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One For The Money (Stephanie Plum #1)

by Janet Evanovich (Goodreads Author)

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 190,403 ratings · 9,563 reviews

One Fine Mess
Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash - fast - but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family...

One False Move
Stephan...more

Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages

Published June 13th 2006 by St. Martin's Griffin (first published 1994)

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Apr 19, 2012 Kemper rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, crime-mystery, craptacular

It’s Gender Reversal Day here on Goodreads as I review One for the Money.

So Samuel Plum is an underwear buyer for a retail store who has recently lost his job. Desperate for cash, he blackmails his pervert cousin who runs a bail bonds agency into letting him go after a cop named Jane Morellie who was accused of murder and then skipped. There may be a personal revenge motive for Samuel in this because Jane is the girl who seduced him and took his virginity in high school. Since she never called...more It’s Gender Reversal Day here on Goodreads as I review One for the Money.

So Samuel Plum is an underwear buyer for a retail store who has recently lost his job. Desperate for cash, he blackmails his pervert cousin who runs a bail bonds agency into letting him go after a cop named Jane Morellie who was accused of murder and then skipped. There may be a personal revenge motive for Samuel in this because Jane is the girl who seduced him and took his virginity in high school. Since she never called him again, Samuel felt justified in running her over with a car and breaking her leg shortly after that.

Now Jane is worth $10,000. Even though he has absolutely no experience or training in law enforcement or as a bounty hunter, Samuel decides he’s going to capture her. He almost immediately stumbles across Jane who basically laughs at him and walks away. So Samuel gets a pistol he doesn’t know how to use or even load. He also allows his senile grandfather to get a hold of the gun because who doesn’t love it when the elderly start waving handguns around in a room full of family members?

Samuel’s inexperience quickly gets him into more trouble after he gets assaulted by a female boxer who tries to rape him. Rather than pull his gun on the boxer, he panics and hits her with his man purse. Things get even worse as Jane repeatedly shows up to humiliate him and then get away again. Samuel also gets another person shot when a fugitive takes away his man purse with the gun while Samuel just stands there and allows it to happen. Plus, Samuel’s failure to report the boxer to the police for the attack on him because he doesn’t want to look weak allows two innocent people to be brutally raped and assaulted.

Samuel is obviously a moron who has no business running around with a gun and hand cuffs. He also seems to be criminally negligent, and he probably should have been in prison already for running over a sex partner. He also steals Jane’s car when he gets tired of driving his own piece of shit so even though he’s supposedly on the side of law and order, he’s guilty of carrying a concealed weapon and grand theft auto.

Samuel is such a nitwit that I have no idea how I’m supposed to relate or sympathize with him. If this was some kind of comic farce, then I could see how a loser getting humiliated by the fugitives he’s supposed to be chasing would be funny, but that kind of goes out the window with the psychotic rapist boxer thing and people getting shot due to Samuel’s utter failure as a bounty hunter.

In conclusion, I’ll say that Samuel Plum is a fucktarded asshat who should be beaten with….Oh, wait. Gender Reversal Day was yesterday? And it’s Stephanie Plum, not Samuel? Oh….. I guess in that case she’s just a spunky heroine and her vehicular assault on a former lover, overall gross incompetence and insistence on trying to do a job she has no training or qualifications for is just another example of womanly independence. Girl Power!

Now, Stephanie, if you’d just step into this dark alley, there’s a few ladies who’d like a word with you. Oh, don’t worry, it’s just FBI Special Agent Clarice Starling, US Marshal Karen Sisco, Ree Dolly from the Ozarks and Lisbeth Salander from Sweden. They’d like to have a little talk regarding what you’ve done to the image of female heroes in crime fiction. (less)

87 likes · like · see review

Dec 28, 2011 Jessica rated it 1 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jessica by: BC1

Dribble, dribble, dribble. To amuse myself I compiled a top 5 list of things from this book that any future bookclubs book shouldn't include:

1- a herioine who regularly wears spandex shorts (I see it was wrote in 1994, still...that was past the 80's...no excuses).

2- the term "crotch wrinkles." Used in a sentence: "By five o'clock I was feeling antsy, and my rayon skirt had serious crotch wrinkles."

