Book Review: The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Fox and O'Hare #2)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Action and humor mixed for a great story

Cons: Characters could be stronger

The Bottom Line:

Plots and counter plots

With many narrow escapes

All over rooster

Who is Chasing Whom?

What do you get when you mix action, improbable heists, and plenty of sexual tension?  The Chase, the newest book by authors Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.  It features international fugitive Nick Fox who has been teamed up with Kate O'Hare, the only FBI agent to arrest him.  Together, they are working on making sure some of the world's biggest criminals are taken down.

The Smithsonian has a bronze rooster on display, an antique from China.  China has decided they would like it back to display with the other bronze animals in the set, which is no problem at all.

Or at least it shouldn’t be.

The rooster was actually stolen several years ago and replaced with a fake.  Now, FBI Agent Kate O’Hare and master criminal and fugitive Nick Fox must put their new partnership to the test to retrieve it before the fake is sent back to China and an international incident starts.  Nick comes up with a risky plan even if things go smoothly, but as things begin to unravel, will the duo be able to pull off the switch?

This is a very plot driven book, and it's easy to tell if you stop and think about the characters.  They just don't feel fully developed to me.  Yes, they are fun and we get to know them enough to root for them to win against some overwhelming odds at times.  The sexual tension between Nick and Kate is very strong.  But even after now two books in the series, I just feel like we should know them better.

However, the story more than makes up for any weaknesses in the characters.  Just when I started to think it was looking too easy, another plot complication would come up that would keep me turning pages.  The action takes place in multiple locations around the world, and it features some narrow escapes and clever schemes.  The pace never slowed, and I was always reluctant to put the book down until the climax.

This is all mixed with some humor I really enjoyed.  Usually it was banter between the characters, but it was right up my alley and left me chuckling and laughing more than a few times.  And I would love to know Kate's secret for eating so much junk food and still staying is such great shape.

This is a light, fun novel that sets out to entertain and fulfills that perfectly.  Be prepared for a globe trotting adventure that will be over before you know it when you pick up The Chase.

If this book leaves you wanting more, be sure to check out other adventures in the Fox and O'Hare series.

NOTE: I was sent an ARC in exchange for my honest review.