As I am a big fan of the comic crime caper, I am always happy to find a new series that has intriguing puzzles and makes me laugh. I took a chance on the O'Hare and Fox series written by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldman and I am glad I did.
Kate O'Hare is an FBI special agent and ex-SEAL. She is tough. She lives on fast food and considers her Glock to be a fashion accessory. Nick Fox is an international thief and con man. He is charming. He prefers caviar and champagne and dresses in sartorial splendor.
In The Heist we learn that O'Hare has been hot on the trail of Fox for years and through an entertaining set of circumstances catches him. To her dismay her superiors give him the option of going to jail or working with O'Hare and the FBI to catch high-profile criminals - art thieves, Wall Street crooks, and others of that nefarious ilk.
Guess which option he chooses...
Along the way we get to meet all sorts of wacky characters of dubious repute - but with special skills - that Fox calls on to help in conning the criminals. Often, O'Hare's father - a retired Special Forces operative - is pulled in to supply a grenade launcher or two.
The capers sometimes unfold in foreign locales - so far I have visited Shanghai, Indonesia, Berlin, Scotland, the Greek islands, and Montreal.
Ms. Evanovich, as you probably already know, writes the "numbered" Stephanie Plum series. Mr. Goldberg works in television and wrote for Monk, the series starring Tony Shalhoub as the obsessive-compulsive detective, and wrote fifteen of the Monk mystery books.
I have gobbled up the first two books in the series, The Heist and The Chase. There are two more, The Job and The Scam with The Pursuit scheduled to be published in June.
These tales contain all the elements that make for the best bedtime reading ever - witty writing, characters that are having a good time, and clever plots. Best of all, there is no graphic violence to upset my sweet dreams.
Have you stumbled on a new-to-you series that you enjoy? Don't you love it when that happens!
I've read all the Stephanie Plum books, although they've become increasingly formulaic and tired, but I've never read any of this series. I'll have to try them.
ReplyDeleteI recently discovered the Cork O'Connor books by William Kent Krueger. They take place in Minnesota, on or near a Native American reservation and often in the deep woods. Since I came to them late, I've got about a dozen to binge read if I care to.
Hi, Joan. I read the first two Plum books and that was as far as I could go. I did read your post on Mr. Krueger's series and I would like to give his books a try. Thanks for the tip.
DeleteThe comic crime caper--that is probably my favorite subgenre! You know I will be marching right out and looking for this series--or at least jotting down the name as I am knee deep in reading at the moment. Have you read Elizabeth Peters' Vicky Bliss novels--your description of this new series reminds me of them.
ReplyDeleteAs for series I've stumbled upon, I recently started reading Louise Penny's Three Pines mysteries. I love, love, love them, and am looking forward to working my way through the series.
Hi, Kathy. I have not read any of the Vicky Bliss novels but I did read one of Peters' Jacqueline Kirby, librarian, adventures. I will have to add both of these to my list. Thanks for the reminder.
DeleteI have read maybe the first three of Ms. Penny's mysteries. Alas. Another series to get back to! I did try the Maisie Dobbs books but there was not an ounce of humor in any of them and I grew weary.
Funny you should mention the Maisie Dobbs books. I'm reading one right now and finding it slow going. I want to like them, but I'm not sure that I do. I'm on the fence about abandoning the one I'm reading.
DeleteKathy, I think I read three of the Maisie Dobbs books before I figured out why I wasn't enjoying them. No humor. I so wanted to like them, but alas, I abandoned them.
DeleteI am also a fan of Evanovich and didn't know about this series, so thanks. I love Stephanie Plum!
ReplyDeleteHi, Kat. I need to get back to Stephanie! I have only read two in that series.
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