Stephanie Plum Books 1-3: One for the Money | Two for the Dough | Three to Get Deadly
by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum (Collections and Selections — 1-3)
On This Page
Description
Three complete novels: One for the Money, Two for the Dough, and Three to Get Deadly, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Janet Evanovich!Here's where it all began—the three novels that first brought us Stephanie Plum, that bounty hunter with attitude who stepped out of Trenton's blue-collar "burg" and into the heart of America.
One for the Money: Stephanie's all grown up and out on her own, living five miles from Mom and Dad and doing her best to sever the world's longest show more umbilical cord. Her mother is a meddler and her grandmother is a few cans short of a case. Out of work and out of money, Stephanie blackmails her bail-bondsman cousin Vinnie into giving her a try as an apprehension agent. Stephanie knows zilch about the job requirements, but she figures her new pal, el-primo bounty hunter Ranger, can teach her what it takes to catch a crook. Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. Morelli's the inamorato who charmed Stephanie out of her virginity at age sixteen. There's still powerful chemistry between them, so the chase is interesting.
Two for the Dough: Stephanie takes to the mean streets of Trenton, armed with attitude (not to mention stun guns and defense sprays), to find Kenny Mancuso, who recently shot his best friend and is on the run. Aided by the enigmatic Ranger, who knows a thing or two about bounty hunting, and by her irrepressible Grandma Mazur, Stephanie forms a shaky alliance with her favorite cop, Joe Morelli, for a tumultuous chase through back alleys and Grandma's favorite funeral parlors.
Three to Get Deadly: Stephanie is having a bad hair day—for the whole month of January. She's looking for Mo Bedemier, Trenton's most beloved citizen, who was charged with carrying concealed and skipped bail. To help her, she's got Lula, a former hooker turned file clerk. Big, blonde, and black, Lula's itching to lock up a crook in the trunk of her car. And Morelli, the cop with the slow-burning smile, is acting polite even after Stephanie finds more bodies than the Trenton PD has seen in years. That's a bad sign for sure.
Funny and fabulous, Janet Evanovich is at her sparkling best in these three novels that launched a bestselling phenomenon. show less
Tags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Okay, so I was going to do this series the same way I did the series by Laurell K. Hamilton, but I flew through them too fast. ;) Plus, it’s easier to do the whole series because while each one has it’s own plot, there are some points that transcend all of the books. So let me get started.
We’re introduced to Stephanie Plum in One for the Money. She is unemployed, single, and desperately trying to pay the rent. So what does she do, she blackmails her cousin Vinny into hiring her as a bounty hunter. Her job - to bring back those individuals who Vinny has bonded out and have failed to make their court appearance (aka FTAs). While this seems like an easy enough job (for the idiots who break the law), it tends to have a few side show more effects. One of those - getting caught up in Joe Morelli’s police investigations. It seems like all of her FTAs are connected to something that is bigger and badder than what they were initially arrested for. For example, her first FTA assignment was to capture Morelli (he was accused of murder) and during her hunt, she stumbles across an insane boxer who likes to hurt people, a disgruntled boxing manager, and her renewed attraction to Morelli (they’ve been playing doctor off and on for years). Another example, the local ice cream store owner is loved by everyone. He can do no wrong, not even when he’s suspected of killing drug dealers. Hey, it may be murder, but it’s a community service as well (Two for the Money). How she does it, no one knows, but Stephanie is constantly getting caught in something she really doesn’t want to be caught up in.
Another side to being a bounty hunter - Stephanie tends to go through cars like tissues. I’ve lost count the number of cars she’s gone through, but at least one gets blown up, incinerated, crashed, trashed, flatten, etc in each book. It’s always amusing to see what happens next to her vehicles.
There are a couple of perks to the job. Well, I’ll let you decide if they are perks, but Stephanie meets a couple new friends. The first one is Lulu. She’s an ex-hooker who has decided that she can do better as a file clerk for Vinnie. At the same time, she also assist Stephanie will some of her FTAs. Lulu likes to think they are Cagney and Lacy, but Stephanie knows they are more like Laurell and Hardy.
Another friend is Ranger. He’s ex-military, Cuban, a whisper on the wind and hot as hell. At least that is what we’re told. He always has a supply of brand new black cars and no one knows where or how he gets them. Ranger is the bounty hunter that Vinnie sends after the rapists, murders, and high bonded deviants. He knows what he’s doing and Stephanie initially goes to him for help. Like Eliza Doolittle does Jersey. Throughout the twelve books, Ranger makes it known that he is more than interested in playing teacher with Stephanie (especially if you read Hard Eight and To the Nines - I think).
While Ranger is definitely sin in the flesh, it’s a temptation that Stephanie is always having to be careful about. Especially since she has an on-again/off-again relationship with Morelli. Yes, she has two men in her life that know the other is attracted to her. While neither of them are ready for marriage (and neither is Stephanie), it is obvious that that is not in the cards for Ranger, ever. So while he may be the bad boy, Stephanie knows that her chance at marriage is with Morelli.
So while Stephanie decides what she’s going to do with the men in her life, she continues to chase FTAs for Vinnie and getting her cars blown up. I have to say, I always skipped over these books at Barnes & Noble due mainly to their covers; but don’t let that stop you. These books are fun, hilarious, and still a mystery. Yeah, some things maybe obvious, but there will be just as much, if not more, that you won’t see. Take the time and try these books. If you don’t like the first one, than you haven’t missed anything, but he series continues to get better with each book. Like I said, I wasn’t crazy about the books when I was reading them, but when my cousin recommended them, I gave them a try and now I am counting down the days until the next one is out.
I won’t make up your mind for you, but I will try this. Janet Evanovich has excerpts of all of her books at her website. Check them out and make your own decision.
http://www.literaryescapism.com/2006/05/24/17/ show less
We’re introduced to Stephanie Plum in One for the Money. She is unemployed, single, and desperately trying to pay the rent. So what does she do, she blackmails her cousin Vinny into hiring her as a bounty hunter. Her job - to bring back those individuals who Vinny has bonded out and have failed to make their court appearance (aka FTAs). While this seems like an easy enough job (for the idiots who break the law), it tends to have a few side show more effects. One of those - getting caught up in Joe Morelli’s police investigations. It seems like all of her FTAs are connected to something that is bigger and badder than what they were initially arrested for. For example, her first FTA assignment was to capture Morelli (he was accused of murder) and during her hunt, she stumbles across an insane boxer who likes to hurt people, a disgruntled boxing manager, and her renewed attraction to Morelli (they’ve been playing doctor off and on for years). Another example, the local ice cream store owner is loved by everyone. He can do no wrong, not even when he’s suspected of killing drug dealers. Hey, it may be murder, but it’s a community service as well (Two for the Money). How she does it, no one knows, but Stephanie is constantly getting caught in something she really doesn’t want to be caught up in.
Another side to being a bounty hunter - Stephanie tends to go through cars like tissues. I’ve lost count the number of cars she’s gone through, but at least one gets blown up, incinerated, crashed, trashed, flatten, etc in each book. It’s always amusing to see what happens next to her vehicles.
There are a couple of perks to the job. Well, I’ll let you decide if they are perks, but Stephanie meets a couple new friends. The first one is Lulu. She’s an ex-hooker who has decided that she can do better as a file clerk for Vinnie. At the same time, she also assist Stephanie will some of her FTAs. Lulu likes to think they are Cagney and Lacy, but Stephanie knows they are more like Laurell and Hardy.
Another friend is Ranger. He’s ex-military, Cuban, a whisper on the wind and hot as hell. At least that is what we’re told. He always has a supply of brand new black cars and no one knows where or how he gets them. Ranger is the bounty hunter that Vinnie sends after the rapists, murders, and high bonded deviants. He knows what he’s doing and Stephanie initially goes to him for help. Like Eliza Doolittle does Jersey. Throughout the twelve books, Ranger makes it known that he is more than interested in playing teacher with Stephanie (especially if you read Hard Eight and To the Nines - I think).
While Ranger is definitely sin in the flesh, it’s a temptation that Stephanie is always having to be careful about. Especially since she has an on-again/off-again relationship with Morelli. Yes, she has two men in her life that know the other is attracted to her. While neither of them are ready for marriage (and neither is Stephanie), it is obvious that that is not in the cards for Ranger, ever. So while he may be the bad boy, Stephanie knows that her chance at marriage is with Morelli.
So while Stephanie decides what she’s going to do with the men in her life, she continues to chase FTAs for Vinnie and getting her cars blown up. I have to say, I always skipped over these books at Barnes & Noble due mainly to their covers; but don’t let that stop you. These books are fun, hilarious, and still a mystery. Yeah, some things maybe obvious, but there will be just as much, if not more, that you won’t see. Take the time and try these books. If you don’t like the first one, than you haven’t missed anything, but he series continues to get better with each book. Like I said, I wasn’t crazy about the books when I was reading them, but when my cousin recommended them, I gave them a try and now I am counting down the days until the next one is out.
