Review (42): Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Uncommon Criminals

by Ally Carter

Series: Heist Society, #2

Other Reviewed Titles: None
Release Date: June 21, 2011

Publisher: Hyperion

Pages: 298

Format: Hardcover

Source: Purchased

Challenge: None

Author Website

Book Website

My Thoughts: 

Katarina Bishop is not your average 15-year-old girl--growing up in a family of con artists and thieves made sure of that. But she isn’t your common criminal either. Instead of stealing for herself, she steals back what was taken and returns it to the original owner. That is why, when approached by a woman and her grandson, she can’t resist helping them--even when it means stealing the Cleopatra Emerald. Everyone believes the emerald is cursed which is why every attempt to steal it has failed. Even her great Uncle Eddie was unable to do it. But when Kat and her crew do the impossible and return the stone to who they believe is the rightful owner, they congratulate themselves on a job well done. What they realize a bit too late is that they themselves have been conned and now they have just two weeks to get the emerald back where it belongs. 

I enjoyed Heist Society, but Uncommon Criminals was so much better! I don’t know how she does it, but Ally Carter has once again made a book about teenage con artists seem completely believable. I went into this thinking it was going to be a repeat of the first book with a few changed details here and there, but boy was I wrong. I love how much detail Carter puts into these books and the back story. There are so many twists and turns that there is no time for a dull moment. Every time I thought I had everything figured out, new details would be revealed--things I had never even thought of!

Another thing I love about this series is the characters. They are all well developed and likable despite all of their flaws. Kat is, by no means, the perfect thief, but she is great at what she does. Her friends and cousin all look up to her and trust her completely. I think she is also a good friend, but has a difficult time showing it. And then we have, W. W. Hale the Fifth. Hale is smart, rich, and devilishly attractive. He also happens to be Kat's best friend. Despite growing up in a completely different world, he seems to fit in just fine with Kat and her thieving family. I love their banter and how Kat is always trying to figure out what the W’s in his name stand for. I won’t say much about it, but I’m glad their relationship is heading in a new direction. ;)

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