One for the Money (novel)

One for the Money is the first novel by Janet Evanovich featuring the bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. It was published in 1994 in the United States and in 1995 in Great Britain. Like its successors, Two for the Dough and Three To Get Deadly, One for the Money is a long-time best-seller, appearing for 75 consecutive weeks on the USA Today list of 150 best-selling novels, peaking at number 13.^[1]

Before this novel, Evanovich wrote 11 category romance novels. She then "ran out of sexual positions and decided to move into the mystery genre."^[2] Before writing One For the Money, her first mystery novel, Evanovich spent two years investigating the world of law enforcement, shadowing both bail enforcement agents and the Trenton police, observing their actions and the equipment they carried. She also learned how to shoot a gun.^[3]

One For the Money was named a New York Times Notable Book, a Publishers Weekly "Best Book of 1994," and a USA Today "Best Bet." For this book, Evanovich also won the 1995 Dilys Award, one of only three authors to do so for their first mystery (the others being Julia Spencer-Fleming and Louise Penney).

This novel introduced characters that would frequent the subsequent novels. As of November 2011, there have been 18 published numbered novels, four novellas, and one short story in the Stephanie Plum series.

Plot summary

Stephanie Plum, an unemployed lingerie saleswoman, applies for a filing job with her cousin Vinnie, a bail bondsman. Vinnie's assistant, Connie, tells her the job is taken, but suggests she start apprehending some clients who have skipped out on their bonds, starting with Joe Morelli, vice cop and onetime sexual acquaintance of Stephanie. He is wanted for murder one. Stephanie is in financial trouble, and wants to take the job, as she will get a percentage of the $100,000 bail bond, so she blackmails Vinnie into employing her, by threatening to reveal his use of a duck for sexual gratification. In trying to find Morelli, Plum attracts the attention of a heavyweight boxer involved in the murders of several women.

Film adaptation

A film adaptation was produced by Tom Rosenberg for Lakeshore Entertainment, with Katherine Heigl playing the role of Stephanie Plum. Additional cast members included Jason O'Mara as Morelli, Sherri Shepherd as Lula, Daniel Sunjata as Ranger, Patrick Fischler as Vinnie Plum, John Leguizamo as Jimmy Alpha, and Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur. The film was released on January 27, 2012 to negative reviews from critics and was a box office disappointment.

Awards and nominations

One for the Money won the 1995 Dilys Award presented by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.^[4]

Notes