Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society Series #2)

Uncommon Criminals--what it's about

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 simply. 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, 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.

45 out of 63 people found this review helpful.

Excellent read

I loved reading this wonderful book! It is a story that keeps you entertained for hours.

19 out of 25 people found this review helpful.

Amazing sequel

I got an advanced readers copy of this book for winning a contest and almost as soon as it arrived in the mail I had finished it. The sequel defiantly pleased me. The amazing Kat gets conned and needs to fix it. The whole gang gets back together (even including Nick). Once again they go behind Uncle Eddies back doing things he advises not to. Kat and her crew must figure out how to steal back a jewel that Kat stole not too long ago to give to a woman who was supposedly sent by Visily Romani. The book kept me up reading through the night. The simplest thing Kat does leads to the end of the book and it really surprised me. All together an amazing read and I would suggest it to anyone who loved the first book.

12 out of 17 people found this review helpful.

Uncommonly Good

Among the vast sea of dystopian universes and paranormal creatures currently inhabiting a majority of shelves in the YA section of bookstores, Ally Carter's tales of teenage spies and thieves adds a refreshing twist to being extraordinary. Carter's characters aren't superhuman or special in any other way then in their ability to learn and become exceptional at whatever they put their minds to being. Part of why I read fiction is to get lost in another world, but sometimes the best fantasies are the ones not too far removed from reality.

Katarina's struggles are always an interesting study in contradiction.

I mean really, how does one rebel when they come from a long line of thieves? Kitty Kat may be back, but she's having a go at it alone. It seems her stint at the Colgan School was just the first of her dissent from the family. She's trying to define herself and create her own path in the world she grew up in. But in adhering to her new moral code, distancing herself, and alienating her crew, Kat's forgotten the most important rule: Family First.

Of course, being fifteen and an old pro in the family business can give a girl the illusion of knowing everything, but some lessons you can only learn with time and experience. Katarina Bishop is taking her talent and applying it for good instead of greed. Morally Kat knows stealing is bad, but it's what she's good at. Toting the line between right and wrong, she's trying to use her skills to help return priceless items that were taken from their owners long ago. But someone is about to use Kat's altruistic endeavors against her and con the con artist.

She's going to have to steal one of the most coveted items criminals of her caliber have been salivating over for decades, while pulling off the heist of all heists. Twice. In the process taking down a couple of very different crooks. And learning that she doesn't have to go about it alone. Because being a brilliant criminal mastermind with the ability to take whatever she wants, isn't worth anything if you have no one to share it with. And somewhere along the way an ingenue, playboy, diva, computer geek, a couple of thugs, and a wayward cop's kid became a crew of uncommon criminals and a more unlikely family.

Uncommon Criminals is full of Carter's usual wit and charm. Kat manages to be both adorably clever and clueless. Constantly thinking through the angles of cons and jobs yet completely flustered when it comes to the social customs between boys and girls. She's surrounded by equally endearing characters, all of which you immediately want more of. Uncommon also has a solid storyline, and continued to slowly build the romance between Kat and her beau. After two books I think we have a good basis on each of the characters personalities, though Nick remains more of a mystery. I hope Carter will feature his motives more in the future. I think he's just looking for a place to belong, but not knowing enough about his background it's still a bit fuzzy. It's definitely something that will keep me coming back for future volumes.

So if you need a break from fangs and claws, read a little five finger discount fiction. A smart fun hilarious heist, Uncommon Criminals is an Uncommonly Good Read.

7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Another great book by Ally Carter! The excitement of a heist continues!

In Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter, a teenage girl is anything but common. Kat had walked away from her past, or so she thought... But when a woman and her grandson give her an assignment so scary that even her master thief uncle Eddie forbids her to go after it, Kat knows what she must do. She must put aside the attempt to stop being a thief and steal the Cleopatra emerald from someone who wants to exploit his ownership for money. She must face bodyguards, the police, top-notch security measures, a con artist, her handsome best friend / crush Hale, her Uncle Eddie, and a cursed emerald. Hale says she can just walk away; her uncle says to stay away; but her heart tells her she can and must go through with the heist. Will she get it? Or will she be cursed?
Ally Carter is one of my favorite authors, so when she wrote the next addition to the Heist Society series, I knew I had to read it and I'd love it. The way that Ally reveals the inner struggles that Kat must sort through is so relate-able. In the previous book and in Uncommon Criminals, I was rooting for Kat and Hale the whole way. I'm glad that they've almost figured out their feelings for each other, but I have a feeling the confusion will still be seen in the next book of the series. And I can't wait to read the next one!

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Great

I woke up at one in the morning to read this and justfinished! It was so good, and the lastline will make you want the next one!

4 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

a quirky, sophisticated page-turner

Fifteen-year-old Katarina Bishop is a small girl with dark hair and bright blue eyes. She is also the girl that, mere months before, robbed the Henley-the greatest, and arguably most secure, museum in the world.

But Kat isn't a thief. Not anymore. At least not exactly. Think of a her as more of a return artist, a righter of wrongs maybe.

When Kat is asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald she can't say no. Not when the Cleopatra has been waiting years to be returned to its rightful owner. Yes, the Cleopatra hasn't been seen in public in thirty years. Yes, it is essentially a concrete symbol of the doomed love between Cleopatra and Antony. Yes, there are rumors that the stone is cursed. And a history of jobs involving the Cleopatra Emerald going bad. Really bad.

But Kat is smarter than that. And curses aren't real, not that the Cleopatra is cursed. There has to be some other, logical, reason for why the world's most famous emerald is bringing Kat and her crew nothing but trouble, right?

Either way, before this job is over Kat is going to have take a long hard look at who she is and what she does because all of her old tricks-the tricks her family has been using for centuries-are useless this time. This job is going to require something different. Good thing Kat and her crew are anything but ordinary in Uncommon Criminals (2011) by Ally Carter.

Uncommon Criminals is the sequel to Carter's delightful Heist Society and the second in what she has stated on her site will be an ongoing series featuring Kat, her crew, and her inimitable family.

Heist Society was a smashing introduction to the world (and crew) of Katarina Bishop. The writing was sleek, smart and elegant. The story was well-paced, original and exciting. It was the kind of book where a sequel could go horribly wrong. Or it could be just as amazing as the first.

Turns out Uncommon Criminals not only held up to the standards set Heisty Society, in a lot of ways it exceeded those standards.

Filled with several surprising twists, a cunning foe, and all of the characters readers loved in Heist Society (like Hale and Gabrielle), Uncommon Criminals is another great installment about Kat's exploits. At the same time this book also deals with what it means to be a thief and, for Kat, what it means to be a part of her family. The con itself, and Carter's beautiful writing, are deceptively simple here making Kat's plans and the writing itself seem effortless.

Uncommon Criminals is a quirky, sophisticated page-turner that will leave readers guessing until its clever conclusion (and eager for another installment about Kat, Hale and the rest of the team).

Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Strings Attached by Judy Blundell, Clarity by Kim Harrington, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, Leverage (television series), White Collar (television series)

*This book was acquired at BEA 2011

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Recommended

Over all, I'd call this a pretty good book. Like most of Ally Carter's writing it has a more mental approach to it. What I mean is you don't just know what Kat and her crew are doing, you know why she is doing it.
Also, it has a fair amount of action, such as robbing, but no blood shed (unless you count a sprained ankle)which is good for younger readers who like the idea of thieves.
I do have one complaint, it is that the plot seems to be lacking something. Not a big thing, a small detail here and there.
In the end, I'd have to give the book a 4 out of 5.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

KATelyn

This is one of the best books i have ever read and i cant wait 4 the next book to come out. Im 14 and i think that any one could fall in love with Kat and the rest of the Heist Society,i no i did. The book has intrigue, mystery, love, fighting, lies, secrets, theft and ,personally, anyone who wants to steal anything as important as the cleopatra emerald should read this first. I read the first one too and new the next wud be better and was right. This book is about Kat and her friends stealing the emerald, finding its secrets , what it has to do with her uncle, and another person who uses more than one identity. Ally Carter is by far one of my favorite authors and has definately influenced my writing, i would like to become an author when i grow up, and shown me some new techniques and how to give a book one twist after another. The book is well worth the money ,or even a monet! It may not be as good as maximum ride, another favorite of mine, but it is one of the best books i have ever read.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Awesome book!!!!

