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G.P. Putnam's Sons (2019), 320 pages
Description
Grandma Mazur is a widow...again. This time her marriage lasted a whole 45 minutes. The unlucky groom was one Jimmy Rosolli, local gangster, lothario (senior division) and heart attack waiting to happen...well, the waiting's over. It's a sad day, but if she can't have Jimmy at least Grandma can have all the attention she wants as the dutiful widow. But some kinds of attention are not welcomed, particularly when Jimmy's former "business partners" are convinced that his widow is keeping the keys to their financial success for herself. As someone who has spent an entire career finding bad guys, a set of missing keys should be no challenge for Stephanie Plum. Problem is, the facts are as twisted as a boardwalk pretzel with mustard.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Cats57
Now, THIS is the type of Stephanie Plum book I have come to know and love -I love the mobster theme, I love the fact that she isn't losing cars left and right. I love the fact that this has to do with Grandma...and I eve love the fact that these last two books (this one included) have cliff
I got some belly laughs, I had the sinking feeling of horror just like when I read the very first Plum book, I got very involed in what was going on, I didn't even mind the fact that Ranger and Joe felt the need to keep Stephanie safe. Let's face it, she is not a kick-ass heroine!---I just loved it so very much.
I loved this book so much that I am going to re-read this tomorrow, giving me a whole two days of waiting to re-read!
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hangers. Not huge ones but ones that will lead to the next book.I got some belly laughs, I had the sinking feeling of horror just like when I read the very first Plum book, I got very involed in what was going on, I didn't even mind the fact that Ranger and Joe felt the need to keep Stephanie safe. Let's face it, she is not a kick-ass heroine!---I just loved it so very much.
I loved this book so much that I am going to re-read this tomorrow, giving me a whole two days of waiting to re-read!
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LibraryThing member JoniMFisher
Mobsters, mayhem, and Grandma Mazur lead the craziness in this suspenseful romp through Trenton with bail bonds agent Stephanie Plum. A fast-paced story.
LibraryThing member BarbaraRogers
Series: Stephanie Plum #26
Publication Date: 11/12/19
Number of Pages: 320
This is the perfect book for a dark, dreary winterish afternoon (or even a sunny happy afternoon). The zany antics of Stephanie along with her family, friends, and co-workers will keep you smiling. Yes, sometimes they are
Grandma Mazur was married for all of forty-five minutes before the groom keeled over – dead. Who knew he had a bad heart? Now, his other octogenarian mob cohorts are after Grandma because they are sure that she has ‘the keys’. Everybody knows that there are ‘keys’, but nobody seems to know what they unlock – but they all believe that there is a treasure involved. It is up to Stephanie, Morelli, and Ranger to keep Grandma safe. Of course, Grandma doesn’t help matters – she has to attend the funeral, the wake, bake sales, bingo – you name it.
Aside from trying to keep Grandma Mazur safe, Stephanie is having a pretty good week. Stephanie works for a bail bondsman and it is her job to bring in people who have skipped out on their bail. She’s had several skippers this week and has retrieved them all – including one who brought in a pretty good paycheck for her. So, her rent is paid and she has groceries in her cupboards. (Picture Dog the Bounty Hunter without the talent of skill).
Then, the first attempt at a kidnapping occurs. It was easy to tell they were amateurs, but that didn’t keep them from being scary. They enraged Stephanie’s mom so much that she took her iron to one of them, and the other one ran off. As the paramedics are there to see after the injured one – Lula asks:
"Is he dead?"
"Not yet," Grandma said.
"Good thing," Lula said. "If California found out a guy got killed with an iron, they'd ban them, and all those movie stars would be wrinkled all the time."
Ranger has his security guys watching the house and trailing after Grandma and Morelli is investigating on the police side, but grandma and then Stephanie manage to get themselves kidnapped. They are in the hands of some really bad guys – can they save themselves? Will it be Ranger and/or Morelli to the rescue? Who knew Stephanie could drive a cement truck?
I was well entertained from the first page to the last. If there was a downside, it was that Stephanie is back to her dissatisfaction with her life. This seems to happen every three or four books and it gets a tad tiresome because she whines and complains, but is never willing to do anything about it.
Publication Date: 11/12/19
Number of Pages: 320
This is the perfect book for a dark, dreary winterish afternoon (or even a sunny happy afternoon). The zany antics of Stephanie along with her family, friends, and co-workers will keep you smiling. Yes, sometimes they are
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over-the-top and a bit annoying, but all-in-all, they are an enjoyable and entertaining read.Grandma Mazur was married for all of forty-five minutes before the groom keeled over – dead. Who knew he had a bad heart? Now, his other octogenarian mob cohorts are after Grandma because they are sure that she has ‘the keys’. Everybody knows that there are ‘keys’, but nobody seems to know what they unlock – but they all believe that there is a treasure involved. It is up to Stephanie, Morelli, and Ranger to keep Grandma safe. Of course, Grandma doesn’t help matters – she has to attend the funeral, the wake, bake sales, bingo – you name it.
