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One for the Money

Book 1 in the series:Stephanie Plum

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'One for the Money' by Janet Evanovich is the first book in the Stephanie Plum series, introducing readers to the hilarious and endearing protagonist, Stephanie Plum. The story follows Stephanie as she embarks on a new career as a bounty hunter, taking on her first assignment to apprehend Joe Morelli, an ex-fling with a complicated history. The book is known for its entertaining mix of mystery, humor, and fast-paced storytelling, with witty dialogue and quirky characters that keep readers engaged from start to finish.

Evanovich's writing style in 'One for the Money' is described as funny, light-hearted, and fast-paced, making it a perfect choice for readers looking for a fun and easy read. The book is praised for its blend of suspenseful elements with comedic moments, creating a delightful mix of humor and intrigue as Stephanie navigates the world of bounty hunting in Trenton, New Jersey.

Characters:

The characters are quirky and humorous, featuring a protagonist who is both endearing and fallible, alongside a cast of distinct, engaging personalities that complement the story.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and humorous, characterized by witty dialogue and a relatable first-person narration that brings Stephanie's adventures to life.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around Stephanie Plum, who, facing financial ruin, enters the world of bounty hunting to capture Joe Morelli, the man entangled with her past and currently on the run due to murder charges.

Setting:

The setting is a vibrant, working-class New Jersey, which adds character to the story and influences the dynamics among the inhabitants.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk and engaging, making it an easy read that maintains interest with humorous interludes and suspenseful situations.
Morelli and I were both born and raised in a blue-collar chunk of Trenton called the burg. Houses were attached and narrow. Yards were small. Cars were American. The people were mostly of Italian desc...

Notes:

One for the Money is the first book in the long-running Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, published in 1994.
The protagonist, Stephanie Plum, is a new and untrained bounty hunter from New Jersey.
Stephanie Plum has been described as relatable, funny, and in over her head in her new job.
The book combines elements of crime, mystery, and comedy, making it hard to categorize into one specific genre.
The character Joe Morelli, a vice cop turned murder suspect, has a complicated romantic history with Stephanie.
Grandma Mazur, Stephanie's eccentric grandmother, is a fan-favorite character known for her outrageous antics.
The series features a love triangle between Stephanie, Joe Morelli, and the mysterious bounty hunter Ranger.
The dialogue is praised for its humor and character depth, contributing to the book's laugh-out-loud moments.
As of now, the series has expanded to over 30 books, each often following a similar comedic formula yet remaining enjoyable.
The book has been adapted into a film, but the movie was criticized for not capturing the essence of the book.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes themes of violence and sexual assault, which could be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

There is a significant romantic subplot involving Stephanie's complicated relationships with two male characters.

From The Publisher:

Meet Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter with attitude. In Stephanie's opinion, toxic waste, rabid drivers, armed schizophrenics, and August heat, humidity, and hydrocarbons are all part of the great adventure of living in Jersey.

She's a product of the "burg," a blue-collar pocket of Trenton where houses are attached and narrow, cars are American, windows are clean, and (God forbid you should be late) dinner is served at six.

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 should be interesting…and could also be extremely dangerous.

Ratings (139)

Incredible (13)
Loved It (41)
Liked It (59)
It Was OK (19)
Did Not Like (4)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (214):

Read It (141)
Want To Read (46)
Did Not Finish (2)
Not Interested (25)

4 comment(s)

It Was OK
6 days

Didn't realize I've already read this but didn't remember much of it. This keeps it's original 3 stars. It was an okay book, might want to continue with this but isn't overly excited about it.

 
It Was OK
4 weeks

Another entertaining read, disposable but well-written. The ending wrapped things up just a little bit too perfectly, with the villain explaining his nefarious plan in detail while a recording device was present, but... nobody's perfect, y'know?

 
Incredible
2 months

Re-read. Love Evanovich for her comedy.

 
Incredible
1 year

Stephanie Plum is everyone's favorite character from her never-give-up attitude to her heart-thumping romances with two hot guys she can never chose between. Even though this review is for the first book, I've read them all, and her (and her friend's) exploits never get old.

 

About the Author:

Over the last twenty-five years, Janet Evanovich has written a staggering twenty-four #1 New York Times bestsellers in the Stephanie Plum series. In addition to the Plum novels, Janet has coauthored the New York Times bestselling Fox and O'Hare series, the Knight and Moon series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, the Alexandra Barnaby novels, and the graphic novel, Troublemaker (with her daughter, Alex Evanovich).

 
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