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Spider Heist #1
The Spider Heist
As an FBI agent, she specialized in hunting America's most elite thieves. Now, she's become one of them. "My heart was in my throat until the very end, and once I reached the last word, all I wanted was more." - Lisa Regan, USA Today and WSJ Bestselling Author Blair Morgan's world is in shambles. After being used as a scapegoat by a corrupt former boss, she is unceremoniously fired from the FBI. Now, with her reputation, pride, and years of service stripped away, Blair just wants to start over. But when a chance date turns into a mysterious job offer, her past comes crashing back to haunt her. In a flash, Blair becomes entangled in a high stakes bank heist. Her status as a former FBI-agent-turned-hostage transforms her into an instant media sensation. And the unwanted attention makes her a target for ruthless killers that will stop at nothing to silence her. Caught in the crosshairs, Blair must confront her past before she loses her freedom-or her life. But there is something strange about this team of bank robbers. They aren't who they seem. And as a deadly SWAT raid closes in, Blair discovers that she may not be either... USA TODAY bestselling author Jason Kasper keeps you guessing in this heist series recommended for fans of The Italian Job and Heat.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published November 22, 2019
7304 people are currently reading
1409 people want to read
About the author
Jason Kasper
73 books483 followersJason Kasper is a USA Today bestselling thriller author. He served in the US Army, beginning as a Ranger private and ending as a Green Beret captain. Jason is a West Point graduate and a veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and was an avid ultramarathon runner, skydiver, and BASE jumper, all of which inspire his fiction.
Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @KasperAuthor.
Join his mailing list for bonus content and book updates: https://bit.ly/440lHom
Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @KasperAuthor.
Join his mailing list for bonus content and book updates: https://bit.ly/440lHom
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
October 24, 2020
This is the first book in Jason Kasper's new high-end crime/robbery series. It was excellent and full of action.
What I liked:
-It takes place in LA.
-Some nice scenes in the rich hills of LA
-Team of likable criminals
-Strong female ex-FBI, ex-felon co-protagonist. her character is very developed. Definitely flawed but stumbled into doing wrong, then choosing too when all her options close. Great character.
-I thought I had their escape figured out from the bank heist. I was wrong. Nice surprise. Very interesting escape.
-Good ending.
What I didn't like:
-Car chase scene a little long
-Although the ending was good, I just would have liked a little more wind down.
Overall: Excellent, very good, I liked it. I will read the rest of the series.
Review by Mike Slavin author of award-winning Kill Crime (action-packed thriller on Amazon to buy or KU. As of this writing 94% 5 and 4-star reviews on Amazon with 350+ reviews)
What I liked:
-It takes place in LA.
-Some nice scenes in the rich hills of LA
-Team of likable criminals
-Strong female ex-FBI, ex-felon co-protagonist. her character is very developed. Definitely flawed but stumbled into doing wrong, then choosing too when all her options close. Great character.
-I thought I had their escape figured out from the bank heist. I was wrong. Nice surprise. Very interesting escape.
-Good ending.
What I didn't like:
-Car chase scene a little long
-Although the ending was good, I just would have liked a little more wind down.
Overall: Excellent, very good, I liked it. I will read the rest of the series.
Review by Mike Slavin author of award-winning Kill Crime (action-packed thriller on Amazon to buy or KU. As of this writing 94% 5 and 4-star reviews on Amazon with 350+ reviews)
November 30, 2020
I'm always up for a heist story, having written a couple myself. Add to that the prospect of a female lead, and I should've been all-in about The Spider Heist. Yet somehow it didn't flip my switches the way I'd expected. Why is that? As they say on Bollywood Hungama, let's analyse.
The setup: Blair Morgan is the most incompetent waitress in Los Angeles, and apparently also the most clueless. When a handsome customer named (I kid you not) Sterling offers her a pile of money to enter what's transparently a setup, she jumps at it. For her pains, this gets Blair embroiled in a bank robbery that turns into a media circus, an FBI jihad, and Mission: Impossible all in the span of less than twenty-four hours. By the way: Blair's a disgraced former member of the FBI's black-bag squad, the ones who break into places to plant surveillance equipment. (Not a spoiler: it's on the back cover.)
Blair is a bundle of quirks and contradictions. She seems to be unable to adult with any success, despite having weathered the rigors of Quantico and a temporarily successful run at the FBI. (She can manage highly technical covert entries but not pour a cup of coffee? Really?) She's severely acrophobic, which of course leads to her ending up paralyzed with fear on every high overlook and rooftop in Southern California. (How did that work in her previous career?) Sterling's gig offer is so obviously bogus that the typical sheltered 12YO girl could see through it instantly, but Blair not only signs up but seems to believe it's real until events impress upon her otherwise. Her knees turn to butter (metaphorically) when she contemplates Sterling, even though he's clearly the last man she should ever hook up with. I spent much of the first half of the book checking to see if Jason Kasper is one of Janet Evanovich's pseudonyms.
