Rating: 
Summary: Viva La Stephanie!
Review: In this fourth outing of the so-far-fabulous Stephanie Plum series, Janet Evanovich is in perfect form--and so is her dippy bounty-hunting heroine.Why do these books work so well? The mysteries are entertaining, but certainly not edge-of-the-seat suspense. The endings are more or less foregone conclusions. The plot twists and turns can only be called improbable, if not impossible. Put them all together, and you have the most entertaining, well-written, often hilarious, always amusing set of silliness. I challenge anybody to read this book, for instance, without at least one loud, inappropriate, uncontrollable guffaw! On to the plot: Stephanie takes on what looks to be a simple, straightforward case, the apprehension of a first-time offender named Maxine. But of course Stephanie's cases are NEVER straightfoward, and Stephanie is soon embroiled in a mystery that features chopped-off fingers, a grisly scalping, counterfeit money, several fire-bombings, and some new characters who are funny enough to do serious damage to your insides as you laugh yourself sick. In addition to the much beloved regulars: Lula the ex-hooker (in fine form as always), the taciturn Mr. Plum (who actually has a speech that lasts more than a sentence in this book!), Grandma Mazur (who should be declared a national treasure), and the gorgeous, sexy, Morelli (not much of Ranger in this book), we now have Sally, a hefty transvestite who stands almost 7 feet tall when decked out in full regalia (including stiletto heels). Sally has a problem, though: he refuses to shave his ultra-hairy legs, arms, and chest, and often has trouble with his mascara. Need I say that Grandma Mazur just loves him? Then we have Sugar, Sally's gay roommate, who buries his anxieties in frenzies of baking. All-night baking. Cover-the-counter with 8 million cakes and cookies baking. Sugar has an unrequited crush on his straight but cross-dressing roommate. Hence the baking. I could go on and on....but I don't want to introduce any spoilers. Here's a hint, though: We see much more of Morelli than we have in the three previous books. hehehehehehehehhe Wait up, Lula! Keep your pleated plaid skirt on, Candy! I'm on my way back to the burg! On to Book 5!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A Plum Good Read
Review: This is my favorite Stephanie Plum novel in the series thus far. I laughed myself hoarse reading about the adventures of Stephanie, Sally, Grandma, and Lulu when they hit the road hot after their woman. Whether Stephanie is describing Joyce's relations with her ex-husband or speculating about where Maxine is headed, she does it in style. Stephanie may go through a few cars on her way to nabbing her woman but it's an occupational hazard for a bounty hunter, right? Okay, maybe it's only an occupational hazard for Stephanie since Ranger seems remarkably able to keep one set of wheels. Grab this book for those days when you need a good laugh. You'll soon laughing out loud at Stephanie's antics, Grandma's comments, and Lulu's tough talk while enjoying new characters you'll want to keep visiting again and again.
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Summary: Stephanie Kicks...[but] in more ways than one in this book
Review: The author has really hit her stride in this 4th book in the Stephanie Plum series. The books have been consitantly enjoyable, with a heroine who has good instincts, but is otherwise about as 'ordinary' as the rest of us, and who unlike some other people, hasn't let the job title 'bounty hunter' go to her head. It's the people around Stephanie who make her stories so memorable in a way. Her crazy grandmother Mazur, Joe, the gorgeous cop sort-of-boyfriend, the drag queens and her mortal enemy Joyce and Lula the ex-ho filer. In this book stephanie gets what looks like a simple pick up for a lady named Maxine. It leads to arson, murder and sex. I'm really enjoying this series. While these books can be read independatly (the titles have numbers in them to give the order), they are best read in sequence to appreace references to past events. Extremely worthwhile crime fiction, I can now see why everybody raves about them.
Rating:
Summary: Never a dull moment
Review: Janet Evanovich's character, Stephanie Plum has, without a doubt, the greatest capability of going from one situation to another, without even taking a deep breath. I have enjoyed reading every book I've gotten my hands on so far - am reading "Four to Score" now, and will not be disappointed in this effort. Very entertaining - Stephanie's Grandma is a kick also.
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Summary: Total blast once again!
Review: In this episode of the life of Stephanie Plumb, bounty hunter, we get to be introduced to a new character added to her short list of friends. Sally, a male cross dresser with much style and no grace helps Stephanie with the codes that are thrown at her when she is put on a new case. She must find Maxine, a small town waitress but a seemingly easy search turns out to be a web of mystery and a treasure hunt involving Maxine's ex-slime ball boyfriend. And behind her back, her "boss" and cousin Vinnie also lets the marriage wrecking wanna be bounty hunter Joyce take the case. So, with the help of Lula, her almost fearless friend, they must get to Maxine before Joyce does. In the meantime, Stephanie's apartment is caught on fire and she must turn to...(drum roll please)...Joe Morelli for a place to stay until her apartment is fixed. We do not get much Ranger in this "episode" but we get plenty of our beloved Morelli. And who can argue with that?? I have not read any mystery novels quite like this series and it disapoints me to know that I am getting closer to the last books!! The characters are so colorful and wonderful that you can't help but feel connected to them as if you are involved in their lives as well!! I recommend this series and I guarantee if you like silly, off the wall mysteries, these books will NOT disappoint you. Happy reading!
