Twelve Sharp (Stephanie Plum, No. 12) Reviews

• The best in awhile...

  
  By A1TWTULVD6F22O on 2006-06-30
  
  Evanovich brings back Stephanie Plum and all of her cohorts (leaving out, thankfully, her sister & brood) in a tale that has Ranger seemingly cloned and hiding out from the cops, based on the crimes committed by whoever is impersonating him.
  
  Bravo to Evanovich for not blowing up Stephanie's Mini-Cooper!
  
  On a more serious note, this particular plot, about the kidnap of a child, hit a less over the top vein than some of the earlier Plum novels. And I must say, I loved the way the story evolved and the very real dangers and feelings the characters displayed in the story. No clowns for villains here.
  
  I have read other reader's comments about the focus on sex while Ranger's child was missing and the seeming willingness that Stephanie had to cheat on Morelli. I don't dismiss those as concerns on some readers' part, I just didn't feel they detracted from the book or the plot. I enjoyed it thoroughly and read it in record time.
  
  More, More!!!
  
  
  
  

• Stephanie's best yet!

  
  By A3AFCZTWL5VNNR on 2006-06-22
  I dove into Twelve Sharp yesterday, read about 250 pages that day and finished it early this morning - so you can tell I love this book - This is a laugh out loud book. The plot mostly centers around Ranger and a Ranger wannabee who has kidnapped his daughter - he turns to Stephanie Plum to help him find the guy and Ranger's kid. The chemistry is hot between Stephanie and Joe, and Stephanie and Ranger - Both guys to swoon for - Stephanie's parents are a perfect foil for her and her Grandma Mazur - I think Grandma Mazur is a hoot - she gets in more trouble and tells it like it is - hilarious!!! Lula is more outrageous, Sally Sweet has her in his rock band, with bizarre concerts -
  I could go on and on - But Ms. Evanovich keep going strong where some serial writers are starting to fade a little -
  A delightful read!
  
  

• Vintage Plum

  
  By A1EF5ODLYYMZIU on 2006-06-26
  Is it funny? Yes.
  
  Does it have a lot of romantic tension? Yes.
  
  Does it have a good villain? Yes.
  
  Is the mystery interesting? Yes.
  
  Are the characters still fun? Yes.
  
  What more do you want out of a summer beach book?
  
  I've heard some reviewers bemoan Ms. Plum's lack of dynamic character development throughout the series. They would like to see Stephanie grow, or change, or mature, or develop, or choose between Ranger and Joe, or become a monk and move to Tibet, or join the Galactic Alliance and fight the Mucus Monsters of Planet Nostril.
  
  I disagree. I think the formula is perfect. It's fun, fast-paced, and always good for some laughs.
  
  You wouldn't ask Walt Disney to make Mickey Mouse more grown-up. Especially since Disney has been dead for several decades.
  
  You shouldn't ask Janet Evanovich to change Stephanie, either. Both Stephanie, and Janet, are perfect the way they are, and I hope they stay that way for many more books.
  
  

• Leaves you wanting more

  
  By A1XZ86HN0UHYLM on 2006-06-20
  This book was great, as are all of Evonovich's Plum series. I was hoping for a little more background on Ranger, which is why this is only four stars. We did get to see a more emotional Ranger (He still doesn't hold a candle to Steph) and the Lula/Tank bit was great! Plus no Valerie and Albert Kloughn (There has been way too much of them in recent books.)Overall, Evonovich is still the writer I wait for every summer!
  
  

• Defamation of Character Lawsuit Justified

  
  By APNKAM49G1YLU on 2006-06-28
  What happened to the characters of Plum World that I fell in love with. In Twelve Sharp, they were not there.
  
  Ranger used to be someone who sometimes acted a little left of center of the law, but according to his own moral code. And we got the sense it was an honorable moral code. And it made him edgy and interesting. In TS, he has become someone with no moral code to speak of. He says that Joe is a good man, then repeatedly poaches on his girlfriend. Of course, he's done so before. But in TS, Joe looked the other way after he saw Ranger when he was supposed to arrest him, and he aided the search for Ranger's daughter. Yet, he still defied Joe and overstepped his boundaries with Steph. It made the poaching that much worse. And how is it ever acceptable to climb into bed with a sleeping woman after she has told you you aren't welcome? And all while his daughter is missing and in danger. This is not the Ranger with a strong moral code we met in the first several books, this is a creepy guy.
  
  And what happened to the Steph who stopped sleeping with Joe in HF because he wouldn't commit to her? Now, she willingly cheats on him with a man who won't commit to her. Huh? Steph is cold, selfish, and immature in TS. There is no doubt she is cheating on Joe, and shows no remorse for it. Her inability to choose between a man she once wanted a commitment from so badly she stopped sleeping with him, who is now giving her that commitment, and a man offering her no commitment at all is non-sensical at best, trashy at worst. Stephanie has lost her own moral compass and her rooting value. The triangle has played out its usefulness and should be discarded before Steph becomes unredeemable.
  
  Now Joe. Joe, Joe, Joe. He was great in this book, as always. Loyal, steadfast, protective, patient, loving. Only now, I don't get the same warm fuzzies reading his scenes as I used to, because I'm too caught up in being sad for him. He's not coming off so much as the loyal boyfriend, as he is the fool. And I hate to see that happen to him. There were too many scenes where Joe was singing Ranger's praises. This man is his rival. Joe wouldn't play him up to Stephanie.
  
