Twelve Sharp (Stephanie Plum, No. 12) (Stephanie Plum Novels) Mass Market Paperback – June 19, 2007

I only just started reading the Plum novels, and not in order, but of the six or so I've finished, this is by far the best one. Instead of a cardboard horny gang member with an attitude, Ranger turns out to be a real - and really unusual - person. He's still got his hard-ass Special Forces persona, but we see way under it. We find out he gave his child up for adoption so she would have a better life than he could give her, that Julie resembles him in important ways, that even he can be overwhelmed by circumstances, and that he loves Stephanie (OK, so he says "emotionally involved"...but in the context of that paragraph, that's what he means). Yes, he keeps crawling into bed with her, but mostly because he needs someone to hold for comfort. I thought the whole book was genuinely suspenseful, which in turn made the slapstick interludes even funnier.And wow, is the slapstick funny! Some of the other books try too hard - there's too much, it's too silly, and the narrative doesn't hold together. This one, though, avoids those problems - the humor builds around Sally's band as the tension builds in the increasingly desperate search for the little girl. The dinner scene with Steph trying to get her Dad out of the house before the band starts rehearsing - particularly Grandma Mazur imitating Mick Jagger - is priceless. (I just love Grandma Mazur, and it was interesting to see her contrasted with Ranger's Cuban grandmother - presumably the one who raised him through high school).We get less character development with Joe, but still some: Morelli doesn't do his usual Maalox routine when Steph decides to meet Scrog - he's quietly supportive and asks her what she wants him to do. Stephanie's scenes with little Julie are very warm and sweet, despite the violence around them. I do wish Stephanie had been developed a little more, though - she does comfort Ranger in a couple spots, and finally tells Morelli she loves him, but given what Evanovich managed to do with Ranger's character, it could be better. The one problem with the book (in fact all of them) is that Stephanie never seems to learn anything - Evanovich develops male characters better than female ones. Can't be earnest or serious - that would kill the fun - but there ought to be something.I do disagree with the voices claiming that Steph should just make up her mind between Morelli and Ranger - it is entirely possible to love more than one person at a time, particularly when both of them have wonderful qualities mixed with serious drawbacks. Morelli is dependable, responsible, and family oriented, but he's usually trying to get Steph to be quieter and more civilized. She'd hate that. Ranger, on the other hand, notices and tries to help develop her talent, but he apparently has some awful secret in his past that makes him unable to promise her anything more than sex. It's a good setup for a lot more story, and I'll be disappointed if Evanovich eventually wraps this up with some trite, Hallmark card-style solution. A three-cornered outcome of some sort would be much more interesting, particularly since Ranger and Morelli have become, well, not close friends, but complementary.Anyway, still not Dorothy Sayers (if you're not familiar with her Lord Peter Wimsey crime novels, you're missing out), but hilarious, suspenseful, and worth a repeat reading.

This book felt more tense than others in the series. A little girl is kidnapped, and Stephanie Plum plays a major role in trying to rescue her. This puts her in serious danger. Both Ranger, the ace bounty hunter, and Joe Morelli ( her cop boyfriend) are trying to protect her, but it’s not easy. The murderous kidnapper is clever and totally insane.And as the tension mounts, all the usual fun goes on. Bounty hunter Stephanie goes after bail jumpers with ludicrous results. The bail bond office hires a pervert to do the filing, and he does a great job. Stephanie’s grandma joins a rock and roll band. Characters we love reappear and add to the fun.It’s pure entertainment — as always.

If there is one thing you can count on with the Stephanie Plum series, it is that you are going to have a laugh until your stomach hurts, good time.I adore this series. It has it all, tension filled romance, yummy and hilarious side characters that are every bit as hilarious as they are swoon worthy, action, humor, and most of all, it is just freaking fun and one I turn to time and time again.While this twelve installment is just as funny, just as good as all the others, it is also a little more serious than what we are use to but in a really good way. The stakes are higher, lives are on the line and this time, those lives, are people we know and love.I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful this was and how it gave me exactly what I needed (a reading pick me up) just when I needed it.Between crazy Grandma M and Lula who I adore (oh my gosh the rock n' roll band and thongs! Seriously enough said, just read it already!) , and the sexy Ranger and Morelli, this series really does deliver on all counts of fun.If you haven't tried this series yet and need a lighter but still mystery filled, action packed, humor ridden, heart pounding good time, try this series. I don't think you will be disappointed, at. All.

Each book is so good, can't wait to get the next one. Love all the details on Stephanie Plum. She is a case in herself.

I wasn’t sure this book was going to stack up to the previous stories in the Stephanie Plum world. After all, it started off making me wonder how we had jumped from Stephanie working for Range Man in Eleven to being back at the bond office at the beginning of this book with no explanation or mention of why the change occurred. At least now I understand why the author sprinkles explanations through many of her works when I didn’t see the need for it. I’m guessing that I must have missed a short story along the way.That was my biggest complaint about this book and, in the overall scheme of things, wasn’t a big deal at all (I just really liked the idea of Stephanie working for Ranger and would’ve liked to see a reason for why that changed). The storyline of this book was much more focused on the cohesive thread of Ranger’s missing daughter and the unraveling of his identity and it was an intriguing premise. All the normal tension from the Ranger/Stephanie/Morelli triangle are still present, along with Ms. Evanovich’s trademark humor, and it definitely made this another hit in the Trenton universe. Fans of the Stephanie Plum novels won’t be disappointed and those who are new to this author/ongoing drama can read and enjoy the book without being completely lost.

I found Stephanie Plum by accident. Had seen and heard about the books but never read any…and then I did! Well I am hooked on the Plum escapades. There is a definite formula to the books , one knows she will be in grave danger in each book and still manage to escape. But the characters are fun and bizarre and well developed. Can’t get enough of Stephanie and her gang.

I love Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels. They are totally hilarious & laugh out loud funny. They can be a bit cheesy & predictable at times but they are totally worth it. My friend gave me the 1st one & now Ive got the whole collection & have even managed to get my other half hooked. There is something for everyone - adventure, action, romance, comedy & sex. Only thing I would recommend is that you start with the 1st book & work your way through the series to get the whole picture of who the different characters are although there is a brief introduction at the start. Would love to see it brought to the cinema.

Toute la série des Janet Evanovich est à lire de toute urgence. Un régal et de grands fous rires, mêlés de suspens et d'une touche de romantisme. Tout ce qu'il faut pour passer un bon moment.

Hilarious as usual. Never tire of her (and all the characters) antics.

"Twelve Sharp" was a great read to me! Evanovich had me hooting with laughter yet again:There is the usual Lula & Steph embarrassments, plus a bit of Joyce Barnhardt mixed with Steph's attempts to stay mentally faithful to Morelli (too bad that the physical part of that doesn't really work out ;-)), but it seems to me that Evanovich got down to the nitty gritty with this one: Ranger is in serious trouble and even shows human traits: he asks Steph for help instead of always helping Steph and Lula out of embarrassing situations. No Valerie and Albert Kloughn in this one, but lots of fast-paced action and fun ( e.g. Stiva's has new owners - a gay couple in the Burg, imagine that!).I like the triangle Steph-Morelli-Ranger and since it has taken an astonishingly new turn, I didn't feel bored at all.Result: "Twelve Sharp" is among the best ones in this series. All you Stephanie-Plum-fans out there, make sure you get yourselves a copy ASAP!