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Fox and O'Hare #1
The Heist
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From Janet Evanovich, #1 bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, and Lee Goldberg, bestselling author and television writer for Monk, comes the first adventure in an electrifying series featuring an FBI agent who always gets her man, and a fearless con artist who lives for the chase.
FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world’s most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years the only name she’s cared about is Nicolas Fox—an international crook she wants in more ways than one.
Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail—particularly Kate O’Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there’s no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman . . . even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: He convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O’Hare.
Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who’s hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate’s dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first.
Praise for The Heist
“ The Heist is the perfect title to carry on a trip to the beach. The laugh out loud humor that readers expect from Evanovich is in full force, and Goldberg’s crafty and elaborate writing is prominent. . . . Everyone will be eager for the next book in the series.” —Associated Press
“The action is fast-paced and the writing is first-rate, making The Heist an excellent choice for vacation reading.” —Huntington News
The hardcover edition of The Heist contains stickers—“I ‘Heart’ Plum” and “The Con Is On”—and a sneak peek from the next Stephanie Plum novel!
FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world’s most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years the only name she’s cared about is Nicolas Fox—an international crook she wants in more ways than one.
Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail—particularly Kate O’Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there’s no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman . . . even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: He convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O’Hare.
Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who’s hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate’s dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first.
Praise for The Heist
“ The Heist is the perfect title to carry on a trip to the beach. The laugh out loud humor that readers expect from Evanovich is in full force, and Goldberg’s crafty and elaborate writing is prominent. . . . Everyone will be eager for the next book in the series.” —Associated Press
“The action is fast-paced and the writing is first-rate, making The Heist an excellent choice for vacation reading.” —Huntington News
The hardcover edition of The Heist contains stickers—“I ‘Heart’ Plum” and “The Con Is On”—and a sneak peek from the next Stephanie Plum novel!
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2013
About the author
Janet Evanovich
271 books39.4k followersJanet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O'Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,692 reviews
July 15, 2013
I am a woman who enjoys guilty pleasures. I watch Bollywood movies at 3am. Eat ‘smores when I should be eating carrot sticks. Listen to Young the Giant sing “Cough Syrup” roughly 40 times a day. The way I see it…life is too short to NOT indulge yourself. See the Snickers? Want the Snickers? Eat the freaking Snickers!
Most of my guilty pleasures are harmless. An hour here….50 calories there. Poof gone. Moving on. But that is NOT the case when it comes to my obsessive fascination with all things Janet Evanovich.
Let me explain.
Last July I posted a video on KO TV raging about “authors inability to throw in the towel.” My point was, that at some point (some) authors need to realize they have outplayed their characters. This rant came at the end of a week-long “Stephanie Plum” binge reading (in which I read books 1 – 18 in 5 days.) Consciously I was “over” Stephanie’s quirky cases by book 13, but for some reason (let’s call it OCD) I found myself unable to put the series aside and call it a day.
It was not until I saw Evanovich’s name on the front of “The Heist,” (and then started to read it) that the reasoning behind my obsession finally reared its ugly head.
Her writing is yet another guilty pleasure. (That makes it #4638 for those of you keeping track.)
Evanovich is talented (she wouldn’t be a NYT bestselling author if she wasn’t) but her talent (at least for me) falls in an entirely different rhelm than other authors. Evanovich’s talent (and Goldberg’s for that matter) does not lie in her ability to make me see the world differently, or turn me into a blubbering mess by page 100. Her talent lies in her ability to make me laugh (or at the very least suspend reality.) Her plots are often predictable. Her characters? Two dimensional. But I keep coming back. Why? Because they make me laugh.
Not everything in life needs to be serious. And despite preconceived notions, I am not hell-bent on reading every torturous book known to mankind (though I do keep a list.) Sometimes I want to kick back and let rocket-launchers take center stage. Listen to the inner ramblings of clumsy characters. Bask in the glory of well-crafted ridiculousness.
Which is actually kind of perfect, because “The Heist” had all of the above. (Even the rocket-launchers. Go team “Blow shit up!)
"FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world’s most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years, the only name she’s cared about is Nicolas Fox—an international crook she wants in more ways than one.
Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail—particularly Kate O’Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there’s no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman . . . even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: he convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O’Hare.
Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who’s hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate’s dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first."
For those of you still reading, let me make this as simple as possible for you. “The Heist” is pretty much “Ocean’s Eleven” meets “White Collar.” If you don’t like either of those, you will NOT like this book. Save your money and move on.
Now, for those of you still with me (after THAT revelation)….let’s talk pacing.
The biggest problem I had with this novel was not the predictability of the plot. (Which I had pegged by page 10.) It was not the (almost) stereotypical characters. (Handsome con-man, workaholic ex-Navy-Seal FBI agent.) It was the stunted pacing that had me flipping my kindle the bird.
For those of you that have actually seen Ocean’s Eleven, you will understand instantly what I’m about to explain. The first 60% of this book was dedicated solely to character introductions. The plot as a whole revolves around a con. A con needs the perfect crew of con-men/women correct? Correct. So for the first half of the book we are introduced to the “players” of the game. Each has a formal introduction (name/age/nationality…etc) and then their “flip reel” is set into motion. (Aka: we get a quick rundown of their circumstance, why they would be perfect, and last how one – or both – of the lead characters talk them into participating.) In a movie, this takes about 10 minutes, but in a book…it takes about 150 pages. Which in turn buries the “anticipated” plot until almost the end of the book. (Making it feel unnecessarily rushed.)
There was also a noteworthy imbalance when it came to narration.
Kate and Nick are both allowed the opportunity to speak in this novel (which makes for great internal cannon fodder.) But the actual “amount” in which each are allowed is a tad disappointing. Nick is (without a doubt) the stronger character of the two. He may be a solitary man, but his bones (characteristically) are much stronger than Kate’s (even though we get to witness her on more of a familial level.) Kate however is the one that takes the wheel in “The Heist.” (Commanding more than 70% of the companion narration.) I’m going to assume this was intentional. (To keep us on our toes when it comes to the lovable con-man.) But instead it only came across as irritating, and lopsided.
So why, with all of the put downs and obvious negativity does this book still hover around the 3 star mark and remain in my “guilty pleasure” list of series to keep on my radar?
Because it’s fun.
Once I put my notes away, and got over my haughty judgemental-ness, I found myself chuckling. Chucking at Willie’s need to have her nipples on display (she’s 50 and likes to steal freight-trains.) Chuckling at Char’s (yes, that’s a stage name) ability to channel Samuel L. Jackson ala Pulp Fiction. (Though he build’s tree-houses for a living, and has a hard time not wetting himself in funny situations) And last grandpa (read: total badass) Jack who can kill a man 16 different ways with a pair of tweezers (and likes to take advantage of his AARP discount.)
Sometimes fun is just what the doctor ordered. And though it won’t win any literary awards, it might just make you smile while sipping a margarita (or 3) by the pool.
Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Life may be too short for crappy books, but it’s also too darn short to plaster a permanent frown on your beautiful face.
Most of my guilty pleasures are harmless. An hour here….50 calories there. Poof gone. Moving on. But that is NOT the case when it comes to my obsessive fascination with all things Janet Evanovich.
Let me explain.
Last July I posted a video on KO TV raging about “authors inability to throw in the towel.” My point was, that at some point (some) authors need to realize they have outplayed their characters. This rant came at the end of a week-long “Stephanie Plum” binge reading (in which I read books 1 – 18 in 5 days.) Consciously I was “over” Stephanie’s quirky cases by book 13, but for some reason (let’s call it OCD) I found myself unable to put the series aside and call it a day.
It was not until I saw Evanovich’s name on the front of “The Heist,” (and then started to read it) that the reasoning behind my obsession finally reared its ugly head.
Her writing is yet another guilty pleasure. (That makes it #4638 for those of you keeping track.)
Evanovich is talented (she wouldn’t be a NYT bestselling author if she wasn’t) but her talent (at least for me) falls in an entirely different rhelm than other authors. Evanovich’s talent (and Goldberg’s for that matter) does not lie in her ability to make me see the world differently, or turn me into a blubbering mess by page 100. Her talent lies in her ability to make me laugh (or at the very least suspend reality.) Her plots are often predictable. Her characters? Two dimensional. But I keep coming back. Why? Because they make me laugh.
Not everything in life needs to be serious. And despite preconceived notions, I am not hell-bent on reading every torturous book known to mankind (though I do keep a list.) Sometimes I want to kick back and let rocket-launchers take center stage. Listen to the inner ramblings of clumsy characters. Bask in the glory of well-crafted ridiculousness.
Which is actually kind of perfect, because “The Heist” had all of the above. (Even the rocket-launchers. Go team “Blow shit up!)
"FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world’s most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years, the only name she’s cared about is Nicolas Fox—an international crook she wants in more ways than one.
Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail—particularly Kate O’Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there’s no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman . . . even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: he convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O’Hare.
Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who’s hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate’s dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first."
For those of you still reading, let me make this as simple as possible for you. “The Heist” is pretty much “Ocean’s Eleven” meets “White Collar.” If you don’t like either of those, you will NOT like this book. Save your money and move on.
Now, for those of you still with me (after THAT revelation)….let’s talk pacing.
The biggest problem I had with this novel was not the predictability of the plot. (Which I had pegged by page 10.) It was not the (almost) stereotypical characters. (Handsome con-man, workaholic ex-Navy-Seal FBI agent.) It was the stunted pacing that had me flipping my kindle the bird.
For those of you that have actually seen Ocean’s Eleven, you will understand instantly what I’m about to explain. The first 60% of this book was dedicated solely to character introductions. The plot as a whole revolves around a con. A con needs the perfect crew of con-men/women correct? Correct. So for the first half of the book we are introduced to the “players” of the game. Each has a formal introduction (name/age/nationality…etc) and then their “flip reel” is set into motion. (Aka: we get a quick rundown of their circumstance, why they would be perfect, and last how one – or both – of the lead characters talk them into participating.) In a movie, this takes about 10 minutes, but in a book…it takes about 150 pages. Which in turn buries the “anticipated” plot until almost the end of the book. (Making it feel unnecessarily rushed.)
There was also a noteworthy imbalance when it came to narration.
Kate and Nick are both allowed the opportunity to speak in this novel (which makes for great internal cannon fodder.) But the actual “amount” in which each are allowed is a tad disappointing. Nick is (without a doubt) the stronger character of the two. He may be a solitary man, but his bones (characteristically) are much stronger than Kate’s (even though we get to witness her on more of a familial level.) Kate however is the one that takes the wheel in “The Heist.” (Commanding more than 70% of the companion narration.) I’m going to assume this was intentional. (To keep us on our toes when it comes to the lovable con-man.) But instead it only came across as irritating, and lopsided.
So why, with all of the put downs and obvious negativity does this book still hover around the 3 star mark and remain in my “guilty pleasure” list of series to keep on my radar?
Because it’s fun.
Once I put my notes away, and got over my haughty judgemental-ness, I found myself chuckling. Chucking at Willie’s need to have her nipples on display (she’s 50 and likes to steal freight-trains.) Chuckling at Char’s (yes, that’s a stage name) ability to channel Samuel L. Jackson ala Pulp Fiction. (Though he build’s tree-houses for a living, and has a hard time not wetting himself in funny situations) And last grandpa (read: total badass) Jack who can kill a man 16 different ways with a pair of tweezers (and likes to take advantage of his AARP discount.)
Sometimes fun is just what the doctor ordered. And though it won’t win any literary awards, it might just make you smile while sipping a margarita (or 3) by the pool.
Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Life may be too short for crappy books, but it’s also too darn short to plaster a permanent frown on your beautiful face.
December 26, 2023
|| 1.0 star ||
The writing here was trying very hard to be witty but was ultimately just empty. The plot obviously prioritized action over any kind of depth, emotional value or actual story, and I’m simply not a fan of that. I need more than just heists or car chases. I was bored out of my mind.
The characters were also very one-dimensional and actually just flat-out annoying. The guy was egotistical and full of himself while the girl was uptight and perpetually scowling; these were their sole personality traits, and it didn’t go further than that.
All in all, this was just not fun and not good. I wanted to finish reading this almost immediately after I started, and when I finally hit the halfway point I just couldn’t help but skim over the rest anymore. Unsurprisingly, nothing interesting happened during any of those pages, and I’m glad I didn’t waste any more time on this.
The writing here was trying very hard to be witty but was ultimately just empty. The plot obviously prioritized action over any kind of depth, emotional value or actual story, and I’m simply not a fan of that. I need more than just heists or car chases. I was bored out of my mind.
The characters were also very one-dimensional and actually just flat-out annoying. The guy was egotistical and full of himself while the girl was uptight and perpetually scowling; these were their sole personality traits, and it didn’t go further than that.
All in all, this was just not fun and not good. I wanted to finish reading this almost immediately after I started, and when I finally hit the halfway point I just couldn’t help but skim over the rest anymore. Unsurprisingly, nothing interesting happened during any of those pages, and I’m glad I didn’t waste any more time on this.
May 5, 2020
I tried out this mystery series of Janet Evanovich. It's a great premise, nothing new, but what is. There is not nearly as much humor as the other series have. I like the Knight and Moon series better. There aren't really quirky characters yet, but they are set up and they could show up later in the series. So, Lizzy and Diesel is my favorite series, Stephanie Plum, Knight and Moon and then this series. Don't think it's not worth reading. It's an entertaining read with good action and that sexual tension that Janet does in every book she writes. It's a good series and I do plan on reading the rest of the series.
Kate O'Hare is an agent who is chasing a con artist, Nick Fox. She does catch him and he escapes, only to find out that he was released on purpose so that Nick can help the agency catch bigger criminals who are beyond the law. Now Kate must work with Nick.
