if you follow me on goodreads you would have noticed that i started reading this series in the beginning of this year, i love this series.  i use to read mostly crime & detective books but i got a bit bored with it and a friend recommended this series.  since reading the first book, i quickly realised that i am hooked and devoured the rest in a space of a few months (there is 16 in paperback at this moment). 

the books are written by Janet Evanovich.  the book titles are as much fun as the stories in the books.  the books play off in Trenton, New Jersey and is mainly about Stephanie Plum, her family & friends.  book 1:  one for the money;

Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wise guys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash--fast--but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family.
Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water--wanted for murder.
Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prize-fighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight--and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man.

so what is so great about them? stephanie is hilarious. her family, especially grandma mazur is hilarious.  i laugh out loud constantly when reading these books. i love the murder mysteries which are often at least a step above the formula ones.  i even love the triangle between ranger and morelli and stephanie.  16 books in and i am still captivated by the tension between the three.  all the characters are so outrageous and i still find myself being able to believe it and go along with the book.  do things get repetitive? sure, i mean, she blows up a car in every single book.  but for me, that makes it all the more funny - i can't help it, i laugh every single time.  i love how she is so clumsy and crazy and manages to get things done in spite of herself. i love how she is always battling her weight - that constant struggle between carrots and carrot cake!  i love her family, the situations she gets in, her friends, her grandmother....  really, did I mention I love these books?  i feel that the story just gets better and better as you know the characters more and she doesn't have to spend time introducing them, she can just get on to the chaos. 

here is a few of the covers.  isn’t the titles just clever…you will always know what number you are at.

 {images via:  amazon}

there is also a movie coming out in january 2012 with katherine heighl playing stephanie plum.  i am actually to scared to go and watch that but will have to wait and see what it is like.

currently i am reading the mind games trilogy by carolyn crane.  i’ve just finished the first one and started reading the second one & then i have to wait for the third one to come out later this year. 

have a fun reading thursday!