One for the Money

by Janet Evanovich, Lorelei King (Narrator)

Meet Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter with attitude. In Stephanie’s opinion, toxic waste, rabid drivers, armed schizophrenics, and August heat, humidity, and hydrocarbons are all part of the great adventure of living in Jersey.

She’s a product of the “burg,” a blue-collar pocket of Trenton where houses are attached and narrow, cars are American, windows are clean, and (God forbid you should be late) dinner is served at six.

Out of work and out of money, Stephanie blackmails her bail-bondsman cousin Vinnie into giving her a try as an apprehension agent. Stephanie knows zilch about the job requirements, but she figures her new pal, el-primo bounty hunter Ranger, can teach her what it takes to catch a crook. Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. Morelli’s the inamorato who charmed Stephanie out of her virginity at age sixteen. There’s still powerful chemistry between them, so the chase should be interesting…and could also be extremely dangerous.

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Crime

Audiobook

Published September 3, 2024

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

[Victoria Goins]

Easy listen and fun to guess who done it!

@christy you always know what books to tell me to read.

[Kirsten Medina]

Nice who dun it novel! I wish it was a little spicier. This has triggered a new genre obsession 👀

[Lynette McDonough]

Fun read, ready for #2

[SusanReads]

I forgot how unhinged this story is.

[Jennifer Glugosh]

I enjoyed this book. It’s a an enjoyable story with likable characters. Easy paced.

[Marisa Morales]

Listened to the 3hr audiobook in one day and I felt like I was watching a telenovela. I have a better name for this book and it has to deal with Ramirez…. Overall not a bad read.

[Jenn Cenn]

3.5 ⭐️ I accidentally chose the abridged version of the audiobook and didn't realize until it was over. It was still a cute read albeit rather crude at times. I remember watching the movie with Katherine Heigl years ago and the book was pretty true to what I remembered.

[Barbara Michael]

Funny. Action and a happy ending.

[LT]

3.5 - 4 Stars

This is a reread so I did the audio book. I'm not fond of them but the format is fine because even though I read it nearly 30 years ago, I still remember most of it. I didn't care for the audio narrator, but that's probably just me.

Anyway, this is a great series that I never got through (thus the reread) and her characters are very funny while still being fully dimensional. A recurring cast of friends and family that will keep you laughing. I really look forward to not only reacquainting myself with these old friends, but of experiencing new adventures I never went on before.

Stephanie Plum is out of work. Her job as lingerie buyer disappeared when the company was bought out. She's sold her furniture, her car is repossessed... she needs money. Her mother suggests her cousin Vince, who has a skip trace company and needs a filer. Luckily, that job has been filled so she's blackmailing her cousin into letting her be a bounty hunter. Her first "victim" is Joe Morelli, and they have a history. A sexy history. There's a guy, Ranger, who is also sexy, and he helps her to learn the trade while keeping her safe.

No spoilers, although I'd be surprised if anyone hasn't heard and or read these books. If you've only seen the money, DO NOT JUDGE. The casting was bad, not the story!

[Kat Garcia]

Stephanie Plum, newly unemployed and broke, blackmails her cousin Vinnie into giving her a job as a bounty hunter, despite having no experience. Her first big case is to bring in Joe Morelli, a former cop accused of murder, and coincidentally a man she once had a fling with as a teenager. Tracking him down proves difficult, and Stephanie finds herself in dangerous situations, especially when she crosses paths with Jimmy Alpha, a boxing promoter who is secretly connected to the murder. With help from the mysterious and skilled bounty hunter Ranger, Stephanie learns the ropes while barely surviving a series of close calls. She eventually discovers that Alpha, not Morelli, is the true killer and exposes him after a violent confrontation. By the end, Stephanie collects her bond money, tentatively makes peace with Morelli, and sets the tone for the comedic, action-packed chaos that defines the rest of the series.

This book was written in 1994 and it shows. It was honestly just boring in my opinion. I probably won't continue the series.

[Sara]

I started the series because in reviews of the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano, people mentioned that if you the Stephanie Plum series, you would enjoy Finlay Donovan. I thought the reverse had to be true, and I was right! I enjoyed the humorous main character and how layered the other characters were.

I listened to the audiobook version and was confused when I saw it was only 3 hours. I just went with it though and enjoyed the unfurling mystery. I was really disappointed when I finished and realized this was a different version than the original! I feel like they should have made it more clear. I’m going back to read the original and am excited to get a deeper look into the story.

[Stephanie Franklin]

I listened to the abridged version narrated by Lori Petty. I had previously read this book over 15 years ago and I absolutely love the Stephanie Plum series. They are quick reads and the only books that have ever made me laugh out loud while reading. I checked this out on my library app to listen to while I drove to work and worked with spreadsheets.

Lori Petty is absolute gold with her dialect as the main character. She channels Stephanie’s heritage, attitude and sarcasm perfectly. You can tell the series is a bit dated and the music planted within the audio track detracted from the story in my opinion. Thankfully it didn’t happen very often. Overall I really enjoyed it and would recommend this selection!

[Isabel Hansen]

I read this book because my mom suggested it. The main character, Stephanie Plum, resorted to becoming a bounty hunter because she is so broke and has no other option. Her biggest case is to find her old classmate that was a total puke growing up and is now a cop who is wanted for murder. While looking for him, she got herself in trouble with a disgusting boxer who was horrible to woman and almost got herself killed multiple times because of it. She finds her old classmate, Morelli, multiple times and is unable to bring him in because of her lack of physical capability and her odd admiration for him. Morelli ends up teaming up with Stephanie to catch the real criminals in the book. I would like to read the next book in this series.