3- a scene where a man masturbates on Ms. Plum's door (or any woman's door)

4- the term "boinked" es...more

43 likes · like · see review

Jan 27, 2012 Dorothy rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Mystery lovers

Shelves: modern-day-mysteries, tough-women, re-reading

How is it that, having been an avid reader of mysteries for much of my life, I had never picked up one of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books? A gross oversight on my part that I have now rectified. I have finished the first one of the series.

I've been reading quite a few serious books this summer - "The Maytrees," "Falling Man," "Absolute Friends," and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" to name the most recent - and I was ready for a drastic change. This book certainly offered that.

I was captivated...more

16 likes · like · see review

Jul 16, 2011 The Holy Terror rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, audiobooks, forgot-to-drink-the-kool-aid, 2010

Book: ★ ★ ½
Narration: ★ ½
I'm new to audiobooks, and at this point I'm not exactly sure how much they're for me. I can listen to whatever I want during my workday, so I figure, why not catch up on some reading while I do it? The problem is, I seem to come across more audiobooks that rub me the wrong way than those that don't. When the narrator is female and she reads the part of a male and is trying to either be sexy or menacing, I have a hard time with it. The same goes the other way as well....more Book: ★ ★ ½
Narration: ★ ½
I'm new to audiobooks, and at this point I'm not exactly sure how much they're for me. I can listen to whatever I want during my workday, so I figure, why not catch up on some reading while I do it? The problem is, I seem to come across more audiobooks that rub me the wrong way than those that don't. When the narrator is female and she reads the part of a male and is trying to either be sexy or menacing, I have a hard time with it. The same goes the other way as well. I've tried getting through Odd Thomas but when the narrator speaks for Odd's girlfriend, I can't help but imagine a drag queen. It's that jarring that it takes me out of the story, and the same thing happened in this book as well.

I enjoyed this story for what it was: a down on her luck Jersey girl who decides to try her hand at bounty hunting and hilarity ensues. I didn't find myself laughing all that much, although I did smile at some of Morelli's lines, but then quickly cringed at the sound of the female voicing them. It was a weird experience.

Throughout the novel, Stephanie isn't all that smart. This being the first in a very long series, I expected that going in, so I wasn't all that surprised when she decided to hit her would-be rapist over the head with her purse instead of taking her gun out of said purse and pointing it at his face. She doesn't do so many dumb things that it made me want to slap her though, and that can be a fine line to cross. I actually thought a lot of characters toed that line; her Mom was pushy but in a funny way, her Grandma was crazy but not annoying, and Morelli played sexy and dangerous in a delicious way. Ranger, I'm on the fence about because he played such a small part, and also because I think some of his lines would have been sexier in my head than out of a woman's mouth.

I was surprised at some of the darker parts of this book, although now that I think of it, this kind of reads like a Lifetime movie. Think murder, torture, rape, all that fun stuff. Throw in some prostitution and drugs and now we're having a good time! Honestly though, I think the grittier bits made me like the story more because it wasn't just fluffy chick-lit all the time, but then, I'm twisted like that.

I liked that I was kept guessing up until the end. I had my suspicions, but I was actually wrong and I enjoyed that! All too often I figure out the mystery before half the novel is over but that wasn't the case here so that was a pleasant surprise.

I don't think the narrator did a poor job for most of the novel; it was just the sexy and evil men that she was trying to do that wasn't working for me. I feel like I was missing out on some of the atmosphere with the characters by not hearing the men in my head. Maybe this isn't an issue for others that are used to one narrator doing a whole cast of characters, but it just isn't something that's clicking with me.

I will continue on with this story, but in regular ol' book form. I hear the love triangle continues on for eternity, but I think I've proved I'm a glutton for punishment since I'm still reading Anita Blake, so I'll definitely pick up the next installment of Stephanie Plum's series soon.(less)

15 likes · like · see review

Jan 25, 2010 Tatiana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of funny mysteries

Recommended to Tatiana by: Heather

Shelves: 2010, mysteries-thrillers-horror, series-dropped-lost-steam

I've been seeing Evanovich books for years and not even once was I compelled to give them another look or find out if they were worth my time. I kind of regret it now.

This 1st book in the series about a female bounty hunter set in New Jersey ethnic neighborhood was quite a pleasure to read. The book was written about 15 years ago and definitely felt dated in many ways, especially in regards to "fashion" - spandex shorts, big hair, hoop earrings and all that. But the humor remained fresh, Plum/Mo...more

27 likes · like · see review

Mar 21, 2009 Inara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: novels-comedy-humor, novels-mystery-crime-suspense, author-janet-evanovich

Funny and light-hearted book with a likeable heroine who never loses track of her goal to earn 10,000 dollars as a bounty hunter. Too bad it´s an old ex-lover she has to find but then - she still has a bone to pick with him....
This first book in the series made me jump outright on the Stephanie Plum-bandwagon and I prepare myself for an enjoyable ride!

30 likes · like · see review

Jan 18, 2010 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, mystery

Stephanie Plum has hit some hard times. She’s lost her job as a buyer of cheap lingerie, fallen behind on her bills and has had her beloved car repossessed. She’s got moldy cheese and a stale loaf of bread in the fridge and she has hawked most of her furniture and major appliances to pay the rent and procure a P.O.S Nova. Stephanie doubts things could get much worse. She’s about to be proven wrong.

In a stroke of dumb luck, or perhaps, an evil twist of fate, Stephanie lands a job at her uncle Vin...more

12 likes · like · see review

Apr 14, 2008 Claire Greene rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

I. LOVE. THESE. BOOKS. SERIOUSLY. I am obsessed with this series. And you know when your brain keeps telling you that this is ridiculous, there must be a hundred books that are written better, or a better mystery, or whatever? Well, I don't care!!! This series is my ultimate guilty pleasure. I was hooked with the first one and have read the entire series thus far - including all the stupid mini books in-between. Now, those mini books I could do without and they always feel like an attempt to mak...more I. LOVE. THESE. BOOKS. SERIOUSLY. I am obsessed with this series. And you know when your brain keeps telling you that this is ridiculous, there must be a hundred books that are written better, or a better mystery, or whatever? Well, I don't care!!! This series is my ultimate guilty pleasure. I was hooked with the first one and have read the entire series thus far - including all the stupid mini books in-between. Now, those mini books I could do without and they always feel like an attempt to make sure they even got the loose change in my pockets, but I still get them anyway because it is like a fix until I can get the real thing. So what is so great about them? Stephanie - hilarious. I laugh out loud (a rarity for me when reading a book) constantly when reading these books. I love the murder mysteries which are often at least a step above the formula ones. I love the triangle between Ranger and Morelli and Stephanie. That is something that often gets old for me in other books or TV shows, etc. but for some reason, it just doesn't get old here for me. 13 books in and I am still captivated by the tension between the three. I love the setting - being from CT and living in NY and knowing people from Jersey - she nails that dead on! I mean, an exaggeration of it but still.... And the quirky characters. I love that. I like books that the people are really odd and funny. But it still has to be believable - I hate odd just for the sake of odd - like, hey look at me - I'm wacky - wocka wocka!! But these characters are so outrageous and I still find myself being able to believe it and go along with the book. Do things get repetitive? Sure, I mean, she blows up a car in every single book. But for me, that makes it all the more funny - I can't help it, I laugh every single time. I love how she is so clumsy and crazy and manages to get things done in spite of herself. I love how she is always battling her weight - that constant struggle between carrots and carrot cake! I love her family, the situations she gets in, her friends, her grandmother.... Really, did I mention I love these books? I can't explain it, but I am compulsive about buying the next one as soon as it comes out in paperback and I have kept the entire set and read it through again a few times. I feel that the story just gets better and better as you know the characters more and she doesn't have to spend time introducing them, she can just get on to the chaos. I tried to talk my mom into reading these books and she just couldn't get past the introduction to Morelli (which IS pretty odd - basically two kids experimenting - I just ignore it and skipped beyond it and was able to enjoy the rest of it) and all - I think she was a little too uptight (sorry mom!) to enjoy the whole feel of the series. If I had to sum up the series, I think it would have to be Funny, fast and loose!(less)

44 likes · like · see review

Mar 14, 2008 JG (The Introverted Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, mystery, humor, read_in_2008, reviewed, just_plain_fun, 4_stars, author_american, setting_us

