Start The New Year With A Laugh

If you've never read one of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich (and there are now 18), let me tell you that you’re missing out. I’ve helped several friends become addicted to this series and they’re all thankful that I did!

The “heroine” in the series is Stephanie Plum, a 30-something, slightly inept bounty hunter who works for her lowlife cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency in New Jersey. Evanovich has created plenty of colorful characters and situations that are completely outlandish, but I guarantee they’ll have you laughing out loud. Sure, the books are formulaic, but that’s part of the fun. In every book, Stephanie and her sidekick Lula (a full-figured former prostitute with a love for animal-print spandex, sky-high heels and her Firebird) will consume ridiculous amounts of fast food at all hours of the day and night (think Cluck in a Bucket for breakfast); the duo will attempt to apprehend folks with failure to appear warrants—and fail miserably; Stephanie’s car will explode; crazy Grandma Mazur will attend a funeral and cause a commotion; and Stephanie will continue debating if she wants a relationship with hunky cop Joe Morelli or should just lust after Ranger, the Cuban-American owner of a security company/bounty hunter and, generally speaking, someone you don’t want to mess with.  

In Explosive Eighteen, Stephanie returns from a Hawaiian excursion with a tan line on her ring finger and a tale about Morelli and Ranger having a brawl that would make Jerry Springer proud; Joyce Barnhardt, Stephanie’s longtime nemesis, is presumed dead; and multiple ne’er-do-wells and bogus FBI agents are trying to kill Stephanie because of a photo that mistakenly ended up in her possession. Oh, and all of the previously mentioned antics happen too.

While Explosive Eighteen and the other books in the series are never going to win any major literary awards, they’re certainly an entertaining way to spend a lazy afternoon or day at the beach (hint: add a cocktail for more enjoyment!). So, pick up a copy of One for the Money this weekend (the movie starring Katherine Heigl hits theaters January 27) and make getting to know Stephanie your new year’s resolution. 

The Thirteenth Tale

The Thirteenth Tale is, without a doubt, the most unusual and interesting book I read in 2011. Diane Setterfield’s engrossing tale revolves around Margaret Lea, a biographer who owns an antique book shop with her father in London. One day she receives a letter from Vida Winter, one of the country’s most prolific (think Jodi Picoult in terms of volume!) and celebrated authors. The elusive, aging Ms. Winter wishes to secure Margaret as her biographer, promising to finally reveal the truth about her ambiguous ancestry. What exactly is Vida hiding, and why? Margaret, longing for details about her own past, is intrigued by the offer and accepts, traveling to Vida’s countryside estate to begin the assignment.

As Vida’s mesmerizing story unfolds, Margaret learns of the strange, aristocratic Angelfield family, whose lineage is filled with tragedy and dark secrets. Yes, this story has it all — murder, deception, destruction and twin sisters Emmeline and Adeline who border on creepy. The captivating, gothic tale of the Angelfields feels almost familiar (think hints of Jane Eyre), yet is truly unlike any novel I’ve read in recent years.

Setterfield has created a smart debut novel full of twists and turns. Margaret and Vida are both complex and surprisingly simple characters whose intertwined quest for truth provides the healing journey for which both have yearned. If you’re looking for a read that will keep you guessing right up until the end, this one is definitely for you!