[Monica Bailey]

2.5 stars - I feel a bit odd rating the abridged version of this book. I’m sure the full novel would have had better pacing, unfortunately the abridged version just kept throwing information and plot at me – it was too much, too quickly. While the storyline was funny and witty at times, it also then immediately turns around is unexpectedly dark and gruesome; more sexual violence than I had been anticipating. I will definitely check out the movie with Katherine Heigl.

[Denise "Ms. Q"]

I listened to full audiobook

What to expect... written in 1994

☎️Due to technology upgrades over time, some things are out of date (car phones, answering machines, etc.)
🚗 desperate, funny FMC in need of work, car, money
🔫 Some sexual violence is mentioned
🔫 witty humor in real-life situations with a new job
🔫 humorous and real-life family dynamic
🔫 murder mystery plot twist of who done it?
🔫 a tinge or longing for romance, but NO smut

[Dorothy Wood]

When I chose this audiobook, I did not realize that it was an abridged version. For a 3 hour listen, it was done pretty well. I have no doubt that I would have enjoyed the full version more - the characters didn't have much depth - it was pretty much all plot. I was really good at catching this when everything I listened to was on CD, but this was my first oops on Libby. I'll be more careful in the future.

[Hailey Trittin]

I listened to this on audio book read by Lori Petty and I really liked the voice actor. It brought my death to the book and I also like Stephanie’s character. I read a lot of mysteries and this one was very engaging and fast paced. I do with I read the unabridged version because there were some parts I felt I was missing. Either way it’s a great quick read and really fun. Sometimes it’s hard to add comedy to books like this but I think it was done really well.

[Kenzie King]

This book was decent, I don’t know that I would recommend it to anyone, but it was a good read. It was about a woman who needs to earn some extra money so she Become somebody who searches out people who have skipped their bail. It’s entertaining and has funny parts in it so overall, I’m not sad that I listen to it on audiobook, I just don’t know that I would recommend it to anyone as a great read.

[Gerry]

Janet's books are the best. If you want to read something that will make you laugh Janet is who you want to read. Especially, the Stephanie Plum series. If you live in or know the Trenton area specifically Chambers Burg, you can relate to what she writes about. Highly recommend reading all of the Plum series. I know I read this book previously and this one had a movie made about it. Both are well worth reading and watching.

[Chajua]

Honestly one of the best books I've read/listened to all year. Kept me guessing and enjoyed every part of the story. Hints of romance but no smut need to keep the story moving. Short and left me wanting to read/listen to more by this author. There is SA and some descriptive violence in this book but based on story line it made sense and was not over narrated.

[BrookeC]

No star rating because I only listened to the abridged audio version…unknowingly til 50% of the way in. However I’m glad because this 4hr sample let me know that I do not want to listen to the whole book or the rest of the series.
As great as the narration was and aside from the 90s nostalgia…the writing was not for me.

[Elle]

I read this literal decades ago and remember having such a blast with it! I’m bummed that I accidentally listened to the abridged version, and I don’t feel right in rating it. It was so fast-paced that it was hard to truly invest in anything/anyone/any situation. Perhaps a full length next time if I keep with the series. I could use the fun reading respite. Who couldn’t? In today’s economy???

[Kelly Berg]

I listen to this on audiobook while doing household chores this weekend. It was an OK story I probably would’ve given it 3 1/2 stars but because I was listening it on audiobook the narrator and the New Jersey accent was just driving me crazy. Easy easy read quick story if you’ve got an afternoon to kill it could be OK.

[Cynthia Whitehall]

This was a re-read for me, as this is one of my favorite series! The Stephanie Plum books make me laugh out loud and are a nice, light break from heavier books. I love spunky little old lady characters and so Grandma Mazur cracks me up! I also love how Stephanie kind of Forest Gump's her way through each bounty search and still comes out of it more or less unruffled.

[Gene Harries]

To be fair, I inadvertently checked out the abridged edition from the library. That said, I’m glad I did. For me the book didn’t warrant more time. Strictly personal preference, but it felt like a run of the mill television cop show. I’m gonna give the author another go though, I might jump to, “Hot Six”.

[Jill Auderer]

I'm not rating this. I didn't realize I had the abridged (3 hour audio) version until I was nearly finished! Neither library I use has an audiobook of the full book, nor do the have the next couple books in this series. Maybe someday when I have more free time, I will read the physical book.

[Lorna Bell]

This author was recommended to me by a friend, and I’m so glad I gave her a try! It was a refreshing change of pace. While the creepy character wasn’t exactly my favorite part, the plot kept me hooked—and I found myself laughing out loud more than once! The family dynamics were very realistic!

[Kate]

This book had such potential. It was comical at times, but honestly I couldn't sink my teeth into it. Other than the 2 main characters, the rest seemed like background noise and were severely under-developed. Not memorable in any way. What a bummer this book was such a loss!

[Jolynn]

My first (audio) book by Evanovich, whose name I’ve seen so many times. I wasn’t impressed. The dark and perverse behaviors and dialogue of some of the characters was a bit of a surprise to me, especially as it served no purpose in the story. Character development was lacking.

[Sarah Elizsabeth]

I didn’t realize this was the abridged version until reading Goodreads comments. It was extremely fast paced and felt like it was a lot happening. Curious as to what the full story reads.