Review: Janet Evanovich - Wicked Business

Janet Evanovich - Wicked Business
Lizzy and Diesel #2

• Pub Date: June 19, 2012
• Publisher:  Random House Audio
• Format: CD 6hr
• Age Range: Adult

Lizzy Tucker’s once normal life as a pastry chef in Salem, Massachusetts, turns upside down as she battles both sinister forces and an inconvenient attraction to her unnaturally talented but off-limits partner, Diesel.

When Harvard University English professor and dyed-in-the-wool romantic Gilbert Reedy is mysteriously murdered and thrown off his fourth-floor balcony, Lizzy and Diesel take up his twenty-year quest for the Luxuria Stone, an ancient relic believed by some to be infused with the power of lust. Following clues contained in a cryptic nineteenth-century book of sonnets, Lizzy and Diesel tear through Boston catacombs, government buildings, and multimillion-dollar residences. On their way they’ll leave behind a trail of robbed graves, public disturbances, and general mayhem.

Diesel’s black sheep cousin, Gerwulf Grimoire, also wants the Stone. His motives are far from pure, and what he plans on doing with the treasure, no one knows . . . but Lizzy Tucker fears she’s in his crosshairs. Never far and always watching, Grimoire has a growing, vested interest in the cupcake-baker-turned-finder-of-lost-things. As does another dangerous and dark opponent in the hunt—a devotee of lawlessness and chaos, known only as Anarchy.

Treasures will be sought, and the power of lust will be unmistakable as Lizzy and Diesel attempt to stay ahead of Anarchy, Grimoire, and his medieval minion, Hatchet, in this ancient game of twisted riddles and high-stakes hide-and-seek.

I definitely enjoyed this installment of Lizzie and Diesel. Janet and Lorelei are a fantastic duo in this business. The story was fast-paced, entertaining, and silly fun. Hatchet and Glow slightly steal the show in this one. And I seriously wish the rule about extraordinary people not being able to get it on would go away! The tension between Lizzie and Diesel is there enough to make that rule irritate me, but it could be stronger. I'm guessing they won't get together any time soon if the tension isn't unbearable, which it's not. Not like with Stephanie Plum and her men. Hmm..

As for the narration: what is there to say about Lorelei King besides the fact that she's AWESOME. Her voices are always so entertaining and amusing. She seems to go beyond my narrator expectations because others just can't reach her level. She's just amazing. And she's always totally fantastic when she's reading a Janet novel! I'll wait patiently for the next one ;o)

I do suggest you start with the first one to understand what's really going on in Lizzy and Diesel's world though. Plus, it's funny and amusing just like this one, so it will be worth it!

Bottom line: Check out Lizzie and Diesel's new story for a laugh and a good time.

Rating:

3.5 / 5 book sharks