High Five

Rating:
Summary: Best one yet
Review: I just started reading the Stephanie Plum series last week. Needless to say, I just finished book 5 and am going to buy 6 today.

In High Five, Janet Evanovich explores Stephanie's relationship with Ranger, with Joe, with Lula, and with her family. Same as she does in all her other books. Evanovich mixes humor with New Jersey culture (which can also be mistaken as humor) which livens up the (mostly) boring mystery genre.

When I read One for the Money, I wasn't sure if I really liked the book or not and decided to give the author another shot by reading Two for the Dough.

Each book has a specific plot formula where Stephanie has to to find a missing person, which proves to be more difficult at first assumed. The search for the Failure To Appear (in this case, her Uncle Fred) then leads Stephanie to clues that lead her into deeper trouble and crosses her path with the secret investigation of her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Morelli.

The formulaic plots cause confusion at times with who a character is and which book he or she is from, which might very well be because I read them so close together. Overall, though, the author's consistancy works. I look forward to seeing which (or how many) car Stephanie is going to destroy and how it happens. I like meeting the not-so-normal people that latch on to her through every story (in this one, it is a "little person"). I like Grandma Mazur's outrageous behavior. I like Lula's expressionistic outfits.

So, what makes this one the best so far? Evanovich seems to be getting better with each book, feeling more comfortable and free with the characters, as if she is getting to know them better. This comes across the pages to the reader and leaves you with a feeling of comfort, as if you were with old friends.

I can't wait to read Hot Six to watch Evanovich's writing develop even further.

Rating:
Summary: spectacular read!!
Review: I love crime drama books, And this one takes the cake. At times this book is so funny that you can't even catch your breath. Stefanie Plum is a fantastic charachter, she is so real you can practically see her walk down your street. This book is well written, well thought out and will keep you guessing to the end.

Rating:
Summary: Things are getting Steamy
Review: In this 5th hilarious book of the series, Stephanie Plum is again living up to her reputation as "the bounty hunter from hell," working for her bail-bondsman cousin Vinnie. "Being a bail enforcement agent is sort of like being bare-bottom Barbie. It's about having a secret. And it's about wearing a lot of bravado on the outside when you're really operating without underpants."

As a favor to the family, Stephanie's looking for Uncle Fred, who went to the store 3 days ago and hasn't been seen since. He's 72, has plenty of women (other than his wife) and is feuding with the garbage company. A real cheapskate. But what's really troubling Stephanie are the disturbing photos her aunt gave her of what appears to be body parts in a trash bag. How did Uncle Fred acquire these photos? And why are there now 2 employees of the garbage company dead. And who's this guy who calls himself Bunchy, claiming to be Uncle Fred's bookie and now tailing Stephanie in search of Fred who owes him money?

Steph's also looking for Randy Briggs, arrested for carrying a concealed knife and now FTA (Failed To Appear in court). He's 3-feet tall ("vertically challenged") and has a wicked attitude as he taunts Stephanie, calling her a loser. Also, she's dodging Benito Ramirez, a heavy-weight professional boxer who was involved in Stephanie's first case. She helped send him to jail and now he's on parole, stalking and threatening her.

Meanwhile, things have cooled-down with love-interest Joe Morelli, the Trenton, NJ cop who Stephanie's sort-of loved for years. Joe's wondering if he should be jealous of Ranger, Stephanie's friend and mentor, who she's been moonlighting with for extra money. Flirtations are flying between Ranger and Steph and she's wondering which direction temptation will lead her.

All of our favorite characters are back in this wacky and dangerous adventure, including Lula, former prostitute turned file clerk, and Grandma Mazur, who learns what a stun-gun does. Watch out!