The Heist: A Novel

This is Book #1 of a NEW Series by Janet Evanovich, Fox and O'Hare.Kate O'Hare is an FBI Agent who has spent years chasing con man, Nicholas Fox. She had thought that, when she finally caught him that would be the end. Instead, Fox struck a deal with the FBI and is now working for them to solve other cases -- and, he has been assigned to work with Kate O'Hare. O'Hare is a by-the-rules FBI agent while Nicholas Fox is a charming con man, who is very sexy and very flirtatious. Together they make quit a team!

I appreciate the easy reads of Janet. This series is similar to the Plum series. Straight down to the unsatisfied desires. But it's a fun fast read.

I really enjoyed this novel about con men and the FBI agent who hates one in particular. The Female FBI agent and former Navy Seal s busy chasing the one that seems to be an expert in escaping justic over and over again, Nick Fox. Nick is the world's foremost con artist, always specializing in BIG cons. But Nick has a weakness that allows Kate to constantly get back on his trail.. He chooses to use aliases that are the names of fictional television characters. How hard is it to track George Jefferson, Sam Malone, or Archibald Bunker. (not necessarily the ones he uses, just offering those as examples)This is one of the ways that Kate keeps getting on his trail. Kate is one determined agent and she wants nothing more than to catch Nick Fox, especially if she can catch him in the act.Eventually, after some cat and mouse type antics, Kate catches up with him, but her boss forces her to work with Fox to take down an even badder bad guy. It isn't long until the agent and the grifter have assembled a small team of misfits in order to bring another bad guy to justice. This might remind one a bit of the LEVERAGE television show, but the cons and equipment are not nearly as complex. The folks involved in the con have to rely on their quick wits, etc. and not some advice from an earpiece...Kate's fathed plays a supportive role, and I hope future novels will give us more of his part in the story.Sadly, Evanovich seems to specialize in creating strong women characters who are weak in the knees for some good looking charmer. In the Plum novels, Stephanie has a weakness for Morelli and Ranger, and keeps finding herself weak in the knees in their presence. While there is some verbal jousting, the male characters seem to know the effect that they have on Plum and the same dynamic shows up here in the relationship between Fox and Kate. Once again, Evanovich's female lead finds herself weak in the knees over a guy. The final scene between the two demonstrated this weakness as well. I guess if the formula works why bother to change it? I would have preferred to see her resisting his charms more to create more suspense in future chapters of this saga, for obviously this book is a setup to more adventures.While this book is fast-paced and moves quickly, at times it moved too quickly for my taste. There are some wonderful exotic locales described, but the backgrounds of the characters are so quickly glossed over that none of the characters has much depth. Wilma, the driver, is given a broader background than the rest of the supporting characters. I would have liked more background material on the dinner theater actor, etc. though his motivation is well demonstrated through the dialogue. If anything, this book was over too quickly.This is a good book and if the authors can develop the characters a bit more, increase the tension between the two main characters a bit, and strengthen the resolve of the female lead to not succumb to every pearly white smile, etc. of the male lead, I think that this series will be an even bigger hit than it already is. . I know that I really enjoyed it.Finally, I applaud the authors for keeping the book on a PG rating. The strong language is minimal, though not squeaky clean. I don't know if the authors worked to tone down the usual stuff that creeps into such a novel, but I'm grateful that I wasn't dodging F-bombs. This did not dumb down the style a bit. There were sexually suggestive and adult moments without descending to a the level of a storm drain. I truly hope that this pattern continues.

As always Janet Evanovich delivers a page-turner! I couldn't put it down. Even read as my Kindle charged. I look forward to the rest of the series. I'm a fan of the Stephanie Plum novels, now I have another!

Nicolas Fox has long been the bane of Kate O'Hare's life -- until she arranges to have him hit by a bus, leading to his arrest and -- at long last -- the end of his infamous career as a con man and thief. Post-Fox, she's forced to resign herself to a much less interesting (or challenging) professional career investigating the likes of serial copyright violations, until the unthinkable happens, and Fox escapes his FBI handlers en route to his arraignment. Although she's officially sidelined from rejoining the investigation by her boss, Kate can't let her nemesis go. She goes off the grid, determined to bring Fox to justice, only to be confronted with the most extraordinary offer of her career. Her bosses assign her to work as Nick's handler in a series of off-the-books operations, going after criminals the Bureau can't touch in an official capacity.Following his arrest by the persistent (and alluring) Kate O'Hare, Nick unspools the biggest con of his life, trading jail time for five years' probation as an off-the-books FBI asset. With Kate's grudging consent to their unorthodox partnership, the two are assigned to bring down Derek Griffin, a notoriously corrupt investment banker who absconded with millions from his clients. But in order to find Derek, he first has to assemble a crew of rookies to help sell his audacious plan, and convince Kate that maybe, just maybe, running a con could be just as much fun as chasing the con artist.When I stumbled upon this title a few weeks ago I couldn't resist the premise -- polar opposites on each side of the law working together to crack criminal cases in exotic locales around the world? I am SO IN. Fans of White Collar (may it rest in peace) will easily find a home within these pages, and Evanovich and Greenberg spin a breezy tale of audacious cons, exotic locales, and a dash of sizzling romantic tension. The Heist isn't a deep or profound read by any stretch of the imagination, but it is just the type of breezy, over-the-top, ridiculously fun caper that my heat-fatigued brain craved (summer is not, and never has been, my friend).Kate is something of a walking cliche in that she is capable at her job but consumed by it, with zero work/life balance and completely oblivious to her appeal as a potential romantic partner. While in that respect she is a complete, one-note chick lit cliche, it's refreshing to see a female lead who is a capable professional with a great familial support system. In fact, Kate's father Jake, is a highlight of the novel, a retiree and former special ops veteran who gleefully serves as Kate's unofficial back-up while overseas performing unsanctioned extraordinary rendition missions. I love the fact that -- at least initially -- he's more excited and supportive of Kate's dangerous new line of work than she is herself.A concept novel like this something of a con itself, and it only works if the characters involved can sell the over-the-top storyline. Therein lies the book's greatest success, as -- led by Nick -- the motley crew that assembles to take down Derek Griffin is deliciously humorous and engaging, gleefully owning their less-than-legal behavior. Nick's new team is a band of modern day Robin Hoods, and while Kate is far from a damsel-in-distress, she fills the Marian slot nicely, particularly in how she comes to enjoy working alongside Nick instead of chasing him, embracing the dance of the con rather than seeking to live within the rules she's always sought to uphold.The Heist is a fun, breezy read, great for a few hours of summer escapism. I adore heist stories, everything from White Collar to Ally Carter's Heist Society novels. Nick and Kate's relationship and playful banter are reminiscent of other unlikely partners in crime, from Nick and Nora Charles to The Scarecrow and Mrs. King. This is the type of globe-trotting adventure I can't help but devour, and while it can be a little cheesy and very silly, I'll definitely read the subsequent installments in this series. If they live up to the precedent set in this volume, Fox and O'Hare's future adventures promise to be the perfect recipe for a bit of welcome escapism.

I pride myself in being a good person with an open mind. Nick is a thief a con artist I should hate him but I don't not even a little from the very beginning something about him made me want more. He is cocky with his actions but he is clever and funny. I loved his choice in fake names too.Then there is Kate who is strong willed head strong and likeable I loved the characters so much even if I'm not sure the plot is believable.

I was a voracious Stephanie Plum fan up until the 14 or 15 edition when I found they no longer had the same appeal. Rether reluctantly I thought I would give Kate O'Hare a chance, fearing the worse. Once I had made the mental shift (which was surprisingly hard) I found the style and setting a refreshing change from Ms S Plum and got immersed in the story in a way I haven't for many an adventure type yarn. I shall be reading the others - recommend you to. This was a delight.

I had to keep looking at the title and author to believe it really was by one of my favourite writers. I wanted to love this book but I just cant. No laugh out loud bits as in others by JE, in fact nothing that really made me even give a big grin. The book was ok, fairly interesting storyline but nothing at all like her other books and no comparison to some of her earlier work. Was incredibly disappointed. Havent finished it and not really interested in doing so

I love Janet Evanovich's books. They are fast paced, the plot is twisty and full of comic moments. All her main characters are warm and generous women albeit not always confident in their own abilities but when the time comes they usually solve the mystery and get the bad guy.I would definitely recommend Stefany Plum series and the Diesel books as well.Reading one of her books will leave you few laughs richer and recharged for the next day.

I have been a loyal fan of the Stephanie Plum stories so I was delighted to see that she has introduced a new set of characters. I enjoyed reading The Heist on holiday. It does not require much concentration and it takes no time at all to read. I could not get away from the feeling that this would make a marvellous Made for TV Movie - maybe that's what she is after. If you like Stephanie Plum you will like this.