-chilling terror as any written by a mainstream thriller writer. Secondly, the oft bemoaned issues of “I’ve got to get a different job,” and “I love two men. Which one should I choose?” are actually addressed in a serious manner.

Evanovich actually has Stephanie make the decisions for both her personal and her professional lives that she has needed to make for at least six books. Then, both of those decisions implode about her, bringing her to her knees both literally and figuratively.

And, quite frankly, that is just exactly what would have to happen even at this advanced point in the series. For it to happen otherwise, both plot lines, personal and professional, would have to take a 180-degree twist. And until Stephanie Plum and Janet Evanovich both grow a backbone, that’s just not going to happen.

I must preface my review with I find the Stephanie Plum books as entertaining as they come. Evanovich knows how to develop rich characters through dialogue, which is a difficult task to pull-off. In Takedown Twenty, I didn't feel her motivation to write a 5 star worthy book for this continuing series. I shudder to think she might be ending this crazily loved phenomenon - if she does, I might have to go into mourning (or hold her at gunpoint until she writes the next book). Kevin the giraffe was a funny weave throughout the book and Granny on the striper pole was hysterical. Evanovich has developed characters throughout the series and whether they have 2 lines or play a major part (i.e. Vinnie, Connie, Grandma Bella or Steph's mom), you understand the character whether it's your 1st or 20th Plum read. Lula almost carried her weight in this book (no pun intended) and Stephanie goes weak in places where you go, "What?", (example: when she agreed to let her grandmother go out with a murder suspect preying on elderly women. I vaguely remember Steph saying to call when Grandma got home. Un-unh, the Steph I know would be stalking the date, even interfering at every angle.) Also, she had a couple of possible apprehensions where she chose to give-up too quickly - her adrenaline usually takes us for a rowdier ride. And, my heart be still, Ranger's & Steph's chemistry lost some lust and pizzazz and without that sustenance, he should start charging her for the cars she destroys. Joe's devotion and love for her is felt, and hers for him (almost too comfortable to be "almost engaged"); however, he is not a clueless man and turns a blind eye more than any man of his caliber would. I have found Evanovich's decision to incorporate more of Ranger's security business into Stephanie's professional endeavors as a wise decision, although I do love the wild personalities brought to light when she's a bond recovery agent. Looking forward #21, Janet!

Stehanie's boss Vinnie is kidnapped by Bobby Sunflower who wants a million dollars to set him free. His wife does not care and his family does not want to pay to get Vinnie back. Stephanie, Connie and Lula do not have that kind of money, but they will do anything in their power to set their boss free and keep their jobs.

I am always entertained by Stephanie Plum's books but this one did not feel as entertaining. I liked the plot, Vinnie is tossed around and the continuity seems fine, but I did not find myself laughing at the situations. I like that Connie is playing a bigger part in the book and that they act more as a team. But it was not as fun and I mostly read these because they make me laugh, hence the three stars.

For Stephanie Plum fans, it's another good read. So funny, with all of the favorite familiar characters. I am taking 20 & 21 with me on vacation to Hawaii. Perfect for the 5-hour plane ride each way & perfect for lying around in a deck chair being served maitais by a pool boy who may resemble Ranger...One can only hope...Having said that, I have just started #19 after a Plum hiatus, and it's nice to get back to a story that I've enjoyed since the beginning. I agree with some of the other reviewers that the Plum series hit the rocks somewhere in the mid-teens, then washed ashore with 17 & 18. I've read them all, but I had to take a break after the movie came out in 2012, and it's taken me this long to get over that catastrophe. So, stay tuned. I'll update my review after I finish 19, but so far, it's been a good start!

Mabel Markowitz is worried when her daughter Evelyn Soder disappears with her daughter, it means she may loose her house. She asks Stephanie Plum to help her find out what happened. Should'nt be too hard for a bounty hunter from Trenton, NJ only problem Stephanie Plum isn't the best bounty hunter out there. She comes into conflict with a crime lord named Eddie Abruzzi. He warns her to stay away from the Soder investigation, when she doesn't he declares war. Eddie Abruzzi, likes to play war games. Abruzzi's henchmen leaves a bag of snakes on her doorknob and tarantulas in her car, and followes her around while wearing bunny suits and Clinton masks. Ranger is called in to help out since her on-again off-again relationship with Morrelli is currently off.

Stephanie Plum the bounty hunter has been stalked by crazed killers, taunted by naked men, firebombed, shot at, cussed at, chased by humping dogs, rolled in garbage and dog diarrhea not to mention she now has an unidentifiable glob of goo in her hair after apprehending Melon-head Sporky. This was the last straw for her, it is time to quit being a bounty hunter and get a regular job. She is hired at the button factory only to be fired her first day. The second job is at Kan Klean dry cleaners it too only lasts a couple of days before Mama Macaroni is blown up trying to leave in Stephanies Car. Then she gets a job a fast-food chicken place it goes up in flames after a possible stalker by the name of Spiro Stiva hands her a package that could be a bomb. Four regular guys leave on the same day and end up missing. How is all this connected with her stalker? Great
story, lots of laughs.

