'Explosive Eighteen' in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich seems to revolve around the main character, Stephanie Plum, and her constant indecision between her two lovers, Morelli and Ranger. The plot is criticized for being repetitive, focusing on Stephanie's love life and her interactions with the two men. The writing style is described as broad and comforting, akin to a quick and convenient sugar rush, with ridiculous plots and cartoon-like characters. also touches on themes of female empowerment and societal double standards regarding women's relationships and sexuality.
From The Publisher:
Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's life is set to blow sky high when international murder hits dangerously close to home, in this dynamite novel by Janet Evanovich.
Before Stephanie can even step foot off Flight 127 Hawaii to Newark, she's knee deep in trouble. Her dream vacation turned into a nightmare, and she's flying back to New Jersey solo. Worse still, her seatmate never returned to the plane after the L.A. layover. Now he's dead, in a garbage can, waiting for curbside pickup. His killer could be anyone. And a ragtag collection of thugs and psychos, not to mention the FBI, are all looking for a photograph the dead man was supposed to be carrying.
Only one other person has seen the missing photo-Stephanie Plum. Now she's the target, and she doesn't intend to end up in a garbage can. With the help of an FBI sketch artist Stephanie re-creates the person in the photo. Unfortunately the first sketch turns out to look like Tom Cruise, and the second sketch like Ashton Kutcher. Until Stephanie can improve her descriptive skills, she'll need to watch her back.
Over at the bail bonds agency things are going from bad to worse. The bonds bus serving as Vinnie's temporary HQ goes up in smoke. Stephanie's wheelman, Lula, falls in love with their largest skip yet. Lifetime arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt moves into Stephanie's apartment. And everyone wants to know what happened in Hawaii?
Morelli, Trenton's hottest cop, isn't talking about Hawaii. Ranger, the man of mystery, isn't talking about Hawaii. And all Stephanie is willing to say about her Hawaiian vacation is . . . It's complicated.
Ratings (10)
Incredible (3) | |
Loved It (3) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (1) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (14):
Read It (12) | |
Want To Read (2) |
1 comment(s)
I liked this book...when it was books 9 through 17.
I feel tricked. Someone told me this was the last in the series and that Stephanie would FINALLY choose between Ranger and Morelli. I was so eager to read it, I bumped it ahead of all my other books when it arrived at the library.
It was a complete waste of time. No decisions were made. Based on the ending, I highly doubt it was the last book. Stephanie and Lula's wacky ways are beginning to lose their luster. I don't know if I can stay committed for many more of these. Honestly, I don't see how Janet can keep writing these - she has to be bored out of her skull.
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