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Stephanie Plum #29
Going Rogue
8 hrs. 8 min.
Stephanie Plum breaks the rules, flirts with disaster, and shows who’s boss in this “fast and fun” (Publishers Weekly) thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich.
Monday mornings aren’t supposed to be fun, but they should be predictable. However, on this particular Monday, Stephanie Plum knows that something is amiss when she turns up for work at Vinnie’s Bail Bonds to find that longtime office manager Connie Rosolli, who is as reliable as the tides in Atlantic City, hasn’t shown up.
Stephanie’s worst fears are confirmed when she gets a call from Connie’s abductor. He says he will only release her in exchange for a mysterious coin that a recently murdered man left as collateral for his bail. Unfortunately, this coin, which should be in the office—just like Connie—is nowhere to be found.
The quest to discover the coin, learn its value, and save Connie will require the help of Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur, her best pal Lula, her boyfriend Morelli, and hunky security expert Ranger. As they get closer to unraveling the reasons behind Connie’s kidnapping, Connie’s captor grows more threatening and soon Stephanie has no choice but to throw caution to the wind, follow her instincts, and go rogue.
Full of surprises, thrills, and humor, Going Rogue reveals a new side of Stephanie Plum, and shows Janet Evanovich at her scorching, riotous best.
Stephanie Plum breaks the rules, flirts with disaster, and shows who’s boss in this “fast and fun” (Publishers Weekly) thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich.
Monday mornings aren’t supposed to be fun, but they should be predictable. However, on this particular Monday, Stephanie Plum knows that something is amiss when she turns up for work at Vinnie’s Bail Bonds to find that longtime office manager Connie Rosolli, who is as reliable as the tides in Atlantic City, hasn’t shown up.
Stephanie’s worst fears are confirmed when she gets a call from Connie’s abductor. He says he will only release her in exchange for a mysterious coin that a recently murdered man left as collateral for his bail. Unfortunately, this coin, which should be in the office—just like Connie—is nowhere to be found.
The quest to discover the coin, learn its value, and save Connie will require the help of Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur, her best pal Lula, her boyfriend Morelli, and hunky security expert Ranger. As they get closer to unraveling the reasons behind Connie’s kidnapping, Connie’s captor grows more threatening and soon Stephanie has no choice but to throw caution to the wind, follow her instincts, and go rogue.
Full of surprises, thrills, and humor, Going Rogue reveals a new side of Stephanie Plum, and shows Janet Evanovich at her scorching, riotous best.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 1, 2022
5790 people are currently reading
21530 people want to read
About the author
Janet Evanovich
313 books40.9k 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 3,920 reviews
November 10, 2022
***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***
I haven’t read a Stephanie Plum novel in quite a while but I wanted something entertaining and easy to read.That is what I got with this installment and I was pleasantly surprised!!
While I had thought some of the Ms. Evanovich’s series novels had been too formulaic and geared toward Stephanie’s two man crushes, this one delivered a very good mystery.
Connie, part of the team at Vinny’s bail bond business, is missing from her desk on a Monday morning, everyone knows something bad is afoot. Connie’s mom knows that she set off for work early but she never arrived.
Soon, Stephanie and her sometimes sidekick Lula are on the hunt for whomever took Connie and why !! Vinnie is out of town and even Stephanie’s Grandma, who is a blast to read about, is involved in figuring out what is going on.
The WHY is the biggest part of this story andI I felt the mystery was well plotted. There are some red herrings but they skillfully pointed in several directions, so the WHO and WHY is always the question!!
I’m giving it a 4* for delivering an entertaining and cleverly plotted mystery with a fun cast of characters.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, Atria books, through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
I haven’t read a Stephanie Plum novel in quite a while but I wanted something entertaining and easy to read.That is what I got with this installment and I was pleasantly surprised!!
While I had thought some of the Ms. Evanovich’s series novels had been too formulaic and geared toward Stephanie’s two man crushes, this one delivered a very good mystery.
Connie, part of the team at Vinny’s bail bond business, is missing from her desk on a Monday morning, everyone knows something bad is afoot. Connie’s mom knows that she set off for work early but she never arrived.
Soon, Stephanie and her sometimes sidekick Lula are on the hunt for whomever took Connie and why !! Vinnie is out of town and even Stephanie’s Grandma, who is a blast to read about, is involved in figuring out what is going on.
The WHY is the biggest part of this story andI I felt the mystery was well plotted. There are some red herrings but they skillfully pointed in several directions, so the WHO and WHY is always the question!!
I’m giving it a 4* for delivering an entertaining and cleverly plotted mystery with a fun cast of characters.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, Atria books, through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
December 12, 2022
What more can I say about this series? Book #29 is another amusing romp. I especially enjoy Morelli's badass grandma Bella who goes around putting the eye on people. 😄 You wouldn't want to cross her. It's hilarious, especially on the audiobook. I have both print and audio from the library and all I can say is Lorelei King is fantastic and the accent makes it much more enjoyable. I certainly crave some Boston Cream donuts while listening to this. 🍩😍
October 19, 2022
What is there to say about the 29th Stephanie Plum book?
These books are enjoyable comfort reads for me, because I know they will be consistent and entertaining. They make me laugh. I know what will happen and that makes me happy. I liked that Stephanie was a more assertive badass in this book, there weren't many that got away from her in this installment and I'm here for that!
Yes, there are car and other explosions, and there are many doughnuts and buckets of chicken consumed. I've never made it secret that I'm on team Morelli, but I do love me some Ranger and Stephanie spends plenty of time with both of them.