To be fair, Blair does have spunk. When she turns on her brain halfway through the proceedings, she becomes a competent, take-charge professional. You may not believe this transformation by then, but that's hardly the point, nor is it the greatest leap of faith the author calls on you to make.
The heist itself is one of those hella-complex, convoluted, wheels-within-wheels productions that work only in novels and the movies, where the thieves have quadruple-redundant backup plans (except where they conveniently don't) and spare resources squirreled away in the damnedest places. The crooks themselves are types, with Sterling getting the lion's share of the screen time. The weasel bank manager and weasel FBI manager are appropriately loathsome.
And yet...characterization issues notwithstanding, the author knows how to write a sentence. Once the heist kicks off, he lights the afterburner on the rocket sled and one set piece after another zooms by, each highly adaptable to the big or small screen and very easy to visualize. The last half goes faster than an Indy car on black ice. It's pretty entertaining if all you're looking for is fast, kicky fun.
The Spider Heist is a heist story on meth, with all the speed and disarray that implies. It reads almost fast enough to get you past the heroine with unintentional multiple-personality disorder, the Stephanie Plum (or maybe Fox & O'Hare) story beats, and the many WTF? moments. Never stop or slow down, and for God's sake, don't try to make sense of any of it.
The setup: Blair Morgan is the most incompetent waitress in Los Angeles, and apparently also the most clueless. When a handsome customer named (I kid you not) Sterling offers her a pile of money to enter what's transparently a setup, she jumps at it. For her pains, this gets Blair embroiled in a bank robbery that turns into a media circus, an FBI jihad, and Mission: Impossible all in the span of less than twenty-four hours. By the way: Blair's a disgraced former member of the FBI's black-bag squad, the ones who break into places to plant surveillance equipment. (Not a spoiler: it's on the back cover.)
Blair is a bundle of quirks and contradictions. She seems to be unable to adult with any success, despite having weathered the rigors of Quantico and a temporarily successful run at the FBI. (She can manage highly technical covert entries but not pour a cup of coffee? Really?) She's severely acrophobic, which of course leads to her ending up paralyzed with fear on every high overlook and rooftop in Southern California. (How did that work in her previous career?) Sterling's gig offer is so obviously bogus that the typical sheltered 12YO girl could see through it instantly, but Blair not only signs up but seems to believe it's real until events impress upon her otherwise. Her knees turn to butter (metaphorically) when she contemplates Sterling, even though he's clearly the last man she should ever hook up with. I spent much of the first half of the book checking to see if Jason Kasper is one of Janet Evanovich's pseudonyms.
To be fair, Blair does have spunk. When she turns on her brain halfway through the proceedings, she becomes a competent, take-charge professional. You may not believe this transformation by then, but that's hardly the point, nor is it the greatest leap of faith the author calls on you to make.
The heist itself is one of those hella-complex, convoluted, wheels-within-wheels productions that work only in novels and the movies, where the thieves have quadruple-redundant backup plans (except where they conveniently don't) and spare resources squirreled away in the damnedest places. The crooks themselves are types, with Sterling getting the lion's share of the screen time. The weasel bank manager and weasel FBI manager are appropriately loathsome.
And yet...characterization issues notwithstanding, the author knows how to write a sentence. Once the heist kicks off, he lights the afterburner on the rocket sled and one set piece after another zooms by, each highly adaptable to the big or small screen and very easy to visualize. The last half goes faster than an Indy car on black ice. It's pretty entertaining if all you're looking for is fast, kicky fun.
The Spider Heist is a heist story on meth, with all the speed and disarray that implies. It reads almost fast enough to get you past the heroine with unintentional multiple-personality disorder, the Stephanie Plum (or maybe Fox & O'Hare) story beats, and the many WTF? moments. Never stop or slow down, and for God's sake, don't try to make sense of any of it.
November 4, 2019
This Is a smashing Thriller with intriguing characters and plots that amaze!! Blair Morgan is an FBI Agent, good at her job and proud to be there. Until an affair with a boss backfires and she is blamed for doing something he Asked her to do! He uses her as his scapegoat and she is stripped of her title and job. Now under a new name she tries to work as a waitress, but That is not going very well either...
In a weird game of chance, she unknowingly becomes embroiled in a bank heist- by a group of very eclectic people who give most of their cut to charity! What is going on!! Of course her name pops up with police and the FBI believing that She is the Mastermind- using skills she was trained in when working for them.
An exciting look into things that really can happen without your knowledge,but what you learn about the 'criminals' may change your own way of thinking. Never only look at the cover of a book, for you may find all you are looking for inside even a plain ,blank covering...
Exciting, entertaining and Thankfully the First of a series!!!
In a weird game of chance, she unknowingly becomes embroiled in a bank heist- by a group of very eclectic people who give most of their cut to charity! What is going on!! Of course her name pops up with police and the FBI believing that She is the Mastermind- using skills she was trained in when working for them.
An exciting look into things that really can happen without your knowledge,but what you learn about the 'criminals' may change your own way of thinking. Never only look at the cover of a book, for you may find all you are looking for inside even a plain ,blank covering...