Aside from trying to keep Grandma Mazur safe, Stephanie is having a pretty good week. Stephanie works for a bail bondsman and it is her job to bring in people who have skipped out on their bail. She’s had several skippers this week and has retrieved them all – including one who brought in a pretty good paycheck for her. So, her rent is paid and she has groceries in her cupboards. (Picture Dog the Bounty Hunter without the talent of skill).
Then, the first attempt at a kidnapping occurs. It was easy to tell they were amateurs, but that didn’t keep them from being scary. They enraged Stephanie’s mom so much that she took her iron to one of them, and the other one ran off. As the paramedics are there to see after the injured one – Lula asks:
"Is he dead?"
"Not yet," Grandma said.
"Good thing," Lula said. "If California found out a guy got killed with an iron, they'd ban them, and all those movie stars would be wrinkled all the time."
Ranger has his security guys watching the house and trailing after Grandma and Morelli is investigating on the police side, but grandma and then Stephanie manage to get themselves kidnapped. They are in the hands of some really bad guys – can they save themselves? Will it be Ranger and/or Morelli to the rescue? Who knew Stephanie could drive a cement truck?
I was well entertained from the first page to the last. If there was a downside, it was that Stephanie is back to her dissatisfaction with her life. This seems to happen every three or four books and it gets a tad tiresome because she whines and complains, but is never willing to do anything about it.
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LibraryThing member Maydacat
Grandma Mazur has married a member of the mob and 45 minutes later, her honey has a heart attack and dies. Now, his cohorts think he has disclosed to Grandma Mazur the location of some all important keys. She has no idea what they are talking about, but now her life, as well as Stephanie’s since
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she is protecting her, are in jeopardy. Luckily, Morelli and Ranger are protecting both of them. But they can’t be with them 24/7 and bad things are eminent. On top of all this, Stephanie is having doubts about her career as a bounty officer. While she and Lula are running down the derilects that seem to be worse each time, Stephanie wonders why she isn’t doing something better. This tale has some serious moments but is liberally sprinkled with some serious humor, too. This series is candy for the reader: it may not make us a better person, but boy, we devour it, enjoying every word. Show Less
LibraryThing member jfe16
When Grandma Edna Mazur makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to marry local gangster Jimmy Rosolli, she doesn’t know she’ll become a widow some forty-five minutes later. And when Jimmy’s two ex-wives, three sisters, one daughter, and four La-Z-Boy partners decide she’s holding out on them,
However, they hadn’t counted on Grandma’s bounty-hunter granddaughter . . . and Stephanie Plum will do whatever it takes to keep Grandma Mazur safe. But will she be able to find the answer to the missing fortune and the keys that promise to lead to the money?
The twenty-sixth outing for Stephanie Plum and company has all the expected players in place. There are escapades a-plenty, bail-jumping chases, copious wise-cracking, and plenty of laughs along the way to [gasp] a cliffhanger [presumably addressed in “Fortune and Glory,” the next book in the series]. And Stephanie’s having a mini-crisis over the state of her life.
Readers . . . especially fans of the series . . . are sure to find Stephanie’s latest adventure keeps them chuckling as they turn the pages as quickly as they can.
Recommended.
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keeping the keys to a financial bonanza all to herself, things turn dangerous. However, they hadn’t counted on Grandma’s bounty-hunter granddaughter . . . and Stephanie Plum will do whatever it takes to keep Grandma Mazur safe. But will she be able to find the answer to the missing fortune and the keys that promise to lead to the money?
The twenty-sixth outing for Stephanie Plum and company has all the expected players in place. There are escapades a-plenty, bail-jumping chases, copious wise-cracking, and plenty of laughs along the way to [gasp] a cliffhanger [presumably addressed in “Fortune and Glory,” the next book in the series]. And Stephanie’s having a mini-crisis over the state of her life.
Readers . . . especially fans of the series . . . are sure to find Stephanie’s latest adventure keeps them chuckling as they turn the pages as quickly as they can.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member JenniferRobb
3.5 stars (rating shown may differ depending on whether the site allows half-star ratings).
Warning: Spoilers May Follow--Read at your own discretion.
*****
I liked this installment more than I liked the previous two. Some of the best parts of the series continue or return and some of the things that
What I liked:
Stephanie and Lula seem to have become more competent at their apprehensions. They make two or three without incident--yes, there's one that keeps evading them, but that's part of the charm of the series. (My complaint had been that for as long as Stephanie's been doing this, she never seemed to get better at it.)
Stephanie fire-bombing her own car. Humorous and it took me back to earlier books in the series. I look forward to reading new ways for Stephanie to lose cars in each book. I also liked the part about her driving the cement truck.
Some of the humor reminded me of earlier books in the series--ones I enjoyed.
Ranger seemed more human. He ate cookies (well, a cookie at least). He shows he cares for Stephanie in his own way. He and Stephanie have a conversation about life goals. I liked the way he treated Stephanie when they finally got the cement truck stopped.
We get to see that Stephanie's parents really do care for Grandma Mazur even if the way they show it to her isn't conventional.
Stephanie seems to have chosen Morelli though she is still somewhat tempted by Ranger. Ranger doesn't overtly push her to cheat on Morelli though we still know that there is interest from both sides.
What I didn't like:
Ranger is too competent to have given Stephanie and Grandma homing pendants that he hadn't tested to see if they worked. We never find out why they don't work: was it a plan of Ranger's that he hadn't shared and was accidentally found out; did someone mess with the pendants themselves; was there a jamming device blocking the signal? And when it is found out, Ranger only comes and collects the pendants. He doesn't give them any type of replacement.
Stephanie is sleeping with Morelli even though they're not married and don't even seem to be talking about marriage.
Grandma Mazur's comment after her kidnapping. (See earlier in review for details.)
Stephanie seems dissatisfied with her current life but doesn't seem to know what to do about it or what she wants to do. What brought that on? How long will we, as readers, have to listen to her whine about wanting change but not doing anything to make the change?
Warning: Spoilers May Follow--Read at your own discretion.
*****
I liked this installment more than I liked the previous two. Some of the best parts of the series continue or return and some of the things that
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bothered me have been changed. There were a few things that bothered me, however. Particularly when Grandma Mazur, after being kidnapped, says she's decided she doesn't like danger (or something to that effect). That's so off from the Grandma Mazur character up to this point in the series (and the spin-off books) that it made me really wonder.What I liked:
Stephanie and Lula seem to have become more competent at their apprehensions. They make two or three without incident--yes, there's one that keeps evading them, but that's part of the charm of the series. (My complaint had been that for as long as Stephanie's been doing this, she never seemed to get better at it.)
Stephanie fire-bombing her own car. Humorous and it took me back to earlier books in the series. I look forward to reading new ways for Stephanie to lose cars in each book. I also liked the part about her driving the cement truck.
Some of the humor reminded me of earlier books in the series--ones I enjoyed.
Ranger seemed more human. He ate cookies (well, a cookie at least). He shows he cares for Stephanie in his own way. He and Stephanie have a conversation about life goals. I liked the way he treated Stephanie when they finally got the cement truck stopped.
We get to see that Stephanie's parents really do care for Grandma Mazur even if the way they show it to her isn't conventional.
Stephanie seems to have chosen Morelli though she is still somewhat tempted by Ranger. Ranger doesn't overtly push her to cheat on Morelli though we still know that there is interest from both sides.
What I didn't like:
Ranger is too competent to have given Stephanie and Grandma homing pendants that he hadn't tested to see if they worked. We never find out why they don't work: was it a plan of Ranger's that he hadn't shared and was accidentally found out; did someone mess with the pendants themselves; was there a jamming device blocking the signal? And when it is found out, Ranger only comes and collects the pendants. He doesn't give them any type of replacement.
Stephanie is sleeping with Morelli even though they're not married and don't even seem to be talking about marriage.
Grandma Mazur's comment after her kidnapping. (See earlier in review for details.)
Stephanie seems dissatisfied with her current life but doesn't seem to know what to do about it or what she wants to do. What brought that on? How long will we, as readers, have to listen to her whine about wanting change but not doing anything to make the change?
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LibraryThing member pigeon_racer
This book is average Fare from Ms. Evanovich, she writes better and will again it's just not this one.
LibraryThing member Glennis.LeBlanc
This book starts off right after the previous book. Grandma Mazur ran off and got married and was a widow 45 minutes after the wedding. Turns out her latest husband was connected to the Mob and some keys are missing and his partners want them back. Grandma Mazur doesn’t have them and has never
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seen them. Stephanie is trying to protect Grandma from hateful former in-laws that see her as a gold digger and Jimmy’s business associates that want the keys to the loot. Stephanie is having a bit of a crisis of what to do with her life during all this and is wondering why she is still catching bounties. I have to admit I enjoyed this one more than the last few books and will be looking for the next one. Show Less
LibraryThing member scoutmomskf
Good book, though these later books don't have the intensity, in either danger or humor, that the earlier books had. Be that as it may, it was still a fun read. At the end of the previous book, Grandma Mazur eloped with one of her senior citizen boyfriends. Unfortunately for her, the marriage
Grandma finds herself the target of some unwanted attention. Jimmy's former business partners, an aging gang known as The La-Z-Boys, believe that Jimmy entrusted her with the secret of The Keys, and they want them back. Jimmy's sisters are convinced that Grandma is a gold-digger, and make their displeasure known in various ways. And one of Jimmy's ex-wives believes that she has more right to Jimmy's estate than Grandma does. How far are any of them willing to go to get what they want?
