Plum Spooky
by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers (4), Diesel (4), Stephanie Plum (14.5)
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Fiction. Mystery. Romance. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:Evanovich fans rejoice for Plum Spooky! Stephanie Plum is back in town, along with her sidekick Lula, her Grandma Mazur, and an ever-widening cast of freaks, criminals, deranged felons, and lunatics looking for love. And just when Stephanie thinks her life can't get any more complicated, in walks the mysterious Diesel. A man who seems to show up at the most inconvenient moments. This time, he's the instigator for Stephanie's new adventure, show more which involves camping in the Pine Barrens with Lula, and perhaps even a sighting of the Jersey Devil...so hang on for a Stephanie Plum novel that is sure to send chills up your spine—it gives new meaning to the words hilarious, and "spooky.". show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Some readers may argue that the Plum series is getting a bit stale and to be honest, I’d have trouble arguing with them. (Will Stephanie ever at least move in with Morelli? Sheesh.) However, even if the plots are no great surprise any longer, Evanovich still does manage to deliver at least two or three good belly laughs per book, and that, for me, is worth the afternoon it will take to get through one of these novels. The Between-the-Numbers novels are shorter, and thus even quicker reads than the main numbered books. "Plum Spooky" may be just another routine outing for Stephanie (and her fans), but it was a fun read on a snowy day.
This is one of the "between-the-numbers" novels in Evanovich's series about incompetent bounty hunter Stephanie Plum -- part of the series, but distinct from the usual installments. This one is longer than most of them, and less obviously holiday-themed, although it is apparently set somewhere around Halloween. But it does feature the usual supernatural elements, including a mysterious character called Diesel, and it turns the wackiness typical of the series up to eleven. In fact, I'd say this one really dials up the wackiness, with a plot featuring mad science and monkeys. Lots of monkeys.
The (frequently monkey-based) humor here is dumb and often feels kind of forced, but when you're able to turn your brain off and just go with it, show more which I managed a reasonable amount of the time, it is kind of amusing. Which is generally about all I ask from these books.
I am growing more and more uncomfortable, though, with the way that people sexually harassing and/or sexually threatening Stephanie is played for laughs and, when it comes from the men she's working with, treated as no big deal and only to be expected, or even presented as if it's supposed to be sexy. I'm never happy about that, but right now it makes me feel particularly squirmy. show less
The (frequently monkey-based) humor here is dumb and often feels kind of forced, but when you're able to turn your brain off and just go with it, show more which I managed a reasonable amount of the time, it is kind of amusing. Which is generally about all I ask from these books.
I am growing more and more uncomfortable, though, with the way that people sexually harassing and/or sexually threatening Stephanie is played for laughs and, when it comes from the men she's working with, treated as no big deal and only to be expected, or even presented as if it's supposed to be sexy. I'm never happy about that, but right now it makes me feel particularly squirmy. show less
You’re sitting in your favorite chair, reading that paperback detective novel you just picked up, and you come across this passage in which the heroine, Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter, and her sidekick, Lulu, a “former ‘ho,” are discussing why their latest attempt to apprehend a fugitive has ended in disaster (as usual). Lulu has an explanation:
“I got bad juju. How else could you explain it?”
“It’s not our juju,” I told Lulu. “It’s our skill level. We’re incompetent.”
“I got a high skill level,” Lulu said. “I just shot a rat off a rafter.”
“You weren’t aiming for it.”
“Yeah. My skill level is so high I do things I don’t even try to.”
So, how can you respond to writing like this? Well, I don’t show more know about you, but I find exchanges like this irresistibly funny. Likely as not I’ll laugh out loud, as I do so often with Janet Evanovich’s inimitable Stephanie Plum series. Perhaps it’s just my sophomoric nature. After all, I laugh out loud at movies, too. Or, maybe, just maybe, it’s that Evanovich has a rare talent for humor akin to that of Donald Westlake (also a writer of humorous crime stories) or great film comics like Buster Keaton or the Marx Brothers.
Now, if you’re one of the three book readers in the United States who is unfamiliar with the name Janet Evanovich, here are a few choice facts:
* Janet Evanovich is the author of 37 novels, give or take a couple. She turns them out at a pace that almost rivals James Patterson, with whom she tends to alternate the top spot in the New York Times Bestseller List for fiction.
