"One for the Money"

[stoutfellow]

One for the Money is the first of a series of detective novels by Janet Evanovich. The protagonist, Stephanie Plum, is a thirty-year-old divorcee who, as the book begins, has recently been laid off from her job as a discount lingerie buyer. Struggling to find a job in economically-depressed Trenton, NJ, she finally (and reluctantly) latches on with her cousin Vinnie, a bail bondsman. The filing job she came about has been filled, but there's always a need for skip tracers. Her first big task ("assignment" is the wrong word; Vinnie tries to keep her away from it) involves a cop accused of murder. The cop is an old - what? "Friend" doesn't do it; neither does "enemy", nor yet "acquaintance" - named Joe Morelli, and more than a match for her novice bounty-hunting skills. Not, however, for her determination, as she stumbles into the middle of his own investigation, involving - well, I won't say more, so as not to spoil it, except to mention the psychopathic boxer and his pathetic manager...

It looks to be a fun series. Stephanie's growing pains, as she tries to get used to her new profession, provide much of the interest; obviously, that can't continue for too long into the series, but I'll take it while it lasts. She's no Nora Charles, nor a Miss Marple either, coming as she does from a gritty blue-collar ethnic background. She's not an Amazon, though; when she gets in over her head, she panics (as anyone normal would), although not so much as not to get out again. Her relationship with Morelli seems likely to play a major role in future books; it's too complicated to describe in a brief review, but it's more than a little amusing.

I'm definitely going to continue with this series.

Comments

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

Stephanie Plum is pretty good, IMO, up to about book 9. Book 10 was ehhhh, and I haven't read 11 because I'm waiting for the paperback. Which should be here soon because 12 is getting ready to come out in hardback.

I think Hot Six and Seven Up are the best entries in the series.

The humor takes some getting used to in places, but I think what oilhistorian may be referring to in part is that a lot of the Grave Danger to Our Heroine ends up being the sort of danger that makes people say, "How come this kind of thing only happens to YOU?". That, and the supporting characters that come up slightly later in the series are freaking hilarious. Grandma Plum is a BIG one.

And I love Joe Morelli, but maybe that's just me.

DV

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

the supporting characters that come up slightly later in the series are freaking hilarious.

I haven't met Grandma Plum yet, of course, but Grandma Mazur is worth the price of admission.

Thanks for the tips!