Rating: 
Summary: A Funny Series Fades a Bit
Review: If you were divorced, had made a mess of your love life, were over-dependent on your family and had no gainful employment--you probably wouldn't decide to become a bounty hunter.But that's what Janet Evanovich's hapless Stephanie Plum did six books ago, and this wacky mystery series just gets more popular with each book, though not necessarily better. The first few books introduced wildly improbable situations in a close-knit Trenton, New Jersey ethnic community brimming with eccentrics, where all the women in a beauty parlor were likely to reveal they were carrying concealed weapons. Dogged by gossip, Stephanie couldn't seem to get far without ruining her hair or blowing up a car. It's hard to top the comic invention of those early books, though Evanovich keeps trying. In her sixth installment, "Hot Six" (St. Martin's, $24.95, 320 pp.), she introduces a ravenous dog and two blundering "disorganized crime" hitmen for spice. "Hot Six" is entertaining, but if you loved "One for the Money" and "Two for The Show," you may feel nostalgia for this series when it didn't need dog poop jokes to liven it up.
Rating: 
Summary: NANA LOVES PLUM
Review: I love them all. Just love them. Never a fan of continuing characters in mystery novels, I tripped over the first one in a used book store and have kept coming back for the never ending saga of "Calamity Stephanie" the bounty hunter who cannot shoot straight but can recognize a bona fide jersey girl a mile away. This time Stephanie is plagued by the disappearance of her mentor Ranger, a serial nut who refuses to be brought to justice, two spacey "businessmen" who operate out of a party house, her "big-haired nemesis" and the untimely arrival of her swinging single grandmother who seems older than God and as infamous as Elvis. While Grandma takes driving lessons and sports a new boyfriend, Stephanie tries to decide who she loves and who she can trust as she tails her elusive mentor while questioning his guilt in a mob family murder. All this while paying some attention to her sometimes boyfriend and full time cop, Joe. Great dialogue and wonderful plot twists, as usual. Just read it! My own 84 year old grandmother demands each new Plum tale is Fed Exed to her in her assisted care home. Grandma is her hero. She'll be yours, too.
Rating:
Summary: Plum On The Loose
Review: Stephanie Plum, the skill-challenged bounty hunter, is again on the loose. This time out she picks up two delightful sidekicks (Bob and Mooner) besides Lula her office gal pal. Mooner is a perpetually stoned young man, who might have been introduced before, but I don't recall his being significantly involved in the previous book. Bob is an ingratiating Irish Setter who eats everything in sight. I don't usually find dog poop funny, especially on my lawn or the bottom of my shoe. But Evanovich has written two scenes involving dog poop that had me howling with laughter. One critic wrote that you don't read Evanovich for plot, you read her for her zany cast of characters. But I think her work is getting better; this feels like a stronger construction than the last Plum caper. The characters are zanier than ever, and by the end you hope that they'll all reappear in the next installment, even the villains. There may be better storytellers and more profound writers in the mystery world, but do we have a better comic writer in America today? Years past we had the humorouss essays of Cornelia Otis Skinner, Robert Benchley, and James Thurber, but humor in literature seems to have become a dying art. Evanovich may be on her way to becoming a national comic treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I waited with baited breath for Evanovich's Hot Six to come out this past June. My wait was not in vain. The book was truly a hit. I am generally a slow reader, but I could not put this Stephanie Plum novel down. Evanovich is able to mix humor and suspense and come out with a novel that is entertaining without being too real-life. I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading the book. The characters seem to come alive from the pages. It makes you wish you were the one asleep on the couch when Ranger comes in for one of the many nightly visits. I recommend it to all who love humor, suspense and just the right amount of sexual tension. A book that makes you want more!
Rating:
Summary: A winner!
Review: Janet Evanovich keeps getting better with every book. I laughed through many parts of Hot Six. As a librarian, I have recommended Janet's books to everyone that asks for a good book. Anyone picking up her books should be prepared for a fun time. Her characters come alive and you are right there with Stephanie and Grandma Mazer. Hot Six was a great read. I wanted to read from cover to cover in one sitting. The people that are just now starting to read her books are very lucky. They can read One for the money and continue on. I wish Janet Evanovich luck with number "Seven" - I know it will be another Top 10 book!
Rating:
Summary: A hot read for a hot summer night
Review: I envy the new reader who picks up "One for the Money", Evanovich's first book. He/she has the whole series waiting to be enjoyed. Evanovich's characters are never just good or bad and they're all just slightly off the wall. The criminals are more "Guys and Dolls" than "The Godfather", but they're still nasty. Grandma is a treasure and has become my personal role model for my Golden Years! Throw in a lot of love interest, a little mayhem, and lots of laugh-out-loud humor and you've a another winner!
Rating: 
Summary: Stephanie Plum's Adventures Continue
Review: Although the narrative of the lastest Stephanie Plum book, Hot Six, lacks some of the mystery element of previous volumes, the strong characterizations make it a worthwhile reading. The previous book ended in a cliffhanger regarding Stephanie's romantic decision between Joe Morelli and Ranger, and the reder of Hot Six doesn't have to wait long before discovering who Ms. Plum has chosen. Both Joe and Ranger figure prominently in this book, as does the usual cast of characters, particularly Stephanie's grandmother (who is sharper, and hipper than usually portrayed). The local flavor of central New Jersey, and the humorous detours Ms. Evanovich takes the reader on, make Hot Six an enjoyable read. Ms. Evanovich makes the reader cares for the characters, and the characters' actions and reactions to the surrounding drama makes the novel fly along at a rapid pace.
Rating:
Summary: her best yet!
Review: Each Stephanie Plum mystery is better than the last. This one surpasses them all. Grama Mazur is a real hoot and I was glad to see her get a bigger part. Life is never dull with her around. I am anxiously awaiting the next one!
Rating:
Summary: "Plum" Gets Pluckier
Review: As I wrote in my review of Evanovich's 1st book in this hilarious mystery series, "One For The Money", this woman can create more comedic havoc than senior citizens bumping & nudging their way into some small restaurant, making sure they get that early bird meat loaf special. And that goes for the authoress as well as our New Jersey heroine, Stephanie Plum. Sue Graff has the "alphabet"--Ms. Evanovich has the "numbers". These are fast paced, easy to read, fun mysteries with a cast of characters we feel right at home with. Stephanie is still having car problems. ( AAA's nightmare member) I was laughing so hard when she had to use a "Rollswagon"--yep, half VW, half Rolls Royce. Add a new bounding dog, Bob, who has bad hair days, a whacky maniac Munson who keeps attacking Stephanie with fire, aimed moving vehicles, tire irons--as she tries to bring him in for skipping bail and --whew--let me catch my fingers here-- I think I am TYPERventilating. Any ole hoo, smoldering Ranger is in trouble this time. Crime family Ramos has set him up and plucky Stephanie Plum is there for him--in any way he wishes! You know, I'm thinking this series would work on T.V. And I see Fran Drescher (of "The Nanny" fame) as our lovingly manic Stephanie Plum. The jacket cover is as wild & hot as Evanovich's plots. Great fun reading. Thanks for your interest & comments--CDS
Rating:
Summary: Anxiously waiting for #Seven
Review: I have read all of the books in this series and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. I don't laugh easily but have been known to burst out laughing when reading certain passages about Stephanie Plum and her "posse". The storylines are serious with more than a touch of humor. The characters are interesting and colorful. I was looking forward to the next book even as I finished this one.
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