Pros and Cons

Fox and O'Hare #0.5

by Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg have teamed up for a dynamic new series featuring an FBI agent who’s on the hunt—and a master con artist who’s enjoying the chase. The con is on in this eBook original short story that’s a triumphant prequel to The Heist.

FBI special agent Kate O’Hare has made it her mission to nail international con artist Nicolas Fox. When she discovers his plot to plunder a venture capitalist’s twentieth-story Chicago penthouse of all its cash and treasures while the self-proclaimed “King of Hostile Takeovers” is getting married, Kate is 85 percent—okay maybe 92 percent—sure that she’s finally going to bag Nick Fox.

Problem is, first Kate has to convince her boss, building security, and maybe even herself, that wedding planner Merrill Stubing is actually Nicolas Fox. Second, she has to figure out how to corner and capture him without disrupting the event of the year. And third, what’s going to happen once O’Hare finally gets her hands on Fox? It’s going take a pro to catch a con before the fireworks over Lake Michigan go off.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Humor, Short Stories, Crime, Romance

35 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 21, 2013

About the author

Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O'Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Genre ~ crime fiction
Series ~ Fox and O'Hare #0.5
Others in the series ~ The Shell Game
Setting ~ Illinois
Publication date ~ May 21, 2013
Est Page Count ~ 30 (9 chapters)
Audio length ~ 54 minutes
Narrator ~ Scott Brick
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ FBI, con artist

Another quick short story following FBI agent Kate O’Hare and con artist Nick Fox.

Kate is pretty sure Nick's next con is taking place in Chicago. Is Nick going to outwit her or can she catch him before he steals a bunch of cash and treasures during a wedding?

Again, I can't say too much for such a short book, but I'm intrigued enough with the characters that I'll probably check out the rest of the series. They are full length and hopefully full of more action.

Narration notes:
He did great

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable story. I had a great listen with a great reader "Scot Brick".

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a little prequel/novella to the first book in this series. I don't usually like these because they always seem so short, when I feel I want more. I didn't have that problem with this one. This one felt a little pubescent, which would be fine if they were in their youth, but they are grown adults well into their careers. I read this author for fluff, but sometimes I feel like a little substance would not be out of order.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been a big Janet Evanovich and her Stephanie Plum series fan for years. So, when I saw she was writing other series, I wanted to try them but haven’t had time. Then, I noticed this prequel to the “O’Hare and Fox” series she writes with Lee Goldberg and I figured it was the perfect intro for me to learn about this series. I was right. I loved it.

Although this is a short story and fast read, it gave me a good feel for this series. I immediately liked the cat and mouse game between Kate and Nicolas. There’s also an attraction that can be felt between these two characters even though they weren’t even together in a scene. The use of his aliases being named after old TV characters is entertaining to me since I’m a TV junkie.

This felt like I was watching a movie…it is jam-packed with action, adventure, drama…it was a roller coaster of excitement. I can’t wait to read The Heist which is book #1.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second prequel to the Fox and O'Hare series is again a short story which takes place about six months after The Shell Game. Kate O'Hare has been diligently tracking the clever thief, Nick Fox and this time she believes he's posing as a wedding planner for a wealthy couple in
Chicago. Can she convince her boss she's right or will she have to go it alone?

The sexual tension increases between Nick and Kate as he begins to bait his nemesis. What an unlikely love match! Where can this possibly go? Can't wait to find out! Again the highlight of this story is really the humor. I'm looking forward to reading more.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros and Cons is a prequel to the first book in the O’Hare and Fox series by popular American author, Janet Evanovich in collaboration with Lee Goldberg. Kate O’Hare is an FBI agent who is on the trail of Nicolas Fox. Fox is an audacious con merchant, criminally brilliant, and O’Hare is as determined to bring him to justice as Fox is to evade it. Just to complicate matters, there is a bit of attraction between them. Fox, under the guise of a wedding planner, is busy fleecing a rich Milton Royce of his art treasures and emptying his bank accounts. But leaving tiny hints for O’Hare as to his current whereabouts. It’s a game he enjoys. This is a fun introduction to Evanovich’s new series.

