Uncommon Criminals (A Heist Society Novel)

Full disclosure: UNCOMMON CRIMINALS was one of my most anticipated reads for 2011 and I've been waiting to read it ever since I read HEIST SOCIETY last year. I was super excited when I heard there were early copies out in the wild, so I hunted one down and devoured the book in two days. I love a good heist story - be it a movie (Ocean's Eleven or The Italian Job anyone?), TV show (Are you watching White Collar?), or book. If you like a good heist story, you're going to love this series by Ally Carter.

One of the things I love most about Ally Carter's writing it how down to earth and straight forward it is, while maintaining a strong, humorous teen voice. There's just an ease to her writing - it's not complicated and it's really fun to read. It's like you're going through it with the characters. This second book in the series was another fun story with lots of excitement and suspense. At first I was worried the story was going too fast, but I had no idea the twists, turns, and surprises that awaited me (and Kat!) The elements of the con and the thief world are so well drawn throughout the story - it's an intriguing look on the inside behind the curtain.

Speaking of characters...I love Kat. Katarina is a masterful thief (a cat burglar named Kat - come on, how do you not love that premise?!), but she's also a fifteen-year-old teenager. She's strong, loyal, independent, confused, scared, and unsure of herself and her motivations. Her insecurities make her real - otherwise we wouldn't be able to connect with her because of how knowledgeable and good she is at what she does. I appreciated her struggle in this book to figure out who she is on her own and what kind of thief she wants to be - it was a great direction to take her conflicted character.

Kat is an ultimate strategic thinker who needs to realize that she has people who love her that she can lean on. And oh how great are those people - Kat's crew is the best. She has friends and family who can be goofballs, difficult, opinionated, and direct, but always loyal. Her cousins are fun secondary characters. And then there's Hale. Hale whose relationship with Kat is uncertain, but it's so obvious that he cares about her - to everyone except Kat. He's her best (and only) friend, but could it be more? It's a backstory with teen struggles from the start, and it has a satisfying resolution by the end of the book (thank goodness!)

I'm definitely hoping that Ally Carter writes another book in the Heist Society series because I love hanging out with Kat, seeing the trouble she gets involved with, watching her relationship with Hale progress, and seeing her grow into her own strong girl as a thief and who she really wants to be. Go get UNCOMMON CRIMINALS (and HEIST SOCIETY if you haven't read it yet), you'll be in for a fun escape!

Review originally posted at Heise Reads & Recommends

Fifteen-year-old Katarina (Kat) Bishop is a legend among thieves, including those in her own family. Yet she doesn't consider herself to be a thief. The petite, bright-eyed, dark-haired teenager thinks of herself more as a "return artist, a repossession specialist. A highly uncommon criminal."

One day in February, after returning from Moscow where she repossessed a Cezanne painting from a former Soviet official, an elderly woman begs Kat to steal the world-famous Cleopatra Emerald. She tells Kat that the enormous emerald was discovered by her parents decades ago and belongs to her. Kat refuses the job at first until the stranger mentions the name Visily Romani. Years ago, Kat's Uncle Eddie told her about this sacred name, invoked only for the most worthy causes.

Smart and clever, and never one to give up easily, Kat promises to take the job. She is joined by the handsome and incredibly rich W. W. Hale and her cousin, Gabrielle. Nick, the Bagshaw Brothers, Simon and the ubiquitous Marcus round out the team.

Like a modern-day Robin Hood, Kat and her crew are back in action, this time to steal --- um, make that return --- the Cleopatra Emerald to its rightful owner. Retrieving it is not an easy caper. The tried-and-true cons, tricks and misdirections Kat and her family have used for generations are ineffective and, at times, dangerous. The emerald is heavily guarded and hasn't been seen in public for over 30 years. Not only that, but Kat's uncle, the head of her light-fingered family, has forbidden anyone within the family to even attempt to take the emerald.

Then there's the curse that has followed the infamous gem since the fall of the Egyptian Empire and the suicide of Cleopatra. According to legend, Cleopatra took the biggest emerald in the world and split it down the middle. She gave half to Marc Anthony, who was killed when he went off to battle the Romans, and kept the other half. Because of the curse, death and destruction have plagued whoever possesses either gem.

