Review: Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich (audio book)

From the back of the audio case: Stephanie Plum, the sassiest, spunkiest female bounty hunter in America (or at least New Jersey) is back to take on her second case. She’s armed with attitude and outrageous fashion sense – not to mention stun guns, defense sprays, killer flashlights, and her trusty .38 – and all the determination a neophyte bounty hunter can muster.

In Two for the Dough, she’s after a ruthless bail jumper who has an affection for mailing Stephanie deadly notes and pickled body parts, and stealing 24 super-cheap caskets loaded with contraband. When the case overwhelms Stephanie and fast-talking vice cop Joe Morelli, she calls in a real pro: her grandma Mazur, a grey-haired, spandex-wearing dynamo packing heat.

In Stephanie Plum, critically-acclaimed author Janet Evanovich has created a resourceful and humorous character who stands apart from the pack of gritty female detectives. C.J. Critt’s masterful New Jersey accent fully captures Evanovich’s delightful sarcasm. Two for the Dough combines irresistible fun and powerful suspense.

Read by: C.J. Critt

My thoughts: Can I just say that I found myself laughing out loud more times than not while listening to this story. And I think that listening is the way to go with this series.

As usual, I am jumping on the bandwagon for a series late – but hey, better late than never, right? The only problem is that there are 18 books out already, plus 4 novellas, and with all the other books out there that I am trying to read, doing the audio for this series is the only way I am going to catch up quickly. And I am loving this choice.

In Two for the Dough, Stephanie is still learning the ropes of her newly chosen career – that of a bounty hunter. She is given her second case – to find Kenny Mancuso. Of course, finding him turns out to be not so easy and along the way, she gets involved with another case – trying to locate 24 missing caskets.  Helping Stephanie out with this case are vice cop Joe Morelli, who just happens to be cousins with Kenny, fellow bounty hunter Ranger, and Grandma Mazur, who just loves going to funeral homes to check out the details of the body and how many people show up. There is constant humor throughout this book and enough suspense to keep you hooked from the beginning and guessing until the end.

I think what makes this book a great audio is the narrator. C.J. Critt has a great NJ accent and is able to give all the characters distinct voices so we know who’s talking. As I plan on listening to most of this series, I hope she will continue to narrate them!

(I borrowed this audio book from the library.)

Books in this series: 

     1.  One for the Money                         11.  Eleven on Top
     2.  Two for the Dough                         12.  Twelve Sharp
     3.  Three to Get Deadly                      12.5  Plum Lovin’
     4.  Four to Score                                   13.  Lean Mean Thirteen
     5.  High Five                                           13.5  Plum Lucky
     6.  Hot Six                                                14.  Fearless Fourteen
     7.  Seven Up                                           14.5  Plum Spooky
     8.  Hard Eight                                         15.  Finger Lickin’ Fifteen  

     8.5  Visions of Sugar Plums              16.  Sizzling Sixteen

     9.  To the Nines                                      17.  Smokin’ Seventeen

    10.  Ten Big Ones                                    18.  Explosive Eighteen

Share:

18 Comments

  1. Unknown
    June 25, 2012 / 8:58 pm

    Great series!! I read the first 15 or so, but the last few I've listened to the audiobooks. There is no way my impression of Lula could be as good while reading as it is listening! I love her!

    • Kristin
      June 25, 2012 / 9:55 pm

      It is a fun series and listening to it is even better – CJ Critt does a mean NJ accent and her portrayals of some of the characters is awesome!!!

  2. Heather
    June 25, 2012 / 9:27 pm

    This was one of the first series I ever listened too and it was all for CJ Critt. She's fantastic! She IS Stephanie and Lula and Ranger and Joe. So when they changed readers, I just couldn't keep going. I was SO disappointed.

    • Kristin
      June 25, 2012 / 9:54 pm

      Oh no…don't tell me that. I was going to keep listening as long as she was the narrator. When does it switch?

  3. Melissa @ Mel's Books and Info
    June 25, 2012 / 10:35 pm

    Don't let the change in narrators trouble you too much. I'll admit I did get used to how she read the characters, but you will adapt to the new narrator after a while. The books are what is so entertaining, not necessarily the narrator. I started to like Lorelei King's narration after I got used to the change–she might not be as NJ as Critt, but she still does a nice job. Maybe try listening to her narrate one of Evanovich's other books (Love in a Nutshell for instance) before you make the transition to the Stephanie Plum books–it might make it less of a shock.

    • Kristin
      June 25, 2012 / 10:43 pm

      Thanks for the tip!

  4. Leah
    June 25, 2012 / 11:03 pm

    I just recently (January) started on this series, too. I'm loving it so far. I just began reading the 4th book in the series last night. I'm excited to read your reviews on the series too! 🙂

    • Kristin
      June 26, 2012 / 2:18 pm

      It is a fun series, isn't it? I think one of my favorite characters is Grandma Mazur!!!

  5. Jen (Devourer of Books)
    June 26, 2012 / 12:07 am

    I've never read or listened to Evanovich, but I'm sort of intimidated now by ALL THE BOOKS.

    • Kristin
      June 26, 2012 / 2:19 pm

      I was, too, and that's why I turned to the audios – otherwise I probably wouldn't be getting to them anytime soon.

  6. Carrie K.
    June 26, 2012 / 1:44 am

    I really liked Critt, too, but I LOVE Lorelei King – it just took a bit of getting used to on the first one that changed.

    • Kristin
      June 26, 2012 / 2:19 pm

      Do you know when the switch takes place? I still plan on continuing with this series on audio b/c I really want to catch up, so I guess I'll be giving it a shot!

    • Carrie K.
      June 26, 2012 / 4:33 pm

      Kristin – I think Lorelei starts on number 7. 🙂

    • Kristin
      June 26, 2012 / 9:52 pm

      Thanks for letting me know!

  7. Yvonne
    June 26, 2012 / 4:16 am

    I've been thinking about catching up with this series on audio. Sounds like a fun series to listen to.

    • Kristin
      June 26, 2012 / 2:20 pm

      It's great – they are so funny that the story just flies by!

  8. Michelle
    July 5, 2012 / 4:20 am

    I've never read or listened to any of Evanovich's books, but I know so many people who have enjoyed them. The sheer number of books in the series is definitely intimidating!

    • Kristin
      July 5, 2012 / 1:27 pm

      I was a little intimidated when I started, but thanks to the audio, I think I can get caught up a little faster!