Book on CD performed by Lorelei King

Ah, Stephanie Plum. So, this starts with a bang as Stephanie is on a plane coming BACK from Hawaii, alone. Grandma Mazur notices she has a tan line on her left ring finger and wants to know about the wedding. For that matter, so do Lula, Connie, and just about everyone else. Don’t expect ME to tell you…

The main plot focuses on a mysterious photograph Stephanie found in her messenger bag as she unpacked. She knows she didn’t put it in there. There is no identification on it and she figures she accidentally picked it up when she bought a magazine in the airport. So, she tosses it in the garbage. Then two guys who say they are FBI agents appear at her door asking for the photograph. And then two more guys also claiming to be FBI agents ask about the photo. And a crazy man accosts her with a knife, also wanting the photo. And a woman claiming to be engaged to the man who took the photo also wants it. What’s so special about this photo?

There are the usual stops at Cluck-in-a-Bucket, the usual “problems” with Stephanie’s car(s), the usual skips who refuse to be captured, the usual viewing at the funeral home and the usual push/pull between Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve read one of these, and I’m sure that’s why I found it so entertaining.

Lorelei King does a great job performing the audiobook. She has a gift for voices, and I particularly enjoyed how she voiced Lula, Connie, Ranger and Grandma Mazure. ( )

Crime

Another silly story about a bunch of supposed terrorists goint after Stephanie for photograph inadvertently given to her by a passenger on plane. The passenger is murdered for this photo and Stephanie discovers the photo and throws it away.

Not my favorite but some good parts. Eighteen books and I'm ready for her to atleast test drive being serious with one of these guys. c'mon cupcake pick one already! ( )

I'm not a major Stephanie Plum fan, but I enjoyed [b:One for the Money|6853|One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, #1)|Janet Evanovich|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316730230s/6853.jpg|1486401] (even though I only gave it two stars) and thought I should check in with her before the movie comes out. This volume has some of the same problems as the first book, and adds a several more.

Stephanie still can't think (or fight) her way out of a paper bag. Why is she still loose on the streets of New Jersey pretending to be a bounty hunter? Why has nobody put a permanent fix on her window to keep killers and assorted others from breaking in to her apartment? Everyone seems to have a gun. Is there some rule in New Jersey that says its OK to carry around a gun and brandish it (even discharge it) without consequence? I guess I'll stay out of Jersey.

The biggest disappointment is the end. After we spend a couple of hundred pages chasing after the usual assortment of oddballs and wondering why everyone is after the photograph, Evanovich throws in some brand new characters and information and resolves the situation in just a chapter or two. Not fair.

On the other hand, I did read all the way to the end and enjoyed some of the journey. ( )