Four to Score

Four to Score follows New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum as she pursues Maxine Nowicki, a waitress who stole her ex-boyfriend's car and skipped bail. The case involves decoding mysterious messages while racing against a violent stalker who is also searching for Maxine. Stephanie assembles an unconventional team to help crack the codes, including Sally Sweet, a drag queen with code-breaking abilities, and her regular sidekick Lula, a former prostitute. The hunt takes them across New Jersey from Trenton to Atlantic City, encountering increasingly dangerous situations and competing with rival bounty hunter Joyce Barnhardt. The investigation becomes more complex as Stephanie discovers that what started as a simple car theft and bail skip may connect to deeper crimes. Meanwhile, she must deal with threats from an unknown stalker while managing her complicated relationship with cop Joe Morelli. This installment in the Stephanie Plum series combines crime fiction with humor, exploring themes of loyalty, family dynamics, and the blurred lines between personal and professional relationships in a tight-knit New Jersey community.

Readers describe Four to Score as a fun, quick read that continues to develop the dynamic between Stephanie Plum and her associates. The blend of romance and humor with the crime plot maintains the momentum from earlier books in the series. Liked: - Introduction of Sally Sweet as a memorable side character - More development of sexual tension between main characters - Balance of comedy with action sequences - Short chapters that keep the story moving Disliked: - Plot feels formulaic compared to previous books - Some readers find the love triangle elements repetitive - Several note the romance overshadows the mystery elements - Some scenes strain credibility Ratings: Goodreads: 4.18/5 (164,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (3,800+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.6/5 (300+ ratings) "The perfect beach read" appears frequently in reviews, with readers highlighting the book's entertainment value over its depth. Many note it works best when not taken too seriously.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich A down-on-her-luck woman becomes a bounty hunter and stumbles through her first case while dealing with a dangerous cop, her meddling family, and a murder investigation.

Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot A former pop star works as a residence hall director at a New York college and investigates student deaths while navigating romantic entanglements and career changes.

Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer A hairdresser turns amateur detective to clear her high school friend of murder charges, using her connections in the beauty industry to gather information.

Lucky Stiff by Deborah Coonts A casino head of customer relations in Las Vegas investigates deaths, fixed games, and missing millions while balancing relationships with a detective and her eccentric mother.

Death by Chick Lit by Lynn Harris A newly published author in New York City investigates murders targeting chick lit writers while dealing with her own book release and wedding plans.

🔍 The character of Stephanie Plum was inspired by Janet Evanovich's own experiences living in New Jersey and her fascination with bounty hunters. 🎬 "Four to Score" marks the first appearance of Sally Sweet, the drag queen character who became so popular with readers that Evanovich brought them back in later books. 📚 The book spent 6 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 1998, helping establish the Stephanie Plum series as one of the most successful mystery franchises of the 1990s. 🗺️ The novel's portrayal of Trenton, New Jersey is remarkably accurate, with many locations mentioned in the book being real places that fans can visit. 💫 Before writing the Stephanie Plum series, Janet Evanovich wrote romance novels under the pen name Steffie Hall and struggled to find success until switching to mystery writing.