  I was happy to see the slapstick of catching skips gone. Steph handled what she had to do with efficiency, and everyone worked together well. The more serious tone of the book appealed to me better. And I loved the re-appearance of Joyce, who's scenes brought the few laugh out loud moments for me. And I did love the scene with Frank Plum trying to protect his cookies from "the Italian Stallion." That was just plain funny. And Joe took the cookie anyway. A great scene showing how well Joe fits into the Plum family. But the loss of the integrity of two of the main characters wasn't enough to save this book.
  
  
  
• Can We Please Move on....
  By A1GQ5PSXX1X56J on 2006-06-21
  I have been an avid reader of this series since the beginning, so it pains me to have to give this book only one star. Usually, I approach a Plum novel with the idea that the material is meant for light and fun reading that isn't to be analyzed in any depth whatsoever. However, the author's portrayal of Steph, and her rather cavalier attitude towards her relationship with Morelli has become disturbing over the last few books, and this one finally did it for me. In numerous scenes, one in particular, Steph is on the verge of cheating on Morelli with Ranger (not the first time, mind you). I find this behavior, and apparent belief that the reader is supposed to say "Go Steph" out of some doublestandard payback, if the guys can do it, why not the women, sort of attitude, to be a disturbing trend in today's non-fiction works. If Morelli were the one doing the cheating, almost cheating, whatever you want to call it, then hate boards around the world would be going up, but hey, it's Steph, so it's okay, right? No, it's not all right. What it is is tiring. The series is old. The romance/triangle is old, every character in this series is old. There is no character growth, no major movement in the storyline, unless you consider Steph's realization that she actually "loves" two men to be much of a realization. Like we didn't see that one coming since book 4. Evanovich has made a joke out of Morelli, a man who for some reason keeps hanging around while Steph continues to make a fool of him. He was the one character who actually had some interesting qualities that could have been explored, but no, he's the ever steady boyfriend that puts up with it all. Steph is childish, immature, a liar, selfish and rude, and it pains me to say that because I used to adore her. Ranger is just Ranger. In my opinion, he's a jerk for moving in on a relationship without having any thought about his interference. Lula, same...Grandma Mazur...same...Steph...same...and the Jersey stereotypes, give me a break. I'm from Jersey and trust me people, we all aren't like the people in these books. It's getting to the point of being downright insulting. Basically, if you don't care that the series is stalled, go ahead and enjoy, but if you've been getting fed up with the lack of plot development in the past six or seven books, don't look for anything new.
  
  
• Series gone wrong
  By AUWZVLEYNFJ7 on 2006-06-26
  The plot has already been outlined by others, so I'll be quick. The usual characters are all back, and the crazy highjinks abound. Everything a Plum fan yearns for is here: Grandma Mazur, Lula, Ranger, plus the added bonus of more info. on Mr. Mysterious, and the love triangle. Long time fans will not be disappointed since all of the major plot points have stayed the same, giving the reader exactly what they expect, a point in itself that has me thinking...shouldn't we, as consumers, expect more for our money? Nothing is new in the Plum world after 12 books. There is no character growth, no resolution to Steph's confusion over which man to choose. What we do get is more confusion on Steph's part and her seemingly apparent denial that she is in fact cheating on the very man she claims to love. Why is this okay with so many readers? Okay, Plum books are not supposed to be a blueprint for right and wrong. Fine, but I just can't stand behind a character who constantly lies to the man she calls her boyfriend. If she is so confused, let Morelli go until you figure things out. By keeping him around, Steph just looks like a child who is afraid to be left alone if one or the other relationship doesn't work out. Some reviewers have said that the people who want to see the triangle resolved are "romance" readers or that they just want to see Steph changing diapers. Not true, at least in my case. What I want to see is Steph grow up. The woman is in her 30s, for crying out loud. You have to reverse the situation here; if Joe had say...Terry living in his house and he answered the door all out of breath after taking his time to get there, Steph would have a fit, readers would have a fit. It's okay for Steph to hold onto two men while she figures things out, but it sure as heck wouldn't be right for Morelli or Ranger.
  
  And about Ranger...I'm disappointed in the man. As some other reviewers have said, he was thinking about sex while his daughter was in distress. What kind of man is this supposed to be? I thought Ranger was supposed to be honorable? Emotionally detached? I just don't get it. There is no excuse for that certain plot line in the story. It made me feel sick as I read about Steph and Ranger's would-be antics in the bedroom as his daughter waited to be rescued, not to mention as a trusting Morelli was working his rear off trying to solve gang murders while keeping an eye on his girlfriend.
  
  All-in-all, if you love the formula as it is, you're in luck. But if you're looking for some type of growth or movement in what I believe has become a very stale series, then I'm sorry to say, you won't find it in Twelve Sharp.
  
