Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Release Date: 06.21.2011
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 298
Overall:

**Spoilers from the first book Heist Society**

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.

Let me say for a quick moment that I love when books aren't embargoed/on restricted sale. If you don't know what that means (I'm not 100% sure I do either, but here's what I think it means), the books that sell really well get embargoed, such as City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare, where it's illegal (I think) for booksellers to put certain books out on the sales floor until the release date. But, if there isn't any special requests made on the book, the sellers can put them out when they get the boxes with the books in them!

This is why some people get books early, even if they didn't get them for review.

Anyway, Uncommon Criminals was not under any restrictions so I got it on Thursday when I went to the B&N. YAY!

Well, now that we've had a little lesson on how Shelbie thinks bookstores work, let's get to the review.

If I ever turn to a life of crime you can blame Ally Carter. Heist Society stole my heart, but Uncommon Criminals secured it with the thrill of the chase. The plot may be the greatest heist plot ever conceived if only for the brilliance of its simple resolution. It’s worth the read just to get to that last sentence. Now THAT is what we call a denouement people!

Kat is still running, deciding who she is and how she can use her talents for good. Vying for her affections we have the charming Hale, who makes living a life of leisure more appealing than it already is, and the good-boy-turned-bad-boy-but-still-good-boy, Nick. This second book sets up more thoroughly the triangle plot. While love triangles are so overdone these days, I appreciate this one where Kat seems less head-over-heels for them then they are for her.

Well, I am now quitting my life to join Kat's crew, you should join me and read Uncommon Criminals! (It didn't sound nearly as cheesy in my head--I swear!)

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xoxo,

Shelbie