Heist

by James Patterson

They're about to make off with millions in stolen diamonds - until someone beats them at their own game....

Three thieves have been planning the perfect diamond heist for months. They're finally ready to make the hit, and everything is set to go off without a hitch - until a rival crew shows up to steal the diamonds at the exact same time.

BookShots, lightning fast stories by James Patterson, novels you can devour in a few hours. Impossible to stop listening. All original content from James Patterson.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Novella, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

First published June 30, 2016

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
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James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. At least the ending came on pretty quick so I wasn't able to guess what was going to happen before it did. I've been enjoying most of these short stories by James Patterson.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another BookShot short story that matches the writing styles of James Patterson and Rees Jones pulls the reader into the middle of a high-impact thriller. It was the perfect crime, or so they thought. Planned and coordinated down to the last fact, the hapless robbery crew thought they'd have an easy go at stealing a sizeable number of diamonds before liquidating them on the market. However, little did they realise that another team had a similar idea, which turned the perfect crime into a bloodbath. Having secured the diamonds, the heist is now more complicated than imagined, as the authorities are on a manhunt alongside the group whose honour has been besmirched. Enter Detective Inspector Andrew Hill, who's biding his time before accepting redundancy. Wanting to leave the Met with a bang, he asks to take on the case of the diamond heist. After poking around the district, he learns that this was a well-planned insurance scam, one that saw local coppers turn their heads and all evidence destroyed. DI Hill follows a lead, with the help of some facial recognition, and boards a train to Amsterdam, where the criminals are headed to sell their wares and bring the money back to help one of their own. Amsterdam proves to be more than just a place to sell the diamonds, as Hill remains one step behind those he chases. When push comes to shove, it will be up to Hill, working alone, to apprehend these criminals, who are working without a plan and fuelled by adrenaline. A great story that keeps the reader hooked until the bitter end!

Patterson and Jones have previously worked on a BookShot together, which was just as enticing as this piece. While offering a general impetus that fuels the crux of the heist, the authors portray the three criminals as acting with a purpose. The story's plot is straightforward and somewhat predictable, but keeps the reader interested through to the final chapter. Patterson and Rees offer a decent collection of characters who have their own individual traits, though the focus is more on the trek than hashing out too much personal detail. A decent piece of writing, though surely a one-off tale, which opens the door to more collaboration between these two authors, perhaps with another BookShot.

Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Jones for another successful joint effort. This is a partnership that seems to work and should not be abandoned.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Less inclined to say I love this one. It was good. It all seemed much more rushed than the others though, which made the story feel a bit mashed together if that makes sense?! As a full length novel though, this would have great potential to expand characters and the plot. Enjoyable nonetheless!

[Lackof_shelf_control · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon!

[Melenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Patterson and Rees Jones present a quick-paced adventure tale that starts off in London with a jewel heist, and takes readers on a surprising journey that has them questioning good and bad people. Two men and a woman, who seem like everyday Brittons, have set their eyes on stealing some jewels in hopes of making some much needed money. Retiring Detective Inspector Andrew Hill finds himself drawn to the case even though his official term as a police officer is coming to a close. Their is just something about the case that piques his interest. The more he learns, the more he finds that he can, and doesn't want to, put it aside.

The tale, which is part of the new Book Shots line that is coming out with the Patterson brand races to a stunning conclusion that will lead the reader surprised, disappointed, and probably a little thoughtful. it is easy to get drawn into the story of the four major characters in this novella because their backstories are so human and real.

This is definitely worth a read.

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very short novella in the Bookshots series. Had this been a full-length novel, then I would have enjoyed the story so much more than I did. This group of thieves come together and plan to attempt a big heist and steal some diamonds. When a rival gang arrive before them, bloodshed and danger await them all. Taking place between London and Amsterdam, I liked the Europe setting. But the characters I struggled to connect with. The pacing was very quick and sometimes, I did wonder if it was slightly too quick. Nevertheless, there was high action and the ending I definitely didn't see coming!

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little read started and finished well

[Sportyrod · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first time reading a bookshot. It was good for what it’s worth. A diamond heist with twists and double-crossings.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting.