  
• Janet , your romance roots are showing!
  By AVAD3JPCUAODE on 2006-06-30
  Where has Ms. Independent Stephanie Plum gone? When I first meet this character in One For The Money, I LOVED her. She was someone I could relate to and she was hilarious. I loved her still in the next six or so novels but what the heck has happen to her and this series? This use to be a mystery series and has turned into a romance series. Now, I have no problem with romance novels, I love them in fact. But that wasn't what this series was supposed to be. Or was it? It seems that the only story we are going to get from this author is one that revolves around the love triangle storyline. And I'm bored out of my mind with it! This author has the talent to take this series further then she seems willing to go. Shouldn't we readers expect a little something more by book 12? I keep on buying these books and waiting for something new but nothing every happens. But this seems to be the way the author and most of her fans want the stories to be. During interviews, I've heard the author say that the triangle storyline will be around tell the bitter end, and that won't be for quite awhile yet. She even mentioned writing two endings to the series when the time comes, so readers can choose the happy ending they want. I don't know if I want to stick around until that ending now. Hopefully #13 will bring something new and exciting to the table and bring back the freshness the Stephanie Plum novels used to have. I'm crossing my fingers!
  
  
• Lather, Rinse, Repeat
  By AEQUJBNQ34UI0 on 2006-08-20
  There's no denying that the Stephanie Plum books are a humorous, light read. However, I'm amazed at the repetitious nature of each book. If you're a fan of the series, think through previous books and tell me if they don't all include the following plot lines:
  
  FAMILY LIFE:
  (Plot Line 1): Stephanie attends at least one dinner at her parent's house in which: a) Grandma Mazur makes an off-color reference about something sexual in nature; b) Grandma Mazur tells the family of her plans to attend a funeral; c) Stephanie's dad grunts or rolls his eyes at Grandma Mazur but doesn't say much else; d) Stephanie's mother begs her to keep an eye on Grandma Mazur at the aforementioned funeral; or, e) all of the above.
  (Plot Line 2): Grandma Mazur attends at least one funeral and attempts to open the lid of a casket. Stephanie has to remove Grandma Mazur from the premises and apologize to the funeral director.
  
  PROFESSIONAL LIFE:
  (Plot Line 3): Stephanie makes at least one unsuccessful attempt to apprehend an FTA.
  (Plot Line 4): Lula accompanies Stephanie on one or more FTA busts; on at least one such excursion they stop to eat fattening food or go shopping.
  
  PERSONAL SAFETY:
  (Plot Line 5): One or more bad guys are stalking Stephanie, attempting to do her bodily harm, or attempting to kill her.
  (Plot Line 6): Stephanie, even though her life is in danger (see item above), decides to disregard all safety precautions or advice provided by Joe and/or Ranger and therefore: a) drives to her parent's home, thus endangering their lives; b) drives to her apartment unarmed and alone; c) drives to a convenience store to satisfy a food craving; d) conducts her daily activities unprotected, as if no danger exists; or, e) all of the above.
  (Plot Line 7): Stephanie, immediately after being: a) captured by a bad guy; b) assaulted by a bad guy; c) tortured by a bad guy; d) shot at by a bad guy; or e) all of the above, ponders telling Joe or Ranger about the incident but decides against doing so because she doesn't want them to think she's incompetent.
  (Plot Line 8): Because of Stephanie's actions in the above plot lines, Joe and/or Ranger spend time looking for and worrying about Stephanie.
  (Plot Line 9): Stephanie finds at least one dead body.
  
  PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
  (Plot Line 10): Stephanie spends time with Joe but also either kisses, fondles, or fantasizes about Ranger.
  (Plot Line 11): Stephanie lies, sometimes through omission, to Joe about her relationship with Ranger.
  (Plot Line 12): Stephanie spends time pondering whether she wants to be with Joe or Ranger.
  
  Write a scene for each of these tried-and-true plot lines, intersperse them with a central mystery that involves a murder, an abduction, a missing person, or an FTA and you've got a Stephanie Plum book.
  
  READERS, YOU SHOULD DEMAND MORE.
  
  
• Twelve Dull
  By AHTJX61KKHP4N on 2006-06-23
  I'm suprised so many reviews of this book are superb. If you did not read the previous 11 books, I could understand one enjoying the book. However, the storyline just was not believable based on the development of Ranger's character in the previous books. There's just now way the identify theat/daughter plot would ever have happened to Ranger. It's like a different author wrote the book. Also, a mistake worth noting: Stephanie lives in an apartment. Twelve Sharp refers to her residence as an apartment at the beginning, condo in the middle, and back to an apartment at the end. Details matter.
  
  
• Highly Disappointed
  By A26D88GWXQCIVC on 2006-07-10
  I waited and waited all year for Twelve Sharp. I have read all the other Stephanie Plum novels at least 5 times...I loved them, especially the first 6. TS didn't seem like it was even written by the same person. Janet, what happened? Stephanie was whiny, and even though she confessed her love for Joe, she cheated on him. Ranger was more concerned about getting sex with Stephanie, than he was about his daughter. Then, Ranger, bounty hunter supreme, has his identity stolen from some yahoo, and is always two steps behind? Can't figure it out? The whole of Rangeman Enterprises can't find this guy or get a clue about him? Must be Rnager's whole mind was only on getting laid. This isn't the Ranger with the morals and caring in the other books. Valerie and Albert and gone. Grandma is basically just passing through. Bob and Rex and only brief thoughts. Joe is decent and upright, and gets screwed by the girl who loves him and the man he is trying to help. The only glimpses of the other books is when dealing with Lula and Mr. Plum. I would swear that Janet Evanovich only wrote passages in this book, and someone else wrote the rest. I didn't like this Stephanie, this Ranger, and I wanted to smack both of them...lol. All in all, the book feels more churned out than thought out.
  
