High Five

High Five by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With no bail jumpers on the horizon, Stephanie Plum's side gigs prove more dangerous than her normal work: tracking down her missing uncle, doing odd jobs for the mysterious and sexy Ranger, and desperately avoiding an old enemy.

Stephanie is back to being on the outs with Morelli, whose views on marriage differ from her own. She also continues her losing streak with cars, inadvertently introduces Grandma Mazur to the joy of a stun gun, and rooms with a little person. Not to mention a familiar psychopath leaving heavy breathing on her answering machine. Her plate's full, even if her fridge, wallet, and bed remain stubbornly empty.

The pattern of Evanovich is starting to become more clear, but it's still a fun outing in the life of a cupcake bounty hunter. Some jokes at the expense of a new side character gave me pause: so far in the series we've had a large black woman, a female impersonator, and now a little person added to provide flamboyant background color. It's in questionable taste. Keep it classy, Evanovich.

Quotable:

"'Almost everybody I know has died,' Grandma said. 'Bunch of wimps.'"

"It exploded and caught fire and then the garbage truck fell over on it." (Just another day in the life of serial car murderer Stephanie Plum.)