Explosive Eighteen

A Stephanie Plum Novel

By: Janet Evanovich

Narrated by: Lorelei King

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Before Stephanie can even step foot off Flight 127, Hawaii to Newark, she’s knee deep in trouble. Her dream vacation turned into a nightmare, and she’s flying back to New Jersey solo. Worse still, her seatmate never returned to the plane after the L.A. layover. Now he’s dead, in a garbage can, waiting for curbside pickup. His killer could be anyone. And a ragtag collection of thugs and psychos, not to mention the FBI, are all looking for a photograph the dead man was supposed to be carrying.

Only one other person has seen the missing photo: Stephanie Plum. Now she’s the target, and she doesn’t intend to end up in a garbage can. With the help of an FBI sketch artist, Stephanie re-creates the person in the photo. Unfortunately, the first sketch turns out to look like Tom Cruise, and the second sketch like Ashton Kutcher. Until Stephanie can improve her descriptive skills, she’ll need to watch her back.

Over at the bail bonds agency, things are going from bad to worse. The bonds bus serving as Vinnie’s temporary HQ goes up in smoke. Stephanie’s wheelman, Lula, falls in love with their largest skip yet. Lifetime arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt moves into Stephanie’s apartment. And everyone wants to know what happened in Hawaii.

Morelli, Trenton’s hottest cop, isn’t talking about Hawaii. Ranger, the man of mystery, isn’t talking about Hawaii. And all Stephanie is willing to say about her Hawaiian vacation is... it’s complicated.

Jersey girl: listen to more in the Stephanie Plum series.

©2011 Janet Evanovich (P)2011 Random House Audio

Fun Listen

Where does Explosive Eighteen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This audiobook was light, breezy, and fun to listen to.

What does Lorelei King bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Lorelei King is excellent. Her voices add so much to the story! This is one of those books that are even better in audiobook form.

Lorelei King Rocks!!

The Stephanie Plum novels are great to read, but super to listen to. Lorelei King does such a fantastic job of taking Evanovich's wonderful characters and bringing them to life. I can just picture Lula and Ranger and Stephanie and all the other characters. What a great collaboration between author and narrator!

Explosive Eighteen

Lorelei King does a great job narrating this series. This book and series is good for laugh and a few hours of easy listening. Lulu was her usual hilarious self but I felt Grandma was not up to her usual outrageous behaviour. Kept waiting for Stephanie to get into more of a mess but she seems a bit more normal in this book. This is okay for a funny light read.

WOW!!

Would you listen to Explosive Eighteen again? Why?

Yes! And 2 more times after!! This one is up there with the first 4 books of the series.

What did you like best about this story?

Stephanie!! I'm so happy that J.E. finally gave her some back bone about men! Happy that Joe and Ranger have shown what they have wanted to do to each other. When she lost her car multiple times to the same FTA. :-) Oh, the F.B.I parking lot.

Which scene was your favorite?

When she thought about the Hawaii episode

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes and Laughed

Any additional comments?

Keep them coming. I like the fact that Joe, Ranger and Stephanie had battle bruises before the middle of the book.

Like an old comfy - and hilarious - sweater :0)

We know these are all pretty much the same -well, one had zombies, which was weird - but it's sort of comforting to read a Stephanie Plum book. A huge part of why I keep buying or borrowing these is the *fantastic* Lorelei King, who brings characters to life like no one else. She makes the always delightful Lula so real, I forget she isn't just way off in Jersey, thinking of Clucky burgers. :0)
There is a name in this book that STILL makes me laugh myself into a giggle loop. That's another fun, silly thing about this book & the series. You'll meet a bail jumper whose name... is LaHonka.
Enjoy!

Enjoyable as always!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended Explosive Eighteen to several of my friends, and my husband! We all really enjoy this series, and this latest was no exception.

What other book might you compare Explosive Eighteen to and why?

All of the Stephanie Plum novels are similar in that they contain excitement, a little mystery, a little romance, and a lot of humor!

Have you listened to any of Lorelei King’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I love Lorelei King as the narrator of almost all of the Stephanie Plum novels. I wish she had narrated the first few also! As in the rest of her narrations, she really keeps the listener enthralled with her voices and interpretation of the characters. I can't really imagine any one else reading the Stephanie Plum novels.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Rocket launchers!

Wonderful Plum mystery!

What made the experience of listening to Explosive Eighteen the most enjoyable?

Evanovich's Plum mysteries are wonderful! The tension between the two heroes is interesting, The humous antics of Stephanie Plum keeps the reader entertained.

What other book might you compare Explosive Eighteen to and why?

Any of the Plum mysteries written by Janet Evanovich.

Which character – as performed by Lorelei King – was your favorite?

Stephanie Plum

Funny as usual

Where does Explosive Eighteen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Great and Funny

What did you like best about this story?

Grandma who always has to go to all the funerals and Lula that can't not stand anyone calling her fat but eats everything not nail down

What about Lorelei King’s performance did you like?

I like the way she can give it character their own personality

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, because it keep you laughing at what Stephanie and the others got into trying to catch their bail bond person who did not show up for court

Any additional comments?

no

Still Surprises & Delights

I thought I would be tired of the plot by now after reading 18 in a series, but it never fails to surprise me and put me in a fit of laughter in each new book! Great entertainment through both a good author and good narrator.

stephanie plum still rocks

What made the experience of listening to Explosive Eighteen the most enjoyable?

i love the different character voices for one thing..makes the books come alive to me..I have read all of them but listened to the last 2..and enjoy listening more.

What did you like best about this story?

humorous, engaging...

Have you listened to any of Lorelei King’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

i have read last 2 stephanie plum books and enjoy how she tries to make the characters individualized.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

don't know

Any additional comments?

love them and keep them coming..