Janet Evanovich Books in Order
Browse Janet Evanovich books and collaborations, with series guides, book order, and quick summaries, including the Fox and O'Hare novels with Lee Goldberg.
Last updated: January 12, 2026
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you).
Publication Order
76 books
The King's Ransom
by Janet Evanovich
2025
Gabriela](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL5G23ZH%22,%22description%22:%22Gabriela) Rose takes on another recovery job, and it escalates into a high-stakes chase where people are willing to do anything for the prize. With danger building and the rules changing, she has to rely on skill, nerve, and humor to get out alive.
Now or Never
by Janet Evanovich
2024
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV1QC4QW%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum reaches a point where the case and her personal life can’t stay separate anymore. As another hunt escalates around her, she’s pushed to make decisions she’s avoided for years, with Trenton still providing plenty of chaos.
Dirty Thirty
by Janet Evanovich
2023
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668003090%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum’s latest case starts as a hunt for a bail jumper but quickly becomes a bigger scramble with surprises at every turn. With Lula beside her and the usual Trenton chaos, Stephanie races forward while her personal life hits a real crossroads.
The Recovery Agent
by Janet Evanovich
2022
Lost](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982154918%22,%22description%22:%22Lost) something? Gabriela Rose gets paid to retrieve missing assets, stolen heirlooms, and hidden treasures, and she’s trained to stay cool under pressure. When her family needs a fortune fast, she takes a job that turns personal and dangerous.
Going Rogue
by Janet Evanovich
2022
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RX5QDCL%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is back on the hunt for another bail jumper, and the case sends her straight into fresh trouble. Trenton chaos, family demands, and tangled relationships collide as she chases leads that keep turning dangerous, and weird, fast.
The Bounty
by Janet Evanovich
2021
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982157143%22,%22description%22:%22A) bounty sets Kate O'Hare and Nicolas Fox on a high-stakes hunt that looks straightforward until it isn't. As traps close and the clock runs down, they rely on fast talk, bold disguises, and a little luck to finish the job alive.
Game On
by Janet Evanovich
2021
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/198215487X%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is back for another round, and the case quickly turns into a game with real stakes. With Lula, Grandma Mazur, and her usual Trenton chaos, she follows a trail of trouble while her personal life refuses to stay on pause.
Fortune and Glory
by Janet Evanovich
2020
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982154845%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum plans to take a break, but one last assignment pulls her into bigger chaos than she expected. The chase forces her out of her comfort zone and toward choices she can’t dodge forever.
Twisted Twenty-Six
by Janet Evanovich
2019
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0399180214%22,%22description%22:%22A) new capture job sends Stephanie Plum into another twisted tangle of Trenton trouble. With Lula and Grandma Mazur helping, she follows leads that keep changing shape, trying to catch the right person before she becomes the target.
The Big Kahuna
by Janet Evanovich
2019
Kate](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525535640%22,%22description%22:%22Kate) O'Hare and Nicolas Fox chase a prize that promises sun, money, and serious danger. On unfamiliar ground, they need a scheme that can beat armed criminals and protect innocent bystanders, while keeping their partnership from blowing up.
Look Alive Twenty-Five
by Janet Evanovich
2018
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0399179240%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is on the trail of another fugitive when she’s pulled into a problem that feels uncomfortably personal. Between a dangerous side case and family fallout, she has to keep moving, and keep thinking on her feet.
Hardcore Twenty-Four
by Janet Evanovich
2017
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0399179216%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum’s latest job hits hard when a seemingly ordinary skip turns into a case with bigger stakes. Trenton chaos follows her everywhere, and she has to sort out what’s real, what’s a setup, and who is pulling the strings.
Dangerous Minds
by Janet Evanovich
2017
Emerson](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K3EKRBY%22,%22description%22:%22Emerson) Knight and Riley Moon take their strange partnership into a new case with higher stakes and harder questions. As danger closes in, they learn how to work together under pressure, and how to trust each other when the clues don’t make sense.
Turbo Twenty-Three
by Janet Evanovich
2016
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385363249%22,%22description%22:%22A) fast-moving case sends Stephanie Plum after a new fugitive, and the chase accelerates into a full-on crisis. The clues come hard and weird, and with Lula at her side, Stephanie barrels forward on instinct and determination.