Now, on top of her bounty hunter duties, Stephanie has become Grandma's bodyguard. The best thing she can do is find the keys and end the threat. But this is Stephanie Plum, and nothing ever goes smoothly for her. There is plenty of fun with the usual zaniness that surrounds her. She has a relatively successful run of catching bail-jumpers, though not without challenges. Lula is always ready to aid and abet, and her antics contribute to some laugh-out-loud moments. She loses a car to a self-inflicted car bombing. Her love life is still complicated, though Morelli seems to have the inside track in this book. Ranger has his moments, and his simple "Babe" can convey so many different things. It was interesting to see Morelli and Ranger work together to keep Stephanie and Grandma safe - a somewhat uneasy partnership, but an effective one.
The central theme of Grandma and The Keys was pretty well done. It was fun to see more of Grandma in this book as she always livens things up. Stephanie's attempts to find out more about the keys led her down some twisted paths. The La-Z-Boys were occasionally amusing, more frequently creepy, and at the end, downright scary. The final confrontation was intense. I liked that both Stephanie and Grandma had no intention of giving in to panic. Stephanie's actions were great and reminded me somewhat of the first book. The story of the keys isn't entirely resolved, as a final twist in the story looks like a lead-in for the next book.
One thing I found unusual about this book is the depth of Stephanie's dissatisfaction with her life and work. She's had moments in previous stories, but she seems more serious about it here. It will be interesting to see if she takes it further in the future.
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lasted all of 45 minutes before her groom, Jimmy Rosolli, a local gangster, dropped dead of a heart attack.Grandma finds herself the target of some unwanted attention. Jimmy's former business partners, an aging gang known as The La-Z-Boys, believe that Jimmy entrusted her with the secret of The Keys, and they want them back. Jimmy's sisters are convinced that Grandma is a gold-digger, and make their displeasure known in various ways. And one of Jimmy's ex-wives believes that she has more right to Jimmy's estate than Grandma does. How far are any of them willing to go to get what they want?
Now, on top of her bounty hunter duties, Stephanie has become Grandma's bodyguard. The best thing she can do is find the keys and end the threat. But this is Stephanie Plum, and nothing ever goes smoothly for her. There is plenty of fun with the usual zaniness that surrounds her. She has a relatively successful run of catching bail-jumpers, though not without challenges. Lula is always ready to aid and abet, and her antics contribute to some laugh-out-loud moments. She loses a car to a self-inflicted car bombing. Her love life is still complicated, though Morelli seems to have the inside track in this book. Ranger has his moments, and his simple "Babe" can convey so many different things. It was interesting to see Morelli and Ranger work together to keep Stephanie and Grandma safe - a somewhat uneasy partnership, but an effective one.
The central theme of Grandma and The Keys was pretty well done. It was fun to see more of Grandma in this book as she always livens things up. Stephanie's attempts to find out more about the keys led her down some twisted paths. The La-Z-Boys were occasionally amusing, more frequently creepy, and at the end, downright scary. The final confrontation was intense. I liked that both Stephanie and Grandma had no intention of giving in to panic. Stephanie's actions were great and reminded me somewhat of the first book. The story of the keys isn't entirely resolved, as a final twist in the story looks like a lead-in for the next book.
One thing I found unusual about this book is the depth of Stephanie's dissatisfaction with her life and work. She's had moments in previous stories, but she seems more serious about it here. It will be interesting to see if she takes it further in the future.
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LibraryThing member Preston.Kringle
Twisted Twenty-Six takes on a different feel for the Stephanie Plum series. After Grandma’s mob husband dies after a 45 minute marriage, people are on the look out for a set of keys that her late husband was the holder of. Still full of humor and the classic luck and misluck of the previous books
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this book is hard to put down, full of laughs, and mystery. Through some of the ending may be guessed Twisted Twenty-Six ends with a projected start of a new book. Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
Twisted Twenty-six by Janet Evanovich is a 2019 G.P. Putnam’s Sons publication.
In this twenty-sixth installment in the Stephanie Plum series, Grandma Mazur is in serious danger after her new husband dies suddenly, leaving the whereabouts of a mysterious set of keys in limbo. Believing Grandma
Have no worries though, Stephanie, Morelli, Lula, and Ranger are all on the case- perhaps the most personal one Stephanie has faced yet…
At least eleven books in this series have been published since I last read one. For me, the series had become a bit stale and Stephanie’s indecisions had started to wear thin. However, times being what they are, one day I went in searching for a book that might make me laugh. There was a time when no one could make me laugh out loud quite like Janet Evanovich- so a visit with Stephanie, Grandma Mazur, Lula, Joe Morelli, and Ranger sounded like just the ticket.
