Explosive Eighteen

Explosive Eighteen
By Janet Evanovich
Bantam Books, 2011. 305 pgs. Mystery

‘Smokin’ Seventeen’ left bail bondswoman Stephanie Plum holding two tickets to Hawaii and a small question concerning whom would join her on her vacation. ‘Explosive Eighteen’ picks up as she returns to the mainland with a mysterious tan line on her left hand ring finger and an obvious inclination to avoid answering questions about what occurred on the island. If her current problems only involved two obviously battered lovers, things would be fine. But at some point on her return journey she also attracted the attention of some shady characters, some with murderous intentions. Chaos, obviously, ensues.

I know some readers are getting a little weary of Stephanie’s inability to ‘pick a guy already’. But I feel that Evanovich somehow manages to keep the relationships from getting too stale. Besides, as ‘Moonlighting’ taught us, some plotlines die when the characters settle down into an actual relationship. I am certain this is one of those stories and I’d rather deal with eternal waffling than say goodbye to this guilty pleasure.

CZ