Book ~ "Takedown Twenty" (2013) Janet Evanovich

From Goodreads ~ New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice) and nobody wants to turn him in - not his poker buddies, not his bimbo girlfriend, not his two right-hand men, Shorty and Moe. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game, because - just Stephanie’s luck - the godfather is his actual godfather. And while Morelli understands that the law is the law, his old-world grandmother, Bella, is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail. 

It’s not just Uncle Sunny giving Stephanie the run-around. Security specialist Ranger needs her help to solve the bizarre death of a top client’s mother, a woman who happened to play bingo with Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur. Before Stephanie knows it, she’s working side by side with Ranger and Grandma at the senior center, trying to catch a killer on the loose - and the bingo balls are not rolling in their favor. 

With bullet holes in her car, henchmen on her tail, and a giraffe named Kevin running wild in the streets of Trenton, Stephanie will have to up her game for the ultimate takedown.

Stephanie has to track down is Uncle Sunny, who was charged with murder.  Not only does everyone in the 'hood love Uncle Sunny but he's also Morelli's godfather and his grandmother's nephew.  Plus Uncle Sunny always has his right-hand men with him and they don't kindly to Stephanie pursuing him.

Older women are getting killed and thrown in dumpsters.  One of Ranger's clients mom was a victim so he hires Ranger to investigate and Stephanie helps him out.  This takes her around to various businesses in the 'hood and even to bingo to figure out what the women had in common so they can track down the killer.  She gets to the point where she considers taking her mother's advice to find another career.

Plus there is a giraffe (who Lulu names Kevin) running loose around the 'hood and no one seems to think it's strange.

As in previous books, Evanovich continues to follow her formula:

• Stephanie is lusting after Morelli and Ranger ... check
• Stephanie's mom's nerves are shot so drinks and irons ... check
• Grandma Masur is outrageous ... check
• Lulu is eating all the time and gets mad when someone calls her fat ... check
• Stephanie's cars get stolen or shot at and Ranger keeps lending her his ... check
• Stephanie goes home to mooch meals from her parents ... check 
• Morelli's grandmother, Bella, is putting the evil eye on Stephanie ... check

Stephanie is still attracted to both Morelli and Ranger.  She's supposed to be Morelli's girlfriend (they are almost engaged) yet she still thinks about Ranger in ways she shouldn't and she lets him put the moves on her.  The majority of conversations she has with Morelli aren't deep and he talks to her like she's a 'ho and the only time he wants to spend with her is to get it on.  Same old, same old.  Speaking of 'hos, Lulu is still Lulu.  In this book, though, she considers going back on the street so she can make some money to buy a designer purse.  Really?

I thought the ending came together rather quickly and conveniently and I wasn't buying who the killer was and why.

These books have become mindless quick at times amusing reads.  You know what you are going to get and you go along for the familiar ride.