Finger Lickin’ Fifteen (Stephanie Plum Novels) (Hardcover)
Finger Lickin’ Fifteen (Stephanie Plum Novels) (Hardcover)
Finger Lickin’ Fifteen (Stephanie Plum Novels) (Hardcover) Reviews
Normally, I start a review by discussing the author, but Janet Evanovich is such an accomplished writer, I don’t think that will be necessary. It is hard to believe that it has been fifteen years since we were first introduced to the sassy bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum. A show of hands from those who can remember One for the Money: One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, No. 1). Well, Stephanie, has come a long way since she first started chasing Joe Morelli. The last few books in the series, however, had readers convinced it was time to put this series to rest – and I was one of them. But Finger Lickin’ Fifteen is, in some ways, a return to form for the best-selling author.
Stephanie Plum has had enough experience by now to be a seasoned vet, but somehow she still manages to stumble along the way – but I guess that is part of her charm. There are two things we can count on about Ms. Plum: She will bumble her way through the book and never commit to a serious relationship – both hold true in her latest adventure. Fifteen Lickin’ Fifteen has all the characters that we’ve come to love and even spends time developing some of their stories.
Lula, the clerk with a dubious past, witnesses the brutal murder of television star, Stanley Chipotle. This brings her the unwanted attention of keystone-capered-type-killers that are just as inept at their chosen career as Ms. Plum is at hers. Well, a big reward is offered for the capture of the killers, and Lula, along with Grandma Mazur, enter the cooking contest the TV star was in town to promote in hopes of catching them. Stephanie, meanwhile, is working with her on again, off again lover, Ranger, to solve a series of burglaries that appear to be inside jobs.
Let me end there so I don’t spoil it for you, but I will say that I really, really, really, really, wanted to give this book a top score. I love Janet Evanovich, and her Stephanie Plum series, but this fifteenth installment failed on more than a few fronts to fully engross the reader. The Lula story is never fully developed, and while there are hilarities, they are rather shallow and pedantic. The heat begins to rise when Stephanie and Ranger are together, but this too is rather tiresome. Overall, Finger Lickin’ Fifteen, has just enough humor and passion and mystery to qualify as a summer breeze. It doesn’t achieve what the first six books in the series did: Plum Boxed Set 1 (1, 2, 3): Contains One for the Money, Two for the Dough and Three to Get Deadly(Stephanie Plum Novels) & Plum Boxed Set 2 (4, 5, 6): Contains Four to Score, High Five and Hot Six (Stephanie Plum Novels) but it isn’t as bad as some of the more recent books in the series…………..If you are caught up with the series then I would highly recommend Geo Tin’s novel Sirens: Sirens (Mass Market) another great novel that blends suspense and romance together flawlessly.
After last two years of abysmal Plum offerings, I could not wait to read the much anticipated Finger Lickin Fifteen.
As I read the last line and closed the book, I had a lot to think about before writing this review.
My review is threefold. I have rated each aspect, with Two, Five and TEN stars, accordingly.
TWO STARS: For the book overall.
The plot was – well – was there really a plot? The storyline is forgettable. Our Stephanie is STILL broke. Cars are exploding , an apartment was firebombed and my heroine was frequently covered in some sort of garbage/paint. Thankfully, there were NO monkeys. However, like the last couple of books there seems to be an obsession with gross, foul odor bodily functions (Amazon might not let me say the word) with the addition of not-so-funny diarrhea to this book. Good grief, what’s with THIS? Is this written for 14 year old boy readers?
FIVE STARS: For Ranger.
THIS is the Ranger book alluded to??? But it’s ONLY Ranger! Apparently, Ms E missed the memos from readers that when hoping for a Ranger book, it meant Ranger and Stephanie TOGETHER – just once, at least – to see if a relationship would happen. I confess to sending her that memo myself. I should have much clearer.
Undoubtedly, many readers of this book will savor, drool, sigh and shiver with delight over every Ranger page and every line of delicious Ranger dialogue.
Many others may feel that all the Ranger time and dialogue was “out of place” – with no sizzle or shivers because a lot of it was recycled and….well, it was all one-sided. What’s with THIS?
Ranger may dazzle and enthrall. Many will keep turning pages quickly waiting to read the next Ranger line – and hoping, hoping, hoping.
Depending on the perception of the ending of the book, opinions will be mixed as to whether we will FOREVER be strung along with the frustrating “triangle” or that one just might realize that the triangle HAS been clearly resolved.
TEN STARS: For Marketing Genius?
O.M.G! Head slap. This is a forgettable book but it absolutely excels in an attempt at marketing genius.
This series, suffering from sagging ratings, recycled plots and characters that are lost in storyline limbo, might just see a resurgence in sales – by hooking the readers with a book full of what the author can write best when she puts her mind and pen to it – Delicious Ranger – even though it went absolutely NOWHERE.
Dazzled? Hooked? Reeled back in?
No spoilers, here, but the Morelli fans will be kept on the hook, too.
Having been so dazzled myself(and hopeful until the end) by Ranger in this book, I was ALMOST reeled back in. I had to pull the hook out to be able to think clearly again. Yikes! This book almost had me. I was almost ready to give up my plans to jump the Plum ship. I almost forget that I was sick of same old, same old, ho-hum and recycled. That I was desperate for progress – even a tiny bit of progress – and especially REALLY tired of the triangle being dragged on and on, keeping me dangling FOREVER.
No, I won’t buy this book. Sadly, this book might sell. Not because it is a great book but because of an attempt at marketing genius. This could have been a GREAT book – shaking things up and taking the series to a new level. Alas, instead, this book just might reel in readers in for umpteen more years of same old, same old – with no progress and going NOWHERE! I shudder to think about it.
Me, I am jumping ship as planned. There is nothing new to look forward to – except for perhaps another fifteen years of – well, you get the point.
Finger Lickin Fifteen will not be remembered as a great book. But will it succeed because of a successful attempt at Marketing Genius? Time will tell.
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