Nothing much as progressed since the last time I touched base with this series. The humor is still there, but perhaps not quite as hysterical as I remembered. I did pick up on a little restlessness in Stephanie, who seems to have finally realized she is running in place, in the same way her hamster does. Is this precursor to something more serious?
Although, it is possible this series has gone on a little past its prime, it’s still a cozy, familiar, and fun escape with old friends. Not only that, it did what I expected it to- give my spirits a lift and make me laugh.
The kicker, though, is that I am hearing rumors that the next installment in the series is a continuation of this one and will introduce an all new series for Evanovich. Sounds like I will have to read the next installment too! 😁
3.5 stars
In this twenty-sixth installment in the Stephanie Plum series, Grandma Mazur is in serious danger after her new husband dies suddenly, leaving the whereabouts of a mysterious set of keys in limbo. Believing Grandma
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must know the location of the keys, several groups of people- possible mob types, and her deceased husband’s family, are determined to pressure Grandma into giving them up. Have no worries though, Stephanie, Morelli, Lula, and Ranger are all on the case- perhaps the most personal one Stephanie has faced yet…
At least eleven books in this series have been published since I last read one. For me, the series had become a bit stale and Stephanie’s indecisions had started to wear thin. However, times being what they are, one day I went in searching for a book that might make me laugh. There was a time when no one could make me laugh out loud quite like Janet Evanovich- so a visit with Stephanie, Grandma Mazur, Lula, Joe Morelli, and Ranger sounded like just the ticket.
Nothing much as progressed since the last time I touched base with this series. The humor is still there, but perhaps not quite as hysterical as I remembered. I did pick up on a little restlessness in Stephanie, who seems to have finally realized she is running in place, in the same way her hamster does. Is this precursor to something more serious?
Although, it is possible this series has gone on a little past its prime, it’s still a cozy, familiar, and fun escape with old friends. Not only that, it did what I expected it to- give my spirits a lift and make me laugh.
The kicker, though, is that I am hearing rumors that the next installment in the series is a continuation of this one and will introduce an all new series for Evanovich. Sounds like I will have to read the next installment too! 😁
3.5 stars
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LibraryThing member LyndaInOregon
Stephanie Plum novels can always be counted on to be quick, light, and funny, with the mystery taking a back seat to the oddball collection of bail-jumpers Stephanie and Lula have to take down, enlivened by vivid descriptions of Lula's fashion choices.
This has all of those elements. In addition,
That's the basis of the plot, and it wraps up with an obvious lead-in to a direct sequel.
This has all of those elements. In addition,
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Stephanie and Grandma are on the hunt for a mysterious set of keys formerly owned by Grandma's husband of 45 minutes, who inconsiderately dropped dead shortly after the ceremony.That's the basis of the plot, and it wraps up with an obvious lead-in to a direct sequel.
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LibraryThing member hcnewton
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
“You still want to chase after this guy?”
“You bet your ass. Just because he made fools out of us three times, don’t mean one of these times we won’t luck out. Notice he called us losers and not quitters. That’s on account of we
“All good to know,” I said.
I don't even need to provide dialogue tags to that, do I? If you've read a single Stephanie Plum novel, you know who's saying what there.
WHAT'S TWISTED TWENTY-SIX ABOUT?
When we last left Stephanie*, her Grandma Mazur had left for a getaway with her new love, who just happens to be a semi-retired mobster. We pick up a week or so later, Grandma Mazur and Jimmy Rosolli had been married, and then forty-five minutes later, Rosolli died (of natural causes, I feel compelled to add). Still, even a 45-minute marriage makes Grandma a widow, but more importantly, a widow of some status in the neighborhood.
* Yeah, I know, right? I'll talk about that in a minute.
We don't know a lot about Jimmy's criminal life, but among his group, he had a particular importance. He was "Keeper of the Keys." Now, no one—not Grandma, not the cops, not almost anyone that Stephanie can talk to about Jimmy knows what that means. The few that do know, aren't talking to anyone about them (also, they don't believe Stephanie or Grandma when they say they don't know where the keys are).
So Jimmy's partners are looking for the keys, their rivals are looking for the keys. And everyone thinks Grandma Mazur either has them or can get them (she is the beneficiary of his will, after all). And none of these men are willing to take any means necessary to get her to talk. Stephanie, Ranger and Morelli team up to keep Grandma Mazur and the Plums safe.
All the while, Stephanie and Lulu are on the hunt for people who missed their court dates for the Bail Service, Stephanie is dealing with a destroyed car, Stephanie is fending off advances from Ranger—and not doing fending off much from Morelli, you know, typical stuff.
