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Stephanie Plum #4
Four to Score
Stephanie Plum, Trenton, New Jersey's favorite pistol-packing, condom-carrying bounty hunter, is back - and on the trail of a revenge-seeking waitress who's skipped bail. With the help of 73-year-old Grandma Mazur, ex-hooker Lula, a transvestite musician named Sally Sweet, and the all-too-hospitable, all-too-sexy Joe Morelli, Stephanie might just catch her woman. Then again, with more mishaps than there are exits on the Jersey Turnpike - including murders, firebombs, and Stephanie's arch-rival bounty hunter chasing after the same fugitive - Stephanie better watch her back big-time if she wants to live to crack this case.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published June 15, 1998
About the author
Janet Evanovich
274 books39.3k followersJanet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O'Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,475 reviews
October 8, 2017
Book Review
4 out of 5 stars to Four to Score, the 4th book in the "Stephanie Plum" cozy mystery series, written in 1998 by Janet Evanovich. I was still playing catch-up on this series when I read this one several years ago. Hard to believe this series is nearly 25 years old. Wow! In this little caper, Stephanie's trying to find a waitress who causes lots of trouble. And she seems to have stepped it up a notch now that those who come in contact with her wind up dead. Then there's Joyce, Stephanie's arch-enemy who seems to be trying to kill Miss Plum. So many people with vengeance. We need to figure out what causes those feelings in Trenton, NJ. Anyone live there who knows? Anyways... fun story, decent plot and lots of crazy moments. That's what really makes these books -- the laugh aloud moments where you hope no one saw you giggling to yourself like a child.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
4 out of 5 stars to Four to Score, the 4th book in the "Stephanie Plum" cozy mystery series, written in 1998 by Janet Evanovich. I was still playing catch-up on this series when I read this one several years ago. Hard to believe this series is nearly 25 years old. Wow! In this little caper, Stephanie's trying to find a waitress who causes lots of trouble. And she seems to have stepped it up a notch now that those who come in contact with her wind up dead. Then there's Joyce, Stephanie's arch-enemy who seems to be trying to kill Miss Plum. So many people with vengeance. We need to figure out what causes those feelings in Trenton, NJ. Anyone live there who knows? Anyways... fun story, decent plot and lots of crazy moments. That's what really makes these books -- the laugh aloud moments where you hope no one saw you giggling to yourself like a child.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
February 29, 2016
*** 4.25 ***
A re-read with the BB&B group
What can I say in order not to repeat myself on every review and sound like the typical fan-girl? Nothing. I am a fan-girl when it comes to this series and find JE to be one of the best authors out there in ability to make people laugh, even when confronted with some really tough themes and situations. Does she use stereotypes and make fun of bigotry and biases? Yes, she does. The difference is that there isn't one intentionally hurtful or hateful sentiment or thought in the whole series and the stereotypes are used as shortcuts for painting vivid descriptions and settings. Every human being does it, it is a leftover from the way the early biological brain's system for filing data of dangerous or safe plants, animals and scenarios.
So, this time around Stephanie is after a waitress who has jumped bond after making free with her boyfriend's car. The boyfriend is a steroid induced bonehead who offers money to our amateurish bountyhunter to find her and let him speak with her first. Lula and a new character, a smart, cursing, and very unlikely transvestite named Sally, as well as Batman, aka Ranger, have Stephanie's back and attempt to help her with variously disastrous results. As always, Stephanie is a very clumsy and incompetent bountyhunter, but dumb luck and pure chance somehow keep her alive and in business.
Of the two guys, Ranger and Joe Morrely, this book gives a big lead to Joe in the romance department. Since I don't want to give anything away, I can only say that Stephanie proclaimed a whole new appreciation for lizards!!!
This series is not plot driven. It is all about the characters and I love it just the way it is. It is light, it doesn't take itself too seriously, and it makes me laugh with abandon!!! It is a ray of sunshine in a dark day and I recommend it to one and all! Just please, read it for the good light-hearted fun it is meant to be! I wish you all happy reading!
A re-read with the BB&B group
What can I say in order not to repeat myself on every review and sound like the typical fan-girl? Nothing. I am a fan-girl when it comes to this series and find JE to be one of the best authors out there in ability to make people laugh, even when confronted with some really tough themes and situations. Does she use stereotypes and make fun of bigotry and biases? Yes, she does. The difference is that there isn't one intentionally hurtful or hateful sentiment or thought in the whole series and the stereotypes are used as shortcuts for painting vivid descriptions and settings. Every human being does it, it is a leftover from the way the early biological brain's system for filing data of dangerous or safe plants, animals and scenarios.
So, this time around Stephanie is after a waitress who has jumped bond after making free with her boyfriend's car. The boyfriend is a steroid induced bonehead who offers money to our amateurish bountyhunter to find her and let him speak with her first. Lula and a new character, a smart, cursing, and very unlikely transvestite named Sally, as well as Batman, aka Ranger, have Stephanie's back and attempt to help her with variously disastrous results. As always, Stephanie is a very clumsy and incompetent bountyhunter, but dumb luck and pure chance somehow keep her alive and in business.
Of the two guys, Ranger and Joe Morrely, this book gives a big lead to Joe in the romance department. Since I don't want to give anything away, I can only say that Stephanie proclaimed a whole new appreciation for lizards!!!
This series is not plot driven. It is all about the characters and I love it just the way it is. It is light, it doesn't take itself too seriously, and it makes me laugh with abandon!!! It is a ray of sunshine in a dark day and I recommend it to one and all! Just please, read it for the good light-hearted fun it is meant to be! I wish you all happy reading!
September 25, 2011
10 steps to writing a Stephanie Plum novel:
1. give stephanie a "skip" who isn't easy to find immediately or who disappears, thus leaving her feeling "funky" in her gut
2. include several scenes where stephanie finds herself with her "skip" but the "skip" is not caught - actually, make one scene involve stephanie getting her own equipment used against her and you'll meet this requirement
3. toss in a few "dinners at home" with her funny/dysfunctional family, including her gun-totin' grannie and her mother who serves dinner at 6. sharp.
4. throw in a couple of scenes involving either stephanie's ex hubby dickie or his mistress joyce. focus on stephanie's blind rage.
5. scatter delicately several scenes involving joe morelli and his voracious sex drive.
