Saturday, July 16, 2011

Review: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Uncommon-Criminals
Title: Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society #2)
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion
Date Published: June 21st, 2011
Pages: 298

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. (GoodReads)

Unlike most criminals, Kat does not steal for her own benefit. Instead, she steal items that were wrongfully stolen and returns them to their rightful owners. In Uncommon Criminals, Kat and her friends return for another major heist. This time to steal the cursed Cleopatra Emerald. Throughout the story, Kat learns about the community of thieves and how there are more connections than she was originally aware of. She also learns the importance of friendship as she comes to the realization that it is safer to work as a group. But above all, she learns about herself as she come in to contact with someone who appears to be not-so-different.

There is a twist in the plot, which kept me interested. There is some definite growth in Kat's character. Although, I would have liked to know more about the supporting characters. Kat and Hale's relationship begins to pick up just a little bit. However, it is very PG. Nothing too hot and heavy (not that it's a bad thing, but there is so much build up to something very small). On a side note: If I had to hear about Hale's warm breath on Kat's neck one more time...

I cannot say that my feeling have changed very much from Heist Society. While it is fast-paced and fun, I did not feel the book had much depth. It is a story about a girl and her friends stealing things with a tiny hint of a budding romance. I'm not too sure if I am interested in a third heist. Again, pack this light read on your trip to the beach or save it for a lazy day.

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