A MOMENT OF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCURACY
At one point, Stephanie is lamenting to Lulu about how her life isn't working out the way she wants and states her age—a larger number than Lulu is ready for (okay, I wasn't ready for that amount of candor, either—but the math works), and a sign that maybe Evanovich is going to start aging her in real time. It's not long before Stephanie blows off that moment of honesty as a joke and we're elft wit an indeterminate age again.
Still, for a couple of poages, it looked liek Evanovich might have been making a big step.
OLD DOG, NEW TRICK?
From the start of this series, there's been a little carry-over from one book to the next—Stephanie's sister's marriage and kids, glacially slow advancement of her relationships with Ranger and Morelli, and so on. But largely, these are stand-alone books and can be read in any order.
Until now (obviously).
The end of Look Alive Twenty-Five leads into this book. The ending of this book propels the reader into Fortune and Glory (aka Tantalizing Twenty-Seven). This is new. This is a positive movement, there's something to sink our teeth into. Not much, maybe, but it's something.
I'm not sure why Evanovich has changed her approach. I'm not sure I care, either. I'm just happy to see that it has happened, and wonder where she's going with all of this.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT TWISTED TWENTY-SIX?
"I don’t want to do this job anymore. I’m not good at it. I don’t like it. I don’t like being in the bad neighborhoods looking for the bad people.”
“What would you rather do?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
“Do you have a direction?”
“No.”
“Babe.”
“Yeah, I’m a mess.”
“You aren’t a mess,” he said. “You’re just a little burned out.”
“It’s more than that. I’m stagnant. There’s no growth in my life.”
“That’s okay as long as you like what you’re doing. Not everyone needs to keep moving up the ladder.”
I have to read a State of the Series in these words (see also: the quotation at the top). I doubt that Evanovich set out to do that, but "mess," "stagnant," and directionless are words I'd use to descrdibe this series lately. But like Stephanie's (no doubt) futile efforts at self-improvement, over the last couple of books I'm seeing signs that Evanovich might be trying to add some direction and clarity to the series
I do not think it'll ever reach the comedic heights it once hit. Nor do I think that Evanovich is going to suddenly become the new Grafton (not that I'd complain), but it seems like she's taking the storytelling component of this seriously again. I could be 2-3 books away from again wondering why I'm sticking with these series. But until I get to that point, I'm going to enjoy the ride.
As for this book? It was fun—I admit to laughing out loud on a few occasions. I liked the story (I'm not convinced the bad guy was set-up correctly before the reveal, but...I'm not going to argue about it). The action was decent. I didn't roll my eyes at the destruction of the car, and best yet, I think this is one of the best uses of Stephanie's parents in ages (if not ever).
This might actually be a decent jumping-on point (Look Alive Twenty-Five would be marginally better) for this long-running series. This is definitely one to use to come back to the series after a time away. Or if you're just plugging away with a new annual entry, you'll be satisfied. Give this series a shot, it'll be worth it.
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“You still want to chase after this guy?”
“You bet your ass. Just because he made fools out of us three times, don’t mean one of these times we won’t luck out. Notice he called us losers and not quitters. That’s on account of we
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never quit. In my mind, that’s the difference between being a loser-and a winner. A winner is willing to look like a idiot for as long as it takes to get the job done. I figure you stick with i it long enough ~ and you win. Unless you die or come down with some disease like shingles or cancer of the rectum. If I ever got cancer of the rectum, I’d go to the best rectumologist out there. Like I'd get a celebrity rectumologist. I wouldn’t mess around with some local yokel.”“All good to know,” I said.
I don't even need to provide dialogue tags to that, do I? If you've read a single Stephanie Plum novel, you know who's saying what there.
WHAT'S TWISTED TWENTY-SIX ABOUT?
When we last left Stephanie*, her Grandma Mazur had left for a getaway with her new love, who just happens to be a semi-retired mobster. We pick up a week or so later, Grandma Mazur and Jimmy Rosolli had been married, and then forty-five minutes later, Rosolli died (of natural causes, I feel compelled to add). Still, even a 45-minute marriage makes Grandma a widow, but more importantly, a widow of some status in the neighborhood.
* Yeah, I know, right? I'll talk about that in a minute.
We don't know a lot about Jimmy's criminal life, but among his group, he had a particular importance. He was "Keeper of the Keys." Now, no one—not Grandma, not the cops, not almost anyone that Stephanie can talk to about Jimmy knows what that means. The few that do know, aren't talking to anyone about them (also, they don't believe Stephanie or Grandma when they say they don't know where the keys are).
So Jimmy's partners are looking for the keys, their rivals are looking for the keys. And everyone thinks Grandma Mazur either has them or can get them (she is the beneficiary of his will, after all). And none of these men are willing to take any means necessary to get her to talk. Stephanie, Ranger and Morelli team up to keep Grandma Mazur and the Plums safe.
