Hard Eight: A Stephanie Plum Novel

This book again just answers the questions, why is Evanovich one of my favorite authors? She's funny and yet still realistic in many ways. She keeps the motion moving in her books and the tension tight when it needs to be. Superb as always. She does an excellent job of keeping all the characters straight in the book which makes it an easy read despite having a lot of characters. I think there a tendency in people who read one author to begin to say, 'wait, she's not as funny as she used to be....' 'this isn't as good as the first one'. I think many times we are comparing our excitement at finding a new author who is excellent to now when we are again on the never ending quest for a new author and this one isn't new anymore. It's unfortunate for authors that this happens. I can honestly say that Janet Evanovich novels have not grown old and Number 8 is as good as all the others before it. I have no reason to expect number 9, 10, and so on won't be just as great. I thought this was just right in line with her other novels. It is not often you can laugh at lawyers, hot sex, blown up cars, and clothes dryers in one book. I thought Ranger was as sexy as ever and the tension between them was oh so good. I thought the relationship between her and Morrelli was very interesting. I would have like more of Grandma. I just laugh and laugh at the Grandma. But Lula is a hoot as always, even in times of stress. I particularly like how she refers to other events in other novels and brings the reader up to speed at times about who a character is or how they came into her life. All of this and more keeps me anxious for book 9, 10 and so on. The main story line this time, I think, held more of a realistic story to it- a woman trying to make ends meet, a yucky husband (ex now) and stretched a bit with the really scary bad guy. The whole story line is good. Enjoy.

Stephanie has a lot of bad days in this book — bail jumpers who don’t want to be caught, missing persons who don’t want to be found, and a madman who sends men out to terrorize her. Her stun gun doesn’t work. She keeps losing handcuffs. And her gun is usually at home in the cookie jar. The reader can expect interesting corpses, torched cars — and lots of laughs — business as usual for Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter.

I sit eagerly awaiting the next Stephanie Plum book, so let me begin by saying that Hard Eight is not my favorite of the series. I loved the humor in this volume it had me laughing out loud (as I had hoped for). Stephanie's adventure with her newest sidekick Kloughn had me ready to scream because he kept tagging along, but actually I came to love the scenes with him. I'm not giving a lot away by saying the dryer scene alone makes Kloughn one of the highlights of this episode in the Stephanie Plum series. I may be one of the few though who found the last 50 or so pages to be a non-stop rush of events that built from her heated flirting with Ranger to a blink of an eye event that made me go back to make sure I hadn't skipped over some pages. The book flashed over a scene between Stephanie and Ranger that made you think "Wait, What happened?" It was like a cliffhanger that wasn't because you knew the answer but none of the facts. Let me just say Stephanie and Ranger have had some of the hottest flirting through several of the previous books and Hard Eight let it hit straight ice water. Nothing to do with the books but fans keep saying "Oh Ranger couldn't be relationship material" and this book made gave in to those fans that have been waiting for that. Why? I love books with a mysterious hero who you don't know too much about but ends up being a good guy (which so far Ranger has been he cares for Stephanie). Consistantly through this Volume 8 especially Ranger is there watching out for her making sure she's got security, has bullets in her gun and when she calls he is there without fail what's not to like? If he is a bad guy how does why is he the "Primo" Bounty hunter and as mentioned through out the series the guy the cops want to be carrying a gun? Ranger doesn't seem to be a thug and Hard Eight gave him a Hard Ride, now, he's not mysterious, but an "Opportunist" doesn't sound like the Ranger we've come to know and adore. Abruzzi (the bad guy of the book) was scary and had me jumpy, but in only a few pages it was over. And why aren't the cops doing anything about this guy? Stephanie is the star of the series, but it looks like the bounty hunters (Stephanie/Ranger/Vinnie) take down more criminals than Joe (vice cop/homicide detective). The book seemed to heavily edited or something. I love that Janet usually has the book full of Stephanies thoughts about everything that happens to her and in this book two rather major events went wham bam thank you ma'am fast without satisfying me. I'll read the book over and over because I love the series but it's not my favorite. The humor of the book held me though, so it is worth a try, but if you wonder like I did what happened in the ending you aren't alone... The audio version is decent, but I was thrilled to discover that this time around CJ Critt was back with a version through Recorded Books. After listening to her rendition of the book I was forced to raise my rating of 3 stars to 4 simply because there are things she brought to the story. Unlike some I'll keep reading Janet as long as she keeps me laughing. My complaint quit switching narrators on the audio versions Recorded Books is the company for quality and CJ is the narrator who brings Stephanie's story to it's full potential.

Janet E is definitely hitting her stride with this one. Best one yet, but haven’t read #9 and beyond. A little less slapstick helps it shine.