Stephanie Plum has just gotten laid off from her job as a lingerie buyer for a company that turned out to be owned by the mob in New Jersey. Her Miata has just been repossessed, she's sold everything of value, and her refrigerator is empty. Out of desperation, she goes to see her cousin Vinnie, a bail bondsman, about a filing job. That's just been filled, but the secretary lets her know that there's an opening for a bounty hunter, and the money's good. Stephanie blackmails her way into taking a...more Stephanie Plum has just gotten laid off from her job as a lingerie buyer for a company that turned out to be owned by the mob in New Jersey. Her Miata has just been repossessed, she's sold everything of value, and her refrigerator is empty. Out of desperation, she goes to see her cousin Vinnie, a bail bondsman, about a filing job. That's just been filled, but the secretary lets her know that there's an opening for a bounty hunter, and the money's good. Stephanie blackmails her way into taking a case that will pay out $10,000 if she can bring the guy in. It turns out the fugitive is someone she has a long history with who appears to be a cop gone bad. He's been arrested for cold-blooded murder. Of course, Stephanie is unbelievably unqualified for this job, but a mixture of desperation, pride, and stubborness take her a long way.

This was a quick, fun read, but there was still plenty of murder and mayhem for most mystery/thriller readers.
This was actually pretty funny. I don't think I ever laughed out loud, but I probably giggled a few times. I had expected it to be a little funnier and less violent from what someone had told me about it, but this was still a good book. One thing that did irritate me was that the author pretty much gave driving directions to every place Stephanie went in the book. That might make it more real to the people from Trenton, NJ, but to me it was just distracting fluff for me to skip over.

The characters were what really made the book. You have to like Stephanie. She comes across as just an average woman who's gotten in over her head, but she doesn't let that stop her. The dirtbag characters were really dirtbags. Some of the stuff they did made me want to go take a shower. And Joe was a hottie. What girl doesn't like a good guy with a little bit of bad in him? Or is he a bad boy with a little bit of good in him? Either way, he's sexy. I hope he shows up in other books.

So if you like your mysteries with some humor and you don't mind some blood along the way, you'll like this one.
(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Feb 19, 2013 Heather K (dentist in my spare time) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paperback-or-hardcover, crime, everyone-else-loves-it, not-for-me, did-not-finish

Okay, it's official. This book did not work for me.

Let's start with a confession: I am a Jersey girl. That's right, born and bred. Jersey girl from birth to present with a brief Boston interlude for college.

So, because of that, I really thought I would click with this series. I love anything funny, I can relate to all things Jersey, and most of my GR friends are crazy about this book. A sure thing, right?? Alas, this book just didn't do it for me. I found it to be really dated, not particularl...more

7 likes · like · see review

Jan 27, 2012 Tilly Slaton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews-completed

One for the Money is a wonderful book! (REPOSTING DUE TO MOVIE RELEASE!)

I have always read psycho-thrillers, romance, paranormal romance etc. My momma told me, “You have to read Evanovich! You’ll laugh so hard!”

So, I did.

Stephanie Plum is a super cool character. She’s like any regular woman in the world, a fun personality shaped with a loving family, embarrassing moments and some bitter days. She lost her job. Her car was repossessed. She was forced to resort to accepting a job with her cousin V...more

14 likes · like · see review

Jul 17, 2009 Farah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: novel, fiction, reviewed

Sebelum gue membuat review ini, gue membaca review lain tentang buku ini.
Kebanyakan orang yang nulis, bilang kalo buku ini bahasanya lucu. (lucu as if funny, hilarious)
Dan banyak orang yang suka.

Kalo buat gue, membaca buku ini, seperti menonton film Power Ranger jaman sekarang. (karena gue selalu berpendapat, bahwa the true Power Ranger adalah Power Ranger angkatan pertama yang pernah ditayangkan. Yang ga pake embel-embel Super Power-lah atau Robo Robo-lah. Pokoknya angkatan pertama yang masih a...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 27, 2012 Gavin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: pulp-detective-spy

So with the release of the movie, I thought some words were in order. First off, this book is nothing more than pure, uncut sugar for the brain. The writing is, meh. The characters are, meh; except for grandma, she's funny as shit. But the overall story really did nothing for me. For some reason I just couldn't get excited about a female bailbondsman trying to make ends meet. And her exploits never really engaged me. (I know that was a very poor, and probbaly inadequate summary, O well.) Sadly,...more

18 likes · like · see review

Feb 26, 2012 Indah Threez Lestari rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in-english, movie-tv-tie-in

154 - 2012

Baca ulang, setelah hari sabtu kemarin ke bioskop untuk menonton versi filmnya:

Dua tahun yang lalu aku pernah membaca versi terjemahannya yang terbitan Serambi. Waktu itu kurating 3 dari 5 bintang, karena meskipun ceritanya menarik, terjemahannya bikin bete. Akibatnya, aku belum pernah baca novel lanjutannya dari seri Stephanie Plum ini.