All the while, Stephanie and Lulu are on the hunt for people who missed their court dates for the Bail Service, Stephanie is dealing with a destroyed car, Stephanie is fending off advances from Ranger—and not doing fending off much from Morelli, you know, typical stuff.
A MOMENT OF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCURACY
At one point, Stephanie is lamenting to Lulu about how her life isn't working out the way she wants and states her age—a larger number than Lulu is ready for (okay, I wasn't ready for that amount of candor, either—but the math works), and a sign that maybe Evanovich is going to start aging her in real time. It's not long before Stephanie blows off that moment of honesty as a joke and we're elft wit an indeterminate age again.
Still, for a couple of poages, it looked liek Evanovich might have been making a big step.
OLD DOG, NEW TRICK?
From the start of this series, there's been a little carry-over from one book to the next—Stephanie's sister's marriage and kids, glacially slow advancement of her relationships with Ranger and Morelli, and so on. But largely, these are stand-alone books and can be read in any order.
Until now (obviously).
The end of Look Alive Twenty-Five leads into this book. The ending of this book propels the reader into Fortune and Glory (aka Tantalizing Twenty-Seven). This is new. This is a positive movement, there's something to sink our teeth into. Not much, maybe, but it's something.
I'm not sure why Evanovich has changed her approach. I'm not sure I care, either. I'm just happy to see that it has happened, and wonder where she's going with all of this.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT TWISTED TWENTY-SIX?
"I don’t want to do this job anymore. I’m not good at it. I don’t like it. I don’t like being in the bad neighborhoods looking for the bad people.”
“What would you rather do?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
“Do you have a direction?”
“No.”
“Babe.”
“Yeah, I’m a mess.”
“You aren’t a mess,” he said. “You’re just a little burned out.”
“It’s more than that. I’m stagnant. There’s no growth in my life.”
“That’s okay as long as you like what you’re doing. Not everyone needs to keep moving up the ladder.”
I have to read a State of the Series in these words (see also: the quotation at the top). I doubt that Evanovich set out to do that, but "mess," "stagnant," and directionless are words I'd use to descrdibe this series lately. But like Stephanie's (no doubt) futile efforts at self-improvement, over the last couple of books I'm seeing signs that Evanovich might be trying to add some direction and clarity to the series
I do not think it'll ever reach the comedic heights it once hit. Nor do I think that Evanovich is going to suddenly become the new Grafton (not that I'd complain), but it seems like she's taking the storytelling component of this seriously again. I could be 2-3 books away from again wondering why I'm sticking with these series. But until I get to that point, I'm going to enjoy the ride.
As for this book? It was fun—I admit to laughing out loud on a few occasions. I liked the story (I'm not convinced the bad guy was set-up correctly before the reveal, but...I'm not going to argue about it). The action was decent. I didn't roll my eyes at the destruction of the car, and best yet, I think this is one of the best uses of Stephanie's parents in ages (if not ever).
This might actually be a decent jumping-on point (Look Alive Twenty-Five would be marginally better) for this long-running series. This is definitely one to use to come back to the series after a time away. Or if you're just plugging away with a new annual entry, you'll be satisfied. Give this series a shot, it'll be worth it.
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LibraryThing member purple_pisces22
Ahhh...Stephanie Plum. My heart will always have a special soft spot just for her. After finishing # 26, I feel the end is near. The story and writing are fine, it’s just the same. Absolutely nothing new happened, but we did regress back to blown up cars and Stephanie always finding the dead guy.
On a side note, I don’t think we have ever heard Mr Plum speak as much as he does here. It’s good to know he can do more than just grunt!
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There were many times Stephanie expressed her dissatisfaction with her life. This alone isn’t new, but something about it felt different. I think it would be great if Ms Evanovich could take the characters a new direction, as I feel they’ve all gone about as far as they can without some major changes. On a side note, I don’t think we have ever heard Mr Plum speak as much as he does here. It’s good to know he can do more than just grunt!
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LibraryThing member ftbooklover
Grandma Mazur's husband, Jimmy Rosolli, is dead and everyone is looking for the "keys" that belong to the "Laz-y Boys" - a group of old mobsters who hang out in a local strip club in the back room and sit in recliners. Jimmy didn't tell Grandma where the keys were hidden, but everyone thinks he
Twisted Twenty-Six is another great entry in the Stephanie Plum Saga. This story not only has the usual laugh-out-loud humor, but it also gives readers a hint as to some new paths that Stephanie's future may take. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
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either shared their location or gave them to her as he was dying on a casino floor in Atlantic City. After a kidnapping attempt on Grandma, Stephanie gets more serious in trying to help her find the keys. All the while, Stephanie is questioning the direction of her life and her career as a bounty hunter.Twisted Twenty-Six is another great entry in the Stephanie Plum Saga. This story not only has the usual laugh-out-loud humor, but it also gives readers a hint as to some new paths that Stephanie's future may take. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
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LibraryThing member whybehave2002
After a pause in reading this series, I am back and ready to submerge myself in all things Stephanie Plum. I've missed her snarkiness and her entourage of colorful family and friends. She was here waiting for me and didn't disappoint. LOVE.