Nick Fox is the most fleshed out character here, but Kate feels rather generic. This series was missing Janet's full on humor. The humor was minimal here. That's why it's my least favorite of Janet's new series.
I will be reading further about Kate and Nick. It took me mostly 2 days to read, I ripped through this story.
Kate O'Hare is an agent who is chasing a con artist, Nick Fox. She does catch him and he escapes, only to find out that he was released on purpose so that Nick can help the agency catch bigger criminals who are beyond the law. Now Kate must work with Nick.
Nick Fox is the most fleshed out character here, but Kate feels rather generic. This series was missing Janet's full on humor. The humor was minimal here. That's why it's my least favorite of Janet's new series.
I will be reading further about Kate and Nick. It took me mostly 2 days to read, I ripped through this story.
June 30, 2013
If you're looking at this thinking Kate O'Hare will be a wacky character like Stephanie Plum, or that it'll be more of a mystery, you might want to re-evaluate. It's actually a little more like the TV show Leverage: strange, with weird characters, but not Stephanie/Diesel weird, and with a few interesting cons along the way. (Although obviously it's a different universe, as Kate's supposedly an ex-SEAL.) I also felt disconnected from the story, as if I were watching it unfold through a window rather than all around me. (I'm sure there's a technical writing term for that issue.) The characters are a little flat .
So, it's a little fun to read - but not too much fun - and not something I'll buy, even secondhand. But if you want a 2-hour beach read, go for it. Just know this: the fascination with death-by-tweezer is never explained.
So, it's a little fun to read - but not too much fun - and not something I'll buy, even secondhand. But if you want a 2-hour beach read, go for it. Just know this: the fascination with death-by-tweezer is never explained.
May 28, 2013
Ever watched White Collar, the USA television series about a dashing con man forced to work with his FBI nemesis to solve crimes and stay out of jail? Yes? Then you have the basic premise for The Heist. Nick Fox is the best con around, and Kate O'Hare, ex-Navy SEAL, current FBI agent, is not too shabby at her job either. She takes Nick down when he attempts to steal the Crimson Teardrop, a rare two-carat red diamond. But with the help of paper, paint, and a tape recorder, Nick gives U.S. Marshals the slip on his way to jail. Unbeknownst to Kate, the escape is a setup to free Nick so he can pursue a low-life banker who's scammed $500 million from a variety of investors, including his own parents. Kate's bosses give her a choice: Help Nick find the bad guy, or track down video pirates committing copyright infringement. Though Kate's not crazy about joining forces with an accomplished criminal, it beats the heck out of shaking down old ladies copying videos at the retirement village.
Though not altogether original, The Heist is a pleasant diversion that a few will rave about, but many will enjoy. There's never much question that Nick, Kate, and their quirky crew will bring their man in. The good stuff, of course, lies in the details of how they do it. (O.K., there aren't many surprises there either, but who cares.) The Heist is just good fun, and I look forward to Evanovich and Goldberg delivering an equally entertaining second installment.
Though not altogether original, The Heist is a pleasant diversion that a few will rave about, but many will enjoy. There's never much question that Nick, Kate, and their quirky crew will bring their man in. The good stuff, of course, lies in the details of how they do it. (O.K., there aren't many surprises there either, but who cares.) The Heist is just good fun, and I look forward to Evanovich and Goldberg delivering an equally entertaining second installment.
February 3, 2017
I read the first book of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plumb series right before this book and I think I enjoyed the characters in this story better. It's still a good and a light read but the main character is not as crazy/silly. A woman detective along with a conman she has been trying to catch in the act for years, must work together running an elaborate con in order to catch a thief that has embezzled half a million dollars. It was fast moving and had original characters.
June 24, 2013
This was a fun read. For those who like Stephanie Plum, it had some of her fun but this is a smarter read. It reminds me some of White Collar with an FBI agent, Kate, working with Nick, a master con. There's an attraction there so it will be interesting in future books to see if it's acted on. Maybe a bit like Moonlighting?
March 17, 2016
This was like the book equivalent of sitting in a Saturday matinee, eating popcorn and having just an afternoon of mindless fun.
I love the tv show Leverage and this book is exactly in that vein. It is book that relies on the work of a long con to get the bad guys.
The main characters are Nick Fox and Kate O'Hare.
Nick is a handsome, charming thief who is always thinking ten moves ahead. He has perfected the art of the grift. Kate is the ex-military FBI agent who has been chasing Nick for years. He knows this and taunts her each time he slips away from her, not in a mean way but in a sexy "til the next time you almost catch me" way.
Kate finally catches him but in typical Nick fashion he oozes his way out of it. He convinces the FBI to use him as a way to catch even bigger, more elusive criminals. After all as the old adage says: it takes a thief to catch a thief. Kate is along as his beleaguered watcher and reluctant co-conspirator.
Their very first case is to catch a guy who embezzled half a billion dollars and escaped to parts unknown. They must find him, get him back on US soil and recover the money.
Like every self respecting con artist book, movie or tv show, they have to assemble a team of people with a different skill sets to help them pull this off. It was fun watching Nick pull in the crew and get to meet them.
The book is very light hearted and full of funny lines and great personalities. Kate and Nick couldn't be more different and I liked each one of them for different reasons. Kate is the no-nonsense person who loves being FBI. She's good with guns and hand-to-hand combat. I just adore the fact that petite Kate is basically the muscle. Whereas Nick is the twisty brains behind everything. He likes his luxury and creature comforts and even in a cave in the middle of an Island he manages to set a great table.
The supporting characters are great fun, but since this is a first book and we only meet them halfway through at first most of them tend to be background. I imagine as the series goes on we'll get to know them better. But of the crew I enjoyed Boyd, the method actor who really takes his part seriously and Kate's dad, Jake. Jake is also ex-military with a colorful, dangerous career that we only hear in bits an pieces.
This is all globe-trotting adventure with lots of banter and guns and fun character moments. Very little romance although Nick and Kate are very attracted to each other. Nick is down for it, obviously, he's a guy. But Kate still only sees him as her arch-nemesis, a criminal she is forced to work with. But I would guess at some point they'll get together. The signs are too glaring for it not to happen.
Edited to add: I listened to this in audio and the narrator was great. He has a nice rich voice and is good with accents. And he didn't do that really annoying thing that some male narrators do by doing a high falsetto when doing the female character voices.
I love the tv show Leverage and this book is exactly in that vein. It is book that relies on the work of a long con to get the bad guys.
The main characters are Nick Fox and Kate O'Hare.
Nick is a handsome, charming thief who is always thinking ten moves ahead. He has perfected the art of the grift. Kate is the ex-military FBI agent who has been chasing Nick for years. He knows this and taunts her each time he slips away from her, not in a mean way but in a sexy "til the next time you almost catch me" way.
Kate finally catches him but in typical Nick fashion he oozes his way out of it. He convinces the FBI to use him as a way to catch even bigger, more elusive criminals. After all as the old adage says: it takes a thief to catch a thief. Kate is along as his beleaguered watcher and reluctant co-conspirator.
