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Apr. 30th, 2006
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"One for the Money"
Apr. 30th, 2006 10:52 amOne 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.
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.
It occurred to me today that one of the reasons Murphy's been reluctant to use the doggy steps might be their narrowness. As it happens, though, I ordered two of them, so... I assembled the second set and set them side-by-side in front of Murphy's table. The top of the steps is a little lower than the lower edge of the tabletop, so I nailed a board across the table legs to keep the steps from skidding in that direction. (I'll have to do something more to keep them from slipping away from the table, maybe involving bungee cords. The skeleton of the steps is plastic, so I can't just nail them in place.)
Just now, I tempted Murphy out into the garage with a treat. He jumped down and took it; then I went back into the house, with the door open, and offered him another. Lo and behold, he actually took the steps! It took him two tries - he wanted to try to jump rather than put his hind legs on the steps, but the positioning of the steps made that impossible - and the second time he came up. He lost his footing at the last moment and needed a little help, but he's taken, ahem, the first step. It should go easier next time.
This is a great relief. With the jumping trouble he's been having, I've felt a little guilty even leaving him to go to work, and I was worried about my trip to SD next winter; but if he can use the steps, that problem goes away. Now to see if he'll stop pooping in the house...
Just now, I tempted Murphy out into the garage with a treat. He jumped down and took it; then I went back into the house, with the door open, and offered him another. Lo and behold, he actually took the steps! It took him two tries - he wanted to try to jump rather than put his hind legs on the steps, but the positioning of the steps made that impossible - and the second time he came up. He lost his footing at the last moment and needed a little help, but he's taken, ahem, the first step. It should go easier next time.
This is a great relief. With the jumping trouble he's been having, I've felt a little guilty even leaving him to go to work, and I was worried about my trip to SD next winter; but if he can use the steps, that problem goes away. Now to see if he'll stop pooping in the house...