  
• Not so sharp
  By A2G9DGP3L4JGV1 on 2006-06-22
  Stephanie Plum the not-very-good bounty hunter finds herself being stalked by a demented woman who claims to be the wife of Ranger, Stephanie's super-cool bounty hunter friend and sometime lover. Then Ranger's supposed 'wife' is found dead, and his daughter is kidnapped, apparently by a nutter who thinks he IS Ranger. Stephanie meanwhile has the usual difficulties with capturing her skips (she still doesn't seem to know how to use a gun or a pair of handcuffs)and there is the usual dithering over who she likes best, the hot and sexy Morelli, who wants to marry her or the equally hot and sexy Ranger whose intentions are far less honourable.
  
  I didn't find this book either as amusing or as exciting as the earlier ones. The same old situations seem to get played out over and over again. Stephanie can't make up her mind between Morelli and Ranger, which is beginning to bore me. I noticed, re-reading the first four books in the series recently, that there is no hint of any attraction between Stephanie and Ranger in these early books,and I can't help feeling that it would have been better if Ranger had never been turned into a secondary love interest. Why isn't Morelli good enough for her, for heaven's sake? The book only really picked up for me when Stephanie gets kidnapped by the nutter who is trying to be Ranger, during most of the book I found myself slightly bored. Even Grandma Mazur didn't seem as funny as usual. Bits of it still made me smile, but there was never a moment when I was rendered helpless with laughter, as i have often been in previous volumes. Maybe it's just me.
  
  
• Disturbed
  By A2S6F0NOJB5SR6 on 2006-06-25
  I didn't want to choose 2 stars, but in all good conscious, I had no choice. I love the Plum series, but I was so disturbed by the chain of events in this book that I gave it away to the library the very next day for some other fan to enjoy. As others have said, the triangle needs to find somewhere to go. I fear that Janet is riding the wave of success and is afraid to get off. Also, a couple of other people have mentioned that Stephanie is now cheating on Morelli. I've always loved Ranger, but in my heart I'm a Morelli girl, and to see the way Stephanie treats him just makes me plain sad. Morelli deserves better. The only thing that kept Stephanie from sleeping with Ranger was the fact that Joe showed up and interrupted, and he wasn't even suspicious? That's not the Morelli I know. I do believe his trust lies in the wrong place.
  
  But there are two plot points in this book that disturbed me the most, and others have pointed them out, so I will be brief. I've dealt first hand with child abduction, and believe me, the last thing anyone is thinking about is sex. That was a huge mistake on the author's part. For me, it ruined Ranger. He shouldn't have been thinking south of the border when his daughter was in the hands of a killer. Second, having a ten-year-old child shoot and kill her abductor. Hadn't the poor kid been through enough already?
  
  The rest of Twelve Sharp was pretty much rehashed material. Lula is an ex-hoe who wears tight clothing, yes we know that already. Grandma Mazur likes to get into trouble and go to funeral parlors, been there and done that. And why does Stephanie's character seem to be regressing? I'm sorry, but realizing that you're in love with two men isn't character growth. Growth is realizing that you've been acting like a child for twelve books now and doing something about it, growth is being trustworthy and true to the people who tell you that they love you since book 6.
  
  Every year I hope that Janet truly makes Stephanie's character evolve into the woman I admired in One for the Money, and every year I am dissapointed. I'll hold out hope for thirteen, but I won't hold my breath.
  
  
  
  
• What happened? Where is Stephanie?
  By A38BMK5UP8R6IK on 2006-07-09
  Where did Stephanie go? What happened to the woman with some (although slipping fast) morals? Unless one is a diehard Ranger fan and thinks no matter what, he can't do anything wrong the flaws in this book are obvious. Only a diehard Ranger fan can overlook his creepy and coldhearted behavior in this book and over look the heroines loss of all integrity sparred on by the desire to make Ranger maybe seem a viable option in a triangle that had long ago played out it's usefulness.
  
  Ranger continues to tell Stephanie he's not in it for love he's in it for sex. Stephanie continues to chase him anyway pretending he doesn't keep telling her it's sex and some readers keep claming he wants more pretending his words have never been written repeatedly. Ranger's daughter is kidnapped and Ranger jumps into action looking... to get into Stephanie's pants (his biggest concern in the book even over his daughter.) He warns Stephanie yet again about his sexual instability. "He will force the issue (of sex) with only partial consent" he even sneaks into her bed while she sleeps and fondles her in her sleep after she has told him he can stay on the couch but stay out of her bedroom. Creepy.
  
  I many ways I don't blame Ranger, I blame Stephanie. He has never clamed to be anything but unstable and only looking out for Number one, himself. As we see when Stephanie and Joe seem to be trying harder to find Ranger's daughter then Ranger is. Ranger even calls her a "girl" instead of his daughter on occasion. Stephanie should be seeing the red flags on Ranger yet out of character fails to notice the red flags and instead cheats with him and we watch her integrity slip the furthest in this book yet. She really treats her long time loving boyfriend Joe Morelli really bad in this book and thinks it's a joke, and that is hard to read.
  
  Many of the characters were missing or there very little instead the story was focusing on Ranger who even with more dialog was without emotion which is actually good because his not so "normal" behavior was the only thing in character with him in TS. Ranger virtually took on Joe mannerisms, clothes, food, and some dialog; he even developed Joe's cop face. Why do Ranger fans want Ranger a pod of Joe? Fortunately Ranger's lack of depth retained some of his aloofness and mystery.
  
