After taking a hiatus and reading a couple of different authors, I was glad to jump back into a Janet Evanovich book. Her writing is smooth and she makes it easy to embrace a character.

Not many writers would be able to talk about exploding rodents and make you feel like you were right there when it happened and make you feel like you should check to make sure there’s not squirrel hair on you. Weird, yes, but true.

I liked the family aspect of this book, and all of the Plum books. I am pretty close with my family and I like the fact that Stephanie’s family is pretty tight knit. Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur is by far my favorite character still. She comes in moderation, but never fails to please.

All of the Plum books have had crazies, but the side bars in this book were VERY crazy. A guy who makes and sells stuffed, exploding rodents and a guy who steals goods off the dead to make money.

The main thriller from this story really didn’t do it for me. SPOILER ALERT! QUIT READING IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THIS BOOK!

At first, I thought Dickie disappearing was a great story. Stephanie would have to decide if she would help find her ex, but when she’s blamed for his murder, she doesn’t have an option. But when you find out Dickie isn’t really dead, the plot doesn’t thicken anymore. The scheme his co-workers had going on was pretty schiesty, but I felt there was still too much of the book left to know Dickie wasn’t dead.

Now his co-workers and the firebombs, well I love explosives (I don’t use and or play and or want explosives, but I like watching movies with rocket launchers) and this aspect was cool, minus the people who got burnt in the process.

In the end, I enjoyed the writing of the book, just not what was written. I gave it 2 bookmarks. ( )

The thirteenth enstallment of the Stephanie Plum Novels does not disapoint. Wonderful characters, interesting plot, and several comedic remarks makes this story one of my favorites in the series. This story line does not get old with all the refreshing and interesting characters. I highly recommend this series. ( )

- Stephanie is up to her ears in it again. While planting a bug in her ex-husband’s office for Ranger, Stephanie loses it and tussles with Dickie, which later implicates her when he goes missing, and possibly murdered. Trying to clear her name, Stephanie barely escapes two fires, multiple animal bombs, and close encounters with Ranger. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sexy. Jeez. And hilarious! ( )

This is airplane stuff....a quick fun/funny read. What a cast of characters!! ( )

Fast-paced and exciting. Not to mention fall-over-laughing funny. Although, this installment isn't as action filled as the other Plum novels it is still an all around good read. When Stephanie's cheating ex-husband goes missing she's forced to look for him while being stalked by his lover and her arch-enemy Joyce, she has to sneak into his law office and find out what's going on. Of course, bad things keep happening to her as always and she finds herself in constant and hilarious danger. ( )

Standard Stephenie Plum book. Things blow up, cars are destroyed, much hijinks ensue around and to her, and there is high sexual tension (and maybe some sex) between her and Joe, and her and Ranger. Entertaining but no new ground. ( )

Perfect to read a sunny spring weekend. A little laughter, some vehicles destroyed, complicated relationships.. ( )

A request from Ranger sends Stephanie Plum into her ex-husband's (Dickie Orr) law office and naturally ends up in an explosive argument. When Dickie is found to be missing, Stephanie becomes the prime suspect, but that doesn't slow her down as she continues her job as a bounty hunter.

The slope of this series is very slippery now, and I'm not sure I even want to try to hold on. The main plot was - whatever, and the subplots were senseless. I accepted the differences in the main characters (i.e.: Ranger talks - a lot) as possible maturing processes, but I could not accept the language. It was well beyond acceptable and not funny.

