Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum, No. 13) by Janet Evanovich Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum, No. 13)
Book Review: Stephanie and the exploding groundhog
Summary: 3 Stars
Let me say right up front that I've read, and been entertained by, all of the Stephanie Plum novels. Including this one, LEAN MEAN THIRTEEN. But, let's be honest, author Janet Evanovich, isn't taking her klutzy bounty hunter heroine anywhere she hasn't been already in twelve previous outings, and the plot concept is getting a little thin around the edges.
Here, as usual, Stephanie tries mightily and with mixed success to capture relatively harmless bail skips, including a taxidermist who booby traps his stuffed animals, while also endeavoring to discover the whereabouts of her ex-husband Dickie, who's disappeared and is possibly the victim of foul play. Indeed, the word around Trenton is that Stephanie is, or may become, the primary suspect.
The storyline is otherwise predictable. Plum's sidekick Lula, the ex-ho, continues to get herself and/or Stephanie in the occasional fine mess. Plum continues to wreak destruction on her wheels of the moment. Plum's Grandma Mazur continues to carry a .45 and live for mortuary viewings. Plum's Mom continues to cook and iron and be aghast at her own mother's antics. Plum's Dad continues to do very little but sit in front of the TV or at the dinner table. Plum's pet hamster Rex continues to live in his soup can. Plum continues to ricochet back and forth between the attentions of Detective Joe Morelli and bad boy bounty hunter and security consultant, Ranger. Those of you who've followed Stephanie's checkered career know the drill.
About the only things that change from one Plum novel to the other are the eccentricities of the skips and the dastardliness of the chief Bad Guy. Here, Plum is ultimately menaced by a killer who offs his victims with a flamethrower. OK, whatever.
The thing is, you see, Stephanie's character isn't evolving and plot after plot after plot holds no surprises for the dedicated fan. The sameness of all in the aggregate has reduced the subsequent value of each new release to the point of being only average, which, by my rating system, is three stars no matter what chuckles it stimulates. After another thirteen episodes of the same old, same old, one star may be the best I can manage.
Book Review: Placid
Summary: 3 Stars
I have to agree with many others who have left reviews. Don't get me wrong I absolutely believe the character is one of the best around and I think if you haven't read the other 12 books Lean Mean 13 can be thoroughly enjoyable, however if you have read the other 12 (like myself) I'm afraid a disappointment is heading your way. Like others I found the storyline to be highly predictable and rather than it be a 'whodunnnit' is was more of a how are the baddies (whose identites you find out half way through the book) are going to try and kill Stephanie. Serious plot lines need to be thought of or the books need to be stopped. I would hate to think of these books fading away, better to go out on a high.Book Review: A Baker's Dozen of Plum
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm sorry to report that this novel only exists to make up a Bakers' dozen, so that the author can avoid the wrath of the publisher by coming up short. I'm not saying that it doesn't have its funny moments, or that it isn't well written, but nothing very much is added here to the Stephanie Plum life story, and at number thirteen, you would expect a couple of new twists or the beginning of the wrap-up.
As Brooke Valentine (featuring Dirt McGirt) once sang in "Blah, Blah, Blah"
Boi u kno i love ya
Boi u kno i love ya like
La la la la la la la
But u always talkin
Boi u always talkin sounds like
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Same old Stephanie, same old Joe, same old Ranger, Lula, Connie, parents, and Joyce - except this one brings back an ex-husband, and adds some crooked lawyers, a grave robber and a mad taxidermist.
Hardly any surprises, and lots of blah blah blah.
Amanda Richards
Book Review: Another madcap caper
Summary: 4 Stars
In some ways I agree with the others that this book is somewhat predictable, however, I think this adds to its charm. Stephanie continues to get up to as much mayhem as usual, and Morelli and Ranger continue to get her out of a lot of scrapes. I certainly didn't expect most of it and I thought it was well written and funny. I wouldn't like Stephanie or any of the others to be too different as the reason I read the books is because I like every last one of them just the way they are. In to the mix you add one ex husband, half the world trailing Stephanie and the taxidermist from hell and this adds up to one funny novel. I read it in one sitting and I am already looking forward to the next one.Book Review: Still a good laugh
Summary: 4 Stars
Having read all the Stephanie Plum books, I think I'd be disappointed if her car survived the entire book intact! Yes, it's pretty predictable, yes there's a lot of the same old same old, but there was enough to make me laugh out loud (the taxidermist and the exploding beavers for example) and it was still a good light read. I wouldn't expect anything deadly serious from Ms Evanovitch (even from the body count) and even if there could be some more character development I enjoyed this book thoroughly.