Notorious Nineteen

Stephanie Plum #19

by Janet Evanovich

New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is certain of three truths: People don’t just vanish into thin air. Never anger old people. And don’t do what Tiki tells you to do.

After a slow summer of chasing low-level skips for her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency, Stephanie Plum finally lands an assignment that could put her checkbook back in the black. Geoffrey Cubbin, facing trial for embezzling millions from Trenton’s premier assisted-living facility, has mysteriously vanished from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Now it’s on Stephanie to track him down. Unfortunately, Cubbin has disappeared without a trace, a witness, or his money-hungry wife. Rumors are stirring that he must have had help with the daring escape . . . or that maybe he never made it out of his room alive. Since the hospital staff’s lips seem to be tighter than the security, and it’s hard for Stephanie to blend in to assisted living, Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur goes in undercover. But when a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, Stephanie is forced into working side by side with Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, in order to crack the case.

The real problem is, no Cubbin also means no way to pay the rent. Desperate for money—or maybe just desperate—Stephanie accepts a secondary job guarding her secretive and mouthwatering mentor Ranger from a deadly Special Forces adversary. While Stephanie is notorious for finding trouble, she may have found a little more than she bargained for this time around. Then again—a little food poisoning, some threatening notes, and a bridesmaid’s dress with an excess of taffeta never killed anyone . . . or did they? If Stephanie Plum wants to bring in a paycheck, she’ll have to remember: No guts, no glory.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Chick Lit, Romance, Audiobook, Crime

302 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 20, 2012

About the author

Janet 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.

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't understand why everyone is complaining about the formatting of the books. They are cupcakes for the brain; we know it, Janet knows it, so stop expecting a gourmet meal. Sometimes you just need a funny little fluffer-nutter of a book to rip through in 90 minutes flat and then promptly forget. I will impatiently buy this book in hardcover, love it, and leave it to the maelstrom of eager female family members.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread. I will always love this series!! One of my favorite series! Lula & Grandma M are my Spirit Animals! Happy Reading Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

************ Old Review Below When I Used To Scream Random Thing 🤣😂

I LOVE JANET EVANOVICH AND STEPHANIE PLUM! THIS BOOK IS JUST AS GOOD AS ALL THE REST ACCEPT LULA WASN'T IN IT AS MUCH AS SHE USUALLY IS.. THERE IS A LOT OF LAUGHS AS USUAL, WHICH IS IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AS I DO ALL OF THE PLUM NOVELS. ON TO THE NEXT!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began reading the Stephanie Plum mystery series years ago and got through number eighteen around 2012 when I stopped. I am not really sure why, but I was in a reading slump for a few years. When that ended, I didn't go back... now I'm on a kick to close out all series I used to love so I'm fully caught up. I picked up Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich at the library last week and finished it last night. 'Why did I stop?' I asked myself ten pages in when I had to hold my bladder to prevent spontaneous bursting. Maybe it's a good thing I waited so long as it was like reading the series all over again this time -- had me nearly wetting myself a few times! It might be formulaic, but it works.

Stephanie Plum is a disaster. She's smart and feisty, but she just always gets herself in trouble. That's why we love her. When it comes to capturing bond breakers, or dealing with her new bestie, Lula, a former 'ho, to use her terms, you can't not laugh out loud. Between their trips to Cluck in a Bucket (chicken joint) or misusing guns and shooting people or their own toes, it's hilarious. I also love the back and forth between Ranger and Morelli, but I know it might get old again soon. Either way, picking the series back up after almost 7 years was a good decision.

In this one, she's got 3 different perps she's trying to capture. Evanovich is politically-incorrect and non-apologetic about it -- but in a good way. Some might be offended, but it's done in a way where hopefully it's not about calling out a certain thing or personality or race / creed / religion / disability / style to make fun of it. That 'thing' or 'person' being focused on could be ANYTHING, It's just about laughing at a situation... for instance, Lula the 'ho is a few pounds overweight or possibly 100 pounds overweight (we never really know) but she constantly gets into situations where her weight poses an issue. Lula herself laughs about it, but there are also a few lines about how she feels great and she looks sexy and she knows she needs to check that she's healthy and not hurting herself long-term by binge eating et al. There's a balance. Stephanie does the same thing with her hair or apartment or car being blown up or caught on fire. It's just about exaggeration. That said, I can understand why someone could get offended and I respect people's opinions if they feel this can be hurtful in any way. I do not think the author is intending to be hurtful.