Exciting, entertaining and Thankfully the First of a series!!!
September 23, 2021
Rounded up just because.
I went into this book with way too many expectations; The Spider Heist was definitely no Leverage nor Italian Job. The pace is too slow, the characters were too one-dimensional, the villain was too bland, and the car chase was never-ending.
A wee bit disappointing but imma go back to binge Leverage again.
> No cliffhanger
> No romance
> Multiple POVs
April 16, 2020
I read 30 percent and I had to cut bait--I was not going to soldier on any ore and torture myself lol. In my foolish youth I would have kept going and finished it but those days are gone. I simply could not believe the main character was an ex FBI agent-it was not going to happen for me. I thought the main bad guy was weak and the story was also meah. I guess the pace of the story was ok but I could not simply get into it for me. I have to say take a pass on this one and do not give it a spin.
May 16, 2020
Interesting story line that could have been told more effectively (and been more enjoyable) with half the book size. There are 10 chapters (out of 57) devoted entirely to a car chase (cops verses robbers) as well as several chapters devoted to the excruciatingly boring (and unnecessary to the story) details of the techniques and explosives used in the heists. It feels as though the author is “showing off” his knowledge, not adding to the story.
Unbelievable characters. Criminals who will choose jail over hurting a bystander/civilian. The same criminals give 50% of their spoils to charity, 45% goes back into their “business” and they only take 5% for themselves (split between the 3 of them), so they admit they can’t afford (choose not) to live the high life.
The choices of the FBI agent involved go against the character she is built up to be. Any more explanation of this opinion would be huge spoiler alert.
Unbelievable characters. Criminals who will choose jail over hurting a bystander/civilian. The same criminals give 50% of their spoils to charity, 45% goes back into their “business” and they only take 5% for themselves (split between the 3 of them), so they admit they can’t afford (choose not) to live the high life.
The choices of the FBI agent involved go against the character she is built up to be. Any more explanation of this opinion would be huge spoiler alert.
October 27, 2019
This is a well thought out story line, great character descriptions and it really keeps your interest. The suspense is fantastic and you have to read over half the story to even think you have figured out the plot. I still want to find Jim’s mentor the background story as to why and what charities and again why? After finishing the story I want more and I hate to have to wait, but I will and the day there is more available I will be there to follow the path. Very well done thank you!!
March 23, 2024
Entertaining action, suspense, some enjoyable characters. Like a cheap action thriller you enjoyed watching but, felt a bit dirty later. I'll listen to the next one.
July 5, 2020
The book starts interesting and unusual in its set-up, and quickly becomes exciting, with unexpected twists and turns, maintaining a page-turning adrenalized ride, punctuated by periods of off the charts action. I have really liked Jason Kasper’s books. This one is his best so far.
November 27, 2019
Really great read a book you just don't want to put down, fast moving and exciting
November 20, 2023
Dumb, confusing, outlandish. I struggled to get to the end of this book.
June 8, 2020
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Spider Heist was an exciting introduction to the world of Blair Morgan and Jason Kasper's writing. The plot begins with Blair's introduction as a waitress who's struggling with her mundane job and who gets a wild offer to engage (non-sexually) a bank manager for an evening. Initially offended at what's being offered, she however takes up Sterling on his offer as it seems to be a bit silly and she's in desperate need of the money.
The evening goes anything as expected and Blair finds out why such a thing is too good to be expected. The situation gets wilder when she is coerced into being a hostage for a bank heist (there are reasons provided which make sense within the story setting). The bank heist is where the plot truly explodes and Jason Kasper really provides us readers with a thriller story worth remembering.
The Spider Heist is very much like the movie Inside Man (without being all too similar). There's a bank heist going on but the bank robbers are anything but as simplistic as they appear. The hostage is kept confused the same as the readers and the story is very, very fast paced.
Blair Morgan as a protagonist is a financially vulnerable person who's mentally tough as well. She's a former, disgraced FBI agent who's haunted by her mistakes and hunted by her former boss who refuses to believe her innocence. However we the readers aren't truly sure whether she's innocent or not either. Throughout the story we truly learn her backstory and figure out what to make of her. Her character because of the third person perspective as well as the plot narrative is a bit rushed in certain aspects but it isn't caricaturish or simplistic.
Though again because of the narrative structure we don't get much of an insight into the bank thieves and they remain cryptic throughout. I hope though the author reveals more about them as this is a first book in a series and that's what the sequels are for. The plot pace & twists make this book a fun and fast read. The book's plot can be best describes as Inside Man meets Hostage mixed in with Jeffrey Deaver's famed plot twists.
The story is unlike Hostage or Inside Man with regards to their plot points but shares similar facets about whether the bank robbery is true one or not and whether the hostage can stay a hostage. This book piles on the twists as they unspool rapidly and regularly. The book features a wild car chase sequence through LA and it's tailor made for the silver screen.