Count me in for book #30!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
These books are enjoyable comfort reads for me, because I know they will be consistent and entertaining. They make me laugh. I know what will happen and that makes me happy. I liked that Stephanie was a more assertive badass in this book, there weren't many that got away from her in this installment and I'm here for that!
Yes, there are car and other explosions, and there are many doughnuts and buckets of chicken consumed. I've never made it secret that I'm on team Morelli, but I do love me some Ranger and Stephanie spends plenty of time with both of them.
Count me in for book #30!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 9, 2023
Connie has been taken, and fueled by doughnuts, it's up to Stephanie and Lula to find a special coin in exchange for Connie's release. While I always enjoy the escapades, this one was a bit slow at times. I wanted more bungling action with crazy characters and ditzy distractions. A few new characters were present, but they turned out to be more chivalrous than calamitous.
I do hope Stephanie sees the missed opportunity in Bella. She could be very persuasive in convincing uncooperative FTAs to reschedule their court date and that could make for some very funny and memorable captures.
I also loved Lula's analysis of the benefits of walking in heels versus sneakers. It's all about balance and synchronicity; you've gotta have that swing!
It's not the great literature that keeps us coming back to Stephanie Plum, it's the idea that any book in the series is an escapist read. The zany diversion entertains and amuses and gives you a nice break from the doldrums of life and I can always get on board with that.
I do hope Stephanie sees the missed opportunity in Bella. She could be very persuasive in convincing uncooperative FTAs to reschedule their court date and that could make for some very funny and memorable captures.
I also loved Lula's analysis of the benefits of walking in heels versus sneakers. It's all about balance and synchronicity; you've gotta have that swing!
It's not the great literature that keeps us coming back to Stephanie Plum, it's the idea that any book in the series is an escapist read. The zany diversion entertains and amuses and gives you a nice break from the doldrums of life and I can always get on board with that.
January 30, 2024
look i love a long series and continuing on with the same people for a long time.
and i keep reading this in hopes that this series will finally actually change into being fun and quirky but also getting somewhere.
but this series reached a point at the latest 10+ books ago where it’s just not just ridiculous and utterly stupid instead of funny but all just completely repetitive.
don’t get me wrong, props to the author.
who continues chucking out basically the same book every year with minimal changes and has many people be happy about it and continue making money with, what i hope for the authors shake, is minimal effort.
i mean the books read like 3/4 where basically copy and paste from the ones before and the rest are minimal changes from other books mixed into it with just one tiny little “new” plot -meaning another characters does something instead of one that’s already experienced what’s going on in a previous book.
again, props where they are due! the author has a clear money maker going here and should pull this off with maybe a few days works per book? if it takes longer? i am unsure why but hey still good for her.
so no shaming here.
just utterly disappointed by this book and how repetitive this series became and how fantastic it could be with minimal changes.
because plum just needs to decide what she wants to do and do that. and that would make the entire series better by a whole lot already -let alone actually letting characters finally age? and not that i want the quirky grandma to die but come on!
but why not let plum finally decide if she wants joe or ranger?
choose and go with that plot point in an actual commuted and real relationship!
or hey decide she doesn’t want no man and go with that! single lady doing her own thing is fantastic too! no need for a relationship or that kind of commitment if it’s not for you! but choose, woman!
she wants to quit being a bounty hunter? great do that. because plum as a character can make chaos anywhere and everywhere.
or if she doesn’t want to quit? fantastic!
finally actually decide and commit to the job!
learn some self defence, get a bit more fit and actually decide “you know what, i like hunting down bad guys and bringing them back in and as long as i am capable to do that i will!” and just do that!
but let’s face it.
the not aging of the characters, the constant back and forth between ranger and Joe that never ends (and come on! decide and stick with one already it’s been over 20 books! it’s not that hard)!
the constant car melting -which again might have been funny 20+ books ago when it was still relatively new if utterly ridiculous to consider that a car is supposed to actually melt down into nothing but a still slightly burning puddle? still let’s just repeat that nonsense over and over at a minimum in every second book for good measure?
also can i just say that i do not understand why about half the book is always reintroducing every character that plays a role in every. single. book!
just chuck a intro page at the beginning with a couple of sentences and get on with it!
this is one thing this series continues to do very well, is that it has the number the book is in the series in the freaking title!
so who the heck things it’s a good idea to start reading a series basically 30 books into it?!
and if you need a refresher for this series whos who?!
i am sorry but you might need professional help with your memory because even after years of not picking up this series it should be easy to figure out who’s who without the reintroduction simply by reading the book. it’s not complicated. (not a negative, this entire book series from book one is basically cotton candy for the brain, entertaining and sometimes fun and sweet but overall nothing special or a favorite book of your life, which again not a negative! fun reads are some of the best reading! not every book and and should be an life time favorite!)
but the same old overused lines that are no longer funny because they have been repeated at this point so often that most readers should be able to know which character will say what in any situation without needing to read the actual words.
look stephanie has to be at least in her mid fourties’ at this point, her grandmother must scratch close to being the oldest human person alive even in fictional worlds and let’s not mention all the other illogical things that are just utterly frustrating because if this entire series is not set in an alternative universe where time stands still but everyone keeps moving?
it’s just frustrating.
i am honestly just sad how frustrated this series now makes me!
i enjoyed the first handful a lot.
i am always hopeful that maybe this time the author will actually try something a little bit new and make this series better again. but no. or just picks something and sticks to it and we finally get a bit of a step forward.
i am sorry but can we please just stop this series now and just let it rest?
it’s had its time and place, it’s been fun but wrap it up and move on - or CHANGE something!