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry, but I really did not care for this. My least favorite read of January so far.

So far I’ve read historical fiction, thriller, too, and lots of short stories. This is a short story, but I suppose it’s part of a franchise and I didn’t know it?

An agent is trying to stop a criminal who does huge and extravagant heists.

. I mean it sounded like a pleasant enough short story, but it turns out the woman trying to stop him is very attracted to the criminal, and he’s attracted to her, and it turned into a kind of corny storyline that really bored me because I don’t read a lot of cozy Mysteries and I don’t trad a lot of romance.

Neither of them are tops in my genre list, although I enjoy short stories of a real mystery flavor.

I just really couldn’t take this seriously and the fact that I haven’t read any of the other stores in the series made it difficult plus has a couple of other reviewers mentioned the language used was extremely juvenile and had me rolling my eyes frequently .

I could see though if one is into the cozy mystery genre one would like this, but this wasn’t a good pic for me at all, and I really doubt I’ll be going on and reading any of the others in the series.

[Francesca ❆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little prequel to the main series.
We get to see Nick doing what he does best and Kate is like a bloodhound, super determined to catch her prey.
This is also the beginning of Nick’s tradition of breaking into Kate’s hotel room after he escapes her, just for fun. 😆

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short story. Looking forward to reading the Heist.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story, pretty entertaining fluff. Honestly not much different from #0.25 except that they now know each other and of course Nick's new scam is completely different and still utterly bonkers.

[Connie N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#0.5 in the Fox and O'Hare series

What a fun look at the very beginning of the Fox and O'Hare saga, when Kate is just starting to figure out Nick's method and is becoming obsessed with tracking him down. Even then she realizes that she's attracted to him at the same time that she gets annoyed by him because of his ingenuity and cleverness in avoiding capture. This time Nick is posing as a wedding planner in Chicago, arranging a high-end wedding as the cover for a heist of the groom's expensive collection of artifacts. Kate--almost--catches him but, of course, doesn't quite succeed. I love that we see the differences between these two characters. Nick is the suave, always contained, even-tempered gorgeous criminal. Kate is the Oscar Madison of the duo--the earnest but rumpled and down-to-earth agent who is always just a frustrating step behind. Cute, quick, and a nice reminder of how great this series is.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accessed this short prequel to this new series by Evanovich and Goldberg on my Kindle this morning and was immediatly hooked, which I guess why this kind of taster works well to launch a new series.

There is a touch of 'White Collar' in the cat & mouse (or should that be 'hare & fox') relationship between FBI agent Kate O'Hare and con man Nicholas Fox but as I adore that show that's all to the good.

I plan to get 'The Heist' probably on audio when published next month as it seems perfect as an audiobook in the car.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bwahaha oh he is a cheeky little shit. Another fun short story as Special Agent Kate continues her hunt for con-artist Nick. Lord love him but he's a brilliant handful of bad boy. I love how he teases Kate and how riled and determined to arrest him she is. It's a fun duo and near catch.

I do think these are probably better after having already gotten to know them in the full length books vs meeting them pre-full lengths with these short stories.

[Pam Tickner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short story - 1 hour audio book - good fun to listen to while I painted. The on going battle between FBI agent O'Hare and the wickedly good looking thief Fox. Very light weight but a bit of fun.

[John (Just bought an Oculus 2 VR, so less time to read these days!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little short story

Cute little short story for this series. Could have been better, but was exciting enough to enjoy. Not sure if I am in favor of continuing this series or not.

[Debra B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short 1-hr. prequel to Janet Evanovich's Fox & O'Hare series. Think Stephanie Plum, but competent FBI agent instead of a mediocre bond enforcement agent.

