Finally, I got around to reading #6-10 in the Stephanie Plum series, and wow, thngs happen.

Lots of big changes in Stephanie’s life, the foremost is that her perfect sister, Saint Valerie has returned to the Burg because her perfect marriage has crumbled in the most cliche way possible. Her husband has run off with the nanny. Now this a very thread as Valerie falls apart in a midlife crisis from trying to be a lesbian to joining the bounty hunting game to finally finding love with the wimpy but lovable . She was my favorite part I must admit.

The other big, but more brief changes in Stephanie’s life are when Grandma Mazur briefly moves in with Steph and Steph moves in with Joe! This was cool to see the development of their relationship and how well they work together in semi-domestic bliss. Even with some bumps in the road as Joe’s Grandma Bella direly predicts that Stephanie will be pregnant and married, bringing up some important concerns as to the future of their relationship and her worries about that. This will later tie with the con I talk about below.

But before I get into the negatives, the baddies here get sicker especially the Junkman of #10. He was so mysterious with how he always crept at the edges, leaving bomb warnings before finally exploding in the last few pages. Not literally but his presence is finally known as he and Stephanie come face to face. I was personally creeped out by the snipers of book 8 with how careless and disassociated they were from reality, killing everyone like it was some sort of Grand Theft Auto video game.

As for the love triangle, it supposedly heats up. . . not so much unless you mean fry my nerves.

Stephanie sleeps with Ranger, and by sleeps, I mean she sleeps in his bed while he sleeps next to her. Nothing sexual happens but Stephanie admits that she wants it to happen. Plus Ranger is non too subtle about wanting her back. And there lies the conflict that Stephanie wants them both. But it’s so obvious that it’s going to be Joe. They have banter, they have been living together, they have history. And she admits that she knows Ranger and her wouldn’t go very far, she isn’t even sure of his home, past, background etc. It’s lust pure and simple, and I find it very silly that she considers it a real choice between them. And I know it’s supposed to be a comedy but somehow in this world of humping dogs, leperchauns and accountent short peoples, I find this the most unrealistic part.

But besides that, there are a good amount of high points like the return and glory of Sally Sweet, the female Ranger, Stephanie vs Joyce rivalry and more.

Next up #11-15!