6. add 2-4 scenes of the cryptic ranger, usually assisting stephanie in her attempts at apprehension
7. make your real "big bad" someone who is both the least likely person possible and someone who is vaguely connected to both stephanie's skip and whatever case joe morelli is supposed to be working on when he's not trying to sex up ms. plum
8. include a scene at the end where stephanie almost gets killed by the big bad but is rescued by one of her many colorful sidekicks
9. end on an ambiguous note, usually pertaining to the state of joe and stephanie's relationship
10. mention hairspray, spandex, the burg, the rangers, cars, surveillance, and doughnuts at whim.
truth be told, this one is my favorite so far. i laughed out loud several times, my favorite involving a scene where sally sweet (stephanie's new transvestite sidekick), lula (the 250 pound former hooker who helps stephanie), grandma mazur (the gun-totin' grannie who looks for "babes" and dresses like her granddaughter) and stephanie (the bounty hunter) get held up at knifepoint. three of the four have guns on them; i'll let you guess who was the odd man out.
finally some development in the morelli-plum relationship. of course, evanovich has to blow up stephanie's bedroom at 2am thus forcing her to stay at morelli's place for a couple of days (hello awkward plot device)...my only beef was this: after the steamy love connection, stephanie (and we the readers) are faced with the cold reality of the morning after, when morelli's hair is now too long (no longer sexy) and he fails to meet her high standards of having a cookie jar in his kitchen. when i read books like these, i want a departure from the mundane. i HAVE the reality; i don't need to be reminded of it in my crap-fiction. you dig? an odd moment of truth in an otherwise delightful installment of predictability.
1. give stephanie a "skip" who isn't easy to find immediately or who disappears, thus leaving her feeling "funky" in her gut
2. include several scenes where stephanie finds herself with her "skip" but the "skip" is not caught - actually, make one scene involve stephanie getting her own equipment used against her and you'll meet this requirement
3. toss in a few "dinners at home" with her funny/dysfunctional family, including her gun-totin' grannie and her mother who serves dinner at 6. sharp.
4. throw in a couple of scenes involving either stephanie's ex hubby dickie or his mistress joyce. focus on stephanie's blind rage.
5. scatter delicately several scenes involving joe morelli and his voracious sex drive.
6. add 2-4 scenes of the cryptic ranger, usually assisting stephanie in her attempts at apprehension
7. make your real "big bad" someone who is both the least likely person possible and someone who is vaguely connected to both stephanie's skip and whatever case joe morelli is supposed to be working on when he's not trying to sex up ms. plum
8. include a scene at the end where stephanie almost gets killed by the big bad but is rescued by one of her many colorful sidekicks
9. end on an ambiguous note, usually pertaining to the state of joe and stephanie's relationship
10. mention hairspray, spandex, the burg, the rangers, cars, surveillance, and doughnuts at whim.
truth be told, this one is my favorite so far. i laughed out loud several times, my favorite involving a scene where sally sweet (stephanie's new transvestite sidekick), lula (the 250 pound former hooker who helps stephanie), grandma mazur (the gun-totin' grannie who looks for "babes" and dresses like her granddaughter) and stephanie (the bounty hunter) get held up at knifepoint. three of the four have guns on them; i'll let you guess who was the odd man out.
finally some development in the morelli-plum relationship. of course, evanovich has to blow up stephanie's bedroom at 2am thus forcing her to stay at morelli's place for a couple of days (hello awkward plot device)...my only beef was this: after the steamy love connection, stephanie (and we the readers) are faced with the cold reality of the morning after, when morelli's hair is now too long (no longer sexy) and he fails to meet her high standards of having a cookie jar in his kitchen. when i read books like these, i want a departure from the mundane. i HAVE the reality; i don't need to be reminded of it in my crap-fiction. you dig? an odd moment of truth in an otherwise delightful installment of predictability.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2022
Actual stars 4.5-4.75.
Four to Score is the hilarious fourth installment of the Stephanie Plum mystery series.
I could not stop laughing at the crazy jams Stephanie continually got herself in, which is now her signature style. Some of it is dumb luck and some of it using her bounty hunter skills (sort of) to locate her current bail jumper.
When I started this book I was thinking that I was probably going to get bored with this series soon. There is only so much you can do with Stephanie going after her "man" that isn't going to be repetitive after awhile. But that is not the case. Ms. Evanovich keeps her plots fresh by adding new and interesting characters to each book as well as building on the favorites I look forward to reading about.
In Four to Score she introduces Maxine's mother (Maxine is her current wanted fugitive) Mrs. Nowicki who is a chain smoking alcoholic that also has a love for smoking weed.
Then there's Sally Sweet, a 6'4" heterosexual transvestite in a all girl revue band who runs around on his time off clothed in drag sporting a scruffy beard and no makeup.
Bernie is the local weed dealer who sells his product in The Produce section in one of Trentons supermarkets. He has the unfortunate luck to look and act like a horny little troll that's willing to take "favors" in liew of money sometimes for his "special fruit".
And last but not least is Sugar. Sugar is Sally Sweets gay roommate who also dresses in drag and is part of The All Girl Revue Band. Sugar actually looks like a beautiful woman, unlike Sally. Unfortunately Sugar turns out to be a crazy unhinged psycho type of drag queen and when his love for Sally is it not returned he runs amok.
Throw all these crazy characters in the mix and a trail of people with missing body parts that seemed to be connected to Stephanie's new case and you get a recipe for a mystery with lots of mishaps and laughter with just a touch of scary. And with the continued saga of a possible relationship between Morelli and Stephanie there's a dash of romance as well.
After finishing Four to Score I can say without a doubt I am the opposite of bored with the series and look forward to reading more of Stephanie, Lula, and Grandma Mazur's adventures for a long time to come!
Four to Score is the hilarious fourth installment of the Stephanie Plum mystery series.
I could not stop laughing at the crazy jams Stephanie continually got herself in, which is now her signature style. Some of it is dumb luck and some of it using her bounty hunter skills (sort of) to locate her current bail jumper.
When I started this book I was thinking that I was probably going to get bored with this series soon. There is only so much you can do with Stephanie going after her "man" that isn't going to be repetitive after awhile. But that is not the case. Ms. Evanovich keeps her plots fresh by adding new and interesting characters to each book as well as building on the favorites I look forward to reading about.
In Four to Score she introduces Maxine's mother (Maxine is her current wanted fugitive) Mrs. Nowicki who is a chain smoking alcoholic that also has a love for smoking weed.
Then there's Sally Sweet, a 6'4" heterosexual transvestite in a all girl revue band who runs around on his time off clothed in drag sporting a scruffy beard and no makeup.
Bernie is the local weed dealer who sells his product in The Produce section in one of Trentons supermarkets. He has the unfortunate luck to look and act like a horny little troll that's willing to take "favors" in liew of money sometimes for his "special fruit".
And last but not least is Sugar. Sugar is Sally Sweets gay roommate who also dresses in drag and is part of The All Girl Revue Band. Sugar actually looks like a beautiful woman, unlike Sally. Unfortunately Sugar turns out to be a crazy unhinged psycho type of drag queen and when his love for Sally is it not returned he runs amok.
Throw all these crazy characters in the mix and a trail of people with missing body parts that seemed to be connected to Stephanie's new case and you get a recipe for a mystery with lots of mishaps and laughter with just a touch of scary. And with the continued saga of a possible relationship between Morelli and Stephanie there's a dash of romance as well.
After finishing Four to Score I can say without a doubt I am the opposite of bored with the series and look forward to reading more of Stephanie, Lula, and Grandma Mazur's adventures for a long time to come!