Okay, that out of the way... seriously?!?!? how many times is Stephanie gonna get hit with a stun gun? Or think she has a perp only to have them wriggle away. Or be car-jacked? It's always funny... I could say it's repetitive, and maybe it is, but at the same time, I'm laughing out loud. I'm wanting to smack her for the stupidity, but I love her. So I enjoy it for what it is... a 3 hour escape that makes me feel like everything in my own world is a whole lot better! :)

Love ya, Stephanie Plum! On to #20 next month.

[Renee Roz · Rating 3 out of 5]

on the list only because i've invested more than enough of my time on this series...what's a few more hours??? will stephanie finally decide? not a chance in hell. and i really think it's time to let go of the whole "Morelli/Ranger/Stephanie sexual tension" nonsense. that went away about 7 books ago - now it's just sexual stupidity, with a side of slut. but who am i to judge. but honestly, that theme is older than grandma mazur for crying out loud - give us a new character or something to care about. As always, i'm sure our heroine will blow up a few cars, lose an elderly FTA out a second story window (multiple times), fall down more than a toddler learning how to walk, trek her granny to the funeral home so she can pry open another closed casket before attacking the complimentary cookie table...all the while steph will pound down more of her usual hip-widening donuts while greasing up whichever black, super-cool car Ranger lends her this time with her Cluck-in-a-Bucket fried chicken fingers. and as always, i will read all about it just like a slew of other people out there. but should anyone be so inclined to want to save some time and money, you can mail me a check for, say, $5.00 because you basically just read this entire book right here and you didn't have to wait in the hold line at the library, go to the store to buy it, borrow it from a friend, wait for the mailman to deliver it or download it on your Kindle or Nook and regret it in the morning like you would had you gone out on a bender and pounded down a few bottles of wild turkey. come on, janet, give us something to work with here - entire wars have been fought and diseases have been cured in less time than it's taken stephanie to make up her mind. take me back to a time when i liked these characters and when i laughed and had fun reading these books. as of late, it's almost like i see the new book coming out and it feels more like those books that your teacher used to make you read. you know you have to get it but at the same time, you kind of wished you didn't.


UPDATE: yep, I read it. Thank god for public libraries. This series has run its course and its time to end it. Looking forward to the heist and something fresh and new from this author. Seeking closure on morelli/ranger, just pick one for crying out loud!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notorious Nineteen (Stephanie Plum, #19) by Janet Evanovich

Synopsis /

New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is certain of three truths: People don’t just vanish into thin air. Never anger old people. And don’t do what Tiki tells you to do.

After a slow summer of chasing low-level skips for her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency, Stephanie Plum finally lands an assignment that could put her check book back in the black. Geoffrey Cubbin, facing trial for embezzling millions from Trenton’s premier assisted-living facility, has mysteriously vanished from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Now it’s on Stephanie to track down the con man. Unfortunately, Cubbin has disappeared without a trace, a witness, or his money-hungry wife. Rumours are stirring that he must have had help with the daring escape . . . or that maybe he never made it out of his room alive. Since the hospital staff’s lips seem to be tighter than the security, and it’s hard for Stephanie to blend in to assisted living, Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur goes in undercover. But when a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, Stephanie is forced into working side by side with Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, in order to crack the case.

The real problem is, no Cubbin also means no way to pay the rent. Desperate for money—or maybe just desperate—Stephanie accepts a secondary job guarding her secretive and mouthwatering mentor Ranger from a deadly Special Forces adversary. While Stephanie is notorious for finding trouble, she may have found a little more than she bargained for this time around. Then again—a little food poisoning, some threatening notes, and a bridesmaid’s dress with an excess of taffeta never killed anyone . . . or did they? If Stephanie Plum wants to bring in a pay check, she’ll have to remember: No guts, no glory. . . .


My Thoughts /

I'm slowly but surely making my way through this series. Book #19 of 30 - with book 31, Now or Never in the series currently due for publication, November 2024.

Now, unlike Forrest Gump's mum, who said 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get'; Notorious Nineteen, goes by the same formula as all the previous books in the series - there are no surprises. Many would argue that if you are getting nothing new, why continue? Well, for this reader, it's the fact that there will be no surprises that keeps me coming back. To put it in context, if you are doing a road trip and find a nice, clean, soaped stocked public toilet facility, you'd go back to that same one when you were next travelling by, right(?). This series is a nice, easy read. The plot is light on, the comedy is campy and over exaggerated, the heroine is a hot mess, and the supporting characters range from drool-worthy to downright wacko. The dialogue is witty although a little rambling at times (except for Ranger, whose use of the singular word 'Babe' seems to have 18939836756 meanings), but the heart wants what the heart wants, and mine is firmly in the 'yes' camp for this series.

