Okay, I didn’t get to Stephanie Plum six yet because someone else borrowed it in the library so I decided to go for the Between the Numbers novellas since they’re short and don’t really require knowledge of the other books that I don’t know.

Anyway, the four novellas are holiday themed which allows Evanovich to have a lot of fun with the characters from the love focused Plum Lovin to the New Jersey horror shows in Plum Spooky. It’s all out comedy but my favorite had to be Plum Lovin when Stephanie races to match up couples for her client, Annie Hart as she hides in the safe house. Steph ends up getting pretty invested, even helping a thirty year old virgin by watching a porno with her, Lulu and Grandma Mazur. Plus we get an update on the Lulu/Tank relationship and their wedding plans. And then the trick wedding between Albert and Valerie.

Though I must admit the fire-farter in Plum Spooky, all of Doug and ‘s relationship in Plum Luck, and the Night before Christmas rhyme for a classic Plum car explosion and the elf attacks in Visions of Sugar Plums were pretty hilarious too.

These books are also the first appearance of Diesal (no relation to the oil) and his supernatural abilities, helpful since Stephanie’s perps in these books are magical in nature too like Sandy Klaws, Wulf (who looks like Dracula but has the powers of a mad man) and a leperchaun who bungles his luck. While the magic is tame, more of a may be real, may not be real, it adds to the fun and the off-the-wall craziness these books are known for.
Additionally, I enjoyed with the magic hijinks there’s less poop/fluid humor which I appreciated.

Diesal is a fine character. He’s like Ranger with his mysteriousness but friendlier and flirtier like Joe. Which adds a little zing to his interactions with Stephanie though its clearly nothing more than wanting to get into her pants. Which Stephanie kind of wants to reciprocate but also knows its a bad idea.

As such, Morelli and Ranger aren’t really present in these books besides Ranger knowing of Diesal and warning her that he’s dangerous and Morelli getting jealous before she reassures him. Actually, there’s quite a progression as Stephanie helps Morelli when his obnoxious cousin moves in. It’s clear that he relies on her advice just as much as she relies on his in bounty hunting. They’re practically a live in couple.

So I heartily enjoyed these novellas and are the most fun of the series I believe. Now I will get to Plum #6-10.