Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books are some of the last few decades’ most beloved romantic adventure stories. The series stars a former lingerie buyer turned no-nonsense bounty hunter described as “a spunky combination of Nancy Drew and Dirty Harry.”
The series consists of thirty novels, many of which have been on the top spot on the New York Times Best Sellers list. They’ve been translated into more than forty languages, sold over two hundred million copies around the globe, and earned Evanovich an army of international fans.
So, if you’re looking for a brand new adventure saga to lift your spirits and get you turning those pages this spring, the Stephanie Plum book series is a perfect choice.
Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum Books in Order
Janet Evanovich has penned thirty novels and four novellas starring her beloved protagonist, Stephanie Plum. In this post, I’ll list them all in order. Plus, I’ll include a list of Evanovich’s other works, so you can continue your reading journey after you’ve finished this famous series.
The Stephanie Plum Books
The Stephanie Plum books are set in Trenton, New Jersey, where the lead character was born and raised.
At the start of the series, Stephanie has lost her job as a lingerie buyer and is struggling to make ends meet. One by one, she begins selling off her possessions to pay her bills until she becomes so broke and desperate that she approaches her cousin Vinnie for a job. Vinnie owns Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, and she hopes he’ll have some office administration work for her. But the only position going is a front-line bounty hunter.
At first, Vinnie doesn’t think Stephanie is cut out for the job, but finally, with a little bribery and blackmail, she manages to convince him to give her a shot. And to everyone’s surprise, she’s not half bad.
Janet Evanovich describes her loveable character as “incredibly average and yet heroic if necessary,” and heroics are often necessary for Stephianie’s work. In each book, she’s tasked with apprehending people declared “failure to appear” (FTA) at their court hearings. It’s not an easy job, but somebody’s got to do it, and that somebody is Stephanie Plum.
The Stephanie Plum Books in Reading and Publication Order
Each book in the Stephanie Plum series tells a new story so that it can be read as a standalone. That being said, there are plenty of recurring characters, and their lives evolve and intertwine from book to book. So, to get the most out of the series, follow the publication order listed below.
| Sr. No. | Title | Publication Date | Print Length | Publisher | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One for the Money | June 4, 2019 | 288 pages | Scribner | Amazon |
| 2 | Visions of Sugar Plums | November 5, 2002 | 160 pages | St. Martin's Press | Amazon |
| 3 | Two for the Dough | January 10, 1996 | 304 pages | Scribner | Amazon |
| 4 | Hero at Large | March 13, 2010 | 321 pages | HarperCollins e-books | Amazon |
| 5 | Full House | December 24, 2012 | 352 pages | St. Martin's Griffin | Amazon |
| 6 | Metro Girl | November 2, 2004 | 304 pages | Harper | Amazon |
| 7 | Wicked Appetite | September 14, 2010 | 319 pages | St. Martin's Press | Amazon |
| 8 | Curious Minds | August 16, 2016 | 336 pages | Bantam | Amazon |
| 9 | The Heist | June 18, 2013 | 320 pages | Bantam | Amazon |
1. One for the Money (1994)
For her first assignment as a bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum jumps in at the deep end. After all, she’s in it for the big bucks. So, she doesn’t hesitate to go after disgraced former cop Joe Morelli, the same cop who took her virginity when she was just sixteen years old. After their encounter, he even had the class scrawl the details on a restroom wall. Ever since then, Stephanie has been desperate for revenge. And now, she’s finally got her opportunity.
- One for the Money (1994)
- Two for the Dough (1996)
- Three to Get Deadly (1997)
- Four to Score (1998)
- High Five (1999)
- Hot Six (2000)
- Seven Up (2001)
- Hard Eight (2002)
- To the Nines (2003)
- Ten Big Ones (2004)
- Eleven on Top (2005)
- Twelve Sharp (2006)
- Lean Mean Thirteen (2007)
- Fearless Fourteen (2008)
- Finger Lickin’ Fifteen (2009)
- Sizzling Sixteen (2009)
- Smokin’ Seventeen (2011)
- Explosive Eighteen (2011)
- Notorious Nineteen (2012)
- Takedown Twenty (2013)
- Top Secret Twenty-One (2014)
- Tricky Twenty-Two (2015)
- Turbo Twenty-Three (2016)
- Hardcore Twenty-Four (2017)
- Look Alive Twenty-Five (2018)
- Twisted Twenty-Six (2019)
- Fortune and Glory (2020)
- Game On (2021)
- Going Rogue (2022)
- Dirty Thirty (2023)
Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers/Holiday Novels
In the early 2000s, Janet Evanovich began this spin-off series starring Stephanie Plum alongside a brand new character, fellow bounty hunter Diesel.
