Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum, No. 8) (Stephanie Plum Novels)
by Janet Evanovich
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Book Summary Information
Author: Janet EvanovichEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-06-16
ISBN: 0312983867
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780312983864
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum, No. 8) (Stephanie Plum Novels)
Book Review: Eight is Not Enough
Summary: 3 Stars
I had been told about Janet Evanovich over a year ago and was encouraged to read her Stephanie Plum series. Life got in the way and when I did have time to read, I was playing catch up with my favorite authors - I had no time to start a book by a new author. I continued to collect the series whenever I'd find one of the books at a library sale or yard sale. Recently, I decided they were taking up too much space on my overcrowded bookshelf, so I plunged into the series with ONE FOR THE MONEY. That was about 3 weeks ago, and I've loved the books so much, I've read them back to back. I finished HARD EIGHT last night and have to say this is the first one that was a disappointment.
In HARD EIGHT, Stephanie Plum, bumbling Bounty Hunter with more luck than skill, is on the hunt for a couple of FTA's (people who Failed to Appear for their court appearance and are now in violation of their bond). The cases in HARD EIGHT are not memorable and soon forgotten. Usually there is a FTA that gives Stephanie a hard time and is very fun to read about - not so with this book. The main story focuses around Stephanie agreeing to look for her parent's neighbor's daughter and granddaughter (Evelyn and Annie) who may be in danger from the ex-husband (Paul). Stephanie realizes it's not just a case of child custody when she comes up against Eddie Abruzzi, their landlord and an all around nasty guy who seems more like a mobster than a businessman. Eddie decides to torment Stephanie and begins his crusade to get her to cave in and leave the case. The bag of snakes left at her door and the large tarantulas left in her car don't do the trick, so he has a guy dressed in a bunny suit harassing her. Hmmm... maybe Stephanie shouldn't have told him she liked bunnies.
We've seen in this series that Stephanie has an on-again, off-again romance with Joe Morelli, a local bad boy turned good cop. The reader can almost feel the electrical current flowing between these two. Tossed into the mix is Ranger, a bounty hunter who has taken Stephanie under his wing. Ranger has more mystery than the plot lines. No one knows where he lives, how he gets the expensive cars he drives, or really much about him. In HARD EIGHT, since Stephanie and Morelli are off again and not talking, Ranger seems to be more in the forefront of the romantic race to gain Stephanie's affections. But even this interlude is lacking... I found Ranger to be out of character in this book where Stephanie is concerned.
Character development is one of the things Evanovich does well. The characters of Stephanie, Joe Morelli, and Ranger are so well developed they feel like part of the family. The cast of support characters are also well done and make each of the books feel like you're invited right into the plot. Lula, the large black friend of Stephanie is a riot - she's an ex "ho" who tells it like it is, but she's more bark than bite. Vinnie, the owner of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds and uncle to Stephanie, is a sleazy guy but one can't help but smile at his antics. Stephanie's mother and father are interesting, but the best family member has to be Grandma Mazur. Someday I want to be a grandma like that! She's out to have a good time no matter what people think and she always says what's on her mind. She's great! Connie, the office manager at the bail bond office, is the only support character who hasn't been well developed.
Even though this series is light on the mystery portions, it is filled with fun and hilarious scenes. You cannot read one of these books without laughing through at least one part.
Out of the first eight books, this one I liked the least. It's short on plot development and seems to focus more on character interaction. Overall it's forgettable with the exception of Ranger and Morelli still vying for Stephanie's attentions... and even that was a bit lacking in this book!
And what does the title of these books have to do with the stories? I have yet to figure that one out!
Summary of Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum, No. 8) (Stephanie Plum Novels)
Hard Up
Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum has a big problem on her hands: Seven-year-old Annie Soder and her mother, Evelyn, have disappeared. Evelyn's estranged husband, Steven, a shady owner of a seedy bar, is not at all happy. Finding a kidnapped child is not an assignment for a bounty hunter. But Evelyn's grandmother lives next door to Stephanie's parents, so Stephanie follows the trail left by Annie and Evelyn-and finds a lot more than she bargained for.
