To the Nines (novel)

infobox Book |
name = To the Nines
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Janet Evanovich
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Stephanie Plum
genre = Crime novel
publisher = St. Martin's Press
release_date = July 15, 2003
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 320 pp (first edition, hardback)
isbn = ISBN 0-312-26586-7 (first edition, hardback)
preceded_by = Hard Eight
followed_by = Ten Big Ones

To the Nines is the ninth novel by Janet Evanovich featuring the bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. Written in 2003, it's the second book in a row that doesn't revolve around a criminal bond, and the first to take Stephanie out of New Jersey and into the neon glitz of Las Vegas.

"To the Nines" appeared on the on the USA Today list of 150 best-selling novels for 17 weeks, peaking at number 2. [Citation | title =Best-selling Books Database | url = http://asp.usatoday.com/life/books/booksdatabase/default.aspx?sortBy=author&lastValue=20&searchType=2&searchValue=janet%20evanovich
journal =USA Today | accessdate = 2007-07-16 ]

Plot Introduction

Stephanie Plum, bounty-hunter. She's got all the normal concerns in life: the rent, her family, men; yet all of her concerns are topped by the minor fact that someone is usually trying to kill her.

Explanation of the Novel's Title

The title appears to come from the common phrase, 'dressed to the nines'. This is of uncertain origin but has to do with meaning "very fashionably and elaborately dressed", and is recorded from the 18th century [cite web |title=The alt.usage.english FAQ file | url=http://gost.isi.edu/brian/liter/english_faq.html |accessdate=2006-08-09 ] .The Phrase may be a bastardization of the old English phrase "Dressed for thyne eyes" [cite Radio, KPBS broadcast Away with Words, Ricjard Letterer 2005 ] .

First Line

"My name is Stephanie Plum and I was born and raised in the Chambersburg section of Trenton, where the top male activities are scarfing pastries and pork rinds and growing love handles." [cite book |title=To the Nines | publisher=St. Martin's Press | last=Evanovich | first=Janet | authorlink=Janet Evanovich | year=2003 (p. 1)]

Stephanie is a bounty hunter and amateur detective, who with a combination of luck and intuition usually gets the job done (though often by accident). Samuel Singh, an immigrant in New Jersey on a work visa, has been released on a visa bond by Stephanie's cousin and boss, Vinnie. When Singh goes missing, Vinnie is on the hook for the high publicity bond, Stephanie goes on the hunt to find him.

She starts with TriBro, Singh's workplace, owned by three brothers, Andrew, Bart and Clyde Cone. While Andrew is helpful and Clyde is very enthusiastic about the case, Bart Cone gives Stephanie the creeps. In some background checks it turns up that Bart Cone was a suspect in the murder of Lillian Paressi, which only goes to further her suspicions.

Meanwhile, Stephanie has been getting some unwanted attention in the form of white carnations, red roses and some rather creepy emails. She only gets more nervous when a number of deaths that have some tentative connections to the Paressi murder also have the flowers present.

Before long, a tip-off leads Stephanie, along with her side-kick Lula and Connie Rossoli, out of the Burg and onto the glitzy streets of Las Vegas. The discovery of Singh's body at the airport and a series of unfortunate encounters with several of Ranger's operatives sends her back to Trenton, where Plum finally gets the answers she's been seeking.

After an intense final showdown with the Roses and Carnations killer, Stephanie saves the day yet again.

Characters in "To the Nines"

*Stephanie Plum – detective and protagonist
*Vinnie – Plum's cousin and boss
*Samuel Singh – a bondee who is on the run
*Andrew, Bart and Clyde Cone – Brothers, owners of TriBro, Singh's workplace
* Mrs Apusenja – Singh's landlord
* Nonnie Apusenja – Daughter of Mrs Apusenja and engaged to Singh

Footnotes