Three to Get Deadly

This book is a lot of fun. It is only the third Stephanie Plum novel I have read, but it is probably the most enjoyable. First, in the issue of full disclosure, I need to say I was a newspaper reporter in Trenton many, many years ago. Evanovich nails “the burg.” Love the atmosphere and the asides she puts into her characters mouth. Lulu, the hooker Stephanie became involved in during the first book, is a major character here. And she has lines like, “this job is so boring, you could do it in a coma.” Yeah, I have had jobs like this. My only complain about the book is Evanovich works a little too hard at humor. She takes one very funny scene way, way, over the edge and sort of ruins the enjoyment I took into it up until that point. Such over reaching and the consistent, shall we say “dimness” of Stephanie is why I only gave this novel four stars. Stephanie really should be a bit sharper by now. When will she learn to carry her gun and keep it loaded? On the plus side, Rex, her guinea pig has a major role. How could you not love that? The mystery is not a convoluted as her first two novels, but does have quite an element of surprise. A good read. A good laugh.

Ok, Stephanie Plum is still stupid. You want to hit her over the head with that gun she never has, but the story in this version still entertains. The main problem with number 3 is that Joe Morelli isn’t really in this one as much. He is definitely missed. I enjoy Stephanie’s conversations with her hampster. Those are funny and quirky and different from anything else I’ve read. I also love her relationship with Ranger. Is there something there, or isn’t there? But NEVER get rid of Joe. He’s the perfect character. I still love her entire family dinners as well.

Some of the situations are far-fetched; however, since she’s only been a bail bond person for a short while, I’ll let that go. It would be nice for her to learn some more techniques, though. As for she and Lulu together, that’s a fun time.

This book has everything: guns, murder, blackmail and a wildly incorrect reputation belonging to guy who owns a popular, almost legendary small shop thats an institution in the burg in Trenton where most of the Stephanie Plum stories take place. Turns out the aging owner began with an honest desire to rid the area of the drug dealers selling to kids which quickly turns on him and takes his involvement to a new level out of his control. I couldnt put it down…

I savor my Stephanie Plum novels. Sometimes life is too over the top and Stephanie Plum books make me laugh out loud. I scoop them up when they are on sale and I read them out of order, but it never diminishes how much I enjoy their wit and humor. At Cheers everybody knows your name. In Stephanie Plum’s town everybody knows your life history, your faults, your fumbles and your secrets. And oh, the characters. I love each and every one of them. So richly depicted and flawed.

My summer of murder mystery madness continues!

Bounty-hunter Stephanie Plum is on the hunt again, in Janet Evanovich’s “Three to Get Deadly,” and she is out to catch The Burg’s most wanted and dangerous “Failure to Appears”: drug dealers, murderers, guys in chicken costumes. And poor Stephanie has the battle scars to prove it: she is shot at, knocked unconscious and has her hair dyed (unwillingly) orange.

Janet Evanovich, in this series, has managed to deliver humor along with the suspense, and “Three to Get Deadly” has its fair share of both. Someone is murdering drug dealers and addicts in The Burg, and the killer means business. Stephanie’s biggest problem isn’t the cops or the actual killer: it’s the public. Every citizen is supporting this vigilante, some to the point of taking up weapons to protect him. They send Stephanie their message in a hail of bullets: “Stop going after our hero. He is cleaning up the town!”

Meanwhile, the questions facing Stephanie, Ranger, Morelli, and Lula multiply. Could the kindly, candy store owner “Uncle Mo” be a cold-blooded killer? Will the bodies stop popping up in bizarre ways? Is Stephanie ever going to own a decent car? “Three to Get Deadly” is a top-notch crime thriller while tickling your funny bones. Stephanie has been getting more endearing with each novel, and I can’t wait to read the next one! This is shaping up to be a great summer of fun reading.

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