To satisfy a need to finish the Series Challenge (personalized), I may give Fearless Fourteen a go and hope for the best, but it's too soon to tell. Right now, I'm extremely disappointed. (2.25/5)

Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..." ( )

Lean Mean Thirteen is another Stephanie Plum cozy mystery and so again you laugh out loud at the antics of this incompetent bounty hunter.
Much as Stephanie detests her ex- husband, Dickie Orr, she agrees to plant some listening devices on him for Ranger in the office of his new law firm. Problems develop when after attacking him there, he disappears and she is a prime suspect when he is feared murdered. Mayhem evolves including Stephanie’s arch-enemy, Joyce Barnhardt, pointing the finger of blame at her, who insinuates Stephanie is after his money; an awful lot of money at that.
There are so many typical Stephanie/Lula situations that I nearly wet my pants several times but all is resolved, except of course, her love life. ( )

I love this series!!! ( )

Mistake #1 - Dickie Orr - Stephanie was married to him for about 15 minutes before she caught him cheating on her with her archnemesis, Joyce Barnhardt. Mistake #2 - Doing favors for super bounty hunter Carlos Manoso (aka Ranger) - Ranger needs Stephanie to meet with Dickie and find out if he's doing something shady. Mistake #3 - Going completely nutso while doing the favor for Ranger and trying to apply bodily injury to Dickie in front of the entire office - Now Dickie has disappeared and Stephanie is the natural suspect in his disappearance. ( )

I've heard some complaints about this installment, but I don't ask for much in a Stephanie Plum novel. All I want is some wacky hijinx, crazy FTAs, at least one destroyed vehicle, and Ranger acting strong, silent and sexy. A star for each from me! ( )

Lean Mean Thirteen is another brief, but hilarious, interlude in the life of Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter. It doesn’t go very far, it doesn’t take very long, but it has some genuine laugh-out-loud moments along the way.

For once, the resulting troubles from Stephanie’s professional entanglements are not entirely her fault. When Ranger asks her to plant some listening devices on her ex-husband, Dickie Orr, in the office of his new law firm, the ensuing stoush between them – inevitable it seems, whenever the ex-couple share the same space – comes back to haunt her when Dickie goes missing, and is feared murdered. The resultant chaos is furthered by the inclusion of Stephanie’s arch-enemy, Joyce Barnhardt, pointing the finger of blame at her, running interference in Stephanie’s attempts to investigate the situation, and insinuating Stephanie is after his money; an awful lot of money at that. And, as usual, Stephanie is broke and works to apprehend three bond violators in order to earn some much-needed income. So interspersed in the mix is the habitual madness and mayhem, as Stephanie follows a grave-robber with a pet snake and a taxidermist who booby-traps his creations, all while she avoids Dickie’s partner’s attempts to attack her with a flame thrower. And two gorgeous men troubling and, oft-times, saving her life…

There is nothing much new in this thirteenth book; very little changes with life in the Burg – perhaps the point the author is making. And yet, Janet Evanovich, between the humour and hysteria, always manages to infer a true depth of feeling and a strong commitment to family and friends amongst this motley lot, thus ensuring the characters do not descend into mere caricature. There are some very clever allegories to irritations in real life (cable suppliers), some annoying, but necessary, plot continuations of old themes (another car bites the dust), but there are also many scenes which contain much merriment; the Lula-in-the-cemetery incident nearly making me choke, I was laughing so hard.

These books are not meant to be anything more than pure reading enjoyment, and as such, this instalment, if a little less humorous than previous episodes, is just as successful in this regard. As long as I am kept as entertained and amused, as long as I literally cackle with delight at some of the scenarios, and as long as I still hold interest in all the participants, I will continue to read these books. There are much worse pastimes than having a jolly good laugh.

(Nov 26, 2008) ( )

Fast fun read. Laugh out loud funny. ( )

This is.... duh.... the thirteenth book in the Stephanie Plum series. Or actually, the 15th, if you include the two between-the-numbers books.

This time, Stephanie's ex, lawyer Dickie Orr, goes missing, not long after Stephanie fought with him while planting a bug in his office for Ranger. And everyone--but most particularly Joyce Barnhardt, thinks Stephanie's responsible. Thing is, he never changed his will after their divorce, and it's not just Dickie that's missing--there's also a LOT of money missing. So Joyce becomes Stephanie's shadow, hoping Stephanie will lead her to Dickie or the money.