My wife had been reading the Stephanie Plum novels and I had just passed it off as a romance novel, which it turns out it is not. I finally agreed to read the book and wasn't immediately impressed. But the more I read the better it got. It has a certain amount of comedy sandwiched around a serious attempt to enter the world of bail recovery. Stephanie has one of those moments when nothing goes right, over and over again until a streak of luck saves her life and leads to success. I guess I'll begin reading the rest of the series. Read it. You'll like it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Casey and Alex . Alex trading in big city life for frontier life in alaska, and through mishaps through trial and error learning to live with the basic needs. And along the way driving a pilot crazy with forever rescuing her from one mishaps and another. Evanovich does not disappoint her readers, she has a flair for different type of story writing, you can never go wrong in reading her books, you will find yourself enjoying the story.

This a reprint of an early Janet Evanovich romance originally published in 1992.

Louisa Brannigan is living in a duplex, the man who shares the other half is about as inconsiderate as you can get. He parks in her spot, steals her paper and gets calls all night long.

Pete Streeter is a Hollywood screenwriter who is following/researching some crooked political officials and their dealings for his next screenplay. When his investigation inadvertently gets Louisa fired from her political job, the two team up to uncover the truth and find a missing pig.

Like all the early Janet romances, this one follows a pretty basic formula, with slight alterations here and there to keep it interesting.

1) Plumesque female with unruly curly hair.
2) Super alpha male.
3) A domestic pet that devours human food.
4) A nutty Grandmother.
5) A lot of mental head slapping and eye rolling by the heroine.
6) A weak but entertaining mystery.

Though it follows an all too familiar and predictable path, it's still an enjoyable afternoon read. It's serves it's purpose at entertaining, though it will lack any surprise and mystery for those of us who are Janet Junkies. Naughty neighbor is silly fun and a light easy read.

Cherise Everhard, March 2008

I said the same thing with Notorious 18.... I WANT TO LOVE THIS SERIES AGAIN!!

I have been a Plumtastic fan since the very first book, faithfully picking up every copy. Maybe that is what Janet banks on...that us Plum fans will run out and grab the latest copy just PRAYING our favorite bumbling bailbond girl will make us a believer again. I really feel like I'm DONE. I use to read them in a day, I just wanted the fun romp of a read! It took me a week to get through it.

PLOT: (Any of this sound familiar?) Stephanie "loves" Morelli but wants Ranger. Stephanie is broke and desperate for money. Lula wants to eat everything in sight. She can't catch 'easy' skips. Her car gets blown up (bored to eyerolling tears with her car being blown up). Ranger loans her multiple cars. Grandma Mazur has a few funny moments. Bad guys have rocket launchers (really!?) Nothing important is resolved.

I remember laughing out loud during the first 8-10 books...then the laughing was less and the eye rolling began. I long to love these books again....so maybe instead of churning two out a year...we could have one amazing well written one. After the last 8 awful ones....I think we deserve it Janet...

I was really hoping that this book would be different then the last ones, but sadly, it's the same story, just rehased - Stephanie needs to be rescued by Ranger, Grandma is always in trouble, Lulu is always the same. Even the story lines are the same. I loved books 1 - 10, but after that, it's the same boilerplate story. Janet Evanovich has obviously given up on all of her characters so she should just end this series and retire it. And pick a guy for Stephanie already, but really both Joe and Ranger are too good for her. Instead of becoming more self protecting, she's become a character that continually needs to be rescued. Seriously, this series has been over for quite a while.

I keep buying these hoping they'll get better. They don't. As one reviewer perfectly stated, the only thing that changes are the names of the skips. The jokes...the few that are there, are forced. I said I wouldn't spend the money on more of her regurgitated stories after the last one and my memory must have slipped...or I just HOPED the author was back on track...but, big disappointment this book was. It's like watching Lucy and Ethel re-runs, only less funny.

I've read every Stephanie Plum book, most of them more than once. The first twelve books or so of this series were excellent... laugh out loud funny, and you really got to know the characters. It's gone downhill since then. There are still funny moments, but as so many others have said, it's not the same at all. There were good moments in #19, but it's definitely not on par with earlier books. Stephanie needs to make some choices. While the wacky adventures are fun, there's only so many times the car can blow up before it's old hat. I feel like I need to see the series through to the end, but... are we done yet?

Janet Evanovich: Please make number 20 the last Plum book. Make it excellent and go out with a flourish. Steph and the others deserve that.

Stephanie Plum is a mess. But her grandmother is hysterical, and her mother is a great foil for all the shenanigans.

Running out of money Stephanie blackmails her cousin into letting her become a bonds agent and going after her old high school hook-up turned nemesis Joe Morelli. Turns out Joe may be wrongly accused and isn't planning on letting Stephanie catch him until he finds the proof he was set up. Stephanie needs a bit of help learning this bounty hunter gig, so in comes Ranger. And thus we have the beginning of hotness and fun.

