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Description
Fiction. Mystery. Romance. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:#1 bestselling author Janet Evanovich�??s Stephanie Plum novels are: �??irresistible�?� (Houston Chronicle), �??stunning�?� (Booklist), �??outrageous�?� (Publishers Weekly), �??brilliantly evocative�?� (The Denver Post), and �??making trouble and winning hearts�?� (USA Today). 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 wan… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member jnwelch
Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich is the latest in the Stephanie Plum mystery series. Those who have read the first eighteen and are still getting a kick out of the schtick and humor will like this one, too. Her cars get blown up again, Ranger gets her feeling warm and willing down there,
As you may know even if you don't read this series, Stephanie is a bounty hunter in Trenton, New Jersey. She's not particularly skilled, and on the rare occasions she carries a gun she usually doesn't have bullets for it. She makes up for it with bravery, dogged persistence, and a charm that gets her through the worst scrapes. Toothsome cop Morelli and to-die-for security company owner Ranger have been in a romantic tug of war over her for most of the books. What sets the series apart for me is the humor. The first book actually had me laughing out loud on the commuter train, a novel experience for me back then. Some quotes from the series:
“My professional aspirations were simple - I wanted to be an intergalactic princess.”
“Lula had Eminem cranked up. He was rapping about trailer park girls and how they go round the outside, and I was wondering what the heck that meant. I'm a white girl from Trenton. I don't know these things. I need a rap cheat sheet.”
“Ranger was grinning. "Somebody beat the shit out of this guy before he got shot."
"That would be me."I said.
"Babe,"Ranger said, the grin widening.”
“This cigarette tastes like ass," she said.
I wasn't sure what ass tasted like, but she looked like she would know, so I was willing to take her word for it.”
Some of the humor derives from her always unsuccessful initial efforts to nab bond-skippers, and in this one, after its superstitious owner slips away from her first attempt, she holds his Tiki sculpture hostage in her car to try to entrap him. Her enlistment as a bridesmaid bodyguard, with a frilly unlikely dress, and Lulu's drawing on her prostitute past to get to see a bigwig, are a couple of the other very funny threads.
Someone from Ranger's past is trying to kill him and sabotage his business, and for once he wants Stephanie's help, rather than the other way around. She ends up breaking and entering, being poisoned, nearly being blown up several times, including once by rockets, and enlisting the help of a midget security guard to use a package chute to gain entry into a building where an embezzler may be holing up. All the while she's trying to be a monogamous good girl with Morelli while Ranger keeps heating her up. At the back of the book are Morelli and Ranger stickers, kind of like Team Edward and Team the Other Guy from the Twilight series. I've got a Morelli daughter and a Ranger wife. Stephanie manages to elude serious injury and all, other than the romantic entanglements, gets resolved satisfactorily in the end.
I saw one reader call these books "cupcakes for the brain", and that seems right on target. Some will say "enough cupcakes already", and take a pass on the next one, and some, like me and my two ladies, will be lined up at the counter when it comes out of the kitchen.
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Morelli gets her feeling warm and willing down there, Lula continues to think she just has more of what a man wants than others as she works her way through donuts, fried chicken, ribs and so on, Vinnie is slimy, Grandma Mazur cracks wise while while helping Stephanie and looking forward to funerals with open coffins, Stephanie's mom keeps cooking irresistible dinners and finding a need for some strong "iced tea" when her family goes askew again, and Stephanie's dad does his best to ignore what's going on around him.As you may know even if you don't read this series, Stephanie is a bounty hunter in Trenton, New Jersey. She's not particularly skilled, and on the rare occasions she carries a gun she usually doesn't have bullets for it. She makes up for it with bravery, dogged persistence, and a charm that gets her through the worst scrapes. Toothsome cop Morelli and to-die-for security company owner Ranger have been in a romantic tug of war over her for most of the books. What sets the series apart for me is the humor. The first book actually had me laughing out loud on the commuter train, a novel experience for me back then. Some quotes from the series:
“My professional aspirations were simple - I wanted to be an intergalactic princess.”
“Lula had Eminem cranked up. He was rapping about trailer park girls and how they go round the outside, and I was wondering what the heck that meant. I'm a white girl from Trenton. I don't know these things. I need a rap cheat sheet.”
“Ranger was grinning. "Somebody beat the shit out of this guy before he got shot."
"That would be me."I said.
