Book Review: "Finger Lickin' Fifteen" by Janet Evanovich

[jpskewedthrone]

Another Stephanie Plum novel from Janet Evanovich. This one centers around two things: BFF Lula witnesses a decapitation and the inept killers are trying to off her; and Ranger hires Stephanie to figure out who's breaking into houses his company is supposed to keep secure since it appears to be an inside job.

I read these because they're light and brainless and a nice break from more serious (and better) books. On the grand scale of Stephanie Plum books, this one was better than the last few, but still not even close to her best. I only laughed uproariously once during the entire book, and chuckled and shook my head a few times. I thought there was some promise that the ending wouldn't be ho-hum, but that didn't pan out. I've found the last few of these books didn't escalate to a climax like the first few in the series as things finally get resolved, and that non-climax is kind of annoyoing. Everything just kind of winds down and ends. (Imagine lots of foreplay in sex, but with no follow-through.) I also figured out who was behind Ranger's problem within the first few chapters that plotline was introduced.

Also, we need to do something with the relationships here. In this one, Morelli and Stephanie have had a fight that is NOT in the book (which I hated, why not give us the drama of the fight during the narrative?) and are off again, leaving us some time for sexual fun with Ranger . . . but once again nothing really happens with the relationship thing. *sigh* If I were in this relationship, I'd have given up ages ago, because it's going nowhere. Fast.

So, lots of good potential with the plotline here--both of them--but no climax. And still no change on the relationship front, just more of the same.

Buy from: Borders | B & N | Powell’s | Indiebound | Amazon

Comments

[sinanju.livejournal.com]

I read this one after abandoning the series early on, just to see how (and if) anything had changed. I'd enjoyed the first two or three books...until it appeared the Stephanie was never going to learn anything.

I see I was right. I don't find incompetence funny. Yes, there was considerable entertaining dialogue and funny descriptions of situations, peoplea and places. But...Stephanie still does bone stupid things that anyone with two brain cells to rub together should know not to do (or have learned after FIFTEEN NOVELS WORTH OF EXPERIENCE). She hasn't.

And, yeah, absolutely no forward progress on the relationship front.

I'm done for another fifteen books or so.

[bearmountain.livejournal.com]

I stopped reading them a while back. Couldn't stand the disappointment. Have you read "Take the Monkey's and Run?" by Karen Cantwell??? Excellent read. I think you'd like it for your lighter reading fare.