Two for the Dough: Stephanie Plum, Book 2

This is a fun read. I enjoyed Stephanie Plum’s trials as a bounty hunter. Next on my list is novel number three.

Packaging makes a difference. The cover on this audiobook uses fat letters in bright primary colors, and the manner of reading by Lori Petty suggests a middle school student, 13 going on thirty. The result is that I remember this story in pictures, as if it had been a comic book in the style of the classic Tin-Tin adventures. That is a tribute to the Author's vivid descriptions of place and person.Inspired by the Author's volume "How I Write," I picked up this, the second of her lengthening series (twenty-some) of Stephanie Plumb novels. The first, "One for the Money," was too expensive, but the subsequent ones are very reasonable, and I enjoyed the present reading well enough to pick up "Three to Get Ready," also read by Lori Petty.I listened to an abridged version and that always leaves me wondering what I missed. On the other hand, a three-disc book (2 and a half hours) goes quickly and is a suitable for audio-listeners afraid of commitment, or who want a change of pace after finishing a volume from Durant's "Story of Civilization."It is an action-packed story with lots of colorful characters, narrated from the protagonist's point of view. Some are in the middle world between ethnic background and thoroughly American, sharing a long history in the Trenton New Jersey neighborhood. As a "bounty hunter," a private agent who finds those who have skipped out on bail for the bonding company, Stephanie learns on the job and responds to surprising developments in equally surprising ways. A man refuses to go with her to court, and moons her in his living room, in front of his wife, no less- so Stephanie tasers him in the rear and he slumps on the floor. Note how the problem shifts from finding, to persuading, to transporting, and similar sequential chains extend through the story leading the reader to wonder either what will happen next, or how she will get out of this one. The dynamics are similar to detective stories but with more focus on events than a given problem.Our main character, Ms. Plumb, is not given to reflection and is kept so busy by her job and family, and occasional shopping or romantic interest, that she doesn't have time to think much beyond the job. The injuries and threats are so numerous and attention grabbing that she doesn't have time to hurt. She is running in heels the day after she had suffered some injury, and the attempt on her grandmother's life is a problem to be solved rather than the crisis it would be for most of us. It recalls cartoon fights where the character is clunked on the head hard enough to make him unconscious and the next moment he is as good as new. All this stuff is entertaining, and harmless as long as we realize that it isn't real.It struck me that there are no real adults in the story, no principled individuals, just people to accommodate to, whether your mom's demand that you have dinner on Sunday, or the oily funeral director, or the police guy who comes on in the middle of a stake out. Part of our protagonist's problem solving skills is her willingness to cut corners whether it is trespassing, assault, lying, or "borrowing." What we admire as "pluck" may actually be what Nietzsche described as the "Superman" who we admire and follow because he (or in this case she) does what we would scruple to do.Interestingly, there is an absence of feminist consciousness. Our protagonist is too busy trying to pay the rent to entertain thoughts of solidarity with other women. And she is thoroughly independent and self-reliant, untroubled by doubts as to her attractiveness, which she takes for granted. This is literature for working people. It is their experiences in service industry, fixing cars, embalming bodies, enforcing law, and collecting bills that are portrayed here. One part of the series' success is that the stories reflect that often-neglected world where people are hustling to make a living, more concerned with people and events rather than ideas and ideals.In sum, the story is vivid, entertaining, a little shallow, but colorful, an enjoyable comic book experience.

Stephanie is back and she is treading deep waters as her assignments get more hairy and dangerous. Catching drunks and senile ladies who live at the train station is one thing but it's a whole other animal when Stephanie is in charge of apprehending Kenny Mancuso, a man with a very sick sense of humor and lust for chopping off people's body parts. Most of the parts come from the nearby funeral home that he's terrorizing and Stephanie sees this as the perfect opportunity to bring her wake loving Grandma Mazur with her to snoop out the truth. As usual she's unable to keep away from Joe Morelli who's slowly warming up her family towards him as he manages to invite himself to countless dinners and always seems to be lurking near Stephanie. They both want Kenny but for different reasons and now that Morelli is cleared from his previous charges he's doing his best to keep both himself and Stephanie alive while Kenny and his friends are doing everything they can to discourage them. Full of laughs and unbelievable moments the book doesn't disappoint while the reader meets more of Stephanie's relatives and associates.Things have been looking up for Stephanie, she now enjoys regular meals, or should I say she finally eats something and even Rex her hammy gets some scares as Kenny manages to leave her a surprise that had me chuckling.This is not a serious crime novel but a fun, light read. For those who haven't read these yet I advise to start with book one and to read in order as things progress and everyone evolves. The book was a fast read but there were a lot of characters and at times I was confused about who was who, I had to slow down and take my time getting to know some of the less memorable ones. There is always a bit of mystery in these books and some hilarious interactions between Stephanie and Joe but the crime solving gallops on it's own, the reader is merely a spectator and Stephanie takes lead observing the crimes and then trying to find the guy with sheer luck when her sleuthing doesn't provide as fruitful as she wishes. All in all I liked the first book a bit better but there was a lot more to the story line this time. When I was at the end of the book I suddenly felt hungry for more, they really leave you pumped for the next book.- Kasia S.

The second novel in the Stephanie Plum series sees the bounty hunter in her second case - trying to catch an elusive bail skipper. The story feels instantly forgettable (I can't recall what happened in the first book either), and seemed to be missing an opening chapter that would have reintroduced the characters and set up the plot.The story took a while to get going and a long time for me to get into it. The chapters seemed too long and were, particularly at the beginning of the book, very repetitive, which didn't help grip me. The plot really felt that it wasn't going anywhere, and at the end I was left feeling cheated out of anything much happening, and that the characters hadn't been on any sort of journey.The main character is quite annoying, and the rest of the cast are equally frustrating to read about. The comedic elements felt very forced and slapstick and the male characters are entirely one-dimensional.Looking back, I enjoyed the first book in the series, and commented on how well-constructed the characters and plot were. This sequel then was a terrible disappointment. I hope it's just a blip and that the remainder of the series will turn out stronger when I read them.

Stephanie's back, and she's just as haphazardly-badass as ever.Grandma Mazur steals this book for me, she is such a hilarious, wonderfully written character, so hats off to Evanovich. That's not to say that I don't love Stephanie, and all of the other characters. That Morelli, well, let's just say there's a certain car scene where I would have made the complete opposite decision that Stephanie did.I gave this four stars rather than five because for me it wasn't quite as good as the first Stephanie Plum novel, One for the Money, but I'm not entirely sure whether that's because the plot was slightly slower or because with the first one I was so excited to have found a truly unique, in my reading experience at least, book and with the second I kind of knew what I was getting.If you like mystery with some action, major laughs and a little sexy time thrown in then this is the series for you. I will definitely be buying the next book in this series. A.

Not your normal Bounty Hunter as seen on television. She is not big or beefy and she does not like shooting people so invariably leaves her gun at home in the cookie jar. Even if she were to take it with her she can't use it. Her mentor is Ranger a will-o-the-wisp Latino for whom everyone has the hots. The situations she gets herself into has me in stitches - the stories just get better and better and the books are un-putdownable!

When I began reading my first 'Plumb book' I did not know quite what to expect. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and have enjoyed all the others I have read since then [ up to and including 'Seven-Up'].See my reviews with regard to 'Hot Six' and 'Seven-Up' both of which apply equally to 'Two for the Dough' and all the other Plumb books that I have read thus far

Unusual, good fun. Have not come across an author like this one. Her lead character Stephanie is very original.