Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum, No. 13)

This is my 2nd time reading this book. I started the Stephanie Plum series over 15 yrs ago and after seeing how many more books have been added, I decided to start all over again so I can catch myself back up with all of the colorful characters this series has to offer. Off to read number 14.

Never disappointed. Always amusing. These books are easy and entertaining and a good way to just reset it your in a reading funk.

Ranger has an assignment for Stephanie. He wants her to plant a bug on her ex-husband, lawyer Dickie Orr. Stephanie doesn't particularly want to do it, but how can she resist when Ranger asks. When Dickie's involved, however, things generally turn bad and this time is no different. Stephanie and Dickie get into it. The next day he's missing, leaving behind bloodstains in his house. The previous day's events make Stephanie the prime suspect in his disappearance. Stephanie must enlist the help of fellow bounty hunter, Ranger, and her on-again boyfriend and cop, Joe Morelli. As always happens with Stephanie, though, things don't come easy. She's driving a maroon "cop car," and chasing two bond jumpers, one a grave-robber, the other a taxidermist who makes stuffed animals that explode. Will Stephanie be able to find out what happened to Dickie before she gets arrested? Lean Mean Thirteen continues the tried and true formula that has made the Stephanie Plum novels so popular and so much fun to read. One of the things that I love about Ms. Evanovich's books is the characters -- they are all larger-than-life and all a hoot. Particularly fun for me is Lula and Grandma Mazur. In this book, Joyce Barnhardt, Stephanie's arch-rival, makes an appearance and provides some laughs. Stephanie's continued attraction to both Ranger and Morelli is always fun to watch. Lean Mean Thirteen had me in stitches and wondering "Where does Janet Evanovich come up with these ideas?" Well, as long as she continues to do so, I'll be happy. Lean Mean Thirteen is a definite recommended read, and re-read, for me. Amelia Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I read this book out of order. I started getting these as books-on-tape from the library when I had a long commute to work years ago. After about the first four, it became hit-or-miss as to when I could find any particular number of the series, so I somehow skipped over this one in the shuffle. But in these chaotic times, any relief from the serious things going on is welcome, and you can always rely on Janet Evanovich and her characters, Stephanie Plum, Lula, Joe Morelli, and Ranger to lighten the mood, so I figured I couldn’t go wrong with them, even if it turned out I had listened to this book earlier. It turned out I hadn’t already read this one after all. Plus, it is set several years ago, back when the world was something like normal. (Of course, nothing in Stephanie Plum’s world is ever quite normal.) In this book, Stephanie plants a couple of bugs on her ex-husband, Dickie Orr as a favor to Ranger. This is how they discover than Dickie is in danger from his new supposed law partners. As are, it seems, a lot of people. There are flame throwers, building fires, and lots of explosions, most involving massive fires. Although there are several unrelated stuffed animal explosions as well, thanks to one of the people Stephanie is trying to take to the police station for re-bonding. Her bail-jumping clients are always good for some strange experiences.

There are parts that will have you laughing out loud. Even though there is much death and destruction, the story remains filled with many chuckles.

I enjoy reading & laughing at Stephanie Plum’s escapades! I like that there’s 30+ books in this series. Very creative author.

Stephanie’s ex-husband disappears, and since Stephanie has attacked him more than once, she’s the chief suspect (the only suspect) in his murder — if they find a body. While this is going on, Stephanie continues her bounty hunting job. The bail jumpers she’s after include the usual assortment of offenders who don’t want to cooperate and give her plenty of trouble. The plot has many high points including one involving a burning building. And Stephanie’s love life is as hot as usual, and she’s as uncommitted as usual. Everyone on this series is armed and wacky, including Stephanie’s grandma. Stephanie, though, keeps forgetting her gun at home. Gotta love these books!

I LOVE the Stephanie Plum novels. ALL of them. In fact, if I could be ANY literary character...I'd want to be Stephanie Plum: petite, klutzy, torn between two lovers, accident prone, strange family life and all. Lean Mean Thirteen is like visiting an old friend. There are SO many episodes that are just "laugh-out-loud funny" (and I seldom even chuckle while reading). For the critics that say "this was same ol' stuff" - I say "make up your mind." Everyone was clamoring in the last book about how Stephanie was such a sl*t because she was with both Joe and Ranger. This time the attraction was only hinted at, which was a major bummer for me since I'm totally a Ranger's gal. But the book was still DELIGHTFUL. Frankly, I hope that she never chooses....although it would be nice if Stephanie could get a little bit of a makeover in the next book. Rex makes an appearance again, which was a treat. We hadn't heard about him much in the last few books. I figured it was because he had gone to Hampster Heaven, but I'm glad that THIS Rex is endowed with super hamster longevity. (I bought ALL the equipment, cage, etc, for a hampster before learning that they only live about 2 years. I figured I couldn't deal with so many Hampster Funerals and decided I wouldn't be the best Hampster Owner after that....) The Beaver Bombs were HILARIOUS. Janet Evanovich - you ROCK! Some readers are NEVER satisfied. Lean Mean Thirteen is GREAT.

This series is so cool. Love these books.

Another Stephanie's Plum adventure on the top !

Storyline gets better & better

Amo Janet Evanovich ed ho letto tutti i suoi libri della serie Stephanie Plum, anche questo è divertente e frizzante come i precedenti, pensi sempre di sapere come andrà a finire, invece Janet riserva sempre tanti colpi di scena.

日本では、扶桑社と集英社から翻訳されて出版されているシリーズです。 娯楽小説ですが、読み終わるとなんか細かいことがバカバカしくなり、元気をもらえます。 仕事に疲れた30代・40代の女性におすすめです。 今、１２冊まで刊行されているんですが、続きが待ち切れずに洋書で購入。ストレスなく読めますが 英語の勉強にはなってないかも（笑）。出てくるスラングは決して、外では使えない。。。