Eleven on Top

Eleven on Top felt a little different to me than the other Stephanie Plum books so far. Yes, Stephanie is stuck in the Ranger/Joe triangle and yes, she still has more than a few issues in her life and yes, she still hates guns. It actually felt to me like the character was growing somewhat.

She quit her bounty hunter job and was fired from not one, but two new jobs and burnt down the third. OK, so she didn’t actually do the burning (but then again, how many times did she actually do the burning and exploding in her career?) but you get my drift.

She is getting threats from an unknown source and though she bumbles her way in the bounty hunter business she has a great sense of intuition. Unfortunately the law requires evidence, not hunches. So, Stephanie accepts a research job with Rangeman. This will keep her somewhat safe and will give her the resources needed to find the culprit(s) responsible for her newest threat.

I had the feeling that her character was actually being somewhat responsible even if she still has the immature tendencies to fight Joe tooth and nail when he’s trying to protect her. I must say though that sometimes I can’t blame her. Joe doesn’t ask or suggest, he tells and almost bullies and then Stephanie reacts. Now most of us would probably tell him he’ being a neanderthal and really needs to change his tactics (though something tells me he wouldn’t pay much attention), but that would take the fun out of the story, right?

I’ve seen some reviews that read they don’t like the Joe/Stephanie/Ranger triangle (though she’s going to have to choose sooner or later, she isn’t getting any younger), or that Stephanie hasn’t gotten much better at her bounty hunter job. However, the Stephanie Plum books are not meant to be deep, intellectual mystery thrillers. They are purely entertainment. Taken in that context, I find they are great reads and I can’t help but to enjoy them. The plot in each book are unique enough to keep me from becoming bored.

Ive read the entire series (as they came out.) I like them because they are quick reads and they make me laugh. Now I occasionally re-read them so I pick one (randomly) and download it. This is a funny, funny book. It made me laugh out loud – and I highly recommend it. For those who note the books can be a bit repetitive – thats absolutely correct. Its a series that uses a formula. And some of the books are better than others. This one is great.

Love that she worked the hot dog stand. Unfortunately, she had to eat many of them! I love that she LOVES Boston creams. Interviewed at the Button Factory, and got fired because arriving late. Then the Chicken place where she burned it down! It was crazy that Constantine Steva took Stephanie and was going to kill her, posing as his passed away son. And, fortunately Stephanie took the Buick and rammed the car into Constantine’s car, twice. Great story. Loved the entire thing.

Stephanie Plum the bounty hunter has been stalked by crazed killers, taunted by naked men, firebombed, shot at, cussed at, chased by humping dogs, rolled in garbage and dog diarrhea not to mention she now has an unidentifiable glob of goo in her hair after apprehending Melon-head Sporky. This was the last straw for her, it is time to quit being a bounty hunter and get a regular job. She is hired at the button factory only to be fired her first day. The second job is at Kan Klean dry cleaners it too only lasts a couple of days before Mama Macaroni is blown up trying to leave in Stephanies Car. Then she gets a job a fast-food chicken place it goes up in flames after a possible stalker by the name of Spiro Stiva hands her a package that could be a bomb. Four regular guys leave on the same day and end up missing. How is all this connected with her stalker? Great
story, lots of laughs.

I would give this 5 stars when contrasted to other books. I only show 4 stars as this is not one of Evanovich’s best (of the 11 Plum novels)– I lean for No. 6 myself.

If you haven’t read any of the Stephanie Plum books — let this description lead you to the bookstores or library shelves. Stephanie is Nancy Drew, but mature, full of lustful thoughts, fights like a tiger, can take a hit as well as any man, drinks beer out of bottle, constantly eats pizza — even the morning after, yearns for doughnuts 24/7, and still has a feminine side which matches her looks.

In this book, she tries to work as something which she is not — an ordinary person. Can’t last one minute at the button factory, less than 2 days at the dry cleaners, and makes it only to the lunch shift her second day at the chicken fast food joint. Each owner either shoves her out the door, or has a business which is without a door as bombs and incendiary devices seem to have a pattern of following Stephanie in the book — and she keeps asking everyone to stop doing such bad things in her direction.

Getting beat up, shot at and being near explosions is depressing. Lula (If you do not know Lula, just suffice it to say that she is woman with a old fashioned figure who tucks her round self into tight spandex or whatever — all in very bright colors.), her friend, advises her, “You know what you need to get out of depression? An apprehension. ” So, Stephanie is back to being a bounty hunter.

After a 280-pound football player throws her onto a table for four at a diner, and her hair incorprates everything on the table, she helps Lula bring his body back to the squad for pay.

Stephanie’s family is about as dysfunctional as any that we know — but they are a hoot. A grandmother out of “Golden Girls,” a mother out of “Ozzie and Harriet,” a father out of “Maude,” and a sister and brother-in-law who seem to have been lost from the scripts of “All in the Family.”

Add to this Stephanie’s ultimate problem — do I go for the Italian Stallion Morelli or the Latin Loving Ranger? Each man thankfuly comes with a libido to match her own. Oh, the dilemna , the choices, the problems this young woman faces.

As usual, after being beaten, threatened, and almost killed, good prevails. The bad guy is caught, she gets one of the men, and we ask Evanovich for one more book. For Janet Evanovich, “You know what gets me out of reading apprehension? A Plum sequel ‘s invitation.”

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member