Tag Archives: police

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich (2011) – BR00116 (2018) – 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪

The PolyBlog
July 22 2018

Plot or Premise

While on a flight back from a trip to Hawaii with both Ranger and Morelli (it’s complicated), Stephanie’s seatmate gets whacked during a layover and everyone thinks Stephanie knows something.

What I Liked

While the lighter side of the Plum series is the main draw, it is nice to see that once in awhile it goes a bit darker. Stephanie has real bruises and knife nickmarks, and Morelli and Ranger had a knock-down drag-out fight, with Stephanie doing the dragging (it is only told as a past event, but still good even if you don’t actually “see it”).

What I Didn’t Like

As always, there are a few too many incompetents running around, and too many coincidences.

The Bottom Line

A little darker than usual.

Seven Up by Janet Evanovich (2001) – BR00103 (2017) – 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪

The PolyBlog
August 31 2017

Plot or Premise

Seven Up is the seventh outing in the series about Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter. This time she’s after an old mobster who kills people and is dating her grandmother. 

What I Liked

As with many of the Plum stories, it is often the secondary characters that add spice and liveliness to the story. DeChooch, the old and inept mobster, is a hoot and we get to see a lot more interactions with Moonman. There are so many cute scenes — like when she finds a bunch of stolen merchandise in a bedroom, asks for an explanation, and ends up buying a toaster. Oh and there’s a little thing about planning a wedding.

What I Didn’t Like

The basic premise of why everyone is looking for DeChooch is a bit far-fetched, but whatever. In addition, the arrival of sister Valerie with two kids in tow adds little to the story. And don’t get me started on the kidnapping of Grandma.

The Bottom Line

Love the Moonman, hate the wedding talk.

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich (2001) – BR00102 (2017) – 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪

The PolyBlog
January 20 2017

Plot or Premise

Plum’s got her latest assignment, no problem. She just has to bring in Ranger, a suspect in the death of a wanna-be gangster, the son of an arms dealer.

What I Liked

As with most things Plum, there’s a lot going on … Grandma has moved in, she gets stuck babysitting a wild dog, and there’s a killer running around who likes Stephanie. Plus we get to see an old high school pal, Moon Man, who is frequently fun since the elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top floors.

What I Didn’t Like

The whole sub-story with gun-runners and missing money, and Ranger being “wanted”, gets a little ridiculous after a while.

The Bottom Line

Plum vs. Ranger…talk about a mismatch.

High Five by Janet Evanovich (2000) – BR00101 (2017) – 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪

The PolyBlog
January 19 2017

Plot or Premise

Plum is on her fifth outing, looking for her missing uncle and one angry little man. Uncle Fred was complaining about paying for garbage pickup, and the truck skipped his house. So he went into complain and disappeared. Of course, he’s in the Plum family, so the weird part is he left behind photos of severed body parts in garbage bags. Aunt Mabel wants Stephanie to look for him, although she’s not entirely sure she wants the cheap bastard found and brought home. Plus, a midget missed his court date.

What I Liked

Stephanie’s family is definitely on the wild side, and the uncle is pretty out there for 70. Fun to see all the pieces at play. Plus Stephanie decides she needs to “diversify” her income sources, so asks Ranger to help mentor her in new areas (i.e., to work for him), so we get to see more of his line of work and meet his crew/employees (like Tank). And Lulu and Stephanie chasing the short guy are hilarious to read.

What I Didn’t Like

Morelli’s family is not as much fun as the Plums, and fairly one-dimensional. Plus Benito Ramirez is back, and is just annoying. My biggest objection though is a “cliff-hanger” ending on the romance side that deliberately plays with point-of-view to keep it vague who Stephanie is talking with at her door.

The Bottom Line

Fully embrace the crazy.

Catch Me: Kill Me by William H. Hallahan (1977) – BR00082 (2016) – 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪

The PolyBlog
April 16 2016

Plot or Premise

Set in the 1970s, a Russian poet has sought asylum in the U.S. Days before he qualifies for citizenship, he is kidnapped from Grand Central Station. Why was he taken? How can they help him? Where is he?

What I Liked

The story diverges on two tracks — a black-bag CIA operative comes in from the cold just enough to maintain full deniability while he looks for the missing poet. At the same time, an FBI manager keeps poking and prodding trying to find out why. Neither one knows the other exists, and the two stories remain fully compartmentalized.

What I Didn’t Like

The opening is extremely descriptive, almost one step removed from the action, and it takes a while until you fully engage in the two tracks.

The Bottom Line

I see why it won awards.