Kat's quest takes her from New York to Austria and Monte Carlo, as well as in the middle of the Mediterranean aboard the W. W. Hale. In addition to the Cleopatra Emerald caper, there's the mystery of the identity of Visily Romani and the puzzle of what the "W" stands for in W. W. Hale.

And then there's the kiss.

UNCOMMON CRIMINALS, the sequel to HEIST SOCIETY, continues the charming story of the smart and crafty Kat Bishop, her not-so-ordinary family and her captivating friends. The characters here are lively and likable, and Ally Carter's conversational style, breezy tone and quick pace make the book fun to read. This follow-up has its share of twists and turns, and exotic and elegant settings, but the heart of the story is about the value of friendship, teamwork and family. The ending hints at more to come, so here's hoping Kat's adventures will continue in a third book.

--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt

by Kat Alexander

Ever since Katrina Bishop re-entered the crime scene with the Henley job, she's been a notably uncommon criminal. Stealing art from around the world and returning it to its rightful owner, that's Kat. Small rewards, big risks. But it's all for the greater good, right? Well, the rush is nice, too.

Kat's made a reputation for herself and her crew as the best in the world. Which is why it's less than surprising when she's approached with a new job-steal the Cleopatra Emerald and return it to the woman whose parents found it half a century ago. Ordinary jewel heist--except for the fact that the gem hasn't been seen in thirty years. And Kat's uncle, the head of the family, has forbade anyone from attempting to steal it. Oh, and it's been cursed for the past couple millennia. So, maybe it'll be a bit of a tricky one.

I loved reading this book. There's something about Ally Carter novels that always keeps me flipping pages, even at two AM when I've got a final at eight the next morning. I never fail to finish an Ally Carter book within forty-eight hours of acquiring it. It's the action and the planning that keeps me up at all hours, too. While I've been irked by the romance : everything else ratio in some of her other books, Uncommon Criminals has a main character focused on the job-yes, there's a hot guy on the crew, but Kat very well keeps from yammering internally about him while she's doing something like, say, stealing a painting worth a very large fortune. Nothing irritates me more than a protagonist who can't seem to think about anything but the romantic supposed-sub-plot, but Uncommon Criminals is very well balanced. Kat's in love with the thrill more than she is the guy, and I like that.

The crime itself is great, too. Meticulously planned, (nearly) perfectly executed. Things go wrong. Twists come into play, as well as a few turns. Things work out-sort of, kind of, mostly always. There is a big drawing-room reveal.

Basically, it's a fun read. No big, grand Idea with a capital `I' presented to think about for hours on end afterwards, and I don't really have any desire to read it again (though I'll probably check out the next one from the library). Uncommon Criminals is entertaining and fun--a well executed, enjoyable novel. Not exactly romantic fluff, but there's nothing terribly groundbreaking about it, either. Recommended for a quick summer read.

Katarina Bishop is no ordinary girl and certainly no ordinary criminal. Ever since she pulled off one of the greatest museum robberies in the world, she's been traveling around, liberating priceless works of art for the benefit of the public. It's her way of using her skills for good, and fortunately, none of the jobs have been too difficult. But when she is asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald, Kat knows she may be in way over her head. Not only has this gem not been publically seen in over thirty years, it has a history of not staying in its owner's hands for long--because it's rumored to be cursed. Can Kat do it? She's not so sure, but when the job turns into a nightmare of lies and deception, Kat knows she can't back down. But now that she's facing a rival who knows all the tricks in the book, does Kat have what it takes to out con the perfect con artist?

I should have known that Carter would not write a repeat of Heist Society for its sequel Uncommon Criminals, yet I was still surprised by how original this book turned out to be. I was really just expecting another episode of Kat and her crew pulling off a truly difficult job, and while Uncommon Criminals seems to start out this way, Carter quickly twists the job into an even more complicated con. There's a lot about this book that I would never have expected. Firstly, Kat is such a flawed character. She isn't a master criminal or even a particularly good friend; instead, she's just a girl who wants to prove herself and do the right thing. And while that makes her rather unusual as a protagonist in a novel all about the most elite crime families, I'm starting to really like her. What also surprised me is how Kat seems to adopt a Robin Hood-like role in that she steals back stolen artwork and returns it to its rightful owners. I think that when I jumped into this series, I assumed the books would be all action and suspense with a hint of romance. However, the title of this book captures my feelings perfectly: this is an uncommon take on high stakes crime that I'm really starting to love.

