Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich ★★★☆☆

Still waiting for the climax!

Fiction – Mystery (Cozy)

302 pages

Publication Date:  November 20th 2012

Stephanie Plum #19

When Geoffrey Cubbin, a man headed for trial for embezzling millions from an assisted-living facility, vanishes from the hospital without a trace Stephanie Plum, even more desperate for money than usual, is eager to take up the case.   While contending with murderous senior citizens, a ticked off wife and a crazed homeless man with aspirations toward holiness Stephanie realizes that this case isn’t going to be solved easily, so she takes on a secondary job.  Ranger needs a body guard against an invisible foe and that job comes with its’ own list of problems.  But if Stephanie can survive poisoning, the bridesmaid dress from hell, and Ranger’s enemy turning his sights onto her then maybe she’ll be able to make rent this month.

As usual I was completely lured in by the book jacket blurb and ready for a good time (whoever wrote it is a genius and I would be very interested in having him/her look at some of my query letters – sorry mine sort of sucks in comparison).  At first I found the start a bit slow and stale.  Another car blown up, another junk food stop and I was beginning to wonder if I was starting to lose my loyalty to the series.  But then the story really started to pick up and I was pulled in again.  As the story progressed all of the pieces fell into place and I remembered why I keep coming back, because Evanovich is a good story teller and funny as hell.

After I finished the book I realized, in the whole 20 minutes I devote to thinking about this blog ;) in between doing dishes and yelling at children, while I found the story line great and I liked the ending it was rather anticlimactic.  I think both the Cubbin and Ranger story lines deserved to be more developed than they were.  Where is the pizzazz and suspense of Twelve Sharp; the irresistible need to find out what happens next?  This plot line had so much unfilled promise, kind of like there was a rush at the end to finish it instead of making it great like it should have been.  Also, I am bored with the Morelli versus Ranger thing; it’s time to spice it up.  Maybe Stephanie should move to a more commitment adult-like relationship with a spectacular break up plot device, seems to work real well in TV.  Oh and I really loved Tiki.  I personally have a Chrome Gnome named CG who vigorously protects our living room ( he was originally in my bedroom, but CG really creeped my Husband out, and my well thought out and cleverly worded protests that he was protecting us against giant Lego Darth Vader alarm clock killing us in our sleep did nothing to win him a reprieve).  I liked this book, but it certainly wasn’t one of Evanonvich’s best, sadly it could have been.

ISBN-10: 0345527747

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich ★★★★☆

I like it down and dirty!

Fiction – Mystery (Cozy)

320 pages

Publication Date:  January 1, 1994

Stephanie Plum #1

Literary awards:  Anthony Award Nominee for Best Novel (1995), Shamus Award Nominee for Best First PI Novel (1995), Dilys Award (1995), The Crime Writers' Association New Blood Dagger (1995), Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel (1994)  Edgar Award Nominee for Best First Novel (1995)

Desperation is a great motivator and Stephanie Plum is feeling both desperate and motivated in One for the Money.  Laid off from her job and unemployed for the last six months Stephanie finds herself willing to do almost anything including taking a job as a bounty hunter for slimy cousin Vinnie.  To make things a little sweeter this bounty is for a cop turned murder named Joe Morelli; a man Stephanie has a rather complicate history with.  Sure the last time they met she hit him with her car accidentally on purpose and he may not be too happy to see her, but Stephanie is still almost confident she can handle him.  Even with zero bounty hunting skills, a prize fighter gunning for her and the clock ticking down on her trial week, Stephanie believes she can handle herself, but the question becomes can she handle Morelli too.

Evanovich weaves a sordid tale with a hilarious heroine, Stephanie Plum, who has the tenacity of a bulldog and is incredibly and unapologetically self-aware.  Stephanie is completely lovable, and realistic.  Evanovich has a gift for description whether it’s a person, place, thing, event or emotion, which makes the reader really experience Stephanie’s world.  Through these descriptions the reader is led to understand in an intimate way how Stephanie’s oddball family, the communities of Trenton and her interactions with Joe Morelli shaped her.  Stephanie’s world supported by a cast of colorful characters – Lula(who gains importance as the series moves a head), wacky Grandma Mazur, and mysterious Ranger –takes on a living breathing life of its own. 

I would call this book dirty, but in really good way.  There is nothing clean cut or pristine about it.  This story is completely blue collar and I really liked it.  Usually I’m more into the gentleman thief or savvy investigator type of stuff, but this book was great for the very fact it threw a normal person into odd circumstances and she behaved the way most normal people – with an extra helping of tenacity - would.   I found it very refreshing, smart and sassy and I plan to move right along to the second book.  (I love it when series have been out for a while and there is no need to wait for the next book to come out!)

Side note:  I am now several books into the series and have deemed it worthy enough to add to my Chosen Ones List.

ISBN13: 9780312362089