Hard Eight - Softcover

Evanovich, Janet

Softcover

ISBN 10: 031298894X ISBN 13: 9780312988944

Publisher: St Martins Pr, 2003

Synopsis

Hard Up
Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum has a big problem on her hands: Seven-year-old Annie Soder and her mother, Evelyn, have disappeared. Evelyn's estranged husband, Steven, a shady owner of a seedy bar, is not at all happy. Finding a kidnapped child is not an assignment for a bounty hunter. But Evelyn's grandmother lives next door to Stephanie's parents, so Stephanie follows the trail left by Annie and Evelyn-and finds a lot more than she bargained for.

Hard Risk
Steven Soder is somehow linked with a very scary Eddie Abruzzi. Trenton cop and on-again, off-again fiancé Joe Morelli and Stephanie's mentor and tormentor, Ranger, warn Stephanie about Abruzzi, but it's Abruzzi's eyes and mannerisms that frighten Stephanie most. Stephanie needs Ranger's savvy and expertise, and she's willing to accept his help to find Annie even though it might mean getting too involved with Ranger. Stephanie, Ranger, Lula (who's not going to miss riding with Ranger), and Evelyn's lawyer/Laundromat manager set out to find Annie. The search turns out to be a race among Stephanie's posse, the True Blue Bonds' agent-a Rangerette known as Jeanne Ellen Burrows-and the Abruzzi crew. Plus, there's a killer rabbit on the loose!

Hard Eight
Strap on your helmet and get ready for the ride of your life! Hard Eight. The world of Stephanie Plum has never been wilder.

About this title

Review:

In Hard Eight, Stephanie Plum picks up a case a little nastier than anything the wisecracking bounty hunter's seen before. Evelyn Soder and her young daughter have gone on the run, leaving an angry ex-husband who's planning to collect on a child custody bond that will leave Evelyn's grandmother homeless. Stephanie's first clue that there's more to it than that comes in the form of Eddie Abruzzi: a shady local businessman who warns her to butt out of the case. Stephanie doesn't scare easily, but when Abruzzi's henchmen leave a bag of snakes on her doorknob and tarantulas in her car, she has no choice but to call Ranger, the hunky man of mystery to whom she already owes too many favours. Steph knows that Ranger will soon be calling in his debts, but with her ex-fiancé Joe Morelli out of the picture, that should be OK--shouldn't it?

In the meantime, she's got other fugitives to catch, aided by the usual band of misfits, plus a bumbling correspondence-school lawyer who's developed the hots for Stephanie's sister, Valerie. And Steph's in for a surprise from her mother, who proves she's not above wielding a dangerous weapon to save her daughter's life. Author Janet Evanovich has made a bold move in using a soupçon of child jeopardy to pull this series out of the comfortable but formulaic pattern it was threatening to fall into. It's still funny, and yes, some cars are destroyed, but now there's a real edge of darkness under the humour. Fans needn't fear, though: Jersey girl Stephanie is still full of sass and Tastykakes. --Barrie Trinkle, Amazon.com

Review:

"Keeps up Evanovich's standards for over-the-top situations" -"Chicago Tribune"

"Offers the best action yet."-"Newark Star-Ledger"

"The girl mercenary is as fresh as ever." -People

"H"ard Eigh"t is most emphatically not Raymond Chandler but, like his work, a piece of finely crafted prose." -"San Francisco Chronicle"

"Plum is one of fiction's most irresistible heroines.""-Seattle Post Intelligencer "

"Well plotted and cleverly resolved...her wickedly funny characterizations and the intriguing love triangle are what keep her readers coming back for more."-"Bookpage"

"As close to summer escapism as you can get. Evanovich hits a high note with her newest...a great addition to a well-stocked beach bag."-"Houston Chronicle "

"A perfect summer vacation book...promises fun, laughter, and unforgettable characters...Evanovich delivers."-"Tennessean "(Nashville, TN)

"Thrills mixed with lust, seasoned with humor: a delightful escape."-"News & Record "(Greensboro, NC)

"Evanovich produces more than "beach reading." She writes rollicking, raunchy, hysterical fiction that is so real, you will laugh out loud and want to visit the Burg."-"Rockwall County News"

"Just when you think the adventures of Plum and company can't get any funnier or more convoluted, Janet Evanovich proves you wrong-nobody does it better!" -"Romantic Times"

Keeps up Evanovich's standards for over-the-top situations "Chicago Tribune"

[A] must read...readers will want to finish this delightful work in one sitting. "Midwest Book Review"

Offers the best action yet. "Newark Star-Ledger"

The girl mercenary is as fresh as ever. "People"

H"ard Eigh"t is most emphatically not Raymond Chandler but, like his work, a piece of finely crafted prose. "San Francisco Chronicle"

Plum is one of fiction's most irresistible heroines. "Seattle Post Intelligencer"

Evanovich has certainly come a long way since One for the Money; her latest Stephanie Plum mystery merits a one-day national laydown on June 18. "Library Journal"

Well plotted and cleverly resolved...her wickedly funny characterizations and the intriguing love triangle are what keep her readers coming back for more. "Bookpage"

As close to summer escapism as you can get. Evanovich hits a high note with her newest...a great addition to a well-stocked beach bag. "Houston Chronicle"

A perfect summer vacation book...promises fun, laughter, and unforgettable characters...Evanovich delivers. "Tennessean (Nashville, TN)"

Thrills mixed with lust, seasoned with humor: a delightful escape. "News & Record (Greensboro, NC)"

Evanovich produces more than "beach reading." She writes rollicking, raunchy, hysterical fiction that is so real, you will laugh out loud and want to visit the Burg. "Rockwall County News"

Just when you think the adventures of Plum and company can't get any funnier or more convoluted, Janet Evanovich proves you wrong-nobody does it better! "Romantic Times""

"Keeps up Evanovich's standards for over-the-top situations" --Chicago Tribune

"[A] must read...readers will want to finish this delightful work in one sitting." --Midwest Book Review

"Offers the best action yet." --Newark Star-Ledger

"The girl mercenary is as fresh as ever." --People

"Hard Eight is most emphatically not Raymond Chandler but, like his work, a piece of finely crafted prose." --San Francisco Chronicle

"Plum is one of fiction's most irresistible heroines." --Seattle Post Intelligencer

"Evanovich has certainly come a long way since One for the Money; her latest Stephanie Plum mystery merits a one-day national laydown on June 18." --Library Journal

"Well plotted and cleverly resolved...her wickedly funny characterizations and the intriguing love triangle are what keep her readers coming back for more." --Bookpage

"As close to summer escapism as you can get. Evanovich hits a high note with her newest...a great addition to a well-stocked beach bag." --Houston Chronicle

"A perfect summer vacation book...promises fun, laughter, and unforgettable characters...Evanovich delivers." --Tennessean (Nashville, TN)

"Thrills mixed with lust, seasoned with humor: a delightful escape." --News & Record (Greensboro, NC)

"Evanovich produces more than "beach reading." She writes rollicking, raunchy, hysterical fiction that is so real, you will laugh out loud and want to visit the Burg." --Rockwall County News

"Just when you think the adventures of Plum and company can't get any funnier or more convoluted, Janet Evanovich proves you wrong-nobody does it better!" --Romantic Times

About this edition

• Publisher: St Martins Pr
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 031298894X
• ISBN 13: 9780312988944
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352