Hard Eight: A Stephanie Plum Novel

This book again just answers the questions, why is Evanovich one of my favorite authors? She's funny and yet still realistic in many ways. She keeps the motion moving in her books and the tension tight when it needs to be. Superb as always. She does an excellent job of keeping all the characters straight in the book which makes it an easy read despite having a lot of characters. I think there a tendency in people who read one author to begin to say, 'wait, she's not as funny as she used to be....' 'this isn't as good as the first one'. I think many times we are comparing our excitement at finding a new author who is excellent to now when we are again on the never ending quest for a new author and this one isn't new anymore. It's unfortunate for authors that this happens. I can honestly say that Janet Evanovich novels have not grown old and Number 8 is as good as all the others before it. I have no reason to expect number 9, 10, and so on won't be just as great. I thought this was just right in line with her other novels. It is not often you can laugh at lawyers, hot sex, blown up cars, and clothes dryers in one book. I thought Ranger was as sexy as ever and the tension between them was oh so good. I thought the relationship between her and Morrelli was very interesting. I would have like more of Grandma. I just laugh and laugh at the Grandma. But Lula is a hoot as always, even in times of stress. I particularly like how she refers to other events in other novels and brings the reader up to speed at times about who a character is or how they came into her life. All of this and more keeps me anxious for book 9, 10 and so on. The main story line this time, I think, held more of a realistic story to it- a woman trying to make ends meet, a yucky husband (ex now) and stretched a bit with the really scary bad guy. The whole story line is good. Enjoy.

Janet E is definitely hitting her stride with this one. Best one yet, but haven’t read #9 and beyond. A little less slapstick helps it shine.

I sit eagerly awaiting the next Stephanie Plum book, so let me begin by saying that Hard Eight is not my favorite of the series. I loved the humor in this volume it had me laughing out loud (as I had hoped for). Stephanie's adventure with her newest sidekick Kloughn had me ready to scream because he kept tagging along, but actually I came to love the scenes with him. I'm not giving a lot away by saying the dryer scene alone makes Kloughn one of the highlights of this episode in the Stephanie Plum series. I may be one of the few though who found the last 50 or so pages to be a non-stop rush of events that built from her heated flirting with Ranger to a blink of an eye event that made me go back to make sure I hadn't skipped over some pages. The book flashed over a scene between Stephanie and Ranger that made you think "Wait, What happened?" It was like a cliffhanger that wasn't because you knew the answer but none of the facts. Let me just say Stephanie and Ranger have had some of the hottest flirting through several of the previous books and Hard Eight let it hit straight ice water. Nothing to do with the books but fans keep saying "Oh Ranger couldn't be relationship material" and this book made gave in to those fans that have been waiting for that. Why? I love books with a mysterious hero who you don't know too much about but ends up being a good guy (which so far Ranger has been he cares for Stephanie). Consistantly through this Volume 8 especially Ranger is there watching out for her making sure she's got security, has bullets in her gun and when she calls he is there without fail what's not to like? If he is a bad guy how does why is he the "Primo" Bounty hunter and as mentioned through out the series the guy the cops want to be carrying a gun? Ranger doesn't seem to be a thug and Hard Eight gave him a Hard Ride, now, he's not mysterious, but an "Opportunist" doesn't sound like the Ranger we've come to know and adore. Abruzzi (the bad guy of the book) was scary and had me jumpy, but in only a few pages it was over. And why aren't the cops doing anything about this guy? Stephanie is the star of the series, but it looks like the bounty hunters (Stephanie/Ranger/Vinnie) take down more criminals than Joe (vice cop/homicide detective). The book seemed to heavily edited or something. I love that Janet usually has the book full of Stephanies thoughts about everything that happens to her and in this book two rather major events went wham bam thank you ma'am fast without satisfying me. I'll read the book over and over because I love the series but it's not my favorite. The humor of the book held me though, so it is worth a try, but if you wonder like I did what happened in the ending you aren't alone... The audio version is decent, but I was thrilled to discover that this time around CJ Critt was back with a version through Recorded Books. After listening to her rendition of the book I was forced to raise my rating of 3 stars to 4 simply because there are things she brought to the story. Unlike some I'll keep reading Janet as long as she keeps me laughing. My complaint quit switching narrators on the audio versions Recorded Books is the company for quality and CJ is the narrator who brings Stephanie's story to it's full potential.