and i keep reading this in hopes that this series will finally actually change into being fun and quirky but also getting somewhere.
but this series reached a point at the latest 10+ books ago where it’s just not just ridiculous and utterly stupid instead of funny but all just completely repetitive.
don’t get me wrong, props to the author.
who continues chucking out basically the same book every year with minimal changes and has many people be happy about it and continue making money with, what i hope for the authors shake, is minimal effort.
i mean the books read like 3/4 where basically copy and paste from the ones before and the rest are minimal changes from other books mixed into it with just one tiny little “new” plot -meaning another characters does something instead of one that’s already experienced what’s going on in a previous book.
again, props where they are due! the author has a clear money maker going here and should pull this off with maybe a few days works per book? if it takes longer? i am unsure why but hey still good for her.
so no shaming here.
just utterly disappointed by this book and how repetitive this series became and how fantastic it could be with minimal changes.
because plum just needs to decide what she wants to do and do that. and that would make the entire series better by a whole lot already -let alone actually letting characters finally age? and not that i want the quirky grandma to die but come on!
but why not let plum finally decide if she wants joe or ranger?
choose and go with that plot point in an actual commuted and real relationship!
or hey decide she doesn’t want no man and go with that! single lady doing her own thing is fantastic too! no need for a relationship or that kind of commitment if it’s not for you! but choose, woman!
she wants to quit being a bounty hunter? great do that. because plum as a character can make chaos anywhere and everywhere.
or if she doesn’t want to quit? fantastic!
finally actually decide and commit to the job!
learn some self defence, get a bit more fit and actually decide “you know what, i like hunting down bad guys and bringing them back in and as long as i am capable to do that i will!” and just do that!
but let’s face it.
the not aging of the characters, the constant back and forth between ranger and Joe that never ends (and come on! decide and stick with one already it’s been over 20 books! it’s not that hard)!
the constant car melting -which again might have been funny 20+ books ago when it was still relatively new if utterly ridiculous to consider that a car is supposed to actually melt down into nothing but a still slightly burning puddle? still let’s just repeat that nonsense over and over at a minimum in every second book for good measure?
also can i just say that i do not understand why about half the book is always reintroducing every character that plays a role in every. single. book!
just chuck a intro page at the beginning with a couple of sentences and get on with it!
this is one thing this series continues to do very well, is that it has the number the book is in the series in the freaking title!
so who the heck things it’s a good idea to start reading a series basically 30 books into it?!
and if you need a refresher for this series whos who?!
i am sorry but you might need professional help with your memory because even after years of not picking up this series it should be easy to figure out who’s who without the reintroduction simply by reading the book. it’s not complicated. (not a negative, this entire book series from book one is basically cotton candy for the brain, entertaining and sometimes fun and sweet but overall nothing special or a favorite book of your life, which again not a negative! fun reads are some of the best reading! not every book and and should be an life time favorite!)
but the same old overused lines that are no longer funny because they have been repeated at this point so often that most readers should be able to know which character will say what in any situation without needing to read the actual words.
look stephanie has to be at least in her mid fourties’ at this point, her grandmother must scratch close to being the oldest human person alive even in fictional worlds and let’s not mention all the other illogical things that are just utterly frustrating because if this entire series is not set in an alternative universe where time stands still but everyone keeps moving?
it’s just frustrating.
i am honestly just sad how frustrated this series now makes me!
i enjoyed the first handful a lot.
i am always hopeful that maybe this time the author will actually try something a little bit new and make this series better again. but no. or just picks something and sticks to it and we finally get a bit of a step forward.
i am sorry but can we please just stop this series now and just let it rest?
it’s had its time and place, it’s been fun but wrap it up and move on - or CHANGE something!
October 30, 2022
My favorite Stephanie Plum yet! With Connie kidnapped and Vinnie in Atlantic City, Lula is the temporary office manager. Stephanie will have Grandma Mazur and even Bella Morelli riding shotgun to help keep up with the FTAs. Evanovich adds in some new quirky supporting characters like a guy who dresses up like Lancelot and a professional panhandler. There are bombs galore, Boston Creme donuts, Cluck-in-a-Bucket chicken, funeral home viewings, and so much more. There is even a human trafficking story line which makes this very timely indeed. Can't wait until next year for "Dirty Thirty."
A big Berg thank you to Atria books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
A big Berg thank you to Atria books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2022
The Stephanie Plum series has always been a favorite. After the last book (28), it was clear someone else had been writing the tales... I think that's still the case, but there weren't any outright mistakes or character destruction moments. If anything, it was much lighter than usual and not as funny. But overall, I had a good time and loved how Bella and Stephanie found a way to get along temporarily. It ended a bit abruptly, and I would've liked to see what happens with the bail bonds agency post everything that happened. A good read, recommended for fans who left the series for a bit.
June 15, 2025
Audiobook Review
Going Rogue: Rise and Shine (Stephanie Plum #29) by Janet Evanovich
🎧 Narrated by Lorelei King
What a blast! Stephanie Plum is up to her usual antics—chasing clues, dodging disaster, and cracking me up in the process. This time, it’s all about a missing office manager, a mysterious coin, and a kidnapper who seriously underestimated the Trenton crew.
Lorelei King nails it again! Her voice work is pure gold—every character is distinct, hilarious, and pitch-perfect. Lula’s sass, Grandma Mazur’s chaos, and Bella’s deliciously ominous vibes had me laughing out loud more than once. Ranger brings the cool factor, sure—but I’ve always had a soft spot for Morelli. He adds just the right touch of warmth and wit to balance the madness.