This was a really good book with suspense, action,and romance--i loved it and also hope a third one will come out!

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

BookHounds

Kat Bishop isn't really a thief, although it certainly looks like that after her debut in Heist Society. This story resumes the tale of Kat and Hale with even more action and adventure. The triangle between her, Nick and Hale works so effortlessly that the sparks created really move everything in the plot forward and is not forced at all. Nick is a good boy overall, but he has a bad streak. Hale is ever charming and you know he just can't be right for Kat, but she still has a thing for him or was that Nick? Yes, dilemmas, although I think Nick and Hale care more for her than she does for them.

So Kat has decided to redeem herself by using her time on the road to return the Cleopatra Emerald to it's rightful owner. There is a curse on the emerald and everything Kat has ever done or conned in the past just won't work this time. She has to rethink her plans to make it work and boy, does this twisty plot work. The conclusion is well worth the price of the book! This book is for anyone who enjoys a light mystery and is appropriate for those over 11 years old. I just thought this is wonderful!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!

Anyone who fell in love with the first book, will fall in love again!!!! It is a attention catching book!!!! I am 1/2 way in ans had to FORCE myself to put it down!!!!!! The author is great at writing!!! I hope that she writes so many more!!!!!!!!!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Anonomouys

Is there another in the series?

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Very good! Maybe not as Good as the first one, but still amazing!

Very good! I love all of Ally Carter's books. Good for teens and pre teens. :) I can't wait for another one!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

hmmmm...

Though the plot seems a bit predictable and at times almost juvenile, I found this series refreshing from the constant paranormal romances (as much as I love them) that have taken over young adult fiction. The idea that bands of thieving families exist throughout the world had me absolutely enthralled from the beginning. The characters were clever, likable, and held just enough amount of imperfection that they were still mostly believable. However, (and this is a big however) several plot occurrences really irritated me. One (and I'm pretty sure I am not the only one who is thinking this), why does Kat never guess that Hale's first name might be William? I find it should be the really obvious choice before "Wesley," "Ward," "Warren," or "Waverly." And though I really enjoyed the second book, I was slightly disappointed. In Heist Society, the easy banter and suspense shrouded by the mysterious "Visily Romani" set a fun mood of adventure while still keeping in with the weight of the world of pro con artists. Carter left the ending complete enough, yet open for a sequel without the reader feeling cliff hung. This book seemed to jump right away into this very dark, slightly desperate edged mood that almost seemed too angsty following the previous light hearted adventure. Of course this darker mood allowed the characters to mature more realistically, but it left me feeling jolted compared to the first one. I also found the ending slightly confusing. Carter didn't seem to really explain exactly how the scheme unfolded, only explaining the end result. It almost felt like two completely different authors wrote the books, but I'd recommend anyway since it's a good story, and who doesn't love a band of clever thieves...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

:)

Good follow up. I liked it. I am still a bit curious as to what Hale's name is.

Very good

I have read the first book and i dont know if i like the 1st or 2nd book better! Thankfully ally carter is now in the process of writing heist 3! If you like this book you should check out the gallegher girls series. It is also very good.

A+++

Clever, confusing at sometimes but it turns out to be and incredible ending. Reminds me of the oceans eleven series. Amazing!

OH MY DOG!!!!!!

This book was awsome!!!!! There was so many twist and turns that i couldn't put it down!!!! Theres some romance, adventure, and curses..... aand you'll never suspect the ending.....
Signed,
Sarah M.

Awesome!!!

Way better than the first one!!!