Evanovich’s ‘Twelve’ funny, irreverent
“Twelve Sharp”
by Janet Evanovich (St. Martin’s Press, 320 pages, $26.95)
At this point in Janet Evanovich’s wildly successful and highly amusing series about Stephanie Plum, New Jersey’s most incompetent bounty hunter, all readers really want to know are:
How many cars will Stephanie destroy? How many times will she be humiliated trying to bring in a bond jumper who just will not be brought in?
What will Lula, the former hooker turned bond agent/file clerk, wear? Will Stephanie finally choose between the hot cop Joe Morelli or the even hotter, enigmatic security expert Ranger?
And is “Twelve Sharp” funny?
Not to spoil anything, but Lula wears spandex (what else?) and yes, “Twelve Sharp” is funny, adhering to Evanovich’s trademark slapstick, irreverent humor.
But just when readers think they’ve figured out Evanovich’s formula, she takes a wide turn this time around. While humor, Stephanie’s lust for Morelli and Ranger, and a penchant for not taking anything seriously do drive the story, Evanovich also brings a bit of a darker approach; the plot touches on identity theft, stalking and celebrity worship.
Regardless of her prurient feelings for Ranger, Stephanie has never doubted his “integrity and strength of character” – that is, until a woman barges into the bond enforcement office, claiming she’s Ranger’s wife and that he wiped out her bank accounts. Then there’s a news alert that Ranger is suspected of kidnapping his daughter, who lives in Florida with his ex-wife and her husband. Meanwhile, Ranger seems to have disappeared.
None of these aspects – especially the kidnapping of a child – would seem humorous, but Evanovich makes it all work. She is one of the few writers whose skill can turn what should be serious moments into boisterously funny scenes.
And her technique shines in “Twelve Sharp.” The boundaries of good taste are deliciously stretched; low-brow comedy becomes an art in Evanovich’s hands.
An ad for a full-time bond enforcement agent brings out a slew of people – of various sizes, ages and sex – each of whom insists on dressing like Dog the Bounty Hunter. And the new owners of the local funeral home, a committed gay couple, are a hit thanks to the yummy cookies served during wakes.
Evanovich’s unapologetic impudence and politically incorrect approach have put the last eight novels on best-seller lists, brought thousands to her book signings and accounted for an estimated 4 1/2 million monthly hits to her Web site.
Likewise, “Twelve Sharp” lives up to its title.