"Babe,"Ranger said, the grin widening.”
“This cigarette tastes like ass," she said.
I wasn't sure what ass tasted like, but she looked like she would know, so I was willing to take her word for it.”
Some of the humor derives from her always unsuccessful initial efforts to nab bond-skippers, and in this one, after its superstitious owner slips away from her first attempt, she holds his Tiki sculpture hostage in her car to try to entrap him. Her enlistment as a bridesmaid bodyguard, with a frilly unlikely dress, and Lulu's drawing on her prostitute past to get to see a bigwig, are a couple of the other very funny threads.
Someone from Ranger's past is trying to kill him and sabotage his business, and for once he wants Stephanie's help, rather than the other way around. She ends up breaking and entering, being poisoned, nearly being blown up several times, including once by rockets, and enlisting the help of a midget security guard to use a package chute to gain entry into a building where an embezzler may be holing up. All the while she's trying to be a monogamous good girl with Morelli while Ranger keeps heating her up. At the back of the book are Morelli and Ranger stickers, kind of like Team Edward and Team the Other Guy from the Twilight series. I've got a Morelli daughter and a Ranger wife. Stephanie manages to elude serious injury and all, other than the romantic entanglements, gets resolved satisfactorily in the end.
I saw one reader call these books "cupcakes for the brain", and that seems right on target. Some will say "enough cupcakes already", and take a pass on the next one, and some, like me and my two ladies, will be lined up at the counter when it comes out of the kitchen.
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LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
I'm done with this series. I really enjoyed the first books in the series, and I liked some of the later ones, but they got a bit tiresome. With this last one, I'm giving up.
The problem is that some of the characters are changed, but nothing is really different. Stephanie Plum gets no better at
I listened to an audio version of this one, and the voices didn't work for me. Stephanie's voice didn't sound like a Jersey girl, and the male voices, read by the female narrator, sounded not at all right.
So, while I've enjoyed some of the books in this series when I've been in the mood for something light and entertaining, I'm moving on.
The problem is that some of the characters are changed, but nothing is really different. Stephanie Plum gets no better at
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capturing bail skippers. Lula still has to go to Cluck-In-a-Bucket. Stephanie's car(s) are destroyed. There is still the unresolved Ranger/Morelli conflict. Everything works out in the end. There is no progression.I listened to an audio version of this one, and the voices didn't work for me. Stephanie's voice didn't sound like a Jersey girl, and the male voices, read by the female narrator, sounded not at all right.
So, while I've enjoyed some of the books in this series when I've been in the mood for something light and entertaining, I'm moving on.
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LibraryThing member kykim
I love anything Janet Evanovich writes. Her Stephanie Plum novels never fail to make me laugh out loud. know there were a lot of negative reviews on this book, but I was satisfied with it. If you are looking for something fun to read with this is a good choice
LibraryThing member hobbitprincess
This was a fun read but not my favorite Plum book. I just didn't find myself laughing like I usually do with her books. There were some truly funny parts, but it seemed to drag in places. A couple of the characters, not the main ones, just annoyed me, and some of the action seem unrealistic, even
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by Plum standards. Still, it's a decent light read, and if you've read all the others, you must read this one too. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mathenam
Another entertaining Stephanie Plum book. I have to admit I found myself getting frustrated with Stephanie in this book. She is in a relationship with Morelli, but she continues to flirt around with Ranger. Personally, I'm Team Ranger, but it didn't seem funny or cute anymore when Morelli is at
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home waiting for her. The book had several LOL moments for me, usually provided by Lula. The shenanigans were typical of every other Stephanie Plum book that you've ever read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Meggle
I don't really know what to say about this series any more, all the stories have become so similar they kind of blend together. Stephanie is chasing her usual skips with the ever-hungry Lula in tow. She gets recruited by Ranger as an extra set of eyes at the wedding of an old army buddy of his.
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Cars are blown up, donuts get eaten, Morelli tosses around the idea of marriage, blah blah blah. The thing that bothers me about this series is that nothing ever really happens. I feel like Stephanie has been doing the same old thing for the past fifteen or so books and I'm tired of it. I really thought this book would be more exciting with Stephanie teaming with Ranger and all but I was rather disappointed. Show Less
LibraryThing member arielfl
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 insane drivel. Another mystery I ponder is how Evanovich gets away with
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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. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kathy89
Another Stephanie Plum book with cars being blown up, her apartment being hit with a grenade, her hair set on fire. Lula helps with the mayhem, and grandma helps with the local gossip. Nothing new except that Morelli admits to being in love with her and she tells him she loves him while secretly
It's amusing in Stephanie's way but there's nothing new to make it stand out from the others in the series.
