Hard Eight - Softcover

Evanovich, Janet

4.17

125,267 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0747267626 ISBN 13: 9780747267621

Publisher: Headline Review, 2003

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It's a race against time when a child goes missing ...
Stephanie can't say no when a neighbour begs her to find a missing family member - not even when local mob man Eddie Abruzzi becomes linked to the disappearance, and threatens to end Stephanie's search by ending her life. Stephanie is going to need help and someone to watch her back. Since she's on the off with cop Joe Morelli, that leaves her mentor and tormentor, Ranger. And that could be the most dangerous thing of all...

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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-fianc� 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 soup�on 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

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