269. The Heist by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

The Heist by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg
Fox & O'Hare (1)

Rating: (4/5)

(Kindle) - (US) - (Canada) - (UK)

Jun 18, 2013, Bantam Books, 320 pgs

Age: 18+

"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."

Received a review copy from Random House Canada.

I will start by saying I have not read Evanovich before; her Stephanie Plum books do not appeal to me as I'm not into that type of light-hearted PI mystery.  I was a little wary of starting this new series but must admit the FBI/conman team-up did have my interest and I while I don't read enough of them I do enjoy a "romantic" suspense every now and then as long as it is light on the romance.  This book was pure joy to read with Fox and O'Hare's relationship coming off as a classic TV detective partnership with unrequited sexual tension in the air.  In fact, as I read I couldn't help but feel as if this *was* a television show, probably because of Goldberg's extensive background in the industry.  An unusual set-up to get these two together for a lasting period of time makes for an intriguing and fun read.  This is light-hearted mystery, with lots of action, travel to Indonesia and a gathered group of eccentric people make up the crew for heists.  Nicolas Fox is the type of man you can't help but love and Kate O'Hare is an awesome kick-butt agent who struggles against her attraction to the conman.  I totally enjoyed them both as characters.  The type of mystery I don't read very often but it was a pleasure and I can't wait to see what they get up to in their next case.