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lusting for Ranger. It's amusing in Stephanie's way but there's nothing new to make it stand out from the others in the series.
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LibraryThing member brainella
As always, Stephanie Plum keeps you amused and reading. You never know when an RPG will find her car, or someone is stalking her, or who's bed she'll end up in. Grandma Mazur and Lula always help keep the fun rolling.
LibraryThing member Rennee
Stephanie Plum, Lula and the rest of the cast are at it again but like Eighteen, they are going down hill faster than Connie can look things up on her computer. It didn't make me laugh in fact if any thing it was boring. Sorry, Janet, Looks like it's time for everyone to settle down and have normal
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lifes. Show Less
LibraryThing member AVoraciousReader
Stephanie Plum is a Bail Enforcement Agent. A bounty hunter extraordinaire. Well, a bounty hunter anyway. One who gets her target usually more by dumb luck than any real skill. Once again she needs rent and this time she has a big fish to catch. Geoffrey Cubbin was accused of embezzling $5 million
I’ve read all of the Stephanie Plum books over the years and I’ve enjoyed them all. Some more than others especially in the middle when they seemed to lag and tended to be same ol’, same ol’, but they’ve picked back up again. This book was a quick humorous read with my favorite characters, Lula, Grandma Mazur and Ranger. Ah, Ranger. Yes, I am firmly on Team Ranger. I don’t like how Morelli treats Stephanie and I really don’t like how Stephanie lets him do it. Ranger may not be a marrying man, but he’s always there for her and he isn’t trying to change her.
Anyway, *wipes drool away* I’m not sure how much longer the series will be able to go on with Stephanie not able to pick one firmly over the other, but I’ll be along for the ride. I enjoy watching her screw up yet still get the job done. And those cars. *shakes head* How does she manage to get any insurance? LOL Bring on #20!
*Thank you to my husband for giving this book to me for Christmas.
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from a retirement home, but he disappeared after being taken to a hospital for an appendectomy. How did he manage to leave without anyone seeing? Did he have help on the hospital staff? Stephanie is about to dig around to find out because she has bills to pay and his high bond means big bucks for her if she can bring him in. Trouble is, nothing is ever easy for Stephanie.I’ve read all of the Stephanie Plum books over the years and I’ve enjoyed them all. Some more than others especially in the middle when they seemed to lag and tended to be same ol’, same ol’, but they’ve picked back up again. This book was a quick humorous read with my favorite characters, Lula, Grandma Mazur and Ranger. Ah, Ranger. Yes, I am firmly on Team Ranger. I don’t like how Morelli treats Stephanie and I really don’t like how Stephanie lets him do it. Ranger may not be a marrying man, but he’s always there for her and he isn’t trying to change her.
Anyway, *wipes drool away* I’m not sure how much longer the series will be able to go on with Stephanie not able to pick one firmly over the other, but I’ll be along for the ride. I enjoy watching her screw up yet still get the job done. And those cars. *shakes head* How does she manage to get any insurance? LOL Bring on #20!
*Thank you to my husband for giving this book to me for Christmas.
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LibraryThing member epkwrsmith
Summary
Stephanie, Morelli, Ranger, Lula, Connie, Vinnie, Grandma Mazur and Stephanie's parents once again are neck deep in bond skips, pot roast, an albino Yeti, a dwarf, disappearing bodies, a deranged ex-military man, innuendo, exploding cars, a nudie beach, donuts, spandex, and a ton of comic
What I Liked
Morelli - no surprise here...I've been a Morelli gal the entire series. I like his honesty, his Sicilian background, his job, the way he admits he loves Stephanie even though he doesn't completely understand why, the way he takes care of Bob the dog, his home, the way he respects his mother and grandmother even though both are nuts, and on and on and on. He's the one for Stephanie...but I'm just not sure exactly how...or when.
Ranger - ahem, ok, so maybe it took me longer than everybody else to see his quiet but dangerous charm...but I really warmed up to him in Notorious Nineteen. One particularly feverish scene is when Ranger is fitting Stephanie with a listening device.
Oh my.
I still don't think he's for Stephanie though...we learn a little more about his background in Notorious Nineteen, and it's just enough to reinforce for me that Ranger is probably more damaged than Stephanie can even imagine...and may never be able to live a normal life.
I get it. I've been almost mad a Stephanie for a while bc she won't just marry Morelli...but I get it now. Morelli and Stephanie are good together as is. But, I don't see either of them being happy domesticated. Morelli dealt better with Stephanie's job in Notorious Nineteen than he ever has, which is a good thing if he plans on keeping her.
Lula - by 10 pages in, I was snorting at Lula's sincere but humorous attempts at being a bounty hunter.
The overall, major mystery was an effective one I thought...one that seemed well thought out and put together. The final resolving of the issue and closure for the wife left behind was a nice touch as well.
FINALLY, Stephanie eats a salad or two instead of donuts and fast food all the time.
What I Didn't Like
Pretty quick wrap-up of one of the main plotlines - so quick that for the next ten pages or so after it was resolved, I kept thinking Evanovich was going to pull the "the dead villain wasn't dead after all" scenario...but it really was over.
The "how many cars can Stephanie blow up in a day" thingie is gettin a little old...just sayin'
Overall Recommendations
If you're a fan of the Stephanie Plum series, I think you'll enjoy this installment. A book that can make you laugh out loud from time to time is very definitely a good thing. Don't try to overthink it though...just go with the flow and let it entertain you.
If you're not a fan of the series, I definitely say start at the beginning. I think you need the history of the characters and how their lives intertwine to add to the reading experience.
Stephanie, Morelli, Ranger, Lula, Connie, Vinnie, Grandma Mazur and Stephanie's parents once again are neck deep in bond skips, pot roast, an albino Yeti, a dwarf, disappearing bodies, a deranged ex-military man, innuendo, exploding cars, a nudie beach, donuts, spandex, and a ton of comic
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relief.What I Liked
Morelli - no surprise here...I've been a Morelli gal the entire series. I like his honesty, his Sicilian background, his job, the way he admits he loves Stephanie even though he doesn't completely understand why, the way he takes care of Bob the dog, his home, the way he respects his mother and grandmother even though both are nuts, and on and on and on. He's the one for Stephanie...but I'm just not sure exactly how...or when.
Ranger - ahem, ok, so maybe it took me longer than everybody else to see his quiet but dangerous charm...but I really warmed up to him in Notorious Nineteen. One particularly feverish scene is when Ranger is fitting Stephanie with a listening device.
Oh my.
I still don't think he's for Stephanie though...we learn a little more about his background in Notorious Nineteen, and it's just enough to reinforce for me that Ranger is probably more damaged than Stephanie can even imagine...and may never be able to live a normal life.
I get it. I've been almost mad a Stephanie for a while bc she won't just marry Morelli...but I get it now. Morelli and Stephanie are good together as is. But, I don't see either of them being happy domesticated. Morelli dealt better with Stephanie's job in Notorious Nineteen than he ever has, which is a good thing if he plans on keeping her.
Lula - by 10 pages in, I was snorting at Lula's sincere but humorous attempts at being a bounty hunter.
The overall, major mystery was an effective one I thought...one that seemed well thought out and put together. The final resolving of the issue and closure for the wife left behind was a nice touch as well.
FINALLY, Stephanie eats a salad or two instead of donuts and fast food all the time.
What I Didn't Like
Pretty quick wrap-up of one of the main plotlines - so quick that for the next ten pages or so after it was resolved, I kept thinking Evanovich was going to pull the "the dead villain wasn't dead after all" scenario...but it really was over.
The "how many cars can Stephanie blow up in a day" thingie is gettin a little old...just sayin'
Overall Recommendations
If you're a fan of the Stephanie Plum series, I think you'll enjoy this installment. A book that can make you laugh out loud from time to time is very definitely a good thing. Don't try to overthink it though...just go with the flow and let it entertain you.
If you're not a fan of the series, I definitely say start at the beginning. I think you need the history of the characters and how their lives intertwine to add to the reading experience.
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
Perpetually strapped for cash, Stephanie's on the hunt for a bail jumper gone missing from a local hospital... along with 5 million in cash embezzled from a nearby retirement community. Accompanied by Lula and assisted - in her best blond bombshell disguise - by Grandma Mazur, Stephanie's no more
The humor's back, and unlike Seventeen and Eighteen which seemed sort of phoned in, this one actually had me cracking up in spots. Still a fast evening's read, but it didn't disappoint.
