By: Janet Evanovich
Series: Stephanie Plum #30
Narrator: Lorelei King
Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN: 978-1668003091
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: 10/31/2023
Format: Other/Audio
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC)
#1 New York Times bestselling author and “most popular mystery writer alive” (The New York Times) Janet Evanovich is in top form as she sends Stephanie Plum on the trail of a stolen cache of dirty diamonds.
Stephanie Plum, Trenton’s hardest working, most underappreciated bounty hunter, is offered a freelance assignment that seems simple enough. Local jeweler Martin Rabner wants her to locate his former security guard, Andy Manley (a.k.a. Nutsy), who he is convinced stole a fortune in diamonds out of his safe. Stephanie is also looking for another troubled man, Duncan Dugan, a fugitive from justice arrested for robbing the same jewelry store on the same day.
With her boyfriend Morelli away in Miami on police business, Stephanie is taking care of Bob, Morelli’s giant orange dog who will devour anything, from Stephanie’s stray donuts to the upholstery in her car. Morelli’s absence also means the inscrutable, irresistible security expert Ranger is front and center in Stephanie’s life when things inevitably go sideways. And he seems determined to stay there.
To complicate matters, her best friend Lula is convinced she is being stalked by a mythological demon hell-bent on relieving her of her wardrobe. An overnight stakeout with Stephanie’s mother and Grandma Mazur reveals three generations of women with nerves of steel and driving skills worthy of NASCAR champions.
As the body count rises and witnesses start to disappear, it won’t be easy for Stephanie to keep herself clean when everyone else is playing dirty. It’s a good thing Stephanie isn’t afraid of getting a little dirty, too.
My Review
#1 NYT bestselling author Janet Evanovich, the queen of fun and capers (favorite author), returns with her popular Stephanie Plum series #30, better than ever and one of my favorites —DIRTY THIRTY! I loved it!
Highly entertaining, electrifying, witty, superb characters, full of suspense, non-stop action with laugh-out-loud zingy one-liners—DIRTY THIRTY has it ALL! The usual fun characters are back, and the added side characters make this a WINNER. Plus, Evanovich makes me laugh.
A huge fan, I would not miss a book! I have read every book in the series and LOVE it. I always pre-order the audiobook, too, because I love Lorelei King (a favorite)! Gosh, I love her voice with Lula and Grandma Mazur. They come alive—It is time for another MOVIE! When I need a laugh I pull out her Plum audiobooks.
The author cleverly showcases her STAR POWER with this installment! Please do not let this series end. With the cliffhanger ending, Stephanie has some big decisions to make. Ranger or Morelli? (lips sealed, you must read).
Plus, a BONUS! At the end of the novel, we get Thirty quotes from Thirty Books, and they are some of the best by Grandma Mazur, Ranger, Morelli, Lula (of course), Vinnie, Stephanie, and some of the fun secondary characters!
Stephanie Plum, a Jersey girl and bounty hunter, is growing up, and this time around, she is thinking through things a little more than her impulsive past. She thinks about the future and takes her bounty hunter position seriously because if she does not get the FTAs, she cannot pay rent.
All the fun and characters are back, but front and center is BOB, Joe Morelli's loveable golden retriever. He takes center stage.
Joe is off to Miami for a big case and trial, and he drops off Bob for Stephanie to babysit. Of course, Bob has been known to eat things, so off he goes on Stephanie's pursuits with Dog in hand! However, Morelli is gone for much longer than he thought because the department does not pay him to come on the weekends. He is gone the entire book until the very end. And man, is it juicy! Lots happening while he is away.
However, I bet Bob has gained 10 pounds with all the sugar he gets with Stephanie and Lula, even though he is lactose intolerant (darn, those pizzas), but again, maybe not with the criminals he is chasing down—he has probably burned off the calories. He will never be the same.
Of course, Lula is in rare form, as funny as ever! We also get Stephanie's mom, Grandma Mauzer, and Stephanie on a stakeout together! Stephanie's mom, the NASCAR driver (this was hilarious) in the Camry with the side mirrors and the alley—Three generations of women! A great scene.
Sexy Ranger is always there to save the day with new wheels for Stephanie a place to stay when she is housing Lula and Nutsy or her apartment is blown up. Also, all the luxury furnishings and the delicious food. YUM! Plus, he helps care for Bob (not even his dog)—points for Ranger.
Of course, we get donuts, donuts, donuts.....(not a lot of chicken this time), car bombs, house bombs, stun guns, real guns, digging up graves, someone falls/jumps from a building, video games, video characters, stolen jewelry, homeless men, viewings, crooked and corrupt jewelry owner and family, wild and crazy FTAs, plus Lula has a late night visitor (hilarious) and a new man (men) by the end. I hope to see more of this.
You must read DIRTY THIRTY. Hands down, the best. I read this in two sittings. It all boils down to Team Ranger or Team Morelli. Will she ever choose? Please let there be a #31!
I have always been a Morelli fan, but I am leaning towards Ranger more in this one until the end. As always, Lula is a riot, and I loved BOB! Stephanie got a lot accomplished in DIRTY THIRTY. She gets a thumbs up.
I will be glued to the audiobook come Oct 31st! If you are a Plum fan, you must read this one. My favorite!
Special thanks to Atria Books via NetGalley for coming to my rescue at the last minute with a digital advanced reading copy. (I was about to give up). Christmas came early, and I dropped everything! Of course, the audio and hardcover are a given.
Janet Evanovich, you are the BEST! One of the funniest writers out today.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Oct 31, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Praise
“[With] quick wit, sly clue-dropping, and a well-utilized supporting cast…this is fast-paced and laugh-filled fun.”
—Publishers Weekly
“An uproarious, crazy, laugh-a-minute caper with Trenton, New Jersey’s most likable and notorious crime buster.” —Booklist (starred review)
About the Author
Over the last twenty-six years, Janet Evanovich has written a staggering forty-two New York Times bestsellers. In addition to her #1 bestselling Stephanie Plum novels and many other popular books, Janet is the author of The Recovery Agent, the start of a blockbuster new series.
Birthday: April 22
From: South River, NJ
First novel to make #1 on the New York Times list: Hot Six
First novel published: Hero at Large
Pets: Havanese named Ollie
Favorite food: Birthday cake
Favorite Tastykake: Butterscotch Krimpets
Black or green olives on peanut butter and olive sandwiches: Green, preferably sliced
Hobbies: None. Always writing