* Evanovich joined the ranks of published authors relatively late in life, and very slowly. It was only at age 51 with the debut of her heroine, Stephanie Plum, in One for the Money (1994) that she began to hit her stride. At last report Plum had managed to maintain her age (early 30s) and her figure (clearly enviable) through 17 numbered novels, the latest of which was Smokin’ Seventeen (2011), plus five other books published “Between the Numbers.”
If you read Evanovich loyally, as I do, you won’t learn a lot about anything of consequence, not law enforcement, crime, or even the working-class setting in New Jersey where the Stephanie Plum novels are set. Chances are, though, you’ll have a lot of fun. show less
“I got bad juju. How else could you explain it?”
“It’s not our juju,” I told Lulu. “It’s our skill level. We’re incompetent.”
“I got a high skill level,” Lulu said. “I just shot a rat off a rafter.”
“You weren’t aiming for it.”
“Yeah. My skill level is so high I do things I don’t even try to.”
So, how can you respond to writing like this? Well, I don’t show more know about you, but I find exchanges like this irresistibly funny. Likely as not I’ll laugh out loud, as I do so often with Janet Evanovich’s inimitable Stephanie Plum series. Perhaps it’s just my sophomoric nature. After all, I laugh out loud at movies, too. Or, maybe, just maybe, it’s that Evanovich has a rare talent for humor akin to that of Donald Westlake (also a writer of humorous crime stories) or great film comics like Buster Keaton or the Marx Brothers.
Now, if you’re one of the three book readers in the United States who is unfamiliar with the name Janet Evanovich, here are a few choice facts:
* Janet Evanovich is the author of 37 novels, give or take a couple. She turns them out at a pace that almost rivals James Patterson, with whom she tends to alternate the top spot in the New York Times Bestseller List for fiction.
* Evanovich joined the ranks of published authors relatively late in life, and very slowly. It was only at age 51 with the debut of her heroine, Stephanie Plum, in One for the Money (1994) that she began to hit her stride. At last report Plum had managed to maintain her age (early 30s) and her figure (clearly enviable) through 17 numbered novels, the latest of which was Smokin’ Seventeen (2011), plus five other books published “Between the Numbers.”
If you read Evanovich loyally, as I do, you won’t learn a lot about anything of consequence, not law enforcement, crime, or even the working-class setting in New Jersey where the Stephanie Plum novels are set. Chances are, though, you’ll have a lot of fun. show less
I wasn't sure how much I'd like this since I've only read the first of the Stephanie Plum books, but I didn't have any problems whatsoever getting into the story.
It was also much funnier than I was expecting. The characters are written perfectly, and they talk with and react to one another really well. Stephanie in particular is great, and her flat way of handling every insane situation that hits her makes everything that much better.
I also liked the fact that monkeys figured heavily in the plot. Specifically, monkeys that knew enough to flip people off when they were being insulted.
Having most everything take place in the woods of New Jersey was also unexpected and entertaining, mostly because of the large number of bizarre show more side-characters that populated it.
I definitely want to go back and read more in the series now. One of my favorite characters doesn't sound like he's around all that often though (the man who stayed with Stephanie and worked on the case with her), and I can only hope he appears again. show less
It was also much funnier than I was expecting. The characters are written perfectly, and they talk with and react to one another really well. Stephanie in particular is great, and her flat way of handling every insane situation that hits her makes everything that much better.
I also liked the fact that monkeys figured heavily in the plot. Specifically, monkeys that knew enough to flip people off when they were being insulted.
Having most everything take place in the woods of New Jersey was also unexpected and entertaining, mostly because of the large number of bizarre show more side-characters that populated it.
I definitely want to go back and read more in the series now. One of my favorite characters doesn't sound like he's around all that often though (the man who stayed with Stephanie and worked on the case with her), and I can only hope he appears again. show less
This is my favorite between the numbers book yet. And it feels more
substantial than the other betweens. The paranormal elements are also
less prominent, which I think works better in the Plum universe
(although I'd love to see Janet Evanovich try her hand at a true
urban fantasy series). There is also a bit of a story development
with Lula that will definitely have an impact on future books. All in
all, another fun Plum book. Can't wait for fifteen.
substantial than the other betweens. The paranormal elements are also
less prominent, which I think works better in the Plum universe
(although I'd love to see Janet Evanovich try her hand at a true
urban fantasy series). There is also a bit of a story development
with Lula that will definitely have an impact on future books. All in
all, another fun Plum book. Can't wait for fifteen.
