Twelve Sharp

In the twelfth in the Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, series--Plum is tracking a killer who has kidnapped the daughter of her mentor and sometimes lover, Ranger. Lorelei King once again displays her impeccable versatility as she portrays a dozen characters, not only sexy, savvy 30-year-old Plum, but also Plum's two loves--mysterious Ranger and tough Vice cop Joe Morelli--as well as the terrified kidnapped child. Even though the book has a tense, dark plot, King shines in its comic moments, which feature Plum's sassy, unpredictable partner, Lula, as well as her swinger Grandma, impatient mother, and grumpy father. In a big audiobook bonus, King interviews the author on life, love, work habits, and Plum's muddled relationships with men. M.T.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

May 22, 2006
The mixture of slapstick and gunplay that has put Evanovich's series about a sassy, less than competent New Jersey bounty hunter at the top of bestseller lists once again works its magic in Stephanie Plum's latest caper (after 2005's Eleven on Top
). Stephanie, who freely admits her failings as a hunter of fugitives, faces a growing work backlog that threatens the continued existence of her job. Her clumsy efforts to clear some cases, along with the help of her outrageous colleague, Lula, result only in their adding another sad sack to the office payroll—a forlorn shoe salesman who's talked off a ledge by Stephanie's offer of a position as file clerk. Stephanie's ambivalence toward the two men in her life becomes harder to maintain when one of them, the mysterious Ranger, is accused of kidnapping his own daughter. Countless over-the-top scenes, including one at a funeral parlor, will delight longtime fans. 1.25 million first printing; author tour.

Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, is once again thrust into a sassy criminal capture that puts her career in crisis, places her life at risk, and asks the question of whom she really loves. Lorelei King nails each character with a distinctive tone and voice. From wisecracking Plum to capricious Grandma to the forlorn shoe salesman Plum talks off a window ledge with the promise of employment, the story's cast exhibits King's flair for characterization and drama. When Grandma seeks work as a singer, her practice of "Before you break my heart...think it over" will keep listeners laughing. The production, which includes a bonus interview with the author, will delight fans and create new ones. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine