September - 2009

Cathy's Corner

  Finger Lickin' Fifteen (Stephanie Plum Novels) by Janet Evanovich

 The story of inept bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum, who finds herself in ridiculous circumstances, and is being pursued by two hot guys, continues in this 15th full length novel.

Two major stories take place in this book. The first is that Lula witnesses a beheading and the murderers are now after her. The victim had a line of barbeque sauce and Lula thinks an upcoming taste-off could be the reason for the murder. So they enter the contest and need to come up with their own sauce ,with comical results.

The second involves a number of break-ins in homes and a business that have security protection by Rangeman, and it looks like it could be an inside job. Stephanie is asked by Ranger to work for him and help him find the culprit.

As with all Stephanie Plum stories, there is a great deal of humor. In this one Stephanie gets coated in various liquids, numerous fires take place and Stephanie is finding it tougher to not give in to Ranger while she’s “off again” with Morelli.

If you’ve read all of the books, the best way to enjoy this one is to suspend all real-life reality. Stephanie doesn’t age even though the seasons keep going by. She doesn’t grow or get any better at what she does and her relationships with Ranger and Morelli don’t advance because she’s not ready for any commitment.

But the books can be enjoyed just for the fact that the characters are known to us and have a lot of humorous issues, the sexual tension Stephanie feels towards Ranger will keep you wondering, and the situations the characters find themselves in and results are just plain funny as well as fun to read about.

The Night Watchman (Ray Quinn Series, Book 1) by Mark Mynheir 

 

  Former Homicide Detective Ray Quinn has become a Night Watchman for a condominium, one of the few jobs he can do after being crippled in an ambush that took the life of his partner eleven months ago.

A pastor turns up dead in his apartment in an apparent murder-suicide with a stripper. His former unit believes it’s an open and shut case. The pastor’s sister convinces Ray to look into it, and things just don’t add up. Ray’s life is endangered as he uncovers a bigger picture that involves adult entertainment, a group of influential people in high places, and a dirty cop.

This is the first book in a new series following the investigative skills of Ray Quinn. This who-dunit is a page turner that describes for us how and why things are done as Ray teaches a young guy who has hopes of someday being a cop. The identification of the bad cop is not obvious, even when the reveal has started.

Ray struggles with the pain and limits he now has with his mobility and must drink to sleep. But except for one scene when he finally has a meltdown over how his life has turned out, the book is not filled with angst and depression.

I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to others.

  

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