Overall this book is a very good thriller with a likeable bunch of thieves and a morally conflicted protagonist who is trying to regain her life. This adds to a very enterprising story set up and as as far series openers go. It hooked me in easily and I can't wait for the sequel The Sky Thieves.
For drawbacks, there's a couple that I can think of. Primarily the author doesn't go too much in depth with the rest of the characters and this is very much for the sake of plot pace. I wish some of the other characters were given more page time as well as deeper backgrounds. Secondly some of the twists are a bit predictable and while the author manages to channel Jeffrey Deaver for the number of plot twists. He hasn't acquired Jeffrey Deaver's skills in setting them up so that they flow more organically.
The plot antagonist is a despicable but believably complex one and I expect we haven't heard the last of them. I hope Blair's past as well her FBI connections will be playing a regular constant in the sequels and we get more insight about her and her nemesis. I think that will really help with the story. Lastly the crew of bank robbers are kept in the shadows a lot and do a lot of cool things, which was fun to read about but if proper explanations aren't given about their backgrounds and their success so far. The fun will quickly sour as they will become gimmicky and there's nothing that can spoil a book quicker than an unexplained gimmick for me.
Overall The Spider Heist was an exciting read for me and I'm eagerly awaiting Jason Kasper's sequel foray with Blair, Sterling, Alec, and Marco. The Spider Heist is an exciting and unpredictable story about a bank heist that stuns the readers with its plot twists and gives us an exciting heroine in Blair Morgan. The Sky Thieves has easily become one of my must reads of 2020 based on the strengths showcased within by Jason Kasper.
The evening goes anything as expected and Blair finds out why such a thing is too good to be expected. The situation gets wilder when she is coerced into being a hostage for a bank heist (there are reasons provided which make sense within the story setting). The bank heist is where the plot truly explodes and Jason Kasper really provides us readers with a thriller story worth remembering.
The Spider Heist is very much like the movie Inside Man (without being all too similar). There's a bank heist going on but the bank robbers are anything but as simplistic as they appear. The hostage is kept confused the same as the readers and the story is very, very fast paced.
Blair Morgan as a protagonist is a financially vulnerable person who's mentally tough as well. She's a former, disgraced FBI agent who's haunted by her mistakes and hunted by her former boss who refuses to believe her innocence. However we the readers aren't truly sure whether she's innocent or not either. Throughout the story we truly learn her backstory and figure out what to make of her. Her character because of the third person perspective as well as the plot narrative is a bit rushed in certain aspects but it isn't caricaturish or simplistic.
Though again because of the narrative structure we don't get much of an insight into the bank thieves and they remain cryptic throughout. I hope though the author reveals more about them as this is a first book in a series and that's what the sequels are for. The plot pace & twists make this book a fun and fast read. The book's plot can be best describes as Inside Man meets Hostage mixed in with Jeffrey Deaver's famed plot twists.
The story is unlike Hostage or Inside Man with regards to their plot points but shares similar facets about whether the bank robbery is true one or not and whether the hostage can stay a hostage. This book piles on the twists as they unspool rapidly and regularly. The book features a wild car chase sequence through LA and it's tailor made for the silver screen.
Overall this book is a very good thriller with a likeable bunch of thieves and a morally conflicted protagonist who is trying to regain her life. This adds to a very enterprising story set up and as as far series openers go. It hooked me in easily and I can't wait for the sequel The Sky Thieves.
For drawbacks, there's a couple that I can think of. Primarily the author doesn't go too much in depth with the rest of the characters and this is very much for the sake of plot pace. I wish some of the other characters were given more page time as well as deeper backgrounds. Secondly some of the twists are a bit predictable and while the author manages to channel Jeffrey Deaver for the number of plot twists. He hasn't acquired Jeffrey Deaver's skills in setting them up so that they flow more organically.
The plot antagonist is a despicable but believably complex one and I expect we haven't heard the last of them. I hope Blair's past as well her FBI connections will be playing a regular constant in the sequels and we get more insight about her and her nemesis. I think that will really help with the story. Lastly the crew of bank robbers are kept in the shadows a lot and do a lot of cool things, which was fun to read about but if proper explanations aren't given about their backgrounds and their success so far. The fun will quickly sour as they will become gimmicky and there's nothing that can spoil a book quicker than an unexplained gimmick for me.
Overall The Spider Heist was an exciting read for me and I'm eagerly awaiting Jason Kasper's sequel foray with Blair, Sterling, Alec, and Marco. The Spider Heist is an exciting and unpredictable story about a bank heist that stuns the readers with its plot twists and gives us an exciting heroine in Blair Morgan. The Sky Thieves has easily become one of my must reads of 2020 based on the strengths showcased within by Jason Kasper.
December 18, 2025
Blair is struggling on her job as a waitress and then she's asked to go to a bar and accompany a man to his house and make more money in a few hours than she has been able to do in the last few months. She'll see herself immersed in a heist and suddenly aware that she will be killed by her past boss in the FBI if she doesn't convince the heist team that they should take her with them. Full of action described in such a way that one can "see" the streets of Los Angeles as well the car manouvers employed by Sterling to avoid the police and the way corrupt lawmen may behave I was cheering for the heist team! Highly recommended!
