Twelve Sharp (Stephanie Plum 12) [Paperback]

Twelve Sharp is characterised by the Evanovich formula; laugh out loud funny in parts, smart dialogue and larger than life characters. The story formula is on safe ground in this book and fans will find it satisfyingly familiar - Stephanie's life is in danger, Ranger is mysterious and irresistable, Morelli sexy and loyal, Lula outrageous, grandma crazy. Those hoping for something to tie up the love triangle or move forward the dynamic will be left disappointed, although there is a tease towards the end. Vintage Stephanie Plum and I thoroughly enjoyed it; on completion I immediately turned back to page 1 to start all over again.

This is the twelvth (well actually it is the 13th novel) in the fantastic Stephanie Plum series, if you haven't already read them they are uncofusingly numbered - starting with One of the Money, and this year up to Twelve Sharp. They feature Stephanie Plum, a 30ish youngish, big-haired, Jersey girl, who, having lost her job buying lingere for a cheap chain store turns to bounty hunting for her cousin Vinnie to pay the rent. Lucikly her parents live a couple of miles down the road in the 'burg' as well so she doesn't have to stray too far for food.

In between incompetent bouts of bounty hunting with her side-kick Lula, a fuller figured black woman with delusions of becoming a singer in a band, and a tendency to wear spandex clothes a couple of sizes too small, Stephi actually does solve crimes. Trenton crimes that is. And she is torn between the two men in her life; Ranger, a tall dark silent Latino bounty hunter and every woman's wet dream; and Morelli, a tall dark silent Italian detective - and every woman's wet dream......

In this outing Stephi is the only bounty hunter working for her cousin Vinnie, so they interview for new BEA (Bond Enforcement Agents) with varying success - mostly they seem to be a variety of black lether and chap wearing, shot gun wielding pychos.

And Stephi is being stalked, it seems, by Carmen Manoso, Ranger's wife - only who knew that Ranger got married 6 months ago. When Carmen turns up dead and Rangers 10 year old daughter from a previous marriage is kidnapped, Stephi's instincts kick in and she starts investigating. Only she still has to make rent so there are a variety of dead-beats and arsonists she has to pull in for money.

Stephi's arh-enemy Joyce Barnhadt is back too. Meaner and in tighter black leather than ever.

Evanovich's novels are immensely good fun - the sexual tension in the love triangle of Steph, Morelli and Ranger is sizzling hot - but with the same immensely good nature as always. Evanovich knows how to write them light and frivolous. Well worth picking up to read!

Only a Stephanie Plum novel would cause some to complain because the plot had an actual mystery and intrigue in it. That shows how much we've been spoiled by Janet Evanovich's comic touch. We come to the new books in the series for the entertainment (much like people once did for Charlie Chaplin) and we're surprised when serious themes emerge.

I thought that Twelve Sharp was by far the most impressive novel in the series. The story-telling moves beyond Pink Panther comedy into dealing with the serious consequences of actions we take. At the same time, the book goes down very smoothly.

The serious side is well done. Stephanie finds herself stalked by a young woman with a gun she doesn't mind using who claims to be Ranger's wife. What's that all about? Stephanie is also at risk for being kidnapped. And then Ranger's daughter is missing. It's a nicely complicated mystery and is unraveled in fine fashion. While this part of the story is not yet up to Dame Agatha's best, it's more than satisfying.

The character development of Stephanie and Ranger through the plot is quite remarkable in this story. In the past, Ranger has been the Superman of mystery who could do no wrong. She's been in his thrall . . . but kept at a distance only by his self-restraint. So why has he been self-restrained? In this story, we learn more about Ranger and begin to sense his vulnerabilities. An unexpected pregnancy made Ranger a father at a young age. Since then, he's met his financial responsibilities and kept his distance from similar complications. But that all comes unglued when his daughter is kidnapped and Ranger is the suspect the police are looking for. As a result, Ranger has to go undercover. Ranger's only hope of solving the kidnapping is through Stephanie's efforts because the crumb also wants Stephanie. As a result, Stephanie finds herself in deeper peril than ever before. Both of the men in her life want to protect her. Oops! That's certainly one serious complication that a woman who loves two men never thought about. How do you keep them apart when there's danger?

To me, the best comedy in the series comes when Stephanie and Lula (the retired lady of the evening) team up to bring in fugitives. They are the Laurel and Hardy of bounty hunters. In this book, Stephanie's solutions turn out to work best when she follows her heart rather than trying trickery. Because Vinnie has been taking chances, there are more fugitives than usual, and several of them are pretty dangerous. With Ranger away, Stephanie and Lula will play.

The next best comedy comes when Grandma Mazur gets into the action either at the funeral home or in chasing men. This book has some of each, as Grandma decides to join the band that Sally Sweet and Lula are forming. There are new, friendlier owners (two gay men) at the funeral home, and this change opens up new comic possibilities.

A new comic dimension is added when Connie and Stephanie decide to hire some more bounty hunters. Naturally, this brings Stephanie's old nemesis, Joyce, into play for some good moments.

So, whose bed will Stephanie end up in and with whom? You'll just have to read to find out. I have to leave that important mystery untouched.