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One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, #1)

Janet Evanovich

Start date: August 1, 2023

Finish date: August 31, 2023

Discussion: Series of the Month 2023

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What Members Thought

Jun 30, 2011 Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, movie-seen, anthony-award, edgar-awards, reviewed, part-of-series, 4-star, mystery-read-and-solved, a-own-book-form, agatha-award

I'm not sure why I waited so long to try this book. I think the cover threw me off. Strange, I know, and you should 'never judge a book it's cover,' I know, but there was something about it that put me off. I'm glad I took the whim and dug it out the To Be Read pile, though, as Stephanie Plum now has a new delighted fan who is eager to read the rest of her stories.

The plot is a great one, where Stephanie is as hard on her luck as she can get, having to work for a slimy relative to bring in the m I'm not sure why I waited so long to try this book. I think the cover threw me off. Strange, I know, and you should 'never judge a book it's cover,' I know, but there was something about it that put me off. I'm glad I took the whim and dug it out the To Be Read pile, though, as Stephanie Plum now has a new delighted fan who is eager to read the rest of her stories.

The plot is a great one, where Stephanie is as hard on her luck as she can get, having to work for a slimy relative to bring in the man who did her wrong in the past. Completely unprepared and wracked with hilarious 'accident's, the book is as amusing as it is intriguing. Small suspenseful scenes pop up too, especially with the deranged nut Ramirez. That's a sideplot not advertised that's almost as interesting as the main story.

Character wise, Stephanie is almost perfect. She's an ordinary gal scraping the bottom of the barrel, not stunningly beautiful but cute in an ordinary way, with a crappy car, intelligence and good sense of humor. Nothing is over the top with her, which is a good change for those tired of following the lives of unrealistic heroines. Her family was especially funny, especially the dialogue between dad and going-senile Grandma. Morelli is a little more stereotypical, but of course still a man you love to hate and then love again, with a strange scarred history toward the heroine not usually done in these sorts of stories. A refreshing change, there. Together all work to form a cute, exciting grouping. Ranger wasn't in much and I hated to see so little of him after he saved Stephanie - again - but I've seen hints he's shown more in coming books.

Charged with a fast pace and tense atmosphere at the right moments, never weighed down by too cutesy antics but still rich with humor and warmth, this is a book I'd recommend to many. It did have flaws, though. Stephanie was right, maybe, in her end turnaround with Morelli and his 'problem', but it disappointed me a bit too. I know the villain had more at stake in the story than was let on, but I was still surprised to see his actual role, so that was a nice surprise as well.

Violence is graphically described but not shown, so the squeamish should be fine reading through this one, while mystery hounds can rejoice, romance fans eagerly reading on. It's another book with a lot going on - Stephanie coming to terms with her loss of work, then finding another job that takes learning, fighting off the bizarre Ramirez, coming to terms with her relationship over Morelli, and the slightly abnormal family interference.

Stephanie is definitely an unlikely heroine - as Morelli is a bit of an unlikely hero - and Ranger is an unlikely helpful assistant - but it all comes together in the end to work out in a pleasing, inventive manner. I highly recommend this novel to readers of nearly any genre, for it's guaranteed to bring both chuckles and warmth. ...more

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Feb 22, 2021 Jamie rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-thriller, chick-lit, humor

This was a fairly fun read. Overall light and lots of comedic moments that literally made me laugh. But one guy, Ramirez, who had me cringing and squirming (not in a good way!). He made my skill crawl in all the wrong ways. Stephanie... woman is strange and quirky but I liked her okay. Doesn't often do the smart thing but she knows what she wants but is naive in law. Ranger I wanted to get to know better but he seems cool so far. Morelli amused me but I can see the womanizer side of him in his g ...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Jade aka MrsTosh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, audiobooks, fiction, contemp-romance, thriller, wheelathon-team

Brilliant had me laughing out loud so often I kept getting funny looks. Starting number two right now!

I am not usually into Mystery or crime books but the humour and on/off romance with Morelli and Ranger which I can see coming in the distance was enough to keep me hooked!

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 29, 2012 Valerie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries, humor, series, beach-reads, first-in-series

I started reading this yesterday and finished it today... I saw the movie last weekend and really liked it so figured I'd try the book out.... OMG!!! Was great!!! Love the main characters (Stephanie, her family, Morelli)... And grandma Mazur is hilarious!! From shooting the chicken to sporting her spandex bike shorts, she'll have you laughing out loud!

Of course some details from the book were moved around in various parts of the movie, but for the most part the movie kept true to the book. I thi ...more

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Aug 22, 2015 Kate S rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, crixus

I am pretty sure this was a re-read, but I don't have any thing to support that feeling. I am glad to revisit Stephanie Plum's origins when there was still a freshness to her story. ...more

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