Fast-paced, light-hearted, and delightfully over-the-top. Exactly what I needed.
Another fun romp with Stephanie and crew—familiar, funny, and full of flair!
Going Rogue: Rise and Shine (Stephanie Plum #29) by Janet Evanovich
🎧 Narrated by Lorelei King
What a blast! Stephanie Plum is up to her usual antics—chasing clues, dodging disaster, and cracking me up in the process. This time, it’s all about a missing office manager, a mysterious coin, and a kidnapper who seriously underestimated the Trenton crew.
Lorelei King nails it again! Her voice work is pure gold—every character is distinct, hilarious, and pitch-perfect. Lula’s sass, Grandma Mazur’s chaos, and Bella’s deliciously ominous vibes had me laughing out loud more than once. Ranger brings the cool factor, sure—but I’ve always had a soft spot for Morelli. He adds just the right touch of warmth and wit to balance the madness.
Fast-paced, light-hearted, and delightfully over-the-top. Exactly what I needed.
Another fun romp with Stephanie and crew—familiar, funny, and full of flair!
June 18, 2023
In this 29th book in the comical 'Stephanie Plum' cozy mystery series, the bail enforcement agent has to rescue Connie Rosolli, the office manager of Vinnie's Bail Bonds.
The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the series is a plus.
*****
Stephanie Plum works as a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinnie's bail bond business in Trenton, New Jersey.
Stephanie and her sidekick Lula - a voluptuous former ho - are comically inept at picking up bail jumpers, but usually get the job done in the end.
As the story opens, Stephanie and Lula arrive at the bail bond office one morning to get new FTAs (failures to appear) and find the office closed.
This is highly unusual since office manager Connie Rosolli always arrives early with a box of donuts for the staff.
When Stephanie and Lula get into the building, Lula checks out the kitchenette and indignantly exclaims: "There’s no coffee brewing. I’m not supposed to start my day like this. I got a routine. My morning has expectations, if you see what I’m saying.”
It's clear SOMETHING is terribly wrong and an ominous incoming call reveals the awful truth. Connie's been abducted and the kidnappers want a ransom: a collectible coin used as bail bond collateral by a dry cleaner who was arrested. The coin isn't in the bond office storeroom, which shows signs of being searched. It appears the kidnappers nabbed Connie as she opened the office and looked for the coin but didn't find it.
Stephanie speculates that a petty thief stole the coin when he came in for bail, and she hunts down the perp. It turns out the thief sold the item to a coin store who sold it to a collector, and things get very complicated. As usual when Stephanie needs help she calls Ranger, a gorgeous Cuban-American hottie who runs a security service called Rangeman. When Stephanie's mission to rescue Connie - and then another abductee - gets dangerous, Rangeman provides backup and protection.
In addition to having an ongoing flirtation with Ranger, Stephanie has a boyfriend named Joe Morelli, a handsome Italian cop she's known since childhood. Stephanie often hangs out with Morelli, watching TV and eating pizza.
In between trying to satisfy the kidnappers, Stephanie and Lula hunt for bail skips. These include a panhandler, a blackmailer, and Morelli's scary grandmother Bella, who's accused of arson. Bella is notorious for giving 'the eye' to anyone she doesn't like, and her curse has been known to cause boils on men's privates.....and worse.
As usual in these books there are car crashes, fires, explosions, shootings, and so on. To add to the mayhem, Stephanie's Grandma Mazur - who carries a big gun - likes to tag along with Stephanie and Lula while they work.
All this leads to a climax that's especially exciting (if a tad gruesome).
The Stephanie Plum books are formulaic but fun, good 'palate cleansers' between darker tomes.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
March 1, 2025
An intriguing and amusing mystery with just the right balance of humor and excitement. The comedy is on point as are the secondary backup characters. This outing is much more personal for our gang of bounty hunters as one of their own has been taken for ransom.
September 8, 2023
Another fun book in the Stephanie Plum series. Stephanie. Lula. Cars being blown up. Donuts. Chicken. Grandma. Viewings. Joe. Ranger. you always know what you're going to get when you pick up one of these books crazy characters, a wild mystery, and lots of laughs. The mystery in this book was stronger than some others and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Stephanie is still picking between Joe and Ranger. My guess is she will never pick at this point although I am forever on Team Joe! Lorelei King does a brilliant job of bringing these stories to life with her audiobook narration.
*** Big thank you to Atria for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
*** Big thank you to Atria for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
December 2, 2022
For the love of Morelli and Ranger, PLEASE pick someone.
January 3, 2023
5 Stars for Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty Nine (audiobook) by Janet Evanovich read by Lorelei King.
This is a great way to start off the new year. A brand new Stephanie Plum adventure.
Connie doesn’t show up to work at Vinnie’s Bail Bonds and Stephanie has to figure out what happened to her. She teams up with Lula to help get Connie back and Morelli and Ranger help keep Stephanie out of trouble. This just never gets old for me, particularly when Lorelei King is narrating.
This is a great way to start off the new year. A brand new Stephanie Plum adventure.
Connie doesn’t show up to work at Vinnie’s Bail Bonds and Stephanie has to figure out what happened to her. She teams up with Lula to help get Connie back and Morelli and Ranger help keep Stephanie out of trouble. This just never gets old for me, particularly when Lorelei King is narrating.
November 22, 2022
Lorelei King is a fantastic narrator. She brings the Plum books to life and adds so much to this series. I started reading this book and switched to the audio halfway through. As always, the story was pure Stephanie and I loved it. For entertainment there is none better. I was also impressed with the plot on this one, it kept me guessing to the action-packed end and the why of it all was a real surprise. Just when you think it's all over - it's not.