The Pursuit
by Lee Goldberg
2016
A relentless pursuit sends Kate O’Hare and Nicolas Fox racing after a threat that keeps slipping away. Each step forces them to stretch their partnership, and one wrong move could turn the hunters into the hunted.
Curious Minds
by Janet Evanovich
2016
Riley](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CBLURCG%22,%22description%22:%22Riley) Moon lands her dream job only to be assigned to babysit Emerson Knight, a brilliant, eccentric, wealthy man with no patience for rules. Their uneasy partnership turns into a mystery-solving duo, combining his odd instincts with her no-nonsense drive.
Wicked Charms
by Janet Evanovich
2015
Lizzy](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N6PD6SO%22,%22description%22:%22Lizzy) Tucker and Diesel face their strangest challenge yet as the supernatural stakes keep climbing. New dangers and new temptations arrive together, and Lizzy has to trust her judgment, and her complicated partner, to keep things from spinning out of control.
Tricky Twenty-Two
by Janet Evanovich
2015
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385363230%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is tasked with bringing in a bail jumper, and the trail turns tricky fast. With danger building, she and Lula chase leads through Trenton while the people closest to her try to keep her from taking one risk too many.
The Scam
by Lee Goldberg
2015
A new scam pulls Kate O’Hare and Nicolas Fox into an undercover operation where nobody is telling the whole truth. To protect innocent people and catch the real players, they have to run a con inside a con.
Top Secret Twenty-One
by Janet Evanovich
2014
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345542932%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum’s next apprehension job is supposed to be routine, but it turns into a mess with more at stake. Between a shadowy problem, Trenton chaos, and her tangled relationships, she fights to stay in control of both the case and her life.
The Shell Game
by Lee Goldberg
2014
In this shorter Fox and O’Hare adventure, Kate and Nicolas take on a compact con with bigger consequences than it first appears. It’s a quick hit of planning, misdirection, and the chaos that follows them everywhere.
The Job
by Lee Goldberg
2014
Kate O’Hare and Nicolas Fox assemble a plan that looks like a crime from the outside but is meant to stop one. The job is complicated, the clock is tight, and every double-cross forces them to adapt fast.
The Chase
by Lee Goldberg
2014
Kate O’Hare and Nicolas Fox are back on the run, chasing a dangerous target who won’t play by their rules. The hunt turns into a cross-border game of deception where the only way out is to out-con the con.
The Heist
by Lee Goldberg
2013
FBI agent Kate O’Hare is assigned to bring down con man Nicolas Fox, but he offers a deal instead. Together they chase a bigger criminal scheme, using a heist-style sting that could ruin them if it fails.
Takedown Twenty
by Janet Evanovich
2013
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345542894%22,%22description%22:%22A) new case drags Stephanie Plum into danger that comes with real consequences. As Trenton gets more chaotic, she leans on Lula and Grandma Mazur for help, and on the people who keep trying, in their own ways, to keep her safe.
Pros and Cons
by Lee Goldberg
2013
A short prequel that shows how FBI agent Kate O’Hare and master thief Nicolas Fox end up on the same side. One small job turns into a risky test of trust, and it sets the tone for their future capers.
Wicked Business
by Janet Evanovich
2012
Lizzy](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0061C1N5W%22,%22description%22:%22Lizzy) Tucker and Diesel return for another supernatural chase, where the next problem is even more dangerous and harder to hide. The case forces Lizzy to take bigger risks, and to decide how far she’ll go to protect the people she cares about.
The Husband List
by Janet Evanovich
2012
Caroline’s](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008E50MPQ%22,%22description%22:%22Caroline’s) mother wants her matched with the titled Lord Bremerton, but Caroline craves adventure and finds herself drawn to Jack Culhane, an unconventional Irish-American bachelor. Torn between expectations and desire, Caroline has to choose her own path.
Notorious Nineteen
by Janet Evanovich
2012
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345527763%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is chasing a new fugitive when another problem pushes her into a higher-stakes hunt. With trouble piling up at home and on the streets of Trenton, she depends on Lula and her uneasy backup team to connect clues in time.
Love in a Nutshell
by Janet Evanovich
2012
New](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00633W8GM%22,%22description%22:%22New) in town, Kate gets hired by Matt Culhane to quietly spy on his brewery employees after someone starts sabotaging the business. The bonus is tempting, but Kate hates beer, nobody trusts her, and she’s falling for her boss while hunting the culprit.
