Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society, #2)

by Ally Carter

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 for this heist. This time, Kat's going to have to make up her own rules...

Reviewed by readingwithwrin on

4 of 5 stars

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"Every decent con man knows that the simplest truth is more powerful than even the most elaborate lie."



I loved getting back into this world and how fun it is. Carter has once again done an amazing job of writing not only a funny story, but a nice little mystery/thievery as well.
This book starts a few months after the Henley Kat is drunk on the high from successful heists that she has been doing alone. Meaning her family isn't very happy with her and when she gets an offer to try to steal back the Cleopatra Emerald she jumps on the chance to help another family get back something that appears to be rightfully theirs.
But when they don't turn out to be who they said they were Kat's world goes into chaos and she has to turn to her family while also keeping it a secret from certain people in the family as well.
With having to ask her family for help comes the very complicated relationship she has with Hale. For once in a story I don't mind the romance aspect because of how their relationship is and until about halfway through the book Kat still doesn't realize that Hale likes her and would do almost anything for her and to keep her safe. But when she finally does take action it all goes somewhat wrong and makes things slightly awkward between them. But now back to the heist and getting the Cleopatra back, but when the identity of the person who actually hired Kat is found out it was a surprise and showed a lot of Kat's family's past and why certain people were very particular when it comes to doing certain types of heists.
I really did love how Kat handled the situation and found a way to outsmart someone who appeared to now every heist that they could have possibly done.
With the majority of the same characters from the first book in the series you really start getting a feel for the family dynamic and how it all works.
I can't wait to read the third book in the series to see what they get up to next.


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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 20 September, 2015: Finished reading
  • 20 September, 2015: Reviewed