• Explosive Eighteen

  • A Stephanie Plum Novel
  • By: Janet Evanovich
  • Narrated by: Lorelei King
  • Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (3,962 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Explosive Eighteen  By  cover art

Explosive Eighteen

By: Janet Evanovich
Narrated by: Lorelei King
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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

Featured Article: The Best Audiobooks for Mystery Lovers and Hopeless Romantics


Both romantic stories and mysteries can cause your heart to beat a bit faster—so naturally, the two make a perfect match! Filled with tension and suspense, the audiobooks on this list will keep you guessing about both the mystery itself and when the lead will end up finding the person of their dreams. Whether you prefer contemporary novels or a bit of historical fiction thrown into the mix, here are the very best mystery romance listens to get your pulse racing.

What listeners say about Explosive Eighteen

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,414
  • 4 Stars
    1,028
  • 3 Stars
    406
  • 2 Stars
    71
  • 1 Stars
    43
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,611
  • 4 Stars
    593
  • 3 Stars
    188
  • 2 Stars
    30
  • 1 Stars
    24
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,034
  • 4 Stars
    850
  • 3 Stars
    423
  • 2 Stars
    76
  • 1 Stars
    39

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

to quote Lula 'I really expected a better story'

Spoiler Alert!

After having given up on the series several books ago, I was persuaded to read #17 and thought that maybe things were back on track. Explosive Eighteen was a massive disappointment. After teasing the reader (for ages!) with hints about what happened in Hawaii, we get a brief (and unsatisfying) few lines to explain why the stagnant love triangle is still in place and then it's on to the rest of the convoluted storyline that seemed to drag on forever. In the past, even when I've been frustrated by the refusal to choose between Ranger & Joe, I've been able to appreciate the screwball comedy. This book lacked the laugh-out-loud moments that, for me, partially redeemed a few of the books beyond #9. In 18, I spent a lot of time feeling like I was waiting for a punchline that never arrived. Worse, still, is the fact that Joe & Ranger have been reduced to shadows of their former selves and neither one bears much resemblance to the alpha-types I knew and loved. They just seemed worn out and as tired of dealing with Stephanie as I am. I cannot for the life of me figure out what either man is supposed to find so irresistible about Stephanie that they would be willing to settle for whatever crumbs she's willing to give them. Even without being able to blame a "curse," Stephanie is still casually sleeping with both of them, willing to commit to neither of them and they just jump in and rescue her incompetent self over and over again. (IMO) It's not charming, it's not cute, it's not endearing and I spent most of the book being bored by the litany of junk food she consumes and wondering why she was so stupid that she allowed the same guy to steal her car over and over again.

Without totally giving away the ending, I will say that I thought it was a lame attempt to persuade readers that an actual choice might be in the making. I have made peace with the fact that as long as the books are selling, no choice will be made and the characters will continue to devolve until they just make an occasional appearance to yank her out of burning buildings with a "Babe!" or "Cupcake!" and not much else.

I don't think anyone expects literary genius from these books, but I sincerely miss the comedic spark, the genuinely funny situations, and the depth/heart that was present in the early books and lost along the way.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

77 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Don't do it.

Please don't waist your money or your credit on Explosive Eighteen.
The cliff hanger and tickler gave me great hope for this installment; however, who ever wrote this book, did not know about the cliff-hnager.
What happened in Hawaii took maybe 5 sentences.

Explosive Eighteen closes the casket on Stephine Plum in such a way that evey Grandma Mazur wouldn't care to look.

So sorry to see the death of this series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Boiler Plate

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Boring and trite ... the reader was awesome as usual, the material was not worth the effort ... definitely disappointed as Evanovich is usually either exciting and/or funny ...

What was most disappointing about Janet Evanovich’s story?

nothing new ... rehashing old stuff ... nothing exciting or fun ...

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

great accents for the different characters ... definitely KNOW where they're from ...

Could you see Explosive Eighteen being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

better than the last few...

I love this series...I started reading it 20+ yrs ago....and some have been better than others...what irks me is that the books seem to be getting shorter and shorter....all in all a good laugh with the characters we've come to love...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Enough Already

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, I would actually recommend the 15th in the series. First one I read and I almost wet my pants I was laughing so hard. I have purchased alot of her books hoping for a bit of a different twist but they are always the same. Wont buy anymore but I do love granny!

If you’ve listened to books by Janet Evanovich before, how does this one compare?

More of the same.

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

Yes, Lorelei King is a terrific narrator- captures tones of books she reads. She is very good at the Evanovich ones.

Do you think Explosive Eighteen needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, not unless Stephanie makes up her mind about Moreley or Ranger- this triangle has gone on too long- OR introduce another guy that sweeps her off her feet.

Any additional comments?

Obviously she is a very popular author and if people want to read the same story over and over I say Go For it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

I LOVE Janet Evanovich books and especially Stephanie Plum but Explosive 18 seemed to lack focus and the normal humor. Disappointing.
To be fair Lorelei King is great as always

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Still Stephanie!

What did you love best about Explosive Eighteen?

I love all the Stephanie Plum books. The earlier ones were better, but once a fan, always a fan. Lula, Ranger, Grandma Mazur, Stephanie, Connie, they're all there and Lorelei King does an ever amazing job. If I were to read these books, I would hear her interpretation of the characters and be forever happy about that. She has amazing range for her characterizations. If I weren't such an avid fan, I don't know that I would give it four stars overall. So if you are a fan, enjoy. BTW, you can not start here if you have never read Stephanie Plum book. You HAVE to start at number one and work your way up.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Plum makes some progress

Well, I did not lol at any point. I think that's a first. I am happy that she has finally woke up & is enjoying both of her men. I mean how could she make a decision without side by side comparison? I am also pleased that she was better at her job in this book. And I am happy as hell that Carl, the bleepin monkey didn't show up. To me this book is laying groundwork for the next couple of books. Which of course I will read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Just another prequel to the next book

It appears that Evanovich has succumbed to pressure from her publishers - as have so many others NYT Bestseller writers.

Smokin' Seventeen was part one, Explosive Eighteen is part two, and whatever Nineteen is called, let's hope it is the last and final part of what should have been a single book.

Don't get me wrong, this is classic Stephanie Plum - funny with olenty of Lulu and Grandma. I loved it and I'm not sorry I bought it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

A Cruel Disappointment

What disappointed you about Explosive Eighteen?

With the number 17 book, I declared I would not read the next installment. Being the curious yet fickle reader I am, I could not resist giving Explosive Eighteen a chance. After just finishing this installment of the Stephanie Plum novels, I realize I should have buried my curiosity with energies devoted to other books. I had been enamored with all the characters of this series. As the episodic installments of this series continued, the characters have not evolved, but rather there has been devolution of these once rich, full of potential characters. The initial installments of this once potentially multi-layered series were full of whacky humor, suspense, drama, and excitement. As each installment rolled off the press into my hands, I was in anticipation of what adventures Stephanie Plum would encounter. But as I progressed with each book, I grew more disenchanted progressing to this installment of being gravely disappointed. The book begins disjointed and as it continues only grows more disjointed to the conclusion that really left me empty, wondering where Janet Evanovich's talent for story telling disappeared. The obvious lack of suspense and absence of whacky humor usually intertwined within Stephanie and Lula's adventures was blatantly absent. I grew more anticipatory that there would have been some humor surrounding the other ancillary character of Stephanie's grandmother, only to be even more disappointed. Alas I suppose it will only be my last resort to read any more of the Stephanie Plum novels and if I may be so bold to recommend Janet Evanovich that she put this series to bed...as in my eyes, it is stale, cold, and concluded.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful