One for the Money, by Janet Evanovich

(pb; 1994: first book in the Stephanie Plum series)

From the back cover:

"Trenton native Stephanie Plum is out of work, out of money, and her car's in repo-hell. So who does a hardly working girl turn to when the going gets tough? Meet cousin Vinnie, bail bondsman. Stephanie figures it's nice work if you can get it - shagging bail jumpers for $10,000 a pop. So she joins up.

"Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. There's also a cranky ex-prize fighter dogging her and a nasty habit she has of leaping first and looking later. If Stephanie doesn't wise up fast, the first dead body she sees could be her own."

Review:

One for the Money is a funny, flirty, sometime nasty-minded and fast-moving novel that, once I picked it up, I didn't want to set it down - it works as chick-lit and an action flick read.

Excellent pop mystery genre novel. Check it out!

Followed by Two for the Dough.

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This novel has been filmed twice.

The first film version aired on television in 2002.

Lynn Collins played Stephanie Plum. Tyler Christopher played Joe Morelli. Tim Burd and Tamara Levitt co-starred, though their roles aren't listed - and neither are any other actors who might've been in this teleflick.

David Grossman directed the film, from an uncredited author script.

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The second version was released stateside on January 27, 2012.

Katherine Heigl played Stephanie Plum. Jason O'Mara played Joe Morelli. Daniel Sunjata played Ranger. Ana Reeder played Connie. Nate Mooney played Eddie Gazarra.

John Leguizamo played Jimmy Alpha. Sherri Shepherd played Lula. Ryan Michelle Bathe played Jackie. Fisher Stevens played Morty Beyers. Adam Paul played Bernie Kuntz.

Debbie Reynolds played Grandma Mazur. Debra Monk played Mrs. Plum. Patrick Fischler played Vinnie Plum. Rex the hamster played "Rex the Hamster".

Julie Ann Robinson directed the film from a script by Stacy Sherman, Karen Ray and Liz Brixius.