In “Sizzling Sixteen,” the latest installment in Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, the central character Stephanie once again finds herself in between adventure and crime solving. While Stephanie may seem like the girl next door, her quick wit and humble personality as the best bounty hunter in Trenton, N.J., proves that she is more than just a Jersey girl.
When Bobby Sunflower and his loitering band of goons kidnap her cousin Vinnie Plum of Plum Bails Bonds, Stephanie attempts to find Vinnie in order to save the family business. The only problem is that Vinnie has never been very good at staying out of trouble. He is being held on ransom for his personal debt to Sunflower, a price that manages to increase every day that Stephanie does not obtain the money.
While there is a lot of emphasis on characters Stephanie and Lula, a glass bottle that was left to Stephanie from her Uncle Pip serves as a way to augment the plot. The bottle is a catalyst that guides Stephanie towards good luck — or at least that is what she is led to believe.
The appealing aspect of this novel, as well as the series, is that Evanovich has a style of writing that is enjoyed by a larger age group ranging from younger, almost teenage girls to older, middle-aged women — though the audience is not limited to only that group. The feministic focus towards the readership has much to do with the main protagonist Stephanie and her right-hand girl Lula.
Evanovich, a New Jersey native, does paint a vivid image of Trenton, though this is not to say she does not reinforce some stereotypes. One such example is Lula, an ex-prostitute who continues to wear spandex and leopard skirts that are as small as they are short. Lula has no handle on the definition of modesty and believes the word diet means being allowed to eat one of everything — especially doughnuts.
Meanwhile, as Lula is looking for the next chance to consume delectable confections, Stephanie is on the search for Vinnie. However, even Stephanie cannot help but mix business with pleasure. Joe Morelli is Stephanie’s on-and-off boyfriend, and Ranger is the mysterious and tempting surveillance expert who is somehow always following her every move — an aspect she never seems to mind. But for most readers, the constant back and forth between these men can prove pointless, as Stephanie never comes to any final decision as to whom she should choose.
For those who have read the Stephanie Plum series, you can once again expect a fast and easy read. However, the book lacks as much personality as Evanovich has created with characters and plot structure in the past. The novel falls somewhat short of being considered sizzling. However, even considering the simple nature of her writing, her story remains cohesive and wry throughout, providing readers with a satisfactory continuation.
Rating: W W W
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