Fans of Heist Society will not want to miss its sequel in Uncommon Criminals, nor will readers who also enjoyed the Gallagher Girls series, also by Ally Carter, and the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz.

My Thoughts: We are back with Katarina Bishop aka Kat. You may remember her epic story from the last book (Heist Society), how she robbed the Henley. She's back with Hale (yummy), Simon, and Gabrielle for another fun installment in this series.

We can't really call Kat a thief since she only steals things and returns them to their rightful owners, correct? She is more like a hero, a good guy (or girl for that matter), true?

In Uncommon Criminals, she's been away for a while now doing her thing, when she is called back to do another job, a quite respectable task. This time she must steal back the Cleopatra Emerald and give it to the owner, an elderly and sweet women. Yes, that emerald, the one that is cursed.

Everyone tells Kat not to do it, because its too hard of a job and the darn thing has consequences for the people who touch it but Kat is determined to get the job done. Those are old fairy tales about it being cursed, right?

She enlists the help of Hale, Simon, Gabrielle, etc, etc. Oh and the mystery boy from the first novel is back as well, haha!!!

This job can't be any harder to pull off then The Henley, right??? WRONG!!!! Kat trusts some of the wrong people, gets herself in difficult situations, kisses a boy only to be left, and tries to avoid her dad as much as possible.

I loved Hale once again in this one! He is so much fun. He's sarcastic which is extremely sexy. He's got this sweetness about him that makes him totally swoonworthy. I loved all the moments we get to know him a bit better.

Uncommon Criminals was such a brilliant fun book. I loved it even more than Heist Society.

Overall: I loved Uncommon Criminals. It was everything I needed. Before reading this book, I had been in a bit of a reading rut but this book broke that rut right in half! I loved every single page of it! I love the characters, I love the plot, I love the personalities, I loved it!

Cover: I love this cover! I love it even more than the first one! The girl is cute and I love her sunglasses once again!

What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
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Review Based On Hardcover Edition

Taken From Princess Bookie (blog)

Uncommon Criminals pretty much jumps in a few months after the end of Heist Society, where we learn that Kat has been on a mission to right quite a few wrongs by bringing back stolen items to their rightful owners. "Kat was more of a return artist, a repossession specialist. A highly uncommon criminal." Sadly, she has been doing so as a solo thief and her gang has not been happy about it one bit. Then it happens - the heist of a lifetime - return the Cleopatra Emerald to the rightful owners - the ultimate item to return!

I love that this mission brings Kat and her crew back together again - how could she work without the gorgeous man candy, Hale? And well, she just needs Gabrielle to set her straight once in a while when it comes to girly things. Watching the crew gather it's forces and work on this heist, while trying not to fall prey to the curse, was amusing.

I love the little bit of a love triangle there is between Kat, Nick and Hale. Little bits of jealousy pop out here and there. Also, I loved that Kat seems to favour Hale more and stresses over the possibility of a relationship with him. It reminds me of what I was like in high school when I liked a boy. Though this relationship angle doesn't overpower the books main themes of the heist and the possible curse.

The one thing I really like about the way this book was laid out, is that the book is divided up by pages that show the countdown to when the emerald will be in certain places and that makes the whole thing seem that much more urgent and exciting.

Oh and I love the different names for all the ways to do the heist/con like the Mary Poppins, the Cinderella - so clever - just like the last book. I love trying to figure out the meanings of some of the names and how the con would work.

This one quote stood out to me, about people and destiny:

"As soon as he touched her, Kat knew there was no such thing as curses. People make and break their own fortunes--they are the masters of their own fate."

A great sequel and looking forward to more - if there will be more?!? It's a nice break from all the paranormal romance and dystopian novels out there.

Once again, the teenage gang of cons and thieves are following the rules and only stealing for good. Kat's been off undertaking heists all over the world on her own, something Hale isn't too pleased about, before being contacted to help a woman procure a valuable emerald. When it was first found by the woman's ancestors many years ago, it was stolen by a trusted assistant who took it for his own benefit. Ever since being split in half by two lovers, the emerald has been cursed, a terrible misfortune befalling anyone who attempts to steal it. Sounds simple enough, right? Surely these experts can pinch one little stone... Well, let's just say that things aren't always as they seem. What lengths must they go to, to repair a terrible mistake they've made?