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

This book had such great potential, it just needed better writing. Hoping the next Bookshot I read is better like most of the others.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book shots by James Patterson and loved it.

[Virginia Dumais · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone.

[Zelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recension: Zellysbokhylla

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first slow but overall a good read. Strangely I picked up the fact that the DI was corrupted by the racket leader's money to help when he was on the verge of redundancy to open up a new gym.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the blurb for this short tale is accurate, but I wasn’t expecting the resolution, which is disappointing. The author(s) are intent on making everyone either vengeful or a scumbag.

[Paula Dembeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Barrett, Alex Scowcroft and Charlotte Taylor have planned a diamond heist to get the money they need. They have and plotted for several weeks and each knows the plan down to the last detail. They watch expectantly in Hatton Gardens in the middle of the London diamond trade, ready as a burly skinhead carrying a duffle bag calmly approaches the spot where they are ready to push him to the ground and grab the bag containing the jewels. Suddenly another crew on motorcycles rushes towards the trio, their plan to do the same thing. As the two sides scramble for the bag, a knife is pulled, someone is head butted, the van’s tires are slashed and the trio who have survived the brief but bloody struggle grab their backpacks and take off on foot, heading for the trains and the underground, their getaway van now rendered useless. They change trains, their bags and their clothes often, a precaution against any tails. They keep their heads down and their faces out of sight to avoid the CCTV cameras. And although they appear to be checking their phones, they are locked as a prevention against being tracked. The three are working this mission for one person, someone they are each connected to either by blood, intimacy or friendship. They are heading to Amsterdam to sell the diamonds to a pre-arranged contact, each dedicated to this mission they are determined to complete.

But the men on the motorcycles who interrupted their carefully planned robbery are not naïve innocents. They are connected to a wealthy businessman with political as well as business clout. He has a lucrative insurance scheme going, stealing his own diamonds and covering the loss with insurance. His henchmen who steal the diamonds for him are tough thugs, not easily thrown off the job they were hired to do. And, they fight dirty.

Meanwhile Detective Inspective Andrew Hill, recently married and about to become redundant because of budget cuts is bored filling in his last days and wants to get on to his next life. He has been saving money to build a chain of national gyms and is anxious to get started. But these last weeks are long and restless for some action, he offers to pick up the case of the stolen diamonds. He begins to hunt down Baz, Charlotte and Alex, unaware the other gang is also looking for them. So begins a fast, action paced, international chase, with both the police and the thugs hunting down the trio.

The is an excellent BOOKSHOT, one of the better ones I have read. It captures readers attention from the very first page, hangs on to them and never lets go, dragging readers through a dangerous intercontinental chase. Patterson and Reese have masterfully created a narrative that keeps the tension tight as the trio’s flight hits small snags and major roadblocks, Inspector Hill realizes what is behind the robbery, the competing thugs edge closer and the trio are forced to adapt their getaway plan. The action is intense, the reader never certain what will happen next, eventually coming to an end that most would not have predicted.

I prefer these types of BOOKSHOTS that are “stand alones” and not part of one of Patterson’s other series. They provide a good, quick read and when it’s done, you feel satisfied. It is exactly what a BOOKSHOT should be.

Well done!

[Vincent Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

From the blurb, this book sounds like a thrilling one: Three thieves have planned the perfect diamond heist. They’ve monitored the Hatton Garden jeweller for months and are ready to make the hit. But they were not expecting a rival crew to show up at exactly the same time.

After a bloody fight, the three thieves come away with the diamonds and set off to meet their buyer in Amsterdam. But now it’s not only the police who are chasing them, and not only the diamonds that are at stake.

However, I DNF it. Reason - the narrator just put me off. His voice is boring, he talks too fast to listen, and he reads like he is having a conversation with an annoying nephew or niece. So, not much to say about it.

[Sandra Jackson - Alawine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not really a fan of his bookshots, but this short story gets everything right.

When a soldier comes home physically damaged and the health system refuses to pay for an experimental treatment in America that might give him his life back, his best friend, his wife and his younger brother decide to pull a diamond heist.

Unfortunately they steal diamonds from a mobster who is determined to hunt the trio down.