Connie Rosolli is the office manager for Vinnie's Bail Bonds. She is dependable and when she isn't at her desk when Stephanie and Lulu show up for work, well the earth sorta tilts a little. Then Stephanie can't find her - anywhere. Now, that is cause for alarm. When a strange call comes in, Stephanie's worst fears are confirmed - Connie has been kidnapped. The caller wants a strange coin and Stephanie has no clue where to even begin looking for it.
Stephanie, Lulu and Grandma Mazur trace the bizarre path this mysterious coin has traveled. As the kidnappers put pressure on Stephanie to return their coin, Stephanie turns to Ranger for help and, I've got to tell you, his putting trackers on Stephanie turns out to be a good thing as Stephanie and the gang are Going Rogue.
Connie Rosolli is the office manager for Vinnie's Bail Bonds. She is dependable and when she isn't at her desk when Stephanie and Lulu show up for work, well the earth sorta tilts a little. Then Stephanie can't find her - anywhere. Now, that is cause for alarm. When a strange call comes in, Stephanie's worst fears are confirmed - Connie has been kidnapped. The caller wants a strange coin and Stephanie has no clue where to even begin looking for it.
Stephanie, Lulu and Grandma Mazur trace the bizarre path this mysterious coin has traveled. As the kidnappers put pressure on Stephanie to return their coin, Stephanie turns to Ranger for help and, I've got to tell you, his putting trackers on Stephanie turns out to be a good thing as Stephanie and the gang are Going Rogue.
February 21, 2023
This one is just okay for me. 4 of 10 stars
August 22, 2022
Stephanie’s back, and she has a problem. Connie the office manager has disappeared and Stephanie fears she’s been kidnapped. With the help of her wing- women Grandma and Lula (and occasionally Bella, Morelli’s evil eye granny) she’s looking for Connie and tracking down the elusive guys who didn’t show up in court. You know there will be exploding cars, two tempting men, and an improbable plot, but it’s what Evanovich does best: fun and escapist reading. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
March 31, 2025
Another really good Stephanie Plum novel. This is #29. I always enjoy these storiese. All the characters are great and there are times when I laugh out loud... This is a story where the bail bond business is in trouble because of a missing coin and several people who work there are kidnapped, but of course, it all ends up okay. Definitely recommend.
December 19, 2022
I absolutely hate that I'm giving this book a 1 star... but I have to. I use to purchase these books because they were fun, witty and lighthearted. Now I get them from the library. No more.
Everyone who stopped after book 11ish was smart. It is the exact same book; just mixed up a bit - mostly on what junk food they will get first. Getting chicken, donuts (seriously - this diet is horrific), half-heartedly chasing skips, having a car blow up (which you can't cover up with a half hearted wink wink to the reader with Morrelli joking about it).. and the one main "mystery", which is always a head scratcher; and not in a good way. Morrelli or Ranger. Pick one already. And if Stephanie can't, I wish that Morrelli would just dump her a$$ already. Every character is old and recycled. No one has grown in any way. Oh, I guess a little growth - Stephanie isn't as afraid of Morrelli's grandma Bella.
And some other comments on how can this be book 29, but no one has aged. That sort of hit me while I sped read - and I seriously sped read this book in about an hour and feel like I missed absolutely nothing.
Everyone who stopped after book 11ish was smart. It is the exact same book; just mixed up a bit - mostly on what junk food they will get first. Getting chicken, donuts (seriously - this diet is horrific), half-heartedly chasing skips, having a car blow up (which you can't cover up with a half hearted wink wink to the reader with Morrelli joking about it).. and the one main "mystery", which is always a head scratcher; and not in a good way. Morrelli or Ranger. Pick one already. And if Stephanie can't, I wish that Morrelli would just dump her a$$ already. Every character is old and recycled. No one has grown in any way. Oh, I guess a little growth - Stephanie isn't as afraid of Morrelli's grandma Bella.
And some other comments on how can this be book 29, but no one has aged. That sort of hit me while I sped read - and I seriously sped read this book in about an hour and feel like I missed absolutely nothing.
December 27, 2022
What can I say? This was another fun installment in the exploits and escapades of bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. Not my favorite in the series, but lot of LOL moments, especially the scenes with Grandma Mazur and Lula.
As always I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series in 2023!
As always I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series in 2023!
February 22, 2023
Not my favorite, but still entertaining! I'll read this series until she quits, and I think that's what she is banking on. Nothing new or noteworthy, but a fun and quick read nonetheless.
3.25 stars
3.25 stars
October 31, 2022
I adore Janet Evanovich and her Stephanie Plum series! Have read them all and would not miss a book.
GOING ROGUE has it all! Fun (laugh out loud), adventure, action, and characters you feel like are your family. Get this gem on your TBR list.
HIGHLY ENTERTAINING!
Janet Evanovich returns following The Recovery Agent: A Novel (Gabriela Rose #1) with her popular Stephanie Plum series #29—GOING ROGUE. Stephanie and the gang must get creative to find one of their own who has been kidnapped in this thrills-by-the-minute installment!
Stephanie, Lulu, Vinnie, Grandma Mazur, Joe, Ranger, and the gang are concerned about their missing office manager, Connie Rosolli. She is nowhere to be found. Things are not the same without her.
They receive a strange call from the abductor, who says he will only release her in exchange for a mysterious coin that a recently murdered man left as collateral for his bail. Unfortunately, this coin, which should be in the office—just like Connie—is nowhere to be found.
Things get complicated as they search for this coin and find out millions of dollars are at stake and the bad guys are on their trail.
