A Full Length Between-The-Numbers Plum Novel?

Posted January 26, 2009 by Holly in Discussions | 17 Comments

I used to be a huge fan of the Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Actually, I still am, I just stopped reading the books. The last Plum novel I read was Twelve Sharp and I didn’t find it nearly as funny as the previous 11, plus I found a lot more plot holes than normal (things that normally would have been cleared up weren’t). I imagine I’ll go back to reading them someday, but for now I’m burned out.

One of the things I’ve always disliked is the “in between” novels she releases. Not because they aren’t good additions to the series, but because she releases them in hardcover. Not just any old hardcover, either, but $17 hardcover. For approximately 150-200 pages. That is beyond ridiculous, IMO. I have a hard time paying $17 for a full length hardcover most of the time, so I’m definitely not going to pay that for a short one. Plum Lucky (St. Martin’s Press) is 176 pages and originally retailed for $17.95 (you can now buy it on sale at Amazon for $5.99 if you’re so inclined, though I still think that’s overpriced for a novella). Plum Lovin’ also clocks in at 176 pages and originally retailed for $16.95. Visions of Sugar Plums is 160 pages and originally retailed for $19.95. I have to go with NO on that.

Book CoverBook CoverBook Cover

But when I was browsing at Books on Board today I saw Plum Spooky, which is the first full length Between-the-Numbers Plum book @ 320 pages. I was curious so I read the blurb (it does sound pretty good) but then I checked the price and about fell over. Original retail price for this Between-the-Numbers Plum book? $27.95! WTF? If you buy it from BoB they’re offering a $5 discount right off the top and $10 in rewards if you email them with proof of purchase, bringing the total cost of the book down to just under $11. Amazon also has it discounted at $16.77.

But..almost $30 for a 300 page book? Really?

I don’t think so.

The First Full Length Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers Novel from #1 Bestselling Author Janet Evanovich.
Turn on all the lights and check under your bed. Things are about to get spooky in Trenton, New Jersey. According to legend, the Jersey Devil prowls the Pine Barrens and soars above the treetops in the dark of night. As eerie as this might seem, there are things in the Barrens that are even more frightening and dangerous. And there are monkeys. Lots of monkeys.
Wulf Grimoire is a world wanderer and an opportunist who can kill without remorse and disappear like smoke. He’s chosen Martin Munch, boy genius, as his new business partner, and he’s chosen the Barrens as his new playground. Munch received his doctorate degree in quantum physics when he was twenty-two. He’s now twenty-four, and while his brain is large, his body hasn’t made it out of the boys’ department at Macy’s. Anyone who says good things come in small packages hasn’t met Munch. Wulf Grimoire is looking for world domination. Martin Munch would be happy if he could just get a woman naked and tied to a tree.
Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has Munch on her most-wanted list for failure to appear in court. Plum is the all-American girl stuck in an uncomfortable job, succeeding on luck and tenacity. Usually she gets her man. This time she gets a monkey. She also gets a big guy named Diesel. Diesel pops in and out of Plum’s life like birthday cake – delicious to look at and taste, not especially healthy as a steady diet, gone by the end of the week if not sooner. He’s an über bounty hunter with special skills when it comes to tracking men and pleasing women. He’s after Grimoire, and now he’s also after Munch. And if truth were told, he wouldn’t mind setting Stephanie Plum in his crosshairs.
Diesel and Plum hunt down Munch and Grimoire, following them into the Barrens, surviving cranberry bogs, the Jersey Devil, a hair-raising experience, sand in their underwear, and, of course . . . monkeys.

Plum Spooky is available from St. Martin’s Press. You can buy it here or here in e-format.


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17 responses to “A Full Length Between-The-Numbers Plum Novel?

  1. See, my problem is not with the author and the story she is writing. My problem is the publisher, St. Martin’s Press… because ultimately, they are the one who makes the decision on the format and pricing.

    In Canada, St. Martin’s Press paperbacks are 10$… that’s at least one dollar more expensive than all the other publishers. They’re also the ones who published the Between the Number Plum and Lisa kleypas’ last wallflower book in hardcover… and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dream-Hunter books with huge font and very little pages. I mean, the prices we’re paying for the quantity or quality is not good. Seriously, they are ripping off their readers.

  2. Hey Ladies,
    This is my first visit to your blog and I am glad I found you. I couldn’t agree with you more about the Plum Series. The last few books felt like maybe she was being pressured by her publisher to get something out there. I wrote my own commentary on my blog about the is very subject. Feel free to check it out at, http://mamesbooksplotsandwine.blogspot.com/2008/10/fearless-fourteen-wasnt-very-fearless.html
    My blog is http://www.besottedbookworm.com feel free to stop by and see what I am reading.
    🙂
    Mame

  3. In a world where a children’s book (Harry Potter #7) is $34.99, full retail price for a full retail sized book isn’t out of line. Having said that…why would anyone buy a Plum novel for full retail price? Sam’s club discounts to nearly 50% Joining Borders gives 40% off the new release titles and there’s always used off amazon, ebay or half.com.
    My book bill is $800/month and I never pay full retail for any book…I don’t care what it is!