Vinnie posted bond for Geoffrey Cubbin, a fraudster who is now FTA after embezzling $5 million dollars from a retirement home. When Cubbin goes missing from the hospital in the middle of the night, Vinnie is understandably nervous and sends Stephanie out to track him down. Finding a multi-million-dollar fraudster who somehow walked out of hospital after major surgery should be easy, right? Well, it turns out it's not so easy for our intrepid bounty hunter and her spandex loving sidekick Lula. It's a double mission - find Geoffrey Cubbin and find the missing money.

True to form, you only need to get as far as page 8 before Plum's car explodes: …the rocket went wide of the Escalade and blew up my car. There was a moment of silence, then both cars roared away.

Then there are things to learn: “The doctor’s name is Craig Fish,” Connie said. “I got his name from your grandmother. She’s plugged into the Metamucil Medicare Gossip Hotline. I'm secretly hoping this is a 'thing', because I might need it in my old age.

Many supporting characters make a return in this one, there is also plenty of chicken to be gorged, and a wooden Tiki carving has a mesmerising effect on Stephanie.

I'm so ready for book #20.

[Regina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Check out this review and others like it at BadAssBookReviews

2.5 stars. I started this book with a lot of hope. But ultimately, it was the same as the earlier books. This book is not great. It is more of the same, but it does have a few laugh out loud moments. I feel like I should explain where I am coming from on this series. I don’t happily or easily give this book a low rating. The Stephanie Plum series now has 19 regular novels and several “in between” novellas. The first book was published in 1994 (1994!) and Ms. Evanovich is still writing about the same character — Stephanie Plum, bail bondswoman. While Stephanie’s clothes may have changed and the accessories she carries are different since the first books, Stephanie is surprisingly the same character she was in the first book, with small changes. Stephanie hasn’t aged, she hasn’t matured, she eats the same foods, has the same hamster as a pet, has the same familial relationships and the same job. 19 years later and the character is static. I am a long time reader of this series, while not having started in the 1990s, this series is one of the first series as an adult that I read and one of the first books in audio that I listened to. To be fair, I moved on to other series and was excited to learn that there were more to books than classics, literary fiction, mysteries and crime fiction. I can attribute my learning that lesson to Janet Evanovich. I will always love classics, literary fiction, mysteries and crime fiction but I am a woman that likes variety in her books and I am constantly genre jumping.

I began listening to the Stephanie Plum series around 2004. I was hooked after the first book – light, funny and unlike anything I had been reading all of my life. I would rush to the library and look for the next in the series and within weeks I had read/listened to all the available Stephanie Plum books. Then, I began waiting for the new releases in the series and buying them in hardcover. Janet Evanovich didn’t disappoint. She published a new book every year and often released season novellas involving Stephanie Plum. I bought them all. All. Brand new and in hardcover. My relationship with Stephanie Plum is one that I invested time and money in. I kept hoping, wondering — would Stephanie make a choice? It had to be Ranger, right? Right? He IS the fantasy, isn’t he? What would Lula do in the next book? Would Stephanie ever learn how to shoot her gun? Would Lula ever lose weight? Would Stephanie ever choose a guy? Would Stephanie ever have more sex with Ranger? And my waiting for the answers to these questions spanned years, a decade, and my waiting marked a decline in my interest in this series.

Herein though, lies the problem with this series. Stephanie never makes a decision. Stephanie never matures. The original depth and quirkiness of Stephanie and the side characters, like Grandma Mazur and Lula, have become caricatures of their original characters. It is almost as if somewhere around book 13, Ms. Evanovich decided to focus on only the elements of her characters that she thought readers liked and the result was characters without any depth and who merely repeated the same actions over and over again. Lula wants — fried chicken. Grandma Mazura wants — some action and tries to get it by attending funeral homes. Stephanie’s mom is — an alcoholic (when did that happen?). Ranger says “Babe”, all the time and has a lot of cars. Morelli is — horny, likes to eat and wants Stephanie to quit her job. And during all of this, Stephanie wants two men, sucks at suspect apprehension and continues to have her best relationship with her hamster Rex. She continues to attend family dinners where pot roast, stuffed peppers, meat loaf, roast beef and other old fashioned standards are served. So around book 13 or 14 I stopped buying these books and started checking them out from the library. I stopped having hope and excitement for each book and started realizing that each book only brought the same story again and again and again …… It wasn’t that I didn’t like these themes, because I do, I did. But the constant repeat of the identical themes and story lines in each book was boring and frustrating.

I did not finish Smokin’ Seventeen (2011), I just couldn’t. So I put it down. And I didn’t read Explosive Eighteen (2011). So I cannot tell you if Notorious Nineteen is better than the last two books. What I can tell you is that it offers nothing new from the other Plum books and I was able to read it without confusion having not read the previous two books. I knew who the bad guy was and why he was doing it. From the beginning of the book, I knew what happened to the missing bond target.

So what does Notorious Nineteen offer readers? Bob steals Morelli’s food. Grandma wears funny clothes. Lula eats a lot of food. Grandma wants to help with the investigation. Ranger calls Stephanie “Babe”. Several times. Stephanie is not good at being a bail bondswoman. Inconceivably, Ranger hires Stephanie to help him with a dangerous job. Does Stephanie bring her gun to this job? Nope, she leaves it at home. Stephanie’s mom drinks a lot. Stephanie’s dad seems uber focused on fried chicken. Stephanie is late on the rent. Stephanie is hot for Ranger. Morelli is horny. Grandma and Lula are almost interchangeable. There is humor based on old people, short people and fat people. Stephanie wants to get married and (again) notes that Ranger is not the marrying type. There is some sort of oddly placed acknowledgement that the food they are eating clogs arteries and at least once, Stephanie opts to have a salad. And some odd philosophizing by Stephanie where she wonders if carrying guns and using guns is contributing to violence. I say these things are odd, not because I disagree with the sentiments but because they are just sort of inserted in. The best moment of this book is a scene at a nude beach involving Lula, Stephanie and their bond target that they need to apprehend. I admit to laughing out loud several times during this scene. Thank you Ms. Evanovich for that nudey beach scene.

There are three car bombings/fires in this book. Not just one, but THREE. Ranger’s reaction? He says, “Babe” and provides a new car. Remember Joyce? Remember why Stephanie’s marriage fell apart? Well, I think Stephanie forgot. She is now in a relationship with Morelli yet kisses Ranger and lets him fondle her breast. Let me be clear. Ranger is my preferred “hero” in this series and I have no problem with a character who makes her own sexual choices but that is not what Stephanie is doing. She makes a choice to be with Morelli, he believes they are seeing each other exclusively and she just drifts into Ranger’s arms (while on a job) — without making a choice because his hotness apparently overwhelms her.

Ms. Evanovich, I know you have a successful formula with these books. Fans have enjoyed this series now going into its third decade. Thank you for everything you have given us. But please, please let’s have some story line advancement here. If I wanted to read the same story again and again, I would just pick up an older book in the series. As it is, I won’t be back until I hear from other readers that the next books in the series (because I know there will some) have some character progression.

Readers who were happy with the last few books, will likely enjoy this book. Readers who have been frustrated with this series should probably give Notorious Nineteen a pass.

[Lani · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of the same. Time for a bit of growth and decisions.

[L Y N N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a note: I totally LOVE the fact that Stephanie has BOTH Ranger and Morelli in her life! Personally, I never want her to choose just one to be "involved" with! I think it would destroy much of what makes this series work so well! I love the interplay and tension...

Although I read this book on the date of release (as always with an Evanovich "Plum" release!), am just now getting to post my review.
I was a bit disappointed in what I considered to be a lack of details about Grandma Mazur's undercover work, but this book was an entertaining bit of escapism, as are all the books in this series! I just love these characters and am always so disappointed that it will require a wait until there are more of these installments to read!

[Chy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate myself. Not because I read this book. No, see, it's more like the fact that I read this book is evidence that I obviously hate myself.

No growth. No change. I don't really expect either of those things to happen, but I keep hoping.

And as much as I hate myself for admitting it, Stephanie Plum stuffing a body into a car trunk is still funny. None of the rest of the reoccuring themes are still funny, but I did laugh at that one. I'm sure it wasn't all to do with the beer. (And it won't be funny the next time. Hear me, Evanovich? Just because I laughed twice doesn't mean I want to see it over and over and over and over again.)

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second Review
All though I love the series, and this book was no less funny, I was waiting for something different. It is finally time for change, Stephanie has to finally decide who wants to have a relationship with.



First review
I have loved this series from the start. I have read all eighteen books and I can wait to read Notorious Nineteen.

Chapter One had me laughing out loud, good thing I was home. With this series you have to carefully choose where you are going to read, because people are going to be staring out you each time you laugh.

Hopefully in this book some important issues would be resolved, mainly who is Stephanie going to choose.