  The only redeem part of this book was Joe Morelli, who was great and funny as usual after being mostly gone for the last few books. Most of the few funny lines came from Joe and he had a great bar scene where for once he gets to show his stuff, Joe also went to Ranger like a man and warned Ranger, "Hands off Stephanie" finally. Joe is given some really nice but brief page time with Stephanie. Their scenes together are the warmest and the book was worth reading for this. Joe proves he loves Stephanie. These could have been really feel good moments in the book however, then all this is undermined when Stephanie constantly fools around with Ranger behind Joe's back and Ranger continues to disrespect Joe, a man who is working harder to find Ranger's daughter then Ranger is and has more then once turned a blind eye in the series when he should have arrested Ranger.
  
  Much of the humor fell short except the whole dinner scene with Mr. Plum and his cookies it was the best! I love Mr. Plum. His interaction here with Joe Morelli another very humorous character made for a great scene. The warmth later after dinner added a feel good moment to the book. Still the book was very short, the villain not scary, the plot a bit contrived and reused so the focus could be on Ranger again, and for such a serious issue the climate of the book did not fit.
  
  I am sad because I am losing respect for Stephanie and hope to see her strong and standing up for herself and putting her foot down to Ranger in the future (who I am sure would respect her more if she did). This way I hope then she can find away to redeem herself in the readers eyes. I hope the triangle is resolved soon because it is pulling away from all the rest of the story and characters and destroying key elements of the characters and the series.
  
  Stephanie can have her lover Joe and we can have the sexual chemistry they have, warmth and love and humor back and feel good parts of the series here and have her close friend and person to get into trouble with Ranger (much to Joe anguish for her safety when Ranger drags her into trouble, hence we still have conflict). The story would be freed up and have endless possibilities for plots then and no characters integrity will have to be sacrificed.
  
  Come on Janet you don't need the triangle as a crutch you had an excellent formula in the first 5 books of the series, it's the reason the books had become a success in the first place, and there was no triangle getting in the way of the warmth, integrity, humor and a good plot back then.
  
  
  
• The best in a long time!
  By A207JQWBQI8AE8 on 2006-07-25
  By far, imho, the best SP novel to date- Stephanie is bright, funny and witty- and Ranger is brought out even more- he becomes an even more suitable suitor for Stephanie. Morelli is not quite as "active" in this one- but his parts (!) are great too. I agree with a previous poster - I am grateful for not so-over-the-top villans, and don't mind the (slightly) more serious tone.
  This is really the best one I have read- and how I wish there was another one NOW!
  
  
• Did anyone get the lisence on that bus that hit me?
  By A3LMPN8VIDBLQQ on 2006-06-24
  The first bus I got on was One for the Money and it was a hell of a ride. The Twelve Sharp bus was painful. It was over almost before it began. And so much was missing and what was there was a bit forced. The story was rushed, details were overlooked, the focus was blurred. Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter of some little reknown, is back and helping her previous mentor, Ranger, in finding his missing daughter and exposing an imposter. Along the way she's picking up skips. Joe Morelli is back and for once Stephanie doesn't hesitate to call him her boyfriend.
  
  Where was the humor from the previous books? I really missed it. There were only a couple scenes that made me smile but the laugh out loud scenes were missing. Grandma is back, she's cute, she's Grandma. Mr. Plum finally speaks and is in one of the funny scenes. Lula and Sally Sweet are back, have a band and what they lack in talent they make up for in costumes. There's just a chemistry missing among all the characters.
  
  The whole love triangle thing has got to go. It was sleezy in it's beginnings in Hot Six, and it hasn't gotten any better. Ranger lays his intentions out on the table, making it clear to all that he wants Stephanie for sex. It's sad that Janet Evanovich has lessened Stephanie by continuing her attraction to two men. You know for sure that if Joe or Ranger had a love for two women, slept with the other woman while sleeping with Stephanie, there would be such an outcry against them. But it's okay for Stephanie. Why?
  
  Ranger's relationship with his daughter was just weird. Sure, he was there for the conception, gave her his last name, then left and sent money each month. Wow. And Stephanie, who grew up in and around close families, is okay with this. In the famous words of Lula, "Hunh." And his poaching on Stephanie while she specifically told him to stop made me want to take a shower to wash the slime off. Since when does "no" mean "yes"?
  
  Joe came off to me as more tolerant. The way their relationship portrayed more as a lasting one, a comfortable one. The one scene that annoyed me was the oral-interruptus one. How can you tell me that Joe did not notice that Stephanie was coming down from a lusty moment, since he's been the source of such moments for so long? If you dashed around getting dressed and answered the door, wouldn't you be out of breath? And Joe didn't notice?
  
  The book was okay, maybe compared to Eleven on Top but no where near books 1 through 5. I just hope that the boring love triangle gets resolved in 13 or I fear that Janet will lose a lot of loyal readers. Maybe Janet needs to take longer to research and edit the books. Maybe Janet needs to focus on this series before moving on to others. It's sad to see these great characters lose out due to lax preparation.
  
