I hadn’t read one of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books in nine years. Because the book flap teased readers saying, “She could finally be forced to choose between the two most important men in her life, Joe Morelli and Ranger”, I was hopeful for Fortune and Glory, the twenty-seventh book in the series. Spoiler alert – Stephane Plum is no better than Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen in making a decision about her personal life.
In fact, Plum’s personal life seemed to be the pivotal point of this latest book. She’s broken up with cop Joe Morelli, again, and she’s trying to learn more about herself. What does she want in life? One reason she and Morelli broke up is due to Stephanie’s determination to help her Grandma Mazur Rosolli on a treasure hunt. Her grandma’s husband, mobster Jimmy Rosolli, died and left her his La-Z-Boy, which supposedly contained his key to a treasure he shared with five other mobsters. Some are dead, and left behind their clues to the treasure hunt. But, two of the three surviving mobsters had already kidnapped Grandma and Stephanie, hoping to retrieve Grandma’s keys and clue. They escaped, but the two women are still determined to find that treasure.
Who is Stephanie Plum? Is she a New Jersey bounty hunter who gets by on luck and determination? Or, is she Indiana Jones, an adventurer? She doesn’t know who she is. It’s sad that one of the men who skipped out on his bond, Potts, a crazy hypochondriac, seems to have the greatest insight into Stephanie’s character.
Stephanie Plum hasn’t changed much in nine years. She still destroys cars in the course of her investigations. She still hasn’t decided if she loves Joe or wants to sleep with Ranger. Her adventures with ex-hooker Lulu are as outrageous as ever. The current treasure hunt takes Stephanie, Lulu, and Grandma Mazur Rosolli into tunnels and car accidents. And, it was enjoyable, but there really hasn’t been much change in Stephanie’s life.
There was an addition to this book as Stephanie questions why a woman named Gabriela seems to be one step ahead of her in tunnels and the search for mobsters. Sometimes, Gabriela just seems to be one step behind, following her. It turns out Gabriela is the protagonist of a new Janet Evanovich series.
My final opinion? Fortune and Glory won’t disappoint fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. It really only disappoints those of us who want a little personal growth and a romantic decision from the character.
Janet Evanovich’s website is www.evanovich.com
Fortune and Glory by Janet Evanovich. Atria Books, 2020. ISBN 978198254837 (hardcover), 304p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of the book, hoping I would review it.
I'm with you. We stopped reading them around the same time you did, and it sounds like absolutely nothing has changed in the past decade, other than Grandma getting married and widowed. So I'll pass.
My all-time favorite line in the series was when Stephanie and Lula went to Costco at lunchtime for what Lula called the "Senior Buffet" – food items they serve to get you to buy the products. We've called it that ever since, though these days there is no Senior Buffet due to Covid.
I love this review. I am a long time fan of the Plum Books and I was actually lucky enough to discover the series, before it became overwhelmingly popular. But I agree that the premise after so many is a little tire. They still make me chuckle, but not flat out laugh like the early ones did. As I have for several years, I will probably wait to get from the library, or at a discount.
Jeff, I was hopeful, but it didn't live up to my expectations. My favorite Stephanie Plum book was way back when Stephanie and Grandma blew up the funeral home. Loved that one!
Jeanine, A friend asked me if Stephanie Plum was still popular, and I said the books are at libraries – probably because people feel the same way you do. I agree. I used to laugh at the earlier ones. No longer.
I am not sure when I quit reading this series, but it was around the late teens somewhere. She never learned a damn thing and had any character growth at all.
All these books later, it sounds like nothing at all has changed.
No, nothing's changed, Kevin. No reason to pick up the new book.
I stopped reading this series years ago because it just felt like I was reading the same book over and over again
You were, Sandy. Sort of a Groundhog Day.
Seems to me that we all need to chip in and send a case of chocolate items to Lesa for riding the wayback machine and reading this one.
A series that started out so well became the same book over and over with just a change of scenery. I hadn't read one since about the 10th book – and about two years ago I read the newest one then – same book. So no more. Your review was spot on.
I'll take it, Kevin!
Honestly, Netteanne? The publisher sent me a copy, and when I read the flap, I thought things might be different. They're not. It seems every 8 or 9 years it's time to check in. Nothing has changed.
Thanks for your review. This series has become such a disappointment. The first few books were just so hilarious, and up to about a dozen I still had them on my to-buy list. Then it wasn't so urgent to read them right away, but when my granddaughter gave me an audio copy of book 16 I realized I was behind a couple and read 3 in a row to catch up. That's when I caught the cut and paste and the repetition hit me. And Joe-Ranger-Joe-Ranger, after a while who cares? I agree, Stephanie is like Hannah in the Joanne Fluke books, the inability to make up her mind or do anything different just became irritating. Too many books waiting for me to waste time on either of these series anymore.
I can handle a woman who doesn't know which man originally, Grandma Cootie, but after 27 books? Blah. Blow up a couple cars, go to bed with Ranger & argue with Joe. It's hard to care anymore.
Just finished reading I have to say your review was on point with what was going through my mind. The series has become repetitive, it seems to me she tried growing some characters but lacked in others, and in her own work, she forgets some key points from previous books(Aunt Ruth/Rose). I think she needs to reread her previous books. I would like to see her end the series by Stephanie choosing Ranger so that I can imagine her continuing with her adventures in true Plum fashion. Personally, I find I get more out of the series from FanFiction so I'll stick to that.
Yes! A Ranger Babe. I agree, Mira. I'm ready for it to end.
I stopped reading at 19… land the plane already