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effective than usual at staying out of trouble... or at keeping her cars from exploding. A side-job with Ranger has the heat turning up, but Minelli's thinking Stephanie might like a career change - to housewife.The humor's back, and unlike Seventeen and Eighteen which seemed sort of phoned in, this one actually had me cracking up in spots. Still a fast evening's read, but it didn't disappoint.
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LibraryThing member ethel55
After surviving the titles in the early teens, I feel Evanovich as rewarded us a bit for our staying power. Stephanie's newest outing hits all the requisite plot points. There's dinner with her parents (leftover for Morelli!), Lula eats a lot, cars blow up and there's not enough Ranger. The skip
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this time leads to a hospital and assisted living facility, providing ample face time for Grandma Mazur and her contacts. I will stick around for number 20. Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
All very much as usual in Stephanie's world, cars are blown up, fugitives escape Stephanie's life is under threat and she still can't quite commit to Morelli. It passed the time, but I'm not sure why I keep on reading this series as nothing new has happened in any of the books for a long time,
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which is sad. Maybe I should stop, but bad habits are hard to break and there's lays the hope that Evanovich will write an unexpected plot twist, but the further we get into the series the more unlikely that seems. Show Less
LibraryThing member AddictedToMorphemes
These books are like watching a weekly sitcom. They are still funny, but they are each pretty much a repeat of the one before it with just a variation on the bumbling villians that are always trying to kill Stephanie.
The joke about all the visits to Cluck in a Bucket and donut shops is not funny
we've read before.
The joke about all the visits to Cluck in a Bucket and donut shops is not funny
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anymore. Lula still comes up with some great one-liners, however, even though some of them are (again) just variations on what we've read before.
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LibraryThing member Twink
I used a rare three days off last weekend to get all of my Christmas decorations up. And at the end of the day, I thought I just needed something fun to read by the twinkle of my newly hung lights.
My choice? The latest in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich - Notorious Nineteen. (For those
Stephanie is still working as a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinnie in New Jersey. Her trusty sidekicks Lula (a one time self described 'ho ), office manager Connie and her Grandma Mazur are still by her side. But not too close - Stephanie seems to be a magnet for trouble - notably for destroying cars.
The rent is due, so Stephanie is happy to get a skip that could pay her big bucks. A local retirement home owner has embezzled millions from the facility. He went into the hospital for emergency surgery, then vanished - along with the money. Detective Joe Morelli is also looking into the case. Security expert Ranger has hired her to watch his back at a wedding for one of his staff. (A horrible pink dress is involved.) And Steph seems to growing quite attached to a Tiki statue that may or may not be giving her advice. All in all, a typical day in the 'Burg.
And yes, the sexual tension is still there - between Steph and Ranger......and Steph and Morelli. Although, Evanovich does let Stephanie have some thoughts about her future in this book. Marriage? It might be time for Steph to make a decision. And Evanovich too - the last few books are virtually copies of themselves with the names of the skips changed.
But, the Plum books are fun to read. They're light-hearted and won't tax your brain. The whodunit isn't overly difficult to figure out, but it's the journey there that's enjoyable. And we all could use a good chuckle.
Reading these books is like a bowl of your favourite candy - you keep dipping your hand in, knowing what to expect, but you still enjoy every mouthful. (Yes, there was some Christmas candy involved in my reading...) And of course there is the burning question.....who would you pick? Morelli or Ranger? I'm kinda leaning towards Ranger.....
My choice? The latest in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich - Notorious Nineteen. (For those
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of you unfamiliar with these books - it is indeed the 19th book!)Stephanie is still working as a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinnie in New Jersey. Her trusty sidekicks Lula (a one time self described 'ho ), office manager Connie and her Grandma Mazur are still by her side. But not too close - Stephanie seems to be a magnet for trouble - notably for destroying cars.
The rent is due, so Stephanie is happy to get a skip that could pay her big bucks. A local retirement home owner has embezzled millions from the facility. He went into the hospital for emergency surgery, then vanished - along with the money. Detective Joe Morelli is also looking into the case. Security expert Ranger has hired her to watch his back at a wedding for one of his staff. (A horrible pink dress is involved.) And Steph seems to growing quite attached to a Tiki statue that may or may not be giving her advice. All in all, a typical day in the 'Burg.
