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ubalstecha 's review for:
Top Secret Twenty-One
by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie is neck deep in it again. She is trying to get FTA Jimmy Poletti who seems to also be trying to kill on again, off again character Randy Biggs who was his bookkeeper. She's also pulled into Ranger's orbit as a man from his past is trying to kill him in the most Bond way possible. Add to that Granda Mazure heading into a stand off with Joe's Garndma Bella and you have a recipe for zaniness.
Except you don't. There is definately a formula to these books. Crazy FTA's that Stephanie has to track own, normally with Lula. Stephanie gets pulled into Morelli's investigations. Ranger is involved somehow. Stephanie is mostly with Morelli, but tempted by Ranger. A reoccuring character makes an appearance. Grandma Mazur does something inappropriate. Stephanie eats way more food than is healthy. And this book follows it to a T. But it comes off as tired and lacking the life of the earlier books in the series. Maybe that's because we are 21 books in and Evanovich is not a good enough writer to keep this going. Maybe it's because Evanovitch is refusing to evolve Stephanie in any way. Maybe it's because Evanovitch has taken a page from Patterson and is writing multiple series with writing partners. Maybe it's because Evanovitch doesn't care anymore and a Stephanie Plum book is easy money. I don't know, but I do know this is not Two for the Dough. The series is showing its age.
So why do I keep reading? Not to hate read as some people might think, but rather because these books are what my Oma calls toothache books. They are turn your brain off books for when you are having a bad day and need something comforting and familiar to feel good about. And that's it. I read one a year right after school ends to relax for the beginning of summer. And then I move on to deeper, more challenging and fufilling things. Because this book is like eating a can of Pringles all by yourself. You know you shouldn't, but it feels good when you do. You really can't control yourself and you end up feeling very guilty afterwards.
Only for diehard Stephanie Plum fans, otherwise skip it.
Except you don't. There is definately a formula to these books. Crazy FTA's that Stephanie has to track own, normally with Lula. Stephanie gets pulled into Morelli's investigations. Ranger is involved somehow. Stephanie is mostly with Morelli, but tempted by Ranger. A reoccuring character makes an appearance. Grandma Mazur does something inappropriate. Stephanie eats way more food than is healthy. And this book follows it to a T. But it comes off as tired and lacking the life of the earlier books in the series. Maybe that's because we are 21 books in and Evanovich is not a good enough writer to keep this going. Maybe it's because Evanovitch is refusing to evolve Stephanie in any way. Maybe it's because Evanovitch has taken a page from Patterson and is writing multiple series with writing partners. Maybe it's because Evanovitch doesn't care anymore and a Stephanie Plum book is easy money. I don't know, but I do know this is not Two for the Dough. The series is showing its age.
So why do I keep reading? Not to hate read as some people might think, but rather because these books are what my Oma calls toothache books. They are turn your brain off books for when you are having a bad day and need something comforting and familiar to feel good about. And that's it. I read one a year right after school ends to relax for the beginning of summer. And then I move on to deeper, more challenging and fufilling things. Because this book is like eating a can of Pringles all by yourself. You know you shouldn't, but it feels good when you do. You really can't control yourself and you end up feeling very guilty afterwards.
Only for diehard Stephanie Plum fans, otherwise skip it.