Feature Book: Explosive Eighteen

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

When I opened this book and saw that the opening scene had Stephanie Plum coming back from Hawaii my first thought was ‘Oh, COME ON!’. Seriously? We don’t get to read about the holiday? Ripped off!

I only had to read a little further, however, before little clues about the happenings in Hawaii started to emerge. What is that mysterious tan line? Why are Morelli and Ranger both sporting cuts and bruises? Why won’t Stephanie talk about it? The story does eventually emerge throughout the book and it serves to keep both the other characters and readers guessing. Let’s just say it was a holiday as only Stephanie could manage.

Meanwhile Stephanie has picked up another problem on the plane ride home. Or rather someone gave her one. And before she knows it she has FBI agents (both fake and real), a dangerous Somalian national and a strangely persistent hairdresser all following her around trying to find out what she knows. Problem is Stephanie doesn’t have what they want, and of course they don’t believe her.

Other problems are mounting as well. According to Lula it is because Stephanie has lost her juju—no doubt caused by the holiday she won’t speak of—and it certainly seems that nothing is going right for Stephanie on many fronts. I’m not going to go into any details, because there are too many moments I could accidentally spoil for readers. Suffice it to say she manages some new and inventive ways to totally screw up.

Despite my misgivings after Smokin’ Seventeen, I ended up really enjoying this book. Once Stephanie gets her mojo going she surprises us all by dealing with the myriad of problems in a fairly efficient (if slightly illogical) manner. I’m not going to comment on Stephanie’s amorous encounters except to say that at least she’s doing some introspection and does seem to care about how it affects others. Particular highlights in Explosive Eighteen were Lula’s new catchword (I smiled every time she said it), as well as her new firepower; the particularly impressive way Stephanie took care of her Somalian stalker (and the way everyone reacts to it); the love potion subplot; and even the way the story ended, although a bit cliffhanger-ish, still made me smile. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for Nineteen.

reviewed by Debbie P

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All ARRA members who leave a comment on this review will go in the draw to win the book.

This giveaway is now closed.  The winner is Shiona.

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