The book is a pretty fast read, but it is funny and both Joe and Ranger are hot and clearly set-ups for a love triangle. The who-dun-it isn't especially taxing, but its still a fun/good read.

The Stephanie Plum series never disappoints! I never tire of the main characters and enjoy the relationships between each of them. Grandma Mazur and Lula are my favorites! They are hilarious! Same characters in each book but new FTA's to apprehend. And calamity always insues and keeps the reader entertained. There are the occasional curse words and sexual innuendos. So be aware of that. I enjoy these books and Janet Evanovich does an excellent job in each one to catch the reader up on characters if they happen to forget or pick up a book mid-series.

Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, goes thru life & her job with fairly funny results.. There's always some humor, car blow ups & a pretty light puzzle to solve. An assisted living complex manager was just gone from his hospital bed after surgery. Stephanie tries to figure out how & why. She's into Joe her long time sexy cop boyfriend, again-- it's been off & on. They work on this court skip missing patient mystery together here & there. Ranger, another even sexier darker guy, a super bounty hunter, Stephanie lusts over is involved also. The family & work characters are still there. No ones really much different. Plus it seems they aren't the same. Who really wrote this book....

In this latest book it's just the same old boring everything. After book 12 all went downhill. I read all series books, twice trying to give a chance. But instead of Stephanie Plum growing & changing, even a little, she's stalled. Just like all the other side characters. Don't want whole books about Grandma or Lulu anyway. Where's the strong minded Stephanie. She's lost amongst the fast food & 3 stooges stuff with no In depth plots. This is for 14 yr olds not those who want a main character who changes & matures a bit. Stephanie hasn't improved her bond take down methods or her income. Good fiction has star characters get somewhat wiser.....

Stephanie doesn't have to decide to marry Joe her cop. Why not let her date decent others. Or have a lengthy stint with Ranger. Time for many changes. Including Stephanie saying No to her family involvement. The hi jinks are ok if they are on higher plane. Too much silly. This lite reading will appeal to some. For me- I'm done with Evanovich writing. Mystery, humor & lots of romance? Well I dont think that describes this book or series. I'm back to retreading JD Robb's In Death series. So far nothing has compared.

this is a fun read, at times exciting storyline, well written in my opinion. I have read many others in the Stephanie plum series, was eager to read the original. I usually throughly enjoy the narration, but this version was read by a very capable, but different reader. I must say that I personally prefer the narration of Lorelei King, who seems to have done later episodes. In this first in the series we are introduced to Stephanie Plum, raised in New Jersey, with a quirky array of family, friends and relatives. We get to kmow the two men who become a confusing pair of relationship possibilities further in the story line, as well as the main characters in her life. From her overstressed typical "burg" mom, to her annoying and slightly creepy cousin and boss at the bail bonds agency she ends up taking a job with. We see how stubborn, as well as how brave Stephanie is while she tracks down and becomes embroiked in the case of a handsome policeman she is very attracted to, who appears to have killed an unarmed man, is out on bail, and skips out on it while trying to clear his name. All in all this is a fun read, at times thrilling, at times fun. The rest of the series only gets better. I would definitely reccommend this book.

Ok guys, so here's the lowdown on Explosive Eighteen. It was okay. Having come to expect my Stephanie Plum novels to have me looking like a fool when I literally laugh out loud listening to these at work, Explosive Eighteen fell a wee bit short. The thing was, there was nothing "wrong" with it. It wasn't overly funny. It was overly anything. It felt like a filler novel. After my full out belly laughing from Smokin' Seventeen, I don't suppose I should have expected to be blown away by the follow up to that. I mean seriously, when you've got 18 novels in a series (and more to come), how can they all be awesome?

And so Explosive Eighteen was only mediocre to me. These books don't fall into what I think of as "serious reads." They are lighthearted and funny. They are quick and playful. So I don't go into them expecting my world to change or anything like that. And that being said, this one didn't. It wasn't bad, there have just been better novels in the series.

So Explosive Eighteen gets a low 3 Stars. (Feeling like I should go back and give Smokin' Seventeen 4 Stars.)

Have you read Explosive Eighteen? What did you think? Let me know!

Having her car incinerated, her apartment firebombed, being shot at, lunged at with a knife... that's all child's play to Stephanie Plum when compared to the threat of an old Italian woman giving her the "malocchio" or evil eye. In the case of Janet Evanovich's "Four to Score" the curse may come in the form of bearing Joe Morelli's baby. As if she doesn't have enough trouble with fugitives, jealous boyfriends and/or girlfriends, a six and a half foot transvestite, rival bounty hunters, Mafia wives, and a killer with a penchant for removing fingers, Stephanie finds herself embroiled with the Morelli family--the old women in particular. Like Macbeth's three weird sisters, these old crones fall into trances, have visions, and make predictions. One of those visions have to do with Stephanie bearing Morelli's son. Horrors! (Well, at least they give her a lasagna casserole to munch on.)