March 16, 2018
Great book! Fun!! What's not to love about Sally? Also, love that when Steph and Joe finally get together, it's not 'love ever after', "let's pick out china".
Reread- March 2018
Reread- March 2018
February 21, 2021
Four To Score by Janet Evanovich is a must read. Evanovich is a gifted writer. She can mix laughter and murder together. When I read her books I can see Stephanie Plum's parents and grandma. Plum is bounty hunter searching for those that fail to show up for court. She gets herself into more jams than peanut butter! Her sometimes lover, Morelli, is a cop and tries to keep her out of trouble. Doing that is like holding water in a pillow case. In Four To Score, Plum gets the help from a drag queen, Sally, who is over six feet tall. The office file clerk, Lula, is a very heavy set former prostitute. She goes out with Plum on occasions to help find the bail jumper and, well, is she a brave as she talks? Plum finds a waitress that has her middle finger cut off. The mother of the jumper is found scalped. Who is the nut that is torturing these people and why? To find the answers, get this well written book. You won't be sorry. Rated R for very strong language and sexual content.
October 23, 2010
Yay! So glad I read through to this, the fourth book in the Stephanie Plum series. Within the first 30 pages, I knew I would enjoy it more than the previous three (and they themselves weren't bad at all).
For one, the "I brushed my teeth, put on nighties, fed my hamster, got in bed and fell asleep" coverage is greatly scaled back (though, it was a minor gripe before, anyway). Instead we're treated to more action, more plot. I found myself loathe to stop reading for any reason (sleep, work, etc). Always a good sign.
Whereas Lula wasn't all that big of a draw to me in Three To Get Deadly, I loved her here. She was a hoot! I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion, usually because of that character. I also liked Sally and his outlandishness (though I suppose in Steph's world, the extraordinary is ordinary). Really, the whole supporting cast was a pleasure to follow.
As for Stephanie and Joe Morelli.....well. They are a riot. I find it kind of cool that their "relationship" has progressed at a slow burn throughout the series thus far. Makes every interaction they have all that more special. ^_^
I also rather enjoyed Stephanie's coming more into her own as a bounty hunter. There are fewer HUGE coincidences, and more instances of Plum taking matters into her own hands...as well as being more cognizant of the danger and risks she faces in her line of work.
In sum: the book was funny, with endearing characters and a compelling mystery. I told myself that I'd take a break after this book (to get a taste of something different), but now I'm not so sure I can keep to that. (Yay! lol)
For one, the "I brushed my teeth, put on nighties, fed my hamster, got in bed and fell asleep" coverage is greatly scaled back (though, it was a minor gripe before, anyway). Instead we're treated to more action, more plot. I found myself loathe to stop reading for any reason (sleep, work, etc). Always a good sign.
Whereas Lula wasn't all that big of a draw to me in Three To Get Deadly, I loved her here. She was a hoot! I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion, usually because of that character. I also liked Sally and his outlandishness (though I suppose in Steph's world, the extraordinary is ordinary). Really, the whole supporting cast was a pleasure to follow.
As for Stephanie and Joe Morelli.....well. They are a riot. I find it kind of cool that their "relationship" has progressed at a slow burn throughout the series thus far. Makes every interaction they have all that more special. ^_^
I also rather enjoyed Stephanie's coming more into her own as a bounty hunter. There are fewer HUGE coincidences, and more instances of Plum taking matters into her own hands...as well as being more cognizant of the danger and risks she faces in her line of work.
In sum: the book was funny, with endearing characters and a compelling mystery. I told myself that I'd take a break after this book (to get a taste of something different), but now I'm not so sure I can keep to that. (Yay! lol)
November 1, 2023
Four novels old and Stephanie's aging a bit!
Stephanie Plum, New Jersey's colourful bounty hunter extraordinaire, is on the trail of Maxine Nowicki. But this time she's double-dipping. She's got her sights set on the usual payoff from her bond bailsman boss, Vinny, who wants Maxine corralled as an FTA on a car theft charge. But Stephanie's also been promised a $1000 under-the-counter payoff from Maxine's ex-boyfriend, Eddie Kuntz who says he wants to retrieve some potentially embarrassing love letters that might damage his macho reputation "with the chicks". The case ratchets up to new heights of raucous, raunchy comedy when Stephanie teams up with Sally Sweet, a hairy seven foot tall cross-dressing rock singer who's shacked up with a very jealous, very gay, very male Marilyn Monroe look-alike.
Four musketeers out on the prowl - Stephanie, Sally Sweet, Lula, the 200 pound black reformed prostitute with a heart of gold and a mouth of pure dirt plus Grandma Mazur - definitely make for some laugh out loud moments. But, for my money, this entry in the Stephanie Plum series didn't quite tickle my funny bone in the same way as the previous three novels. Evanovich's usual clever comedy and wit started to fall by the wayside and were increasingly replaced by Vaudevillian physical comedy and enormous helpings of vulgar trash talk designed to entertain by shock value.
While there was some definite warm-hearted and enjoyable movement forward in Stephanie's relationship with long-standing love interest, cop Joe Morelli (not to mention some pretty hot action in the boudoir, the kitchen, the hall and the shower among other locations), the formulaic approach to the plot line in her stories is also beginning to wear thin after only four novels. Stephanie's apparently harmless chases after low level FTAs that look like they're going to be easy-picking low hanging fruit always seem to coincidentally cross paths and mesh with Morelli's much more complex cases. This time around is no different. Morelli's hooked up with the Feds chasing counterfeiters and money launderers and it isn't long before Stephanie finds herself involved in Morelli's case and up to her neck in mayhem, murder and mutilation.
That kind of coincidence might work once or twice but to repeat it over and over again verges on silliness. Even for a series like Stephanie Plum that is clearly pure parody, it wears thin.
For new readers, FOUR TO SCORE probably is worthy of four stars as a stand-alone entertaining comedic parody of the typical PI novels and more serious mysteries out there. But for continuing fans, FOUR TO SCORE is getting tired and has probably dropped to a somewhat lower three star rating. I'll still read HIGH FIVE, the next in the series, but if it's a repeat performance of FOUR TO SCORE that will put paid to Stephanie Plum for me.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
Stephanie Plum, New Jersey's colourful bounty hunter extraordinaire, is on the trail of Maxine Nowicki. But this time she's double-dipping. She's got her sights set on the usual payoff from her bond bailsman boss, Vinny, who wants Maxine corralled as an FTA on a car theft charge. But Stephanie's also been promised a $1000 under-the-counter payoff from Maxine's ex-boyfriend, Eddie Kuntz who says he wants to retrieve some potentially embarrassing love letters that might damage his macho reputation "with the chicks". The case ratchets up to new heights of raucous, raunchy comedy when Stephanie teams up with Sally Sweet, a hairy seven foot tall cross-dressing rock singer who's shacked up with a very jealous, very gay, very male Marilyn Monroe look-alike.
