The Caper

Fox and O'Hare #0.6

by Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg

Short story.

Originally published in special edition hardcovers of The Heist for Barnes and Noble. Later published online via Janet's email newsletter (August 2015).

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

10 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 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

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/



You know, I should probably feel bad about giving a freebie 1 Star, but I don’t . . . .



Yep. That’s the word on Goodreads the streets. Hold up just a second . . .



Alright. Where was I? Oh yeah 1 Star ratings and being a bitch. Things I excel at. Here’s the deal. I’m an Evanovich fangirl. I read all her stuff and am quite aware that I probably don’t get any smarter while doing so. But there comes a time when enough is enough. I mean, do you REALLY need to put this bit of nothing out into the universe in order to get people to read the next book in the Fox and O’Hare series? I don’t think so. Even your most loyal fans might end up turning on you if you just spew out the same old stale stuff over and over again . . .



It sure does, Drizzy. It sure does.

[Chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

.25 and .5 were better than this one.

Kate is again following a lead on Nicholas Fox. This scam hilariously includes Kate without her knowing.

Not enough here to be a story.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little online story! This is set in one of the times Kate almost catches Nick before the FBI starts using him in “To Catch a Thief” capers.
Nick has been posing as a realtor and put Kate’s face on the park benches in Seattle along with his own. Cheeky little devil! 😈🤣

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an 8-page "mini adventure" in the back of the Barnes & Noble hardcover edition of The Heist I borrowed from my brother. It's a super short peek at another missed attempt by Kate to catch Nick. Obviously there isn't a lot of substance to it, but it did make me laugh out loud once.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Caper is a fun little tease pre- Fox and O'Hare working together where FBI agent O'Hare is still trying to capture con artist Fox. It's basically one scene of him teasing her and her trying and failing to bring him in. I love how tightly wound Kate is and how carefree and cheeky Fox comes off. They're quite a duo.

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's really not much here.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's one man's trash is another woman's treasure! I'm so glad I read this quick caper by my newest favourite two cheerful artists--perfect pandemic reading which drew me back to a happy time and space, that of a short but sweet Greyhound bus trip to Seattle with Stephanie. This rendez-vous takes place under the current streets of downtown near harbour front, the tunnels that were once the old street level, now sunken down and built over. What was once a cheap and thrilling few blocks to visit and stay in are now a virtual war zone due to the Seattle City Hall's decision to get police to back off on crime (for real!). Perhaps virtual travel via the internet and reading a lively, short Evanovich/Goldberg will be the only safe way to reimagine how beautiful downtown Seattle once was, as depicted in films such as "Sleepless in Seattle." So thankful for this quick trigger of a great burst of memories made with my daughter in the Summer of Coming of Age, Y2K!

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story about Kate O'Hare and Nicolas Fox. This prequel takes place when Kate was trying to catch Nick, before they teamed up on later jobs. A cute, quick read.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to read, added a star for being set in Seattle though.

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Caper by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

Rating: 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Caper Approved:

General Synopsis:
This is the third, chronologically, short story in the Nick Fox & Kate O'Hare series. FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare receives a call from her cousin Cindy, who informs her that she just saw an image of a realtor in Seattle that looks exactly like her. On a park bench, advertising: "Our Listings Don't Sit on the Bench, They Sell! Call Now!" After receiving the image, Kate notices Nick Fox in the photo with her. Needless to say, Kate's next call is to get a plane ticket and she's on her way to Seattle.

Characters:
Nicolas Fox - International con man, using the name Eustace Haney (Green Acres)
Kate O'Hare - Special FBI Agent in Los Angeles
Cindy - Kate's cousin in Seattle
Kruger - Special FBI agent in Seattle
Levine - Special FBI agent in Seattle
Mo Smith - Special FBI agent in Seattle
Andy Munder - Special FBI agent in Seattle

Personal Opinion:
This hilarious series continues to make me laugh. It amazes me each time how gullible people are to fall for cons. This short story also had some interesting trivia that I found interesting. In 1890, the city of Seattle put up a restraining wall near Puget Sound because of frequent flooding. They raised every building making what was the second floor now street level. What had originally been the first floor of buildings was a maze under the city. Most had been condemned 100 years ago but parts are open for tours and winter homes for the homeless.

Please do not click on the spoiler link below unless you have read the series. Sometimes, when a new book is being released, I feel I have to re-read the whole series from the beginning again, but I wanted to save myself a step if I do complete a review, reminding me of key important things that happen in the book so I might not have to re-read if I don't have the time right now.

