#1 bestselling author Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels are: “irresistible” (Houston Chronicle), “stunning” (Booklist), “outrageous” (Publishers Weekly), “brilliantly evocative” (The Denver Post), and “making trouble and winning hearts” (USA Today). New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is certain of three truths: People don’t just vanish into thin air. Never anger old people. And … don’t just vanish into thin air. Never anger old people. And don’t do what Tiki tells you to do.
After a slow summer of chasing low-level skips for her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency, Stephanie Plum finally lands an assignment that could put her checkbook back in the black. Geoffrey Cubbin, facing trial for embezzling millions from Trenton’s premier assisted-living facility, has mysteriously vanished from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Now it’s on Stephanie to track him down. Unfortunately, Cubbin has disappeared without a trace, a witness, or his money-hungry wife. Rumors are stirring that he must have had help with the daring escape . . . or that maybe he never made it out of his room alive. Since the hospital staff’s lips seem to be tighter than the security, and it’s hard for Stephanie to blend in to assisted living, Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur goes in undercover. But when a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, Stephanie is forced into working side by side with Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, in order to crack the case.
The real problem is, no Cubbin also means no way to pay the rent. Desperate for money—or maybe just desperate—Stephanie accepts a secondary job guarding her secretive and mouthwatering mentor Ranger from a deadly Special Forces adversary. While Stephanie is notorious for finding trouble, she may have found a little more than she bargained for this time around. Then again—a little food poisoning, some threatening notes, and a bridesmaid’s dress with an excess of taffeta never killed anyone . . . or did they? If Stephanie Plum wants to bring in a paycheck, she’ll have to remember: No guts, no glory.
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Janet Evanovich’s Takedown Twenty.
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I began reading the Stephanie Plum mystery series years ago and got through number eighteen around 2012 when I stopped. I am not really sure why, but I was in a reading slump for a few years. When that ended, I didn’t go back… now I’m on a kick to close out all series I used to love so I’m fully caught up. I picked up Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich at the library last week and finished it last night. ‘Why did I stop?’ I asked myself ten pages in when I had to hold my bladder to prevent spontaneous bursting. Maybe it’s a good thing I waited so long as it was like reading the series all over again this time — had me nearly wetting myself a few times! It might be formulaic, but it works.
Stephanie Plum is a disaster. She’s smart and feisty, but she just always gets herself in trouble. That’s why we love her. When it comes to capturing bond breakers, or dealing with her new bestie, Lula, a former ‘ho, to use her terms, you can’t not laugh out loud. Between their trips to Cluck in a Bucket (chicken joint) or misusing guns and shooting people or their own toes, it’s hilarious. I also love the back and forth between Ranger and Morelli, but I know it might get old again soon. Either way, picking the series back up after almost 7 years was a good decision.
In this one, she’s got 3 different perps she’s trying to capture. Evanovich is politically-incorrect and non-apologetic about it — but in a good way. Some might be offended, but it’s done in a way where hopefully it’s not about calling out a certain thing or personality or race / creed / religion / disability / style to make fun of it. That ‘thing’ or ‘person’ being focused on could be ANYTHING, It’s just about laughing at a situation… for instance, Lula the ‘ho is a few pounds overweight or possibly 100 pounds overweight (we never really know) but she constantly gets into situations where her weight poses an issue. Lula herself laughs about it, but there are also a few lines about how she feels great and she looks sexy and she knows she needs to check that she’s healthy and not hurting herself long-term by binge eating et al. There’s a balance. Stephanie does the same thing with her hair or apartment or car being blown up or caught on fire. It’s just about exaggeration. That said, I can understand why someone could get offended and I respect people’s opinions if they feel this can be hurtful in any way. I do not think the author is intending to be hurtful.
Okay, that out of the way… seriously?!?!? how many times is Stephanie gonna get hit with a stun gun? Or think she has a perp only to have them wriggle away. Or be car-jacked? It’s always funny… I could say it’s repetitive, and maybe it is, but at the same time, I’m laughing out loud. I’m wanting to smack her for the stupidity, but I love her. So I enjoy it for what it is… a 3 hour escape that makes me feel like everything in my own world is a whole lot better! 🙂
Love ya, Stephanie Plum! On to #20 next month.
In Notorious Nineteen business over the summer has been beyond slow and Stephanie Plum’s checkbook is running on fumes. Fortunately, felon Geoffrey Cubbin indicted for embezzling millions suddenly disappears from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy operation and Stephanie is hired to find him. When another felon disappears from the same hospital Stephanie is paired up with sexy, dreamy, Trenton New Jersey cop, Joe Morelli. An entertaining and enjoyable read!
If you like Stephanie Plum books, you will like this one.
Love all the Stephanie Plum books.
I LOVE Evonavich! Stephanie, Lula, Connie, Vinnie, Ranger and Morelli are at it again! The bad guys are after Ranger in this episode. Bring on sleuthing coupled with shenanigans and a couple of blown up cars…of course!
Great read
love her writing…..
Fun to read. Hard to put down. Interesting characters. I love and look forward to the Stephening Plum books
I love this series
Love Stephanie Plum.
Typical Stephanie Plum and the usual cast of weirdos, whackos and hot guys! I love to just sit back and enjoy this guilty pleasure—maybe with chocolate and a glass of wine.
Enjoy her characters
I always enjoy her books in this series. I like the characters and there’s always an entertaining twist
I love her Stephanie Plum series. They are absolutely “laugh out loud”.
Love this series.
I love this series! And while I wish Stephanie Plum would pick a guy, it makes it very entertaining that she doesn’t! This series is a page turner that always makes me laugh and root for the good guys to win!
Great book. I never tire of the series. They are always “laugh out loud “ funny.
Another hilarious romp through New Jersey’s streets with Stephanie Plum and her crew. Lula is laugh-out-loud funny and gutsy. Justice is served with humor.
I have read most of Evanovich s books and find they are extremely entertaining. My mom liked them, her friend liked them. My sister and my daughter likes them. It’s pretty good when all adult ages can read them.
I laughed from cover to cover, as I always do when Stephanie Plum is involved.