My Reading Nook

When I opened the box of books from Mom, this one had a sticky note on it that read “read first”. Well, I don’t know if Mom knows how much I enjoy this author, but she must, too because there are 3 of them in the box. Since I’m a good daughter, I read this one first

Janet Evanovich brings us another saga in the life of Stephanie Plum, erstwhile bail bond enforcement agent who works for her cousin Vinnie in South Jersey. Stephanie has just about seen it all in the way of bizarre behavior — much of it from her own family members.

She’s involved semi-seriously with a cop, one Joe Morelli and is strongly attracted to her sometimes partner, Ranger. Her normal side-kick is a former lady of the night, generously sized African American named Lula.

Stephanie’s case this time involves one Samuel Singh, a man in America by virtue of a visa bond that Vinnie issued on him and that TriBo Tech paid for. He’s been missing for several days and she and Ranger are assigned to find him and return him to his domicile. Since there was a big write up in the newspaper about the visa bond and how it helped deserving immigrants work in America that prominently featured Vinnie, there’s a lot of pressure on Stephanie and Ranger to find Sam and get him back.

Stephanie begins by interviewing the officers of TriBo Tech, three brothers. She doesn’t find out much and requests that she be allowed to interview the people Sam worked with. A few clues are derived from one of the workers and she’s off to find others that Sam associated with.

She tracks down one guy only to have him shot before her very eyes. Then she starts getting flowers and photographs of other people killed. She’s not sure if it ties into Sam Singh, but Ranger and Morelli aren’t convinced and they attempt to guard her.

But Stephanie isn’t all that easy to guard as they find out. The first one ends up with a broken leg, the second with a concussion. Then Stephanie is snatched from Morelli’s back porch and meets the killer in person.

As always, you’re going to laugh throughout book — sometimes until you cry. That’s Ms. Evanovich’s gift to her readers.

To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
Published by St. Martins Press 2003
ISBN:0-312-99146-0