I thank the author and his publisher for the free copy of this book.
I thank the author and his publisher for the free copy of this book.
June 20, 2025
For being an ex-FBI agent, she agreed to that deal with Sterling way too easily. So I really thought this book was going to suck. But to my surprise, I enjoyed the story. It was very fast paced and a quick fun read, I'd truly recommend it.
September 17, 2025
Action packed!
This was an enjoyable introduction to this series. It’s an action packed high octane thriller. I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.
This was an enjoyable introduction to this series. It’s an action packed high octane thriller. I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.
November 24, 2019
Definitely Jason Kasper's best novel yet, as he ventures into a "new" genre of an crime action-thriller. And I challenge any reader not to be HOOKED after the first page. This book is definitely that is virtually impossible to put down, so start on the weekend when you have no other work or family commitments. In this book, of course, the protagonist is the debonnaire robber who planned the perfect heist - and the reader starts rooting for him as a sympathetic tragic-hero just as most of did for Pierce Brosnan in the Thomas Crowne Affair. The car chases are nail-biting. The escape is planned to the second. And the "perfect" crime is almost derailed by the weather. And although many books are described as non-stop action, that is the only accurate description for this novel Very suspenseful. Or is the protagonist the female hostage. And the conflicted, flawed female former FBI investigator is a very interesting character - certainly more interesting than the male heroes of Kasper's military action thrillers. And certainly some humorous tete-a-tete between the criminal and his female hostage. Get back to the computer Jason Kasper, because it will be very hard to wait for Book 2 of this series.
November 22, 2019
This adventure brings a savvy, ex-FBI agent, Blair Morgan, into a new chapter of her life. The events start as an unassuming “play date” turns into a ride that tears her away from her previous life of enforcing the law to siding with the bad guys. Eventually we end up rooting for the bad guys as it turns out there is not really a clear line between the good and bad.
I’ve enjoyed other Jason Kasper thrillers and this dive into the female heroin series is a thrill ride through the entire book. Blair Morgan is a butt kicking bad ass who continues to bring her various skills to the forefront throughout the book. She just needs to get over that fear of heights that stemmed from an earlier childhood experience.
The character development and back stories were weaved into the story with the usual skill that Jason Kasper has done throughout his other stories. I really enjoyed the thrills, cleaver escapes, car chase scene, light humor and relationships built up between the main characters.
I am anxiously looking forward to The Sky Thieves, the 2nd in this series.
I’ve enjoyed other Jason Kasper thrillers and this dive into the female heroin series is a thrill ride through the entire book. Blair Morgan is a butt kicking bad ass who continues to bring her various skills to the forefront throughout the book. She just needs to get over that fear of heights that stemmed from an earlier childhood experience.
The character development and back stories were weaved into the story with the usual skill that Jason Kasper has done throughout his other stories. I really enjoyed the thrills, cleaver escapes, car chase scene, light humor and relationships built up between the main characters.
I am anxiously looking forward to The Sky Thieves, the 2nd in this series.
May 19, 2020
This book is about a bank robbery, but, oddly, it's way too slow. There's some action at the end, but it's not enough. It's also not smart enough or funny enough. I don't like flashing the “B” word in a review, but...it's pretty Boring in spots.
QOTD
She looked around wildly for anything that could stop this. She found the two SWAT helicopters approaching at full throttle, but they were too far out to stop what was about to happen. Blair drew in ragged breaths of air as Sterling placed the barrel of his pistol to her temple.
He shouted into her ear, a voice without sympathy.
"It's time to go, Blair."
She bit her lip, shuddering in his grasp.
And then Blair began to cry.
- The Spider Heist, by Jason Kasper
Sorry. Not a good read. thanks...yow, bill
September 23, 2020
I wasn't sure I would like a heist story, but the author did an excellent job building tension & suspense. The heist was well thought out, considering a plethora of details, conditions and contingencies. The tale includes a power-hungry lawyer known as the Jester, a crooked G-man, and a trigger-happy SWAT leader. The antiheroine is somewhat flawed, but still more moral than her old boss at the FBI.
The novel questions the justice system and the truth in general. Police and media have agendas, which often supersede truth. Spelling out street slang to a former FBI agent seems unnecessary. It was likely done for the reader, but are readers really that clueless? If they must know the meaning of a slang term, there is a thing called Google. And the thieves taking only a 5% cut for themselves seems stupid considering the risk involved. At least a ten percent minimum.
The novel questions the justice system and the truth in general. Police and media have agendas, which often supersede truth. Spelling out street slang to a former FBI agent seems unnecessary. It was likely done for the reader, but are readers really that clueless? If they must know the meaning of a slang term, there is a thing called Google. And the thieves taking only a 5% cut for themselves seems stupid considering the risk involved. At least a ten percent minimum.
Read
November 17, 2021This novel does what I did not think it would do. The protagonist, Blair Morgan, lost her job at the FBI for lying about her boss's actions. She protected him. It could have caused his havoc. She goes to prison because of her loyalty to him, Jim.
