---

"Ten Big Ones"

(Reviewed by Jana L. Perskie OCT 12, 2004)

I adore Stephanie Plum, the feisty, sassy, suma cum laud bond enforcement agent, (bounty hunter), from Trenton, NJ - the bane of every psycho criminal in the Garden State, and destroyer of at least 10 cars. I love Grandma Mazur, Stephanie's maternal grandmother, and a pistol-packin,' roller blading clotheshorse. The super sexy men in Steph's life, hot cop, live-in lover Joe Morelli, and "The Ranger," who is beyond description in a simple book review, are the best - as are all the other wacky eccentrics who populate Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum mysteries. To tell the truth, I would probably read a plotless Stephanie novel, just to visit with the cast. However, "Ten Big Ones," the 10th volume of her adventures, is far from plotless and will keep you on the edge of your seat, scared, spellbound, and roaring with laughter, while you enjoy the frequently hilarious capers. Steph's less dangerous bail-jumpers, and their crimes, are too funny, and the humor balances the dangers she faces.

Stephanie, as always, is on the wrong side of every door. She and her partner, trigger happy, reformed prostitute Lula, go out for nachos and walk into a robbery at the local convenience store. The robbery leads to an explosion which inevitably leads to the destruction of another car. Stephenie did get a look at the devil-masked hold-up man's face. Because she can identify the "Red Devil," his gang wants to eliminate her. She decides to hide, with the help of the enigmatic Ranger who offers her sanctuary, while she figures out how to capture the dangerous killer known as "The Junkman." Her long suffering boyfriend, Joe Morelli, is not thrilled with her hiding place or with the entire situation. He never is. He'd love for Stephanie to become a stay-at-home Mom. Hah!

This is one of the most suspenseful novels yet. I love this series. What a trip!!

• Amazon readers rating: from 314 reviews

Read a chapter excerpt from Ten Big Ones at St. Martin's

---

(back to top)

---

Bibliography: (with links to Amazon.com)

Stephanie Plum Series:

• One for the Money (1994)
• Two for the Dough (1996)
• Three to Get Deadly (1997)
• Four to Score (1998)
• High Five (1999)
• Hot Six (2000)
• Seven Up (2001)
• Hard Eight (2002)
• To the Nines (2003)
• Ten Big Ones (2004)
• Eleven on Top (2005)
• Twelve Sharp (2006)
• Lean Mean Thirteen (2007)
• Fearless Fourteen (2008)
• Finger Lickin' Fifteen (2009)
• Sizzling Sixteen (2010)
• Smokin' Seventeen (2011)
• Explosive Eighteen (2011)
• Notorius Nineteen (2012)
• Takedown Twenty (November 2013)

Between-the-Numbers:

• Visions of Sugar Plums (2002)
• Thanksgiving (2006)
• Plum Lovin' (2007)
• Plum Lucky (2008)
• Plum Spooky (2009)

Diesel Series :

• Wicked Appetite (2010)
• Wicked Business (June 2012)

Alexandra Barnaby Series :

• Metro Girl (2004)
• Motor Mouth (2006)
• Troublemaker (2010)

The Full Series (written with Charlotte Hughes):

• Full House (1989; re-released 2002)
• Full Tilt (re-released 2003)
• Full Speed (re-released 2003)
• Full Blast (re-released 2004)

Loveswept Series:

• The Grand Finale #254 (1988)
• Thanksgiving #289 (1988)
• Manhunt #303 (1989)
• Ivan Takes a Wife #343 (1989, re-releasing as Love Overboard 2005)
• Naughty Neighbor #537 (1992)

Elsie Hawkins Series:

• Back to the Bedroom #363 (1989)
• Smitten #392 (1990)
• Wife for Hire #422 (1990)
• The Rocky Road to Romance #460 (1991, re-released 2004)

 

 

(back to top)

---

Book Marks:

• The official website for Janet Evanovich
• MostlyFiction.com review of Metro Girl

 

(back to top)

---

About the Author:

Janet Evanovich was born in New Jersey.

is the recipient of the Silver Dagger, Last Laugh, Lefty, and John Creasey Memorial awards and the two-time recipient of the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association's Dilys Award. She had lived in New Hampshire for many years but now she lives in Florida.