Membaca review Peter Travers di Rolling Stone, yang merating filmnya 1,5 dari 4 bintang, konon Janet Evanovich sendiri hampir menangis waktu nonton f...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 16, 2012 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sometimes you just need to read a book like this. With mediocre writing and a plot as see-through as Grandma's underpants, it will take your mind off life's more substantial material for a while.

23 likes · like · see review

Aug 06, 2008 Miss Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008, she-is-tstl, chick-lit

So I've finally met Stephanie Plum. I wasn't disappointed. I read this in a matter of hours, and laughed most of the time. She gets fired from her job, so she goes to work for her cousin Vinnie as a bounty hunter. Needing big cash, she takes the case of Joe Morelli, a cop wanted for murder. She stumbles her way through everything from stealing cars, shooting guns, catching Failure to Appears. I like her because she suffers the indignities of the everyday woman--bad hair, etc.

10 likes · like · see review

May 10, 2013 Tea Jovanović rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: editor-of-serbian-edition

bozanstven humor, zabavno... autorka je divna koliko i njena junakinja Stefani Plam... imala sam to zadovoljstvo da je upoznam na sajmu u Njujorku davne 2002. I divna je koliko i njene knjige... To mi je jedno od najdražih iskustava :)

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 11, 2009 Ginny rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very fast read, just a couple of hours on a Sunday!!

I enjoyed it, but it was a bit fluffy.

5 likes · like · see review

Feb 19, 2012 Meg ♥ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, favs, z-2011-reads, books-2-movies, disappointing

The movie came out a few weeks ago, and I haven't seen it yet. I figured this would be a good time to write a review about this book, since I read it a few months ago, but never got a chance to review it.

This book was highly recommended to me, because although I really do read a bit of everything I find chick-lit to be the most entertaining. When I'm in a bad mood I can sit down with a chick-lit about some crazy chick with usually unrealistic problems that makes my life seem boring and laugh my...more The movie came out a few weeks ago, and I haven't seen it yet. I figured this would be a good time to write a review about this book, since I read it a few months ago, but never got a chance to review it.

This book was highly recommended to me, because although I really do read a bit of everything I find chick-lit to be the most entertaining. When I'm in a bad mood I can sit down with a chick-lit about some crazy chick with usually unrealistic problems that makes my life seem boring and laugh my butt off until my mood perks up. Chick-lit is like chocolate to me in that way.

I know that comedy is subjective, but I didn't laugh reading this book once. I don't get it. That was supposedly this books biggest selling point. Also, I was able to read the whole thing since it was super short, but I thought about quitting this one about 10 times in a very short period. Why? It just wasn't that interesting. Stephanie is a broke girl who decides to become a bounty hunter to make money. The first person she needs to pick up is a guy that she hooked up with years ago. Most of the book seemed really corny to me, and that's saying a lot, considering I normally don't mind that in chick-lits. The plot was pretty boring, predictable and unable to hold my attention.

The characters. They were genuine and felt real, but again didn't interest me at all. The love triangle starts from book one, and now here we are several years, and many books later and apparently that's still her big choice?

Needless to say this is one of the most hyped, critically acclaimed chick-lits I have ever heard of. Everyone who is into cozies always says this is the best. Also, everyone who recommended it said those things like "I'm hooked" or "You will NOT be able to put this one down!"...Me? Not so much.

I'm wondering if I'm missing something here or if the series just improves greatly as the books go on. Right now after reading "One for the Money" I don't think Stephanie, her love triangle, and her strange family are people I want to invest the time in. There are like 18 books so far to this series now I think. I will probably try #2 in the future since everyone highly recommended this series to me, and some have insisted that it get's better.

This book obviously has tons of fans so I recommend if you like chick-lit give it a try and see how you like it. I feel like I'm one of the only women in the world who isn't a fan of this series, but oh well.

I will stick with Sophie Kinsella for my chick-lit fixes from now on.

1.5/5 stars(less)

36 likes · like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Rhoda rated it 5 of 5 stars

http://www.evanovich.com/plum_1jacket...