Diesel (full name Diesel Diesel) is a tall, handsome muscle man who pops in and out of Stephanie’s life whenever it suits him. Stephanie is deeply fond of him, and when they’re together, it’s like no time has passed since they last spoke. Despite her involvement with another man, he often sleeps in her bed and flirts with her.
Stephanie first meets Diesel in book one of the series, Visions of Sugar Plums, when he mysteriously appears in her kitchen. This sexy stranger immediately takes her aback, and despite not knowing his intentions, she keeps him around for the holidays. From then on, this pair of bounty hunters are as thick as thieves, forming a close, if not complex, relationship with one another.
Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers/Holiday Novels in Reading and Publication Order
Each book in the Between the Numbers/Holiday Novels series tells a new story so that it can be read as a standalone. That said, the characters’ lives evolve and intertwine from book to book. So, to get the most out of the series, follow the publication order listed below.
1. Visions of Sugar Plums (2002)
Christmas will be here in a few days, and Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum isn’t ready. With no tree, decorations, or presents, her festive spirit is nowhere to be seen. But then, like a Christmas miracle, a mystery man named Diesel arrives to help her spread a little holiday cheer.
The Stephanie Plum Novels and the Between the Numbers Spin-Off Series Combined
The main Stephanie Plum novels and the Between the Numbers spin-off series can each be read separately. Still, many fans prefer combining the books and reading both series chronologically.
So, if you prefer to stick to the true timeline of Stephanie’s adventures without missing a thing, follow the reading order below.
1. One for the Money (1994)
- One for the Money (1994)
- Two for the Dough (1996)
- Three to Get Deadly (1997)
- Four to Score (1998)
- High Five (1999)
- Hot Six (2000)
- Seven Up (2001)
- Hard Eight (2002)
(8.5.) Visions of Sugar Plums (2002) (a Between the Numbers spin-off novel)
(12.5) Plum Lovin’ (2007) (a Between the Numbers spin-off novel)
(13.5) Plum Lucky (2008) (a Between the Numbers spin-off novel)
(14.5) Plum Spooky (2009) (a Between the Numbers spin-off novel)
- Finger Lickin’ Fifteen (2009)
- Sizzling Sixteen (2009)
- Smokin’ Seventeen (2011)
- Explosive Eighteen (2011)
- Notorious Nineteen (2012)
- Takedown Twenty (2013)
- Top Secret Twenty-One (2014)
- Tricky Twenty-Two (2015)
- Turbo Twenty-Three (2016)
- Hardcore Twenty-Four (2017)
- Look Alive Twenty-Five (2018)
- Twisted Twenty-Six (2019)
- Fortune and Glory (2020)
- Game On (2021)
- Going Rogue (2022)
- Dirty Thirty (2023)
Janet Evanovich’s Other Novels
Janet Evanovich has also penned several other series and standalone titles alongside her massively popular Stephanie Plum books. So, if you loved the adventures of that famous female bounty hunter, then be sure to check out these other works, too.
Janet Evanovich’s Standalone Romance Books
Janet Evanovich has written multiple standalone romance stories. Her earliest works were published under the pseudonym Steffie Hall. Later, she switched to writing under her name and penned several works alongside fellow authors Leanne Banks and Dorien Kelly.
All of Janet Evanovich’s standalone titles are in the order they were published.
1. Hero at Large (1987)
Hero at Large was the first book that Janet Evanovich ever published. It’s a light-hearted and hilarious romance tale about a handsome hunk who sweeps a former elite ice skater turned single mom off her feet.
- Hero at Large (1987)
- Thanksgiving (1988)
- The Grand Finale (1988)
- Wife for Hire (1988)
- Foul Play (1989)
- Manhunt (1988)
- Ivan Takes a Wife (1988) (republished as Love Overboard in 2005)
- Back to the Bedroom (1989)
- Smitten (1990)
- Rocky Road to Romance (1991)
- Naughty Neighbor (1992)
- Hot Stuff (2007) (co-written with Leanne Banks)
- Love in a Nutshell (2012) (co-written with Dorien Kelly)
- The Husband List (2013) (co-written with Dorien Kelly)
The Full Books (with Charlotte Hughes)
The Full series is co-written with fellow author Charlotte Hughes. The books are set in Beaumont, South Carolina, and feature protagonists Jamie Swift and Maximillian Holt.
Below is a list of every book in the series in the order they were published.
1. Full House (1989)
Polo instructor Nicholas Kaharchek is horrified to find himself falling for Billie Pearce. Billie is everything he never wanted, a happily divorced single mother of two who is as settled as possible.
