Notorious Nineteen - Review

Notorious Nineteen (Stephanie Plum, # 19)  

By: Janet Evanovich  

Published: November 20th 2012 by Headline Book Publishing

302 pages  

Source: Borrowed from my sister  

( Goodreads | Amazon )

Goodreads description--#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 down the con man. Unfortunately, Cubbin has disappeared without a trace, a witness, or his money-hungry wife. Rumors are stirring that he must have had help with the daring escape . . . or that maybe he never made it out of his room alive. Since the hospital staff’s lips seem to be tighter than the security, and it’s hard for Stephanie to blend in to assisted living, Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur goes in undercover. But when a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, Stephanie is forced into working side by side with Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, in order to crack the case.

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

Let's see. First off, I don't expect too much out of these novels. They're fun and playful. And typically, really quick reads. But there are a few things that I've come to expect from them, and the main thing I expect is laughing out loud. I was slightly disappointed with Explosive Eighteen, and still left wanting with Notorious Nineteen. There were a few moments at the very tale-end of Notorious Nineteen that had me smiling because they were funny, but not giggling or chuckling and definitely not belly laughing that I've gotten from Janet Evanovich before. So that was a minor let down.

I will say that modern day references in a book is a slight pet peeve of mine. One is okay, but almost any more than that and it just becomes too much. In this case, I loved the GOT reference, but when she moved into Pinterest and Biggest Loser references, it just became too much.

Also, as anyone who reads these books knows, there isn't much advance in the storyline that spans all of the books--the relationship Stephanie has with these two incredibly hot guys, Ranger and Morelli. So that's always a bit disappointing. Whenever there is movement, I jump for joy. Notorious Nineteen, and the last two other books at least, held promise of movement and change ahead, but have yet to deliver on this promise.

At this point, I truly think I'd be satisfied with Stephanie choosing either guy. The point is, and I think most everyone feels this way, just finally choose one. PLEASE! I completely understand the tactic of denying the audience what they want in order to maintain interest, but twenty-ish books is a lot of dangling the prize in front of our faces. And at some point, too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not fed up with these books exactly, but the frustration is starting to build some. Too much more of the indecision, and I will be fed up though.

Because I can't help but share some of my favorite quotes from Lula...(*these are probably paraphrases since I listen to the audiobook, it's not like I have a transcript).

"I've got peep toe shoes on and my big toe could look like a snack."

Stephanie - "He's a little gassy. "Lula - "Yeah, we all relate to that."

"I might even be getting diarrhea too."

(Ok...so you need to know the context for most of these to be funny, but trust me, they were.)

Notorious Nineteen gets 3 stars from me. Have you read Notorious Nineteen? If so, what did you think? Let me know!