I've read quite a few of the Stephanie Plum series, starting somewhere in the teens. I then went back to read the first few and skipped to 8. This book completed everything about the characters for me. Spoiler alert. I walked away from this book feeling angry about just how stupid she is. And don't get me wrong - I had a lot of laughs during the book to the point where I dumped a bottle of water in my lap. But in this book, Ranger, Morelli and Lula all call her out on what is obviously more than bad luck. And she's only alive because of luck. The character development was awesome. In depth. I finally knew how Ranger was. And Morelli. And Mrs. Plum for that matter. I guess I need a break from the characters. I love the author's writing - it's fun, light hearted, and easy to listen to while I drive. I think I'll skip the pre-teens and wait for the #22, due out this fall.

I am a 40 year old man who thought these books were going to be "chic lit", but that being said. I love the Stephanie Plum series. I have read almost 11 of them this year on top of everything else. I saw the movie so I do have Katherine Higle (sp) as the vision for the character. Each book is a lot of fun to read. This one is no different. I o make sure to read something else in between each of them because I can see getting burnt out doing one after another. I love all the characters and how she continues the continuity even with the invention of technology. In the 1st ones cel phones were not a huge part of the world and now she carries one. I love how she does not address it - and keeps the book timeless.

Stephanie Plum is the most delicious heroine in all of chick lit. This book is halfway through the expected series of sixteen numbered books. In this book, Stephanie agrees to help out Mabel, a lady who lives next door to her parents by looking for Evelyn, Mabel's granddaughter. It's an unpaid job, and Stephanie still has to earn her living working as a bounty hunter for her creepy cousin, Vinnie. Stephanie still has difficulty busting and bringing in the lowlifes and a lot of good comedy ensues from Stephanie trying to make a buck, such as the time she goes after Andy Bender and winds up buying a t-shirt for two dollars. It might be a losing proposition for Stephanie but it is a plus for the reader. But searching for Evelyn and her little daughter Annie has its dangers. Evelyn's abusive husband Steve and criminal landlord Eddie Abruzzi start making it hot for Stephanie. She's also worried because her mentor and very hot friend Ranger made a deal with her and now the deal has come due and what's her on-again-off again boyfriend Joe Morelli going to say about that? Stephanie endears because she isn't perfect but she is persistent. You have to love her, unless you sell car insurance. The car that bites the dust in this is a Honda CR-V, first by goose attack and then a bear and a rabbit throw a bomb in it. (No, I'm not going to explain. You have to read this book.)

Love the characters and plot in her Stephanie Plumb books. I've read many and can't wait to read the next one

A great history as all the ones about Stephanie! I read the first six books in Italien, my mother language,but for this one I couldn't wait for the translation!!! A series I really suggest

Quand une voisine des parents de Stéphanie Plum demande à celle-ci de retrouver sa fille et sa petite-fille - parties brusquement de chez elles - notre chasseuse de primes ne se doute pas qu'elle va devenir la victime d'une campagne d'intimidation de la part d'un gangster du coin. Outre cette enquête principale, la jeune femme se voit confier d'autres cas de personnes à appréhender, des cas simples, parait-il, mais rien ne l'est vraiment avec Stephanie... A nouveau, c'est un livre très drôle que nous offre Janet Evanovich et l'on rit de bon coeur des aventures - des mésaventures surtout! - de Stéphanie Plum. Partagée entre enquêtes, romance et histoires de famille, l'héroïne nous plonge dans son monde un brin déjanté et pour notre plus grand plaisir!

Very good plot, humorous and constantly unpredictable. The hilarious parts - worthy of a top-notch sitcom - don't diminish in the least the gripping suspense up to the very end. WARNING: Stephanie Plum books are ADDICTIVE. This is my Eighth in a row in less than 3 weeks! In spite of a hectic work schedule...!

I worship Janet and all her Janet-ness. Keep them coming!

過去、何冊ものペーパーバックを読み始めては挫折してきた英語苦手な私が、 翻訳版のあまりの面白さに、原語ではなんて書いてあるのか知りたい一心で読み始めたのがこれ。 信じられないほどサクサク進んで初の読了ペーパーバックとなりました。 辞書はほとんど無用、というより引いても無駄？ だってフィーリングで理解するしかないevanovich語ともいうべき造語や俗語満載なんですもの。 中学英語程度で読めるけど、教育上問題あるかな？ 電車の中で読んでて思わずニヤニヤ、ぷぷっ、笑いをこらえるのに苦労した、なんてのも洋書では初めて体験しました。 日本語版と原書と、１冊で２度おいしい作家ですね！