I'm on team Ranger.

Can't wait for next months teaser on October 1.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THESE BOOKS!!! Always! Any time you want a book to raise your mood and have a laugh, these are the books for you.
Reread -- again June 2016. Still love it! Randy Brigg and Digger. Funny!

Reread June 2018 — Steph works closer with Morelli which means she solving his case for him. And Ranger has her involved with a revengeful killer. But the worst part for Steph? A bridesmaid dress from Barbie’s HookerHouse. The best part of this book? Ranger in a tux! (Take some time to imagine that but remember to breathe) *sigh*

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hadn't yet been reading the Audible Audio Edition of Notorious Nineteen for eight minutes when bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's latest car gratuitously gets blown up. I should have realized that that was an omen.

It's all gotten so hackneyed. The exploding cars, the eternal tug between sexy and dangerous Joe Morelli and sexier and more dangerous Ranger, the slapstick apprehension attempts. Lula and Grandma Mazur, both of whom used to be comically eccentric, have now descended into idiocy. Really it's gotten too trite to even merit being called cliché; we're now to inanity.

Author Janet Evanovich has so many co-writing projects going on -- with Charlotte Hughes, with Leanne Banks, with Dorien Kelly, with her daughter Alex Evanvovich -- that she no longer spends the time it takes to produce a well-crafted mystery novel. Even if Evanovich delegates most -- probably, all -- of the writing to her partners, that still leaves a lot to do in terms in juggling all those series with regard to the publisher, publicity, marketing, etc.

I threatened to give it up after the abysmal Eleven on Top, but I somehow stuck with it, and Evanovich redeemed herself with Twelve Sharp. But it has been up and down ever since -- although nothing has been as dreadful as Eleven on Top -- even this. Notorious Nineteen's two mysteries -- one involving a vengeful figure from Ranger's shadowy Special Forces past and another involving a vanished embezzler -- are a little better than Evanovich's most recent warmed-over fare, raising this lackluster novel to two stars from one. However, the madman chasing Ranger seems a deus ex machina to drive the bridesmaid plot, while the illicit organs thread seems incredibly contrived. If you don't have anything else to read in the house, then turn to Notorious Nineteen.

Now that Evanovich is just phoning them in, I think I'll stop answering the call. I'm done!

[Brandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are my go to happy books! Never let them end.

[Ariel · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is no reason to review the plot because at this point it never changes. I think it was Hard Eight where Stephanie finally sleeps with Ranger that the series jumped the shark. The real mystery is why I keep reading this drivel. Another mystery I ponder is how Evanovich gets away with selling books that are basically paint by number. This is mind crack and I need to quit my addiction. Is it too much to hope that book twenty will finally resolve some things. Please? It's enough to drive this Jersey girl insane.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a humor/cozy mystery/chick-lit, and this is the 19th book in the Stephanie Plum series. I have listen to this whole series on audiobooks, and the narrator of the audiobooks does a great job on this book. All the books in this series will make you laugh so much, and I will say the way to read these books is by audiobooks. All the characters are so fun and developed. I love this series so much. Stephanie Plum always gets into big messes, and she will make you laugh so much.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Ho-Hum stars! Pick me Joe, pick me!!! I want you!!! Ranger can have Stephanie! Just let this end already!

A few funny moments, but it's basically the same old stuff. Unfortunately it's my need to know who Stephanie ends up with that keeps me coming back to this series. I love Joe, but now I'm starting to wonder how dumb he might be. I think he's been shot one too many times. Stephanie's not all that great and he keeps coming back for more abuse from her. He seems to like getting dumped by her and it doesn't bother him that she has Ranger in her back pocket. He barely reacts to it anymore.

I'll take you Joe. You have a good job, a nice house, a cute dog...we could make magic together!!

Let's call it a day JE and move on to something else...you're killing me here!

[Jilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever heard the expression, "I may be easy, but I'm not cheap"? I'm thinking this is Stephanie's motto these days and it pissed me off.

Ranger tells Stephanie that he is going to an event and needs a date who will watch his back. So, how should she respond?

A) Of course I'll help you, Ranger. You have saved my life over and over again and you are constantly giving me cars and help whenever I ask. It's the least I can do.

B) I'll help you, but I won't sleep with you because I am in a committed relationship and don't want to cheat on someone like I was cheated on back when I was married.

C) No, I won't help you unless you pay me, and maybe I'll let you touch my boob.

A normal, unselfish asshole would pick "A", but Stephanie picks "C" and makes Ranger PAY HER to help him out!


Ranger's budget...

