Eleven on Top

Yesterday, I picked up Janet Evanovich's latest "Stephanie Plum" mystery called Eleven on Top -- the 11th in a series. Since yesterday was hot and sticky and our air conditioning exists only in the bedroom, I holed up with a cool drink, a couple of thick pillows and the book. Finished it in one sitting.

Evanovich writes to a formula and she has it pretty well nailed. Stephanie has a knack for getting herself into horrible situations and somehow surviving. She is surrounded by a basketful of equally unique characters. I read her books for comfort and the laughs and pretty much expect nothing. That's pretty much what I got. The murder mystery that is solved during the book is little more than a subplot this time around and I almost wonder why Evanovich even bothered with it. Still, it was a fun and quick read.

A few years back, I checked into some of the fan fiction that has been written based on the characters in this book. It would definitely be interesting to get a bit more background on some of the folks that make brief appearances and that's a perfect subject for fan fiction. There were actually one or two rather good pieces among them.

Evanovich definitely leaves the reader wanting to know more, especially about Ranger and his set up. This book doesn't do much to further that line of inquiry.