    I’m not a real fan of the other tweenies. Seems like they were just quickly dashed off to take advantage of holiday shoppers. But Spooky was back to funny! I loved the monkeys with the tin hats!
    thanks for having such a great blog…I’m hooked!
    elll

  4. Just as Nath, I put the blame on the publisher rather than the author as well. Authors have very little, if any, power over a book’s format or price.

    I always liked the between-the-numbers books because they provide a relief in the year-long wait between two books. I found them entertaining. But I wasn’t as fond of Plum Lucky as the previous two, and books 13 and 14 both fell flat for me (ironically, 12 was my personal favorite :-D) That’s why I decided not to buy Plum Spooky until it became available as a remainder in a year or two.

    Regarding the price thing, I just wanted to say that I don’t know anyone who ever pays full retail price for a recent hardcover release. Pretty much everyone buys from Amazon or a big chain where you always have a discount.

  5. You’re all right in that no one really pays retail price anymore, but the fact that retail price is that high at all that frustrates me so much. Especially if you consider what the discounted price would be if it was $20 instead of $30.

    Nath,
    I agree the blame should be put on the publishers and I’m not saying this is Janet Evanovich’s fault, not even a little bit. Only that I’m not going to buy her books at that price.

    As Chris said, “Library time!”

    =)

  6. Wendy

    Fearless Fourteen was also retail priced at $27.95 for 320 pages and a decent amount of “white space” in the margins.

    I never expect high art out of the series, but FF was pretty lackluster IMHO. Granted, nobody pays retail price on books these days – but still….I wouldn’t be surprised to see my already outrageous circulation numbers go up for this series……

  7. Okay, I have paid full price for hardcover. Yes, it’s true. If Anne Stuart’s people ever put her in hardcover I’m done for. I don’t have the patience to wait for online orders or know if books will be at Costco or not.

    Bad Cindy.

    But I don’t do it often!

    I think the point (and Holly will correct me if I’m wrong) is that we shouldn’t be paying 17 dollars after the multiple discounts etc (and I’m counting in Canadian dollars!) for a book that is really a novella.

    MaryJanice Davidson books make me stupid crazy. I mean, foaming at the mouth. I was naive enough years ago that when I bought her first hardcover I thought there would be more story. WRONG!! Still I can’t stop myself from buying her books although I do wait and wait and wait until I see a price I can live with.

    As for Evanovich (I paid full price for her hardbacks) 4, 5 and 6 were LOL crazy books. I did buy 13 and I think 14 but I couldn’t get past the first few pages.

    An author who should go into hardcover because her books are so dense and hard to read is J.R. Ward. Seriously, if I spend good money on a HC there better be enough story there to make me happy I spent the money.

    I should mention that in Canada we used to never get discounts on books. You paid the price on the flap. I remember the first time I went across the border to a bookstore and they had buy 2 get on free. I thought I was going to cry – I went and bought something like 12 books. Now we have these kind of events but not like you guys get them. Once a quarter we might see buy 3 get the 4th free. The good news is that online book buying changed the way Canadian book sellers price their books. And I’m plenty thrilled!

    Cindys

  8. Seneca

    Ugh. I hit enter to make a space and it went and posted before I was finished.

    ANYWAY.
    It is expensive 🙁
    I’m against any book, even hard cover, being over ten dollars. I bitch and moan about it all the way to the check out. Sigh.

  9. I agree with u that they are 2 expensive. I have read and loved the first 13 books got them well most of them off ebay at about 3 dollars a piece. Have not read 14 because it’s not in paperback and ebay prices are as bad as book store ugh. Will wait for paper back.

  10. You know this is one author that I’ve picked up. I thought I would but I just don’t want to spend the money for the series.

  11. LOL @ Seneca.

    Cindy,
    That’s exactly it. The point is NO novella should be priced at $17 or above. That’s beyond ridiculous.

    And I didn’t think about Canadians not getting discounts and stuff. I guess I assumed y’all would since we do. 🙁 Sad.

    Sarai,
    The first 10 or so books are hilarious. If you’re in the mood for LOL funny, you should definitely try these. But pick them up on eBay for $3 a piece, don’t pay the $30 retail.

  12. I totally agree! I think HC’s in general are too expensive. I will probably always buy Janet Evanovich but the last couple of books have not been my favorite. Hard eight the her best book!! I buy the MP3 audio books. I love the narrator. She gives each person there own voice. If I buy it that way I only spend about 13 to 15 dollars.
    THe thing that makes me mad about HC’s cover is when an author has a series out and the first 2 are paperback and then the last one is a HC. WHAT?! I do not understand that at all. I have a hard time paying for that last book. If it is a really good series I am sure they are counting on you to be mad, but buy the book anyways.

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