Smokin' Seventeen
by Janet Evanovich
2011
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345527704%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum heads out to capture a new skip and winds up chasing a problem that’s bigger and nastier than she expected. The case pulls in Morelli and Ranger, and Stephanie fights to keep her footing while tension keeps rising.
Explosive Eighteen
by Janet Evanovich
2011
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345527739%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum’s latest bail job collides with a threat that feels like it could blow at any moment. She, Lula, and Grandma Mazur follow a trail through Trenton that keeps turning stranger, while Morelli and Ranger race alongside her to stop disaster.
Troublemaker 2
by Janet Evanovich
2010
The](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1595825738%22,%22description%22:%22The) trouble continues in this follow-up adventure, where the stakes rise and the chaos gets bigger. With the same fast, funny energy as the first, it throws the leads into another risky tangle that can only be solved by bold moves and nerve.
Wicked Appetite
by Janet Evanovich
2009
Lizzy](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003R0LBVC%22,%22description%22:%22Lizzy) Tucker tries to live a normal life until she’s drawn into a supernatural hunt that’s far bigger than she understands. A mysterious man called Diesel pulls her into the chase, and Lizzy has to use her instincts to survive magic and danger.
Sizzling Sixteen
by Janet Evanovich
2009
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312383312%22,%22description%22:%22A) fugitive hunt kicks off another round of trouble for Stephanie Plum, and the stakes get hotter by the chapter. With Lula beside her and backup arriving from unexpected places, Stephanie charges into danger with more courage than caution.
Plum Spooky
by Janet Evanovich
2009
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QKSWOE%22,%22description%22:%22A) Halloween-flavored Plum story with a slightly paranormal twist. Stephanie’s assignment pulls her toward a strange case, and Diesel shows up again, bringing odd rules, unusual enemies, and trouble that doesn’t behave like normal crime.
Finger Lickin' Fifteen
by Janet Evanovich
2009
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312383290%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum takes on a new apprehension job and quickly realizes she’s dealing with something far more dangerous than a simple skip. Trenton turns chaotic, the leads get slippery, and she has to choose allies wisely, even when her heart argues.
Plum Lucky
by Janet Evanovich
2008
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JH86BG%22,%22description%22:%22A) short Plum adventure that fits between the numbered novels. Stephanie takes a small job that turns unexpectedly risky, and the day spirals into another classic Trenton scramble with Lula and plenty of bad luck, followed by a narrow escape.
Fearless Fourteen
by Janet Evanovich
2008
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312349521%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is back on the trail of another fugitive, but the real risk comes from the larger case unfolding around her. With Lula and Grandma Mazur riding shotgun, and Morelli and Ranger nearby, she tries not to become the next target.
Troublemaker
by Janet Evanovich
2007
Barnaby](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A820U0A%22,%22description%22:%22Barnaby) and Hooker go looking for Rosa after she vanishes, and the search drags them into Miami’s underbelly and beyond. With explosions, weird clues, and a swamp chase on the menu, they have to move fast to bring her home.
Plum Lovin'
by Janet Evanovich
2007
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UZNR96%22,%22description%22:%22A) between-the-numbers Plum story that mixes romance, chaos, and a quick case. Stephanie’s life gets busy fast, Lula has her own agenda, and a simple assignment turns into a tangle that keeps pulling Stephanie back into trouble.
Lean Mean Thirteen
by Janet Evanovich
2007
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312349505%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is chasing a skip, and soon she’s juggling more than one dangerous problem at a time. Between family expectations, Trenton mayhem, and the Morelli-Ranger tug-of-war, her work turns into a scramble to stay ahead.
Hot Stuff
by Janet Evanovich
2007
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QCSAAO%22,%22description%22:%22A) rom-com caper where attraction arrives with complications. A tough heroine and a very tempting hero get pulled into a situation that mixes humor, romance, and a bit of danger, forcing them to work together even when it’s a bad idea.
Twelve Sharp
by Janet Evanovich
2006
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/031234953X%22,%22description%22:%22A) new bail jumper sends Stephanie Plum back into Trenton’s chaos, where trouble likes to multiply. The hunt pulls her into a bigger mess, and she relies on Lula, Grandma Mazur, and improvised plans while Morelli and Ranger circle close.
