Lean Mean Thirteen, Janet Evanovich-Book Review

Bouncy and perky Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter from Trenton, is in perfect form with this funny mystery. In "Lean Mean Thirteen" Stephanie is busy apprehending FTA's and trying to prove her innocence. She had an altercation with her X-two timing husband, Dickie Orr. He ended up missing with blood and bullet holes in his residence, Steph was the suspect. This leads to a search for Dickie, but Steph is not the only one looking for him. With Joe Morelli, her on and off again Trenton cop boy friend, on a special job, Ranger is looking after Stephanie. She is a handful with trying to get her FTA's and her living the life she does with family ties and just good friends. Dickie was tied to a firm of shady men who were into drug running and money laundering. Dickie overheard the plan to get rid of him , take the millions and flee the country, but Dickie was able to divert the money. His cohorts thought Steph knew all and started to go after her. Evanovich has Stephanie apprehending FTA's, escaping from the bad and trying to live a peaceful life. Is Stephanie ever going to grow up? One should learn from past experiences, but that is what puts the humor in the stories.

Plum Lovin', Janet Evanovich

This is a short story to hold readers through until the 13th Stephanie Plum book comes out this summer. The main character is the lovable Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter from Trenton, NJ. She is trying to apprehend Annie Hart, a relationship expert, who was falsely accused of a robbery and shooting. Steph was in her kitchen when approached by Diesel, also a bounty hunter. Steph was startled by his presence and said "Why don't you knock?" he only smiled. Diesel told Steph that if she would help him with his task, he would deliver Annie for the bounty she was after. His task was to unite several lonely hearts for a fine Valentine day, she agrees.

Evanovich is at her best with the humor and antics. The laugh is the traditional encore in her books and a good mystery to keep everything in focus. The reading is quick, funny and enjoyable.

Stephanie travels through out Trenton to mend broken marriages, start new relationships and help out with a 30+ year old virgin. Lulu and Steph's grandma add to the humor and contribute to a fine conclusion.

Motor Mouth, Janet Evanovich

Evanovich has started a new series that stars Alexa Barnaby, Barney. If you are a fan of NASCAR, the story holds its own. Barney has a degree in engineering and loves tinkering with race cars. She belongs to the racing team as a spotter for Sam Hooker, the driver. Barney and Hooker had a relationship but after Hooker was caught cheating, things cool down. At the final race, Hooker was second and the winner was suspected of cheating electronically by Barney, but the NASCAR inspection team found no wrong doing on the Huevo car. Barney gets a call from Gobbles, a spotter for Huevo, who was locked in the Huevo 18 wheel hauler. He suspected wrong doing also. In trying to rescue him, Hooker and Barney end up stealing the hauler to get Gobbles free only to find a dead plastic wrapped Oscar Huevo. This leads to a humorous journey with Felicia and Rosia, friends of Barney, coming to the rescue. Beans, Hooker's St. Bernard, is a humorous addition to the story, along with Hooker's attempts to get Barney back in the sack. With several dead and the bad guys after Hooker and Barney, the journey leads them to the Carolina's and back to Miami. Humor is Evanovich's strong point,the mystery is weak, but Evanovich has produced a good story that keeps the pages turning.

Three to get Deadly, Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter from Trenton, NJ. takes on her third story, "Three to get Deadly". She is given a case to apprehend Mo Bedemier, a local candy store owner in the Burg, who is loved by all. Stephanie did not want the case for Mo was a saint and not capable of wrong doing, but he was a FTA and it was her job to bring in the wanted. Things start out with Stephanie gathering info but turns into her finding murdered drug dealers. The theory was Mo turned into a vigilante, but the truth goes deeper. Evanovich has the reader laughing on every page, and includes Stephanie's old cop friend, Morelli and Ranger, bounty hunter extraordinaire, and Lula, a new employee at the agency, active throughout this story. The laughs keep one going but the mystery is weak. The humor overrides the mystery which leaves a very good book for one to digest...

Two for the Dough, Janet Evanovich

"Two for the Dough" is a funny story by Evanovich about Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter from Trenton, NJ. She is trying to apprehend Kenny Mancuso for shooting his friend in the knee but failed to appear for court. Stephanie thought this was going to be a simple apprehension, but it got more difficult when the friend was found dead from mulitble gunshot wounds to the head. Stephanie, joined by her grandmother Mazur, attend the viewing of the deceased at a mortuary run by Spiro, another friend of Kenny, and got another task of locating 24 caskets that were stolen from Spiro. Stephanie keeps running into her old friend Joe Morelli, cop on the vice squad in Trenton, and wonders why he has such interest in Kenny. Morelli said he was looking after family, for Kenny was his cousin, but Stephanie thought there was more. Stephanie was warned to stay off this case by receiving mutilated appendages from deceased at Spiro's mortuary. This only sparked anger in Stephanie!

Janet Evanovich writes a good and humorous story with a plot that thickens as you go along. The mystery holds its own right to the last page and the ending is good. Stephanie is a warm and loving family member and grandma Mazur plays a funny role in this story. This story is a fast read and easy to understand...

One for the Money, Janet Evanovich

"One for the Money" is the first book about Stephanie Plum from Trenton, NJ. Stephanie is out of work and down to her last dime and her Miata has been repossessed, but she is determined to stay independent. She goes to her cousin Vinnie for employment and becomes a bounty hunter. She new nothing about self defense and the apprehension of criminals but was desperate for the good money she could earn. Her first target was Joe Morelli, a cop on the force who was framed for a murder. He was also a high school flame of Steph who stole her canoli at age 16. There was history with these two! In searching for Morelli, Steph runs into a psychotic boxer Ramirez, who has threatened her with bodily harm and rape. Stephanie has brought in a couple FTA (fail to appear)so with her money she buys a weapon and other things she might need. With the threat from Ramirez, she learns to shoot and plans to take a self defence course. The pursuit of Morelli turns into a humorous onslaught of happenings that keep the story flowing right along. Evanovich keeps the reader laughing with spontaneous humor and a good story line. The mystery is good and unfolds as the story progresses, but the ending was the way I figured it would be. The story is easy to read and am looking forward to another episode, there are 12 in all, good series.