In Death
mystery
Series · mystery
Stephanie Plum
The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich has 36 known books (35 published; 1 announced) and is best read in publication order, starting with One for the Money (1994). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Now or Never: Thirty-One on the Run. The next announced book, Split Second: Thirty-Two Switcheroo, is due 10 November 2026.
- Books
- 36 known books (32 novels + 4 novellas)
- Published
- 35
- Announced
- 1
- First published
- 1994
- Status
- ongoing
- Shelved under
- Mystery & Crime
- Last checked
Start here: One for the Money (1994) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series. Announced future books are marked below.
- Book 1:
One for the Money
One for the Money is the novel that opens Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, published in August 1994. It's followed here by Two for the Dough. It's the natural place to begin the series, which has continued since 1994.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of One for the Money - Book 2:
Two for the Dough
Two for the Dough is by Janet Evanovich, the second novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 1996. In the reading order it follows One for the Money and precedes Three to Get Deadly.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Two for the Dough - Book 3:
Three to Get Deadly
Three to Get Deadly is the Stephanie Plum series' third entry, a novel by Janet Evanovich, published in 1997, at 352 pages. In the reading order it follows Two for the Dough and precedes Four to Score.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Three to Get Deadly - Book 4:
Four to Score
Four to Score is the fourth book in Stephanie Plum, by Janet Evanovich, published in 1998. It sits between Three to Get Deadly and High Five in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Four to Score - Book 5:
High Five
High Five is by Janet Evanovich, the fifth novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 1999. In the reading order it follows Four to Score and precedes Hot Six.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of High Five - Book 6:
Hot Six
Hot Six is the Stephanie Plum series' sixth entry, a novel by Janet Evanovich, published in 2000, at 340 pages. In the reading order it follows High Five and precedes Seven Up.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Hot Six - Book 7:
Seven Up
Seven Up is the seventh book in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, published in 2001, sitting between Hot Six and Hard Eight in the reading order. Like the rest of the numbered titles, it sends the chaotic Trenton bounty hunter after a new low-level skip, with the actual mystery serving mostly as a frame for Jersey-flavored comedy, the running Morelli-and-Ranger love triangle, and the antics of her supporting cast.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Seven Up - Book 8:
Hard Eight
Hard Eight is by Janet Evanovich, the eighth novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2002. In the reading order it follows Seven Up and precedes Visions of Sugar Plums.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Hard Eight - Book 9:
Visions of Sugar Plums
Visions of Sugar Plums is by Janet Evanovich, a novella in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2002, at 192 pages. In the reading order it follows Hard Eight and precedes To the Nines.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Visions of Sugar Plums - Book 10:
To the Nines
To the Nines is the ninth book in Stephanie Plum, by Janet Evanovich, published in 2003. It sits between Visions of Sugar Plums and Ten Big Ones in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of To the Nines - Book 11:
Ten Big Ones
Ten Big Ones is by Janet Evanovich, the tenth novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2004. In the reading order it follows To the Nines and precedes Eleven on Top.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Ten Big Ones - Book 12:
Eleven on Top
Eleven on Top is the Stephanie Plum series' eleventh entry, a novel by Janet Evanovich, published in 2005, at 349 pages. In the reading order it follows Ten Big Ones and precedes Twelve Sharp.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Eleven on Top - Book 13:
Twelve Sharp
Twelve Sharp is the twelfth book in Stephanie Plum, by Janet Evanovich, published in 2006. It sits between Eleven on Top and Plum Lovin' in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Twelve Sharp - Book 14:
Plum Lovin'
Plum Lovin' is by Janet Evanovich, a novella in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2007. In the reading order it follows Twelve Sharp and precedes Lean Mean Thirteen.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Plum Lovin' - Book 15:
Lean Mean Thirteen
Lean Mean Thirteen is the Stephanie Plum series' thirteenth entry, a novel by Janet Evanovich, published in 2007, at 320 pages. In the reading order it follows Plum Lovin' and precedes Plum Lucky.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lean Mean Thirteen - Book 16:
Plum Lucky
Plum Lucky is by Janet Evanovich, a novella in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2008. It sits between Lean Mean Thirteen and Fearless Fourteen in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Plum Lucky - Book 17:
Fearless Fourteen
Fearless Fourteen is by Janet Evanovich, the fourteenth novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2008. In the reading order it follows Plum Lucky and precedes Plum Spooky.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Fearless Fourteen - Book 18:
Plum Spooky
Plum Spooky is by Janet Evanovich, a novella in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2009, at 309 pages. In the reading order it follows Fearless Fourteen and precedes Finger Lickin' Fifteen.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Plum Spooky - Book 19:
Finger Lickin' Fifteen
Finger Lickin' Fifteen is the 15th book in Stephanie Plum, by Janet Evanovich, published in 2009. It sits between Plum Spooky and Sizzling Sixteen in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Finger Lickin' Fifteen - Book 20:
Sizzling Sixteen
Sizzling Sixteen is by Janet Evanovich, the 16th novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2010. In the reading order it follows Finger Lickin' Fifteen and precedes Smokin' Seventeen.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sizzling Sixteen - Book 21:
Smokin' Seventeen
Smokin' Seventeen is the Stephanie Plum series' 17th entry, a novel by Janet Evanovich, published in 2011, at 314 pages. In the reading order it follows Sizzling Sixteen and precedes Explosive Eighteen.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Smokin' Seventeen - Book 22:
Explosive Eighteen
Explosive Eighteen is the 18th book in Stephanie Plum, by Janet Evanovich, published in 2011. It sits between Smokin' Seventeen and Notorious Nineteen in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Explosive Eighteen - Book 23:
Notorious Nineteen
Notorious Nineteen is by Janet Evanovich, the 19th novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2012. In the reading order it follows Explosive Eighteen and precedes Takedown Twenty.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Notorious Nineteen - Book 24:
Takedown Twenty
Takedown Twenty is the Stephanie Plum series' 20th entry, a novel by Janet Evanovich, published in 2013, at 322 pages. In the reading order it follows Notorious Nineteen and precedes Top Secret Twenty-One.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Takedown Twenty - Book 25:
Top Secret Twenty-One
Top Secret Twenty-One is the 21st book in Stephanie Plum, by Janet Evanovich, published in 2014. It sits between Takedown Twenty and Tricky Twenty-Two in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Top Secret Twenty-One - Book 26:
Tricky Twenty-Two
Tricky Twenty-Two is by Janet Evanovich, the 22nd novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2015. In the reading order it follows Top Secret Twenty-One and precedes Turbo Twenty-Three.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Tricky Twenty-Two - Book 27:
Turbo Twenty-Three
Turbo Twenty-Three is the Stephanie Plum series' 23rd entry, a novel by Janet Evanovich, published in 2016, at 308 pages. In the reading order it follows Tricky Twenty-Two and precedes Hardcore Twenty-Four.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Turbo Twenty-Three - Book 28:
Hardcore Twenty-Four
Hardcore Twenty-Four is the 24th book in Stephanie Plum, by Janet Evanovich, published in 2017. It sits between Turbo Twenty-Three and Look Alive Twenty-Five in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Hardcore Twenty-Four - Book 29:
Look Alive Twenty-Five
Look Alive Twenty-Five is by Janet Evanovich, the 25th novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2018. In the reading order it follows Hardcore Twenty-Four and precedes Twisted Twenty-Six.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Look Alive Twenty-Five - Book 30:
Twisted Twenty-Six
Twisted Twenty-Six is the Stephanie Plum series' 26th entry, a novel by Janet Evanovich, published in 2019, at 320 pages. In the reading order it follows Look Alive Twenty-Five and precedes Fortune and Glory: Tantalizing Twenty-Seven.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Twisted Twenty-Six - Book 31:
Fortune and Glory: Tantalizing Twenty-Seven
