User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
I have a conspiracy theory so bear with me.
I don't know who wrote this book but it wasn't Janet and here's why:
1. Stephanie finally admits she's in over her head with men in her life. Like she's legit thinking of how messed up the whole thing is.
2. She's finally admitting that the bond agent's life is not for her. She's sick of being constantly surrounded by shit individuals and of being blown up/kidnapped/stabbed/shot at, etc.
3. Gran is having a personality transplant with her being all wise and shit all the time.
And the last and most persuasive proof,
4. Ranger eating, wait for it, DONUTS!!!! What the actual fork?
If it's not enough to convinse you of my theory, I don't know what you're even thinking.
Over and out
Rating: really liked it
Stephanie Plum is just pure fun. The books are always enjoyable, even if they are a bit formulaic. It works, I laugh, so I like them a lot. Janet Evanovich knows how to keep them interesting, and even though there are a few repetitive techniques, it's still something I find myself keen to read at the end of the day. Today... after a disappointing book, I needed a sure-thing, and Twisted Twenty-Six provided the relief.
Stephanie's grandmother, Grandma Edna Mazur, remarried in between books. Her husband died 45 minutes after the wedding. Two ex-wives, a few sisters, and some kids all want the money. Edna thinks she's getting it. Someone has the missing key which provides the answers. Then the mob gets involved, and three different teams of crooks are after the 75ish older woman... which one will win? At the same time, Stephanie's got a list of bail-jumpers to arrest. Lula and Connie provide all the comedy relief, but at least there weren't any crazy animals this time. Only a dog and a cat, which I expect to see running around Trenton, New Jersey.
The gun situation is out of control. So are the car bombs. The best thing is free laundry service at Mom's, all because Stephanie protects Grandma Mazur at the funeral home. And when the real criminal comes to light at the end of the book, we're still left wondering... what was up with those keys? Good thing we've got the cliffhanger to lead us to #27, which already has a name. But 27 isn't in the title, as far as I can tell. I'm so confused without my numbers.
In short... good. Not over the top. Triangle not much of a romance this time. Crazy antics ensue. The family is at an all time high! Get your copy now. :)
Rating: really liked it
The records show that I read the first book in this series and gave it 2 stars. Well, I don't remember a single thing about that book. But this one, the latest one, got 5 stars.
I thought that as each occurrence's impact lessened, another event came crashing through. This meant that there was hardly a case of boredom. The pacing was perfectly dosed.
As a new fan of this series, it seems a bit rich for me to be recommending this book to hardened and loyal fans. But this recommendation is addressed to those who are still licking their wounds from book 25. This book was awesome.
Rating: really liked it
Twisted Twenty-six by Janet Evanovich is a 2019 G.P. Putnam’s Sons publication.
A fun, comfortingly predictable escapeIn this twenty-sixth installment in the Stephanie Plum series, Grandma Mazur is in serious danger after her new husband dies suddenly, leaving the whereabouts of a mysterious set of keys in limbo. Believing Grandma must know the location of the keys, several groups of people- possibly mob types, and her deceased husband’s family, are determined to pressure Grandma into giving them up.
Have no worries though, Stephanie, Morelli, Lula, and Ranger are all on the case- perhaps the most personal one Stephanie has faced yet…
At least eleven books in this series have been published since I last read one. For me, the series had become a bit stale and Stephanie’s indecisions had started to wear thin. However, times being what they are, one day I went searching for a book that might make me laugh. There was a time when no one could make me laugh out loud quite like Janet Evanovich- so a visit with Stephanie, Grandma Mazur, Lula, Joe Morelli, and Ranger sounded like just the ticket.
Nothing much has progressed since the last time I touched base with this series. The humor is still there, but perhaps not quite as hysterical as I remembered. I did pick up on a little restlessness in Stephanie, who seems to have finally realized she is running in place, in the same way her hamster does. Is this precursor to something more serious?