Their very first case is to catch a guy who embezzled half a billion dollars and escaped to parts unknown. They must find him, get him back on US soil and recover the money.
Like every self respecting con artist book, movie or tv show, they have to assemble a team of people with a different skill sets to help them pull this off. It was fun watching Nick pull in the crew and get to meet them.
The book is very light hearted and full of funny lines and great personalities. Kate and Nick couldn't be more different and I liked each one of them for different reasons. Kate is the no-nonsense person who loves being FBI. She's good with guns and hand-to-hand combat. I just adore the fact that petite Kate is basically the muscle. Whereas Nick is the twisty brains behind everything. He likes his luxury and creature comforts and even in a cave in the middle of an Island he manages to set a great table.
The supporting characters are great fun, but since this is a first book and we only meet them halfway through at first most of them tend to be background. I imagine as the series goes on we'll get to know them better. But of the crew I enjoyed Boyd, the method actor who really takes his part seriously and Kate's dad, Jake. Jake is also ex-military with a colorful, dangerous career that we only hear in bits an pieces.
This is all globe-trotting adventure with lots of banter and guns and fun character moments. Very little romance although Nick and Kate are very attracted to each other. Nick is down for it, obviously, he's a guy. But Kate still only sees him as her arch-nemesis, a criminal she is forced to work with. But I would guess at some point they'll get together. The signs are too glaring for it not to happen.
Edited to add: I listened to this in audio and the narrator was great. He has a nice rich voice and is good with accents. And he didn't do that really annoying thing that some male narrators do by doing a high falsetto when doing the female character voices.
February 25, 2014
3 STARS
I love heist movies. Mostly because it offers up the possibility of slick camera-work, interesting characters and situations ripe with possibilities of humour and wit. Mixing that with the sexual tension between the FBI agent who has been relentlessly pursuing the charming con-man just makes it near-impossible to resist for me.
While I certainly did enjoy The Heist for certain stretches, it still leaves a lot of room for improvement. Don’t expect Steven Soderbergh’s finesse and panache. There was very little room for the mystery to develop seeing as you’re spoon-fed the information extensively ahead of time. It was more of the pilot episode of a mid-budget, cable TV version of Ocean’s Eleven with a too simplistic con being executed by an uninspired team of non-swindlers.
Sombeody mentioned Leverage and I whole-heartedly agree.
This had a lot of the proper ingredients available in in half the measure that is appropriate to make the perfect dish. I liked the off-the-bat pop culture references and I always tip my hat to fellow Casino Royale fans (the online poker player named Le Chiffre did not go unnoticed). I did like some of the details in the protagonists' personalities but I’m expecting much, much more in the next installments.
Kate O’Hare as the hardcore and driven FBI agent was fun in the way Sandra Bullock presents fun: the snort-giggler whose dinner always ends up in her shirt somehow but can also kick ass. She's also effortlessly attractive without putting much stock on her appearance. These are quite tricky to pull off and not make the heroine annoying but somehow she works well enough for me. I like hearing her thoughts but I could do away with the “Jeez Louise”-ing, “criminy”-ing and “Holy Toledo”-ing, thanks. They weren’t copious to the point of offense in the book but the fact that a former Navy Seals even utters them makes me cringe.
Nick Fox as the cunning and charming con artist was very reminiscent of Neal Caffrey, Matt Bomer’s character from White Collar. He did come off charming and convincing as a con-man, but his chemistry with Kate came across half-hearted. I do like the promise of his character background. It offers some intriguing possibilities, what with all the Harvard history and the too subtle glimpses in the life he leads outside his profession. I can only hope for better depth and personality beyond the mildly amusing comebacks and the twice-brushed set of pearly whites as the series goes. Because with how this went, I got more laughs reading about Kate bantering with Jake (her father) than with Nick.
After being caught by Kate, Nick manages to finagle a deal with the FBI higher-ups to help them catch a Bernie Madoff kind of villain, through his extra-legal talents in exchange for his freedom in five years. The best part of a heist story for me is the recruitment of the team players in the act. The choices here were a little too obvious: a frustrated, uncompromising method actor, a special effects guy trying to survive in the digital age, a failed Amazing Race contestant and Tom Underhill. I can understand why Nick chose the first first three but I’m quite hazy why Tom was included in the con outside him being a big black guy. This ofcourse requires you to believe that given the option of committing a crime to bring down an embezzler, people will agree with very few conditions. Much as how it will require you to believe that “Bernie Madoff”s lawyer will take out a woman he meets in Facebook and invite her to his home on their first date. I still like my fluff with a dash of believability but your mileage may vary.
The Heist thrusts its characters in exotic locations, making the narrative stray towards travel guide territory which I actually appreciated seeing as these were the moments where there was actual meat to the skeletal delivery of Kate and Nick’s adventures. It feels a bit compensatory, I suppose, and unfortunately didn’t do the job well enough seeing how this ended couldn’t have been flatter than if the villains were left scratching their heads in disappointment.
So entirely fluffy, serviceable chemistry between leads with some above average secondary characters here and there. But with enough entertainment value and potential for me to be hopeful for the next book.
”To our grand adventure.”
“This is not an adventure,” Kate said. It’s a job. We aren’t doing it for fun or profit.”
“Okay, let’s try this again,” Nick said, and raised his glass for a new toast. “To a long and fruitful relationship.”
“This isn’t a relationship,” Kate said. “It’s strictly professional. Don’t you forget that for one second.”
Nick sighed and held up his glass again, eyeing her warily as he said,” May misfortune follow us the rest of our lives but never catch up.”
I love heist movies. Mostly because it offers up the possibility of slick camera-work, interesting characters and situations ripe with possibilities of humour and wit. Mixing that with the sexual tension between the FBI agent who has been relentlessly pursuing the charming con-man just makes it near-impossible to resist for me.
While I certainly did enjoy The Heist for certain stretches, it still leaves a lot of room for improvement. Don’t expect Steven Soderbergh’s finesse and panache. There was very little room for the mystery to develop seeing as you’re spoon-fed the information extensively ahead of time. It was more of the pilot episode of a mid-budget, cable TV version of Ocean’s Eleven with a too simplistic con being executed by an uninspired team of non-swindlers.
Sombeody mentioned Leverage and I whole-heartedly agree.
This had a lot of the proper ingredients available in in half the measure that is appropriate to make the perfect dish. I liked the off-the-bat pop culture references and I always tip my hat to fellow Casino Royale fans (the online poker player named Le Chiffre did not go unnoticed). I did like some of the details in the protagonists' personalities but I’m expecting much, much more in the next installments.
Kate O’Hare as the hardcore and driven FBI agent was fun in the way Sandra Bullock presents fun: the snort-giggler whose dinner always ends up in her shirt somehow but can also kick ass. She's also effortlessly attractive without putting much stock on her appearance. These are quite tricky to pull off and not make the heroine annoying but somehow she works well enough for me. I like hearing her thoughts but I could do away with the “Jeez Louise”-ing, “criminy”-ing and “Holy Toledo”-ing, thanks. They weren’t copious to the point of offense in the book but the fact that a former Navy Seals even utters them makes me cringe.
Nick Fox as the cunning and charming con artist was very reminiscent of Neal Caffrey, Matt Bomer’s character from White Collar. He did come off charming and convincing as a con-man, but his chemistry with Kate came across half-hearted. I do like the promise of his character background. It offers some intriguing possibilities, what with all the Harvard history and the too subtle glimpses in the life he leads outside his profession. I can only hope for better depth and personality beyond the mildly amusing comebacks and the twice-brushed set of pearly whites as the series goes. Because with how this went, I got more laughs reading about Kate bantering with Jake (her father) than with Nick.
He’d missed a lot of Christmases and birthdays during her childhood, but not many fathers could be counted on to mount a prison break.
After being caught by Kate, Nick manages to finagle a deal with the FBI higher-ups to help them catch a Bernie Madoff kind of villain, through his extra-legal talents in exchange for his freedom in five years. The best part of a heist story for me is the recruitment of the team players in the act. The choices here were a little too obvious: a frustrated, uncompromising method actor, a special effects guy trying to survive in the digital age, a failed Amazing Race contestant and Tom Underhill. I can understand why Nick chose the first first three but I’m quite hazy why Tom was included in the con outside him being a big black guy. This ofcourse requires you to believe that given the option of committing a crime to bring down an embezzler, people will agree with very few conditions. Much as how it will require you to believe that “Bernie Madoff”s lawyer will take out a woman he meets in Facebook and invite her to his home on their first date. I still like my fluff with a dash of believability but your mileage may vary.
The Heist thrusts its characters in exotic locations, making the narrative stray towards travel guide territory which I actually appreciated seeing as these were the moments where there was actual meat to the skeletal delivery of Kate and Nick’s adventures. It feels a bit compensatory, I suppose, and unfortunately didn’t do the job well enough seeing how this ended couldn’t have been flatter than if the villains were left scratching their heads in disappointment.
So entirely fluffy, serviceable chemistry between leads with some above average secondary characters here and there. But with enough entertainment value and potential for me to be hopeful for the next book.
January 28, 2023
I liked the cat and mouse game in the beginning with the two main characters. However, half way through it kind of became redundant and didn't keep my interest. I did finish it though, but sort of feels like I got my hopes up. I love Janet Evanovich but this one just fell flat for me.
August 18, 2022
Such a fun read with sassy characters. The attraction between Kate and Nick is addicting, definitely left me wanting more.
June 2, 2019
I needed a totally fun read and this was it. The premise sounds like a 1990s TV show— FBI agent teams up with a charming (in my head he’s a combination of Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief and an undercover Daniel Craig) con man. Hijinx and mega cons follow.
Fun stuff — and just what I needed!!
PS- I’ve never been a fan of the famous writer pairs up with less famous writer but it really works here. Classic Evanovich characters and banter but better action scenes and exposition!!
Fun stuff — and just what I needed!!
PS- I’ve never been a fan of the famous writer pairs up with less famous writer but it really works here. Classic Evanovich characters and banter but better action scenes and exposition!!
February 13, 2024
So, those of you who are Janet Evanovich fans, have you heard of this collaboration with Lee Goldberg, the amazing television writer and author?
If not, you might want to try it on for size.
It might even be considered a guilty pleasure. Who knows?
If you are in the right mood for strange, weird characters and a fast moving plot that is entertaining with the right amount of action thrown in - this might be it.
It may be an imperfect start to a series, with an FBI agent and a con artist who are there specifically to out con the cons...but, hey, who wouldn't mind taking a ride on a yacht at the government’s expense to get the bad guy, right?
If not, you might want to try it on for size.
It might even be considered a guilty pleasure. Who knows?
If you are in the right mood for strange, weird characters and a fast moving plot that is entertaining with the right amount of action thrown in - this might be it.
It may be an imperfect start to a series, with an FBI agent and a con artist who are there specifically to out con the cons...but, hey, who wouldn't mind taking a ride on a yacht at the government’s expense to get the bad guy, right?
February 19, 2021
The Heist: A Novel
The Heist: A Novel
by Lee Goldberg
Kindle
$8.99
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 $28.00
Free with Audible trial
Mass Market Paperback
$8.99
This review is from: The Heist: A Novel (Hardcover)
"What we are doing is more like a heist only with a person instead of an object. A successful heist is one that nobody notices until it's over and the thieves are long gone"
If you have ever read the novels by Tim Dorsey or the early works by Carl Hiaasen you might like this novel very much. I had hoped that it was going to have the romantic heat and comedic flare as the duet authors of Jennifer Crusie and Bob Meyer did with "Agnes and the Hitman", but in a way "The Heist" was even better.
This was a perfect beach/vacation read; light but not fluffy, funny but not overly slapstick, with a perfect female protagonist. Kate is the perfect blend of hard-edged ex-Navy SEAL and chocoholic with a bit of a crush on Nick. She just cannot admit it to herself yet!
The secondary characters, especially Kate's father Jake, are great foils with none of the overly fluffiness that Janet's secondary characters from her Stephanie Plum series exhibit.
I don't usually say things like this when I review books because most of the books I read would not be apt to appeal to a male audience anyway. However, the way this one was written, with a clever plot and some good butt-kicking will most likely appeal to both sexes equally. This will make this book a good value for couples! LOL!
This seems like this is going to be a very interesting team of writers. I spent some time trying to figure out just who was writing what part, but then quickly gave up as I was pulled into the interesting story of cons and government double-dealing. I did need to stretch my disbelief a little thin in some parts, but I needed to remember that this was entertainment and not deep literature.
The idea of conning the scummy con-men and paying back the people they stole from is just perfect - a sort of modern day Robin Hood at it's loosest and best interpretation!
This was really a fun way to spend a weekend and to get us ready for the next book in this series.
The Heist: A Novel
by Lee Goldberg
Kindle
$8.99
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 $28.00
Free with Audible trial
Mass Market Paperback
$8.99
This review is from: The Heist: A Novel (Hardcover)
"What we are doing is more like a heist only with a person instead of an object. A successful heist is one that nobody notices until it's over and the thieves are long gone"
If you have ever read the novels by Tim Dorsey or the early works by Carl Hiaasen you might like this novel very much. I had hoped that it was going to have the romantic heat and comedic flare as the duet authors of Jennifer Crusie and Bob Meyer did with "Agnes and the Hitman", but in a way "The Heist" was even better.
This was a perfect beach/vacation read; light but not fluffy, funny but not overly slapstick, with a perfect female protagonist. Kate is the perfect blend of hard-edged ex-Navy SEAL and chocoholic with a bit of a crush on Nick. She just cannot admit it to herself yet!
