A lot of US bloggers share pics and reviews of what they call ‘cozy’ mysteries. I don’t fully understand the concept, but they seem to all feature illustrated / cartoon-like covers and appear kinda quaint.
I assume they’re a bit like my ‘comfort’ reads—easy reads that I know I can rely on to entertain me for a few hours with minimal macabre hangovers after you’ve turned the last page. A bit like watching Murder She Wrote, as opposed to Criminal Minds.
Which is why yesterday I was excited because I had a few new arrivals from Hachette, including Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich… one of my (fave) comfort reads (along with Sue Grafton’s alphabet series, JD Robb’s In Death series etc).
The blurb
Stephanie Plum might not be the world’s greatest bounty hunter, but she knows when she’s being played. Ken Globovic (aka Gobbles), the unofficial student leader of the notorious Zeta fraternity, has been arrested for beating up the dean of students at Kiltman College. Gobbles has missed his court date and gone into hiding. People have seen him on campus, but no one will talk. Things just aren’t adding up, and Stephanie can’t shake the feeling that something funny is going on at the college.
As much as people love Gobbles, they hate Doug Linken. When Linken is gunned down in his backyard, the list of possible murder suspects is long. The only people who care about finding Linken’s killer are Trenton cop Joe Morelli, who has been assigned the case, security expert Ranger, who was hired to protect Linken, and Stephanie, who has her eye on a cash prize and hopefully has some tricks up her sleeve…
My thoughts
I noted a few regulars complaining (in Goodreads) that the books were really now a bit too similar or formulaic. And that’s true. Stephanie (and the fabulous Lula) try to catch a bond-evader or three (usually failing a few times) and get embroiled in some kind of bigger mystery. Ranger and Morelli come to the rescue, but ultimately Stephanie stumbles across the baddie and helps solve the crime.
We always have the added fun of Grandma Mazur who runs amok and drives Stephanie’s mother to drink. And then there’s the ongoing Morelli vs Ranger dilemma for our hapless bond-enforcement officer.
Which is pretty much what happens in Evanovich’s 22nd outing with Stephanie and the gang.
However, despite kinda knowing how things are going to turn out, I’m happy to tune in again and again. Cos it’s entertaining. I read quickly and I easily finished this within a couple of hours… and it what a delightful couple of hours it was!
It’s always nice to escape into Stephanie’s world, even briefly.
This series is generally less about the mystery / crime at hand (which is probably the weakest link) and more about the characters and their exploits. Which is fine with me. I know what to expect and it’s why I keep coming back for more.
I really enjoyed Lula’s antics in this novel. Occasionally she grates a little, but this time she was in fine form and her character continues to complement Stephanie beautifully.
All-in-all this is another enjoyable outing from Evanovich which really helped settle something that’s been plaguing me for a while—I’ve realised I’m very definitely Team Ranger!!!!
Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich was published in Australia by Hachette on 17 November 2015.
I received a copy of this book for review purposes.
November 18, 2015
Cozies are mysteries with out blood and gore. They are usually set in small towns with amateur sleuths that solve the mystery. 🙂 I love them, they are more Murder She Wrote and less Criminal Minds just like you said and definitely comfort reads.
I have always wanted to read the Stephanie Plum series and I have book one I just haven’t go to it, though I did watch the movie it was based on and loved it so I know I will like the series. 🙂
November 18, 2015
Ah yes… I figured Cozies were a modern day Agatha Christie or similar.
I know this sounds horrible but I hate Katherine Heigl so didn’t go to see One for the Money. Not sure if I’d agree with the casting of Ranger either, but still…
November 18, 2015
Love Ranger! What about this book pushed you over the edge?
November 18, 2015
It’s like one of those things that you don’t know until it’s too late… a gut instinct thing. I ‘think’ I don’t mind but every time she gets close to Morelli I realise NOOOOOOOO!!!!! It has to be Ranger. (Not that I’m implying she and Morelli get closer during this book. In fact they break up at the start!)
November 19, 2015
I love this series too. And I’m excited that there’s another one that I can read soon – along with the ten other books that I have on my Kindle.
November 19, 2015
Hopefully you get some downtime at Christmas Char and can do a bit more reading then!
November 19, 2015
Why do you hate Katherine Heigl? I don’t like her either and I don’t know why.
November 19, 2015
I’m the same Michelle. I don’t exactly know why I don’t like her. I know she’s got a reputation for being difficult (but I take that stuff with a grain of salt). She just grates for some reason.
November 21, 2015
I love the series, I am only read the first one but can’t wait to read more soon. Glad you like it.
November 21, 2015
I hope you get to read more of the series Viki!
November 21, 2015
Ah, it’s been quite some time since I last treated myself to a Stephanie Plum novel, but you’ve stirred up my nostalgia Deb — sounds perfect fare for those lazy hot summer days ahead of us!
November 22, 2015
Oh absolutely Jo…. something light and entertaining.
November 23, 2015
I don’t think I would classify the Stephanie Plum Stories as Cozies, but maybe they are. They are actually a little too violent and occasionally kind of gory, and have too much sexy romance. Maybe there are degrees of cozy.
November 23, 2015
Maybe they aren’t Steph! Maybe we need some additional term for the ‘lighter’ mysteries out there. We could invent some new sub-genre!
February 16, 2016
Hi Deb, how I loved Stephanie from book 1 -16 and then it was same on old same. I look longingly at #22 but unlikely I will take the leap. It was more your call on Ranger vs Morelli that encouraged me to write…how I love Joe just a delicious sexy alph male with hilarious tolerance for Stephanie’s antics and her gorgeous family.
My disappointment with the movie was Kathryn did not capture the chaos that leads to the outstanding outcomes that make Stephanie such a favourite character for so many woman. Surely most women’s daily lives…chaos leading to great outcome. Also I was less than impressed with the Actors that played Joe and Ranger..just all round disappointing. Cheers
February 16, 2016
Hi Marg and – as I said in the review of the book – I didn’t see the movie as I couldn’t really imagine any of the actors as the characters I’d grown to love in the books!
May 1, 2016
I too am Team Ranger, but not for marriage. If there must be a marriage (and I don’t see why), let it be to Morelli. However this destroys her working FTAs as it would destroy the marriage. No way do I want Stephanie as a divorced mother with children! That would destroy the whole series for me.
May 1, 2016
I suspect I like the idea of her ‘taming’ Ranger. Perhaps not for marriage, but a long term relationship. I hadn’t thought of Stephanie as a mother. It would be kinda funny given some of the people in her life!