Four musketeers out on the prowl - Stephanie, Sally Sweet, Lula, the 200 pound black reformed prostitute with a heart of gold and a mouth of pure dirt plus Grandma Mazur - definitely make for some laugh out loud moments. But, for my money, this entry in the Stephanie Plum series didn't quite tickle my funny bone in the same way as the previous three novels. Evanovich's usual clever comedy and wit started to fall by the wayside and were increasingly replaced by Vaudevillian physical comedy and enormous helpings of vulgar trash talk designed to entertain by shock value.
While there was some definite warm-hearted and enjoyable movement forward in Stephanie's relationship with long-standing love interest, cop Joe Morelli (not to mention some pretty hot action in the boudoir, the kitchen, the hall and the shower among other locations), the formulaic approach to the plot line in her stories is also beginning to wear thin after only four novels. Stephanie's apparently harmless chases after low level FTAs that look like they're going to be easy-picking low hanging fruit always seem to coincidentally cross paths and mesh with Morelli's much more complex cases. This time around is no different. Morelli's hooked up with the Feds chasing counterfeiters and money launderers and it isn't long before Stephanie finds herself involved in Morelli's case and up to her neck in mayhem, murder and mutilation.
That kind of coincidence might work once or twice but to repeat it over and over again verges on silliness. Even for a series like Stephanie Plum that is clearly pure parody, it wears thin.
For new readers, FOUR TO SCORE probably is worthy of four stars as a stand-alone entertaining comedic parody of the typical PI novels and more serious mysteries out there. But for continuing fans, FOUR TO SCORE is getting tired and has probably dropped to a somewhat lower three star rating. I'll still read HIGH FIVE, the next in the series, but if it's a repeat performance of FOUR TO SCORE that will put paid to Stephanie Plum for me.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
April 2, 2018
When Stephanie is asked to hunt down a waitress who skipped bail after stealing her ex-boyfriend's car she thinks it'll be easy. That's before the ex-boyfriend offers her extra cash on the side if she'll tip him off to Maxine's location before the cops get involved though. It turns out that Maxine has been leaving clues for her ex and now Stephanie finds herself on a crazy treasure hunt trying to figure out what Maxine is really up to. When Maxine's friend loses a finger and her mother gets scalped the chase really starts to heat up and it looks like Maxine is in a lot more danger that Stephanie could have imagined.
I really struggle to write reviews for this series, not because I don't love these books but because I just want to rave like a lunatic about how fantastic they all are. The main trouble is that I've probably said it all before, I adore these characters, they're all over the top and completely stereotypical but absolutely brilliant in spite of that (or possibly because of it). These characters are larger than life, funny as hell and all of the books make me snort with laughter. If you enjoyed the previous books then you're bound to love Four to Score too, I'm on at least my 3rd read through of the earlier books in this series and that probably says more about my love for these books than anything else could. It's a series that I continuously go back to when I need something that is going to put a smile on my face.
Stephanie is just as out of her depth here as ever, but she always manages to come out on top no matter how crazy the situations she lands in are. Grandma Mazur and Lula are two of my favourite fictional sidekicks but here we have the addition of transvestite Sally Sweet who I really hope is going to become a cast regular (it's been so long since I read these books last that I really can't remember if he crops up again later but I'm keeping my fingers crossed). We also have two great guys to swoon over and after all these years I'm still not sure if I can choose a favourite. Things are progressing well between Stephanie and Joe Morelli though and we even get to meet his family in this book. His grandmother is one scary lady and I certainly wouldn't want her giving me the evil eye! Ranger is still around too and I love the friendly flirtation between him and Stephanie, I don't think it'll ever go anywhere but I enjoy it all the same and who doesn't like to daydream about a batman type of superhero? These books are pure entertainment, perfect for when you're in the mood for something light hearted, a little bit silly and guaranteed to make you giggle and I don't think I'll ever get bored of spending time with Stephanie and her friends!
_________________
Series group read with Buddies, Books & Baubles starts 1st February 2016. We're planning on reading one book a month so it'll be easy to keep up with if anyone else wants to join us :o)
I really struggle to write reviews for this series, not because I don't love these books but because I just want to rave like a lunatic about how fantastic they all are. The main trouble is that I've probably said it all before, I adore these characters, they're all over the top and completely stereotypical but absolutely brilliant in spite of that (or possibly because of it). These characters are larger than life, funny as hell and all of the books make me snort with laughter. If you enjoyed the previous books then you're bound to love Four to Score too, I'm on at least my 3rd read through of the earlier books in this series and that probably says more about my love for these books than anything else could. It's a series that I continuously go back to when I need something that is going to put a smile on my face.
Stephanie is just as out of her depth here as ever, but she always manages to come out on top no matter how crazy the situations she lands in are. Grandma Mazur and Lula are two of my favourite fictional sidekicks but here we have the addition of transvestite Sally Sweet who I really hope is going to become a cast regular (it's been so long since I read these books last that I really can't remember if he crops up again later but I'm keeping my fingers crossed). We also have two great guys to swoon over and after all these years I'm still not sure if I can choose a favourite. Things are progressing well between Stephanie and Joe Morelli though and we even get to meet his family in this book. His grandmother is one scary lady and I certainly wouldn't want her giving me the evil eye! Ranger is still around too and I love the friendly flirtation between him and Stephanie, I don't think it'll ever go anywhere but I enjoy it all the same and who doesn't like to daydream about a batman type of superhero? These books are pure entertainment, perfect for when you're in the mood for something light hearted, a little bit silly and guaranteed to make you giggle and I don't think I'll ever get bored of spending time with Stephanie and her friends!
_________________
Series group read with Buddies, Books & Baubles starts 1st February 2016. We're planning on reading one book a month so it'll be easy to keep up with if anyone else wants to join us :o)
October 22, 2020
Audiobook read by C J Critt
3.5***
This is book four in the popular Stephanie Plum series. Stephanie’s still pretty inept at her job, her romance with Morelli is heating up, she’s responsible for a couple of cars blowing up, Grandma Mazur is as nuts as ever, Steph gets a new “partner” in a cross-dressing leader of a rock band, and she tangles with rival bounty hunter Joyce Barnhardt.
The earlier books in the series are very entertaining, but I lost interest after about book 12. I re-read this one because it’s fast, enjoyable and fits a challenge.
C J Critt is barely passable reading the audio book. Her delivery is S L O W … with L O N G pauses at scene breaks. I also didn’t like the voices she used for most of the characters. This should be a fast, snappy delivery. I recommend reading the text instead of listening.
NOTE - I originally read this long before I had joined Shelfari or Goodreads, so never had recorded it ... the first date read is a wild guess based on having listed book 11 in the series as read in 2006.
3.5***
This is book four in the popular Stephanie Plum series. Stephanie’s still pretty inept at her job, her romance with Morelli is heating up, she’s responsible for a couple of cars blowing up, Grandma Mazur is as nuts as ever, Steph gets a new “partner” in a cross-dressing leader of a rock band, and she tangles with rival bounty hunter Joyce Barnhardt.