Motor Mouth
by Janet Evanovich
2006
Alex](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JMKTGE%22,%22description%22:%22Alex) Barnaby becomes NASCAR driver Sam Hooker’s race-day spotter, but from her perch she notices infield trouble that could change everything. The new closeness with Hooker pulls her into danger, and the only way out is to follow the clues fast.
How I Write
by Janet Evanovich
2006
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FO7ZQ6W%22,%22description%22:%22A) short, practical look at Janet Evanovich’s approach to the writing life. It focuses on process and craft, including dialogue and pacing, and it’s aimed at readers who are curious about what happens between ideas and finished pages.
Full Scoop
by Janet Evanovich
2006
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001949VGA%22,%22description%22:%22A) romantic caper with a mystery at its core, and a couple who can’t stay out of trouble. As the plot tightens, they chase answers and dodge threats, all while trying to keep their growing feelings from becoming another liability.
Full Bloom
by Janet Evanovich
2005
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018ZS4KY%22,%22description%22:%22A) romantic suspense story where a new start gets interrupted by escalating danger. As secrets surface and the stakes rise, the central couple works together, trusts their instincts, and decides if what they’re building is worth fighting for.
Eleven on Top
by Janet Evanovich
2005
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312985347%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum takes on another apprehension job, but the case refuses to stay simple. A dangerous opponent keeps turning up, and Stephanie finds herself caught between Morelli’s protective frustration and Ranger’s cool competence as things escalate.
Ten Big Ones
by Janet Evanovich
2004
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312936222%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is tracking a bail jumper while an old problem resurfaces and turns her personal life upside down. With the threat level rising, she leans on Lula and Grandma Mazur for backup, and on her own nerve for everything else.
Metro Girl
by Janet Evanovich
2004
Alex](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FCKEU4%22,%22description%22:%22Alex) Barnaby heads to Miami after her brother, Wild Bill, vanishes, and his last trail points toward NASCAR. Used to bailing him out, she races the clock to find him before trouble turns fatal, and discovers a world that runs on speed.
Full Blast
by Janet Evanovich
2004
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017I1IZ0%22,%22description%22:%22A) romantic caper that throws the leads into a dangerous, funny mess. With trouble coming from more than one direction, they have to improvise, protect the people they care about, and see whether the spark between them can survive the chaos.
To the Nines
by Janet Evanovich
2003
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312991460%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum’s latest assignment starts with a fugitive and spirals into a case with higher stakes than she expected. As the pressure mounts, she balances Morelli’s badge, Ranger’s resources, and her own stubborn instincts to survive.
Full Speed
by Janet Evanovich
2003
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017I1IZU%22,%22description%22:%22A) fast-paced romantic comedy with a dose of trouble and no time to slow down. When a new relationship collides with a risky situation, the couple chases answers, dodges danger, and figures out whether they can trust each other under pressure.
Visions of Sugar Plums
by Janet Evanovich
2002
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HRY15O%22,%22description%22:%22A) holiday Plum story where Stephanie Plum has to locate a missing man while Christmas chaos closes in. A mysterious guy named Diesel shows up with his own agenda, and Stephanie’s simple assignment turns into a strange, risky chase through Trenton.
Hard Eight
by Janet Evanovich
2002
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312983867%22,%22description%22:%22A) missing person case collides with Stephanie Plum’s bail enforcement work, turning a standard capture into a serious search. With Lula, Grandma Mazur, and her two favorite complications nearby, Stephanie follows clues through Trenton’s loudest corners.
Full Tilt
by Janet Evanovich
2002
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00179FNR8%22,%22description%22:%22A) romantic suspense caper where a seemingly ordinary situation tips into danger. As the lead couple gets pulled into a problem they didn’t ask for, they have to rely on each other’s strengths and survive the chaos long enough to find the truth.
Seven Up
by Janet Evanovich
2001
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312980140%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is sent after another skip, and the capture is only the beginning. A new problem hits close to home, Morelli’s police work overlaps with hers, and Ranger’s help comes with its own complications as Trenton gets chaotic.
