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Alex Barnaby #2
Motor Mouth
Sequel to the bestselling 'Metro Girl', this title features Alexandra 'Barney' Barnaby. A woman with a little bit of edge, a whole lot of smarts, and an uncanny knack for danger, Barney is back to mix it up with racing bad boy Sam Hooker and battle another set of bad guys.
396 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2006
875 people are currently reading
6464 people want to read
About the author
Janet Evanovich
329 books41.4k followersJanet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O'Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 981 reviews
August 21, 2025
This is a Women's Fiction/Chick-Lit/Humor, and this is the second book in the Alex Barnaby series. I really enjoy just read. It has mystery and it is funny at times. It was a quick read. I always love the characters in Janet's book, and this one was no different.
May 28, 2017
Fast paced, commmensurate with the NASCAR theme of the book. So fast paced you don't have time to recognize the ludicrousness of the events that happen one after the other. But Ms. Evanovich wit is just as fast, and I did enjoy that. And the teasingly sexy parts that never get to fulfillment. A quick light read with some chuckles.
July 11, 2008
First I have to say that I am a HUGE Janet fan. I have all her books and have read and re-read them a zillion times. When Metro Girl came out I was excited... I was not thrilled with Metro Girl, but I liked it. I felt like it was a rushed book, not the greatest but good. Then she started Motor Mouth and kept pushing back the release date so I thought she was really taking her time with this one and it was going to be better. I was wrong! My sister and I bought the book on it's release date. My sister called me later that day to say she disliked it so much she wasn't even going to finish it. It usually takes me no longer than a day to read her books because I can't put them down. This one took several days because I had to put it down, several times. The plot is so unbeleivable and ridiculous and gets more so as it goes on. The dialogue and humor is forced... Everything seems to be recycled from her previous books, right down to the dog, another version of Bob from the Plum series. It is revealed early in the story that Hooker, the hero, has cheated on Alexandra, the heroine of the story. He is so nonchalant about the whole thing you want to deck him... But Alex is just as nonchalant... It just isn't realistic. I wont be rereading this one... And I wont be rushing out to buy the next in the series.
Cherise Everhard, October 2006
Cherise Everhard, October 2006
January 17, 2013
Baltimore mechanic turned amateur sleuth Alexandra "Barney" Barnaby), the sexy bleached blonde and her hunky NASCAR driver and sometime boyfriend, Sam Hooker, stumble into a high-octane misadventure that implicates them in numerous felonies, including multiple murder, breaking and entering, kidnapping, and, of course, grand theft auto. Now working as Hooker's race-day spotter -- and trying to come to grips with the handsome driver's recent infidelity with a salesclerk -- Barnaby guides her former boyfriend to a second-place finish in the last race of the season. But when they come to the aid of a friend who got him-self locked inside a competitor's hauler during the race, they accidentally uncover an illegal high-tech traction control device -- and the fresh corpse of the team's owner. After hijacking the hauler, Barnaby, Hooker, and his 150-pound Saint Bernard become fugitives from justice -- and the real race begins.
Classic Evanovich, I do love style and crazy characters. Rosa and Felicia in both Metro Girl and Motor Mouth are really just the icing on the cake. It's a fun story, recommended reading for all Evanovich fans. I liked book 2 wayyyy more than book 1. ;)
Classic Evanovich, I do love style and crazy characters. Rosa and Felicia in both Metro Girl and Motor Mouth are really just the icing on the cake. It's a fun story, recommended reading for all Evanovich fans. I liked book 2 wayyyy more than book 1. ;)
March 20, 2023
I do like this series. I have to confess it has a familiar feel to it like some of her other series. It resonates some of the stephanie plum vibe to me as well. Regardless, I do enjoy the characters and the flow of the works. I like how Alex is written and how she interacts with the other characters. It is a nice relationship with the reader and feels comfortable. I will definitely be reading more of this series.
December 25, 2024
I enjoy Evanovich’s humor and am impressed that it stays different from the Stephanie Plum stories. Alex and Hooker are fun and the Florida an NASCAR parts are engaging. These stories have more violence but it’s never threatening. I love Beans, the St. Bernard.
July 27, 2023
Just obnoxiously fun listens are the Evanovich books I've had and this is the same. Maybe not as highbrow as I'd like butt... enjoyable.
December 9, 2024
Stephanie plum but with cars. A good fun read though.
February 12, 2012
I liked this one better than the first, it was hilarious from start to finish. Nothing went as they planned with hilarious results(and lots of dead bodies along the way).
I can't wait to start the first of two graphic novels, which just strike me as hilarious for some reason, two books being followed by two graphic novels. =)
I can't wait to start the first of two graphic novels, which just strike me as hilarious for some reason, two books being followed by two graphic novels. =)
October 18, 2020
Barnaby and Hooker are back in a new adventure. When a friend calls Barnaby for help, asking to be rescued after he hides out in a racing opponent's trailer hauling racecars to Mexico, they discover a dead body. As well, somewhere in the racecar is a computer chip that helps cheat during a race. Barnaby and Hooker's attempts to get out of the mess they find themselves in only digs them deeper, and now people want them dead.
This was much more interesting and faster paced than book 1. Though the sexual repartee between the two was more tolerable since they were actually involved after the first book, I still found it irritating that Hooker can't take "no" for an answer. There were a lot more laughs for me in this one, and it was well on the way to a round up from a 3.5, but the ending fell flat. So my rating is 3.5 but rounded down.
This was much more interesting and faster paced than book 1. Though the sexual repartee between the two was more tolerable since they were actually involved after the first book, I still found it irritating that Hooker can't take "no" for an answer. There were a lot more laughs for me in this one, and it was well on the way to a round up from a 3.5, but the ending fell flat. So my rating is 3.5 but rounded down.
November 15, 2025
This second installment in the Barnaby comedic mystery series isn't as good as the first one. Alexandra "Barney" Barnaby is still funny as all get-out and NASCAR champion Sam Hooker is just as pathetic as he tries to win Barney back into his love life.
Barney, now Hooker's spotter on the racetrack, smells a rat. The race leader is cheating, but Barney can't figure out how. Hooker is about to lose the last race of the season, and with it, the championship.
Then things get even more complicated as Barney and Hooker go from one crazy situation into another While it is a funny story, the book pulls the reader into too many disastrous situations. Some are funny, while others are just plain ridiculous.
The good news is that Barney and Hooker do get back together by the end of the book. No surprise there, after all this IS a Janet Evanovich book!
Barney, now Hooker's spotter on the racetrack, smells a rat. The race leader is cheating, but Barney can't figure out how. Hooker is about to lose the last race of the season, and with it, the championship.
Then things get even more complicated as Barney and Hooker go from one crazy situation into another While it is a funny story, the book pulls the reader into too many disastrous situations. Some are funny, while others are just plain ridiculous.
The good news is that Barney and Hooker do get back together by the end of the book. No surprise there, after all this IS a Janet Evanovich book!
August 31, 2019
These books are so much fun! Like Agnes and the Hitman,or Toni McGee Causey's "Bobbie Faye" books. Love the comedy of errors! I only wish there were more in the series. I'd like to read the "Troublemaker" volumes, but I'm really not into graphic novels/comic books- I don't have the patience to read/look at all of that action.
December 31, 2019
I really like Alex and Hooker, perhaps Alex more than I like Stephanie! This was a silly continuation of the first book in the series but the dialogue was much wittier. I am not into graphic novels and since the next two books in the series are graphic novels, I will end my relationship with this series at book #2.
Go Cards! L1C4!!
Go Cards! L1C4!!
January 13, 2021
I loved this book.
Fast paced, action packed, steamy novel.
Loved the characters especially Felicia and Rosa. They were hilarious. It had me chuckling.
I wasn’t expecting something cool in this book but it turned out to be one of the best quick read.
Definitely not high literature but quite enjoyable and funny.
Fast paced, action packed, steamy novel.
Loved the characters especially Felicia and Rosa. They were hilarious. It had me chuckling.
I wasn’t expecting something cool in this book but it turned out to be one of the best quick read.
Definitely not high literature but quite enjoyable and funny.
October 12, 2018
A funny and zanny mystery about a race car driver and his motor
mechanich girlfriend, with his St. Bernard Beans. A dog with a gas problem, who gets dog napped by gangsters, and how with the help of friends rush
all over the country to rescue him.
Debra H.
mechanich girlfriend, with his St. Bernard Beans. A dog with a gas problem, who gets dog napped by gangsters, and how with the help of friends rush
all over the country to rescue him.
Debra H.
January 21, 2020
I was ready for this to be another Stephanie Plum like series. It is, but I guess my tolerance for gross silliness has gone down. After five chapters I just don't care about the characters or story at all. So, I'm giving up.
November 9, 2017
This was a fun book to read. I was a bit surprised that Barney was able to continue working with Hooker even though they were no longer together. A nice escape.
August 11, 2020
Great follow up! Loved it beyond belief. Sent quotes from the book to family and friends. Laughed to hard that my daughter thought I had lost my mind.
April 15, 2025
Easy and quick read exactly what I wanted after a few heavy books. This was an older book but its a true Janet Evanovich, had a few laughs while reading. Didn't realize it was a series, but it didn't matter.
November 27, 2017
This story was just ok but I was entertained.
February 1, 2018
Oh my goodness there was a lot going on in this book and it was too hard to believe that Hooker and Alex didn't end up messed up because of it. Everybody is always trigger happy in these books:)
February 25, 2018
I don't know what happened here. I enjoyed the first book but this one was a nightmare.
Two stars lost for how horrific the character of Hooker is. I'm not sure on what planet any woman wants to read about a woman who still partners with a cheating ex while thinking about how much she's ok with forgiving him. You don't "accidentally" sleep with someone else while "snockered" if you are in a relationship. It's basically every stereotype about cheating men who get away with it because they are good looking and have money, and dippy women who fall for their crap over and over. I just can't condone it. Being that this series was written by a female author, it seems wildly inappropriate for her to encourage her readers to advocate for a man who cheated and was incredibly cavalier about it.
One star lost for it repeating the same scenario. Over. And Over. And Over. The book prattled on for pages but each segment was the same as the last - drive to or from Miami, run into goons, beat up and/or outsmart goons, do something wildly unrealistic that should have been in the hands of police. Even if they didn't actually kill anyone, they did about 100 illegal things that would still land them in jail, regardless of Hooker's NASCAR affiliation.
One star lost for how outrageous it all was. I don't read cozy mysteries because they are completely realistic, but this was over the top. There were just so many stupid scenarios that made the stories beyond implausible that it was borderline unreadable. Single handedly dissecting cars, burying and digging up bodies, the timeline in general, the saran wrapping bodies, the ease of a celebrity evading the law, you get the point.
There's a certain sense in these turning into graphic novels in the next installment. My first thought is "that makes sense, these read like unillustrated and extremely long graphic novels." My second thought is "well, there were only 2 graphic novels before they got canned, so they were probably garbage too."
Two stars lost for how horrific the character of Hooker is. I'm not sure on what planet any woman wants to read about a woman who still partners with a cheating ex while thinking about how much she's ok with forgiving him. You don't "accidentally" sleep with someone else while "snockered" if you are in a relationship. It's basically every stereotype about cheating men who get away with it because they are good looking and have money, and dippy women who fall for their crap over and over. I just can't condone it. Being that this series was written by a female author, it seems wildly inappropriate for her to encourage her readers to advocate for a man who cheated and was incredibly cavalier about it.
One star lost for it repeating the same scenario. Over. And Over. And Over. The book prattled on for pages but each segment was the same as the last - drive to or from Miami, run into goons, beat up and/or outsmart goons, do something wildly unrealistic that should have been in the hands of police. Even if they didn't actually kill anyone, they did about 100 illegal things that would still land them in jail, regardless of Hooker's NASCAR affiliation.
One star lost for how outrageous it all was. I don't read cozy mysteries because they are completely realistic, but this was over the top. There were just so many stupid scenarios that made the stories beyond implausible that it was borderline unreadable. Single handedly dissecting cars, burying and digging up bodies, the timeline in general, the saran wrapping bodies, the ease of a celebrity evading the law, you get the point.
