Two For the Dough
by Janet Evanovich
reviewed by Byron Merritt
I've figured something out about the Stephanie Plum series; at least I found something out about myself (but it might be true for some of you, too). Reading these stories is like putting your brain on autopilot. They're not deep, thoughtful, and heavy-laden pieces of fiction. They're fun, light, and just a downright joy to read.
Like One for the Money (the first in the series), Two for the Dough is told in first person by a hard-edged—if somewhat desperate—bounty hunter named Stephanie Plum. She's been forced into the job in order to keep eating. But unlike the first book, this one shows us that Steph is becoming a bit more adept at her new profession. Now she's chasing after Joe Mancuso, a murderer, and the tension (and comedy) get moved up a notch.
We still have all the original characters from the first novel. Steph's parents, cousin Vinnie and his office staff, Rex the hamster, Grandma Mazur, and, of course, Officer Joe Morelli. I saved the best for last. Grandma Mazur is much more prevalent in this story and a truly engaging character (someone you WILL sympathize with as you read on). And then we have Joe Morelli, Steph's love interest and 'partner' who both uses and lusts after her. Will they get together? Time will tell.
I didn't give this story (or its predecessor) five quills simply because they're just not five quill material. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Like I said in the beginning of this review, they're light reading that allows you to whiz through the story and enjoy its soft—and hilarious—touches. Will I be reading the next in the series? You can bet on it.