Once in awhile we need to break from serious fiction--and usually Evanovich is an excellent break. Her Stephanie Plum novels are full of odd, eccentric characters and absurd situations.

This time, I had to work a bit too hard to suspend my disbelief. In the midst of the usual zoo of comical characters comes Diesel (who I've met before in her novels) who works for some unknown group tracking down evildoers known as unmentionables-- but who he mentions. These folks are sort of minor league X-men (without the costumes) and Diesel shares their Fonzi like powers. I use Fonzi as an example because of the way that Fonzi could turn on the lights or the jukebox from the old Happy Days television series. Diesel can open unlock doors, start cars with keys (with his finger apparently) etc. And the bad guy has some sort of burning touch, breaks necks, and can disappear into thin air. In other words, the author stepped through the twilight zone to reach the nutjob zone.

That doesn't mean that this novel isn't fun. Ex-hooker, Lulu, is a delight as always, pulling her gun and shooting with unexpected results. Ranger, tough exterior, reminds us frequently that he really cares for Stephanie. A love-hate relationship between Morelli and his brother adds another dose of humor.

However, all humor + an odd Science Fictionish plot does not make a great book. In fact, the title is pretty misleading.. This book isn't Plum Spooky-- it's pretty much just plum silly. That's okay if that's what you are looking for-- and this time it SORT OF was for me.. but a little more meat and a little less supernatural would have been much more pleasureable to me. I'm a fan because of the wacky stuff-- but this time she goes a bit over-the-top with the oddball dude who can change traffic lights so he always makes good time...

Finally--I need to end with something a bit more positive-- Evanovich gives us a quality character in Stephanie Plum--when it comes to sexual relationships she is as conflicted as Peter Parker-- able to offer relationship advice to others-- but unable to focus in on one quality relationship. She doesn't know whether she really loves Morelli or Ranger and has a lust (though it remains controlled) for Diesel.