Janet Evanovich Book Group discussion

I love the first 10 books and tore through them. But after that, it started going downhill.

Stephanie doesn't evolve. The other characters don't evolve either. It is the same formula over and over over.

I know it is supposed to be lighthearted reading and that is how I am reading it. But come on, there has to be some changes instead of being stuck in the same relationship spots that they are now.

I have been told the remainder of the series doesn't get better.

No matter what she is doing, I love to read the Stephanie Plum series. As in a few other series that I keep up with, Stephanie could marry, have kids, but still keep getting into her familiar problems and finding solutions to the criminal acts, but I don't expect that to happen, and I will keep reading each new book as they come out.

I really wasn't a fan of 16-18. I fely like 19 and onward have been better, but it's all in perspective and how high expectations are I imagine.

You have to understand that Stephanie in not going to evolve. She is not going to choose Ranger or Morelli. If you want to enjoy the books you need to accept these things and enjoy the books for the harebrained, scattered plots they are. I love them, they make me laugh, have a little romance and a little mystery.

My equally favorite series is Hannah Swensen by Joanne Fluke. Similar to the Stephanie Plum series, Hannah has had two boy friends, both of whom have asked her to marry them. In the latest book, Double Fudge Brownie Murder #18, Joanne brings back a former college friend, who also asks Hannah to marry him. At end of the book, Hannah finally reveals her choice. Because it might be a spoiler, the choice will not be revealed. However, it appears that in the future, Hannah 'might' be dealing with other things in her live besides solving a murder.

Becky wrote: "I love the first 10 books and tore through them. But after that, it started going downhill.

Stephanie doesn't evolve. The other characters don't evolve either. It is the same formula over and ove..."

I've only read a few of the books so far & not really in order. Maybe a few in order then skip ahead etc. I think the highest I've read though is 15.

Now I'm not sure if this is going against the rules but if you want a series that even though is somewhat follows the same formula the characters do change & evolve over time it's my favorite series https://multiscreenmotivision.wordpre...

also if you have twitter why not ask her about that @janetevanovich

Thank you for the recommendation!

Becky wrote: "Thank you for the recommendation!"

No problem. Also have you read the Black Dagger Brotherhood?

I love the series though I did have trouble getting through a few, that one about the treasure in Morelli's garage (14 maybe) …thought I was going to actually give up on that one, but powered through it.

I've seen the argument that the characters don't evolve, but I have to wonder how much time is passing between the books. Sure we wait 6 months/ a year for each volume, but how much time has really gone by in Steph's world.

In one of the series I write it's only 3 to 4 weeks passing between volumes. So perhaps it's similar with Steph. Sure with 20+ books a decent chunk of time has gone by, but think about people you know in real life. Sadly most of us don't evolve all that quickly either, though it sure would be nice if we did!

You are correct. Steph time is not real time. In One for the Money she is in her early 30's. She is still in her early 30's in the last book. She hasn't aged at all.

Anita wrote: "You are correct. Steph time is not real time. In One for the Money she is in her early 30's. She is still in her early 30's in the last book. She hasn't aged at all."

or aged much at all... I wonder if 'Stephanie herself' will answer me on twitter... Just askedlet's see how long if at all it takes to answer

Even though nothing has been said explicitly, I've always thought the timeline from book 1 to the current book has been about 3-4 years. She was 30 in the first book and described as early thirties in the last few books.

I think more like less than 2 years. I think Steph's escapades pretty much run back to back with little time in between.

I would think they might be something like month between them... maybe a few..
I wish as Ranger said he life is a sitcom.. I so wish for that!

I gave up on this series. I really loved the first 13 or so books but then they went downhill quick. The final straw for me was how the Hawaii storyline was handled. Evanovich could have written an amazing book about what happened in Hawaii but instead gave us absolutely nothing!

I agree with you about the Hawaii storyline. That could have been handled so much better. I was disappointed too.

Well, I just picked up a used hardback copy of J.E.'s novel "Top Secret Twenty-One."

I, too, had gotten very tired & bogged-down with the same old stuff throughout all the novels as they progressed ever forward in their numbers. It was very appealing and interesting through # 14-ish, give-or-take a # or 2, but.... ugh!?

I have read other's comments here on Goodreads about their belief that even though 20 years has gone by since book # 1, the time period is actually much shorter than that, perhaps only a few years have transpired???

