In this tale, Barney, who works in research and development, as well as being a spotter for sometimes-lover Hooker, finds herself trying to figure out some fancy cheating on the racetrack, as well as trying to keep the hysterically funny Beans from overdosing on prunes. As with Stephanie Plum, Barney has a wonderful granny, a devoted and totally bizarre Cuban-American family, and a story with a high octane pace within the NASCAR theme. Even if you aren’t a NASCAR fan, you will find the tidbits about racing fascinating, and Ms. Evanovich does it well, without overwhelming us with too much of the arcane NASCAR lore.

Dognapping, wrecked cars, a bit of kidnapping, a body or two (complete with rather icky body disposal scenes!) and lightning-fast dialog make this the perfect end-of-the-summer read. Relax, let your worries dissolve, and concentrate on understanding and appreciating this vibrant, hilarious woman. Janet Evanovich has her fingers on the pulse of her readers, and keeps them coming back for more! Check out Metro Girl, the first in the series, published in 2004.