Uncommon Criminals

Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society, 2) by Ally Carter, 2012. 298 pages. Published by Hyperion book CH. Source: publisher for review (requested).

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life 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.

First Sentence:

Moscow can be a cold, hard place in winter.

I have been waiting to read Uncommon Criminal ever since I finished reading Heist Society and realized that there was definitely room for a second book. After it had been out for months I finally had a chance to read it and it was so, so good and I am really hoping that there will be a third book.

While Kat seemed to be running away and keeping all her friends and family at a distance in the beginning of Uncommon Criminals-as she saw that finding and stealing back artwork lost during WWII was her calling-add in the adrenalin rush that a successful heist gave her and trouble was bound to show up. I loved though that by time the book drew to a close

Even though the start of Uncommon Criminals was a little slow, I absolutely loved reading it. One of the things that just keeps pulling me into this series is the characters and the sense of danger and adventure that one gets from reading about their exploits as thieves.
One of the other things that  I loved about this book would have to be how Kat learns thatshe cannot-as much as it pains her- do it on her own. Its nice to see a chacrter realize that they are not invincible and that things are definitely easier when your friends are there to help carry the plan forward.
Kat is perhaps one of the most brilliantly, flawed characters I have read about. Even though in Uncommon Criminals Katis keeping everyone at a distance, I think that this is the one were we find out exactly what she's made of as things pretty much go wrong for her from the beginning of the book.
Hale is still funny, nice, and typical Hale trying to get Kat to realize that he is indeed there for the longrun and is not going to bale on her. I am really curious to see if Ms. Carter will ever reveal what W.W. stands for (probably something embarrassing).

Gosh, what did I love most about Uncommon Criminals, well, that my dear readers would have to be that the stakes were higher then the previous book and that it seemed that Kat and gang would not be able to achieve victory and that maybe they had finally met their match. I really liked the fact that Ms. Carter upped the ante in the second Heist Society book and things were not so easy for the characters this time around.

Even though I absolutely loved Uncommon Criminals, the beginning of the book was a little slow on the take off and thus left me a bit worried that it would not live up to Heist Society's epicness. While I did find the beginning of the book to be slow, and thus my least favorite part, but Uncommon Criminals is every bit as good as its predecessor and definitely worth reading.

Final Verdict: Uncommon Criminals a thrilling ride that will leave you flying through the pages.

Uncommon Criminals earns 5 out of 5 pineapples.

Heist Society
Uncommon Criminals