The books are read by Scott Brick who has the most wonderful voice!

[Dan Banana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another very enjoyable short story with the classic characters. Fun and short.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

short, quick audiobook listen but i thought it would have been better as a chaper in one of the novels in the series.

[ShayBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short stories are really leading up to what I hope will be a great cat and mouse series. This sounds just like Tom and Jerry, every time Tom is close Jerry slips away. I am looking forward to the heist.

[Carrie Kellenberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when an FBI agent and con artist have the hots for each other?

A fun little read leading up to a series that I might dive into this fall.

[Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and cute.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story that is a prequel to "The Heist" which I read a while ago. In this story, we find Kate O'Hare on her relentless quest to capture Nick Fox. We find her combing the newspapers looking for scams that have been perpetrated by someone who is sporting the name of a character from an old TV show. She reads about Merrill Stubing, who is a wedding planner helping to co-ordinate the wedding of a wealthy man in Chicago and his wife to be. She is pretty certain that Merrill Stubing/ AKA "Captain Stubing" from The Love Boat is really Nick Fox and flies to Chicago to trap him.

The story is light and a fast read with Evanovich humor sprinkled throughout. I am looking forward to reading the second story in the series, "The Chase".

[Diane Krause · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a long-time fan of Janet Evanovich, and was thrilled when I learned she was launching a new series, co-written with Lee Goldberg. I won't get The Heist until it's released June 18, but I was happy to know this teaser, Pros & Cons, was available right away.

I was not disappointed. It's clear these new characters will be a lot of fun, and the stories packed with Janet's classic spunk, wit, and fast-paced action.

[Gawelleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une novella assez courte qui donne le ton de l'histoire!
Maintenant, il n'y a plus qu'à enchaîner sur le roman!

[Dad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short prequel to the series of books that I am finding I thoroughly enjoy. While they will never be confused for great literature of the 21st century, they are ideal enjoyable diversions from the tribulations of work and make perfect reads for the daily bus commute. Here we have a budding FBI agent who is trying to make her way in the rather exclusive male club and finding herself relegated to minor tasks because she hasn’t proven herself. Now up against a talented thief who takes every advantage and bests her every time it matters. It is clear they will fall for each other I just hope it happens before it gets dragged out beyond my interests.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second introductory novella for the Fox and O'Hare series. I'm a Lee Goldberg fan and am checking out some of his other books, besides the excellent Sharpe and Walker, Eve Ronin series. This was another short mini escapade set several years later as FBI agent Kate O'Hare chases con man Nick Fox. This time Fox is handling a wedding timed around another heist. Fun, short tale. The first book should be interesting. Scott Brick is fantastic on narration.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have decided that Heist stories are great as short stories, but this makes me really just.... miss... Leverage.... a lot...

GONE TOO SOON. Still, this was an enjoyable snapshot of this duo pre-first-novel.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t ever read any of this author so this was an adventure for me. I’m not sure it’s terribly plausible but I liked the characters as well as the weird chemistry between O’Hare and Fox. I was not as admiring of the many colloquial references to female body parts. Sad day.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fox and O'Hare novels should be read in order or it will seem like it is backtracking on the story. Pros and Cons is first. I read Heist first then P&C and realized my mistake. Either way, it is a great story! Enjoy that it is more serious than Janet's Stephanie Plum series (Also love) without being too dramatic. Lots of flirting between the two main characters. Still playing catch up to the series but I'm three stories into it and will continue to read. Janet's writing style is all over this. Lee Goldberg co-wrote this novel and I believe that is where the serious side of the story comes to play. I thoroughly enjoyed the short novel.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fox plans to plunder during a wedding. FBI special agent Kate O'Hare plans to stop him.

I'm loving this series. Kate is my type of character. Faults and insecurities but with a dangerous determination.

Then there's Fox. His name suits him very well.

The game is on and both will be in full playing mode.