Monday, July 15, 2013

Review: The Heist

As I stated in my last review, I grew tired of the predictability of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich.  I stopped around the fifteenth book because it was just so predictable and the main character still hadn't made a choice between the two men in her life.

I'm so glad these two authors got together.  The Heist has all of the things I love about Janet Evanovich's writing and the addition of Lee Goldberg, who has written scripts for shows such as The Glades, Diagnosis Murder, and my personal favorite, Monk.  He has also written many books, including those based on the "Monk" series.

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
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.


I would categorize this book into "fun summer beach reads."  First off, it had the perfect amount of humor and sarcasm.  It was also full of action and exotic settings.  Each character had their own quirks, such as Kate, who is all business and professionalism yet consistently spills food on herself whenever she eats.  Nick, the main male character, is the perfect con man and ever the charmer. He and Kate have a great chemistry once they start working together and she loosens up a bit.  There was some fun sexual innuendo and the two were clearly attracted to one another, but we will have to wait for their next adventure together to see if they give in to their feelings.  Apparently, this book is the first in the "O'Hare and Fox" series.  The minor characters in the story are just as brilliant and deserve recognition.  Kate's dad, Jake, a former Navy Seal, has several appearances in the story, and then we have Willie and Tom who are helping with the con for their own personal reasons.  No one but Nick has ever been part of a con so they are a kind of ragtag team but each member has individual talents needed to pull it off.   Every character has their own unique (but brief) back story and lends their own brand of humor to the story.  I found my self smiling often.  If any one of them were not present in the book, it wouldn't have been as enjoyable.  

This book would make a great movie in my opinion and I can't wait for the second book in the series!

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