"Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich

"Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich
2008, St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 978-0-312-34951-6

Have you ever laughed so hard that you started crying? I did while I was reading, “Fearless Fourteen” by Janet Evanovich. I’m going to have to make a list of all the books I’ve read in the Stephanie Plum series so I’ll know which one to get next. I read a whole bunch of them out of order, though this one is the latest to come out in 2008. It doesn’t matter that I read them out of order because each and every one of them are fabulous as a stand alone book.

What’s so cool about Stephanie Plum is she’s got this quirky way of looking at life. I’m sort of matronly now at 53 and I really admire her pluck. Like I wish I was that way too. Maybe I should take notes while I’m reading. Ha.

Stephanie is a bounty hunter. She lives in New Jersey and loves Joe Morelli. He’s a cop, which comes in handy because in her line of business she needs the cops. A lot. Her side kick in bounty hunting is Lula who files in the bounty hunter office run by Stephanie’s cousin Vinnie. But, Lula would rather be out doing the bounty hunter thing. She’s real enthusiastic about it and while Stephanie usually forgets her gun, her handcuffs and her stun gun Lula always remembers.

What’s going on in this book starts in with Loretta who has failed to appear. They call that FTA in the business. It’s Stephanie’s job to go track her down, take her to jail and get another bond for her. As Loretta gets led off she makes Stephanie promise if she’s not out in time to pick her son up from school that Stephanie will go get Zook. That’s his code name. He’s into gaming and this is the first time I’ve ever gotten close to how gamers act. It was fascinating.

The problem is that nobody wants to put up the bail for Loretta. So, Stephanie assumes the responsibility of taking care of Zook. The first thing that happens is that he spray paints Bob. Bob is Joe Morelli’s dog. Then he spray paints Stephanie’s car.

Finally, Loretta gets bonded out, but then she disappears. And, if the story hadn’t taken off before it really takes off at this point. Time is of the essence. Bad stuff is happening. And, I really couldn’t put this book down. I started it this morning and finished it tonight. Just a terrific book.