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- Title: One for the Money
- Author: Janet Evanovich
- Narrator: C.J. Critt
- Length: 08:34:09
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 22/04/2011
- Publisher: Recorded Books
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Detective Stories
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s something magical about discovering a narrator who becomes the perfect travel companion for a story. C.J. Critt’s performance of Janet Evanovich’s “One for the Money” took me back to a roadside diner in Pennsylvania where I once met a waitress who could’ve been Stephanie Plum’s long-lost cousin – all Jersey attitude, quick wit, and survival instincts honed by life’s curveballs. That’s the alchemy of great audiobook narration: it doesn’t just tell a story, it transports you to the world’s back alleys and kitchen tables where real life unfolds.
Evanovich’s debut Plum novel crackles with the same energy as those late-night stories exchanged between truckers at 24-hour diners – equal parts hilarious and harrowing. As someone who’s spent years collecting oral histories from roadside America, I recognize authentic voice when I hear it, and Critt nails the nasal Jersey cadence that makes Stephanie’s misadventures in bounty hunting feel like gossip from your most entertaining friend. Her timing on lines like “‘There are some men who enter a woman’s life and screw it up forever. Joseph Morelli was one of those men'” is so perfect you can almost hear the eye roll.
The beauty of experiencing this story through audio becomes apparent in Evanovich’s dialogue-heavy scenes. Like that grandmother in Oaxaca who taught me the power of a well-placed pause, Critt understands how silence between words can heighten tension or comedy. Listen to how she delivers Stephanie’s increasingly desperate attempts to explain her way out of trouble – each excuse piling on the last with the frantic energy of someone who’s literally making it up as she goes along. It’s a masterclass in comedic timing that mirrors the improvisational spirit of travel itself.
What struck me most was how Evanovich’s Trenton breathes through the audio format. The growl of engines in the Burg, the clatter of plates at the Cluck-in-a-Bucket, the way Morelli’s voice drops when he’s annoyed – these textures create a sensory map as vivid as any travelogue. I found myself nodding along like I do when locals give dubious directions, recognizing that peculiar East Coast rhythm where every sentence ends halfway up the scale, turning statements into questions and threats into endearments.
Having documented enough small-town characters across three continents, I can confirm Stephanie Plum would feel right at home in any community where everyone knows everyone’s business but still manages to surprise each other daily. Evanovich’s genius lies in elevating regional quirks into universal comedy – the way Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur crashes viewings at the funeral home isn’t so different from my great-aunt Consuela who treated Miami bus stops as her personal social club.
If the narration stumbles anywhere, it’s in differentiating some male voices during action sequences. There were moments during car chases where I wished for slightly more distinct vocal textures to track the chaos. But this is a minor quibble in what’s otherwise a sparkling performance that captures Evanovich’s balance of screwball comedy and genuine suspense.
For listeners craving smart, funny mysteries with heart, this audiobook delivers the same rush as finding an amazing local joint just when you’re starving on a road trip. It’s the literary equivalent of a perfect diner cheeseburger – messy, satisfying, and served with a side of unforgettable characters. What makes it particularly special in audio is how Critt’s delivery enhances Evanovich’s gift for turning desperate situations into laugh-out-loud set pieces. When Stephanie tries to subdue a suspect with a hairspray-flamethrower combo, Critt’s incredulous tone makes you feel the exact moment when plucky determination tips into glorious absurdity.
As someone who’s listened to audiobooks everywhere from Saharan campsites to Tokyo subway cars, I can confidently say this is one of those rare productions where narrator and material elevate each other. It’s not just an audiobook – it’s a ticket to ride shotgun with the most delightfully dysfunctional crew in New Jersey. Just maybe don’t listen while operating heavy machinery; the laugh-out-loud moments come as unexpectedly as potholes on the Turnpike.
With one hand on the wheel and the other hitting ‘play’ on the next chapter,
Marcus Rivera