  
• Sad to say...
  By A33LOXHRT9E6ID on 2006-06-24
  Janet, Janet, Janet, what to say? I've been a loyal fan, but I'm at the end of my rope here. Steph is pretty much cheating on Morelli, a guy who for as far as we know has been faithful, not to mention patient and tolerant to a fault. Ranger is thinking about sex during one of the most horrible moments in a parent's life; his daughter has been kidnapped and he still has time to canoodle? Sorry, but it didn't ring true for me. I've been patient with the love triangle, even enjoyed it for a while (maybe for three books worth), but like others have already said, it's time to end it. I know Janet has said that the triangle won't get resolved until the end, and it's not clear when that will be, but PLEASE, end it. Move on, find something else to write about. It's been fun, but as always, a little goes a long way.
  
  
• Best One Yet!
  By A8J3VF7ZF7TU9 on 2006-06-26
  Stephanie Plum fans know what to expect...a little adventure, a lot of LOL moments, and some great sexual tension.
  
  Twelve Sharp delivers on all of these. Grandma, Sally, and Lula provide most of the LOL moments. The adventure this time is a personal one, for both Steph and Ranger. The sexual tension between Ranger, Steph, and Morelli is all the better for being more out in the open. Steph finally admits, at least to herself, how she feels. This is no way solves the triangle, but complicates it further.
  
  The plotting this time around was stronger and tighter than in previous books. The action was enough to have me on the edge of my seat, and occasionally holding my breath.
  
  I've seen a lot of reviews that want Steph to grow up, to choose between these two extraordinary men, etc. In short, they want her to be someone other than herself.
  
  I like Stephanie Plum just the way she is, thanks. Do I want a resolution to the triangle? Sure...eventually. But I see no need to be a fanatic about it. Steph's life, as is, is giving me hours of enjoyment. Is there really a need to fix it? Not in my opinion.
  
  And really, doesn't the fact that so many people have such passionate opinions about what these fictional characters should do just prove that JE's gotten it right?
  
  I'll be eagerly awaiting Thirteen. It's going to be a long year.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A good read but not her best work
  By A39RMGDWKILBLT on 2006-06-23
  I just discovered this series about a month ago and have read all 12 books now. In my opinion, this one wasn't her best. I enjoyed the emotional plot of Ranger's daughter and I did enjoy seeing a another side of the elusive Ranger. However, the Ranger-Morelli situation has gotten boring. Morelli is starting to look like a fool. I get annoyed with her kissing and flirting with Ranger when she calls Morelli "her boyfriend". It's starting to feel alot like cheating to me. I think its time to give Morelli a woman to flirt with him and give Stephanie a run for her money! Also, I felt the book was a little short and definately short on the sex! 12 Sharp was the least sexy of the whole series. Janet needs to spice it back up with Stephanie and Joe!!
  
  
• Usual fare. Maybe a little too formulaic...
  By ASUYYBL0F7KNC on 2006-06-22
  Is it just me or is the "should I choose Morelli or Ranger" subplot getting old and tiresome and BORING? Still worth reading but no real surprises or deviations from past books. I didn't read any LOL scenarios and I'm over the love triangle so I rated it at just three stars.
  
  
• I will not read another Evonovich Book
  By A19QXTXTCVCF9F on 2006-06-26
  I only gave it one star because the form would not let me give it 0!!!!! I have read all now 12 books in the Plum series. Number 12 is the last I will read! First, all what happened in book 11 is totally missing!!!! Are these books being written as a set format and Janet just changes a few things in each book? It was NOT lol it wasn't even funny! The Grandma gag is getting too old and used in every book! Her mother and father started to have some interest now mom is back on the bottle? 222 pages to even mention her sister??? No one grows in the books... no one Not even Stephanie learns any life lessons???? I borrowed the book and was so glad that I didn't spend any $$ on it! A total waste of your $ and time to read!
  
  
• Left Me Wanting More
  By A39L520FX9QQZQ on 2006-07-02
  I am a fan of the series and was quite disappointed with 12 Sharp. I think Ranger was weak/not on his game, Stephanie is getting too old to not change/make a decision about Joe/Ranger, and, for goodness sake, Rex cannot still be alive. All of the pages spent on interviewing the new candidates for bounty hunter were not funny at all.
  
  There needs to be some more character development or at least progress in Stephanie's character development.
  
  It felt like a ghost writer just took the "Evanovich Formula" and wrote this from an outline.
  
  
• Stephanie Plum, Make up your mind already!
  By AMY5WIYSPD305 on 2006-07-10
  I've loved every book in the Stephanie Plum series, but this one lost my interest. I'm sick of reading over and over again how much Stephanie loves Morelli and how much Stephanie loves Ranger. Who cares. She needs to just make up her mind. Or give up men and become a lesbian. Anything is better than more whining about how she loves both guys and can't decide.
  
  I'm totally over it.
  
  Of course, Grandma and Lula are still totally funny.
  
  
• Downward spiral continues
  By A2W6D0OE76BVWX on 2006-07-29
  After being delighted by the first six or seven books in this series, I noticed a big dropoff with book eight. It's no coincidence that Hard Eight is the novel where Stephanie cheats on Morelli with Ranger. And feels little or no guilt. She lost much of her charm in that book, and her continual string-pulling in the subsequent books does nothing to redeem her. I suspect that Evanovich decided her core audience is female, and chose to indulge a favorite female fantasy: two studs battling for Stephanie, and Stephanie doing pretty much whatever she wants, with no consequences. The "shake my head in disbelief" point for me in Twelve Sharp came when Morelli discovers Ranger is living with Stephanie in her apartment, closes the door, and meekly walks away. Right. That might be a female fantasy, but as a male reader, it is totally unbelievable ... unless you accept Morelli as a wimp, in which case, why care about him?
  