And yes, the sexual tension is still there - between Steph and Ranger......and Steph and Morelli. Although, Evanovich does let Stephanie have some thoughts about her future in this book. Marriage? It might be time for Steph to make a decision. And Evanovich too - the last few books are virtually copies of themselves with the names of the skips changed.
But, the Plum books are fun to read. They're light-hearted and won't tax your brain. The whodunit isn't overly difficult to figure out, but it's the journey there that's enjoyable. And we all could use a good chuckle.
Reading these books is like a bowl of your favourite candy - you keep dipping your hand in, knowing what to expect, but you still enjoy every mouthful. (Yes, there was some Christmas candy involved in my reading...) And of course there is the burning question.....who would you pick? Morelli or Ranger? I'm kinda leaning towards Ranger.....
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LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
This mystery series is like great comfort food-enjoyable, familiar, and always makes you feel good. Stephanie gets her car blown up and ends up in a myriad of near-disastrous situations, is torn between two gorgeous men, each with their own pros and cons (I'm one hundred percent a Cupcake girl!),
I thoroughly enjoy every time I get to return to this series, and I hope they never change.
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gets into hilarious hijinks with former-prostitute Lula, and attempts to bring in unique criminals who have skipped out on their bond. I thoroughly enjoy every time I get to return to this series, and I hope they never change.
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LibraryThing member miyurose
Once you’ve reached the 19th book in a series, there’s not a whole lot to say about new installments. At least, not in this series. This was really just more of the same. Stephanie + Lula + Morelli + Ranger + some weirdo skips = hijinks. While the same old, same old works well for the straight
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romances Evanovich used to write, it’s not working for a series this long. I did like the mystery in this one more than the last one — at least it made some sense to me. But otherwise, this series just doesn’t excite me any more. It might be time for Stephanie to take everyone’s advice and retire. Show Less
LibraryThing member LCOP
You can almost hear the blues music to this. The book starts off supposedly with a "Bang". But to me it has been there done that, I couldn't even care.
If you have been a devoted reader to this series, I would pass, or at the very least wait for paperback.
This doesn't feel like a spoiler b/c it is
Her car gets blown up in the first 10 pages, really????? Wow, that has never happened before. Then Ranger calls, and "Babe" like that hasn't become overused. I know it is in character, but they are not changing or growing.
I no longer feel tension when she is around the guys I just roll my eyes and wonder how magical could her girly bits be for these hot guys to put up with this? Her personality is not that great - she is her own caricature. I blame myself for buying it.
I returned it, I have read this before, and there is so much useless filler on "life in the Burg" that feels cut and pasted from other books.
If you have never read these books it might feel light and original and amusing, if you are on notorious nineteen and actually on nineteen, I would pass. A couple of reviews gave me hope, but the story did not live up to the promise of those reviews. I did not even care about the mystery. It kind of reminds me of the Sookie books, just end it, don't keep dragging it on.
If you have been a devoted reader to this series, I would pass, or at the very least wait for paperback.
This doesn't feel like a spoiler b/c it is
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so cliche - but I suppose it could be.Her car gets blown up in the first 10 pages, really????? Wow, that has never happened before. Then Ranger calls, and "Babe" like that hasn't become overused. I know it is in character, but they are not changing or growing.
I no longer feel tension when she is around the guys I just roll my eyes and wonder how magical could her girly bits be for these hot guys to put up with this? Her personality is not that great - she is her own caricature. I blame myself for buying it.
I returned it, I have read this before, and there is so much useless filler on "life in the Burg" that feels cut and pasted from other books.
If you have never read these books it might feel light and original and amusing, if you are on notorious nineteen and actually on nineteen, I would pass. A couple of reviews gave me hope, but the story did not live up to the promise of those reviews. I did not even care about the mystery. It kind of reminds me of the Sookie books, just end it, don't keep dragging it on.
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LibraryThing member ReginaR
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member RobinBrz
I've read this book before...
At least that's what my notes say. What I mean is, after so many adventures with Stephanie and the gang the books have become well, familiar. In the case of Notorious Nineteen that isn't necessarily a bad thing as the rest of my notes say things like, "it was a fun and
But for me there is something bigger at hand, and I find myself wondering,
is it time for us to say goodbye?
It seems like I've been in this situation a lot recently and I'm not sure what to do. Several of my favorite authors write series that have been going on for years with no apparent end in sight. And I have to ask myself when is the right time to say goodbye?
