TO THE NINES by Janet Evanovich
The adventures of Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, continue in Janet Evanovich's TO THE NINES. Ms. Plum and her wacko family, nutty friends, and off the wall romantic involvements; have taken Evanovich to the top of the best seller lists with eight previous stories. Number nine is no exception to the rule. This is Stephanie's most outrageous adventure yet!
The book opens with Stephanie being assigned the task of finding a Mr. Samuel Singh. He is an illegal immigrant for whom her cousin and boss, Vinnie, has posted bond. She is assigned the case along with Ranger, the rough and tough co-worker who has an eye for her. She returned the eye in a previous book but now she is trying to stay true blue to Morelli, a cop she semi loves.
Once she starts tracking down Singh she starts meeting people who later turn up dead. Then she begins to get ominous messages by e-mail. Ranger becomes her protector and Morelli is having fits. All Stephanie wants to do is stay alive - and possibly find Singh.
The book explores the neighborhood of New Jersey where Stephanie lives and works. It also branches out and takes her to Las Vegas where there has been a Singh sighting. Co-workers Connie and Lula go with Steph on this trip and it gets crazier than you would expect.
The characters in this book are larger than life and beyond belief. They are also hilarious. This doesn't get in the way of the solid mystery at the core, and that makes for totally good reading material.
Fun and fear are the hallmarks of a Plum story and in this one she is dressed to the "nines" for looks and adventures. With Lula by her side, and Morelli and Ranger backing her up, Stephanie goes full speed ahead into solving the mystery of the missing Singh. And by the time it is over you and she are "plum" tuckered out.
If you are an Evanovich fan you are going to have a ball with this book. It is crazy writing and plotting at its best.
TO THE NINES is published by St Martin's Press. It contains 312 pages and sells for $25.95.