  
• Stale Doughnuts
  By AUW3NOVB9EWRW on 2006-07-30
  When I first stumbled on the Stephanie Plum books, I was pleasantly surprised at the fresh ideas, the funny situations, the snappy dialogue, and less than perfect heroine.
  
  However, after 12 books, the ideas start to run out and it seems more like you're reading a screen play for a sitcom than you're reading a book in a series.
  
  This book, for me, just seems to have lost a lot of what made the first couple so great. The situation is pretty much the same kind as we always get: Stephanie is stalked, Ranger and Morelli strut around doing nothing, Stephanie has a show down with the stalker, and the stalker loses all while Stephanie eats bountiful amount of doughnuts, pizza, and beer. Even the recycled plot wouldn't be so bad if the book was funnier. The grandma Mazur scenes are still funny, but that's really all that's been supporting the hilarity of the book.
  
  And, I have to agree with several other people. I am so tired of the Ranger/Morelli situation. The one reviewer who said Evanovich is fulfilling a female fantasy of two lovers is absolutely correct, and after 12 books, it's gotten old. It's stale, and you have to wonder why Morelli even puts up with her any more. I think the series would finally starten to freshen up and be interesting again if Evanovich would pick a man and stick with it.
  
  I'm giving Evanovich one more book to turn the series around before I stop reading it entirely. I didn't even buy this one; I just borrowed it from the library. That is exactly what I recommend anyone who wants to read it do as well. Don't waste your money on the book. Grade: C
  
  
• Entertaining but definitely getting old
  By A3KK8APFE8Q9DE on 2006-09-21
  On its own, this book is entertaining, Evanovich definitely has moments where she gets the reader laughing out loud. But she always manage to do so, in every one of her Stephanie Plum books. That's why I kept buying then. But I find that there is absolutely no character growth from book 10 and on.
  
  First of all, my big question is, why is Stephanie Plum still alive? She has absolutely no survival instinct, which was ok in the first book, it was what made her endearing. By the twelve book, she still doesn't carry a gun, she still doesn't tell her cop boyfriend when things go wrong and she's being stalked or hurt, she still goes around without looking at her surroundings, and she still can't figure out if she wants Joe or Ranger.
  
  Now don't get me wrong, I love Ranger's character. What girl wouldn't want a tall, dark, and sexy man of mystery. But I find Stephanie's attitude to be a little off putting. She still doesn't get the hint even after Ranger reply to her question of "what role do you play in my life" and he said "I'm dessert, not something you make a base of your food pyramid". Hello, that's a man telling you he only wants a sack buddy if I ever hear one. She seems to be desperate to make him commit, and until then, she's dragging Joe along just so she has a bird in her hand. Now I don't blame her for wanting to keep Joe around, I mean he's sweet, always been there for her, and he truly loves her enough to want to marry her. But sheesh, make up her mind already. I simply cannot stand the love triangle anymore. It's gotten soap opera like and quite annoying.
  
  Another thing I don't understand is what the appeal of Stephanie is to these men. She's dumb, lack instinct, a walking disaster, and she's got so much baggage that she needs TWO men working hard to keep her alive. Both Joe and Ranger are described as intelligent men, what do they see in her other than a good roll in the hay?
  
  Also has anyone noticed Ranger now took on the role of Joe in the earlier books? Joe's relationship in the earlier books was fun and flirty. They now have more of a working and [...]relationship, they don't flirt, they don't really communicate other than talking about the criminal du jour, and Joe doesn't really display the type of jealousy one would expect from a "hot tempered Italian cop". He suspects she slept with Ranger, yet he lets her stay with Ranger in the safe house, lets her have Ranger live in her apartment, does he get jealous at all? And what about Ranger? He slept with her, then tell her to go back to Joe because "he's a good man". Ranger obviously doesn't mind sharing her with another man, what kind of love is that?
  
  The only realistic solution I see from from the love triangle is both men leave Stephanie. She had her chance with Joe, which she blew it by kissing and fondling with Ranger, Joe is eventually going to find out and dump her. Ranger won't want to commit, that's what he's been telling her forever. It would be too far fetched to really have her end up with either one of them.
  
  On the flip side, I do like Lula, Tank (am I the only one who finds Tank kinda hot?), and Sally. I didn't care for the sister but Albert Kloughn was amusing in his own right. Overall I liked the book, because I like Evanovich's humor, but I think she's taken the ditzy girl gets hot men route a bit too many times.
  
  
• Ranger gets real
  By A2WVRIYYC7ZR25 on 2006-06-24
  I have a confession to make. I'm a guy. Yet I love Stephanie Plum novels! There's probably a support group for us somewhere. I was in a bookstore one day when a group of woman began talking about the Evanovich books as they were checking out in front of me and when I asked what they were so excited about they marched me back into the store and made me buy the first three. I'm so glad they did. These books are fun, light-hearted, and a bit whimsical as they follow thirties-something Stephanie Plum through her makeover into a bounty hunter. But mostly they are laugh-out-loud funny and a sure antidote to a blue day. Stephanie gets into more trouble, burns down more buildings, blows up more cars, and mostly accidentally catches bad guys with her friend Lulu, an ex-prostitute, Sally Sweet, a cross-dressing male vocalist with a fetish for thongs but too much body hair, and her grandmother Mazur who has a predilection for opening closed caskets at the funeral home and an unhealthy fantasies about the genitals of the opposite sex. But mostly Stephanie is torn and confused between Morelli, her tall, dark, Italian and sexy on-again-off-again cop boyfriend and the mysterious Ranger, the black clad, super-bounty hunter with dark Cuban good looks, surprising business acumen, and looks that make women swoon. These two hunk-o-men are constantly flirting, chasing and groping Stephanie in a dizzying love triangle that provides a perfect complementary tension to the otherwise mad-cap adventures she gets up to (and from which she must generally be rescued by Morelli, Ranger, or both).
  