The earlier books in the series are very entertaining, but I lost interest after about book 12. I re-read this one because it’s fast, enjoyable and fits a challenge.
C J Critt is barely passable reading the audio book. Her delivery is S L O W … with L O N G pauses at scene breaks. I also didn’t like the voices she used for most of the characters. This should be a fast, snappy delivery. I recommend reading the text instead of listening.
NOTE - I originally read this long before I had joined Shelfari or Goodreads, so never had recorded it ... the first date read is a wild guess based on having listed book 11 in the series as read in 2006.
October 20, 2019
Sexy! My favourite book in the series yet! Team Joe foreverrrrr. And, as per Stephanie Plum, absolutely hilarious!
December 8, 2011
I had a lot of fun reading this book! This is the second time that I’ve read this series, and I must admit, I am laughing just as hard now as I did the first time around.
Lula and Stephanie Plum’s team work has become something of a force of nature.
“Drop your gun, you punk-ass old coot,” Lula yelled. “you don’t drop your gun, I’m gonna bust a cap up your ass!”
Vinnie, the slime ball cousin that owns and operates the bond agency that they work at, has begun to pop up in the books more often now. His character is a perverted and bluntly alternative sexual freak that boils Stephanie’s blood. His role in this book is to down right piss her off
Vinnie was 5’7, looked like a weasel, thought like a weasel, smelled like a French whore and was once in love with a duck.
Joyce, the Barbie doll on steroids slut that Stephanie caught riding her ex-husband on her dining room table, has been employed by Vinnie, and Stephanie is smoking out her ears. The rival between them is hilarious and brutal. Joyce is a sneaky and sexually manipulative character that clearly has no lines drawn, nothing she wouldn’t do to get her way.
“Yeah, but remember that Joyce person came in real early on Tuesday morning,” Lula said. “And she and Vinnie were locked in his office together for almost an hour, and they were making those weird barnyard sounds.”
Sally! I love his character. Sally is a heterosexual drag queen. His wardrobe would make Joyce’s pale in comparison. With all the corsets and bling bling, his face is famous. Sally and Grandma Mazur share several moments that just crack me up.
“Sally’s a drag queen,” I explained to Grandma.
“No kidding,” Grandma said. “I always wanted to meet a drag queen. I always wanted to know what you do with your dingdong when you wear girl’s clothes.”
Another moment ..
We all stared at his crotch, and Grandma said what Lula and I were thinking.
“I thought that bulge was your dingdong,” Grandma said.
“Jesus,” Sally said, “who do you think I am, Thunder the Wonder Horse? My gun wouldn’t fit in my purse.”
Joe Morelli and Ranger continue to play interesting roles in this book. I won’t discuss the progression, but it’s fun!
I recommend this book to anyone in need of a good laugh…anyone who has a certain someone they want or desperately want to punch! Ha! This book contains quite a bit of adult language and more detailed sexual content. (I’d like to say yay!) I do not recommend this book to anyone that is not an adult.
Happy reading!
Lula and Stephanie Plum’s team work has become something of a force of nature.
“Drop your gun, you punk-ass old coot,” Lula yelled. “you don’t drop your gun, I’m gonna bust a cap up your ass!”
Vinnie, the slime ball cousin that owns and operates the bond agency that they work at, has begun to pop up in the books more often now. His character is a perverted and bluntly alternative sexual freak that boils Stephanie’s blood. His role in this book is to down right piss her off
Vinnie was 5’7, looked like a weasel, thought like a weasel, smelled like a French whore and was once in love with a duck.
Joyce, the Barbie doll on steroids slut that Stephanie caught riding her ex-husband on her dining room table, has been employed by Vinnie, and Stephanie is smoking out her ears. The rival between them is hilarious and brutal. Joyce is a sneaky and sexually manipulative character that clearly has no lines drawn, nothing she wouldn’t do to get her way.
“Yeah, but remember that Joyce person came in real early on Tuesday morning,” Lula said. “And she and Vinnie were locked in his office together for almost an hour, and they were making those weird barnyard sounds.”
Sally! I love his character. Sally is a heterosexual drag queen. His wardrobe would make Joyce’s pale in comparison. With all the corsets and bling bling, his face is famous. Sally and Grandma Mazur share several moments that just crack me up.
“Sally’s a drag queen,” I explained to Grandma.
“No kidding,” Grandma said. “I always wanted to meet a drag queen. I always wanted to know what you do with your dingdong when you wear girl’s clothes.”
Another moment ..
We all stared at his crotch, and Grandma said what Lula and I were thinking.
“I thought that bulge was your dingdong,” Grandma said.
“Jesus,” Sally said, “who do you think I am, Thunder the Wonder Horse? My gun wouldn’t fit in my purse.”
Joe Morelli and Ranger continue to play interesting roles in this book. I won’t discuss the progression, but it’s fun!
I recommend this book to anyone in need of a good laugh…anyone who has a certain someone they want or desperately want to punch! Ha! This book contains quite a bit of adult language and more detailed sexual content. (I’d like to say yay!) I do not recommend this book to anyone that is not an adult.
Happy reading!
October 23, 2007
I had the *hardest* time getting into this book. I have read the previous 3 Stephanie Plum books - which I thoroughly enjoyed & couldn't stop reading - but this time it took me forever to finish.
I think my main problem with reading it was that I have been super busy & when I haven't been busy I've been tired & this book didn't suck me in like all the other books had.
Evanovich still made me laugh - she has a great sense of humor & an amazing way with words but I'm assuming my lack of interest to finish the book was because I've been worn out.
I am proud to announce that Stephanie finally got some action from Morelli - Woo Hoo! :) (What a lucky girl!!)
I think my next read shouldn't be a Stephanie Plum book. As much as I love Evanovich & she always has me laughing I just think reading a Plum book one right after the other is making them not *as* good to me. I think I'll take a break from the SP series for a month or two & then start up again!
I think my main problem with reading it was that I have been super busy & when I haven't been busy I've been tired & this book didn't suck me in like all the other books had.
Evanovich still made me laugh - she has a great sense of humor & an amazing way with words but I'm assuming my lack of interest to finish the book was because I've been worn out.
I am proud to announce that Stephanie finally got some action from Morelli - Woo Hoo! :) (What a lucky girl!!)
I think my next read shouldn't be a Stephanie Plum book. As much as I love Evanovich & she always has me laughing I just think reading a Plum book one right after the other is making them not *as* good to me. I think I'll take a break from the SP series for a month or two & then start up again!
August 24, 2022
Two things I learned from this book...everyone in the Burg carries a gun and the women of the Burg seem to be carrying the biggest guns. Secondly, my life is completely boring compared to Stephanie Plum.
In Four to Score we can add yet another blown up car to Stephanie's list not to mention her apartment which is torched which leads her right into the arms of Morelli. Add a Grandma Bella and a Grandma Mazur to the story and you've got yourself one heck of a book...I finished this book and kept right on going with High Five.
Another great book by Evanovich!!