Let's take Stephanie as an example. I love her! For years her antics have made me laugh out loud. I've looked forward to dinner with her family and found myself torn between Ranger and Morelli. I've gotten to know the people she works with and the people of Trenton. I am concerned that no one ever bats an eye when her car is blown up, and I think the use of a rocket launcher is extreme even in Jersey, but I'm willing to accept it as part of the formula.
With each book I've been content to read what amounts to the same story over and over again. Oh, the names changes and there are always variations in the skips personalities and crimes. Sadly for me it has become predictable and dare I say stagnant. I think around book 10 or 12 I started hoping that something big would happen. Maybe she would travel outside of New Jersey. Maybe there would be a pregnancy or at least a scare. Maybe she would be forced to choose between Ranger and Morelli or maybe there would be a new love interest. The jacket of 18 raised my hopes with talk of a Hawaiian adventure, but instead of setting the book there we were back in Trenton with only a glimpse of what happened on her trip. How much fun and trouble could we have had in a fresh location like Hawaii?!
For quite a while I've been waiting for Stephanie to grow up. But like the kids from Mystery, Inc. in the Scooby Doo cartoons she seems to be trapped in a time warp. That's when it dawned on me. These books really are similar to 1/2 hour shows like The Simpsons, King of the Hill and yes, Scooby-Doo. In each episode the regular cast has an adventure. The same characters show up again and again, no one ever ages, and at the end of the show the mystery, problem or event is neatly wrapped up. At first I was comparing the books to 1/2 hour sitcoms (like Seinfeld, Fraiser or Friends), but I think the cartoons are a better fit because of the aging thing. Now let me say that I love The Simpsons and Scooby-Doo and right now I can't get enough of King of the Hill. But I'm not sure that's what I want from my books. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love and appreciate "lite" reading and the pleasure I get from a funny story that doesn't require much effort on my part. But my time is valuable and I have to ask myself, do I want to spend the time I set aside for books reading something I've read so many times before? And more importantly do I want to risk ruining the relationship I've enjoyed for so long because I'm jaded by her lack of development?
When I sat down to read 19 I approached it with an open mind and no expectations for changes in the story line. I knew what I was in for and that was ok. Because of this I found that I enjoyed it much more than the last 3 or 4. But that still doesn't make me feel great about it.
So how long does Ms. Evanovich plan on keeping Stephanie around? I have to wonder if she is content to keep writing these books or is she ready to wrap things up and move on? I suppose it might be hard to retire a character who consistently spends several weeks a year at the top of the NY Times best seller list (it's #8 this week), and lets face it is likely the primary source of income.
Personally I am ready to say goodbye. It's time for something new. We've shown it by embracing the Wicked series as well as the light- hearted Love in a Nutshell. I know I'm looking forward to the upcoming The Husband List with Nutshell co-author Dorien Kelly that comes out January 8 much more than #20 in the Plum series.
There are several authors facing this dilemma. Perhaps Ms. Evanovich will take the lead and gracefully end Stephanie's reign as the most beloved bounty hunter ever. And then we can all feel good about the time we spent together!
At least that's what my notes say. What I mean is, after so many adventures with Stephanie and the gang the books have become well, familiar. In the case of Notorious Nineteen that isn't necessarily a bad thing as the rest of my notes say things like, "it was a fun and
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easy" and "I'm glad I decided to give it a chance." It has all the things I know and love about Stephanie plus the right blend of funny characters and wacky hijinks. I got a big kick out of Tiki and the trip with Lula to Atlantic City to catch a skip. I also felt like the story's mystery has a bit more substance than recent offerings. But for me there is something bigger at hand, and I find myself wondering,
is it time for us to say goodbye?
It seems like I've been in this situation a lot recently and I'm not sure what to do. Several of my favorite authors write series that have been going on for years with no apparent end in sight. And I have to ask myself when is the right time to say goodbye?
Let's take Stephanie as an example. I love her! For years her antics have made me laugh out loud. I've looked forward to dinner with her family and found myself torn between Ranger and Morelli. I've gotten to know the people she works with and the people of Trenton. I am concerned that no one ever bats an eye when her car is blown up, and I think the use of a rocket launcher is extreme even in Jersey, but I'm willing to accept it as part of the formula.
