Fool Me Once...

Fool Me Once...

• Jul 6, 2013

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Release Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 298 pages
Source & Format: Library; Hardcover
Series: Heist Society #2
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Amazon)

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.

Thoughts on Uncommon Criminals

Oh Katarina Bishop... what am I going to do with you? I dove right into Uncommon Criminals after finishing Heist Society. Despite a million unread books that I already own, as well as a number books for review that I ought to be reading, I just couldn't resist another con with Kat and her crew.

The setup has changed a little bit in this one. Kat was brought back into this world in the last one because she wanted to prove her father's innocence. In the process, she learned about all the art stolen by the Nazis in WWII that had never been returned to their rightful owners. Uncommon Criminals opens with Kat on a stealing high. She's gotten another taste of this world, and now she just can't get enough. But she's making people scared and frustrated because she's taking risks, working alone and not considering the danger.

Then, Kat's approached about an infamous jewel stolen long ago - the Cleopatra Emerald. Uncovered by a husband and wife long ago, it was stolen by one of their colleagues who claimed to have discovered it himself. The jewel was already famous because it had belonged to Cleopatra, but it became more so when it was rumored that the emerald was cursed. Its questionable history and claims of how it was acquired created an aura of mystery around the famous item.

When Kat is asked to steal it and return it to its rightful owners, she can't resist the temptation. But its a job that no one - not even her father or her uncle - would want her to touch. Her family has been burned by the Cleopatra Emerald in the past. But, as you can imagine, Kat can't say no to a good heist... and to the chance to do the impossible. And so begins another adventure with Kat and her crew!

I loved so many aspects of this one! There's a really good twist that turns the heist on its head and puts Kat in a position she's never been in before. I also loved that her family played a bigger role in this story. While she undertook her last job to clear her dad, her family still wasn't a huge part of the book. Well, they definitely step into the spotlight a little more in this one - and we learn some more about their past. I really enjoyed that part of Uncommon Criminals.

The end got a tad bit confusing, but I still thought it was a lot of fun. With so much going on and so many characters involved, I wasn't really sure what exactly was happening a few times and had to flip back and try to pay closer attention. I do think that's also common for me, as a reader, with this type of book. It's so action-focused that it moves so quickly and occasionally I miss a few details. But, this was still a ton of few!

I was hoping for a little more romance because C'MON KATARINA, HALE IS RIGHT THERE. IN FRONT OF YOU. DO SOMETHING. But hey, I still like the build up and won't turn down any chance to spend a little more time with W.W. Hale the Fifth. He's handsome, rich, swoony... what's not to love?

Another fun installment in the Heist Society series that had me wondering how in the world these teenagers were going to do the impossible and smiling all the way through. Now, I just can't wait to see what they'll steal next!

So Quotable

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