There's a certain sense in these turning into graphic novels in the next installment. My first thought is "that makes sense, these read like unillustrated and extremely long graphic novels." My second thought is "well, there were only 2 graphic novels before they got canned, so they were probably garbage too."
June 19, 2014
I love the Stephanie Plum series. They are formulaic and you always know what to expect but they make me laugh. This is book two in her Alex Barnaby series. Alex trained as an engineer but has somehow ended up in motor racing as a spotter.
From this position, she observes some odd behaviour from Gobbles, the spotter for another team, just before a crash that allows a less talented driver to win and her driver, Hooker, to come in second. She suspects that the team is cheating but she can’t prove it. Then Gobbles phones them to come and rescue him; he has locked himself inside the hauler (the truck that carries the cars and equipment). They think, only way to get him out is to steal the truck and it goes from there into ever more ridiculous territory. The plot is crazy - as in what the heck crazy and there are some amusing supporting characters and some bad guys that are seriously bad, but it reads like a fanfiction alternate universe; as if she wanted to write Morelli and Stephanie in NASCAR racing. There’s a mouthy girl in the wrong job and her ex is a flirtatious womaniser who cheated on her and broke her heart and he has a very large dog that eats all the wrong things including a whole box of prunes. I am sure I have read that before in a Plum novel but can’t remember which one.
I have read other Evanovich novels other than the Plum ones, so I know she can make up other main characters and the supporting cast proves that, too. If it was a different author, I might say it was an amusing read, but because it is just too close to a Plum novel, I feel oddly disappointed.
From this position, she observes some odd behaviour from Gobbles, the spotter for another team, just before a crash that allows a less talented driver to win and her driver, Hooker, to come in second. She suspects that the team is cheating but she can’t prove it. Then Gobbles phones them to come and rescue him; he has locked himself inside the hauler (the truck that carries the cars and equipment). They think, only way to get him out is to steal the truck and it goes from there into ever more ridiculous territory. The plot is crazy - as in what the heck crazy and there are some amusing supporting characters and some bad guys that are seriously bad, but it reads like a fanfiction alternate universe; as if she wanted to write Morelli and Stephanie in NASCAR racing. There’s a mouthy girl in the wrong job and her ex is a flirtatious womaniser who cheated on her and broke her heart and he has a very large dog that eats all the wrong things including a whole box of prunes. I am sure I have read that before in a Plum novel but can’t remember which one.
I have read other Evanovich novels other than the Plum ones, so I know she can make up other main characters and the supporting cast proves that, too. If it was a different author, I might say it was an amusing read, but because it is just too close to a Plum novel, I feel oddly disappointed.
January 1, 2018
1.5 stars
I was listening to this on audio. I still don’t like the narrator CJ Critt but after 4 hrs. the previous day of listening to her, i got used to it. Since i needed something light to listen to at work, i decided to go ahead & do the second one in the alex barnaby series.
I’m a fan of Janet Evanovich. I like the Stephanie Plum series, enjoyed her early romances.
I have been going through her newer series (lizzy & diesel, knight & moon, etc.) which were pretty good.
But this one isn’t good. It’s boring. I didn’t like it.
And it’s also repetitive in the “sexual chemistry/denial” aspect. (ie. The 2 leads attracted to each other, the guy pushing/teasing & the girl putting him off)
Also, the chemistry b/w these 2 characters wasn’t as appealing as in her other stories.
And what was w/all the roaches references??? Yeah…I get it, there were bugs, it’s a city…that’s what happens. IT WASN’T FUNNY!
It was unnecessary to keep mentioning it.
I can see why this series wasn’t continued. It’s subpar compared to her others. And after reading her other books, this one comes off as highly repetitive and unimpressive. The characters aren’t memorable, the chemistry b/w them isn’t as effective as some of her other characters. There’s also only so many oddball character stories w/obvious sexual tension that a person can take.
I was listening to this on audio. I still don’t like the narrator CJ Critt but after 4 hrs. the previous day of listening to her, i got used to it. Since i needed something light to listen to at work, i decided to go ahead & do the second one in the alex barnaby series.
I’m a fan of Janet Evanovich. I like the Stephanie Plum series, enjoyed her early romances.