Watch out, world. Here comes Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter with attitude. In Stephanie's opinion, toxic waste, rabid drivers, armed schizophrenics, and August heat, humidity, and hydrocarbons are all part of the great adventure of living in Jersey.

She's a product of the "burg," a blue-collar pocket of Trenton where houses are attached and narrow, cars are American, window are clean, and (God forbid you should be late) dinner is served at six.

Now Stephani...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 22, 2007 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

From a blog post I wrote in 2005:

Tamyra told me I should read Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series because Stephanie and I have something in common - things just "seem" to happen to us. Maria and I were talking about books and she said her Dad was reading them and sent her the first four which she loaned me. She also said they made her laugh out loud. Then, I was talking to Norene and she said she and her daughters have read all of the books.

OK, so I'm coming late to the party. But, I'm very...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 23, 2008 Rebecca rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Rebecca by: Cathy

Shelves: mystery

This book had vivid characters and was well paced, but I demoted it from 3 to 2 stars due to profanity. I loved reading about Stephanie's spandex biker shorts, oversized T-shirts, and hair which was blown dry stiff due to gel and hair spray. Her high-top Reebok sneakers really took me back to my elementary school days of fashion. Fun memories. She really could have used a cell phone and voice mail, rather than a landline, car phone and a clunky answering machine. Thank goodness for our current,...more

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 10, 2012 Brittany (currently surrounded by text books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fun-and-fluff

This book is fun and funny, and I can see why people like it. It's definitely an easy read and Stephanie Plum lacks all forms of self awareness, but that's part of what makes her so endearing. That being said, the plot is very predictable, but you get some great one-liners from inside Stephanie's head. I'll read the next one or two, but I have no plans to make it though the exhaustive collection that are the Stephanie Plum novels (what are we at... like 19?). If you like Georgia Nicolson, I thin...more

1 like · like · see review

May 14, 2013 Brie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, the-giggs

This book was deeply entertaining, regardless of the fact that some of the content might be a bit...unseemly for the more conservative reader.

If you have a bit of a disturbed sense of humor you'll snicker over the familial blackmail (because who wouldn't try to cash in on the knowledge of a perverted cousin and his weirder fancies).

It was more violent than I had been expecting from having come to think of Janet Evanovich as a "fluff" writer. It was realistic and not very gratuitous but deeply u...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 24, 2008 Cheryl Callahan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Chagrined Confessions of a Sheltered Good Girl:
Ummm, I read it. I can't believe I read it. I can't believe I liked it. O.o

It's not the writing; she's a good writer (obviously). I'm just not sure ...how much time I should be spending in the darker side of the Jersey slums, that's all I'm saying.

*********
I'll admit, I only read one chapter, but that chapter made me want to scrub my brain out with Clorox, so I'm thinking I'll be sending this one back. Stephanie Plum: Not For Everyone.

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 31, 2012 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

There have been so many ads for that darn movie, I started to feel like I needed to reread some of the books -- the early ones, back when they were still good. I think this one is interesting because JE hadn't really hit her signature tone yet. My mother's theory is that she intended to write a gritty, hard boiled bounty hunter mystery, but everyone complimented her on the funny parts so that's what she amped up in the sequels.

I enjoyed the early ones a lot. They are perfect summer-time pool bo...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 21, 2010 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, fbi-cia-or-policeman, part-of-a-series, comedy-included, janet-evanovich

I had been told that this was a really fun series. They were not wrong. I laughed my way through this book in only about 30 hrs. It was just too funny to put down.

Stephanie Plum just lost her job and is now hawking stuff from her apartment to get money to live on. She hears that her cousin is looking for someone to do filing at his bail bonds business. But when she gets there she is too late to get the job. But he does have another job that will make her money fast. She becomes a Recovery Agent...more

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Mar 27, 2009 Jayne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Learned? This is not a book that teaches. Well, I guess I didn't know that a "bounty hunter" picks up FTA's-"failed to appear" people out on bail who missed a court date. But this mystery series is smart, snappy, and FUN. "The Burg" in Trenton, New Jersey, seems a lot like my city, Buffalo, in enough ways to make the books even more amusing. Actually, Stephanie's mother is everyone's mother, etc. in enough ways to make us all enjoy turning these pages. Very economically written - no wasted words...more

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May 04, 2013 Paige rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, 2013-books

I really have my mom to thank for getting me to listen to ONE FOR THE MONEY as an audio book. I went to see the movie with her when it came out and since I’ve recently gotten into audio books, she suggested I try the Stephanie Plum series. I use to hear her burst out in laughter while reading these.