However, no worries, while hunting down the bad guys, there are plenty of donuts, chicken, Plum's mom's cooking, fun, laughs, danger, blown-up cars, and funerals to attend.
I loved this one! The bitcoins are quite fascinating and popular these days, and as always, I would not miss a Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum book! I always buy the audiobook and love the narrator, Lorelei King.
Stephanie is growing up and getting smarter. In this installment, she might be getting closer to Joe. (I am a big fan of Joe, but love Ranger too). Keep them coming! We need some laughs, and Plum always provides hours of entertainment and comfort.
Thank you to #AtriaBooks for my beautiful hardcover copy and #NetGalley for a gifted eARC to read, review, and enjoy.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 1, 2022
Nov 2022 Must-Read Books
GOING ROGUE has it all! Fun (laugh out loud), adventure, action, and characters you feel like are your family. Get this gem on your TBR list.
HIGHLY ENTERTAINING!
Janet Evanovich returns following The Recovery Agent: A Novel (Gabriela Rose #1) with her popular Stephanie Plum series #29—GOING ROGUE. Stephanie and the gang must get creative to find one of their own who has been kidnapped in this thrills-by-the-minute installment!
Stephanie, Lulu, Vinnie, Grandma Mazur, Joe, Ranger, and the gang are concerned about their missing office manager, Connie Rosolli. She is nowhere to be found. Things are not the same without her.
They receive a strange call from the abductor, who says he will only release her in exchange for a mysterious coin that a recently murdered man left as collateral for his bail. Unfortunately, this coin, which should be in the office—just like Connie—is nowhere to be found.
Things get complicated as they search for this coin and find out millions of dollars are at stake and the bad guys are on their trail.
However, no worries, while hunting down the bad guys, there are plenty of donuts, chicken, Plum's mom's cooking, fun, laughs, danger, blown-up cars, and funerals to attend.
I loved this one! The bitcoins are quite fascinating and popular these days, and as always, I would not miss a Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum book! I always buy the audiobook and love the narrator, Lorelei King.
Stephanie is growing up and getting smarter. In this installment, she might be getting closer to Joe. (I am a big fan of Joe, but love Ranger too). Keep them coming! We need some laughs, and Plum always provides hours of entertainment and comfort.
Thank you to #AtriaBooks for my beautiful hardcover copy and #NetGalley for a gifted eARC to read, review, and enjoy.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 1, 2022
Nov 2022 Must-Read Books
August 11, 2024
*** 4.25 ***
I have been devouring these, since real life has been really tough and I have been needing something light and entertaining...
Poor Connie! I also almost felt bad for Vinny, but he might have enjoyed it:)
Grandma Mazur and Grandma Bella were awesome!!! I think Grandma Bella's antics totally stole the show! We need her "giving The Eye" to everyone in our lives at this moment! And Grandma Mazur always gives a good perspective of what matters in life! Really enjoyed it! 😊👍
I have been devouring these, since real life has been really tough and I have been needing something light and entertaining...
Poor Connie! I also almost felt bad for Vinny, but he might have enjoyed it:)
Grandma Mazur and Grandma Bella were awesome!!! I think Grandma Bella's antics totally stole the show! We need her "giving The Eye" to everyone in our lives at this moment! And Grandma Mazur always gives a good perspective of what matters in life! Really enjoyed it! 😊👍
August 23, 2022
I must say this was very enjoyable. Took me back to the earlier books in the series. Now you have grandma Mazur and Bella as major players, also the rest of the gang. Still at a standstill between Ranger and Morelli, and I’m still going with Ranger. We shall see. Thank you edelweiss for this pre copy, it was enjoyed and appreciated.
November 18, 2022
This felt much more like a Stephanie Plum novel than the prior 2-3 installments have! I actually laughed out loud multiple times and had trouble stopping myself to get back to reading a couple of times. That is how reading a Stephanie Plum novel should be! :) Glad I've stuck with the series and so glad that Ranger and Joe are both still in the game!
February 26, 2023
Predictable, fun, sexy, wonderfully perfect !!
July 4, 2024
Among my several goals this summer:
• Be more positive
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Write 500 words per day (reviews count)
• And of course…finish the saga of Stephanie Plum
I had a long trip coming up, so I packed this one in my bag for the flight. Knocked it out in a few days. (That’s not a jab at Delta, BTW: everything was on time. I just don’t like any of their movies.)
This might be my favorite premise so far. Connie is held for ransom by anonymous kidnappers who believe Vinnie has a valuable coin someone traded for a bond. Steph goes on a wild goose chase with all the familiars to find it. I didn’t think she bent the rules all that much to justify the title, but Morelli suggests she’s off-book. I trust him, so OK.
The humor, the action, the spice all seemed to click here. No Diesel to distract our heroine, just the usual balance between Ranger and Morelli. Crazy Grandma Bella takes a bigger role here, and I loved it! She even helps with a takedown! But don’t get the wrong idea: she still thinks Steph is a…ahem. Well.
I thought the chase and wrap-up were fun and just tense enough. I liked the crime they solved, and it was really a team effort. I still kinda miss the bumbling Steph, though, messing up takedowns and getting covered in molasses or something. But the bounty hunter that mixes a solid capture with a little fried hair or animal droppings works well, too. Makes me like her even more.
A note to Lorelei King: Forgive me, for I forswore the audio version for the first time in Plum History. I read it almost entirely in the airport, so there was no need for the audiobook. Fear not: I promise to continue with the next.
And speaking of the next…I’m so close! Only Dirty Thirty remains. (Yes, I know, I haven’t read the “Between the Numbers” books; give me a break. I'll get to them.) See you in Trenton!
• Be more positive
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Write 500 words per day (reviews count)
• And of course…finish the saga of Stephanie Plum
I had a long trip coming up, so I packed this one in my bag for the flight. Knocked it out in a few days. (That’s not a jab at Delta, BTW: everything was on time. I just don’t like any of their movies.)
This might be my favorite premise so far. Connie is held for ransom by anonymous kidnappers who believe Vinnie has a valuable coin someone traded for a bond. Steph goes on a wild goose chase with all the familiars to find it. I didn’t think she bent the rules all that much to justify the title, but Morelli suggests she’s off-book. I trust him, so OK.
The humor, the action, the spice all seemed to click here. No Diesel to distract our heroine, just the usual balance between Ranger and Morelli. Crazy Grandma Bella takes a bigger role here, and I loved it! She even helps with a takedown! But don’t get the wrong idea: she still thinks Steph is a…ahem. Well.
I thought the chase and wrap-up were fun and just tense enough. I liked the crime they solved, and it was really a team effort. I still kinda miss the bumbling Steph, though, messing up takedowns and getting covered in molasses or something. But the bounty hunter that mixes a solid capture with a little fried hair or animal droppings works well, too. Makes me like her even more.
A note to Lorelei King: Forgive me, for I forswore the audio version for the first time in Plum History. I read it almost entirely in the airport, so there was no need for the audiobook. Fear not: I promise to continue with the next.
And speaking of the next…I’m so close! Only Dirty Thirty remains. (Yes, I know, I haven’t read the “Between the Numbers” books; give me a break. I'll get to them.) See you in Trenton!
December 17, 2022
After 28 previous “Stephanie Plum” books and counting, readers and fans of Janet Evanovich know what exactly what they are getting. An independent, pretty girl, a couple of hunky guys – Moretti and Ranger - to team up with, and an adventure full of mystery and silly zaniness. Solving the mystery usually involves visiting different locations, lots of overwhelmingly crazy characters (especially Grandma Mazur), and comical situations throughout the quest. There is lots of teasing and innuendo between the Stephanie and the hunky guys as they work together, but in the end the mystery will be resolved whether on purpose or by accident within 300 pages or so of reading.
This describes Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum bounty hunter series and pretty much everything else she’s written. You may think it sounds fairly formula-matic, and that’s true. The formula is the same, tried and true. However, in all honesty, nobody else has been better at writing this type of sarcastic humor and risqué laden banter than anyone else. Evanovich gets you to chuckle at least once every other page and laugh out loud at least once a chapter. At least that was the case with the first 15 – 18 books in the series, and unfortunately, less the case in the last 10 -12 outings, which seem to be wearing the formula out and then sum.
This time, in Plum’s 29th adventure, “Going Rogue” beings with Stephanie showing up to work on a Monday morning at Vinnie’s Bail Bonds, only to find that the longtime reliable office manager, Connie Rosolli, has not showed up. Connie appears to be missing and no one knows why until her abductor calls, demanding that the only way he will release her, is if Stephanie can find a specific coin that he is looking for. A coin that a recent customer left as collateral with Vinny for his bail before he ended up murdered.
The bad news is that the coin cannot be found anywhere in Vinny’s office and nobody knows where it went, so Stephanie finds herself in hot pursuit of finding the key, figuring out why it seems to be so valuable, and achieve Connie’s safe return. Stephanie can’t do it alone and she’ll need the help of her friends and family, including her bestie, Lulu; her boyfriend and cop, Morelli; the hunky and mysterious security expert, Ranger; her Grandma Mazur; and even the evil eye cursing, Morelli grandma Bella.
The further Stephanie investigates, the more Connie’s abductor gets worried and his threats increase, causing Stephanie to take greater risks and go rogue in order to try and gain Connie’s freedom, even at the risk of sacrificing her own life…
I have been pretty consistent in my reviews of Evanovich last five or six Stephanie Plum books because after 28 outings with the same script, it has become repetitive, and tiresome at times. There are only so many times that Lulu can fire a gun and miss the target… Stephanie loses her bounty and gets Ranger to help her… Stephanie chases a weird dysfunctional bond breaker and blows up the vehicle she’s driving… The black-clad Ranger whispering, “Babe…” over and over again...
However, I have rather good news to share about book twenty-nine. This one seems different to me. It seems like Evanovich found some fresh and creative ways to tell a Stephanie Plum story, while staying in the framework that established her formula-matic success. For the first time in a while, Evanovich has overcome her biggest challenge and made Stephanie Plum interesting again. To be honest, I didn’t see this coming, but I definitely enjoyed it.
There were several reasons that I believe made this outing a worthy and fun read. The first is that the mystery was actually well-plotted, more intricately layered than normal, and involved rather scary and worthy bad guys. The mystery plotlines in a Plum novel are weakly strung together and usually tend to fizzle out before the climax arrives. That is not the case with this one. I may be wrong, but it sure feels like Evanovich spent some time on creating a cohesive mystery with interconnected plotlines, rather than just a bunch of disconnected scenes of bounty chasing and humorous situations.
The second reason is that for the first time Stephanie did not come across as an inept bounty hunter who fails with every capture and needs help from Ranger to be successful. She’s not a master bounty hunter by any means, but she comes across smarter and demonstrating a decent level of competency that was refreshing and nice. I especially appreciated Stephanie’s ability to physically defend herself against an attacker using a pizza box. Even Lulu successfully scored a tackling takedown. Very nice.