Lots of action, including humor, frustration, robbery, and association with three thieves. They don't consider themselves thieves, but Blair thinks differently. However, when she thinks about what Jim did to her by keeping his mouth shut and her going to prison, she realized her mistake. The story unfolds into interesting actions that make you realize the author knows his stuff. This progressive story is a page-turner. There are no killings, which allows the antagonists to reduce finding them.
For a former US Army West Point Academy graduate, Jason Kasper keeps the military out of the scene completely. I will continue to read his navels.
Lots of action, including humor, frustration, robbery, and association with three thieves. They don't consider themselves thieves, but Blair thinks differently. However, when she thinks about what Jim did to her by keeping his mouth shut and her going to prison, she realized her mistake. The story unfolds into interesting actions that make you realize the author knows his stuff. This progressive story is a page-turner. There are no killings, which allows the antagonists to reduce finding them.
For a former US Army West Point Academy graduate, Jason Kasper keeps the military out of the scene completely. I will continue to read his navels.
November 20, 2019
Blair is ex FBI and was in prison for fabricating information about a criminal. She gets fired from her waitress job and meets Sterling who offers her money to meet Gordon and go to his house. It seems like easy money, but three masked men break into Gordon's house and keep Blair and Gordon captive. Gordon is a high ranking bank official. These men have planned a bank heist. Jim, FBI, and former lover of Blair, now wants to kill her to keep her quiet about crimes he committed. This is a well written thriller that keeps your interest.
July 22, 2020
Is this book an adult joke ? The constant chattering and know-it-all attitude of the main antagonist is nauseating and it will make you angry. Saying this book bad is just an understatement. Please, for the love of GOD, don't leave such high ratings on crap like these and make us genuine readers fall for them.
May 22, 2020
The characters and plotting of this story deserve a full four stars, but this book feels to me mostly like a screenplay-in-waiting. If you want to write a screenplay, then write one. Maybe I'm just cranky.
April 18, 2022
Okay. I think I've decided that I REALLY like Jason Kasper as an author. I have read a couple of his books (I have to go back and check the specifics) but I'm pretty sure there has not been one so far that I haven't REALLY enjoyed. This one though, really knocked it out of the park.
This is the first book in a new series and I'm not sure if it was because I went into the book cold - I had no idea what it was even about - but either because of that or in SPITE of that....I enjoyed the heck out of it. I alternated between listening to the audio version and reading the ebook, but honestly, I think I listened to about 90% of it. The narrator - Natalie Naudus - was a new to me narrator and I really didn't have any issues with the narration.
The story is what I liked though. Without going into spoilers, our female MC Blair, finds herself in the middle of some serious trouble with a group of three men that she just met (and who are planning a bank robbery) and the rest of the book has us following along on this pretty crazy journey.
See, I don't want to say too much because part of what I liked the most was that I didn't KNOW about her history and I didn't KNOW anything about the men that she found herself involved with. That lack of knowledge made the finding out part of the story the most interesting. The trying to decide who was actually the good guys and who were the bad...or were they really bad? That whole dichotomy was what made things interesting to me.
The characters were fleshed out nicely. I liked Blair as the female MC - lots to unpack with that one. I thought Sterling was a character I'd like to get to know better and the other two guys in the gang gave us a little bit of info but still only touched the surface. Well, Alec was funny. He reminded me of a Southwest Airlines flight attendant - or I guess, the OLD types of SW Flight Attendants who used to do an almost stand up routine when going over the safety stuff on a flight. I found myself really liking the bank robbers...or was that what they were? Hmmmm....you have to read it to find out. Then, there was definitely a character that I wanted to throttle as well.
Regardless, I immediately went ahead and now have the next three books in my library along with the audio versions as well - that should say something because my TBR list was already miles and miles long! Not only did I get the next three books...I was THRILLED that there WERE another three books in the series to read.
This first book ends in a pretty good stopping place, but it also makes it very obvious that things are going to get interesting in the future. Fun, fun, fun......
This is the first book in a new series and I'm not sure if it was because I went into the book cold - I had no idea what it was even about - but either because of that or in SPITE of that....I enjoyed the heck out of it. I alternated between listening to the audio version and reading the ebook, but honestly, I think I listened to about 90% of it. The narrator - Natalie Naudus - was a new to me narrator and I really didn't have any issues with the narration.
The story is what I liked though. Without going into spoilers, our female MC Blair, finds herself in the middle of some serious trouble with a group of three men that she just met (and who are planning a bank robbery) and the rest of the book has us following along on this pretty crazy journey.
See, I don't want to say too much because part of what I liked the most was that I didn't KNOW about her history and I didn't KNOW anything about the men that she found herself involved with. That lack of knowledge made the finding out part of the story the most interesting. The trying to decide who was actually the good guys and who were the bad...or were they really bad? That whole dichotomy was what made things interesting to me.