On the bright side, maybe Stephanie will be a better prostitute than bounty hunter, because she is absolutely a terrible bounty hunter. After all these years you would think there would be even a little bit of improvement, but she continues to make the same stupid mistakes over and over again.



In this book, we also learn that her boyfriend-that-she-cheats-on, Joe Morelli, is a pretty lousy cop too. They have a mystery with missing patients from a hospital that is so obvious that I figured it out within the first couple of sentences, and yet Morelli has no idea what is going on until they are hit in the head with the answer - literally. Morelli even gets in a situation where Ranger has to come to his rescue too. It is pretty pathetic. Although, maybe it is a sign that he really is the right guy for Stephanie. They are both losers.



But still, I will keep reading these books whenever I need something light and mindless. They still make me smile and I'm still on Team Ranger.


This guy was picked as Reader's Choice for Ranger.... I can get behind this pick!

[Jac (For Love and Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Last year when I discovered the Stephanie Plum books, I read the first twelve in 8 days! I was in love, I couldn't get enough. Now, I'm just reading because I feel obligated and for the most part? I'm not even really enjoying them.

Character development stopped at least five books ago, with nothing new or unexpected since then. The whole Ranger/Steph/Morelli bit is getting really old, and to be honest the only reason I'm still reading is waiting for one of them to pick! (At this point, I'd even be happy with Morelli and Ranger saying "Screw Steph!" and moving north to New York to marry each other.) Heck, even Lula and Grandma Mazur were painfully boring in this one.

I marked this one two stars, only because I am still madly in love with Ranger, and the scenes with him alone carried this one. That, and I have a soft spot for Tiki's.

So my recommendation? If you haven't read the first ten or twelve Stephanie Plum books? Grab them, they are great! (I'd say five stars on half of them!) But if you're not a loyal fan? (Or even if you are?) Save your money and your time. This one isn't worth it in the slightest.

[Blossom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A real slow starter but picked up toward 43% of the book. I can say it was the same ole, same ole. I liked 18 as it looked like the story might finally be moving along but nope...at the beginning of 19 we are back in the same plot rut.

I thought okay finally Stephanie is going to be working with Morelli. This could bring back the dynamics of book one. It didn't happen, in fact this book made Joe look even more of a moron than before. It's pretty bad that Ranger has to save them both! Ranger does so much for her and she treats him like dirt, especially in the first part of the book. He has to pay her for having his back when he is in the trouble! What the...?!? How many times has he saved her life now? You can now add him saving Morelli's too. What does he get out of this? He has to really love her because only love can be this blind!

There was nothing new in this book. It's all been done before in all the previous books of the series. The only thing is now I have a even more dislike for Morelli who goes off on Stephanie after some psycho tries to kill her and she bursts into tears. He then compares her to his dog! OMG! What a keeper there! Ranger would never do that to her.

It's obvious she has chosen Morelli for reasons I'll never understand. He's an idiot and verbally abusive. She still needs Ranger to save her from trouble every time she's in a fix and like a lovesick puppy he does.

I had the mystery figure out right away. There was nothing to keep the suspense other than the psycho trying to kill Ranger and his buddy.

I'm not sure what to think of the ending. I think 20 should be the series finale or a major plot change because this series is growing stale and old. Not to mention both male romance interests are really looking pathetic now after this book. For someone like me on Team Babe it's really sad to see it come to this. Ranger deserves someone better!

Three Stars because I did laugh through some of scenes with Tiki. It had a Ranger subplot and Joe looked more incompetent than ever.

[Sari · Rating 5 out of 5]

i could read one of her books every day. like ice cream for my brain.

[Tori]

I am so over this series, I don't know why I bother to continue reading these books. Oh yeah, I just remembered. Ranger and Morelli. At least I've wised up enough to get them from the library.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 - maybe 2.5 stars
Recommendation: If you want to read this book DO NOT BUY IT. Get it from your library or a friend. It's simply not worth the money.

Hmmm... In books 16 & 17, Stephanie walked the wild side, with uninhibited language and sex; lots of rude, crude, crass, and over-the-top, even for Stephanie Plum. In book 18, it took forever to get the story of what really happened in Hawaii - especially between Ranger and Morelli. And the story left us hanging - me with the idea that Steph was going to end up pregnant and unsure who was the father. I swore that if that happened, I was DONE with this series forever.

So, in a huge way, this book was a deciding factor for me as to whether or not I continued with the series. I *loved* the early Plum days and most of the in-between books. I was hoping that Evanovich would scale back and bring the laugh-out-loud funny, the swoon-worthy sighs, and the ditzy Plum that we've come to know and love.