The secondary characters, especially Kate's father Jake, are great foils with none of the overly fluffiness that Janet's secondary characters from her Stephanie Plum series exhibit.
I don't usually say things like this when I review books because most of the books I read would not be apt to appeal to a male audience anyway. However, the way this one was written, with a clever plot and some good butt-kicking will most likely appeal to both sexes equally. This will make this book a good value for couples! LOL!
This seems like this is going to be a very interesting team of writers. I spent some time trying to figure out just who was writing what part, but then quickly gave up as I was pulled into the interesting story of cons and government double-dealing. I did need to stretch my disbelief a little thin in some parts, but I needed to remember that this was entertainment and not deep literature.
The idea of conning the scummy con-men and paying back the people they stole from is just perfect - a sort of modern day Robin Hood at it's loosest and best interpretation!
This was really a fun way to spend a weekend and to get us ready for the next book in this series.
July 3, 2018
3.5 stars!
This was a fun, light read. The premise is basically a White Collar-style setup. A charming conman is given a deal by the FBI: Work with them to take down criminals, and they'll give him a get-out-of-jail-free card. Legal immunity and all that jazz.
This time, our conman is Nick Fox, and he's paired up to work with Kate O'Hare, a tough FBI agent who has been trying to catch him for years. Nick and Kate are basically what happens when Chaotic Neutral meets Lawful Good, and the ensuing hijinks were amusing and exciting. Think Zootopia for adults. Kate is Judy Hopps, and Nick Fox is...Nick Fox. Lol.
Throw in some car chases, tropical islands, sexual tension and a hint of romance and you have a recipe for a fun read. I'll continue with this series - it's a perfect light read for summer.
This was a fun, light read. The premise is basically a White Collar-style setup. A charming conman is given a deal by the FBI: Work with them to take down criminals, and they'll give him a get-out-of-jail-free card. Legal immunity and all that jazz.
This time, our conman is Nick Fox, and he's paired up to work with Kate O'Hare, a tough FBI agent who has been trying to catch him for years. Nick and Kate are basically what happens when Chaotic Neutral meets Lawful Good, and the ensuing hijinks were amusing and exciting. Think Zootopia for adults. Kate is Judy Hopps, and Nick Fox is...Nick Fox. Lol.
Throw in some car chases, tropical islands, sexual tension and a hint of romance and you have a recipe for a fun read. I'll continue with this series - it's a perfect light read for summer.
August 21, 2013
I am so sad to say that I wasn't really impressed with The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. You know I'm a giant Evanovich fan. I count Stephanie Plum and Lula as some of my best friends. (Sure, they only come around when I open a book...still...) Lee Goldberg is a television producer and he produced Monk, which is one of my favorite shows.
Still, The Heist just doesn't come through. It struck me as a rip-off of White Collar, the USA Network series, sans Matt Bomer--which is the main reason to watch White Collar.
Kate O'Hare is an FBI agent and former Navy SEAL. She's dedicated and ferocious. And she's determined to nail the elusive con man and thief, Nicholas Fox. But Fox is wily, as well as sexy as hell. Maybe she wants to do more than put him in jail. When she manages to snag him--albeit by running into him with a bus--he escapes in a dramatic, theatrical way and she's on his tail once again. When she finally catches up with him again she finds that nothing is what she thought. Can she be trusted to work with Nicholas Fox without letting her attraction for him getting in the way?
This isn't a bad read, but it lacks the spark of earlier Evanovich works. The characters are boring. Even Nicholas Fox the super con man seems like a cardboard cutout. Kare O'Hare is dull, but her father is the one character I really liked in the book. The settings are exotic. The geography lessons intense. But the overall novel is meh.
I'd love to hear what you think about this one! Let me know!
Still, The Heist just doesn't come through. It struck me as a rip-off of White Collar, the USA Network series, sans Matt Bomer--which is the main reason to watch White Collar.
Kate O'Hare is an FBI agent and former Navy SEAL. She's dedicated and ferocious. And she's determined to nail the elusive con man and thief, Nicholas Fox. But Fox is wily, as well as sexy as hell. Maybe she wants to do more than put him in jail. When she manages to snag him--albeit by running into him with a bus--he escapes in a dramatic, theatrical way and she's on his tail once again. When she finally catches up with him again she finds that nothing is what she thought. Can she be trusted to work with Nicholas Fox without letting her attraction for him getting in the way?
This isn't a bad read, but it lacks the spark of earlier Evanovich works. The characters are boring. Even Nicholas Fox the super con man seems like a cardboard cutout. Kare O'Hare is dull, but her father is the one character I really liked in the book. The settings are exotic. The geography lessons intense. But the overall novel is meh.
I'd love to hear what you think about this one! Let me know!
March 4, 2015
This book is part Oceans 11, part Clive Custler--but with women in mind as the target audience. It was easy to read, and entertaining, but only if you're willing to check your feminist card at the door before you pick this up. The main character is smart, tough, accomplished (former Navy SEAL), ambitious, in great shape and can take care of herself. She is also tall, blond, beautiful, can overeat at every opportunity and never gain an ounce, frets over how to wear her hair, throws up after a big professional accomplishment, hides in the ladies' room at work to avoid her male co-workers, has a huge crush on a dashing con man who taunts her--because he is a dashing con man who taunts her. UGH! Oh, and, despite her amazing accomplishments,
I recognize that it is intended to be escapist fun and, frankly, several times it was fun. But I kept being distracted by how this character, who should have been completely in control, fell apart whenever a man was in the vicinity and immediately relinquished control to him. C'mon ladies, we should be able to come up with better heroines, even for escapist fun.
I recognize that it is intended to be escapist fun and, frankly, several times it was fun. But I kept being distracted by how this character, who should have been completely in control, fell apart whenever a man was in the vicinity and immediately relinquished control to him. C'mon ladies, we should be able to come up with better heroines, even for escapist fun.
June 30, 2013
I am a huge fan of Janet Evanovich and I am not sure why so many are raving about this book. Frankly, the characters were, for the most part, flat and not well developed. There were males who were part of Kate’s team who all sort of blended in together and who became just names to me. In earlier novels, the author does stretch the truth, but, for the most part, the experiences and actions are believable. In this book, there is very little credibility and the experiences of Kate and her team are just too impossible to believe, and this may be due to the story line or how the plot unfolds. One character I did like was Kate’s father, who played only a minor role. I wish he could have played a bigger role in the novel. In fact, I agree with one reviewer who stated he could easily be in a series of his own or could better be Kate’s partner. Frankly, I think he would be better than Nick was in this book. In later books, he may become like Lulu is to Stephanie Plum, but he just didn’t do that here. I see their lack of chemistry and mutual attraction/teasing between Kate and Nick as a serious shortfall in the book. Finally, I wonder whether the author, who has provided her readers so much in the past, has finally reached her apex and is possibly now going beyond her limits.
May 3, 2016
3.5 Stars
Fun and light, very entertaining.
Fun and light, very entertaining.