Meanwhile, Joe's busy on a hush-hush assignment, Ranger's keeping an eye (and a GPS tracker) on Stephanie, and Steph and Lula are busy tracking down FTAs, including a hilariously wacky taxidermist with an explosive inventory.

I agree with all the reviewers who complain about a lack of character development (or rather, character change--I think the characters are pretty well developed at this point), and the repetitive nature of the books--cars getting destroyed, the love triangle, Grandma Mazur will do something wacky at the funeral home, etc., etc. The thing is, though: I just don't care. I read a Stephanie Plum book maybe once a year (twice, if there's a between-the-numbers book), so there are generally 300 or more books in between. So if it's exactly what I expected, I don't mind. It's become a formula, yes, but I enjoy the formula--once a year. I expect if I read them all back to back, it would drive me batty. But I don't, so I'm happy.
( )

It was low key and I had to force myself to read at times. Usually, I have a hard time putting the book down. Maybe the next book will have more direction with more exciting characters. ( )

I love the Stephanie Plum books. They are my lunch time treat. Grandma Mazur is always good for a laugh. I love these books so much that I am always suggesting them to my patrons. I give it five stars because I know that it will be fantastic just like her other books have been. ( )

I've become rather weary with Stephanie Plum -- she has become rather tiresome . . . get a life, girl! Started losing patience with the women about #7, but kept reading. Now I find the novels hard to finish and didn't finish this one. Still love Grandma; and the other characters too; but the lack of change in the woman's life makes me weary. Note, however, that they are well written and I'm sad to say goodbye to them but there is way too much other good stuff out there for me too to be stuck in the limbo of Ms. Plum's life. ( )

Series started out strong, Evanovich needs to give it up...
I started 14, but couldn't force myself to finish it. ( )

I love this series! Stephanie Plum is a very believable character and one that I can identify with very well.My favorite character is Grandma Mazur, she had me laughing out loud more than once. Read the books, let me know who's your favorite! ( )

Thirteenth in the Stephanie Plum series. I'd call this one Lucky 13 because
I'd rank this episode among the best of the lot. In fact, I enjoyed this
one as much as the one where Grandma Mazur burned down the funeral home.
LOL

This episode opens with Stephanie doing a good deed for Ranger that brings
her face to face with her ex-husband, Dickie Orr in his law firm office, and
it isn't long before she's literally at his throat, declaring that she ought
to kill him -- in front of witnesses. When he turns up missing a day later,
Stephanie is suspect #1 and has no alibi for the time of his disappearance.
As the other three members of his law firm go missing and two of them turn
up charred and crispy, the heat is on in more ways than one. Stephanie has
to use all of her wits and a lot of luck to stay one step ahead of whoever
it is who's walking around Trenton using a flamethrower on folks he doesn't
like, and Stephanie Plum is next on his list.

As always, there are hilarious scenes at her parents' house, a lot of sexual
tension between Stephanie and Ranger, not much satisfaction for Stephanie's
on-again, off-again boyfriend, cop Joe Morelli, and Lula has the best lines.
I laughed out loud several times, and raced through this book like a pint of
Ben & Jerry's on a hot day. It's just as yummy, just as satisfying, and it
didn't raise my blood sugar! LOL Evanovich is in top form and this gets a
top rating from me. ( )

First book I have read in the Stephanie Plum series. I would have started from the begining had I known I was going to like it so much. Evanovich writes much in the style of Carl Haissen, but from a womans perspective. I found this book funny, crazy, entertaining. It was easy to read and kept me turning pages. I will be starting at book one soon. ( )

I stood in line for five hours just to meet Janet! She was totally worth it! What a great lady and amazing writer! Thirteen doesn't disappoint! ( )

I LOVE Stepahnie's Grandma. She made me laugh out loud! The characters are fun and make for a nice easy read. ( )

When Stephanie's loser ex-husband goes missing, it doesn't take long for people to decide that she probably murdered him. Another great book; this is one of the funnier ones, on the whole, I thought. Lots of craziness, including exploding beavers. Good fun. ( )