Lean Mean Thirteen

So much hilarity and suspense. I lay in bed at night and laugh out loud at these predicaments Stephanie Plum gets into. Grandma Mazur and Lula add amazing spice. These books are a must read!!

At her ex-husband's new (and completely shady) law firm, and attacking him, Stephanie Plum becomes a person of interest when he goes missing. That's Evanovich's premise in this book, and the search for Dickie, his partners and the evasion of death threats constitute Plum's lead thread in this book.Evanovich steadfastly refuses to allow Stephanie to make a permanent love choice of Joe Morelli, the cop she's been in love with for years, by having multiple run-ins with the sometimes partner and always interesting and hunky Ranger. In this book, unlike 12, Evanovich keeps Stephanie and Ranger a whole heckuva lot more platonic to avoid the reader angst she generated by intimating that Steph could love the one she was with. I know a lot of fans want the triangle resolved, but face it...what happened to Moonlighting when Dave and Maddie got together? Instead, Evanovich allows romance into Grandma Mazur's life (oy!) and lets the relationship between crazy sidekick Lula and Tank, one of Ranger's employees, proceed. And of course, there are the exploding animals left by one of Steph's most bizarre encounters, a taxidermist, for giggles.13 is a funny romp from a funny author, but it does feel like the storyline is running in place. I'd rather see Plum's hijinks on a visit to a place other than the Burg or have one of the two main guys disappear for awhile, than to have the triangle resolved, but.... there is just so far any author, even one as talented at entertainment as Evanovich, can go without some sort of a major shake up. It's like watching a sitcom you loved repeat the same plots in year 7 that they played in year one. Familiar, laughable, but not memorable, and a little hard to take.

Ranger has an assignment for Stephanie. He wants her to plant a bug on her ex-husband, lawyer Dickie Orr. Stephanie doesn't particularly want to do it, but how can she resist when Ranger asks. When Dickie's involved, however, things generally turn bad and this time is no different. Stephanie and Dickie get into it. The next day he's missing, leaving behind bloodstains in his house. The previous day's events make Stephanie the prime suspect in his disappearance.Stephanie must enlist the help of fellow bounty hunter, Ranger, and her on-again boyfriend and cop, Joe Morelli. As always happens with Stephanie, though, things don't come easy. She's driving a maroon "cop car," and chasing two bond jumpers, one a grave-robber, the other a taxidermist who makes stuffed animals that explode. Will Stephanie be able to find out what happened to Dickie before she gets arrested?Lean Mean Thirteen continues the tried and true formula that has made the Stephanie Plum novels so popular and so much fun to read. One of the things that I love about Ms. Evanovich's books is the characters -- they are all larger-than-life and all a hoot. Particularly fun for me is Lula and Grandma Mazur. In this book, Joyce Barnhardt, Stephanie's arch-rival, makes an appearance and provides some laughs.Stephanie's continued attraction to both Ranger and Morelli is always fun to watch. Lean Mean Thirteen had me in stitches and wondering "Where does Janet Evanovich come up with these ideas?" Well, as long as she continues to do so, I'll be happy. Lean Mean Thirteen is a definite recommended read, and re-read, for me.AmeliaReviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Janet Evanovich, Inc. seems to be overextending herself these days. Between reissuing her romance novels, penning a second series, and selling her name to market skinny, overpriced romances written by someone else, the magic seems to have taken a sabbatical. It's not that this isn't a good book, it's that it's not rip-roaringly funny, which is why most people buy Evanovich books. Apparently she reads her reviews because just about everything people have complained about from her last few books was suddenly absent. There were no Valerie and Albert, no exploding cars, Bob didn't eat everything in sight, and Ranger had dialogue. While those things were refreshing, unfortunately the missing zaniness and fun were not.By any other standard, this is a decent mystery with quirky characters. When Ranger asks Stephanie to plant a bug in her ex-husband's office and she winds up with her hands around Dickie Orr's throat and then he goes missing, Steph finds herself in the middle of a pile of intrigue. Then Dickie Orr's law partners go missing and bodies start turning up, but nobody knows where to find the $40 million that was wired from the law firm's account. Not only are some scary guys after Stephanie trying to get the money, she's also being followed by her arch-nemesis, Joyce Barnhardt. While this is happening, Stephanie and her plus-size, spandex-wearing, ex-hooker friend Lula attempt to collar a couple of FTAs with little success, getting waylaid often by exploding taxidermy. The love triangle with Stephanie, Morelli, and Ranger is still there, but seriously toned down. Stephanie notices how hot Ranger is in a rather detached way, while every time she and Morelli are alone, the scene fades to black.To be honest, it feels as if Janet's writing has matured with this novel, but some of her die-hard fans may be disappointed by the lack of chuckles. The book doesn't lack humor, it's just that it conveyed more of a sense of mild amusement than knee-slapping funniness. Ranger sounded too much like a regular guy and some of Lula's lines felt forced, as well. Anyone looking for nonstop hilarity may be disappointed, but those who have been wishing for more substance may be in for a pleasant surprise. I'm a bit ambivalent. I liked this book, but it felt like it was missing something. Not everyone can consistently churn out as many books as Nora Roberts, and not everyone should try. Evanovich still has it, she's just been spreading herself a little thin. I'm also hoping this series is poised for some refreshing changes, and so look forward to the next book.