As always, Evanovich surrounds Stephanie with the usual ensemble cast: Lula, Connie, Grandma Mazur, Ranger, etc. But Joe Morelli gets the spotlight in this installment, and deservedly so. After all, Stephanie has to camp out in his place after her apartment is burned out. More important, their relationship takes a very carnal turn. Joe and Stephanie have a real stake in this now. When thoughts turn to kitchen curtains and cookie jars, both shudder at the potential of commitment.

In the long run though, it is crime that glues everyone together. Who is passing around funny money? What did an angry young woman steal from her ex-boyfriend that is ticking him off and why is she leaving cryptic clues as to where the thing is? Who strangled a convenience store clerk and is scalping and chopping off women's fingers? Who is threatening Stephanie's life? Who might be placing Stephanie's hamster, Rex, in danger? All these questions (well, with the exception of the last one) keep the plot moving at a swift place. And Evanovich's ear for the right humor at the right time is pitch perfect here. "Four to Score" is another great installment in the Stephanie Plum series.

Janet Evanovich is my favorite author. Her Stephanie Plum novels are the perfect escape. Most times I have to stop for a few minutes because they make me roll around laughing hysterically. The whole package; murder, mystery, mayhem and romance....and don't forget fierce loyalty. I have the entire collection and re-read them once a year. Have to replace some I lent out

I have all of Stephanie Plumb's adventures over the years I enjoy beeing taken away on one of her funny adventures. I do hope she makes a commitment soon and I hope it will be Ranger, he has shown more care and consern for her than any one in this series of novels then any one else. Yes Joe loves her but he also does not understand her or support her decisions. Joe wants her to be someone else he wants her to change her life for hum. Ranger loves and respects Stephanie for the woman she is already. Ranger loves her but h as fears thats people will use her to get to him also her is giving her time to make à choice on her one. With out any pressure that is a sign of a well balanced,, emotionaly healty secure Man. I chopé they come to their senses soon. Their can be more books! With them in a relationdhip that would be just as good maybe even better.

Recently hooked on the Stephanie Plum series, I was delighted to find a series that I could tear through. These are better than your favorite junk food! I will not provide a synopsis of this story, or the previous eight books, since others have done a beautiful job of it already. However, I must warn readers: the series takes a sharp nose dive from here. books 10-19 are terrible. Books 1-9 are witty, laugh-out-loud variety, and the scenes with Ranger kept my pulse thumping. However, from book 10 on.....the series is a serious letdown. I cannot believe that the same author wrote them. The internal dialogue the main character has with herself shrivels up and is completely gone by book 14 (the worst of the series). The two men in her life are no longer interesting, and one wonders why they have any interest in Stephanie Plum. Read the very good reviews of each of the books beyond this one. You will save yourself time and money. The series really stops here.

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum badly needs the money she gets from tracking down people who have skipped bail. The last thing she needs is a distraction, but that's just what happens when her cousin Vinnie, who is also her boss, is kidnapped and held for a high ransom that no one - not Stephanie, sidekick Lula, or office manager Connie - can afford to pay. Stephanie tries to free Vinnie, but she is up against some very bad guys, and in very real danger.

"Sizzling Sixteen" by Janet Evanovich fizzles more than it sizzles. It is pretty much the same old story that's been told in previous Plum books: Stephanie as inept as a bounty hunter; she's torn between Ranger and Morelli; Grandma Mazur attends viewings at the funeral home for the refreshments; Vinnie is a pervert; Lula is on a strange diet; cars will be wrecked etc. etc. There's been little, if any character, development throughout the series, and there are points in this book where Stephanie acted so foolishly (like leaving a captured skip alone in a car) that I wanted to throw up my hands and ask her what she was thinking. While Grandma Mazur is usually good for a laugh or two she is not in the book a lot (neither are Morelli or Ranger) - instead there is lots and lots of Lula and Stephanie. The appearance of Mooner is just a little too convenient and adds to the ridiculousness of the book. The plot is a bit convoluted (at times I lost track of which characters were which) and while there are some nice scary moments when Stephanie is in real danger Evanovich takes the easy way out of the danger.

The early Stephanie Plum books were laugh out loud funny, but the last few have been too formulaic. There were a few humorous moments in this book but nothing new. The series remains a good beach read where you don't want to think too much, but you can't help but wish the characters would grow up. Evanovich did leave the ending a bit open so there is a slight chance the next book will take the series in a new fresh direction, but I don't have much hope that she'll change what works - at least for her.

I can't believe that Janet Evanovich would portray Stephanie as a slut. Just because Morelli's witch of a grandmother places the vordo curse on her does not mean that Stephanie has to succumb. Stephanie used this curse as an excuse to have her way with Ranger and Joe, while Joe is remaining faithful to her. This was not the Stephanie I have grown to love. Someone needs to tell Grandma Bella's priest about her witchcraft. I would like to see a book where Stephanie has the intelligence and moral fortitude to not succumb to one of Bella's curses. I did not consider Stephanie's hypersexual behavior with both Ranger and Joe entertaining. Shame on Janet Evanovich.