  Every book is a riotious, zany, roller-coaster of fun, and guaranteed to get you laughing out loud. Every book is also extremely formulaic, which is both good and bad. The Stephanie Plum formula was an almost archetypally good formula and Evanovich has plugged it in with every novel. This has created a huge base of loyal fans, even some guy ones like me. We'd be shocked, dismayed, and in a tar-and-feathers mood if Evanovich tried to change the formula. On the other hand, it's beginning to feel like the exact same book over and over again, and without some growth or change things get tired and faded after so many years. In this novel it appears that the author tried to dig a little deeper into Rangers background trying to address the formulaic criticism that has been bandied about by many. She has been exploring the Ranger character in the last few books developing a history for him which includes a national security enterprise and a 10 year old daughter by an ex-wife in Miami. In this book the daughter is kidnapped and the crazy Plum team swings into action. There was one thing that bothered me A LOT about this book though....the sexual banter and patter put out by Ranger towards Stephanie does not cease after has daughter is kidnapped. This severly damaged the suspended disbelief I was able to maintain throughout the previous eleven novels. If my daughter was kidnapped I would be 110% focused on that and about zero interested in sex and flirting. For that reason this book fell flat for me. It was still enjoyable and the story was very good, but Ranger went from mysterious yet believable, to unreal and showing a character flaw that really bothered me.
  
  I don't know what the answer is to the formulaic criticism. I love peach pie. It's my favourite thing. But if I ate nothing but peach pie twelve days in a row it would probably strain my enthusiasm. That's what is happening with these books. I can see the author trying to inject new dimensions but I really felt it back-fired this time. The books have always worked because of the sexual tension of the love triangle. Putting Ranger in a situation where his daughter is kidnapped and possibly tortured, raped, or murdered and having him keep up the sexual tension was a mistake because it just isn't natural human behavior, nor was it in character with Ranger...he's the mysterious, sexy, dark, but good, batman type. When the damsel is in distress the good guy sallies forth and rescues her...he doesn't take time-outs, physically or mentally during that process and especially not if the damsel is your daughter. I salute the effort the author made to introduce something new to the formula but didn't feel that it worked this time. Nonetheless, that one misstep aside, this is still vintage Stephanie Plum with all the fun and worth reading if you are a Plum fan.
  
  
• Janet Does It Again!!!
  By A1HBLFLI8CZ94S on 2006-06-24
  Janet really hit the nail on the head this time. All the characters had growth in this book. Stephanie is back and has a more take charge attitude that seemed to be lacking in some of the past books. We learn more than we have before about Ranger, about where he grew up, about what happened when he was younger and the story behind his daughter. Joe finally has returned too, which I was really glad to see. He is back to being a take charge guy and not letting Stephanie walk all over him.
  
  This book was a little darker than Janet's past book, but there are still plenty of laugh out loud moments. Grandma Mazur, Lula and Sally Sweet, do I need to say more.
  
  I do wonder if others read the same book as I did. Janet has said in numerous interviews that the triangle is not going to be resolved till the end of the series, which doesn't look to be ending anytime soon. So if you are looking for there to be an end to the triangle, you might not like this book. However, if you want a fun summer read and love the way Janet writes, this is the book for you.
  
  
• Okay But Not Great
  By A1V7WSOTR1JD9Q on 2006-07-02
  Basically this was not her best effort. In the predictable column, Stephanie sleeps with Joe and lusts after Ranger. Grandma does her deal and sister is pretty much absent. Her car doesn't get blown up and someone new is running the funeral home. I did read it in one night as I love her work, but I didn't get the thrill I usually get from Stephanie Plum. I also thought it very strange that all of a sudden, there is this Ranger stalked who knows all about him, has been following him and Ranger doesn't have a clue? Excuse me, that is not the Ranger of any of the other books. 11 previous books make him the super competent, enigmatic character that no one can trace and now all of a sudden, this store clerk has been stalking him for months and he didn't know that they guy was screwing with his life, his credit, his name and kidnapping his kid? I don't expect these to be plausible, but at least be consistent. I was disappointed.
  
  
• Twelve Sharp was too little too late
  By AGA2QNIFJ4742 on 2006-07-03
  I was disappointed in this Stephanie Plum book, and after a long wait and as a fan of Plum, I felt like it was too little too late. There was not much mystery, the comedy seemed contrived (the job applicants) and stale (the rehearsal) and I agree with a previous reviewer, it is time Stephanie grew up and made a decision about her love life. I like Sally Sweet and I love Lula, but the only place any of these people seem to go on a daily basis is the shopping mall, Vinnie's office, to the Plum's for dinner, or the funeral home, which is becoming timeworn. I wonder if the author isn't spreading herself too thin. I get the impression that she is tired of Stephanie Plum.
  
  

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