I have been going through her newer series (lizzy & diesel, knight & moon, etc.) which were pretty good.
But this one isn’t good. It’s boring. I didn’t like it.
And it’s also repetitive in the “sexual chemistry/denial” aspect. (ie. The 2 leads attracted to each other, the guy pushing/teasing & the girl putting him off)
Also, the chemistry b/w these 2 characters wasn’t as appealing as in her other stories.
And what was w/all the roaches references??? Yeah…I get it, there were bugs, it’s a city…that’s what happens. IT WASN’T FUNNY!
It was unnecessary to keep mentioning it.
I can see why this series wasn’t continued. It’s subpar compared to her others. And after reading her other books, this one comes off as highly repetitive and unimpressive. The characters aren’t memorable, the chemistry b/w them isn’t as effective as some of her other characters. There’s also only so many oddball character stories w/obvious sexual tension that a person can take.
May 24, 2020
If you're looking for a zipless, no deep thought or moral message beach read this is it. The protagonist is a female mechanic turned spotter named Barney who works for a blonde hunky Texan/Nascar driver who's name is Hooker and who's car number is 69. They were dating but then he banged a cocktail waitress or was it a clerk? It doesn't matter the female in question is only an excuse for their to be sexual tension (of a junior high school level as in no kissing, no touching, just concern and involvement with a touch of recrimination) and banter between Barney and Hooker.
A lot of the action takes place in Miami. There's a family of Cubans who happen to have an empty warehouse, a spare room and extra food they're willing to share. There's some way that Barney knows one of the matriarchs of the family but it's kind of unclear what the relationship is.
There's micro-technology, murder (of course, it is Janet Evanovich) kidnappings, thugs and gangsters (there's a difference, one set wears suits) lots of B&E and tons of snarky banter.
Not one of Evanovich's better books but then I did finish it so it wasn't all bad. Now that I have finished it I feel like my brain just ate cotton candy and a caramel apple and followed it up with a box of Krispy Kremes. My next book had better have some meat or I'll end up with a cavity, lol.
A lot of the action takes place in Miami. There's a family of Cubans who happen to have an empty warehouse, a spare room and extra food they're willing to share. There's some way that Barney knows one of the matriarchs of the family but it's kind of unclear what the relationship is.
There's micro-technology, murder (of course, it is Janet Evanovich) kidnappings, thugs and gangsters (there's a difference, one set wears suits) lots of B&E and tons of snarky banter.
Not one of Evanovich's better books but then I did finish it so it wasn't all bad. Now that I have finished it I feel like my brain just ate cotton candy and a caramel apple and followed it up with a box of Krispy Kremes. My next book had better have some meat or I'll end up with a cavity, lol.
April 4, 2015
This is my second Evanovich book, the first being Hot Six. And true to form, it has the same wit and charm and zinging one-liners. There is a lot of stuff on NASCAR racing which required a good knowledge of the subject, and which I appreciated up to a point. There are a lot of parallels with Hot Six, that seem to be formulaic.
Amusing Dog - in this one it's a St. Bernard, Beans. (Bob the retriever was in Hot Six)
Horny Man trying to get into heroines panties - in this one it's Sam Hooker, who endeared me with his breezy, Devil May Care attitude.
Going round and round again - in this book, our heros are constantly returning to parking lots of various restaurants and such.
Heroine - Alex Baraby, the heroine in this one, seems exactly like Stephanie Plum, no difference I could tell, so that the both of them are just Evanovich herself.
Crazy supporting cast - in this one, two notables: Felicia and Rosa, the tough Cuban fruit store ladies.
Some of the humor was a bit puerile, like Three Stooges slapstick, notably with the dog. That whole scene about poop was idiotic and not necessary.
Still, overall Motor Mouth does entertain.
Amusing Dog - in this one it's a St. Bernard, Beans. (Bob the retriever was in Hot Six)
Horny Man trying to get into heroines panties - in this one it's Sam Hooker, who endeared me with his breezy, Devil May Care attitude.
Going round and round again - in this book, our heros are constantly returning to parking lots of various restaurants and such.
Heroine - Alex Baraby, the heroine in this one, seems exactly like Stephanie Plum, no difference I could tell, so that the both of them are just Evanovich herself.
Crazy supporting cast - in this one, two notables: Felicia and Rosa, the tough Cuban fruit store ladies.
Some of the humor was a bit puerile, like Three Stooges slapstick, notably with the dog. That whole scene about poop was idiotic and not necessary.
Still, overall Motor Mouth does entertain.
June 25, 2013
I probably would have liked this book better if I actually read it versus the book on tape. I did not care for the narrator at all. Her voices for the different characters were down right goofy. & I feel like I almost should be offended. I have seen many a NASCAR race and interviews and haven't came across anyone that sounded so stupid. Or southern. The narrator tried too hard, I think.
This was just okay. The hijinks were kind of unbeliveable, but it is a work of fiction. But I do think the author did her homework with learning the ends & outs of a racing garage and I was familiar with all the towns mentioned in the book.
I didn't realize this was a series (& this was the second book) until writing this review. I am curious if Evanovich continues on with the NASCAR theme in the series, but I probably wouldn't read (or listen) to them.
One last note - another thing while I have never had Childer's wine, I do like my wine in a gallon box. I guess I am on the low end of redneck afterall.
This was just okay. The hijinks were kind of unbeliveable, but it is a work of fiction. But I do think the author did her homework with learning the ends & outs of a racing garage and I was familiar with all the towns mentioned in the book.
I didn't realize this was a series (& this was the second book) until writing this review. I am curious if Evanovich continues on with the NASCAR theme in the series, but I probably wouldn't read (or listen) to them.
One last note - another thing while I have never had Childer's wine, I do like my wine in a gallon box. I guess I am on the low end of redneck afterall.
June 2, 2009
I must admit, there were some times that this had me chuckling. Mostly I think because I listened to the first Barney novel by Evanovich as an audio-book and I can still hear the reader's voice in my head as Hooker. "Darlin'!"
The further adventures of BArney and Hooker, once again in trouble and once again in Miami. The details about NASCAR tend to bore me, but I did enjoy some of the interplay amongst characters. Discussions on "the man in the boat" and such were amusing. I did have to wonder sometimes why in the heck folks chose the course of action they did, but hey, it moved the plot along. I liked seeing some of the old characters from the first book appear, and enjoyed poor old Beans.
I've not read more than a book or two in the Stephanie Plum series, but this series appeals to my "reading-Lite" side, for when I want something to read without using much brain power.
The further adventures of BArney and Hooker, once again in trouble and once again in Miami. The details about NASCAR tend to bore me, but I did enjoy some of the interplay amongst characters. Discussions on "the man in the boat" and such were amusing. I did have to wonder sometimes why in the heck folks chose the course of action they did, but hey, it moved the plot along. I liked seeing some of the old characters from the first book appear, and enjoyed poor old Beans.
I've not read more than a book or two in the Stephanie Plum series, but this series appeals to my "reading-Lite" side, for when I want something to read without using much brain power.
June 21, 2013
Ok, so I didn't give up on Alex. Janet seems to have figured her out some, so I like Alex even better this time around, although I still have some beef with her. I don't find Alex's new career in NASCAR particularly plausible at all, for example. Surprising even me, Stephanie's transition to bondswoman makes more sense than Alex's engineering background turning her into a internationally-recognized racecar spotter. While I do appreciate the back-and-forth between Alex and her sometimes-boyfriend, Hooker, you could argue that Alex only got her job because she was sleeping with Hooker (who was introduced in the last book and is her BOSS). Just because a woman may have a job a man usually has, doesn't necessarily make her a feminist, Janet!
September 7, 2009
An excellent sequel to Metro Girl the first Alex Barnaby novel. Alex "Barney" Barnaby and Sam Hooker make an excellent pair in these fast paced, action packed steamy novels. Barney is a hilarious, spunky, sassy character full of wit. Hooker is a Nascar driving, Barney loving hottie. The tag team make for a great second novel in the series. Although they stumble and make some mistakes along the way they're not so bad at the crime fighting, mystery solving business. The additional characters Rosa and Felicia in both Metro Girl and Motor Mouth are really just the icing on the cake. Both no nonsense females are hilarious, under the surface real, take no junk badasses.
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