The characters were fleshed out nicely. I liked Blair as the female MC - lots to unpack with that one. I thought Sterling was a character I'd like to get to know better and the other two guys in the gang gave us a little bit of info but still only touched the surface. Well, Alec was funny. He reminded me of a Southwest Airlines flight attendant - or I guess, the OLD types of SW Flight Attendants who used to do an almost stand up routine when going over the safety stuff on a flight. I found myself really liking the bank robbers...or was that what they were? Hmmmm....you have to read it to find out. Then, there was definitely a character that I wanted to throttle as well.
Regardless, I immediately went ahead and now have the next three books in my library along with the audio versions as well - that should say something because my TBR list was already miles and miles long! Not only did I get the next three books...I was THRILLED that there WERE another three books in the series to read.
This first book ends in a pretty good stopping place, but it also makes it very obvious that things are going to get interesting in the future. Fun, fun, fun......
July 6, 2021
It’s sad really. This was a fun read and full of action and suspense. The whole book takes place over just a few hours time. That said, there are so many holes in the storyline that you could fly a helicopter through them.
First there’s the idea that Blair has no choice but to join up with the robbers. It’s that or be killed, or later return to her old job. If you stop for a minute you realize how ridiculous this is. There are a plethora of other options. If I wrote them all out, they’d make up another book. Then there’s the assumption that she can trust the robbers and that they can trust her. Right! If I’m a group of international thieves, I’m just going to trust an ex FBI agent on her say so. I don’t think so. And the likelihood that she can trust them not to kill her based on their assurances is ludicrous. Then there’s the fact the author repeatedly states what a good and caring person she is. So now she’s going to become a thief and give up her principles? But, oh wait! It’s OK because she’s found the one group of robbers who are also philanthropically minded.
This book was so far out of the realm of possibility that it was laughable. If that had been the intention, it would have been different. But the author expects us to suspend not only disbelief but common sense. If you want to read something strictly for the action and suspense, then this is a fun ride. But if you want your reading material to make any sense, I suggest you skip it.
First there’s the idea that Blair has no choice but to join up with the robbers. It’s that or be killed, or later return to her old job. If you stop for a minute you realize how ridiculous this is. There are a plethora of other options. If I wrote them all out, they’d make up another book. Then there’s the assumption that she can trust the robbers and that they can trust her. Right! If I’m a group of international thieves, I’m just going to trust an ex FBI agent on her say so. I don’t think so. And the likelihood that she can trust them not to kill her based on their assurances is ludicrous. Then there’s the fact the author repeatedly states what a good and caring person she is. So now she’s going to become a thief and give up her principles? But, oh wait! It’s OK because she’s found the one group of robbers who are also philanthropically minded.
This book was so far out of the realm of possibility that it was laughable. If that had been the intention, it would have been different. But the author expects us to suspend not only disbelief but common sense. If you want to read something strictly for the action and suspense, then this is a fun ride. But if you want your reading material to make any sense, I suggest you skip it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2025
An excellent heist story, one of the best you will ever read. Don't be surprised if it keeps you turning pages late into the night.
Former FBI agent Blair is thinking about switching to the dark side after Jim, her mentor and lover, forced her to take a fall and serve prison time after both of them stretched the rules too far.
Blair is kidnapped by an elite band of bank robbers and finds herself in the middle of an elaborate bank robbery. She learns that the team has a hidden objective and is much more than a common band of thugs.
You will meet Sterling, the team leader, and his helpers, Marco, the technical expert, and Alec, the witty safe-cracker.
Their escape plans are intricate and well thought. You'll be with them every step of the way, as will Blair. She must decide whether to fight them or join them.
Some books in this genre stretch believability and are over the top with spectacular scenes. This book is different in that it is well researched and the things that happen come with an honest sense of believability.
These robbers have a moral code and don't believe in killing or injuring their victims or especially innocent bystanders. Don't be surprised if you find yourself rooting for this not so common band of thieves as the book races - and I do mean races - to its exciting conclusion.
Former FBI agent Blair is thinking about switching to the dark side after Jim, her mentor and lover, forced her to take a fall and serve prison time after both of them stretched the rules too far.
Blair is kidnapped by an elite band of bank robbers and finds herself in the middle of an elaborate bank robbery. She learns that the team has a hidden objective and is much more than a common band of thugs.
You will meet Sterling, the team leader, and his helpers, Marco, the technical expert, and Alec, the witty safe-cracker.
Their escape plans are intricate and well thought. You'll be with them every step of the way, as will Blair. She must decide whether to fight them or join them.
Some books in this genre stretch believability and are over the top with spectacular scenes. This book is different in that it is well researched and the things that happen come with an honest sense of believability.
These robbers have a moral code and don't believe in killing or injuring their victims or especially innocent bystanders. Don't be surprised if you find yourself rooting for this not so common band of thieves as the book races - and I do mean races - to its exciting conclusion.
