The Chase: A Novel (Fox and O'Hare) Offered by Random House LLC Price: $11.47
Parody Perhaps?, March 23, 2014 Book Description Publication Date: February 25, 2014 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, bestselling authors of The Heist, return in this action-packed, exciting adventure featuring master con artist Nicolas Fox and die-hard FBI agent Kate O’Hare. And this time around, things go from hot to nuclear when government secrets are on the line.   Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare. Together they’ll go undercover to swindle and catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals.   Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian, a crime that will torpedo U.S. relations with China if it ever becomes public. Nick and Kate must work under the radar—and against the clock—to devise a plan to steal the piece back. Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills of their ragtag crew, including a flamboyant actor, a Geek Squad techie, and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad.   A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate from Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, from the highlands of Scotland to the underbelly of Montreal. But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare.     This review is from: The Chase: A Novel (Fox and O'Hare) (Kindle Edition) I love the writings of both of these authors. I really liked The Heist: A Novel (Fox and O'Hare) and I had thought that I would enjoy this one just as much, if not more. But as I found myself trying harder and harder with each chapter to suspend my disbelief I found myself skimming the pages. It is not that this isn't an exciting book, one that has some witty dialogue and very dry humor. It isn't even that at times it read more like a dime noir novel of old or a parody of all mystery/thrillers. It is just that after a while I got a little tired of the characters being in tight spots and then - miracle of miracles finding a sometimes complex and always an unbelievable way out of them. Sometimes with help, other times alone but always in an unbelievable way. After a while it just gets old. There is little real interaction between the characters. Oh, don't get me wrong - they do interact, but not in any sane or sensible way. I don't know...maybe it is just because it is nearly non-stop action with no breathers in between that left me wanting. I did love the secondary characters that had been brought into this book and hope they show up in future books by these authors - I just don't know if I'll be around to read about them. I most likely will though, because I really like punishing myself!!!