Stephanie has a lot of bad days in this book — bail jumpers who don’t want to be caught, missing persons who don’t want to be found, and a madman who sends men out to terrorize her. Her stun gun doesn’t work. She keeps losing handcuffs. And her gun is usually at home in the cookie jar. The reader can expect interesting corpses, torched cars — and lots of laughs — business as usual for Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter.

Love the characters and plot in her Stephanie Plumb books. I've read many and can't wait to read the next one

I had taken a break from reading Stephanie Plum books but so I glad I went back. I love all the characters. The book is full of humor as always and a great read. Can’t wait to read Book 9 . Can’t wait to see what situations Steph gets into and will she be with Morelli or Ranger. I’m hoping Morelli he’s the long term guy ❤️

I enjoyed the 8th book in Evanovich's series; thought that the darkening of the plot and the very real threat posed by mobster Abruzzi turned the series in a direction I'd wanted to see. As usual, in my crowd, when I'm the first to finish a new Evanovich, everyone else wants to know - "Who was the sex with?"....and I'm not telling, although it was not as well interwoven with the novel as in the past. I see other reviewers were not that shy, and did divulge! Stephanie and her sister have a new hanger-on, Albert Kloughn (pronounced "clown", naturally), and he supplied some funny moments. I was a little tired of the "no bullets in the gun" element of the plot, and I think Evanovich should realize that this probably wouldn't happen at this stage of Steph's career as a bounty hunter. Good use of Vinnie, Connie & the inevitable Lula in this story - even showing that Lula can experience fear. A nice follow up, maybe not as good as some of the earlier work, but definitely hard to put down!

A great history as all the ones about Stephanie! I read the first six books in Italien, my mother language,but for this one I couldn't wait for the translation!!! A series I really suggest

Quand une voisine des parents de Stéphanie Plum demande à celle-ci de retrouver sa fille et sa petite-fille - parties brusquement de chez elles - notre chasseuse de primes ne se doute pas qu'elle va devenir la victime d'une campagne d'intimidation de la part d'un gangster du coin. Outre cette enquête principale, la jeune femme se voit confier d'autres cas de personnes à appréhender, des cas simples, parait-il, mais rien ne l'est vraiment avec Stephanie... A nouveau, c'est un livre très drôle que nous offre Janet Evanovich et l'on rit de bon coeur des aventures - des mésaventures surtout! - de Stéphanie Plum. Partagée entre enquêtes, romance et histoires de famille, l'héroïne nous plonge dans son monde un brin déjanté et pour notre plus grand plaisir!

Very good plot, humorous and constantly unpredictable. The hilarious parts - worthy of a top-notch sitcom - don't diminish in the least the gripping suspense up to the very end. WARNING: Stephanie Plum books are ADDICTIVE. This is my Eighth in a row in less than 3 weeks! In spite of a hectic work schedule...!

I worship Janet and all her Janet-ness. Keep them coming!

過去、何冊ものペーパーバックを読み始めては挫折してきた英語苦手な私が、 翻訳版のあまりの面白さに、原語ではなんて書いてあるのか知りたい一心で読み始めたのがこれ。 信じられないほどサクサク進んで初の読了ペーパーバックとなりました。 辞書はほとんど無用、というより引いても無駄？ だってフィーリングで理解するしかないevanovich語ともいうべき造語や俗語満載なんですもの。 中学英語程度で読めるけど、教育上問題あるかな？ 電車の中で読んでて思わずニヤニヤ、ぷぷっ、笑いをこらえるのに苦労した、なんてのも洋書では初めて体験しました。 日本語版と原書と、１冊で２度おいしい作家ですね！