Evanovich scaled Stephanie Plum back, all right. Into an almost dry, boring, non-entity. Suddenly, Steph is trying to be a one-woman gal to Morelli, despite lots of Ranger temptation. Oh yeah, I guess the not-so-subtle hint in Ranger's note left with the bottle of champagne is supposed to keep us hanging once again. 'Cuz with Morelli injured and on pain pills (not much of a spoiler, since Morelli seems to get injured a lot these days), we're led to believe that Ranger's going to try to change Steph's mind and give in to him. Gee. What a nice guy, huh?

I don't remember laughing once while reading this book. I definitely didn't laugh-out-loud. I think I did several eye-rolls.

You see, this story is just... boring. There's the weird subplot with a skip and a stolen Hawaiian tiki named, originally enough, Tiki. There's a missing skip who went missing from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy, which is supposed to be the main mystery. And then there's Ranger, who "needs" Stephanie to pretend to be his date at a dinner that turns into her becoming the Maid of Honor for someone she barely knows; Ranger and his groom-to-be pal are receiving coded threats from someone who has to be a member of their former secret military group. So of course, only Stephanie can assist Ranger. *eye roll*

The solution to the main mystery is so easy and so obvious that it was hard to keep reading. I mean, c'mon, how clueless can these people be? Even Morelli, who ends up involved in the case, is clueless. Morelli is so much wallpaper, fading into the background. He's become the "safe" choice for Steph - settled into his aunt's house with Bob, his dog. Making lots of noises about not liking how dangerous Steph's job is, which is SO original for him. Not like he's not made these same noises since book 1? And taking Steph for granted. He's not pummeling Ranger for using Steph; yes, they've come to some understanding about keeping her safe. But Morelli, just sitting back and allowing Ranger to sidle up close to Steph? Making lots of comments about perhaps loving her and proposing to her... talk about sex & heat between them, but no real sex scenes - just later mentions of gorilla sex. WHAT HAPPENED? How did Morelli become so... boring? Staid? Almost unsexy?

The funniest stuff in the book has to do with Tiki, who supposedly talks and influences people for the worst. And trust me, it's not all that funny. OK, maybe THE funniest is when Morelli's car gets blown up. Still... not that funny.

Ranger's pal? The one who's after him? Lots of incidents, but only a very brief, weird, and very quickly over scene with a tiny bit of torture and lots of just plain insane. Over. Just like that. Huh? And another HUGE eye roll for Ranger and his Rangeman crew. With all the sophisticated toys they have, they can't find this guy? And Ranger's supposed to be some super-bounty hunter? Really?

Even Lulu, who can usually be counted on for the funniest lines and actions in the books, is boring. A lot of Cluck-in-the-Bucket and donuts get eaten. And that's different because....??? Hardly a mention of her wardrobe. OK, the funniest Lulu lines are when she's advising a skip busted on soliciting on how to be a better 'ho. Still not all that funny.

What can I say? I almost wish the book would have been controversial... made me angry... made me laugh... made me CARE! The story was dull. Dry. So-so.

I read in an online article that there are supposed to be 3 more Plum books - this one being the 1st in a 4-book contract. Can I put up with 3 more stories like this? NO WAY, especially not at these prices.

I refuse to purchase the next book. I might read it, ever hopeful, but I won't purchase it.

IMO, Evanovich was done with this series at book 15 or so, maybe earlier. Why it continues is beyond me. Lizzy & Diesel are much more interesting, at least for now. And Evanovich has started at least 2 more new series, 1 book in the late 1800s and one involving an FBI agent - each series co-written with someone else.

So give us ONE LAST BOOK and let the Steph, Ranger, and Morelli fade into the background. ENOUGH ALREADY!

[Christopher Febles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I plan for Steph’s nineteenth novel to be my nineteenth of the year?

Uh…yeah. Sure, sure I did. Just like Steph never plans for her car to get blown up.



This time, she’s looking for Geoffrey Cubbin, wanted for embezzling millions from a retirement home. He went to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy and never came out. Plus, she’s “helping” Ranger protect a fellow Special Forces comrade…by being his date at a wedding. And one of her skips left a tiki idol as collateral on his bond…and it seems to control her behavior.