I have to say, I really enjoyed the book, often bursting into laughter myself and the narrator was exceptional. I’m looking forward to listening to the others in the series now.

Stephanie Plum needs...more

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May 01, 2012 Kajal Nehra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: funny-as-hell, series

"...he made the mistake of saying "fuck God," and then the car blew up."

Haha! One For the Money just got better and better as its progressed. Initially I was just waiting for this to end because I thought its one of those just-another-novels, but I suddenly started liking it a lot. Don't know at what point that started but it did! From 'kinda-3-stars' at the beginning I went to 4.5 stars as the book approached its ending. On an average I'm giving it 4-stars at a minimum.

If you don't mind I'd li...more "...he made the mistake of saying "fuck God," and then the car blew up."

Haha! One For the Money just got better and better as its progressed. Initially I was just waiting for this to end because I thought its one of those just-another-novels, but I suddenly started liking it a lot. Don't know at what point that started but it did! From 'kinda-3-stars' at the beginning I went to 4.5 stars as the book approached its ending. On an average I'm giving it 4-stars at a minimum.

If you don't mind I'd like to point out a few loopholes, or say what I found to be drawbacks at the very least. Stephanie is just like any of us girls (although 30 years old), used to work at a lingerie store to make a living. (I seriously didn't get this. Did she BUY lingerie or SELL lingerie?) So obviously she knew nothing about being a bounty hunter. Agreed. None of us do, right? Even if a situation of that sort jumps up at us today, we'd most likely be clueless. BUT, yes but, she saw Joe Morelli more than 4 or 5 times in all that time duration and this lady Stephanie Plum had assigned herself to catch this very man! Despite of all this shit EACH AND EVERY EFFING TIME SHE JUST LET HIM WALK AWAY! And the very next minute she's up and looking for leads on the same guy! At that point I was - what the hell!?I seriously like her - trust me, I do - but I simply failed to understand that why would she spend that time (whenever she saw him) gossiping or chit-chatting away (even though she has all the required equipment) and the next moment she's scouring the streets looking for him. I still like the fact that she acknowledged this very mistake later in the book to her friend Eddie. So, no more qualms there. ;)

To tell you truth it was 1:30 in the morning and I've got all the lights off and I'm reading this book and I'm freaked out ! Yup I was actually quite scared or Ramirez et al. and trying to hide beneath my blanket. :P Then about an hour later when I have to the bathroom to pee and like I already said I was freaked out! :D True story.

I found it really funny how she kept handing out her 'newly-made' business cards to each and every person she met. It was almost comical. Haha. Plus Grandma Mazur! She was one sure comical figure. Loved that old lady. :D

Soon after the car explosion this picture cam to my mind. Yeah its Mona Lisa only. Get it? Get it? No eyebrows guys! Get it now? :P Sorry its lame, still its a true story! ;)

Amazing book. I think I'll be starting off with the second installment soon. :P You guys might as well check out this series too!

P.S. Arushi, guess what? I loved it! Now you gotta do some belly dancing for me! :D(less)

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♪ YA Obsessed ♫: Food Game	33	14	May 18, 2013 09:07am
How many books can an author do without the character becoming stale?	23	226	Apr 16, 2013 03:02pm
Romance Lovers fo...: One for the Money Stephanie Plum #1 by Janet Evanovich (Moved to the month of May, 2013)	20	34	Apr 15, 2013 01:32pm
What is your favourite book in the Stephanie Plum Series?	42	222	Apr 15, 2013 08:07am
Shut Up & Read: One For the Money by Janet Evanovich	45	35	Apr 12, 2013 02:38pm
Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum?	231	1061	Mar 09, 2013 02:29pm
Joe Morelli	24	194	Dec 18, 2012 11:55am

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About Janet Evanovich

Janet Evanovich is the #1 bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and graphic novels, Wicked Appetite (the first book in the Lizzy and Diesel series,) and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.

Also published books under the name Steffie Hall.

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“I like the way you've let your hair go curly," he finally said. "Suits your personality. Lots of energy, not much control, sexy as hell,"
Joe Morelli to Stephanie Plum” — 241 people liked it

“I'm telling you, it's fu**ing hard to be classy” — 213 people liked it

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