One Sentence Summary:
A female bounty hunter must navigate through personal and professional obstacles while chasing down a notorious bail jumper in this comedic mystery novel by Janet Evanovich.
Book Genre:
Comedic Mystery Fiction
Main Topic of the Book:
The main topic of the book is the adventures and misadventures of a female bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum, as she tries to apprehend a bail jumper while juggling her personal life and relationships.
Key Ideas:
- Female empowerment and breaking traditional gender roles – Stephanie Plum is a strong, independent woman in a predominantly male-dominated profession.
- The importance of family and friendships – Stephanie relies on her wacky family and eccentric friends to help her through tough times.
- Love and romance – Stephanie is torn between two love interests – her hunky co-worker Ranger and the charming cop, Joe Morelli.
- Crime and justice – Stephanie’s job as a bounty hunter puts her in the middle of various criminal activities and she must use her wit and cunning to bring the culprits to justice.
Main Parts of the Book and Short Summary:
- Part One: Stephanie’s life takes a dramatic turn when she is assigned to hunt down a bail jumper named Jimmy Poletti, who has been accused of robbery and murder. She enlists the help of her mentor and ex-cop, Ranger, and sets out to capture Jimmy.
- Part Two: Stephanie discovers that Jimmy has ties to her ex-husband, Dickie Orr, who she despises. She also reconnects with Morelli, who is now working on the same case and sparks fly between them once again.
- Part Three: Stephanie faces several obstacles in her pursuit of Jimmy and must use her quick thinking and resourcefulness to outsmart him. Meanwhile, her love life becomes more complicated as she tries to balance her feelings for Ranger and Morelli.
- Part Four: Stephanie finally catches Jimmy but ends up in a dangerous situation when he escapes custody. With the help of Ranger and Morelli, she must use all of her skills to bring him back to justice.
- Part Five: As Stephanie’s personal and professional lives collide, she must make a tough decision about who to trust and where her heart truly lies.
Key Takeaways:
- A strong and independent woman can achieve success in traditionally male-dominated fields.
- Familial and romantic relationships play a crucial role in a person’s life.
- Crime and justice are complex issues and require quick thinking and clever strategies to solve.
Author’s Background and Qualifications:
Janet Evanovich is an American author best known for her romantic mystery novels and her “Stephanie Plum” series. She worked as a secretary and freelance writer before publishing her first novel, “One for the Money”, in 1994. She has won numerous awards and sold millions of copies worldwide.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this book is primarily women, particularly those who enjoy humor, romance, and mystery in their reading. Fans of the “Stephanie Plum” series and Evanovich’s other works will also enjoy this book.
Publisher and First Publication Date:
“Twelve Sharp” was published by St. Martin’s Press in June 2006.