Hard Risk
Steven Soder is somehow linked with a very scary Eddie Abruzzi. Trenton cop and on-again, off-again fiancé Joe Morelli and Stephanie's mentor and tormentor, Ranger, warn Stephanie about Abruzzi, but it's Abruzzi's eyes and mannerisms that frighten Stephanie most. Stephanie needs Ranger's savvy and expertise, and she's willing to accept his help to find Annie even though it might mean getting too involved with Ranger. Stephanie, Ranger, Lula (who's not going to miss riding with Ranger), and Evelyn's lawyer/Laundromat manager set out to find Annie. The search turns out to be a race among Stephanie's posse, the True Blue Bonds' agent-a Rangerette known as Jeanne Ellen Burrows-and the Abruzzi crew. Plus, there's a killer rabbit on the loose!
Hard Eight
Strap on your helmet and get ready for the ride of your life! Hard Eight. The world of Stephanie Plum has never been wilder.
Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum has a big problem on her hands: Seven-year-old Annie Soder and her mother, Evelyn, have disappeared. Evelyn's estranged husband, Steven, a shady owner of a seedy bar, is not at all happy. Finding a kidnapped child is not an assignment for a bounty hunter. But Evelyn's grandmother lives next door to Stephanie's parents, so Stephanie follows the trail left by Annie and Evelyn-and finds a lot more than she bargained for.
Hard Risk
Steven Soder is somehow linked with a very scary Eddie Abruzzi. Trenton cop and on-again, off-again fiancé Joe Morelli and Stephanie's mentor and tormentor, Ranger, warn Stephanie about Abruzzi, but it's Abruzzi's eyes and mannerisms that frighten Stephanie most. Stephanie needs Ranger's savvy and expertise, and she's willing to accept his help to find Annie even though it might mean getting too involved with Ranger. Stephanie, Ranger, Lula (who's not going to miss riding with Ranger), and Evelyn's lawyer/Laundromat manager set out to find Annie. The search turns out to be a race among Stephanie's posse, the True Blue Bonds' agent-a Rangerette known as Jeanne Ellen Burrows-and the Abruzzi crew. Plus, there's a killer rabbit on the loose!
Hard Eight
Strap on your helmet and get ready for the ride of your life! Hard Eight. The world of Stephanie Plum has never been wilder.
In Hard Eight, Stephanie Plum picks up a case a little nastier than anything the wisecracking bounty hunter's seen before. Evelyn Soder and her young daughter have gone on the run, leaving an angry ex-husband who's planning to collect on a child custody bond that will leave Evelyn's grandmother homeless. Stephanie's first clue that there's more to it than that comes in the form of Eddie Abruzzi, a shady local businessman who warns her to butt out of the case. Stephanie doesn't scare easily, but when Abruzzi's henchmen leave a bag of snakes on her doorknob and tarantulas in her car, she has no choice but to call Ranger, the hunky man of mystery whom she already owes too many favors. Steph knows that Ranger will soon be calling in his marker, but with her ex- fiancé Joe Morelli out of the picture, that should be OK--shouldn't it? In the meantime, she's got other fugitives to catch, aided by the usual band of misfits, plus a bumbling correspondence-school lawyer who's developed the hots for Stephanie's sister, Valerie. And Steph's in for a surprise from her mother, who proves she's not above wielding a dangerous weapon to save her daughter's life.
Author Janet Evanovich has made a bold move in using a soupçon of child jeopardy to pull this series out of the comfortable but formulaic pattern it was threatening to fall into. It's still funny, and yes, some cars are destroyed, but now there's a real edge of darkness under the humor. Fans needn't fear, though: Jersey girl Stephanie is still full of sass and Tastykakes. --Barrie Trinkle
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