Two For The Dough, by Janet Evanovich

(hb; 1996: second book in the Stephanie Plum series)

From the inside flap:

". . . Stephanie's back, armed with attitude - not to mention stun guns, defense sprays, killer flashlights, and her trusty .38. Stephanie is after a new bail jumper, Kenny Mancuso, a boy from Trenton's burg. He's fresh out of the army, suspiciously wealthy, and he's just shot his best friend.

"With her bounty hunter pal Ranger stepping in occasionally to advise her, Stephanie staggers knee-deep in corpses and caskets as she traipses through back streets, dark alleys, and funeral parlors.

"And nobody knows funeral parlors better than Stephanie's irrepressible Grandma Mazur, a lady whose favorite pastime is grabbing a front-row seat at a neighborhood wake. So Stephanie uses Grandma as a cover to follow leads, but loses control when Grandma warms to the action, packing a cool pistol. Much to the family's chagrin, Stephanie and Grandma may soon have the elusive Kenny in their sights.

"Fast-talking, slow-handed vice cop Joe Morelli joins in the case, since the prey happens to be his young cousin. And if the assignment calls for an automobile stakeout for two with a woman who puts his libido in overdrive, Morelli's not one to object.

"Low on expertise but learning fast, high on resilience, and despite the help she gets from friends and despite the help she gets from friends and relatives. Stephanie eventually must face the danger alone when embalmed body parts begin to arrive on her doorstep and she's targeted for a nasty death by the most loathsome adversary she's ever encountered. Another case like this and she'll be a real pro."

Review:

Amusing, streamlined novel, more comedy than mystery (that is, more about how the bad guys did it not who did it), but worth reading for the aforementioned comedic romp and Jersey-esque elements.

Followed by Three To Get Deadly.

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.

#

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.

How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author by Janet Evanovich with Ina Yalof

(pb; 2006: non-fiction)

"How I Write is for anyone who is hungry to find out about how Janet Evanovich does what she does.

"• How she comes up with such remarkable characters, like Stephanie Plum, Lula, and Grandma Mazur.

"• How she finds out insider details.

"• Just how she thinks up those hair-raising plots.

"• Techniques on revising and editing.

"• What the life of a full-time writer is really like.

" •What she'd tell an aspiring author about the publishing industry.

"• And much, much more!

"Written with nonfiction author and creative writing teacher Ina Yalof and with help from daughter Alex Evanovich, How I Write is the perfect guide for anyone looking to strengthen their writing, and for those who want to find out just what makes Janet Evanovich tick!"


Review 

Entertaining, instructional read. The personable optimism, humor and pragmatism that Evanovich imbues her fictional work with highlights this book, as well.

This is not the definitive how-to-write book, nor does it claim to be. As Evanovich repeatedly warns, this is how she writes; every writer has to find out, via experience, what writing set-up works for him or her.

It is, however, fun (in a non-threatening-to-beginning-writers way) and helpful (whether you're a beginner, or a more experienced writer). The side-bar pointers from Evanovich's daughter, Alex, and Yalof enhance Evanovich's observations.

My only nit is that some of the readers' questions are essentially the same question, stated in a slightly different way. A number of these questions could have been trimmed, making for a more focussed read.

Worth reading, this, whether you're new to writing, or an older hand at it. Check it out from your local library.