Absolutely nothing new happended again. Same jokes and same everything else. I don't understand how anyone who has read the previous 18 books can give this book more than 2 stars. Lula and Steph are still spending 75% of their time eating or talking about eating. When they aren't eating Steph is getting car number 1,002 blown up. Ranger once again comes to the rescue and replaces her car and of course has to say "babe". Joe and Steph's relationship is still the same. Steph still wants Ranger. Ranger still wants to get Steph into bed even though she is sleeping with Joe again. None of the characaters have changed in the 19 books. Also, the constant retelling about the setting and the characters is very annoying. Half of the book is taken up by filling us in on details that we have heard at least 18 other times. Honestly I think it's time to end this series unless the characters grow and there is some story development. Right now the series is not worth reading muchless buying. I had purchased this book, but then I cancelled my order because I remembered what a let down 18 was. I borrowed it from the library because I was hoping something new would happen. It didn't and I'm glad I didn't waste $12.99. Stephanie needs to grow up and make some big girl decisions about her life. Her lost and confused girl act is old,boring and annoying.

The Stephanie Plum series is one of few books that actually make me laugh wholeheartedly aloud while reading. I have read this series for years and the banter between Stephanie and Lula never ceases to amaze me. Then you mix in Joe Morelli and Ranger as Stephanie's love interests and you have a fun read. But then you have Stephanie and Lula's ability to get in the wildest of wild circumstances and you have humorous entertainment. But, Grandma Mazur is the icing on the cake. Evanovich makes all of these wacky characters and situations come to life.
If you haven't read any books in the series previously you might want to go to the beginning. However, this is one of the most hilarious in the series so you can just jump right in the series with it. Warning: these books aren't intended to be taken seriously! I wanted a book to make me laugh and it did not disappoint!

I've been enjoying the Stephanie Plum series for over 10 years or more now. I'd never read an author that caused me to laugh out loud till I cry till I met Janet Evanovich!!! Seriously!!! Laughing till I cry and can't see the page, then several minutes later when I FINALLY get control of myself, I'm back to laughing till it hurts again in the next paragraph, or on the next page!!! After 19 plus books (there are 5 or so "between the numbers" Stephanie Plum novels), you would think that she's done, but to my surprise, #20 was as funny as ever. A few of them are not up to the standards she set in the first few book, but she always comes back and gets her over-the-top funny back!!! If you haven't tried Stephanie Plum yet, do yourself a favor and check her out. Laughter is the best medicine we're told, and these are good medicine indeed!!!

I'm giving it three stars because the story branched out a little bit (read: did not involve Italian neighbors or relatives of the Plum family) and the plot moved nicely.

I think I'm done. I started reading this series when I was gifted Hard Eight. Hooked immediately and I always looked so forward to getting the next installment. I laughed out loud once, and that was when grandma Mazur hit the Ranger item on her bucket list. And it wasn't a laugh-til-I-cried moment, but I did let out a chuckle. I will forever enjoy reading this series up to about book fourteen-ish. Ten Big Ones still makes me laugh til I cry. After this one, I think I'm done. The last colorful Evanovich dust jacket to grace my bookshelf. I'll borrow the next one from the library.

Oh eeew. So much potential, so little author involvement. Ranger is the best man at his former co-operator's wedding...and the men never even have a conversation? Stephanie is now very pro-marriage to Joe, but Ranger fills her heart and mind? JE needs new material. She also makes a lot of gratuitous mistakes, as if she never reads her own books. For instance: Stephanie is intrigued by an old photo of Ranger during his Spec Ops years...and she says she has never seen a picture of him back then. Hello? In book 12 there is a photo of Ranger in uniform from those days, broadcast nationwide during the Amber Alert for Julie. Stephanie described it in detail....but now this author has forgotten that. And just way too many smoochy, fake-y, icky Joe scenes. I think I liked him better as a loud jerk.

My fave bit: after Stephanie pukes in his Porsche, Ranger shows up the next day...with a new fresh-scented Porsche. That was so perfectly Ranger... Other good things: no Kloughns, no drunk moms, no fart jokes, no monkeys [unless I was skimming and missed them.] In other words the the preteen humor has been edited out somewhat, makes it all easier to read.

I read the first two Stephanie Plum books, and enjoyed Plum's eye-rolling snark. The stories were fun and zany, but this third installment is just plain cornball. Plum and Lula (and I could've done with WAY less of this character) perform acts of such incredible stupidity, that they should both be dead. One of the best parts of a Plum novel is Stephanie's banter with police detective, Joe Morelli, but that was all but nonexistent in this third novel. I may pass on the rest of this series, if this book is an indication of the direction the series is going...