Detective Hill is days away from early retirement with dreams of starting a chain of gyms in his head when he takes the case and follows the trio to Amsterdam. And then the story takes and unexpected turn.

[Elizabeth Graf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three people are going to pull a heist off today to get some diamonds. Little did they know that another crew had the same plan.

As they are in the midst of making this happen others show up wanting the same thing. These three, baz, Alex, and Charlotte take what they planned and go on the run. Soon they realize things are not as they seem.

As they continue with they plot and how to cash in detective Hill took the case as it it his last week on the job. Detective Hill wants to solve this crime as his last case and for it to be a good one.

The ending was a real shocker for me and not what I was expecting.

[Sonia Cristina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Que história tão palerma e sem sentido. Muito mal estruturada e incompreensível no que se refere a motivações dos personagens e os próprios acontecimentos não faziam sentido. E quando consegui finalmente espremer alguma coisa, pronto, acaba tudo mal!

Para que foi aqueles ladrões levarem a cabo um plano que até era com boas intenções, apesar de ilegais, para depois morrerem todos? E Hill, um polícia simpático e inteligente e acaba por aceitar um suborno? Quando morreu, senti que foi bem feito. Charlotte, a única sobrevivente mas por pouco tempo que até na prisão foi morta - pela mulher de Hill! Oh pá, sinceramente, que enredo mais sem sentido.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three thieves have planned the perfect diamond heist. The only problem, during the middle of the heist a pair of motorcyclist attempt to steal the diamonds also. Although the thieves win out and get the diamonds they are then on the run. Trying to get to Amsterdam to sell the diamonds on the black market they begin to realize that not only are the police after them but so is the owner of the diamonds. A quick, easy read.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was going to be a 2 star book for me until the end. The unexpected ending helped to redeem the mediocre majority of this book. Patterson’s Bookshots are a nice break from longer novels on the TBR because they tend to be super quick and easy reads... which this was. I just had a hard time connecting and investing in this particular one. Average rating for an average book (with a slightly interesting ending).

[Aguspratama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bukunya penuh tekanan dan sangat membawa pembaca masuk menjadi sesosok dari pelaku dari pencurian permata. Walaupun akhir cerita menggantung bagiku pribadi, secara keseluruhan bukunya lumayan untuk mengisi waktu karena bukunya yang singkat dan padat


The book was so intense and bring me as one of the character in the novel. Although, the ending makes me full of question, it still makes me enjoy the pace to end the book in one sitting.

[River (Caitlyn) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh.

I was absolutely surprised by how this one ended, but the rest of the story just didn't grab me as much as what Mr P's other novels have. There was just something about it that felt ... off? I don't think I quite know how to describe it other than that.

It's a small book, so it would be worth the read for that end - so good.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

As short stories go, this was better than average, probably worth 3.5 stars. This crime-detective thriller is unusual as it is set in London, not America. So being a Brit, I have given it an extra half a star.

As expected with any JP short story, it’s an easy read, no great depth with the odd twist and turn and an ending I didn’t see coming. Worth the 2 hours read.

[Esther Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first james patterson short stories ive read. I didnt expect much but my god this was a quick good read. It was paced just right, twists and turns through out, some of which i didnt see coming. This has left me wanting to read more book shots. Off to the library I go. i rate this 4.75 stars, there could of been more description in some places.

[Brendon Punch · Rating 4 out of 5]

My brother had this book laying out, with his bookmark in it, while I was visiting. I picked it up and it provided an enjoyable couple hours worth of reading. It started off at an enjoyable brisk pace before it then turned into a sprint for the finish which came too quickly; it was a bookshot.

[Georg · Rating 3 out of 5]

i've read better books. In my opinion, it's too much content for a short story. Maybe if Patterson and Jones had made a complete novel out of it, it would have been better in terms of character development. The story itself is good, and the twist in the end had me surprised.

[Sonam Nagpal · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a bookshot, it was a good, fast paced, intriguing read. Of course, characters and story could have been more developed, but then it's a novella in form of bookshot, so can't expect it to be a full length, detailed book. Thus, a good quick read. Give it a shot!