Although, it is possible this series has gone on a little past its prime, it’s still a cozy, familiar, and fun escape with old friends. Not only that, it did exactly what I expected it to- give my spirits a lift and make me laugh. Predictability is not always a bad thing.
The kicker, though, is that I am hearing rumors that the next installment in the series is a continuation of this one and will introduce an all new series for Evanovich. Sounds like I will have to read the next installment too!
Rating: really liked it
As always, a quick and amusing read, with all the favorite characters present. Apparently, what we readers see as entertaining diversions are anything but to our gutsy bounty hunter. Stephanie's zany escapades are starting to wear on her, and she seems to be coming to terms with herself, realizing who she is and considering whether that lines up with who and what she wants to be. Is it a midlife crisis or just bounty hunter blues over failed attempts to bring in FTAs? I guess we'll see as the long-standing series continues, but I know whatever path Stephanie winds up on, it will be one entertaining escape for this reader!
Rating: really liked it
This book felt a little different than the others. Stephanie actually complained about her life and she wanted to do something else, she is tired of her crazy everyday life. Will she? I doubt it. I can't see Janet wrapping up her cash cow.
The last book ended with Grandma Mazur getting married down in FL. Stephanie flies down to get her and we see that her husband died playing the slots. They were married like 36 hours. Supposedly he had some keys that all the mob people back home want, so everyone is after Grandma. It was a nice switch in plot. I appreciated it.
Stephanie and Lula actually take down an FTA like professionals for once too who are trying to flee the country. That's a first.
I thought there were some nice changes in the story, but it wasn't as funny as some of them are either. My biggest laugh was with Stephanie and Lula and Steph said she was 54 years old and felt like she was 70. It seemed a nod to Stephanie's actually age if she aged each year of publication or close to it. I appreciated that nod to the time differences.
I love the mad cap energy of the series and I'm hooked. I want an ending, but don't ever expect to get one, although, the way Stephanie was talking it almost feels like this is the penultimate book in the series and the next one could be the end, but I'm not holding my breath.
I'm rather addicted to this series and I read them yearly now, so she can write all she wants. I hope she can keep the funny at a high level if she is going to keep writing them.
This does seem to lead write into another story about the keys and it's another cliff hanger. I kind of enjoy that.
Rating: really liked it
TWISTED TWENTY-SIX by Janet Evanovich is the twenty-sixth book in the Stephanie Plum mystery series. Grandma Mazur married a local gangster, Jimmy Rosolli. Unfortunately, 45 minutes later, he dies of a heart attack. Jimmy was the "keeper of the keys" and his fellow gangsters believe he passed them to Grandma Mazur as he was dying.
This series is one of my fun comfort reads. I always enjoy spending time with Stephanie, her parents, Grandma Mazur, Morelli, Ranger, Lula, Connie, Rex and Bob. There are always a few laugh out loud moments and this one delivered those as well. In this novel, Stephanie spends some time questioning her choice of careers as a bounty hunter working for Cousin Vinnie's bail bonds office at the same time as she continues to work and try to protect Grandma Mazur.
The prose was entertaining and compulsively readable. The plot was suspenseful, fast-paced, and held my attention. The ending was slightly unexpected and set up things for the next book in the series. Overall, this was a funny, enjoyable and entertaining read.
Rating: really liked it
There is no better way to spend a fall afternoon than with the new Stephanie Plum book. As always, Steph blows up a car, has mind blowing sex with Joe (cozy style, of course) and Ranger makes Steph . . . wonder. Wonderful and entertaining and laugh out loud funny. I split my time between the e-book and the audio and the audio was the best I have ever heard.
When Stephanie Plum's Grandma Mazur takes a trip to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas with retired mobster Jimmy Rosolli, Grandma and Jimmy end up married, hit the jackpot and Jimmy drops dead. Now the fun begins. It seems that Jimmy is the "Keeper of the Keys" for his band of retired mobsters known as the "La-Z-Boys" and they want them back and think Grandma has them.