Hot Six
by Janet Evanovich
2000
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312976275%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum gets a new batch of bail jumpers and a fresh reason to fear her own car keys. When her case links up with a bigger threat, she keeps improvising with Lula at her side and Morelli and Ranger in the wings.
High Five
by Janet Evanovich
1999
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312971346%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is on the hunt for a new skip, but the real trouble comes from the chaos swirling around her in Trenton. As danger ramps up, she juggles family drama, Lula’s blunt advice, and two men who won’t stop interfering.
Four to Score
by Janet Evanovich
1998
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312966970%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum thinks she’s chasing a routine fugitive, until the case pulls her into a bigger criminal tangle. Between Trenton trouble, Lula’s help, and her complicated ties to Morelli and Ranger, staying alive becomes part of the job description.
Three to Get Deadly
by Janet Evanovich
1997
Another](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982158107%22,%22description%22:%22Another) bail jump turns Stephanie Plum’s workday into a mess of unanswered questions and escalating danger. With Morelli and Ranger hovering nearby, she leans on Lula and Grandma Mazur to chase leads and keep herself, mostly, intact.
Two for the Dough
by Janet Evanovich
1996
Stephanie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982153903%22,%22description%22:%22Stephanie) Plum is still learning the bounty hunter ropes when she’s sent after Kenny Mancuso, a young bail jumper with ties to Morelli. Then a side request about missing caskets turns ugly, and threats start landing right at her door.
One for the Money
by Janet Evanovich
1994
Broke](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982108525%22,%22description%22:%22Broke) and out of options, Stephanie Plum takes a job as a Trenton bounty hunter for her cousin’s bail bonds business. Her first big skip is Joe Morelli, a cop from her past, and the hunt drops her into a dangerous investigation.
Naughty Neighbor
by Janet Evanovich
1992
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WJSBH8%22,%22description%22:%22A) neighbors-to-lovers romance where curiosity turns into chemistry. When two people living too close for comfort keep getting pulled into each other’s business, irritation turns into attraction, and they have to decide whether to keep the peace or take the leap.
The Rocky Road to Romance
by Janet Evanovich
1991
Daisy](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FC282Q%22,%22description%22:%22Daisy) becomes an accidental media darling after foiling a criminal’s getaway, and Steve decides it’s his job to protect her. With danger circling and Daisy’s life overloaded, falling in love feels like the one complication she can’t afford.
Wife for Hire
by Janet Evanovich
1990
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W9653A%22,%22description%22:%22A) marriage-of-convenience romance that turns messy in the best way. When a practical arrangement starts to feel real, two guarded people have to navigate family scrutiny and their own defenses, and decide whether to stick to the contract or follow their hearts.
Smitten
by Janet Evanovich
1990
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000U913NO%22,%22description%22:%22A) romance about getting knocked off balance by the one person you didn’t plan for. As attraction builds and complications pile up, the couple has to cut through assumptions and outside pressure, and admit what they want before it slips away.
Love Overboard / Ivan Takes a Wife
by Janet Evanovich
1989
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FC2RQI%22,%22description%22:%22A) romantic adventure that starts with an impulsive marriage and gets complicated fast. Thrown together by circumstance, two people navigate travel, family pressure, and their own stubborn instincts, while learning that commitment is harder than the quick decision that began it.
Foul Play
by Janet Evanovich
1989
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018QUCSK%22,%22description%22:%22A) romance with a competitive edge where a playful setup turns serious. As the central couple goes head-to-head, they uncover a problem neither expected, forcing them to work together and decide whether the real win is pride or each other.
Back to the Bedroom
by Janet Evanovich
1989
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FCKB48%22,%22description%22:%22A) second-chance romance about two people who know each other too well to stay polite. When life pushes them back into close quarters, old arguments flare up, but so does the chemistry, and they have to decide if they can start over.
The Grand Finale
by Janet Evanovich
1988
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UZQGVW%22,%22description%22:%22A) romantic comedy built around a big event that refuses to go smoothly. As pressure rises and secrets slip out, two stubborn people have to decide whether to protect their pride or take a risk on love, right as everything comes to a head.
Thanksgiving
by Janet Evanovich
1988
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADPYA4O%22,%22description%22:%22A) holiday romance where family expectations and old feelings collide at the worst possible time. As plans unravel and misunderstandings stack up, two people are forced to sort out what they really want before the season ends.
