I feel like these books are Team Morelli vs Team Ranger :) I'm definitely for Team Morelli, and he took a backseat role in this installment. And I wonder what her monthly car insurance bill is!

"Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum has a big problem on her hands: Seven-year-old Annie Soder and her mother, Evelyn, have disappeared. Evelyn's estranged husband, Steven, a shady owner of a seedy bar, is not at all happy. During the divorce proceedings, he and Evelyn signed a child custody bond, and Steven is demanding the money guaranteed by the bond to find Annie. The money was secured by a mortgage on Evelyn's grandmother's house, and the True Blue Bonds Bail Agency wants to take possession of the house. Finding a kidnapped child is not an assignment for a bounty hunter. But Evelyn's grandmother lives next door to Stephanie's parents, and Stephanie's mother and grandmother are not about to see their neighbor lose her house because of abduction. Even though Stephanie's plate is full with miscreants who missed their court dates, including old nemesis and violent drunk Andy Bender and an elusive little old lady accused of grand theft auto, she can't disappoint Grandma Mazur! So she follows the trail left by Annie and Evelyn-- and finds a lot more than she bargained for. Steven is somehow linked with a very scary Eddie Abruzzi. Trenton cop and on-again, off-again fiance Joe Morelli and Stephanie's mentor and tormentor, Ranger, warn Stephanie about Abruzzi, but it's Abruzzi's eyes and mannerisms that frighten Stephanie the most. Stephanie needs Ranger's savvy and expertise, and she's willing to accept his help to find Annie even though it might mean becoming too involved with Ranger. Stephanie, Ranger, Lula (who's not going to miss riding with Ranger), and Evelyn's lawyer/laundromat manager set out to find Annie. The search turns out to be a race among Stephanie's posse, the True Blue Bonds' agent, a Rangerette known as Jeanne Ellen Burrows, and the Abruzzi crew. Not to mention the fact that there's a killer rabbit on the loose! Strap on your helmet and get ready for the ride of your life. Hard Eight. The world of Plum has never been wilder."

At first I gave this book 4 stars because it was as usual really funny, but then I reflected on the plot and the forced social situations she wanted to get out of the way and I felt somewhat dissatisfied with it.

Dear Stephanie Plum:
Yes, I realize that you're a fictional character, but I think your followers want you to have an intervention. This review is for #8 of your series, but looking at the reviews of newly released #20, you're still dealing with the same issues as 1-8. Here goes...

Morelli. Gorgeous, loves you, and you've said you love him too. Have said you'd marry him. I feel sorry for this guy the same way I pitied Ricky Ricardo. Reason number one I think you're insane.

Ranger. Danger, danger, danger, Ranger. Has become boring and obviously is after you for one reason. Why you'd pick him over Morelli mystifies many of your readers and has caused not only dissention in the ranks, but desertion. Reason number two I think you're insane.

The Hamster. It was cute in #1, now it's just monotonous.

The gun situation. This is where your credibility as a grown woman breaks down. You get a gun and various other paraphernalia and yet you still keep it in your damn purse. Time after time, book after book proves to keep your bounty hunting tools in your purse is a very bad idea. Everyone is armed except you, including the elderly residents of your apartment building, and usually better armed. And bullets? Don't get me started. Reason #3 I think you're insane. Get a Glock or Beretta and keep the damn thing strapped to your leg, woman.

The door and window situation in your apartment. Despite it being a steel door, anyone including intellectually challenged potheads can break and enter. People leave dead bodies in your apartment. Homicidal killers hang out on your fire escape. You get firebombed. Time after time Morelli, Ranger, and others come in and fix things for you, try to encourage you to protect yourself. Nothing. Reason #4 I think you're insane.

Then there's Lula. Lula's a survivor, but she's trapped in a stereotype. The woman's a survivor and needs a makeover and a nice boyfriend.

Reading some of the reviews for later books, I see many of the same criticisms. Why doesn't Stephanie grow? Why does she keep treating Morelli so badly? I have the same questions, and no answers, and thus won't be buying any of the rest of the books. I'm on a long waiting list at my library, but am in no hurry.

I started reading these books while sick during Thanksgiving vacation, happy to find a romantic mystery series, especially one as funny as Stephanie Plum. Leaving at the end of #8 seems like a good time to dump Lucy and, and find a new series.

I always feel a bit weird reviewing books that come along in a series. I feel as though I should try to entice people to read the first book and don’t really speak to the merits of the most recent book I’ve read. With that said, please pardon this crappy post.

In short, the Stephanie Plum books (the first of which was turned into a movie with Katherine Heigl a few years ago) follow a sassy Jersey girl whose bread-and-butter lifestyle gets turned upside down when she takes up a job as a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinnie. With a host of hilarious side kicks, crazy hijinks, and a family that you will love and laugh with, these books are quick and delicious reads that appeal to any chick-lit and mystery lover.

This book in particular follows Stephanie as she does her parents’ neighbor a favor, searching for a missing mother and daughter. In her pursuit of information, Stephanie realizes she’s not the only person looking for the pair, and she crosses path with some seriously scary gangsters that pull Stephanie even further into the action. With a new sidekick of a bumbling lawyer who works out of a laundromat, Evanovich proves she’s still got a host of unforgettable characters up her sleeve as Stephanie dives into another mystery.

Like in all series, some Stephanie Plum books are better than others, and this one was especially good. I can’t even recall the amount of times I laughed out loud during my reading, but I have to say, overall, this was a great pick-me-up read.

This one didn't seem to be as exciting as the others. It had a good storyline, but it seemed to be going too many places at once. But it was back to good to be back with Stephanie, Ranger, and Morelli.

These books are great if you are looking for a nice, relaxing summer read like I was when I first picked up this series over five years ago. They don't really require much in the way of brain power and the plots are really repetitive and formulaic. What keeps me reading this series, though, is the characters. Evanovich knows how to write really compelling characters that keep me coming back for more even though I know what is going to happen in every book. Stephanie, Morelli, Ranger, Grandma Mazur, Lula, Connie, Vinnie etc. have become like family to me and so for that reason I keep finding myself drawn into these books. Again, don't be expecting great literature here. These are simply fun, quick reads that are great for those times when you just really want a break from reality for a while.