It’s kind of depressing knowing we’re not going to get a final book in the Kinsey Millhone (alphabet) series by Sue Grafton – following the author’s death last year. It was one of my staples – along with Robert B Parker* Spenser & Jesse Stone series’, JD Robb’s In Death series, and Jane Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books.

Thankfully Evanovich and her ‘bail enforcement agent’ are still in partnership and continue to offer we readers enjoyable respite from the tedium of our lives.

In fact, although the eventual resolution of the underlying mystery was rather preposterous, this was one of the funnier and more entertaining of the series, with Lula in particular, in very fine form.

Look Alive Twenty-Five
by Janet Evanovich
Series: Stephanie Plum #25
Published by Headline Review
on November 13th 2018
Source: Hachette Australia
Genres: Crime Fiction, Humour
ISBN: 1472246071, 9781472246073
Pages: 311

Goodreads

There's nothing like a good deli, and the Red River Deli in Trenton is one of the best. World-famous for its pastrami, coleslaw, and for its disappearing managers.

Over the last month, three have vanished from the face of the earth, and the only clue in each case is one shoe that's been left behind.

The police are baffled.

Lula is convinced that it's a case of alien abduction.

Whatever it is, they'd better figure out what's going on before they lose their new manager, Ms. Stephanie Plum.

I hadn’t remembered Stephanie being quite as blunt about her abilities in other outings. I mean, she obviously fails a lot before she gets her ‘bounties’ or bail-skippers but here she’s far more introspective and perhaps feeling a little sorry for herself.

I’m not really good at anything. I’m like an inept pet. Beloved but pretty much a disaster. p 87

Particularly I guess as she’s adding ‘deli manager’ to her portfolio.

The love triangle via Ranger / Morelli (ie. hot ex special forces guy vs sexy cop) thing continues. Interestingly, this was also the first time I can remember Stephanie saying something about the fact she is (in many ways) keeping them both (on the line) as options.

Kissing is cheating a little. I can deal with it. If we go upstairs it’s going to be cheating big-time. p 256

She weighs them up again here and I got the feeling that if she felt Ranger was more the marrying kind she’d choose him. (Though I may be biased, cos I’m certainly Team Ranger!)

Lula is particularly great in this outing and I found the whole cafe thing really entertaining. Lula’s attitude to food is always funny and Evanovich really nails the ex-hooker’s droll humour here along with that of the stoned kitchen-hands. In fact I laughed-out-loud on several occasions… something I rarely do when reading.

Several of Stephanie’s cases intersect in this book and I have to admit the mystery of the disappearing deli managers was actually quite ridiculous… but good harmless fun. And I guess that is the whole point of ‘cosy’ mysteries (and comfort reads in my case). And that’s what keeps me coming back for more.

Look Alive 25 by Janet Evanovich will be published in Australia by Hachette.

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

* Robert B Parker is also deceased but some of his series are being continued by other authors.