Fortune and Glory: Tantalizing Twenty-Seven is the 27th book in Stephanie Plum, by Janet Evanovich, published in 2020. It sits between Twisted Twenty-Six and Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Fortune and Glory: Tantalizing Twenty-Seven - Book 32:
Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight
Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight is by Janet Evanovich, the 28th novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in 2021. In the reading order it follows Fortune and Glory: Tantalizing Twenty-Seven and precedes Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight - Book 33:
Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine
Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine is the Stephanie Plum series' 29th entry, a novel by Janet Evanovich, published in 2022, at 328 pages. In the reading order it follows Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight and precedes Dirty Thirty.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine - Book 34:
Dirty Thirty
Dirty Thirty is the 30th book in Stephanie Plum, by Janet Evanovich, published in October 2023. It sits between Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine and Now or Never: Thirty-One on the Run in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dirty Thirty - Book 35:
Now or Never: Thirty-One on the Run
Now or Never: Thirty-One on the Run is by Janet Evanovich, the 31st novel in the Stephanie Plum series, published in November 2024. In the reading order it follows Dirty Thirty and precedes Split Second: Thirty-Two Switcheroo.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Now or Never: Thirty-One on the Run - Book 36:
Split Second: Thirty-Two Switcheroo
Split Second: Thirty-Two Switcheroo is the Stephanie Plum series' 32nd entry, a novel by Janet Evanovich, announced for November 2026. It follows Now or Never: Thirty-One on the Run as the next announced entry in the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Split Second: Thirty-Two Switcheroo
About the Stephanie Plum series
Stephanie Plum is a laid-off lingerie buyer from Trenton, New Jersey, who talks her way into a job as a bail bondsman's apprentice and turns out to be a chaotic, gun-averse, car-destroying natural at bounty hunting. Janet Evanovich built the series as comic crime fiction rather than a straight procedural: every book sends Stephanie after a new low-level skip (a bail jumper who's failed to show for court), and the actual mystery plot is really a frame for Jersey-flavoured slapstick, a rotating love triangle between brooding cop Joe Morelli and mercenary security expert Ranger, and a supporting cast — Stephanie's gun-toting Grandma Mazur, her foul-mouthed former-prostitute-turned-partner Lula, and her exploding cars — that has kept readers coming back for three decades.
The appeal is pure comfort-read comedy with just enough crime plot to keep the pages turning: bumbling capers, running gags, and a bounty hunter who solves cases mostly by accident and stubbornness. It's for readers who want a light, funny mystery series rather than a dark one, and who don't mind that not much changes for Stephanie book to book — the love triangle in particular has stayed famously unresolved for over 25 entries. With more than a book a year since 1994, it's one of the longest-running character mystery series still actively publishing new instalments.
Frequently asked questions
How many Stephanie Plum books are there?
There are 32 numbered novels counting the upcoming Split Second: Thirty-Two Switcheroo (10 November 2026), plus four "between the numbers" holiday novellas (Visions of Sugar Plums, Plum Lovin', Plum Lucky, and Plum Spooky).
What order should I read the Stephanie Plum books in?
Numbered/publication order, starting with One for the Money. The between-the-numbers novellas can be read at the point they fall in the sequence, or skipped entirely.
Do Stephanie end up with Morelli or Ranger?
The love triangle between cop Joe Morelli and security specialist Ranger has been a running thread since early in the series and remains deliberately unresolved across 31+ books — going in expecting a decisive answer will lead to disappointment.
Is the Stephanie Plum series finished?
No, it's ongoing. Janet Evanovich has published roughly a book a year since 1994, and book 32, Split Second: Thirty-Two Switcheroo, is scheduled for 10 November 2026.
Do I need to read the holiday novellas?
No. Visions of Sugar Plums, Plum Lovin', Plum Lucky, and Plum Spooky are fun but inessential side stories; skipping them and reading only the numbered novels loses nothing important.
If you like the Stephanie Plum series
Reading order last verified .