I can't for a minute understand why so many reviewers were disappointed by this 13th Stephanie Plum novel - my husband and I wait eagerly for each new book in the series to be available, and we both found this one of the funniest ever .. the taxidermist exploits were fabulous, the dialogue as great as ever, the characters like very precious old friends ... each of us laughed throughout the book and agreed that we can't wait for the next one.I disagree that the plot was tired ... Stephanie's exploits aren't meant to morph into V.I. Warshawski's or Kinsey Millhone's! And why on earth should she choose between Joe or Ranger? Then she wouldn't have all the pleasure of their company and nor would we ;-) Maybe by book number 20 she'll make a decision, but what's the hurry?I very much enjoy the dynamics between Morelli and Ranger and Steph, and I'd hate to see that go. Also, I enjoy living on the edge of "will she, won't she?" go there again with Ranger ... she isn't even living with Morelli, so I don't have a "Stephanie's a slut" problem should she decide to do so .. and ooh, both these guys are soooooo hot! LOLI enjoy the Plum family; love to hate Joyce when she makes another appearance in a book, adore Rex - for all he spends so much time in his soup can - and would have Bob join my own dogs in a heartbeat ...This is a fabulous book and has not only served to make me eager for the next, but given me hours of enjoyment in the meantime.

In some ways I agree with the others that this book is somewhat predictable, however, I think this adds to its charm. Stephanie continues to get up to as much mayhem as usual, and Morelli and Ranger continue to get her out of a lot of scrapes. I certainly didn't expect most of it and I thought it was well written and funny. I wouldn't like Stephanie or any of the others to be too different as the reason I read the books is because I like every last one of them just the way they are. In to the mix you add one ex husband, half the world trailing Stephanie and the taxidermist from hell and this adds up to one funny novel. I read it in one sitting and I am already looking forward to the next one.

Once I pick up a Stephanie Plum novel I cannot put it down and this book is no exception! Any violence is surreal and Stephanie always eventually either gets rescued or makes it on her own. And still the suspense between Joe Morelli (her on again off again boyfriend) and Ranger - her mystery man Cuban/American mentor in her early days of bounty hunting with a body to die for! I have all the numbers from 1 - 18 so far and have leant the early copies to a house-bound old lady who is enjoying them as much as I am.

A brilliant series. The author is the first I've read who manages to combine truly likeable characters, interesting plot and occasional laugh-out-loud moments. My only regret is that, for some reason, the first five or six books are not available on Kindle. Fortunately, each book stands alone perfectly well but I would really like to read the earlier ones as I am enjoying these so much.

THIS SERIES GRABS INTRIGUES IS FEISTY FUN A GOOD READ FROM START TO FINISH - HAS ME LAUGHING OUT LOUD - LARGER THAN LIFE BUT SO EASY TO IDENTIFY WITH THE CHARACTERS AT TIMES - I LOVE THE DOG THE GRANDMOTHER THE DAD ETC - - THE SISTER ETC - STEPANIE PLUM AND HER SIDE KICK -- OH MY - SURE ARE THE BEST OF THE WORST OF BOUNTY HUNTERS TO THE LAST - READ AND ENJOY = FUN ALL THE WAY