This audiobook was mostly a waste of time. I enjoyed Grandma Mazur and Lula as usual, but the pack of monkeys were a little much. I did enjoy Carl for a bit, but by the third round of Super Mario Brothers, I was over him, too. I didn't see the purpose of throwing in Diesel, another possible love interest for Stephanie. As if she needed another inept complication in her life. And the supervillain Wolf" was a little much for me, too."
Somehow I missed this "Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers" book while reading the series. It was great to read (well, listen to since I had the audiobook version) what I consider vintage Evanovich. Some of the antics were humorous (Lula accidentally shooting a fuel canister and blowing up the entire depot; Carl's "eep" when Elmer accidentally ignites fuel stored in a mine). Carl the monkey is in most of the book, so is Diesel. Lula features in several scenes. Most of the other regulars are marginalized (Joe Morelli, Ranger, Grandma Mazur).
One of Stephanie's FTAs and the man Diesel is hunting are working together in a business deal, so Diesel pulls Stephanie into his task--though later he does help her catch her FTA. Their work takes show more them to "The Barrens" where they encounter several eccentrics.
The raccoons getting into Stephanie's jeep for a bucket of chicken sounds similar to another car that Stephanie "lost" (in a different book?). But part of the charm of the series for me is seeing how Stephanie "loses" another car. So it was disappointing that it was similar to one I'd read before.
The story kept me interested, but I wouldn't reread it (which is why it didn't receive a 5). show less
One of Stephanie's FTAs and the man Diesel is hunting are working together in a business deal, so Diesel pulls Stephanie into his task--though later he does help her catch her FTA. Their work takes show more them to "The Barrens" where they encounter several eccentrics.
The raccoons getting into Stephanie's jeep for a bucket of chicken sounds similar to another car that Stephanie "lost" (in a different book?). But part of the charm of the series for me is seeing how Stephanie "loses" another car. So it was disappointing that it was similar to one I'd read before.
The story kept me interested, but I wouldn't reread it (which is why it didn't receive a 5). show less
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Author Information
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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
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- Canonical title
- Plum Spooky
- Original publication date
- 2009-01-09
- People/Characters
- Stephanie Plum; Carl (monkey); Connie Rosolli; Lula; Vincent Plum (Vinnie); Joe Morelli (show all 43); Ranger (Ricardo Carlos Manoso); Martin Munch; Denny Guzzi; Bob (Joe's Dog); Tank (associate of Ranger); Diesel (associate of Ranger); Rex (Stephanie's Hamster); Wulf / Gerwulf Grimoire; Lydia Munch; Eugene Scanlon; Anthony Morelli; Grandma Mazur; Gordo Bollo; Doc Weiner; Solomon Cuddles; Hector Mendez; Flash. (associate of Diesel); Roberta Scanlon; Gail Scanlon; Jersey Devil; Charlene; Hal (associate of Ranger); Elmer the Fire Farter; Suzy (cat); Miss Kitty (cat); Applepuff (cat); Angelina Morelli; Anthony Morelli, jr.; Boon; Sasquatch; Lu Kim Rule; Vladimir Strunchek; Ivan; Bernard Zumwalt (E. Bunny or Easter Bunny); Ellen Plum; Frank Plum; Susan Stitch
- Important places
- Trenton, New Jersey, USA; Pine Barrens, New Jersey, USA; Hamilton Township, New Jersey, USA; Cadmount, New Jersey, USA; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Marbury, New Jersey, USA
- Dedication
- I'd like to acknowledge the Unmentionable assistance of Alex Evanovich, Peter Evanovich, and my St. Martin's Press editor and friend, SuperJen Enderlin
- First words
- Sometimes you get up in the morning and you know it's going to be one of those days.
- Quotations
- I'm from Jersey. I get my adventure on the Turnpike. I only fly if there's a beach or casino involved. And then it's in a big plane serving alcohol.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I felt his hand on my ass, and I stood and turned to face him, but he was gone.
- Original language
- English US
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Statistics
- Members
- 3,761
- Popularity
- 4,263
- Reviews
- 103
- Rating
- (3.55)
- Languages
- English, German
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 33
- ASINs
- 23