November 2, 2019
AUDIOBOOK
This book is narrated by Scott Brick and his voice is amazing. Super fun read with mystery and comedy. Can't wait to start the next one.
This book is narrated by Scott Brick and his voice is amazing. Super fun read with mystery and comedy. Can't wait to start the next one.
January 30, 2023
What do you get when you assemble a rag-tag group of criminals and miscreants, including a shlock horror film director, a carpenter, an egotistical actor, a driver, an FBI agent, and a con man, to run their own covert con for the government? You might think this would be a setup for comedy gold, but it meanders into B-level sitcom territory.
// FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare must track down a notorious con-man and use him to help take down an even bigger mark. //
Okay, so this started out pretty well. O’Hare seems like a fun gal with a quirky personality, but she has a penchant for narrowly missing her mark. Her mark is Nick Fox, a con artist who always gets away but does so in the most flamboyant way, all the while flirting with Kate. The overall setup was fun in the beginning, but the observational humor really did not do it for me. Don’t get me wrong. I love a good joke, wisecrack, and pun, but when fast food name drops, TV show titles, and references to book plots are your mic-drop moments, I find it more eye-rolling than rolling on the ground with laughter. For example, Kate says the guys that she has dined with the most in the past few years have been Colonel Sanders, Long John Silver, Ronald McDonald, and the Five Guys. I rest my case.
// “The best way to win at a game of chance is to remove chance from the equation.” //
The cat-and-mouse games are supposed to be fun! I had a hard time getting into the espionage moments because the amount of foreshadowing was overwhelming. You could guess exactly what was going to happen around every corner, and I think that it was by design. A quick quip or a throwaway joke does not mask the fact that the setups are just not exciting or plausible in any way, shape, or form. I don’t know; everything felt extremely written and surface-level. It had quite a bit of potential. An Ocean's Eleven comedy sounds great, but it just missed the mark in my opinion. I will give it one thing though. The vehicles that were selected to do the cons were exquisite, beautiful, and out of the box. I’m looking at you, 60s-era Jaguar E-type. <--- favorite car of all time. right alongside the DB5 and the F40.
// “Sometimes when a plan is right, everything else, all the things you can’t control, falls into place just the way it should.” //
I’m king of struggling to think of anything else. It was just ok; would I recommend it? Probably not, but if the comedic parts worked for you, then you might like it. It just did not work for me.
──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──Extra 📝’s──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──
●○ Fast food references were just not funny.
●○ Kate fell for Nick too quickly. It would have been more fun if it would have been gradual.
●○ “Action” parts were not all that thrilling.
●○ Would have liked to see more comradery within the team.
●○ First half - 😑
●○ Middle - 🥱
●○ End - 🥱
──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──🎵 Music queues 🎵──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──
●○ The Beach Boys – Surfin’ USA.
●○ Monty Norman – James Bond theme.
●○ Johnny Cash – Ring of Fire.
●○ The O'Jays - Livin' For The Weekend.
──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗── 2 1/2 ★'s ──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──
// FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare must track down a notorious con-man and use him to help take down an even bigger mark. //
Okay, so this started out pretty well. O’Hare seems like a fun gal with a quirky personality, but she has a penchant for narrowly missing her mark. Her mark is Nick Fox, a con artist who always gets away but does so in the most flamboyant way, all the while flirting with Kate. The overall setup was fun in the beginning, but the observational humor really did not do it for me. Don’t get me wrong. I love a good joke, wisecrack, and pun, but when fast food name drops, TV show titles, and references to book plots are your mic-drop moments, I find it more eye-rolling than rolling on the ground with laughter. For example, Kate says the guys that she has dined with the most in the past few years have been Colonel Sanders, Long John Silver, Ronald McDonald, and the Five Guys. I rest my case.
// “The best way to win at a game of chance is to remove chance from the equation.” //
The cat-and-mouse games are supposed to be fun! I had a hard time getting into the espionage moments because the amount of foreshadowing was overwhelming. You could guess exactly what was going to happen around every corner, and I think that it was by design. A quick quip or a throwaway joke does not mask the fact that the setups are just not exciting or plausible in any way, shape, or form. I don’t know; everything felt extremely written and surface-level. It had quite a bit of potential. An Ocean's Eleven comedy sounds great, but it just missed the mark in my opinion. I will give it one thing though. The vehicles that were selected to do the cons were exquisite, beautiful, and out of the box. I’m looking at you, 60s-era Jaguar E-type. <--- favorite car of all time. right alongside the DB5 and the F40.
// “Sometimes when a plan is right, everything else, all the things you can’t control, falls into place just the way it should.” //
I’m king of struggling to think of anything else. It was just ok; would I recommend it? Probably not, but if the comedic parts worked for you, then you might like it. It just did not work for me.
──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──Extra 📝’s──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──
●○ Fast food references were just not funny.
●○ Kate fell for Nick too quickly. It would have been more fun if it would have been gradual.
●○ “Action” parts were not all that thrilling.
●○ Would have liked to see more comradery within the team.
●○ First half - 😑
●○ Middle - 🥱
●○ End - 🥱
──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──🎵 Music queues 🎵──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──
●○ The Beach Boys – Surfin’ USA.
●○ Monty Norman – James Bond theme.
●○ Johnny Cash – Ring of Fire.
●○ The O'Jays - Livin' For The Weekend.
──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗── 2 1/2 ★'s ──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──
April 13, 2017
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mR0E5v
Oh this series was fun! Fox and O'hare follows and FBI agent heroine and...the con man she's been hunting for years. Who are now having to work together as a team to tackle off the books missions the FBI can't officially get involved with. Fun banter, captivating characters, a little danger and adventure. A fantastic time all the way around.
The Characters:
Fox and O'hare were as different as night and day and, yall, I LOVED their dynamic. She's a hard ass, he's a charmer, they snark and growl and have a little attraction. They have that fun underlying teasing and ease of driving each other a spot crazy. I laughed out loud a number of times over their interactions and was totally rooting on some naughty things to go down. I hope they will eventually. The bad guy vs good girl vibes they have are just too fun. His free spirit to her by the book attitude. PLEASE with the naughty! I beg! lol
My only complaint is Kate is an ex Navy SEAL and...no. Just no. I hated that. Unrealistic and not possible at the time these came out.
The Heist (Book1):
The Heist is all about bringing this team together. A lot of chasing, a lot of driving each other crazy. It's a total cat and mouse game early on and I loved it. And seeing their first mission together as they start pulling together their team of misfits that'll help them pull off a heist.
The Chase (Book2):
This time tracking down an artifact another country wanted back and that was supposedly safe and sound at a museum but really? Had totally been stolen already. lol Mid-air heists, capture and near misses, a little sexual tension. Things being blown up. Yep. Good times.