I don't know about that. Yet, as I've read through Rex Stout's mystery novels about Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin written from 1934 to 1975 .... then picked up for a continued period of years by Mr Goldsborough .... that these two characters, as well as those surrounding them in their universe, did not actually age 40, 50, 60 years. Though technology did change in their universe over time, as we can see by Archie's procurement of a PC in place of his exhausted typewriter, they did not really seem to age into doddering senility.

Also, I just recently re-read a Spenser novel written in 1975 by Mr Parker, where he refers to fighting in the Korean War in the early 50's. Since Spenser novels are still being written by Mr Atkins following Parker's untimely death in 2010, though he has most definitely gotten many years older, Spenser is not actually in his late 70's or 80's!!

Thus the reason for me deciding to give Stephanie another chance by reading # 21. Let us hope for the best, and plenty of enjoyment, as long as I keep an open mind about it all. Right?!

What book is the Hawaii story line? I'm not through the whole series. And somewhat jumped around but now that I have at least 3, (don't have 6 yet) 7 and either read or have in hand everything after that.. I can finally read them in order.

I've asked on twitter before but I don't get an answer about a timeline

After reading One for the Money I ran out and bought copies of all the other published paperbacks in the series. Then for several years I bought the hard copies as they were published. No more, now I get my name on my library's wait list. I don't mind Steph's lack of personal growth. I don't care that SP has not chosen between Ranger and Morelli. Enough already with the silly animals. I do mind JE's lack of originality. I wonder how many times Stephane's/Ranger's cars have blown up or her apartment has been fire bombed?

I am looking forward to the third Diesel book. The first one was great, the second not so much.

For a while I was addicted to Janet Evanovich FanFiction. Some of the writing is very good rivaling Janet's. One problem with FF is that authors often seem to tire of a story and just go on and start another one. Some times they just quit writing.

I was fortunate of receive as an ARC. It was good, but it could have been much better.

My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am stuck on the Hawaii one. Tried to get into and couldn't at the time. I am going to try to hit it again and then get myself current. To be honest I blame myself for the slump a bit, as I think I just read them too fast.

I really do love the series. But I need to savor them more. It's just like Netflix for me. Watching "Lost" was a completely different experience for me having to wait for episodes and seasons, opposed to my son and his fiance who watched them boom, boom, boom.

I was happy to hear a couple more have come out and get back in touch with her.

I agree that the character could evolve , perhaps marriage and kids and still have her getting into some of the same mischief.
I also read the Clare/Russ series Julia Spencer Fleming writes. great books and the characters have evolved so much...its possible

DKT wrote: "I am stuck on the Hawaii one. Tried to get into and couldn't at the time. I am going to try to hit it again and then get myself current. To be honest I blame myself for the slump a bit, as I thi..."

Unfortunately, Hawaii was just a blip in the book. I was so disappointed that all we got was a rehash, not the actual events.

Becky wrote: "I love the first 10 books and tore through them. But after that, it started going downhill.

Stephanie doesn't evolve. The other characters don't evolve either. It is the same formula over and ove..."

i didn't care for 17 at all, but I gave 18 a chance and didn't like that either. I decided not to go on with it. i still re-read the earlier ones though, I find most of them very funny up until 16.

I don't particularly mind the characters not evolving, I just think she's run out of ideas and everything is just getting too silly.

Louise wrote: "Becky wrote: "I love the first 10 books and tore through them. But after that, it started going downhill.

Stephanie doesn't evolve. The other characters don't evolve either. It is the same formul..."


am sure I likely said this before, but I've enjoyed most of them (still 2 books behind) except the one about the treasure in Morelli's garage or whatever that one was about. Not sure what it was about that one, but it was the first time one of her books felt like a chore to finish. Still love her work. I need to try that series she does with Lee Goldberg (I think), anyone have any thoughts on those books?

I've enjoyed the Evanovich/Goldberg series so far, yes it is far fetched but it feels fresher than the Stephanie Plum books at the moment and there is no sign of a love triangle (yet!) though there is a love interest. I haven't found these 'cry with laughter' funny like some of the earlier Plum's but they are fast paced and a chilled out read so I'd give them a go and see what you think.

Anita wrote: "I agree with you about the Hawaii storyline. That could have been handled so much better. I was disappointed too."

Oh my goodness yes! This was a huge disappointment!

Laura wrote: "I've enjoyed the Evanovich/Goldberg series so far, yes it is far fetched but it feels fresher than the Stephanie Plum books at the moment and there is no sign of a love triangle (yet!) though there..."


Definitely on my TBR list, which is so insanely large it's not even funny.

