One for the Money

by Janet Evanovich, Lorelei King (Narrator)

Meet 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, windows are clean, and (God forbid you should be late) dinner is served at six.

Out of work and out of money, Stephanie blackmails her bail-bondsman cousin Vinnie into giving her a try as an apprehension agent. Stephanie knows zilch about the job requirements, but she figures her new pal, el-primo bounty hunter Ranger, can teach her what it takes to catch a crook. Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. Morelli’s the inamorato who charmed Stephanie out of her virginity at age sixteen. There’s still powerful chemistry between them, so the chase should be interesting…and could also be extremely dangerous.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook

Audiobook

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Janet 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.

Reviews

[Victoria Koehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy listen and fun to guess who done it!

@christy you always know what books to tell me to read.

[Jennifer Glugosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It’s a an enjoyable story with likable characters. Easy paced.

[Marisa Morales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the 3hr audiobook in one day and I felt like I was watching a telenovela. I have a better name for this book and it has to deal with Ramirez…. Overall not a bad read.

[Kat Garcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stephanie Plum, newly unemployed and broke, blackmails her cousin Vinnie into giving her a job as a bounty hunter, despite having no experience. Her first big case is to bring in Joe Morelli, a former cop accused of murder, and coincidentally a man she once had a fling with as a teenager. Tracking him down proves difficult, and Stephanie finds herself in dangerous situations, especially when she crosses paths with Jimmy Alpha, a boxing promoter who is secretly connected to the murder. With help from the mysterious and skilled bounty hunter Ranger, Stephanie learns the ropes while barely surviving a series of close calls. She eventually discovers that Alpha, not Morelli, is the true killer and exposes him after a violent confrontation. By the end, Stephanie collects her bond money, tentatively makes peace with Morelli, and sets the tone for the comedic, action-packed chaos that defines the rest of the series.

This book was written in 1994 and it shows. It was honestly just boring in my opinion. I probably won't continue the series.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started the series because in reviews of the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano, people mentioned that if you the Stephanie Plum series, you would enjoy Finlay Donovan. I thought the reverse had to be true, and I was right! I enjoyed the humorous main character and how layered the other characters were.

I listened to the audiobook version and was confused when I saw it was only 3 hours. I just went with it though and enjoyed the unfurling mystery. I was really disappointed when I finished and realized this was a different version than the original! I feel like they should have made it more clear. I’m going back to read the original and am excited to get a deeper look into the story.

[Monica Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars - I feel a bit odd rating the abridged version of this book. I’m sure the full novel would have had better pacing, unfortunately the abridged version just kept throwing information and plot at me – it was too much, too quickly. While the storyline was funny and witty at times, it also then immediately turns around is unexpectedly dark and gruesome; more sexual violence than I had been anticipating. I will definitely check out the movie with Katherine Heigl.

[minz · Rating 4 out of 5]

picked this one up as a road trip listen. It did not disappoint. got a pretty good LOL several times. Not certain how I found it but normally when planning for a long trip I like to step outside my comfort zone so if my norms are not clicking I can jump around some and get a reset. Actually found that I would set my paper books aside and plug into this one a little in a couple of evenings just to see what happened next.

[Chajua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly one of the best books I've read/listened to all year. Kept me guessing and enjoyed every part of the story. Hints of romance but no smut need to keep the story moving. Short and left me wanting to read/listen to more by this author. There is SA and some descriptive violence in this book but based on story line it made sense and was not over narrated.

[BrookeC]

No star rating because I only listened to the abridged audio version…unknowingly til 50% of the way in. However I’m glad because this 4hr sample let me know that I do not want to listen to the whole book or the rest of the series.
As great as the narration was and aside from the 90s nostalgia…the writing was not for me.

[Jill Auderer]

I'm not rating this. I didn't realize I had the abridged (3 hour audio) version until I was nearly finished! Neither library I use has an audiobook of the full book, nor do the have the next couple books in this series. Maybe someday when I have more free time, I will read the physical book.

[Lorna Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author was recommended to me by a friend, and I’m so glad I gave her a try! It was a refreshing change of pace. While the creepy character wasn’t exactly my favorite part, the plot kept me hooked—and I found myself laughing out loud more than once! The family dynamics were very realistic!

[Sarah Elizsabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was the abridged version until reading Goodreads comments. It was extremely fast paced and felt like it was a lot happening. Curious as to what the full story reads.

[Adam Caudill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, short, book to listen too. I liked the audio book narrator, and Stephanie’s misadventures as a borderline incompetent but desperate bounty hunter.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was funny and entertaining. Newbie bounty hunter helps her bounty clear his name by solving the mystery of who done it.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a funny thriller mystery? Yes, sign me up. And so I'm launched into this series that I dipped into the middle. Easy read and plenty of chuckles.

[Carrie Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl is hilarious. This definitely reminded me of like a good NCIS episode. I could see picture each character.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. Definitely crazy shenanigans that are almost unbelievable, but I love the Jersey girl.

[Sheri Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a 'Car Book' that we listened to while driving. It was short and kept us entertained without being too complicated.

[Kennady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found out I listened to an abridged version, which kinda sucks, but still very much enjoyed it.

[Mary Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, fun audiobook.

[Cordiaanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of what happened was filler, lots of loose ends/plot holes, throwaway ending.... Stephanie & Morelli's chemistry was the highlight for me. Not interested in the rest of the series.

[Tess Parent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy,quick and fun read! I’ve read some of the later books in the series and wanted to go back to the beginning.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the shortened version.

[Emily Denson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Very entertaining!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For an abridged version this was a great book. Had no idea it was abridged until I read some reviews and was almost done listening.

*I listened to this book as part of the 50 states challenge—New Jersey*