In Uncommon Criminals, absolutely anything that can go wrong does. The amount of hurdles they had to jump and dead ends that they hit was astounding and made me wonder if they would ever come out on top! In saying so, this novel was fast-paced and filled with many exciting twists. Carter has managed to plate up yet another exciting read, with the same entertaining characters we loved before, plus some more! I felt that things were more serious and had more depth this time around which was great. As the charismatic team plotted and planned, the threads of certain relationships became obvious, between friends, family and lovers alike. I look forward to exploring these characters even further in the next book!

When con tactics have crazy names (eg. Oscar the Grouch) you can't help but laugh. With another entertaining novel by Ally Carter, I cannot wait to read the Gallagher Girls series. The author obviously excels at seamlessly blending together strong character building, heist planning and heart-wrenching anticipation, giving us a little taste of everything we desire!

Ally Carter has once again crafted a fun, quirky twisted tale of a girl raised criminal tuned to rightfully returning stolen items to their original owners. In book two Kat starts out on her own executing risky heists from the ex-KGB in Moscow and planning more jobs solo until Hale catches up to her and makes it very clear he wants "in." Soon the old crew- Simon, Hamish, Angus, and Gabrielle are together, hired to get back a cursed emerald. But this job may very well be their last. Cleopatra's Emerald hasn't been seen for 30 years, it's forbidden to steal it and after all the crew is "just kids"...up against the biggest con artist they have ever faced. Kat has her work cut out for her as the clock is ticking.

Ally's writing style is the same as book one with meticulous details of each heist and amazing descriptions of character and setting. This is a series you'll stay up late in the night to finish. Picture Oceans 11 with teens plus just the right dash of romance.

The love interests, Hale and Nick...how is one to decide? Chemistry is building between Kat and the two young men who wish to capture her attention when her heart is wrapped up in the thrill of the steal. I haven't had this much fun with a love triangle in a long time! Hale is ever the perfect gentleman and loyal companion, while Nick seems to pop up unexpectedly to stir things up. Overall, Uncommon Criminals is a squeaky clean read I'd highly recommend to all readers ages 12 and up. Ally Carter is a master mind of deceit and twist of plot. Her clever style will capture you instantly, and if you haven't picked up book one, Heist Society yet, get thee to your nearest store or library to get started today

There are 3 reasons why I read Uncommon Criminals. First, I enjoyed Heist Society so much that it makes me wonder what Kat and her gang will be up to this time. Second, I am so curious about Hale--what's his real name again? Nobody knows, except Ally Carter of course! And third, I'm waiting for Kat and Hale to finally admit their feelings for each other, especially Kat! When will they kiss?

And so, here's what I got:

I'd say, this is more enjoyable and fun to read than the first book. The plot is good, those awesome characters are still present, the twists are better, and there are lots of unnerving anticipation as you progress on your reading. I only have one concern about Kat--her sense of independence is unbearable sometimes. She's too proud and it was annoying. I feel sad for Hale when she keeps on pushing him away. But it's a relief when she finally realized her mistakes and that she couldn't have done it alone.

As for W. W. Hale's real name?
Kat's guess is Wyatt? But no... not Wyatt.
Apparently, I still don't have any idea!

And so Kat and Hale kissed, but not really. Kat kissed Hale. And though I want that to happen, I was glad when Hale didn't kiss her back. Are they a couple now? I guess so, but this book didn't give me a clear answer. Maybe on the next book? So much for anticipation.

The ending is good and I can't deny the fact that I really enjoyed it. I will be waiting for the next book to come out, hoping it could give me the answers I'm looking for. But for now, I am more than happy to recommend this book especially to those who enjoyed Heist Society.

I loved the first book and was wondering how this would be. Well, I loved it. I thought it was a perfect second book and it continued the story well. Kat is just a great character and you can't help but love her. I love her need to right wrongs and not to steal from the good guys. It was interesting to see her on the other end of things in this book, and all the trouble she goes through to try and set things right. She's got a good head on her shoulders that really makes the story shine. And then there's Hale. Who couldn't resist him?