LibraryThing member Micareads
Stephanie Plum is at it again. This time Stephanie has to save Grandma Mazur from members of the mob looking to do whatever is needed to get back her late husband's keys, which they believe will give them access to a treasure.
This book finds us surrounded by all the usual characters and entrenches
I have the feeling that in the next few Plum novels we are going to start to receive answers to some of our biggest questions. Will Stephanie remain a bounty hunter? Will Morelli finally pop the question? Will Ranger admit that he cares about Stephanie? Will Lula finally find someone special? Will Grandma Mazur find the treasure? These are all the questions we need to be answered.
This book finds us surrounded by all the usual characters and entrenches
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us deeper in their lives. Stephanie continues to question whether she is fit to be a bounty hunter although Grandma and Ranger try to help her understand that she does her job well. Stephanie is still dating Morelli and seems happy and content with her life. All in all, it was a solid Stephanie Plum novel.I have the feeling that in the next few Plum novels we are going to start to receive answers to some of our biggest questions. Will Stephanie remain a bounty hunter? Will Morelli finally pop the question? Will Ranger admit that he cares about Stephanie? Will Lula finally find someone special? Will Grandma Mazur find the treasure? These are all the questions we need to be answered.
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LibraryThing member dandailey
A typical Stephanie Plum novel. It is light and amusing. Sort of the literary equivalent of cleansing the palate.
LibraryThing member JudyGibson
Stephanie jokingly says to Lula, "I'm 56 years old!" I think maybe that's actually the elapsed time since the first book. Obviously the character doesn't have to experience time on the same scale as the author. HOWEVER, I've really been wondering about the longevity of that hamster.
LibraryThing member kmartin802
Reluctant bail bond enforcer Stephanie Plum is at it again. This time she needs to protect her Grandma Mazur. Grandma was recently widowed after a forty-five-minute marriage to local mobster Jimmy Rosolli. Jimmy had a sudden heart attack while playing slots.
Grandma is busy planning his funeral and
Then there are some mysterious keys that were in his keeping that other local mobsters really want to have. They are certain that Grandma has them but are giving her a break until after the funeral is over before they use strong measures to get the keys.
Unfortunately, Grandma doesn't have the keys. Stephanie is on the case to not only protect Grandma from all those who wish her harm but to find the missing keys. She is also busy doing her normal recoveries of people who have missed their court dates and need to reschedule, Ove the cours of these twenty-six books, Stephanie has gotten much better at her job. But this time their is a very elusive shop lifter who is giving her and her buddy Lulu fits.
There is the requisite car explosion which leads to Stephanie having to borrow her Great-Uncle Sandor's '53 Buick. This time she lobs a Molotov cocktail thrown through her parents' living room window back outside where it hits her own car causing it to go up in flames.
There is also the usual juggling of two men in Stephanie's love life. Her off-and-on relationship with Cop Joe Morelli is in the on stage which means that her relationship with Ranger is kept in the friend zone.
This is a fun series, and this was a fun episode. It did feel a little unfinished, but the action continues in Fortune and Glory.
Grandma is busy planning his funeral and
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wake and making plans to spend her new inheritance since Jimmy's will says his current wife gets everything. However, there are some problems. Jimmy left three sisters, and two ex-wives who also feel entitled to his estate.Then there are some mysterious keys that were in his keeping that other local mobsters really want to have. They are certain that Grandma has them but are giving her a break until after the funeral is over before they use strong measures to get the keys.
Unfortunately, Grandma doesn't have the keys. Stephanie is on the case to not only protect Grandma from all those who wish her harm but to find the missing keys. She is also busy doing her normal recoveries of people who have missed their court dates and need to reschedule, Ove the cours of these twenty-six books, Stephanie has gotten much better at her job. But this time their is a very elusive shop lifter who is giving her and her buddy Lulu fits.
There is the requisite car explosion which leads to Stephanie having to borrow her Great-Uncle Sandor's '53 Buick. This time she lobs a Molotov cocktail thrown through her parents' living room window back outside where it hits her own car causing it to go up in flames.
There is also the usual juggling of two men in Stephanie's love life. Her off-and-on relationship with Cop Joe Morelli is in the on stage which means that her relationship with Ranger is kept in the friend zone.
This is a fun series, and this was a fun episode. It did feel a little unfinished, but the action continues in Fortune and Glory.
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LibraryThing member ChrisWeir
This one has everyone looking for some keys that belonged to Jim Rossoli a local mobster whom Stephanie's grandmother was married to for 45 minutes.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019-11-12
Physical description
320 p.; 6.41 inches
ISBN
0399180192 / 9780399180194