With each book I've been content to read what amounts to the same story over and over again. Oh, the names changes and there are always variations in the skips personalities and crimes. Sadly for me it has become predictable and dare I say stagnant. I think around book 10 or 12 I started hoping that something big would happen. Maybe she would travel outside of New Jersey. Maybe there would be a pregnancy or at least a scare. Maybe she would be forced to choose between Ranger and Morelli or maybe there would be a new love interest. The jacket of 18 raised my hopes with talk of a Hawaiian adventure, but instead of setting the book there we were back in Trenton with only a glimpse of what happened on her trip. How much fun and trouble could we have had in a fresh location like Hawaii?!
For quite a while I've been waiting for Stephanie to grow up. But like the kids from Mystery, Inc. in the Scooby Doo cartoons she seems to be trapped in a time warp. That's when it dawned on me. These books really are similar to 1/2 hour shows like The Simpsons, King of the Hill and yes, Scooby-Doo. In each episode the regular cast has an adventure. The same characters show up again and again, no one ever ages, and at the end of the show the mystery, problem or event is neatly wrapped up. At first I was comparing the books to 1/2 hour sitcoms (like Seinfeld, Fraiser or Friends), but I think the cartoons are a better fit because of the aging thing. Now let me say that I love The Simpsons and Scooby-Doo and right now I can't get enough of King of the Hill. But I'm not sure that's what I want from my books. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love and appreciate "lite" reading and the pleasure I get from a funny story that doesn't require much effort on my part. But my time is valuable and I have to ask myself, do I want to spend the time I set aside for books reading something I've read so many times before? And more importantly do I want to risk ruining the relationship I've enjoyed for so long because I'm jaded by her lack of development?
When I sat down to read 19 I approached it with an open mind and no expectations for changes in the story line. I knew what I was in for and that was ok. Because of this I found that I enjoyed it much more than the last 3 or 4. But that still doesn't make me feel great about it.
So how long does Ms. Evanovich plan on keeping Stephanie around? I have to wonder if she is content to keep writing these books or is she ready to wrap things up and move on? I suppose it might be hard to retire a character who consistently spends several weeks a year at the top of the NY Times best seller list (it's #8 this week), and lets face it is likely the primary source of income.
Personally I am ready to say goodbye. It's time for something new. We've shown it by embracing the Wicked series as well as the light- hearted Love in a Nutshell. I know I'm looking forward to the upcoming The Husband List with Nutshell co-author Dorien Kelly that comes out January 8 much more than #20 in the Plum series.
There are several authors facing this dilemma. Perhaps Ms. Evanovich will take the lead and gracefully end Stephanie's reign as the most beloved bounty hunter ever. And then we can all feel good about the time we spent together!
Show Less
LibraryThing member matamgirl
I believe that this one was better than the previous one but it was still fairly standard stuff. Stephanie is mostly with Morelli but Ranger is an option, Stephanie is a bad bounty hunter, Grandma and Lula provide comic relief, Stephanie's car is blown up etc etc. I think this was definitely better
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than the previous two books but it would be nice to have some final resolution. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jaguar897
This series became stagnant pretty quickly after the first few books. After around book 4 or so, each book starts to blend in. You can pretty much pick the series up at any number and not miss a beat because there's no progress in character development, plot line or anything else for that matter.
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There's only one small blip in one of the books (can't even remember which one at the moment) where the characters deviate from their pigeon holed roles. The only thing that changes is the mystery and even the mystery part of it tends blend in as well. So why keep reading? Well, because it's pure fluff. Sometimes, you just need a good slapstick comedy to cleanse your reading palate and that's what Evanovich provides for her readers. So while, I keep complaining about how stagnant this series is and how Stephanie needs to pick a man already I'll probably keep reading it as long as Evanovich provides the fluff and humor. Show Less
LibraryThing member pjh1984
Honestly what did I think? I have to upgrade #18 to a 2 since I can't give out negatives.
I'm still waiting for a chuckle, a snicker, a snigger, a... well something, anything. All I got was
I'm still waiting for a chuckle, a snicker, a snigger, a... well something, anything. All I got was
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"yadayadayadacarblewupyadalulucomplainsyadarangermakespassyadamorellidoeswhatevermorellidoesandplumditzeanddithers" Usually at least I get a chuckle out of it. Glad I did not pay for this. Evanovich should start paying her readers. Anyone sure she really wrote this and didn't 'hand it off to a 10 year old? Show Less