Review: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Title: Uncommon Criminals
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Heist Society #2
Genre: Caper (YA)
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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.

There are a few slight spoilers in this review, but I don’t think it will ruin the book if you haven’t read it.

Just like Heist Society, Uncommon Criminals was a lot of fun to read. In fact, I enjoyed it more than the first book because I knew the characters so I was more invested in them this time around.

I still love that these stories aren’t written in first person because I love the insight into the story that the third-person voice gives. I loved knowing what some of the minor characters were thinking.

“Do you believe in curses, Hale?” Kat

I feel like Kat grew a lot in this story. In the first one, she was plummeted back into the world she so desperately wanted to leave. Now, she’s trying to right the wrongs from the past, return stolen pieces of art during World War II back to their rightful owners. But, at first, she tries to do this alone because she’s not sure who she is and why she doesn’t want to take part in what her family really does. By the time the story’s over, she realizes how important her friends, especially Hale, and family are to her, and that she can’t do everything alone.

Even though the lack of back story into Hale’s character bothered me a little bit in Heist Society, it didn’t for whatever reason in Uncommon Criminals. I found it kind of intriguing. And, even though I still want to know more about him, I’m okay waiting for whatever tidbits Ally Carter decides to reveal in each novel.

I’m really excited with the direction and potential of this series. There’s so much Carter can do. I can’t wait to see what comes of Kat and Hale’s relationship. Although, I do hope we don’t have to wait for too many books before we get to enjoy seeing them together romantically.

I think my favorite part about this series is that each book is such a great story on its own. I’m excited to read the third book when it finally comes out. But, I feel like I can wait for that release patiently because each book wraps up its major heist. The only thing we’re waiting to see is what kind of trouble or type of heist Kat and her crew will face next time. And, how that will affect the characters and their relationships. It’s like White Collar, but in book form and about teenage thieves/con artists instead of adult ones, which makes for a great premise.