Book 40: Three to Get Deadly

Three to Get Deadly
Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum returns in this, her third major bounty hunting case, a little older and wiser but still the same Stephanie readers know and love. The case this time takes some expected twists and turns, but Evanovich keeps things fresh and interesting enough to please readers. This book is, however, a bit less humorous than the first two books in the series, due perhaps to the prominence of Lula in the supporting cast, a somewhat stereotypical black woman who doesn't have the same propensity for utter hilarity as most of the other recurring characters. Stephanie is also somewhat out of sync throughout the book and her narration, while containing its witticisms and clever insights, is relatively plain. Evanovich does get good performances out of the rest of Trenton's colorful characters and the mystery at hand is different and interesting, leading to a moral conundrum refreshing in this typically lighthearted genre. Particularly vibrant is the suspect Stephanie's chasing and the burg's reaction to her job hunting down a beloved neighborhood character- the dialogue here again seems genuine. Three for the Money is a worthy addition to the Stephanie Plum series, though perhaps not its strongest point, and is worth a read on a sunny afternoon.

Grade: B