Two for the Dough

Stephanie Plum returns as a novice bounty hunter in Trenton, New Jersey, tasked with apprehending Kenny Mancuso, who shot his friend in the knee and skipped bail. The case becomes tangled with Joe Morelli, a vice cop who happens to be Kenny's cousin, as they both pursue the same target. A parallel mystery develops when funeral home heir Spiro Stiva hires Stephanie to locate 24 missing caskets. The stakes escalate when Kenny's original victim turns up dead, transforming a simple bail enforcement case into something more dangerous. The investigation pulls Stephanie through Trenton's criminal underworld, forcing her to navigate threats, violence, and complex family dynamics. Her grandmother Mazur provides backup as Stephanie races to uncover the connection between the missing caskets and Kenny's crimes. This second installment in the Stephanie Plum series combines crime thriller elements with dark humor, exploring themes of family loyalty and the thin line between justice and revenge in a working-class New Jersey community.

Readers view this as a lighter, funnier entry in the Stephanie Plum series compared to the first book. The humor and banter between characters drives most positive reviews, with many highlighting the scenes between Stephanie and Grandma Mazur. Readers appreciated: - Fast-paced storytelling - Chemistry between Stephanie and Morelli - Grandma Mazur's funeral home antics - Balance of comedy and mystery elements Common criticisms: - Plot feels formulaic - Less action than book one - Some found Stephanie's mistakes repetitive - Romance subplot moves slowly Ratings: Goodreads: 4.14/5 (176,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (3,900+ reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.5/5 (400+ reviews) "The humor hits harder this time around," notes one Amazon reviewer, while a Goodreads review states "Grandma Mazur steals every scene she's in." Multiple readers mentioned enjoying the New Jersey setting and authentic local details.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley A determined eleven-year-old sleuth investigates a murder while navigating eccentric characters and family dynamics with wit and resourcefulness.

Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody A female investigator in 1920s Yorkshire uses her independence and sharp mind to solve a mill owner's disappearance.

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz A private investigator from an unconventional family of detectives tackles cases while managing her relatives' interference and schemes.

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen A penniless royal cousin in 1930s London solves murders while balancing aristocratic obligations and romantic entanglements.

Getting Old Is Murder by Rita Lakin A retired widow leads a team of senior citizen sleuths through investigations in their Florida retirement home.

🔍 The Stephanie Plum series, starting with One for the Money, has sold over 75 million copies worldwide. 💫 Before becoming a novelist, Janet Evanovich worked as a secretary and wrote romance novels under the pen name Steffie Hall. ⚡ The character of Grandma Mazur was inspired by Evanovich's own Aunt Lena, who lived to be 94 and was known for her outrageous behavior at funerals. 🎬 The funeral home setting in Two for the Dough was based on extensive research, including interviews with morticians and visits to actual funeral parlors. 🌟 The book's title follows the series' unique naming convention, using numbers in sequence - a pattern that continues for over 25 books, making it one of the longest-running numbered series in modern crime fiction.