I love to shop the bargain bins at the bookstores and last summer I stumbled on a book by Janet Evanovich called Ten Big Ones, and ever since then I have been hooked on the antics of the main character, Stephanie Plum. I skipped around this series for the first few books, but then decided I wanted to read them in order from the beginning so I began watching sales and collecting the books.  Finally, I think I have gotten my hands on all of them so last week I started with book one, One for the Money.

All of the Stephanie Plum books center around her life as a female bounty hunter in Trenton, New Jersey. She is not really very good at her job, but somehow after a book full of bad luck she will catch her FTA (failure to appear).

When One for the Money begins Stephanie has lost her job as a lingerie buyer and is desperate to find employment as she does’nt want to move in with her parents (and grandmother) in the Burg. She ends up blackmailing her cousin Vinnie for a job at his bail bonds office. He hires her on as a bond enforcement agent (otherwise known as a bounty hunter).

Her first job is apprehend Joe Morelli – a cop who is suspected of murder. Joe is not a stranger to Stephanie as he is from her neighborhood and was considered a “romeo” when they were growing up – and did in fact try out his moves successfully on her a couple times. Stephanie doesn’t let this slow her down though as she is desperate for her 10% of the bond. 

The following characters are also introduced in book one that will be around for future books:

• Ranger – another bondsman who Vinnie sometimes hires; he’s a dark, handsome, Cuban who Stephanie has enlisted to help her learn the ropes of her new job.
• Grandma Mazur – This is her mother’s mom. She is widowed and lives with Stephanie’s parents. Her primary source of entertainment is going to local funerals with her friends. She is a pretty crazy character who is always mortifying Stephanie’s mom and dad.
• Lula – Stephanie meets Lula during book one on a street corner. When she is attacked by a Benito Ramirez that is after Stephanie, the two become friends.
• Benito Ramirez – local celebrity; he’s a professional boxer who is a little too rough with the women. When Stephanie turns him down, he becomes a BIG problem for her.

If you like “chick books,” you’ll love the antics of Stephanie Plum. If you’ve read these, I’d love to hear your comments and discuss future books too.