Troublemaker Book 1: Alex Barnaby Series 3 [Hardcover]

Janet Evanovich (Author), Alex Evanvovich (Author), Joelle Jones (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: July 20, 2010 | Series: Troublemaker

Janet Evanovich, the New York Times #1 best-selling author of Finger Lickin' Fifteen, brings Alexandra Barnaby and Sam Hooker, from the hit Barnaby novels Metro Girl and Motor Mouth, to Dark Horse Comics with her debut graphic novel Troublemaker!

Alex Barnaby and Sam Hooker are back together and fighting crime the only way they know how by leaving a trail of chaos, panic, and disorder. Alex, an auto mechanic and spotter for racecar driver Sam Hooker, is drawn to trouble like a giant palmetto bug to a day-old taco. Unfortunately, she's also drawn to Hooker in the same fashion. There's no steering clear of trouble or Hooker when friends Rosa and Felicia call for help. A man has gone missing, and in order to find him Barnaby and Hooker will have to go deep into the underbelly of Miami and south Florida, surviving Petro Voodoo, explosions, gift- wrapped body parts, a deadly swamp chase, and Hooker's mom.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bestselling author Evanovich continues her Barnaby series (Metro Girl, Motor Mouth) in graphic novel form with the help of her co-writer daughter and artist Jones (You Have Killed Me). No need to know about the previous adventures of Alex Barnaby and NASCAR driver Sam Hooker, since everyone is clearly introduced for new readers. Old friend Felicia has summoned Alex to Florida because their mutual friend Rosa has been kidnapped by someone practicing voodoo. The art is direct and simply laid out, with no more than four panels to a page and the pictures supporting dialogue and caption exposition. That makes for an easy-to-read starting point for those unfamiliar with comics. The attractive figures and detailed settings also help, and Dan Jackson's bright colors capture the sun-soaked feel of Miami. Jones gives Barnaby wide-open eyes and an adorable pug nose that makes her appear young and approachable. She's cute, and that plays well in the action-packed romantic comedy/thriller that follows (including outdated cougar jokes). Jones is also good with the dog, Beans, a slobbery St. Bernard, providing comic relief. For those not already Evanovich fans, it's rather like a grown-up Scooby Doo; the story's conclusion is due in Book Two in November.
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse Comics; 1st edition (July 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159582488X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595824882
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Graphic Novels > Mystery
  • #69 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Publishers > Dark Horse

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

111 of 119 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Buy for the artwork...not the story July 20, 2010

By Still a Fan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

First let me say that I love Barnaby and Hooker. I bought both Metro Girl and Motor Mouth in book form and on CDs so that I could listen to it in the car on long trips. When I saw another book with these two, I pre-ordered it. The package arrived last night and I couldn't wait to read it. Then I opened the package...graphic novel. Yuck!

After sulking for a couple of hours, I did sit down and read it. The story is simple (Rosa is missing) and so is the language. "My name is Alex Barnaby. I once stole an eighteen-wheeler and drove it to Miami."

My main gripe about the book is it's not finished. This is only chapter 1 thru 4. I also don't like the font that is used in the ballons that go along with the artwork. It's small and thin. I had to take my glasses off to actually be able to focus on the print.

On the upside...the artwork is beautiful. The artist put more time and effort into the book than the authors did and gets the lowest credit. That's a shame. I think Joelle Jones should get top billing on this book not Janet Evanovich and her daughter.

I have a list of authors. Some are marked "Buy everything they write", others are marked "Evaluate first and then buy (maybe)" and "Library Only" and still others are "Never ever buy them or read them again". I think JE has now moved down to the "Library Only" catagory.

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! August 3, 2010

By S. Smith

Format:Hardcover

It's amazing to me that anyone still buys an Evanovich book. How many worthless books does an author have to produce before devoted fans stop buying?? I stopped after Plum Spooky. Before that, I knew when the release date was for each book, and bought the very day it came out. I loved all the numbered Plum books, the off numbered ones, and even her previously published romantic novels. Imagine my surprise, when #14 was written in what seemed to be a completely different style! It was beyond boring, the humor fell flat on it's face. I wondered if this was really Janet Evanovich writing this?? Well, everyone has an off day. So, when Plum Spooky came out, I bought it sight unseen, sure that the Janet I knew would be back in her true form. I couldn't believe that Plum Stupid, uh, I mean Plum Spooky, was as bad as it was. Very much, in fact, like #14. When #15 came out, I wasn't dumb enough to buy it sight unseen. When I looked it over, I quickly realized it was as bad as the last two. I no longer even notice when an Evanovich book is released. But I was in Borders yesterday, and saw Trouble Maker. I took it to the cafe, and was stunned by the quality of the art! Wow, I thought, was this Alex's work? She used to do a comic strip on the website. Uh, no, it was someone else named Joelle, I think. My compliments to her, by the way. The dialogue in the "novel" was so boring and without inspiration I didn't bother to read it all. Isn't anyone telling Janet these things? Surely the publisher knows?? Well, money talks, and I just hope that the people like me, who don't have money to throw away, but unlike me who are still throwing it away, are getting some enjoyment out of buying these worthless books from a previously great author. Want to buy #14 and Plum Spooky from me? Both are hardcover, both I should have returned for a full refund the day I bought them.

129 of 146 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars You must be kidding July 20, 2010

By Reacher Fan 1909

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I cannot believe what a money grubbing piece of nonsense this disgrace of so called book is. Shame on Janet Evanovich, her daughter and the publisher. This is no 'novel', graphic or otherwise. It's a pathetic comic with a hardcover that takes less than 20 minutes to read. The artwork is beautiful. The story is beyond lame.

DO NOT waste your money. One entire page had all of about 7 lines of dialogue, another 3 lines. This wouldn't even qualify as a short story if sold by the word. The page count was heavily padded by the artwork, which is just not a substitute for plot or content. Honestly, it reads like a first year writing class assignment and dressed up with great artwork and that does not a graphic novel make.

I am so over Janet Evanovich and her ridiculous money making schemes. And shame on Amazon for promoting this rip-off.

PS: I actually did an estimated word count for this graphic novel. It's under 1,500 words. To put this in perspective, a typical typeset page has 350 to 650 words. Even with a big typeface, small page size, this 'novel' would struggle to be 3-4 pages of barely related vignettes with virtually nothing to hold each so-called 'chapter' together.