One of the things I like about the bench ad is the names. Nick is Eustace Haney (Green Acres fame) with Kate being "Irma Haney" Kate arrives in Seattle & has confirmation that Nick is actually in the office. Kate does some research and finds that a CFO from a health insurance company was relieved from duty while he was investigated by the federal government & had disappeared. Nick Fox had taken it upon himself to sell the home for $3.5 million. Kate heads to Seattle to try to finally arrest Fox. She goes in stopping at the receptionist who is surprised to see her. "Irma Haney" was supposed to be in Florida recovering from a goiter reduction. The receptionist marvels at Kate's scar free neck and comments that they removed the wart from her nose also. Kate then learns that her "love bug" is in his office & she heads that way. When she reaches the office she finds it empty but a check of the closet finds a hold with a ladder going down into the maze below the city. Kate follows Nick down, sharing barbs with him as she follows, but is unable to catch him. . . . again.

[Connie N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#0.6 of the entertaining Fox and O'Hare series

Another short story at the beginning of the Fox and O'Hare series. This is almost too short to really get into the series much. Kate finds Nick Fox in Seattle when her cousin finds a real estate ad featuring Nick next to Kate whose head has been photoshopped onto a voluptuous body. When she gathers a team to capture him in the office, Nick (as always) is one step ahead of her with his ingenious escape route already mapped out. Thanks to Janet Evanovich for providing this free story on her website.

[Francesca ❆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An hilarious tiny snippet about the animosity between Nick and Kate...even when they’re not in an active chase, Nick and Kate manage to crack me up with laughter...Nick’s latest con is truly hilarious and Kate’s reaction is just as priceless. 😂

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

and he does it to her again!

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would consider this more "micro-fiction" than short story, considering the length. But it's an entertaining enough story for those who enjoy the series.

[Fousilly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not even worth the read.

[Jessica Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very very very short book, so it will only take you minutes to read. Which to some will be nice, but I just kind of felt "what's the point?" Since it is so short you don't get the suspense you would with a longer book, you don't get to enjoy the finesse that usually comes with these books. You don't get to fully see the preparation behind the con, the planning and reasons why. As well as you don't really get to enjoy the relationship between the two main characters.

The story was enjoyable, it kept my attention and for these reasons I did give it a 3, but overall are you missing anything if you skip reading this.... no.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a novel or even a novella ... it's more like an online pamphlet. But I'm starting to read the Fox and O'Hare series and these three prequels come before the first novel. This is yet another tale of a run in between the two namesakes, and even in these few pages I learned something new, if true, that there is a section of Seattle where they raised the street level one floor, and so all the first floors of the buildings became the basements and their second floors became their first floors. I'm going to have to learn more about that. I'm ready to start this series for real. Next stop The Heist. I admit all these pre-reads have me excited.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't read anything from this series before, but the short story is available for free on the author's website so I thought I'd give it a go. It was okay. Nicely written, not overly-serious, and the relationship between the characters seems like it might be interesting but it's just too slight to really catch my interest. It seems like something that would appeal to fans of an existing series, but as an isolated short story it's not enough to pull me in.

[Bill Donhiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short story to introduce the readers to Fox and O'Hare series. It is playful and shows a little of the chemistry between the two characters. It only takes about five minutes to read and ia available only online at Janet's Website

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too short to be considered a book. Not really even a short story, thus not much on which to base a rating. Not sure it was necessary. Think I would probably read this series just from my past enjoyment of the Stephanie Plum series.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little online-only short story. Even for a short story I wish it were longer! But I enjoyed it nonetheless. Don’t worry - if you haven’t read it, it’s still on Janet Evanovich’s website, and available to read for free. 😊

[greymystery · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn’t bad. I recommend reading these before u read the books. They give you an idea of Nick and Kate’s relationship. But it isn’t required to read them. They just give you extra scenes between time frames

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an amusing short story that is a prequel to the novels. It is only available online.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this online because I enjoy the series. Not really a story, just a few pages of the continual Fox/O'Hare chase.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very, very quick read. Really, a bit of a disappointment because this could have easily been expanded on to make a great story. Seriously, eight pages? It really was a waste of a great idea.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seems like a ridiculous waste of 6 pages, just to prove Nick Fox can out fox Kate and the FBI, and again, make her look like a moron.

[Donna Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

what was this supposed to be?

[Julie Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for more background information. Quick and easy, fun characters.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

funny stuff. looks like it will be a great series.

[BookLever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but brilliant. Loved it.