Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Release Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 304
Series: Heist Society #2
Review Source: For review from publisher

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
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 Thoughts:
How fun are these books? So fun! I re-read 'Heist Society' before diving into this one, and I think I enjoyed the first book even more the 2nd time around. And 'Uncommon Criminals'? It definitely doesn't disappoint. Ally Carter is so great at making her books seem like movies. They're so fast paced and cinematic! 'Uncommon Criminals' is a blockbuster of a book: I could totally picture it as a caper movie.

This book welcomes back the same awesome cast of characters from 'Heist Society' but it adds a new villain. I think it takes a lot of talent to write an action packed book where you still have time to care about the characters, and Carter definitely succeeds. In this second installment Kat and Hale are still stuck in their weird non-relationship where everyone basically acts like they're a couple anyway. Hale is the perfect example of a confident rich boy character who doesn't have to be a jerk to get the ladies attention. He's such a nice and caring guy, and Ally Carter brings on the swoon in this book, still perfecting her clean romance style.

Like the previous book, 'Uncommon Criminals' takes readers all over the world, but it's the Monte Carlo setting that really steals the show (ouch, a thief pun! sorry 'bout that). The scenery, the locations... so fabulous! Other details of the book that delight include all the different names of particular heists (Jack and Jill? Light as a Feather?), making you wonder what they could possibly be.

This is an incredibly fun book filled with complicated schemes and heists, making it almost impossible (at times) for the reader to figure out what will happen next. If you're looking for a perfect summer read that mixes blockbuster elements with themes of family, loyalty, and love, then look no further. 'Uncommon Criminals' is an absolute delight.

Rating:
[4/5]

Find Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.ca