FINGER LICKIN’ FIFTEEN *Stephanie Plum series Book 15* by Janet Evanovich

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Date published: June 2009
ISBN: 978-0-312-38328-2
Romantic adventure
Hardcover
Reviewed by Tammy


Janet Evanovich once again starts the summer off with her latest Stephanie Plum romantic adventure, FINGER LICKIN’ FIFTEEN. Heads are rolling, stomachs churning and our favorite Jersey girl is once again on the case.

FINGER LICKIN’ FIFTEEN once again highlights the antics of everyone’s favorite bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum, as her apartment is once again firebombed, cars are again blown up left and right, heads are rolling and BBQ sauce is redefined. Stephanie finds herself once again working, and sometimes living, with the sexy and seductive Ranger after Rangeman has a string of security breaches and Stephanie is asked to look into the case. Loyal sidekick Lula finds herself chased by a giggling, knife-wielding murderer after witnessing the beheading of a celebrity chef in Trenton for a BBQ contest. And while all this is happening, on-again, off-again boyfriend, Detective Morelli, is there shaking his head at the zaniness that follows Stephanie everywhere she goes.

Following a lackluster FEARLESS FOURTEEN, it’s a relief to see Ms. Evanovich going back to a more balanced Morelli/Ranger storyline for FINGER LICKIN’ FIFTEEN. Although there are probably an equal number of Stephanie/Morelli and Stephanie/Ranger fans out there, this reader understands how difficult it would be for Ms. Evanovich to have Stephanie live happily ever after with either hunky hero, as that is almost always the kiss of death to a series. Teasing the fans by leaving us wondering is extremely frustrating for her readers, but it is exactly that teasing that keeps us coming back for more. And with the exception of perhaps the last paragraph (which this reader could have done without), FINGER LICKIN’ FIFTEEN really delivers a nice character balance.

FINGER LICKIN’ FIFTEEN has all the comedy, adventure and sexual possibility that Evanovich fans come back for again and again. Now if Janet can just drop those incredibly unanticipated between the number books and put all her concentration on the sixteenth book, this reader truly believes Plum fans will be back in droves.