My Rating: ★★★★☆

Author: Janet Evanovich

Narrated by: Lori Petty

Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio

 

My review: After numerous suggestions from a co-worker I downloaded Janet Evanovich’s One for the Money. This is of course, the first novel in the Stephanie Plum series. I know, I’m way behind since this was originally published in 1994 in print and then in 2000 on audiobook. Actually, behind is an understatement.

Stephanie Plum has lost her job as a lingerie buyer and subsequently lost her car, most of her furniture and left her with an almost empty refrigerator. Her one friend through it all, her hamster Rex. I’m glad she loves her hamster. I had one back in the day that was possessed by the devil. Mine would rattle the bars on it’s cage and manage to get the door up and get out in the middle of the night. After numerous escapes, his life was cut short when the kitty wanted to play. RIP Frankie.

And now, back to the regularly scheduled review…

Stephanie has been grabbing a few good meals at her parents house and finally confesses to being in a bind. On her dad’s suggestion, she goes to see her cousin Vinnie, a bail bondsman. She originally set out to take a filing job, sitting behind a desk, but after talking with the receptionist, she manages to blackmail her cousin into making more cash, much faster. She’s an “apprehension agent”. Yup, girl’s got a gun.

Stephanie grabs the case of Joe Morelli, her former classmate, innocence-taker and cop. Morelli is on the run after a murder charge kicks him off the police force and puts him into hiding. Along the way, Stephanie runs into Benito Ramirez, a scumbag boxer who prides himself in abusing women.

I loved this audiobook. It’s not too long and I finished it quickly, because I was so wrapped up in the story. I found myself chuckling over and over again. Evanovich has a great character in Stephanie. She’s young, funny and lively.

Narrator Review: This audiobook was narrated by Lori Petty. Now, if you don’t recognize the name, you’ll absolutely recognize her voice! Immediately I knew, I knew. But, it took me searching her name online to put the two together. Petty is an actress and was in two movies I remember vividly, A League of Their Own and In the Army Now. She does a great job and I thoroughly enjoyed her performance.