June 16, 2020
The Spider Heist by Jason Kasper 4/24/2020 Kindle
Blair Morgan is a disgraced former FBI agent, recently paroled from a short prison sentence and more recently fired from a waitress job. After taking a one-night gig in a pretend pickup, she finds herself held captive by a team of (unbelievably) well equipped bank robbers. When the “heist”, an oft-repeated description, allegedly goes wrong and she is publicly accused of being the master-mind, she joins the three bank robbers. There follows a comic book escape and a Batmobile car chase. Most times, the story is more a fun read much more than a captivation edge-of-the-chair. You can easily picture this as an action flick more than an enticing read.
The plot changes are interesting enough to hold your attention and as you’re told in the intro Blair goes off the grid, it’s no spoiler, but more a set up for a series. Do I recommend the book? Sure, but don’t take it too seriously. It’s not going to reap any awards but well enough done to hold your interest while stretching your imagination to the max. It sets up an interesting good-guy, bad-guy character. Will I read the next installment? Probably, but it won’t top the pending pile.
Blair Morgan is a disgraced former FBI agent, recently paroled from a short prison sentence and more recently fired from a waitress job. After taking a one-night gig in a pretend pickup, she finds herself held captive by a team of (unbelievably) well equipped bank robbers. When the “heist”, an oft-repeated description, allegedly goes wrong and she is publicly accused of being the master-mind, she joins the three bank robbers. There follows a comic book escape and a Batmobile car chase. Most times, the story is more a fun read much more than a captivation edge-of-the-chair. You can easily picture this as an action flick more than an enticing read.
The plot changes are interesting enough to hold your attention and as you’re told in the intro Blair goes off the grid, it’s no spoiler, but more a set up for a series. Do I recommend the book? Sure, but don’t take it too seriously. It’s not going to reap any awards but well enough done to hold your interest while stretching your imagination to the max. It sets up an interesting good-guy, bad-guy character. Will I read the next installment? Probably, but it won’t top the pending pile.
June 26, 2020
A 3.5 starrer
Ok, this one was fun and is quite tailormade for the screen - someone should just option the heck out of it right now. As the title goes, its a heist but its all just the wrapping around some fun plotting and character interactions.
The book picks up with our lead, Blair who is doing a not so good job as a waitress getting a too good to be true offer, which turns out to be just that. However, the kidnappers aka the heist artists dont really account for her secretive past to come and impact their plan.
This is a book that has a crackling pace and a solid chemistry between the bank robbers. Blair's past does prove that she isnt exactly a nice person and yet getting her way into the situation and what she does to survive does work well. The bank robbers are quite not what they seem and the reader experience the plot point with Blair as the surrogate and that kind of does work well
On the flip side, this does seem a bit episodic and an almost prologue to the series - so it does feel a bit hollow in some regards. Maybe need for some fleshing out and some back history for the characters to really boost the appeal of the book
Solid fun, engaging and quite unputdownable if a bit fluffy
Ok, this one was fun and is quite tailormade for the screen - someone should just option the heck out of it right now. As the title goes, its a heist but its all just the wrapping around some fun plotting and character interactions.
The book picks up with our lead, Blair who is doing a not so good job as a waitress getting a too good to be true offer, which turns out to be just that. However, the kidnappers aka the heist artists dont really account for her secretive past to come and impact their plan.
This is a book that has a crackling pace and a solid chemistry between the bank robbers. Blair's past does prove that she isnt exactly a nice person and yet getting her way into the situation and what she does to survive does work well. The bank robbers are quite not what they seem and the reader experience the plot point with Blair as the surrogate and that kind of does work well
On the flip side, this does seem a bit episodic and an almost prologue to the series - so it does feel a bit hollow in some regards. Maybe need for some fleshing out and some back history for the characters to really boost the appeal of the book
Solid fun, engaging and quite unputdownable if a bit fluffy
May 25, 2020
Ex-con and ex-fed Blair Morgan becomes a really shitty waitress until she gets a better offer. Nothing is what it seems, and there is a mystery to unravel there amidst all the action.
Kasper’s writing is magnificent, so much so that reading every single word isn’t much of a bother or a slog to get through. There’s a lot of information from the characters psyche and feelings to the more technical side of things. FBI And police procedures, heist specific information, etc.,
The humour is in point. Witty, delightfully spontaneous and smart. The thieves are lovable and relatable, always good when you want the reader to side with them—and you will.
Very good take on modern heists, fun and entertaining until the very end. Would recommend to those who love women in heists (like Charlize Theron in the Italian Job), even Alec changes his mind in the end.
Looking forward to reading the second book in July.
Kasper’s writing is magnificent, so much so that reading every single word isn’t much of a bother or a slog to get through. There’s a lot of information from the characters psyche and feelings to the more technical side of things. FBI And police procedures, heist specific information, etc.,
The humour is in point. Witty, delightfully spontaneous and smart. The thieves are lovable and relatable, always good when you want the reader to side with them—and you will.
Very good take on modern heists, fun and entertaining until the very end. Would recommend to those who love women in heists (like Charlize Theron in the Italian Job), even Alec changes his mind in the end.
Looking forward to reading the second book in July.
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