Book Review: The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

The Heist
Authors: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
Series: Fox and O'Hare
Publication: Bantam; First Edition edition (June 18, 2013)

Description: 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.

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.

My Thoughts: THE HEIST was a fun beginning to a new series. Kate O'Hare, FBI agent, has made a mission of capturing Nick Fox, con man extraordinaire. However, when she finally runs him down it turns out that he has made a deal with the FBI and is currently on the side of the angels. Kate has been assigned as his partner and they go after a crook who stole $500 billion from innocent investors.

I enjoyed the snappy one-liners that Kate and Nick exchanged and I enjoyed their own unique brand of courting. The side characters were also interesting people. I was especially fond of Willie, a 50-something broad with bought and paid-for tatas, who could drive any sort of vehicle but was licensed for nothing. Add in a make-up artist, an out of work actor with and ego the size of the Grand Canyon, and a guy who can build anything and you have a great crew to work their complicated con.

Of course, Kate has some very interesting back-up herself. Her dad is a retired military man who spent a lot of time in covert ops and has a world-wide network on contacts who come in very handy when the con goes a little wrong.

This was fun and would be great for people who want some humor in their mysteries.

Favorite Quote:

"Obviously you opted out of the honey trap class when you were in SEAL boot camp."

"It conflicted with the one on nose breaking and eye gouging."

Nick added a $900 red silk sarong dress and an $800 cashmere T-shirt and handed the salesgirl his credit card. "We'll take all of these."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.