Title: The Heist (O’Hare and Fox #1)
Authors: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
Reader: Scott Brick
Category: Crime Caper
Audio published: June 18, 2013 by Random House Audio
Rating: 3½ out of 5 stars
Add: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound
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.
The Heist is a silly book, but I mean that in a good way. It’s a caper, a romp. Nick Fox is a con-man, and he’s good at what he does. He even talks the FBI into hiring him to run cons on some of the big wigs on their wanted list that they just can’t get to. And they team him up with Kate O’Hare, the agent who has been tracking him for years and has finally caught up with him. She’s not thrilled with the idea, but goes along in the end.
The last sentence of the blurb sums up the adventure pretty well. It’s ridiculous and over the top and just fun. The attraction between Kate and Nick is evident, although it’s just simmering under the surface at this point.
The characters are slightly on the one-dimensional side, but I love Kate’s dad. Who else would promise to break her out of prison if need be?
I’m not a Stephanie Plum fan, but I like everything else I’ve listened to by Evanovich, even her light romances. The thing is I’ve listened to all of them, not read any in print aside from two of the Plums. Maybe she’s an author that just works better on audio for me. The narrator Scott Brick does a good job. It ‘s a funny story, but with characters who take themselves seriously, and he straddles that line well.
The Heist is a popcorn book, a treat but with little real substance, not a sugary sweet romance, an adventure with bad guys and guns and funny lines.
O’Hare and Fox Series
.5 Pros and Cons
1. The Heist
2. The Chase (expected February 2014)
I like Plum but none of her other books 😉
I am not sure but glad to hear it worked for you !
I like Scott Brick and need a silly book from time to time so would consider this audio.
Something about the cover bothers me! But I love the reasons for all of us loving different kinds of books!
I actually like the cover.
I gave up on Evanovich a few years ago. I love Stephanie for quite awhile and then the series started being the same book over and over again. I’ve read or listened to a few that have been co-authored but have’t been wowwed yet.