Even having her most successful week ever as a bounty hunter, Stephanie is thinking about her life, her career and what she wants to do for the rest of her life, but for now she has to protect her Grandma Mazur from the La-Z-Boys. She has to figure out just what the keys are and where they could possibly be while dodging firebombs, guns and kidnap attempts. Shouldn't be to difficult, after all Steph finds people all the time, but this is Stephanie Plum we're talking about.
Rating: really liked it
Quirky. Barely professional. Too much silliness to be taken seriously. No more Ms. Plum for me, thank you. 3 of 10 stars
Rating: really liked it
I was slightly hesitant to read #26 because I wasn't a huge fan of #25, and I was afraid that the magic might be gone... but I really enjoyed it! I laughed out loud throughout the book and loved that Grandma was a big part of the story. The Stephanie Plum series will always be one of my favorites
Rating: really liked it
Twisted Twenty-Six will please all Stephanie Plum fans. I love all the characters: Grandma Mazur, Stephanie’s parents, Connie, Vinnie, Lula, Morelli, Ranger, Rex, and Bob. Stephanie seems to have decided Morelli is “the one,” but Ranger is still in the picture.
“It was that Ranger emits a sexual pull that is hard to ignore. He enters my field of vision and I get a rush. If I’m at arm’s length and close enough to get a hint of his shower gel or feel his body heat, I’m in serious danger of turning into a slut. I want him. Bad. And that’s not good since Ranger is an opportunist, and I have an awesome boyfriend who doesn’t look kindly on sharing me. Yet another indication that my life isn’t on track.” (I melt when Ranger calls Stephanie “Babe.” Morelli still calls her "Cupcake." : ))
Typical of the previous books in the series, the main story line is intertwined with Stephanie's bond enforcement agent job of tracking down zany FTAs (Failure to Appear) with Lula as her sidekick. The Ranger-Morelli conflict continues, and the sexual tension will leave you a little breathless, wanting more. The story ends with a few lingering questions, leaving you wanting more, as well. Overall, Twisted Twenty-Six is a fun read, and I can’t wait for the next one.
Rating: really liked it
Looking at my previous reviews (25, 24, 23, 22, 21, and 20) you all know where I stand. This book seems to focus a bit more on Grandma, which should be fun as she wasn't in 25 enough for a lot of readers... but I really hope Evanovich (or her ghost writer?) moves away from the terribly formulaic mess the most recent books have all been and mixes things up a bit! I guess we will find out in November... or later as I will be once again be waiting for a library copy.
Rating: really liked it
Before Look Alive Twenty-Five I was ready to give up on Stephanie Plum but that was a surprising good read. And now Twisted Twenty-Six got me really hooked again and I can't wait for number 27 to be released. This was such a fun read. Yes, it was crazy but it wasn't so crazy that it was off-putting. I had an absolute great time with it and highly recommend it to all original Plum fans.
Rating: really liked it
I was not going to review this, but I got such a kick out the author's slight digs at some of the negative reviews from the last novel. The story itself is a hilarious romp with Grandma Mazur, but we find Stephanie questioning her lifestyle, is there more than this job, is she a loser, a tramp? Also, in a distracted state, she tells Lula she is 56, which she would be if you calculate her age from the first novel in 1994 to today. All I can say is she has aged well and still makes me laugh.
Rating: really liked it
Now, THIS is the type of Stephanie Plum book I have come to know and love -I love the mobster theme, I love the fact that she isn't losing cars left and right. I love the fact that this has to do with Grandma...and I even love the fact that these last two books (this one included) have cliff hangers. Not huge ones but ones that will lead to the next book.
I got some belly laughs, I had the sinking feeling of horror just like when I read the very first Plum book, I got very involved in what was going on, I didn't even mind the fact that Ranger and Joe felt the need to keep Stephanie safe. Let's face it, she is not a kick-ass heroine!---I just loved it so very much.
I loved this book so much that I am going to re-read this tomorrow, giving me a whole two days of waiting to re-read!
