Book Review: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Heist Societ by Ally Carter
Publication Date: 1st July, 2011
Published by: Hachette Australia
Source: Thanks to Hachette Australia


Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed.

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

My Review:

Favourite Quote:  Luck is a strange thing in the life of any thief and halfway decent con man.  What is it that keeps the mark from counting the till or the guards from looking up at precisely the wrong moment?  Kat had learned at a very young age that luck is for the amateur, the lazy---those who are unprepared and unskilled.  And yet she also knew that luck, like most things, cannot be truly missed until it is also truly gone.

When it comes to sequels they can be a scary thing especially when you love the first book.  But Uncommon Criminals is just as good as Heist Society.  Once again Ally Carter offers all the right elements for another fun read - clever writing, a quick and suspenseful plot and entertaining characters.

Again there were plenty of twists in this cleverly constructed plot making it impossible to put Uncommon Criminals down.  And when I did I was thinking about all the ways Kat could possibly get herself out of trouble this time.   I also love how Carter brilliantly describes the settings.   She really knows how to capture the beautiful places like Monte Carlo the crew visits and you can picture everything perfectly thanks to Carter's wonderful writing.    

Kat is a genuine and likeable character.  She is independent, smart and stubborn.  In this instalment Kat has to learn to that she doesn't have to do everything on her own even if she doesn't need help.  That it is okay to want help from her crew.  Kat showed a lot growth.  I also love the distinctive bunch of secondary characters.  As soon as I started the book I was eagerly awaiting when Hale, Gabrielle, Simon or the Bagshaw brothers would pop up in the story and when they did they didn't disappoint.

I know fans of the first book will be wondering about the romance.   Does anything happen with Hale? Well all I can say is the spark is still there and you will have to read the book (I recommend immediately).

Overall, this is one addictive series that I highly recommend. I really hope Carter writes a Heist Society #3.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Plot: 5/5
Character: 4.5/5
Romance: 4/5
Cover: 4.5/5 - I love how the covers match perfectly.

For more info:  Visit Ally Carter's website or Date a Book.

For more reviews: I Swim For Oceans and holes In My Brain

STAY TUNED THIS WEEK FOR A GIVEAWAY FOR THIS SERIES!!!