This is a challenge to help us get some of those books on out To-Be Read stacks read without the pressure of a review (unless we want to) or meeting any other challenge. These books are read totally Just For Fun.
The Heist: A Novel
(Fox and O’Hare)
First in Series
Bantam Books (JUNE 18, 2013)
Published By Random House
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0345543042
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0345543059
E-Book File Size: 1893 KB
ASIN: B00AD6P44I
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 new series featuring an FBI agent who always gets her man, and a fearless con artist who lives for the chase.
Nicolas Fox is an international con man, famous for running elaborate scams on very rich and powerful people. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail for years—particularly FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare. But just when it seems that 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 O’Hare.
Their first assignment takes them to the side streets of Berlin, the California desert, and remote Indonesian islands as they team up to catch Derek Griffin, a corrupt investment banker charged with stealing millions from his clients. Finding Griffin on his private island is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. 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.
As a Janet Evanovich fan I knew I would like this story.
While the authors stretch reality with a female who is a former Navy SEAL, this character was quite interesting but she is no Stephanie Plum. Kate O’Hare is a great protagonist and a woman on a mission and then that mission suddenly gets turned upside down. Likewise Nicolas Fox is an awesome con man but he is no Ranger, but he is a thorn in Kate side, that does make her heart rate increase.
Putting aside Evanovich’s Plum Series and letting this series stand on its own is hard but readers have to do that. This story does have some humor but it is more complex and plotted out just a bit differently which is what I believe Goldberg brings to the story. Together they bring us a story that is entertaining.
It was an amazing fast read. There were a few tense moments of suspense but this is a very light mystery. A fun beach read or a fun break if you read a lot of thriller books.
I have the second book, The Chase
*This book was from my private collection.
I’m not a Plum fan. In fact, I picked the series up for the co-author – I’ve been a fan of Lee Goldberg for years. I certainly agree with your hesitations on the series, but I do find the fun adventure outweighs the drawbacks.
I no longer pick up “with/anc” books unless I like the “co” author. These books are usually not written by the headline author and they simply give the book a cursory glance and add their name as a marketing ploy. I was especially disappointed in all the Clive Cussler books that are no longer written by him.
Ann
I’ve read both books and would give them 3 stars or an “ok” too. They are very light reading and preposterous (which is fine, but not in an over the top fun or irritating way). The humor misses for me and I don’t think, even after book 2, that the characters are well developed and there’s not enough communication between them to build any chemistry, sexual or otherwise. I recommend getting from the library.