The nineteenth edition in the Stephanie Plum series---I look forward to the the annual publication of at least one edition. Ms Evanovich has had me laughing for years at the witty adventures of her gal, Stephanie. Sometimes though of late I wonder if my funny bone has taken a wrong turn or if Ms Evanovich is a bit tired of her funny bond agent. Maybe that just happens after a long run.
It's still a great read and if you are not familiar with this series, you should at least read one or two of the Plum editions for your own pleasure if nothing else. Stephanie Plum is an accidental bond agent, who does not like carrying a weapon and she has a propensity for attracting car bombers. Her sidekick is the well endowed (everywhere) Lulu who used to be a 'Ho' and wears bright colored spandex and high heels. Their favorite fast food is Cluck in a Bucket. Stephanie's Grandma Mazur is a hilarious old woman who says anything and everything and wants desperately to be a part of Stephanie's Posse. In this edition she goes undercover at the hospital to help locate a missing patient that abscounded with millions from the old folks home and skipped out on his bail. Her gun is bigger than Stephanie's.
In addition to the missing skip, Lulu and Stephanie apprehend a skip after disrobing to enter and disrupting at a nude beach. Stephanie makes off with a Tiki in order to lure another skip to find her so she can maybe (NOT) apprehend him. As if all this isn't enough, Stephanie is somehow recruited to be the matron of honor for a bride she just met through Ranger. Ranger and the groom have both received death threats and Stephanie is hired to protect Ranger.....yeah, right!
Ranger is the Hot Cuban Security Co. owning bondsman who has taught Stephanie a lot...both in apprehension and well other things. He has also rescued her from many a dangerous criminal and in her efforts to keep from walking, (furnishing rides when her cars burn). Detective Morelli, (Joe) is her on again/off again Italian boyfriend. And all of this originates from Trenton, New Jersey.
I love this series. Janet has made characters come to life in the pages of these books and it feels like I know them personally.....don't I just wish! Her stories are favorites and a quick read and something to look forward to each year.
Much as I sometimes feel I've hit a rut in the road, I will always love Stephanie and friends! Many of these stories have caused hilarious outbursts of laughter at the oddest times and places. So do yourself a favor and enjoy a Plum mystery for yourself!

I can not resist Stephanie Plum! I can be content to wait a month or two after the book is released, but I know I am going to buy a copy and read at my leisure. Only Janet Evanovich can come up with the humorous plots and situations that our Stephanie finds herself in. In this edition, Sunny's henchmen marvel at their incompetence when it comes down to "ridding" themselves of the pain in the ___, Stephanie Plum. And Stephanie tries her hand at being a butcher's assistant?????? And there is a giraffe running around on the loose in Trenton New Jersey. Really?

Well Takedown Twenty is funny, clever and Stephanie is the all American girl, just trying to get her bills paid. She has a tough job and a hilarious Assistant, Lula. She works for the pervert, Uncle Vinny, and she is the object of affections for two male contenders, the handsome Italian cop, Joe Morelli and the Hotter than hot, Ranger, owner of a Security company.

295 pages of eye-rolling, gun toting, adventure and some light romance. Add in a crusty old Grandma threatening to give Stephanie the evil eye and entertainment spent viewing dead bodies at the funeral home, and you have the provocative adventures of one Miss Stephanie Plum. Delightful entertainment at its best!!

Well. I can honestly say that I have read better books in the Stephanie Plum series. I wasn't impressed. In past books, I have laughed my butt off... so much, that my husband wants to know what is so funny... not in this one. And, was it just me or was Stephanie's dad more talkative in this one? He never talks. Not really. Mostly grunts, and shovels food in. I don't mind the Stephanie-Joe-Ranger love triangle, don't mind the fact that she is a terrible bounty hunter... don't even mind that she is resistant to commitment and growing up, I think those angles have been what makes the books so entertaining and enjoyable in the past. If Stephanie became an awesome, kick butt bounty hunter, a lot of what I've found comical wouldn't be there. It did feel like this book was forced though, and not as well written as in the past. I want the old writing style back... and I wouldn't mind seeing Diesel again!!!! So, unfortunately, no I wasn't impressed with this book... and I REALLY miss being impressed with Stephanie. I love the series, love Stephanie, love Joe, love all the crazy quirky characters that make these books what they are. So, please Janet if you're reading the reviews... I want you to impress me again, I want Stephanie to make me Laugh again! I really missed the laughing!!!!

Well. I can honestly say that I have read better books in the Stephanie Plum series. I wasn't impressed. In past books, I have laughed my butt off... so much, that my husband wants to know what is so funny... not in this one. And, was it just me or was Stephanie's dad more talkative in this one? He never talks. Not really. Mostly grunts, and shovels food in. I don't mind the Stephanie-Joe-Ranger love triangle, don't mind the fact that she is a terrible bounty hunter... don't even mind that she is resistant to commitment and growing up, I think those angles have been what makes the books so entertaining and enjoyable in the past. If Stephanie became an awesome, kick butt bounty hunter, a lot of what I've found comical wouldn't be there. It did feel like this book was forced though, and not as well written as in the past. I want the old writing style back... and I wouldn't mind seeing Diesel again!!!! So, unfortunately, no I wasn't impressed with this book... and I REALLY miss being impressed with Stephanie. I love the series, love Stephanie, love Joe, love all the crazy quirky characters that make these books what they are. So, please Janet if you're reading the reviews... I want you to impress me again, I want Stephanie to make me Laugh again! I really missed the laughing!!!!