Manhunt
by Janet Evanovich
1988
A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FCKL16%22,%22description%22:%22A) high-energy romance with a chase at its center, and more than one reason to run. When danger and attraction arrive together, the only way forward is to trust the last person who seems safe, and keep moving until the truth catches up.
Hero at Large
by Janet Evanovich
1987
Single](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003C2SP5U%22,%22description%22:%22Single) mom and ice skating coach Chris Nelson takes in a scruffy, sexy man who clearly needs help, and she feels responsible for the injuries she caused. Living together turns into a funny, tender crash course in responsibility, family, and unexpected love.
Full House
by Janet Evanovich
1981
Billie](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019FPCW6%22,%22description%22:%22Billie) Pearce, a divorced teacher and mom, meets Nick Kaharchek, a rich playboy, and is surprised when he’s genuinely interested. Dating him comes with danger and family chaos, forcing Billie to decide how much excitement she’s willing to let in.
Where should I start?
If you want the classic Trenton bounty-hunter chaos: One for the Money → Two for the Dough → Three to Get Deadly
If you want heists and international cons: Pros and Cons → The Heist → The Chase
If you want a supernatural caper: Wicked Appetite → Wicked Business → Wicked Charms
If you want a newer adventure series: The Recovery Agent → The King's Ransom
Author bio
Janet Evanovich was born on April 22, 1943, and grew up in South River, New Jersey. She was the first person in her family to go to college, studying art at Douglass College, part of Rutgers University, and graduating in 1965.
She married Peter Evanovich and, after school, the couple settled in New Hampshire. They raised two children, and for a while her life looked nothing like a publishing career.
Evanovich didn’t start writing young. In her thirties she began working on fiction while caring for her family, chasing an ambitious idea and drafting multiple manuscripts that didn’t sell. Wanting her dialogue to feel sharper, she even took improvisational acting classes to learn timing and voice, a move that makes a lot of sense once you’ve heard her characters talk.
That detour ended up shaping the way her books sound on the page.
After years of trying to write a serious novel, she pivoted into romance and began selling work. Her first published novel was Hero at Large in 1987, originally released under the pen name Steffie Hall. She went on to write a run of category romances, learning the craft of pacing, character chemistry, and cliffhanger chapter endings in a format that rewards momentum.
Even in those early books, her sense of humor kept sneaking in. She liked action, banter, and the messy logistics of ordinary life, money problems, family obligations, awkward jobs, rather than long, quiet scenes. Over time, that blend pushed her toward stories that could hold a mystery plot and a romance thread at the same time, with a first-person voice that feels like someone telling you the story over coffee.
Then she invented Stephanie Plum.
With One for the Money (1994), Evanovich introduced Stephanie, an out-of-work Jersey woman who takes a job as a bounty hunter in Trenton. The Stephanie Plum novels became her signature blend of comedy and crime, with a loud supporting cast, a love triangle that never stays simple, and cases that turn chaotic in very public ways. The first novel was later adapted for film in 2012. The series has continued for decades, with later entries including Dirty Thirty and Now or Never, plus shorter holiday and between-the-numbers stories that slot between the main novels.
She’s also built other corners of her fictional world, often through collaboration. The Fox and O'Hare books, co-written with Lee Goldberg, swap Trenton for globe-hopping capers and pair an FBI agent with a charming con artist, starting with The Heist. With Phoef Sutton she created the Lizzy and Diesel adventures that mix comedy with a supernatural twist, and the Knight and Moon mysteries that team an eccentric genius with a sharp, no-nonsense partner.
Across all of it, readers tend to come for the pace and stay for the voice, short chapters, punchy dialogue, and heroines who keep showing up even when they’re outmatched. Evanovich keeps her private life relatively quiet, but she’s long been associated with New Hampshire and has talked about treating dialogue like a performance, a habit that reaches back to those early improv classes. She even shares bits of craft in work like How I Write, offering a glimpse of the work behind the jokes.
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.






























































































Comments
Did we miss something? Have feedback?
Help us improve this page by sharing your thoughts