To the Nines

Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is still working for her bail bondsman Uncle Vinnie as a bounty hunter. Vincent Plum has written a new type of bond; this is a visa bond to guarantee residents of foreign in countries will return to their home when their work permit expires in the United States. The first man Vinnie bonded under the new procedure has disappeared a week before his visa is up. This could ruin the business, so Vinnie finding Samuel Singh is his highest priority. Everything else can wait.

Ranger taps Stephanie to assist him. Stephanie has resumed her relationship with Morelli, so this makes for an uneasy triangle. She starts making inquiries about Singh. She visits his workplace, his neighborhood, and any friends she can discover. She was talking to one of the "friends" when the man was shot in front of her, across the picnic table outside McDonalds. When our bounty hunter from Trenton starts receiving flowers and strange notes, she realizes she is a target, too.

Once again, this mystery had me laughing out loud at the Plum family. It is the little things that tickle me, like Grandma Mazur's red spiked hair or when Ranger says, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to tell you." and everyone is afraid he means it. Stephanie starts injuring her body guards (unintentionally, of course), adding to the fun and amusement. The mystery gets creepy when someone is able to sneak into Stephanies apartment and car to leave her messages.

I would like to see more of Grandma Mazur. Lula is a hoot but more of a caricature in this book than earlier. Overall, the story isn't as strong as the earlier ones. Stephanie's character is wishy-washy throughout the book. As the Plum and Morelli families grow (in the books), there are more people to mention in the story, spreading the focus thinner.

Notice: Non-graphic violence, Strong indecent language, Suggestive dialogue or situations

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