I loved the series when it first started. I enjoyed the Author's method of writing, and the characters in the book were interesting and well fleshed out. However, it does seem that the last four or five books were based on a base template. So much of the material was the same that I would recheck the title to see if I was reading the newest book. I did feel compelled to read each new release, hoping that the author would be inspired to do something more with the main characters. The romance between the two male leads is stale/non-existent, and the other characters aren’t growing in their parts. The minute changes to her base template no longer hold my interest. I’m done buying this series, and will not purchase new releases unless her writing improves. I may try to catch the next one in the series at the library, as it's a free read there, but I’ll start the book there at the library, and leave it there, if the author doesn't improve the quality of her work.

I very much liked the Between the Plums books. The introduction of Diesel is a refreshing change. He is such an interesting character and I certainly like his bad-boy cousin, Wulf (I could see David Navarro, from Ink Masters, as Wulf). I read the first Stephanie Plum and I'm up to book 10, now. I like the series well enough, and would give the books a 5 star rating, but Stephanie never changes. She doesn't mature or grow with her on-the-job experience as a bounty hunter. I pretty much expect her to destroy her car, drive around in "Old Blue", leave her Glock in the cookie jar, not be able find her stun-gun in her purse, bumble her assignments, and be saved by Joe Morelli or Ranger in every book. Best character in the Plum books is Lula. Between the Plums is a great set of stories. I would recommend it to any Janet Evanovich fan.

My summer of murder mystery madness continues!

Bounty-hunter Stephanie Plum is on the hunt again, in Janet Evanovich's "Three to Get Deadly," and she is out to catch The Burg's most wanted and dangerous "Failure to Appears": drug dealers, murderers, guys in chicken costumes. And poor Stephanie has the battle scars to prove it: she is shot at, knocked unconscious and has her hair dyed (unwillingly) orange.

Janet Evanovich, in this series, has managed to deliver humor along with the suspense, and "Three to Get Deadly" has its fair share of both. Someone is murdering drug dealers and addicts in The Burg, and the killer means business. Stephanie's biggest problem isn't the cops or the actual killer: it's the public. Every citizen is supporting this vigilante, some to the point of taking up weapons to protect him. They send Stephanie their message in a hail of bullets: "Stop going after our hero. He is cleaning up the town!"

Meanwhile, the questions facing Stephanie, Ranger, Morelli, and Lula multiply. Could the kindly, candy store owner "Uncle Mo" be a cold-blooded killer? Will the bodies stop popping up in bizarre ways? Is Stephanie ever going to own a decent car? "Three to Get Deadly" is a top-notch crime thriller while tickling your funny bones. Stephanie has been getting more endearing with each novel, and I can't wait to read the next one! This is shaping up to be a great summer of fun reading.

I have loved the Stephanie Plum series for years. Notice that some violence and some sexual content is present, but it is in such a humorous manner.....not explicit drama type at all. The characters of Evanovich leave you laughing out loud as you read. I even got my husband to read these novels because he always wanted to know why I was laughing. Then I'd have to read to him. Better he read this himself. He did!
If you have ever lived on the east coast, Jersey in particular you will have a great understanding of the attitudes of the characters.
My advice would be to start from the very first novel and read them in order, as you get a great understanding of the characters. I have noticed that they don't seem as funny as they did in the beginning, but after 20+ years of writing about them, it must get more difficult to maintain the original level of humor.

What has New Jersey's bond jumper into now? There are so many twist and turns in the this book you'll just need to read it to believe it. From the "Burg" to Las Vegas. Seems that those she is trying to find end up dead! Why? She begins looking for a bail jumper who is from India who was employed in a factory near the Burg! Why did he also take the family dog with him? This novel is right inline with the other writings that get her going not only with her former high school buddy, but with Ranger, too! Rated "R". Not for those under eighteen. Language and sexual content. DP. Castro Valley, CA.

I'm not a particularly critical reader. I read Stephanie Plum stories for one reason. When I read them, I laugh. Sometimes someone will ask what's so funny and I can read them a paragraph or two. Other times I have to say it's too involved to explain. But, I always laugh. These stories are fun. Yes, sometimes I get frustrated and wish she'd put on her big girl panties and make a decision/commitment, but I can see why she hasn't, too. I just read them to have fun and I always do.

Stephanie Plum is quite the character, someone who appears to be pretty normal yet always on an invisible adrenaline bike pedaling after trouble! I will admit that humor is needed with this type of "crime" writing, it elevates it to a totally different level and it works, this series is wonderful and after starting it I can see why it's so well received. This is still a pretty cool mystery, don't get fooled by the jokes and mishaps, it has a backbone and integrity and even some grit here and there but it's good reading, the stuff you keep coming back to and luckily this series is currently up to book 17 ( Smoking Seventeen 2011) once you start it you want to keep going and to me that's the mark of a good read.