I won’t make up your mind for you, but I will try this. Janet Evanovich has excerpts of all of her books at her website. Check them out and make your own decision.
http://www.literaryescapism.com/2006/05/24/17/ show less
The Stephanie Plum series was the series that really got me reading. Each book is jam-packed with adventure, love/lust, hysterical mishaps, and fun-loving characters. The love triangle between Plum, Morrelli, and Ranger always keeps you on your toes. Grandma Mazur's antics will have you laughing outloud. Lula comments and opinions will have your jaw dropping, not to mention her way too-tight, wild wardrobe. Expect the unexpected in each adventure with Bounty Hunter "Extraordinaire", Stephanie Plum. The question you will ask yourself each time is, "What car will she be driving in this book?" I am positive you will enjoy this series. These books are difficult to put down, so clear your schedule!!
Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series (One for the Money through Notorious Nineteen) are light, fun, quick reads that are laugh-out-loud funny. They could never be mistaken for great literature, but if you just want an escape with a lot of laughs they fill the bill nicely.
A very enjoyable trip through New Jersey's underside. A somewhat stereotypical image of New Jersey, to be sure (albeit perfectly accurate, for all I know), but a lot of fun.
I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, but somehow these caught my attention. Perhaps it's the characters, perhaps it's the setting, perhaps it's the mysteries themselves. Whatever it was, I'm tempted to hunt down more of Ms. Evanovich's work.
I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, but somehow these caught my attention. Perhaps it's the characters, perhaps it's the setting, perhaps it's the mysteries themselves. Whatever it was, I'm tempted to hunt down more of Ms. Evanovich's work.
The first three were amazing, I wish I could go back and read them for the first time again! After that, watching Steph's car blow up got pretty old.
An omnibus volume that neatly covered the early stories that I had missed
That is, One for the Money, Two for the Dough and Three to Get Deadly. It was I think I bit unfair to read them back to back. All seemed pleasant enough. But I already knew the formula she was establishing in these books. It was interesting to watch the minor revisions in background as the series was established.
That is, One for the Money, Two for the Dough and Three to Get Deadly. It was I think I bit unfair to read them back to back. All seemed pleasant enough. But I already knew the formula she was establishing in these books. It was interesting to watch the minor revisions in background as the series was established.
Very convenient having the first three in one book. This is what got me started and hooked on the Plum series.
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
2016 Book Club Choices
52 works; 7 members
Author Information
214+ Works 214,918 Members
Janet Evanovich was born on April 22, 1943 in South River, New Jersey. She received a bachelor's degree in art from Douglas College, which is part of Rutgers University. She was working as a secretary for a temporary employment agency when she sold her first romance novel, Hero at Large, which was published in 1987 under the pseudonym Steffie show more Hall. She went on to write 12 romances in five years using her real name before beginning to write mysteries. Her first mystery novel, One for the Money, became the first book in the Stephanie Plum series. She is also the author of the Alex Barnaby series, A Between-the-Numbers Novel series, Lizzy and Diesel series, Full series written with Charlotte Hughes, the Fox and O'Hare series written with Lee Goldberg, and the Knight and Moon series written with Phoef Sutton. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Stephanie Plum Books 1-3: One for the Money | Two for the Dough | Three to Get Deadly
- Alternate titles
- Three Plums in One; Plum Boxed Set 1
- Original publication date
- 1997
- People/Characters*
- Stephanie Plum; Joe Morelli; Oma Mazur; Ranger
- Important places*
- Trenton, New Jersey, USA
- Dedication
- This book is for my husband, Peter--with love. [One for the Money]
To Alex and Peter, because they've always had more faith than common sense--and are careful not to step on a dream [Two for the Dough] - First words
- Boek 1: One For the Money:
There are some men who enter a woman's life and screw it up forever.
Boek 2: Two For the Dough:
I knew Ranger was bside me because I could see his earring gleaming in the moonlight.
Boek 3: Three to Get Deadly:
It was January in Trenton. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Boek 1: "Probably," I said. "Almost definitely probably."
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Boek 2: "Lucky for me," Morelli said. "I give good war."
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Boek 3: And then his lips brushed the nape of my neck, sending a jolt of fire straight to my doodah.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 1,073
- Popularity
- 23,833
- Reviews
- 18
- Rating
- (4.10)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, French
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- ASINs
- 8