Takedown Twenty
Stephanie Plum works as a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinnie. She isn't very good at her job and often ends up in ridiculous situations. When she needs help, she often turns to Lula the woman who used to be a "ho" but now also works for Vinnie. This often makes matters worse because Lula usually thinks more about food than the situation they are dealing with. She also is impulsive in her behaviours
Stephanie has two individuals in her love life. Joe Morelli is a Trenton New Jersey police officer who has a commitment problem. He doesn't, however, have a problem with sleeping with Stephanie or having her as a girlfriend. At times, he shakes his head about the problems that she gets involved in but generally he cares for and is concerned about her.
Ranger is Stephanie's other love interest. He is very mysterious and does not talk much but, according to Stephanie, he is very good in bed. Ranger has a company that provides security to companies and individuals. He often offers services to Stephanie that include vehicles, staff or the opportunity for her to hide in his highly secured personal residence which is at the top of his office building.
Besides her work and involvement with these two men, Stephanie frequently visits her family. Her parents have lived in the same place since she was a child. Her father retired from the post office but now drives a cab part-time. Her mother is a homemaker who always seems to have meals planned and the laundry done. When she is stressed, however, she brings out the ironing board (and sometimes the bottle of alcohol that she keeps in the kitchen).
The most colourful family member is Grandma Mazur. She thinks and acts much older than her years. In fact, she sometimes helps Stephanie solve cases and is always interested in having a boyfriend or sexual encounter.
In "Takedown Twenty", Stephanie is assigned to find Salvatore "Uncle Sunny" Sunucchi, a powerful Trenton mobster who just happens to be the godfather of Joe Morelli. Sunny was charged with murdering a man who he ran over with his vehicle twice but then did not appear for his hearing. Because Vinnie had bailed him out, Vinnie is eager to get his money back and that won't happen unless Stephanie can capture Sunny and turn him into the police so they can rebook the hearing.
Sunny isn't the only chase that Stephanie has though. Bodies of older women have been found in dumpsters and no one knows who has been doing the killing. Stephanie thinks that what they have in common is the fact that each of them likes bingo but there is more to it than that.
Janet Evanovich is an excellent writer who has a great sense of humour. The characters in her Plum series are always the same but the action and circumstances change with each book.
I always look forward to release of the newest Stephanie Plum book!