Plum is a bounty hunter but not by choice, more like her rent needs to get paid and her hamster likes a veggie or two for dinner each week, hence the odd job she gets tangled up in. She's no lethal superhero but a human and quite clumsy at times and she knows how to get the bullets flying, too bad that they are right over her own head. Hot on the trail of Uncle Mo (who's the favorite local candy salesman of course!) who is a guy that wouldn't hurt a fly -so the say, a guy that has simply disappeared. Apparently he missed a court date for getting busted with a concealed weapon and many are fearing that he's either dead or worse, gone shooting at the bad guys out there... unfortunately he's connected to the whole neighborhood and finding the culprit would save a lot of uncomfortable questioning. Stephanie is on his tail like a blister trying to catch a heel after a night of danced in strappy stilettos, with her sidekicks and a on and off again love interest she takes the reader on another fun ride, just reviewing this book makes me want to read the next one, very fitting for my 1000th the store.com review :)

- Kasia S.

This book is a suspenseful and hot romantic book! Stephanie got the Vorde curse put on her by Morelli’s grandma and she has a lot of sex with Ranger and Morelli. They keep finding dead bodies that have a note on them that says: To Stephanie! You can’t even imagine who the murderer is.

This was a very entertaining and funny read. Janet Evanovich has a wonderfully witty writing style that gives Stephanie Plum a sassy but also honest voice. Divorcee and jobless Stephanie has been selling off her furniture and appliances to keep from having to move back in with her parents. She is stubborn to the core and a little naïve, which is in part how she ends up as a bounty hunter chasing down her ex-fling Joe Morelli.

The whole book is filled with colorful and engaging characters. Grandma Mazur in particular was an awesome character, she was so funny. Everything she said had me laughing. I loved that every character had their own voice. From the hookers, to the boxer Ramirez, to good cop gone `bad' Morelli, they were all well developed and interesting. This is an adult book with some adult themes, including sex and murder, but I enjoyed that. I was glad that Janet didn't water down any of the issues she deals with.

Stephanie has a lot of great stories to tell, particularly those that involve Joe Morelli, and she also falls into some rather hilarious situations. Anyone who's ever been down on their luck will completely relate with her. She starts out naive, but her character grew as the story went on. By the end of the book she's a much stronger character. I was also glad to see that as she progressed so did the feel of the book. Stephanie's situation may be funny but there is also seriousness and some scary parts that come from her working as a bounty hunter. She's dealing with dangerous people and falls into some dangerous situations.

Over all I found this first book in the Stephanie Plum series a great read, however I did have a few pet peeves. Some of the technology in it is a little dated, which makes the story feel dated (It was written in the mid 90's), but that was easy to look over. What really bothered me was that I loved the interaction between Stephanie and Morelli, however I felt like there wasn't enough of it. I enjoyed reading about Stephanie apprehending various FTA's, but sometimes I wished that Janet had spent a little less time telling me about them and given me more time with Morelli. I was 70% thru the book before he and Steph started working together. At that point I was like `this is what I've been reading for' but the book was nearly over. Morelli is a bad boy and a player, but underneath that he has a soft spot for Stephanie. I wish their partnership had had time to build and be grow stronger. Though I will say, where Janet ended the story left me wanting to read the next one, and I think this is a series I will continue with.

I think Sizzling Sixteen was farmed out to another writer. Understandable, perhaps - writing these must be a real chore after all these volumes - but JE's voice just isn't there. The writing is flat, the events are stale, and the characters don't act like themselves.

Exhibit A: Lula no longer speaks Black English?? Please... I was delighted in the first few pages to see hints we might learn more about Lula - she's been a cartoon for too long - but then she started talking and it wasn't her. No attitude, no fun, no energy, and a collection of platitudes that she would never utter.

Exhibit B: Rehashed material. I don't mean the standard one-liners about Grandpa Mazur going to heaven - those are funny. I mean rehash...(and there are a lot more than the following two examples...) Morelli thinks Ranger is a nut job? Old. Despite the adversarial relationship over Stephanie, they work well together ...they're certainly informal partners, maybe even friends. And then Ranger talks about Steph owing him? He stopped that in Book 8 after they had sex - "there's no price on what we give each other" - which I took to mean no accounting, no keeping score, no owing. And so on.

Exhibit C: Where is the humor? There isn't a single funny scene or wisecrack in the whole book. I didn't even smile, and I usually read Plum novels in private so nobody stares when I laugh out loud. Nor is there much suspense, just a lot of driving around.

I'm glad to see JE has a new publishing house - maybe we should give her the benefit of the doubt and just forget about Sizzling Sixteen.

In fact, here's a suggestion. There is better writing on some of the fan fiction sites (and admittedly worse, too, of course). How about we ask JE to hold a contest? Initially people would submit one page - from that the editors take maybe fifty or a hundred and ask for sample chapters, and finally 5 people to write a full novel. Best one(s) get published. Then she doesn't even have to write the next few.