In Four to Score we can add yet another blown up car to Stephanie's list not to mention her apartment which is torched which leads her right into the arms of Morelli. Add a Grandma Bella and a Grandma Mazur to the story and you've got yourself one heck of a book...I finished this book and kept right on going with High Five.
Another great book by Evanovich!!
June 26, 2018
I don’t have anything new to say about this series. Every sequel is funnier than the last.
But with this fourth book we finally see a turning point in Steph and Joe’s relationship. YAAAASS FINALLYYYYY.
What happens next is HILARIOUS: neither of them say anything but somehow Joe’s family think they live together, then that Steph is pregnant, then that they are getting married, and lastly that they’re already married. Obviously, as if it weren’t enough, the news circulate to the entire Trenton city.
I loved that hahaha 😂
But with this fourth book we finally see a turning point in Steph and Joe’s relationship. YAAAASS FINALLYYYYY.
What happens next is HILARIOUS: neither of them say anything but somehow Joe’s family think they live together, then that Steph is pregnant, then that they are getting married, and lastly that they’re already married. Obviously, as if it weren’t enough, the news circulate to the entire Trenton city.
I loved that hahaha 😂
December 15, 2023
I have read this series several times. I love all the books. I laugh so hard every time.
March 5, 2019
Stephanie's latest skip, Maxine Nowicki, should be an easy one. She only took her boyfriend's car for a joyride after an argument. No reason for her to not want to appear and clear this all up, right? Wrong, so wrong. Now all Stephanie has to do is find her, easy-peasy? NOT! Maxine is no where to be found and her mother and friends are showing up with pieces missing. On top of it all, Vinnie has hired Joyce Barnhardt, Stephanie's worst nightmare enemy, to find Maxine too.
On the road to finding Maxine and the reason behind all this, Stephanie meets Sally Sweet, a tranvestite rock musician code breaker, has her car blown up, again, and her apartment too, ends up living with Joe Morelli and is in way deeper than she ever wanted to be with both the case and Joe. In other words, just another outrageous outing for Stephanie Plum and friends.
On the road to finding Maxine and the reason behind all this, Stephanie meets Sally Sweet, a tranvestite rock musician code breaker, has her car blown up, again, and her apartment too, ends up living with Joe Morelli and is in way deeper than she ever wanted to be with both the case and Joe. In other words, just another outrageous outing for Stephanie Plum and friends.
July 21, 2018
"I want to shoot him," Sally said. "Nobody'll tell, right?"
"No fair," Lula said. "I want to shoot him."
"Okay," Grandma said. "On the count of three, we'll all shoot him.”
Can't remember when was the last time I watched a TV show, because every time I think about doing it, I realize I actually want to get back to this series.
I swear they're like an amazing Netflix show, just that instead of episode after episode, I'm binging book sequels.
So glad there's like 64839272519204728 of them left.
"No fair," Lula said. "I want to shoot him."
"Okay," Grandma said. "On the count of three, we'll all shoot him.”
Can't remember when was the last time I watched a TV show, because every time I think about doing it, I realize I actually want to get back to this series.
I swear they're like an amazing Netflix show, just that instead of episode after episode, I'm binging book sequels.
So glad there's like 64839272519204728 of them left.
April 30, 2018
These books are great for if you are in a funk. I cannot see how anyone could read one without laughing out loud all the time. (It upsets my dog when I do that.)
In this one, once again Stephanie can not get a break. But at least she gets laid - frequently. Drag queens, arson, and counterfeiting - as well as old high school enemies who are still enemies. What fun!!
In this one, once again Stephanie can not get a break. But at least she gets laid - frequently. Drag queens, arson, and counterfeiting - as well as old high school enemies who are still enemies. What fun!!
April 30, 2019
This is technically my second time reading this book. I read it several years ago but I never actually reviewed it. I needed a book for a Goodreads challenge and it fit so I decided to read it again.
There is just something about a Janet Evanovich book. You can't not love it.
Stephanie
Stephanie is the most unlikely bounty hunter there has ever been. She stumbles and bumbles her way around and usually does catch her man. Just not in her personal life. She has two men very determined to bed her but not marry her. I love this little love triangle that is happening. She also has this kooky family. Her mom is in denial, her grandmother is cray cray and her dad hides from it all. LOL!
Morelli
What is not to love about Morelli? The hot playboy cop is every woman's dream. He is a bit clueless about women and his feelings as well. His family is just as kooky as hers. His grandmother Bella is just as kooky as her grandmother and uses her "evil eye" to get her way.
Ranger
I am a little bit disappointed with the amount of time Ranger gets in this book. He is sexy as sin and I love his banter with Stephanie. His attempts to get her to sleep with him are legendary and I think I only read one attempt in this book. So sad. I want more Ranger!
Lula
I love Lula. She is crazy and she knows it. I love the scenes in the book where she goes as Stephanie's backup. She always has a big gun and ready to take someone down. You can't help but love her character.
Sally
Now Sally is an unusual character. He is great at solving puzzles and is always up for helping the girls track down someone. You can't help but love his character either. He is larger than life, that's for sure.
the ending
I loved the ending. The tattoos were an awesome touch to the story and I have to say those three ladies were creative. I have a few more in the series that I want to read now that my intrigue of this series has been renewed. This book is full of laugh out loud fun and you can't go wrong with any of this series.
There is just something about a Janet Evanovich book. You can't not love it.
Stephanie
Stephanie is the most unlikely bounty hunter there has ever been. She stumbles and bumbles her way around and usually does catch her man. Just not in her personal life. She has two men very determined to bed her but not marry her. I love this little love triangle that is happening. She also has this kooky family. Her mom is in denial, her grandmother is cray cray and her dad hides from it all. LOL!
Morelli
What is not to love about Morelli? The hot playboy cop is every woman's dream. He is a bit clueless about women and his feelings as well. His family is just as kooky as hers. His grandmother Bella is just as kooky as her grandmother and uses her "evil eye" to get her way.
Ranger
I am a little bit disappointed with the amount of time Ranger gets in this book. He is sexy as sin and I love his banter with Stephanie. His attempts to get her to sleep with him are legendary and I think I only read one attempt in this book. So sad. I want more Ranger!
Lula
I love Lula. She is crazy and she knows it. I love the scenes in the book where she goes as Stephanie's backup. She always has a big gun and ready to take someone down. You can't help but love her character.
Sally
Now Sally is an unusual character. He is great at solving puzzles and is always up for helping the girls track down someone. You can't help but love his character either. He is larger than life, that's for sure.
the ending
I loved the ending. The tattoos were an awesome touch to the story and I have to say those three ladies were creative. I have a few more in the series that I want to read now that my intrigue of this series has been renewed. This book is full of laugh out loud fun and you can't go wrong with any of this series.
May 25, 2009
Oooh! We get intellectuals in this one - codes no less! Don't worry, we don't have The Da Vinci Codestyle disappointment of finding out how trivial they are really because the details are not revealed, they're simply beyond Stephanie's brain and get passed on to Sally. I do like the way the cast of supporting characters is growing with each book and each of them brings something new to the party.
