February Book Club: Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich
Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum is back, and despite living through 30 (Yes, 30!!) books’ worth of car explosions, perilous bounty hunts, and Lula’s daring fashion choices, she’s barely aged a day. Meanwhile, Janet Evanovich, her fearless creator, is now in her eighties. Which begs the question: Is the end in sight?
For those of you who gave up on the series ages ago because the love triangle lasted longer than some marriages or the plots started feeling a bit same old, same old, there’s a glimmer of hope. Stephanie is finally (finally!) taking a hard look at her life and relationships, wondering if marriage is ever in the cards for her—and more importantly, if Morelli or Ranger (or realistically, either of them) is actually husband material.
Now before you start yelling, “Just get rid of them both and bring in someone new!”—let me stop you. Please no, thank you. (Though, if you’ve read the Between the Numbers books starring hunky Diesel, you might have other opinions.)
Speaking of opinions, I’ve been running a reader poll for years on the Great Plum Love Debate, and guess what? After over 250 responses, it turns out we’re more of a Morelli crowd than a Ranger crowd! (Babe.)
If you love the classic Burg mix of chaos, fire, and funeral home antics, Dirty Thirty delivers. Lula, Connie, and Grandma Mazur are all present and accounted for, bringing the usual blend of questionable decisions and laugh-out-loud moments. And for a fun twist, Stephanie’s mom actually gets involved in the investigation. I can’t remember her ever jumping into the action before, and honestly? I liked it.
The mystery itself is solid, with plenty of twists, but let’s be real—no one reads Stephanie Plum just for the mystery. We read for the characters, the humor, and the inevitable destruction of at least one vehicle. And Dirty Thirty is everything you expect from a trip to the Burg.
How Will It All End? If this is nearing the grand finale of the Plum series, I’m hoping Stephanie gets a happily ever after (plus a huge bounty) and some well-earned sanity. But if Thirty-One follows the same formula as rest, we’ll probably still have questions when it’s over.
And that leads me to my next question—how long should a book series go? I remember how sad I was when Sue Grafton passed away before finishing her alphabet mystery series (Y is for WHY COULDN’T WE GET TO Z?!). And I’ve seen what happens when ghostwriters take over a beloved series after an author’s passing (RIP Robert Parker, Tom Clancy, Tony Hillerman).
But here’s the real question: Have you read any of these continuation books? Are they any good? Or does it feel like a pale imitation of the real thing? Let’s discuss!
In the meantime, I’ll be here, patiently (okay, not so patiently) waiting for my turn at Now or Never: Thirty-One—currently #68 in line for the library hold shelf. I’m still hoping Grandma Mazur never changes, Lula gets her reality show, and Stephanie figures out if she wants a ring or just a lifetime supply of chicken and biscuits from Cluck-in-a-Bucket.
Do you want your vote to count? If you haven’t weighed in on our reader poll yet, here’s your chance! Take it today.
Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 15 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.
Parents, kids, and teachers love the children’s books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through fun, engaging stories. And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project coming together the night before it’s due.
A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.