I haven't given up on this series yet. I am still enjoying it...even though yes it is following the exact some plot format as the rest of the books. Here is the goodreads description:
New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice), and nobody wants to turn him in—not his poker buddies, not his bimbo girlfriend, not his two right-hand men, Shorty and Moe. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game, because—just Stephanie’s luck—the godfather is his actual godfather. And while Morelli understands that the law is the law, his old-world grandmother, Bella, is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail.
It’s not just Uncle Sunny giving Stephanie the run-around. Security specialist Ranger needs her help to solve the bizarre death of a top client’s mother, a woman who happened to play bingo with Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur. Before Stephanie knows it, she’s working side by side with Ranger and Grandma at the senior center, trying to catch a killer on the loose—and the bingo balls are not rolling in their favor.
With bullet holes in her car, henchmen on her tail, and a giraffe named Kevin running wild in the streets of Trenton, Stephanie will have to up her game for the ultimate takedown.
Stephanie Plum is again on one of her little bounty hunter heists. She still is mixed up with two loves Ranger and Morelli. Now while normally I can't stand that she messes around with these two guys in this book she does OK. Though honestly I don't know why she just doesn't chose Ranger. He has money, a great job, and seem like he might commit (in this book people finally start calling him Batman). On the other hand we have Morelli who doesn't want to commit. This plot line I think needs to be moved along. When you are twenty books in .. normally I want to see the main character get forward in life. Stephanie is now in her 30s, wants kids, wants a good job, wants a grown up house, wants a working car. I just want her to get something good in her life!
I just can't seem to quit this series. Yes it's not the best literature ever... but it makes me smile and laugh. The books are very short which is all I need really. I always end up waiting forever to get it from the library. I start at like #300! So people love these books. At least there is no monkey in the book this time... there is a giraffe instead. For some reason.. I actually enjoyed the giraffe. I usually get annoyed when there is some odd animal added into the series, but I thought the giraffe was funny. Just saying.
One thing that disappoints me in the books is that Stephanie is never the one to actually catch the big fugitives. She always has to get help. I don't know why but that annoys me. Really she should not be a bounty hunter. I read that Evanovich is contracted for 22 books... so will the next two books be the last ones? Probably not. But here's kind of hoping. I read through all the reviews that others have done and it seems a lot of people are feeling the same way.
The crystal ball says:
Fog is coming..... in the middle of the road on this book!
Here is my review of Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
I've never read this series, but I do know quite a few people that have kept going with it because they've loved it from the start. I have been with a series though when it's about time for it to come to a close so I understand the feeling. I think it would bother me that she didn't catch the baddies all on her own. I gotta say that I'm intrigued that Ranger is called Batman and that there's a giraffe though LOL. Great review! Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.
ReplyDeleteLOL... well then I am glad I intrigued you. I do think that the series stopped having new plots like around books 6 or 7. She should rap it up soon.... but they are so popular that I bet she keeps going and makes the money. I suppose eventually I'll quit. Eventually.
DeleteYou cracked me up with your comment about not being able to quite this story. I am glad despite the same formula that it still makes you laugh :)
ReplyDeleteIt's like crack... I just can't stop!
DeleteI am so glad to find someone who feels the way I do about this series. I can't quit either. Despite all the reasons I should. It is like a cookie cutter story. But it makes me laugh each and every time. I honestly was hoping book 20 was going to be the end.
ReplyDeleteI just want her to end up with Ranger already, but hey if she doesn't want him I will gladly take him! He is way sexy. Besides he is the only one who supports her stupid decision to remain a bounty hunter. But I agree she should not be a bounty hunter. She sucks.
But like you I will keep reading, but I do hope for an end....soon.
I wonder how Janet's other series are? I know she just came out with another one. In fact there was a chapter one at the end of this book though I didn't read it. Sometimes I wonder if she uses a ghost writer since she publishes several books a year. Then I think of Stephen King who pushes out 2 1000 page books a year so it can be done.
DeleteThis series is fun and a light read. I always want Stephanie to get her life together.. she reminds me a little of myself (not in the relationship department though!LOL).
I agree with you. This series isn't great literature, and I think it's not as good as when it first started, but for some reason I can't stop reading it!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently waiting for Takedown Twenty to appear at my library, so I can't say much more, but your view of the series as a whole is spot on in my opinion.
Sarah
I had to wait forever to get the book from my library too. That is why as soon as it came in I read it right away. I knew that I wouldn't be able to renew it. Also... as soon as I finished I returned it right away. I know a lot of people are waiting on it so I feel bad keeping it for an entire 3 weeks when I read it in a few days.
DeleteI understand your frustration. There are a few television shows that I keep hoping will be canceled, so I don't have to watch them anymore. :)
ReplyDeleteHAHAH! YES THIS! I too have a few shows... Glee. I put so much dang time into Glee that I just have to finish it out.
DeleteHaha! So... I'm actually one of those people that has stopped reading this series. I don't think I purposely did it. I think it's because I got behind in the series somehow while taking AP English courses. & I ended up not picking it back up. The last book I read was Fifteen, I think.
ReplyDeleteI DEFINITELY want to see how this series ends. I may wait for Stephanie to finally make some decisions in her love life before I pick it up again. As I've changed as a reader, love triangles bug me more than it used to. So I don't know if I could handle Stephanie being with both guys in the same book. I do miss how hilarious and fun it was though. Definitely will pick it up again eventually.
I feel like I have kind of aged at the same time Stephanie is. So as I age and mature I want to see her do the same. I want to see her get her priorities together and I want her to be successful at her job. I am always bummed that she really can't handle the cases she gets. I suppose though it is still fun for me to read and I can finish it in a couple hours so there's that. One afternoon and done!
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