This was the last of the first block of these I read, as I was missing (or at least thought I was missing) 5 & 7 and, while I was looking forward to moving on, I think I needed the break just to get my breath back!
This series seems epitomise one of my problems - the guilt of a Catholic catholic reader. There's swearing and sex and mayhem and silliness in these books that a good person and intelligent reader would despise, but my voracious appetite for the written word, irreverence and black humour mean that I can't resist reading them, and enjoying the process, even if there's a nagging voice in the background telling me to get back to the more worthy 1001 list.
This was the last of the first block of these I read, as I was missing (or at least thought I was missing) 5 & 7 and, while I was looking forward to moving on, I think I needed the break just to get my breath back!
This series seems epitomise one of my problems - the guilt of a Catholic catholic reader. There's swearing and sex and mayhem and silliness in these books that a good person and intelligent reader would despise, but my voracious appetite for the written word, irreverence and black humour mean that I can't resist reading them, and enjoying the process, even if there's a nagging voice in the background telling me to get back to the more worthy 1001 list.
April 14, 2021
I stopped reading these for a while and I am glad that I am back. I absolutely love Stephanie Plum and this one did not disappoint. I managed to read it all in one day and was pleasantly surprised at the resolution. Usually, there are a couple different situations that need to be resolved, and this is no different. In addition, there were some hilarious characters. Loved Sally, the drag queen who isn't actually gay and the member of a popular rock band. Then, there's Joe Morelli, who you wish would just get together with Stephanie already. Whether or not that's ever going to happen is still up in the air. There were a lot of funny moments, which is one of the main reasons why I read these books. Looking forward to the next one.
October 17, 2023
Four to Score by Janet Evanovich is the 4th Stephanie Plum novel. Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is assigned t bring in Maxine Nowicki who is charged with stealing her boyfriends car and becomes targeted by a crazed fire bomber as well as a counterfeit ring. Another fun, light read with plenty of action and laughs. I love all the characters and their eccentricities and various talents. Always have a fun time with this series.
October 7, 2020
This is a humor/cozy mystery/chick-lit, and this is the 4th book in the Stephanie Plum series. I have listen to this whole series on audiobooks, and the narrator of the audiobooks does a great job on this book. All the books in this series will make you laugh so much, and I will say the way to read these books is by audiobooks. All the characters are so fun and developed. I love this series so much. Stephanie Plum always gets into big messes, and she will make you laugh so much. (*)
June 27, 2016
Another bounty hunter adventure of Stephanie Plum. This novel finally broke the dry spell in Stephanie's sex life. It was funny, sassy, chick and entertaining!
Lula is slowly driving up on my list of kickass female characters.
Lula is slowly driving up on my list of kickass female characters.
January 1, 2017
3 for the story, adding half a star for the laughs. If you're looking for a book to listen to at 3am when trying to find the sandman, this series is a good choice. It's a little violent for me, but the laughs make up for it. A nice escape read.
June 25, 2017
I enjoy these books because they make me laugh out loud. Grandma Mazur, Lula and all the ridiculous comments that get made! And I like to see if I can figure out the mystery before it's all revealed...
Book 4 was fun and I'll do book 5 soon!
Book 4 was fun and I'll do book 5 soon!
June 28, 2024
Another typical fun ride with Jersey Girl Extraordinaire Stephanie Plum. Always a lighthearted romp.
September 13, 2022
Four to Score (Stephanie Plum #4) by Janet Evanovich
Synopsis /
Nabbing Maxine Nowicki, thief and extortionist, would be the answer to Stephanie’s prayers and monetary woes. The only trouble is that Maxine is nowhere to be found, and her friends have been mysteriously turning up dead. To make matters worse, Stephanie’s arch nemesis since grade school is also looking for Nowicki, hoping to cash in first.
Stephanie’s mentor and tormentor, Ranger, needs her. Vice cop Joe Morelli has invited her to move in… temporarily. And Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur, sidekick, Lula, and a six-foot-tall transvestite rock musician want to take Stephanie to Atlantic City. One thing is for certain, no good can come from any of it.
My Thoughts /
🛑 Warning. Do not read further if you do not enjoy a cast of hilariously funny characters; hairbrained antics; half-baked decision making and laugh-out-loud moments.
Now that I have your attention, read on to find out what Stephanie Plum has been up to, in book 4, titled Four to Score by Janet Evanovich.
In this instalment, Stephanie Plum, my favourite (now slightly less) inexperienced and unseasoned bounty hunter, is returning to capture those elusive fugitives who have skipped their court dates or broken their bail conditions.
This time she is on the trail of a ‘revenge-seeking’ waitress who's skipped bail.
The ‘skip’ in question, is Maxine Nowicki. Other than one offence (stealing her boyfriend’s car), Maxine’s record is clean, so Stephanie thinks this will be a straightforward job. But we know from ‘past experience’ that none of Steph’s jobs are straightforward. It’s what makes this series what it is, right! And as sure as Monday comes after Sunday, Maxine proves strangely elusive.
Connie took a manila folder from her desktop. ‘Maxine Nowicki. Charged with stealing her former boyfriend’s car. Posted bond with us and failed to show for her court appearance.’ By securing a cash bond Nowicki had been free to leave the lockup behind and return to society at large while awaiting trial. Now she’d failed to appear. Or in bounty-hunter speak, she was FTA.
Stephanie’s job gets harder when Joyce Barnhardt, a relative newcomer to the Vincent Plum Bonding Company, starts tracking Maxine as well. Joyce Barnhardt….Stephanie is determined she won’t lose this catch to her rival. It’s just not the motivation of losing her skip to Joyce that is spurring Stephanie on; there’s history between the two. Joyce Barnhardt was sleeping with Stephanie’s ex-husband, well before she put the prefix ‘ex’ in front of ‘husband’.
I hate Joyce Barnhardt! And everybody knew why. At the tender age of twenty-four, after less than a year of marriage, I’d caught Joyce bare-assed on my dining room table, playing hide-the-salami with my husband.
Now, just when you think this is a fairly straightforward case, Nowicki’s boyfriend, Eddie, offers Stephanie money to help find Maxine. Why, I hear you ask? Well, because ‘supposedly’ Eddie wants to retrieve the love letters he wrote to Maxine – which are of an ‘embarrassing’ nature. According to Eddie, it’s the letters he wants to get back, not his car. Yeah, right – who’s going to believe any of that story!! But that’s not all, someone else is terrifying Maxine's friends, and those who have seen her are turning up dead!
What ensues is the usual chaotic behaviour and riotous antics we have come to expect from Steph when she’s hot on a case. We see the cast of ‘regular’ characters in this instalment: Crazy Grandma Mazur, ex-hooker/wannabe bounty hunter, Lula; our favourite Cuban bounty hunter extraordinaire – Ranger; and Stephanie’s on-again/off-again hot Detective, Joe Morelli.
