Book Review: Twelve Sharp

Title:  Twelve Sharp
Author:  Janet Evanovich
Pages:  310
Publication Date:  2006
Version:  Audio Book
Genre:  Adult Fiction (Mystery/Cozy Mystery)

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, where bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's life is about to implode in Janet Evanovich's wildest, hottest novel yet!
 
FIRST A STRANGER APPEARS
While chasing down the usual cast of miscreants and weirdos Stephanie discovers that a crazed woman is stalking her.
 
THEN THE STRANGER REVEALS HER SECRETS
The woman dresses in black, carries a 9mm Glock, and has a bad attitude and a mysterious connection to dark and dangerous Carlos Manoso …street name, Ranger. 
 
NEXT, SOMEBODY DIES
The action turns deadly serious, and Stephanie goes from hunting skips to hunting a murderer. 
 
SOON, THE CHASE IS ON
Ranger needs Stephanie for more reasons than he can say.  And now, the two are working together to find a killer, rescue a missing child, and stop a lunatic from raising the body count.  When Stephanie Plum and Ranger get too close for comfort, vice cop Joe Morelli (her on-again, off-again boyfriend) steps in.  
 
Will the ticking clock stop at the stroke of twelve, or will a stranger in the wind find a way to stop Stephanie Plum…forever?  Filled with Janet Evanovich's trademark action, nonstop adventure, and sharp humor, Twelve Sharp shows why her novels have been called "hot stuff" (The New York Times), and Evanovich herself "the master" (San Francisco Examiner). "

My Review:

I must say that this was the first book in this series that I had my doubts about as I started reading it.  I felt like it just wasn't going in ant kind of direction at first.  I wasn't seeing a mystery of any kind.  It did pick up, but I felt it was a bit of a slow roller.  Also there was really only one plot line in this book, usually there are more or the one there is is more intense.  Now, I did continue to read it because of my love for Stephanie Plum and her friends and family.  As the book progressed it did come to be that edge of your seat read I am so used to from Evanovich.  It was more like a rollercoaster, a really high one.  It was a bit slow to climb but once it finally hit the peak it was a real rush to the end.  

Stephanie, Luna, Grandma, Ranger, and Joe are always worth reading a book for.  The relationships alone are like some soap opera at times that just make you want to keep reading to see where they really will go.  I also find myself going back and forth as much as Stephanie for which man she should pick for her boyfriend and bedroom relationship.  Like the other books, these characters didn't disappoint me while I was reading.  After reading so much of the series I feel like I really know know these characters, like they are real people to me now.  

I couldn't help but laugh out loud when reading some of the parts in this book.  For example there is a part when Grandma decides to be in a band and her "costume" is just amazingly hilarious!!  Plus Stephanie's father's reaction to it all is PRICELESS!!!  If you read this book for no other reason it has to be for the hilarity of it all!  So what started out as an iffy book to me turned out to be a pretty decent read in the end.  The ending if this book was a shock and a half too!  So, was it the best book I've read in the series...no.  Was it still worth the read...yes!  Even if you read it for nothing more than to build up more information for the next book in line.  

3/5 Stars