The Chase (#406) is Janet Evanovich's second collaboration with Lee Goldberg detailing the exploits of FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare and her reluctant teaming by the powers that be with her former target on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List, Nick Fox. What a hoot!
In a gesture of international goodwill, the United States government has agreed to return a priceless Qing Dynasty bronze zodiac figure of a rooster to the Chinese. It's been on display at the Smithsonian for twenty years. The only problem is that it's a fake; the real one was stolen years ago by an unknown party. When the forgery is revealed in the ceremonial exchange, it's bound to cause an international incident. Enter Nick Fox, renowned art thief, and his FBI handler Kate. Their task is to locate the original rooster, steal it back and make the switch at the Smithsonian before the official handover to a representative of the Chinese government. A walk in the park for Nick. That is, until they discover just whose collection the rooster now graces, and the timetable is moved up to return it.
This caper novel is just as much fun as The Heist, the first book by this author duo. It has summer action movie written all over it, and I'd be the first in line to pay money to see it on screen. Kate's an uptight, athletic former Navy Seal with a strong moral compass and a penchant for huge quantities of junk food. Nick Fox, as you might expect, is suave, debonair and has an encyclopedic range of knowledge on many arcane matters. The attraction between these two is palpable, but Evanovich and Goldberg know they can't give away the candy store quite yet in the best tradition of building tension and bringing back their readers for more. If they ever do make these books into a movie, I personally would like to see Kate's Black Ops retired father Jake played by Corbin Benson. I think he'd be perfect in the role. Bring this one to the beach with you for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
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