One sentence summary
Stephanie Plum, the sassy and sometimes clumsy bounty hunter, gets tangled up in a murder case while trying to track down a missing groomsman in the 17th installment of the Stephanie Plum series, ‘Smokin’ Seventeen’ by Janet Evanovich.
Book genre
Mystery, Crime Fiction, Humorous Fiction
Main topic of the book
A crime spree in the fictional city of Trenton, New Jersey, which Stephanie Plum and her sidekick, Lula, try to solve while dealing with their own personal dramas and love interests.
Key ideas
- A comical and gripping mystery that keeps the readers on the edge of their seats
- A light-hearted and easy read with witty dialogue and lovable characters
- The importance of friendship and trust in solving crimes and facing life’s challenges
- The struggles of being a female bounty hunter in a male-dominated profession
- The blurred lines between professional and personal relationships
Main parts of the book and a short summary
- Part One: The Missing Groomsman – Stephanie Plum is on a mission to find her cousin’s missing groomsman, but soon discovers he may have been involved in a large-scale criminal operation.
- Part Two: Murder and Mystery – While trying to track down the missing groomsman, Stephanie stumbles upon a dead body and finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
- Part Three: Clues and Confessions – With the help of her sidekick, Lula, Stephanie gathers clues and interrogates suspects to solve both the missing person and murder cases.
- Part Four: Love and Loyalty – Stephanie’s love interests, Joe Morelli and Ranger, also get involved in the case, causing tension and confusion in her personal life.
- Part Five: The Final Showdown – As Stephanie inches closer to solving the cases, she becomes the target of the dangerous criminals and must use all of her wits and skills to come out alive.
Key takeaways
- Life is unpredictable, but having a good sense of humor and supportive friends can make it easier to navigate through the challenges.
- Love can come in different forms and sometimes it’s not easy to choose between two options.
- Murder cases may seem daunting, but with determination and persistence, they can be solved.
Author’s background and qualifications
Janet Evanovich is a bestselling American author known for her comedic mystery novels. She has written over 70 books, including the popular Stephanie Plum series, and has sold over 75 million copies worldwide. Evanovich has won multiple awards for her work, including the Crime Writers’ Association’s Gold Dagger for fiction. She has also worked as a freelance writer and a pen-for-hire in the past, giving her a diverse writing background.
Target audience
Fans of the Stephanie Plum series, lovers of mystery and crime fiction, and readers looking for a light and entertaining read will enjoy ‘Smokin’ Seventeen’ by Janet Evanovich. This book is also suitable for anyone who enjoys a good balance of humor and suspense in their reading.
Publisher and first publication date
‘Smokin’ Seventeen’ was published by Bantam Books on June 21, 2011. It is the 17th book in the Stephanie Plum series, with the first book, ‘One for the Money’, published in 1994.