Lean Mean Thirteen

Janet Evanovich

Ranger asks Stephanie Plum to do a favor for him. So, with extreme misgivings, she stops by her ex-husband's office and plants a bug on him. Stephanie doesn't know why Ranger is tracking Dickie, a lawyer, but she doesn what he asks. While in the office, she and Dickie get into yet another physical arguement - OK, Stephanie attacks him again. So when he goes missing the next day, she is the primary suspect in a possible murder.

Now Stephanie wants to find Dickie. So does Ranger. Stephanie's "significant other", Joe Morelli, is tied up in a double homicide case so she doesn't see much of him. But when she does, he is taking care of her. Her wallet is empty, so she also needs to bring in some skips for her bail bondsman uncle. Of her list, one is a weird taxidermist and one is a grave robber/tax accountant.

Now Stephanie is broke, only sees Joe occasionally, sees too much of Ranger, and has her nemesis Joyce Barnhardt following her. Joyce is certain Stephanie killed Dickie and Joyce wants to prove it. Her newest car is running badly, rodents are exploding, she has to carry her own tracking device so Ranger and Joe can keep her safe, the cable company isn't fixing a broken cable, and she's chasing a grave robber who keeps a 20 foot python. Life is never dull around Stephanie Plum.

Lean Mean Thirteen is the latest in a series of humorous cozy mysteries. At times the series get repetetive and worn, then turns around with a new touch of Evanovich zip. This time the exploding rodents are a definite new, funny twist. If you've never met Stephanie Plum, you'll find this funny, but will miss some of the ongoing jokes like Stephanie's car problems. If you've read this series, you'll see some of the same stuff rehashed - like Stephanie's car problems.

But I still caught myself laughing out loud. The story line kept me guessing. I still had fun - and that's what this series is about.

The Series:

One for the Money
Two for the Dough
Three to Get Deadly
Four to Score
High Five
Hot Six
Seven Up
Hard Eight
Visions of Sugar Plums
To the Nines
Ten Big Ones
Eleven on Top
Twelve Sharp
Plum Lovin'
Lean Mean Thirteen
Plum Lucky
Fearless Fourteen
Plum Spooky
Finger Lickin' Fifteen
Sizzling Sixteen
Smokin' Seventeen
Explosive Eighteeen