There were some entertaining and memorable moments in this one, including the appearance of Grandmas Bella, someone other than Stephanie crashing Ranger’s vehicle, and of course, Ranger expressing a personal record for the most uses of the word “Babe”. It’s also cool to see the characters grow and develop, even if it is baby steps. Those things made a big difference to me and my opinion on this book.
Overall, this was the most enjoyable Stephanie Plum novel in quite some time for me. I am not claiming it’s a five-star class, but it is definitely an improvement over most of the books published with a twenty in their number. Maybe I should just say that the relationship between Stephanie and Morelli has never been better nor the tension between her and Ranger ever higher…
This makes me look forward to “Dirty Thirty!” next year with optimism…
This describes Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum bounty hunter series and pretty much everything else she’s written. You may think it sounds fairly formula-matic, and that’s true. The formula is the same, tried and true. However, in all honesty, nobody else has been better at writing this type of sarcastic humor and risqué laden banter than anyone else. Evanovich gets you to chuckle at least once every other page and laugh out loud at least once a chapter. At least that was the case with the first 15 – 18 books in the series, and unfortunately, less the case in the last 10 -12 outings, which seem to be wearing the formula out and then sum.
This time, in Plum’s 29th adventure, “Going Rogue” beings with Stephanie showing up to work on a Monday morning at Vinnie’s Bail Bonds, only to find that the longtime reliable office manager, Connie Rosolli, has not showed up. Connie appears to be missing and no one knows why until her abductor calls, demanding that the only way he will release her, is if Stephanie can find a specific coin that he is looking for. A coin that a recent customer left as collateral with Vinny for his bail before he ended up murdered.
The bad news is that the coin cannot be found anywhere in Vinny’s office and nobody knows where it went, so Stephanie finds herself in hot pursuit of finding the key, figuring out why it seems to be so valuable, and achieve Connie’s safe return. Stephanie can’t do it alone and she’ll need the help of her friends and family, including her bestie, Lulu; her boyfriend and cop, Morelli; the hunky and mysterious security expert, Ranger; her Grandma Mazur; and even the evil eye cursing, Morelli grandma Bella.
The further Stephanie investigates, the more Connie’s abductor gets worried and his threats increase, causing Stephanie to take greater risks and go rogue in order to try and gain Connie’s freedom, even at the risk of sacrificing her own life…
I have been pretty consistent in my reviews of Evanovich last five or six Stephanie Plum books because after 28 outings with the same script, it has become repetitive, and tiresome at times. There are only so many times that Lulu can fire a gun and miss the target… Stephanie loses her bounty and gets Ranger to help her… Stephanie chases a weird dysfunctional bond breaker and blows up the vehicle she’s driving… The black-clad Ranger whispering, “Babe…” over and over again...
However, I have rather good news to share about book twenty-nine. This one seems different to me. It seems like Evanovich found some fresh and creative ways to tell a Stephanie Plum story, while staying in the framework that established her formula-matic success. For the first time in a while, Evanovich has overcome her biggest challenge and made Stephanie Plum interesting again. To be honest, I didn’t see this coming, but I definitely enjoyed it.
There were several reasons that I believe made this outing a worthy and fun read. The first is that the mystery was actually well-plotted, more intricately layered than normal, and involved rather scary and worthy bad guys. The mystery plotlines in a Plum novel are weakly strung together and usually tend to fizzle out before the climax arrives. That is not the case with this one. I may be wrong, but it sure feels like Evanovich spent some time on creating a cohesive mystery with interconnected plotlines, rather than just a bunch of disconnected scenes of bounty chasing and humorous situations.
The second reason is that for the first time Stephanie did not come across as an inept bounty hunter who fails with every capture and needs help from Ranger to be successful. She’s not a master bounty hunter by any means, but she comes across smarter and demonstrating a decent level of competency that was refreshing and nice. I especially appreciated Stephanie’s ability to physically defend herself against an attacker using a pizza box. Even Lulu successfully scored a tackling takedown. Very nice.
There were some entertaining and memorable moments in this one, including the appearance of Grandmas Bella, someone other than Stephanie crashing Ranger’s vehicle, and of course, Ranger expressing a personal record for the most uses of the word “Babe”. It’s also cool to see the characters grow and develop, even if it is baby steps. Those things made a big difference to me and my opinion on this book.
Overall, this was the most enjoyable Stephanie Plum novel in quite some time for me. I am not claiming it’s a five-star class, but it is definitely an improvement over most of the books published with a twenty in their number. Maybe I should just say that the relationship between Stephanie and Morelli has never been better nor the tension between her and Ranger ever higher…
This makes me look forward to “Dirty Thirty!” next year with optimism…
July 17, 2025
I've been reading this series for years and it never gets old to me. It's just so funny! Stephanie, grandma, and Lula are some of my favorite characters ever written and and I always love visiting with them through these books. Highly recommend them all.
December 19, 2023
Why can’t Stephanie just be with Ranger?? !! WTF Morelli is cute but Ranger is fire engine hot 🥵!!
Ugh, 29 was great and it made me laugh but I want Steph to choose my man Ranger already.
Happy reading everyone 🥰😍😳😭
goes and cries in a corner begging Stephanie to choose Ranger!!
Ugh, 29 was great and it made me laugh but I want Steph to choose my man Ranger already.
Happy reading everyone 🥰😍😳😭
goes and cries in a corner begging Stephanie to choose Ranger!!
January 21, 2023
Connie goes missing and Joe's Grandma Bella is an FTA. Things cannot get much worse or can they?You can't help but like Stephanie. She is a bounty hunter that really tries but things do not always go as planned. It leads to some humorous and some dangerous situations.
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