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Summary: THROW AWAY YOUR ANTI-DEPRESSANTS
Review: Laughter is always the best Medicine.. Stephanie Plum is the greatest anti-depressant I have ever come across.. I guarantee at least 2 giggles per page with fast moving action you can't let go of. I Prescribe you read at least one Janet Evanovich book per week.. If you live in a Senior Complex like me try to do it in the day time so you don't wake the neighbors with your laughter. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND and cant wait for " Seven Up" Miss Evanovich's next offering.. =0)
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Summary: Sharp, witty, a bit OTT, but fun
Review: OK, so maybe I shouldn't have started reading this series at this book - Number 4, but I was introduced to this series having just read all the Alphabet crimes (by Sue Grafton) - and four was the only one available. So for those of you who are wondering whether to start at the beginning of the series or not - I can tell you that you might miss out on character development, but you don't miss out on a great story. Stephanie Plum is a bailsbondsman - not a very good one - but not entirely bad either. She seems to be in her mid-twenties, confident, funny and she makes a great central character. She lives in New Jersey, works for her cousin Vinny "looked like a weasel, thought like a weasel, smelled like a French whore and was once in love with a duck", and seems to have a bad habit of having her cars blown up. I was a bit put off by the opening few pages - probably my fault for not reading the first few books in the series - I just didn't like Stephanie at first - but then the story got pretty catchy and by half-way through I was hooked. Stephanie Plum is on the track of Maxine Nowicki, who has jumped bail over what seems like a pretty minor crime. No one seems to know where she is, and Maxine's family seem to be turning up with missing digits, and scalps - pointing to something a little more sinister going on. Stephanie knows Maxine is alive, she's even seen her, but Maxine is playing an odd game of tag - sending her ex-boyfriend coded messages for him to follow. No one is sure why - all Stephanie can do is figure them out and follow the clues to track down her fugitive. On Stephanie's side is a 6 foot plus tranvestite, a 200 plus pound ex-prostitute, a hunky but mysterious bailsbondsman called Ranger, and Morelli - a policeman with whom Stephanie has had an on-again off-again relationship for years. Stephanie also has to fight off arch-enemy Joyce Barnhardt, who has decided to be a bailsbondsman too and is hot on the trail of Maxine Nowicki - threatening to snatch her from under Stephanie's nose. Once you add in Stephanie's family and Janet Evanovich's marvellous over-the-top sense of humour you get a really catchy little story that rocks along with great good humour. I didn't really care if the case got solved in the end - it was just such a good romp. I'm not much of one for blood and guts but this one rates pretty low on that scale. Its not devoid of some yucky stuff but it doesn't dwell on it either.
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Summary: Not as fast-paced as ..., but....
Review: After reading the ... series, I thought this series was alittle slow on the action. I don't understand how people could comparethis series to the ... series. Although it is lacking in action itmakes up for it in witty repartee and amusing sexualinnuendo. Stephanie Plum is your average girl turned bounty hunterwithout any special talent, but loaded with dumb luck. Although herluck can be stretched at times, the author makes note of that andincorporates it into the dialogue.That's what kept me reading. It'sinteresting and definetly one of my favorite series(next to ... , ofcourse). I definetly recommend this series for those of you who like agood mystery and a good laugh, but for those hard-core action fans,this might not be the series for you. END
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Summary: Stephanie and her merry band of nut cases are at it again!!
Review: I've been reading Janet Evanovich's books backwards (from Six to Four - so far) and it seems to work just fine. I prefer hardcover books and I found this one on the discount table so I was able to indulge two of my desires at the same time for less than paperback, i.e., a hardcover book and a Stephanie Plum story. All the characters are certifiable, everyone seems to be toting a gun of some kind and description and the pages just keep turning until you hit the end. These books are pure pleasure and should be approached as such. I will keep looking for One Two and Three in the used book stores. So should you if you haven't had the pleasure as yet.
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Summary: Stephanie is just Plum fun!
Review: I came late to this series, but I have enjoyed every minute of catching up. The Stephanie Plum/Joe Morelli relationship allows for more comic riffs in this book, as the various members of the Morelli clan run through pre-wedding rituals. The usual cast of characters (and they are, indeed, "characters") is joined by a new gem: Sally Sweet, the cross dressing "regional" rock star. It's not often that I laugh out loud while reading, but Janet Evanovich has me to the point where I have to read about Stephanie's exploits at an earlier hour because I'm waking other family members! This is a good fun romp through the wilds of Trenton. Do yourself a favor and join it.
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