You all need to read the Wicked Charms Series and the Fox and O'Hare series. I have as an ARC. It will be published Sept. 15. I will post my review closer to that date. I really like the collaborations.

have read both the Wicked Series and Fox and O'Hare. I enjoy both but of the 2 prefer The fox series.

I can't get passed book #2, lol

I wish they would post a synopsis of Tricky Twenty-Two. I'm eager to see what it is about.

It's funny, I have loved every book about Stephanie and I don't want her to get married and have kids. Donna Andrews writes one about Meg Langslow and she got married and had twins and I haven't enjoyed her series much after that.....

Ellen wrote: "It's funny, I have loved every book about Stephanie and I don't want her to get married and have kids. Donna Andrews writes one about Meg Langslow and she got married and had twins and I haven't e..."

i don't care about Stephanie getting married, but the dithering about between two men I find a bit unlikely - can't really understand why they haven't both dumped her long since. that's why I don't care for the secondary love interest. And the plots are just getting too far fetched.

i also would not have an issue with Stephanie getting married...gives a whole new area to explore. could be fun. some of the plots are a little far fetched. And after being introduced to Deisel i cant help but wonder if Ranger is an unmentionable also...would explain a lot. While i like the character and believe the character cares about stephanie some of the things that happen are just too weird to consider her ending up with him

For me the series ended with Twelve Sharp and "one Ranger is all you'll ever need". I'm tired of JE just copying and pasting her the storylines, making millions and treating the fans pesky children. If I want a good story involving these characters, where they are not cartoon characters of their former selves, I will read a good fanfiction story.
I have read all the books and just pre-ordered 22 because it was on sale for $2.99. I usually get frustrated and or bored with these current books and it takes me weeks to read them.

I'm finally all caught up on the series. I've actually enjoyed the last few quite a bit. Has Steph and company evolved? No, not really, but I'm come to terms that that isn't like to ever happen and I'm okay with that. All I ask is to be mildly entertained and I was.

I love the Hannah Swenson books too. She doesn't evolve a lot either, until this last book. Her choice of husband was "different" --don't want to spoil things.

How did the people of this thread (who have read it) feel about Turbo Twenty-three? I didn't like it as well as I did 19-21, though I liked it better than 22. I read online that Janet has signed another contract for 4 more Plum books. Hardcore Twenty-Four will be the first one under that contract. I wonder if this will be her last contract or if she will keep going after that. She'll be pushing 80 by the time the last book in this contract is fulfilled. Granted Mary Higgins Clark is still churning out books and she's almost 90...

You go, Janet! I say do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. I hope she writes forever.

Anita wrote: "You go, Janet! I say do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. I hope she writes forever."

Me too Anita! I do hope she writes a new Wicked book. I crack up at the monkey and Diesel is just delicious :)

I may be redundant but, I love everything that Janet Evanovich has ever written.

In my opinion, whenever an author does a long series, some books are going to be better than others. However, if you love the characters and the way the writers write their books, you will remain a loyal fan and read everything you can get your hands on, whether good or not-so-good.

Also, what does AGE have to do with anything? Keep doing what you love as long as you can or until you no longer have the heart to do it.

Most very long series do tend to get less good after a certain point. even Agatha Christie didn't write so well in the last years of her life. being a fan doesn't mean you have to like every single thing an author writes.

I agree that the long series doesn't need to lessen in quality. I also agree that in a long running series you are going to have some that just don't reach the high level you have come to expect. Another long running series I love is by Sue Grafton. The latest Kinsey Millhone book Y is for... is due out in August.

Anita wrote: "I agree that the long series doesn't need to lessen in quality. I also agree that in a long running series you are going to have some that just don't reach the high level you have come to expect. A..."
I can't wait for Y to come out myself. I have read every single one so far. I wonder what will happen when the alphabet ends??!

Stephanie wrote: "I just started that one! Im up to C and I like it a lot so far."

It just keeps getting better Stephanie. Kinsey does age and progress some in these novels. Whether she does or doesn't I will still be a fan!

I just hope she doesn't retire after the "Z" book. Gosh, there are only two to go. I'm having withdrawals already. I love this series. I've read them all. I have a autographed copy of T is for Trespass. Sue Grafton is the only author I have ever met, a warm and gracious lady.

Anita wrote: "I just hope she doesn't retire after the "Z" book. Gosh, there are only two to go. I'm having withdrawals already. I love this series. I've read them all. I have a autographed copy of [book:T is fo..."
O wow, that's awesome! I follow her Facebook page. She always answers questions that her followers ask within a day or two. She's finishing Y sooner than she expected.