Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum, No. 8)

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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780312983864
ISBN: 0312983867
Label: St. Martin's Press
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 352
Publication Date: 2003-06-16
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: 2003-06-03
Studio: St. Martin's Press

Related Items
Seven Up (Stephanie Plum, No. 7) To the Nines: A Stephanie Plum Novel Hot Six (Stephanie Plum, No. 6) Ten Big Ones: A Stephanie Plum Novel High Five (Stephanie Plum, No. 5)

Editorial Reviews:

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.

Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating:

Summary: There were so many reviews I almost didn't bother
Comment: But I have to say this series is going downhill for me. The total lack of positive development in Stephanie's character makes her tedious and annoying. In fact, the only character who seems to be developing at all is Stephanie's mom. I found myself more interested in her than I was in her daughter at times.

SPOILERS
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One thing I hate in a book is the implausible action that leads to the Big Event. There is NO WAY Morelli would have handed her the keys to his truck to go get pizza BY HERSELF while the crazy maniac after her was still at large. Especially when there were cops galore who could take her, or a phone to get delivery. It was just pointless and stupid. And not necessary. Said cop taking her to Pino's could have been ambushed and there you go.

And to add to that dissatisfaction we get Stephanie sleeping with Ranger (we all knew that was going to happen sooner or later -- and I was just glad she wasn't actually *cheating* on Morelli) and then bopping right back to Joe about 24 hours later with zero awkwardness. And Joe is like a teenager, thinking her harrowing brush with a sexual sadist murderer is a catalyst for a night in the sack.

Add to that Ranger's turning into a coercive seducer (even as he admits Joe's a 'good guy' who 'loves her') and you've got the makings of a real bummer.

Because I'm irrevocably turned off by cheating and adultery I felt the need to spoil myself by looking ahead at reviews on Amazon. Unfortunately I see that Stephanie is going to go further down the skank hole and become truly faithless and that's just not for me. I'd be fine with Ranger as a love interest if Joe weren't still in the picture, but there he is and, regardless of his scummy past, he's been a good guy since the beginning. I have to like the lead character in the book and it's looking bad for Steph. I recently posted on a message board that I'm ready for both men to dump her and find someone else. I shouldn't feel that way about the heroine, should I?

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SPOILER END

The slapstick comedy is not as funny as it once was, because we have a foundation now and, without development Stephanie is just a stubborn idiot who really shouldn't be doing that job. The reader should feel some sympathy, I think, but it's just not happening anymore since the woman is just so stuck on her bad habits.

So why do I give it two stars instead of one? Because Mom and Valerie had some great moments and I appreciated those.

Personally, I think it's not always in the series' best interest to go on forever. I'm starting to prefer an arc in a five to seven book series over the never-ending saga.

I recommend buying Hard Eight and all following Plum books used or getting them from the library. Sad to say it, though. The series started off so magnificently. :-(

Customer Rating:

Summary: JanetEvanovich
Comment: THIS IS A GREAT BOOK. IT IS NUMBER 8 IN THE SERIES AND IS JUST AS GOOD AS THE PREVIOUS 7! I LOVE THE STORY AND THE CHARACTERS. THEY JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER.

Customer Rating:

Summary: hard eight
Comment: The book was in great shape upon receipt and arrived in 2 days. I have been pleased with the service I get from Amazon.com.

Customer Rating:

Summary: FINALLY, Stephanie!
Comment: This is the book I have been waiting for, she finally get's it on with Ranger!

Customer Rating:

Summary: Great Read, Full of Spice
Comment: If you were left holding your breath or picking your jaw off the floor at the conclusion of Seven Up, then you are in for a real treat in Hard Eight. Fugitive Apprehension Agent (aka Bounty Hunter) Stephanie Plum is back trying to make the streets of Trenton, New Jersey a little safer. Her parents neighbor Mabel Markvitz approaches Stephanie to try to enlist her help to find her daughter Evelyn and her granddaughter Annie. Mabel fears this has something to do with Evelyn's ex-husband Steven Soder. Unfortunately for Stephanie, she soon learns that Steven's business partner Eddie Abruzzi wants something for Evelyn too. Abruzzi declares war on Stephanie, leaving his goons to make her life miserable and dangerous. Stepanie, LuLu and Evelyn's attorney Albert Kloughn are on the hunt for Evelyn, Annie, and the FTA Andy Bender. After losing several pairs of handcuffs, a few cars not to mention a rabid rabbit on the loose Stephanie is forced to enlist the aid of Ranger, Bounty Hunter extraordinaire. Ranger is more than willing to help and collect on his debt, which leaves Stephanie panting and nervous. Not to mention Joe Morelli, her on again off again boyfriend/ fiancé etc. around every corner. Once again Janet Evanovich uses well-executed storylines and witty character narratives to pull the reader on an exciting roller coaster. Full of laughs, twists and a night alone with Ranger, Hard Eight delivers everything the reader wants and then some.
Valerie Jones
mrsvaljones@netzero.net

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