The Narration:
This was my first time with Brick. And it was a surprise. I loved his voice and easily fell into his story telling and the adventures of Fox and O'Hare. Smooth, rich and made me want to wrap myself up in his voice. So, yay! He kind of reminded me of the guy who does the Sad Cat Diaries. One thing that usually wouldn't work for me but did was that there was no real attempt at doing the female voices. Almost like he was just reading the story to you. But like I said. Usually that would NOT work for me but because I enjoyed his voice so much and the way he did it...it worked and I'll definitely go on with the audiobooks for this series.
May 25, 2013
I love Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series and nothing I've ever read makes me laugh half as much as those books do. Anyone who is a Stephanie Plum fan will love this book as much as I did. This time the heroine is not the bumbling type. FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare is ex Navy Seal and she is really good at her job. She is on the trail of the notorious con man Nick Fox. She finally gets her man, and then he escapes, only to reappear and becomes Kate's partner against a pair of even worse con men. Snappy dialog, a great cast of supporting characters, and of course the will they/won't they tension between Kate and Nick makes for a fun read! I can't wait to see where their next adventure will take them!
July 9, 2014
A real page turner!. I read it in one day, by staying up half the night, I couldn't put it down! I liked it much better than the Number books I have read. I think the reason it is more of a "boy" book than the Number series.
May 17, 2024
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this more than I did 4 years ago because I read it in print which works much better than the audiobook, so I'm bumping it up to 3.5 stars and rounding up. Since I've read so many books in between, much of this was fresh, although I did remember a couple of things. Once again I found this more fun than the Stephanie Plum series (although, to be fair, I did give a couple of the Plum books 4 stars, but got sick and tired of certain things after x number of books, in part the never ending love triangle.
Kate's is also witty, but a very different character than Stephanie, as in a former Navy Seal (yes, Evanovich and Goldburg knew there were no women Navy Seals by the time this book was written) who doesn't feel dressed without her gun. This series stays fun as long as it's Evanovich and Goldberg, but after that goes downhill because those two wrote well together.
Original Review
What fun! I like this better than Stephanie Plum because there is no love triangle, thankfully. And yes, note that the series is called Fox and O'Hare as in fox and hare. And, unlike Plum, O'Hare likes to carry weapons and knows how to use them--she is a kick-butt FBI field agent.
Kate O'Hare has spent 5 years hunting con artist Nick Fox, manages to nab him and then, in an aggravating play, learns that he has conned his way into working not only with the FBI but with her (since she's the only agent in the world who can get him and keep tabs on him even though he's wanted on 3 continents). What follows is a great deal of fun as Nick rounds up the members of their con team in order to take down a man who swindled investors out of $500,000 dollars and his crooked lawyer. I won't tell you which countries they visit in order to not spoil the story, but rest assured there are some unexpected surprises with villains who have nothing to do with their villains.
The one complaint I had was that the audiobook narrator is a man; it's rare I can accept an woman's POV from a male voice, but he's great at the men's and a good narrator. Too bad they didn't use two narrators because I think that would have been better.
I enjoyed this more than I did 4 years ago because I read it in print which works much better than the audiobook, so I'm bumping it up to 3.5 stars and rounding up. Since I've read so many books in between, much of this was fresh, although I did remember a couple of things. Once again I found this more fun than the Stephanie Plum series (although, to be fair, I did give a couple of the Plum books 4 stars, but got sick and tired of certain things after x number of books, in part the never ending love triangle.
Kate's is also witty, but a very different character than Stephanie, as in a former Navy Seal (yes, Evanovich and Goldburg knew there were no women Navy Seals by the time this book was written) who doesn't feel dressed without her gun. This series stays fun as long as it's Evanovich and Goldberg, but after that goes downhill because those two wrote well together.
Original Review
What fun! I like this better than Stephanie Plum because there is no love triangle, thankfully. And yes, note that the series is called Fox and O'Hare as in fox and hare. And, unlike Plum, O'Hare likes to carry weapons and knows how to use them--she is a kick-butt FBI field agent.
Kate O'Hare has spent 5 years hunting con artist Nick Fox, manages to nab him and then, in an aggravating play, learns that he has conned his way into working not only with the FBI but with her (since she's the only agent in the world who can get him and keep tabs on him even though he's wanted on 3 continents). What follows is a great deal of fun as Nick rounds up the members of their con team in order to take down a man who swindled investors out of $500,000 dollars and his crooked lawyer. I won't tell you which countries they visit in order to not spoil the story, but rest assured there are some unexpected surprises with villains who have nothing to do with their villains.
The one complaint I had was that the audiobook narrator is a man; it's rare I can accept an woman's POV from a male voice, but he's great at the men's and a good narrator. Too bad they didn't use two narrators because I think that would have been better.
May 24, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up for exceeded expectations
I was looking for something spy and decided conman would do.
And did it ever.
Basically, imagine the TV show White Collar except the FBI agent is a gorgeous female who thinks "relaxation" means going to the shooting range with her Dad. Actually, she strongly resembles the heroine from Louisiana Longshot. Who needs high heels when AK-47s are a thing? She also, of course, comes with a strong dash of Stephanie Plum because, bless her heart, Janet Evanovich does basically one female personality.
Because this is Janet Evanovich, the book does contain quite a bit more vulgarity and sexual innuendo than I would like. But, since she co-authors this one, it gets toned down.
A fairly predictable plot (no great twist like if you're watching a heist movie) but undeniably fun. I look forward to the sequel.
I was looking for something spy and decided conman would do.
And did it ever.
Basically, imagine the TV show White Collar except the FBI agent is a gorgeous female who thinks "relaxation" means going to the shooting range with her Dad. Actually, she strongly resembles the heroine from Louisiana Longshot. Who needs high heels when AK-47s are a thing? She also, of course, comes with a strong dash of Stephanie Plum because, bless her heart, Janet Evanovich does basically one female personality.
Because this is Janet Evanovich, the book does contain quite a bit more vulgarity and sexual innuendo than I would like. But, since she co-authors this one, it gets toned down.
A fairly predictable plot (no great twist like if you're watching a heist movie) but undeniably fun. I look forward to the sequel.
October 2, 2016
Let me start this off by saying I LLVE Stephanie Plum! And maybe I was hoping to see some of Stephanie and Kate, but I didn't. In spite of this, I did like Kate, she was just a little more serious than I was expecting. I also liked Nick, and actually I saw a little of Ranger and Joe in him. This was a fun little getaway book, that you really had to suspend reality for. It was like a jack reacher book wrote specifically for a female audience, that is my opinion anyways. I will probably read the next book in the series, but it's not the next book I'm going to read.
May 26, 2013
Great book. Lee Goldberg and Janet Evanovich are fantastic together. Encore, encore. I read the book in 1 day. Just took me awhile to get back to good reads. To bad 5 stars is the highest rating, it should get more.
September 19, 2013
I've been reading the Monk novels so it was fun to take a break and read this first book in a new series for Janet Evanovitch. Now I want to read the Stephanie Plum books!
July 5, 2019
That was a lot of fun! Definitely cheesy at times, but still fun. Look forward to reading the next one in the series.
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