Now, I’d call these spoilers, but if you’ve read any of these books or any of these reviews, this list of plot devices is simply the checklist of goodies you can find in any Stephanie Plum novel:

• Her car blows up/catches fire
• The car Ranger loans her also catches fire (and maybe someone else’s)
• She eats huge dinners at her mom’s house
• Grandma Mazur gets into some trouble
• Someone pays the price for calling Lula “fat”
• Cluck-in-a-Bucket, the donut shop, Pino’s Pizza

There’s a great scene where she breaks down after all the destruction in her wake, and Morelli’s there to take care of her. That’s sweet. I like what’s happening between them, but I know it won’t last. That’s what makes it fun and sexy! But the spice seems to have gone PG after some steamy scenes in novels 1-9.

The new characters are great: not all likeable, but complex and interesting. For the first time, some of the plot developments and mysteries were hard to follow, and how she deals with a skip seems out of character. But with each novel she seems to get more and more competent, and yeah, there’s a little dumb luck, but we see more of her ability in getting her man. And there’s a great section where she considers why she hasn’t sought another job: she likes the thrill.

So do we, Steph!

Oh, and great audiobook work yet again from Lorelei King!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this yesterday during my long car ride home, and it was was a terrific traveling companion. I always love reading about Stephanie Plum and her sidekick Lula, her two paramours Morelli and Ranger, Grandma Mazur, and the funny, crazy exploits these characters get involved in, and listening to the audio version this time was just as much fun. The gal who read it for the recording (sorry, can’t remember her name) did a wonderful job with all the different voices. What a wild and crazy ride this story was (ie talking tiki gods, exploding cars, etc) making my ride much more enjoyable. A good addition to the series.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid addition to the series. I am yet again amazed by Evanovich's ability to keep us invested in the Stephanie - Morrelli - Ranger love triangle. Grandma Mazur and Lulu continue to shine. Good thing Stephanie has the blue Buick to fall back on as she is a magnet for explosives. Wish I could have seen a photo of her in the dress for the wedding.

[Haley]

i need to re-read this series!! and think with a clear head instaed of a team ranger one lol

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's be honest. If you've read one Stephanie Plum book, you've basically read them all. The general plot points are always the same. Stephanie and Lula go out roaming the streets looking for skips. The skips always manage to escape, so Stephanie and Lula resort to eating chicken and donuts. Undoubtedly, Stephanie's car somehow always manages to get blown up. Since Stephanie never has any food at her own apartment, her mother makes dinner and drinks her special "iced tea" simply to make it through family time. Stephanie's grandmother does some investigating on Stephanie's current skip case and creates havoc (usually, but not always, at a funeral home). And, of course, no Plum novel would be right without the ongoing highly sexual love triangle between Stephanie, Morelli, and Ranger. Basically, no spoilers to anyone who has read any of the first 18 books in the series.

Yet, I always find myself drawn to these books. They're fluff fiction but so much fun. I always find moments where I am laughing out loud as I read the ongoing antics between Stephanie and Lula. For some reason, the repetitive makeup of the books never seems to bore me. The books are easy reads and require only one or two sittings to finish. They require little thought and are great stress relievers. Light hearted and cute, I will continue to read each Plum novel as it's released.

[Mal Warwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enough, Already! An Open Letter to Janet Evanovich

Dear Janet (if I may be so bold),

Maybe it’s me, but I doubt that. After you’ve written — what is it? 50? 51? — novels all told, I think you’re losing steam. Notorious Nineteen is, of course, the 19th in your Stephanie Plum series, and it shows. Here are a few of the most prominent signs:

Not one but two cars Stephanie is driving are blown up;
Lula consumes at least 8,000 calories of junk food in a single day;
Ranger rescues Stephanie from imminent death not once but twice;
A really bad guy gets blown up trying to kill Stephanie; and
Morelli and Stephanie still aren’t ready to get married after talking about it for 10 years.

Truth to tell, some of this is funny as it happens, which is why I kept reading this series of comic novels so long. But the humor is fast fading, and so is the guilty pleasure I’ve taken so long in this series.

I don’t know about you, Janet, but I’m ready to put Stephanie out to pasture at last. Appearances notwithstanding, she’s really pushing 60 now, right? Isn’t it time to lay off the staff on that assembly-line writing factory of yours and see what you can do on your own again?

Think about it. You may not be able to write anything original, but you won’t know unless you try, no?

Your erstwhile fan,

Mal Warwick

[Amanda Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the first few pages and I am hooked already! Stephanie & Lula...you ladies still shock me and keep me laughing! Ready for the book to come out already!!

[Rhonda]

I have been hooked from the start. I can not get tired of them. I have never been able to just bust out laughing while reading a book until I found them. Janet evanovich is best author EVER!!!!! In my opinion anyway....