I’d known Morelli all of my life. first when he was a lecherous little kid, then as a dangerous teen. And finally as the guy who at age eighteen, sweet-talked me out of my underwear.
We are also introduced to what may become another ‘regular’ in this series: transvestite musician/drag queen, Sally Sweet.
Through all of this, Stephanie's attitude to catching her target never wavers -
The temperature had to be a hundred in the shade with a hundred percent humidity. My sunroof was open, and when I parked the car I felt the weight of the heat settling around me. Maybe when I found Nowicki I’d have my air-conditioning fixed, or maybe I’d spend a few days at the beach….or maybe I’d pay my rent and avoid eviction.
What do you get when you combine all of these crazy characters; with one elusive FTA; together with a list of people going missing which is growing with each new body part showing up? A recipe for a mystery that will have you in fits of laughter and wanting to know what’s in store of Stephanie Plum next!
Synopsis /
Nabbing Maxine Nowicki, thief and extortionist, would be the answer to Stephanie’s prayers and monetary woes. The only trouble is that Maxine is nowhere to be found, and her friends have been mysteriously turning up dead. To make matters worse, Stephanie’s arch nemesis since grade school is also looking for Nowicki, hoping to cash in first.
Stephanie’s mentor and tormentor, Ranger, needs her. Vice cop Joe Morelli has invited her to move in… temporarily. And Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur, sidekick, Lula, and a six-foot-tall transvestite rock musician want to take Stephanie to Atlantic City. One thing is for certain, no good can come from any of it.
My Thoughts /
🛑 Warning. Do not read further if you do not enjoy a cast of hilariously funny characters; hairbrained antics; half-baked decision making and laugh-out-loud moments.
Now that I have your attention, read on to find out what Stephanie Plum has been up to, in book 4, titled Four to Score by Janet Evanovich.
In this instalment, Stephanie Plum, my favourite (now slightly less) inexperienced and unseasoned bounty hunter, is returning to capture those elusive fugitives who have skipped their court dates or broken their bail conditions.
This time she is on the trail of a ‘revenge-seeking’ waitress who's skipped bail.
The ‘skip’ in question, is Maxine Nowicki. Other than one offence (stealing her boyfriend’s car), Maxine’s record is clean, so Stephanie thinks this will be a straightforward job. But we know from ‘past experience’ that none of Steph’s jobs are straightforward. It’s what makes this series what it is, right! And as sure as Monday comes after Sunday, Maxine proves strangely elusive.
Connie took a manila folder from her desktop. ‘Maxine Nowicki. Charged with stealing her former boyfriend’s car. Posted bond with us and failed to show for her court appearance.’ By securing a cash bond Nowicki had been free to leave the lockup behind and return to society at large while awaiting trial. Now she’d failed to appear. Or in bounty-hunter speak, she was FTA.
Stephanie’s job gets harder when Joyce Barnhardt, a relative newcomer to the Vincent Plum Bonding Company, starts tracking Maxine as well. Joyce Barnhardt….Stephanie is determined she won’t lose this catch to her rival. It’s just not the motivation of losing her skip to Joyce that is spurring Stephanie on; there’s history between the two. Joyce Barnhardt was sleeping with Stephanie’s ex-husband, well before she put the prefix ‘ex’ in front of ‘husband’.
I hate Joyce Barnhardt! And everybody knew why. At the tender age of twenty-four, after less than a year of marriage, I’d caught Joyce bare-assed on my dining room table, playing hide-the-salami with my husband.
Now, just when you think this is a fairly straightforward case, Nowicki’s boyfriend, Eddie, offers Stephanie money to help find Maxine. Why, I hear you ask? Well, because ‘supposedly’ Eddie wants to retrieve the love letters he wrote to Maxine – which are of an ‘embarrassing’ nature. According to Eddie, it’s the letters he wants to get back, not his car. Yeah, right – who’s going to believe any of that story!! But that’s not all, someone else is terrifying Maxine's friends, and those who have seen her are turning up dead!
What ensues is the usual chaotic behaviour and riotous antics we have come to expect from Steph when she’s hot on a case. We see the cast of ‘regular’ characters in this instalment: Crazy Grandma Mazur, ex-hooker/wannabe bounty hunter, Lula; our favourite Cuban bounty hunter extraordinaire – Ranger; and Stephanie’s on-again/off-again hot Detective, Joe Morelli.
I’d known Morelli all of my life. first when he was a lecherous little kid, then as a dangerous teen. And finally as the guy who at age eighteen, sweet-talked me out of my underwear.
We are also introduced to what may become another ‘regular’ in this series: transvestite musician/drag queen, Sally Sweet.
Through all of this, Stephanie's attitude to catching her target never wavers -
The temperature had to be a hundred in the shade with a hundred percent humidity. My sunroof was open, and when I parked the car I felt the weight of the heat settling around me. Maybe when I found Nowicki I’d have my air-conditioning fixed, or maybe I’d spend a few days at the beach….or maybe I’d pay my rent and avoid eviction.
What do you get when you combine all of these crazy characters; with one elusive FTA; together with a list of people going missing which is growing with each new body part showing up? A recipe for a mystery that will have you in fits of laughter and wanting to know what’s in store of Stephanie Plum next!
June 26, 2016
Many people love this series, to me it's just one of these nice reads.
Stephanie is given a new task, she has to find Maxine, a girl accused of stealing her boyfriend's car. Seemingly easy task, turns out to be much more difficult since no one saw Maxine for few days. Stephanie will need some help from her friends while also meeting some new interesting people. Soon catching Maxine becomes only one of Stephanie's problem.
The story is okay, nothing special. I won't remember it after few weeks. The story of Maxine, as complicated as it is, isn't really grabbing. Despite lots of action, the plot is dragging on from time to time.
Some jokes seem a bit overused and already known from the previous books. And the situation between Stephanie and Morelli becomes even stranger. In fact I think I completely lost my interest in that part, I don't care any more if they will finally be together or not. The best part of this book is Sally who brings a bit of fresh air to the story. I wish he is also a part of the next books.
An average book, mice read, but nothing innovative or different from the previous ones.
Stephanie is given a new task, she has to find Maxine, a girl accused of stealing her boyfriend's car. Seemingly easy task, turns out to be much more difficult since no one saw Maxine for few days. Stephanie will need some help from her friends while also meeting some new interesting people. Soon catching Maxine becomes only one of Stephanie's problem.
The story is okay, nothing special. I won't remember it after few weeks. The story of Maxine, as complicated as it is, isn't really grabbing. Despite lots of action, the plot is dragging on from time to time.
Some jokes seem a bit overused and already known from the previous books. And the situation between Stephanie and Morelli becomes even stranger. In fact I think I completely lost my interest in that part, I don't care any more if they will finally be together or not. The best part of this book is Sally who brings a bit of fresh air to the story. I wish he is also a part of the next books.
An average book, mice read, but nothing innovative or different from the previous ones.
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