But there’s no helping it, Nick is irresistibly drawn to Billie, and the more he tries to stay away, the more he finds himself seduced by her charms.
- Full House (1989)
- Full Tilt (2003)
- Full Speed (2003)
- Full Blast (2004)
- Full Bloom (2005)
- Full Scoop (2006)
The Barnaby and Hooker Books
The Barnaby and Hooker Books follow the adventures of an automatic named Alexandra Barnaby, who falls in love with wild child NASCAR driver Sam Hooker.
Below is a list of every book in the series in the order they were published.
1. Metro Girl (2004)
Alex Barnaby is on a frantic mission across Miami to save her little brother, “Wild” Bill Barnaby, from trouble yet again.
Along the way, she meets NASCAR guy Sam Hooker, who wants to find Wild Bill just as much as she does. He’s stolen his sixty-five-foot luxury yacht and sailed off into the open ocean, and he’ll be damned if he’s letting him get away.
And so, Alex and Hooker head out into the lawless land of international waters, where they find a lot more than they were originally looking for.
The Wicked Books
Also known as the Lizzy & Diesel books, this is a spin-off to the Between the Numbers series, which stars Stephanie Plum and her partner in crime, Diesel Diesel.
In this series, Diesel is joined by Lizzy Tucker, a cupcake baker from Salem, Massachusetts. Together, Diesel and Lizzie hunt for The Seven Stones of Power, each representing one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Using their superhuman abilities, this pair of “unmentionables” come head to head with Diesel’s evil cousin, Gerwulf “Wulf” Grimoire, who is also on a mission to capture the stones.
Below is a list of every book in the series in the order they were published.
1. Wicked Appetite (2010)
Treasure hunters around the globe have been searching for stones for centuries. But now, they’ve made their way to the mysterious town of Salem, Massachusetts, and power seeker Gerwulf Grimoire is not far behind. But he needs Elizabeth ‘Lizzy’ Tucker to help him on his quest, and this dangerous rogue will stop at nothing until he gets her to comply.
Luckily, a knight in shining armor is about to show up to rescue Lizzie from her otherwise grim fate. Yet, while Diesel may have the best intentions, he must convince Lizzie of that first.
The Knight & Moon Books
The Knight & Moon series stars wealthy eccentric Emerson Knight and Harvard-educated junior analyst Riley Moon. Together, this unlikely duo must solve a seemingly unsolvable mystery.
Below is a list of every book in the series in the order they were published.
1. Curious Minds (2016)
Filthy rich, deliciously handsome, fiercely intelligent, and socially hopeless; that’s Emerson Knight. And now, Riley Moonis has given him the infuriating task of babysitting him.
But what begins as a dull dishwater evaluation of Knight’s questionable accounts quickly becomes a breakneck adventure across the United States. This unlikely duo goes on a mission to stop an evil plot with unthinkable consequences.
The Fox & O’Hare Series (with Lee Goldberg and others)
In 2013, Janet Evanovich joined fellow author Lee Goldberg to create this page-turning mystery series starring Nicolas Fox and Kate O’Hare.
Nicolas is a con man with devilishly good looks hired by the FBI. Working alongside him is the hardworking, upstanding, and dedicated special agent Kate O’Hare. Despite being very different people from different walks of life, the pair must work together to solve a series of high-profile crimes.
Below is a list of every book in the series in reading order.
1. The Caper (2018) (co-written with Lee Goldberg) (short story prequel)
Before Nick Fox joined the FBI, Kate O’Hare spent many hours trying to track him down and get him in handcuffs. This fast-paced mini-adventure takes the hunt to Seattle, where Nick, as usual, is one step ahead of Kate.
- The Caper (2018) (co-written with Lee Goldberg) (short story prequel)
- Pros and Cons (2013) (co-written with Lee Goldberg) (short story prequel)
- The Heist (2013) (co-written with Lee Goldberg)
- The Shell Game (2015) (co-written with Lee Goldberg) (short story)
- The Chase (2014) (co-written with Lee Goldberg)
- The Job (2014) (co-written with Lee Goldberg)
- The Scam (2015) (co-written with Lee Goldberg)
- The Pursuit (2016) (co-written with Lee Goldberg)
- The Big Kahuna (2019) (co-written with Peter Evanovich)
- The Bounty (2021) (co-written with Steve Hamilton)
Conclusion
Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books have been delighting readers around the globe for decades, and thirty novels later, the series is still going strong. But that’s not the only work that this bestselling author is famous for. She’s published several other series and standalone novels, too. So, what are you waiting for? Why not dive into Janet Evanovich’s work today?
Are you already a Janet Evanovich fan? If so, I’d love to hear your reviews and recommendations. Please drop me a comment in the box below!