Going Rogue (Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine) by Janet Evanovich is the latest book in the Stephanie Plum bounty hunter series. Like JD Robb’s In Death series and Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone ABC series these are comfort reads for me. I know what to expect. I can feel confident that’s what I’ll get and it’s almost always the case.

Going Rogue
by Janet Evanovich
Series: Stephanie Plum #29
Published by Headline Review
on 01/11/2022
Source: Hachette Australia
Genres: Crime Fiction, Humour
ISBN: 9781035401932
Pages: 325

Goodreads

Monday mornings aren't supposed to be fun, but they should be predictable. However, on this particular Monday, Stephanie Plum knows that something is amiss when she turns up for work at Vinnie's Bail Bonds to find that longtime office manager Connie Rosolli, who is as reliable as the tides in Atlantic City, hasn't shown up.

Stephanie's worst fears are confirmed when she gets a call from Connie's abductor. He says he will only release her in exchange for a mysterious coin that a recently murdered man left as collateral for his bail. Unfortunately, this coin, which should be in the office - just like Connie -is nowhere to be found.

The quest to discover the coin, learn its value, and save Connie will require the help of Stephanie's Grandma Mazur, her best pal Lula, her boyfriend Morelli, and hunky security expert Ranger. As they get closer to unravelling the reasons behind Connie's kidnapping, Connie's captor grows more threatening, and soon Stephanie has no choice but to throw caution to the wind, follow her instincts, and go rogue. She is more shocked by the results than anyone.

I was initially a little disappointed in the lack of concern about Connie’s disappearance. I mean I know these are mostly billed as cosy crime so they rarely involve horrendous deaths and violence but still… Connie’s the backbone of Stephanie’s work-life and Vinnie’s bonds enforcement business. However, we later understand how worried Stephanie is/was via her relief (and willingness to do whatever is necessary to get Connie back).

These novels usually include one overarching mystery and a couple of support acts in the guise of FTAs (those who’ve failed to appear in court) – ‘bounties’ Stephanie needs to find or follow up. Here one of the FTAs  is cop boyfriend Joe Morelli’s grandmother Bella – who’s kinda crazy and known to put the evil eye on people who annoy her.

As usual this (29th outing) is tremendously good fun. Former prostitute Lulu is always in fine form, as is Grandma Mazur, who continues to be a role model I will aspire to emulate in my later years. Here things get a bit complicated because Connie’s disappearance is also being investigated by the police and Stephanie is forced to keep some of her less-legal activities from boyfriend Morelli.

Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich was published in Australia by Hachette and is now available.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.