This is one of the best series I have picked up. What I love about it is it is so different from all the other YA novels out there. Not paranormal, but not ordinary either. There is such potential in this series. Take, for instance, the Cleopatra Emerald. It made for such a great story; a lot of mishaps, heartache, and adventure.

I actually listened to the audiobook and I was completely captivated as I listened to the narrator tell the story. I don't often do audiobooks, I prefer to have the real thing, but I have grown to love audiobooks when I can actually sit and read. And this is one of the better narrated books I have listened too! Angela Dawe was spectacular. She had such a range of accents and voices for all the characters that at time I forgot there was only one reader. It really helped to bring Ally Carter's characters to life. This is definitely an audiobook worth looking into!

This is a series I'm really excited to see more in. I love the idea of the series and I think there are more great novels to come from Ally Carter and her Heist Society characters.

Guys. I met Ally Carter. At BEA. She signed Uncommon Criminals for me. CUE. SQUEALING. I am in love with this woman's books - the Gallagher Girls and the Heist Society series are SO. EPIC. Spies, boarding schools, teenage crime rings, art theft, cute and mysterious boys. What else does a book need?

So, yeah, as you would expect from Ally Carter, Uncommon Criminals is absolutely freaking fabulous. Like, the heist in this book? There was so much to it, it was so complicated, that I really think Ally Carter must have some first hand experience at stealing jewels and what not (I'm mostly joking).

And as you read it, you're like - wow, everything worked out so well. But you're really only 90 pages into the book (and really, I'd be perfectly happy if the book was only those 90 pages because they were excellent 90 pages) and then BLAM, more story.

As for characters - not enough Hale? I mean, Hale was there, but....not there enough? If that makes sense. I felt like there was very much less Hale, but that could just be me. I really liked Gabrielle more in Uncommon Criminals than I did in Heist Society. And, like before, Kat rocks. She just rocks. There's no other way to describe her.

What it comes down to is - Uncommon Criminals is marvelous. It's just as fun and heist-packed as Heist Society, and it's exactly what I wanted as a sequel (except more Hale next time pleaseee!). If you haven't read this series, but you like the Oceans movies, cute boys (don't those two go hand in hand?) and a badass protagonist, I definitely recommend it.

The stakes are high in Uncommon Criminals as Kat is on assignment to steal the Cleopatra Emerald. This isn't any ordinary gem. The Cleopatra Emerald is believed to be cursed and awful things happen to anyone who holds it for too long. What shocking discoveries will be uncovered? Who can be trusted? Let the mayhem begin!

This plot is phenomenal. Really, there is no other way to say it. Ally Carter builds suspense, twists the plot inside out, and works the details like a brilliant tapestry. I would even say that Uncommon Criminals outdoes Heist Society when it comes to awesomeness. I did not think it was possible either - but it's true! This plot is phenomenal.

There is something special about Kat and Hale's relationship. As friends and co-conspirators in a tangled-up caper, they definitely look out for each other. I love that there is no drama between them. Instead, they nicely complement each other and make a spectacular team. I love how they work together as they make decisions and play off of each other's strengths.

With a zig-zagging mystery to solve, Uncommon Criminals is as brilliant as the Cleopatra Emerald. Put this one on your summer reading list now.

RATING

5 Loved

COVER COMMENTS

This cover is genius! Look at the Cleopatra Emerald in Kat's sunglasses. And her eyes look mysterious peering off to the side. One of the most eye-catching covers this year.

Aw, man. This book is so awesome. So freaking fun and exciting without being any bit unrealistic. I was expecting it to be just another robbery or major 'job' just like the first book. Just another Kat-adventure. Some more action and adios. But no, what I got was a way better story, full of surprises, filled with twists and turns and shocking discoveries. I liked the first book, but didn't love it. But this was beyond that and beyond any expectations.

One of the things I love the most is the storytelling. The way the story is narrated as if it were a movie. At least that's how I see it. No narration I've ever read is as original and fresh as this one. Plus, in this sequel the action and the plot are fascinating! Not a single boring moment, not a single boring character, not a single moment of dullness. Just plain fun coming at you in all the forms, and complications to spike that fun and top it with some more.

With all its entertainment, Carter still manages to make a very layered story. You can feel Kat's fear of becoming what she doesn't want, you can see the deepness and complications in her relationship with Hale, you can taste a bit of the sweet friendship that exists in this uncommon crew and you can smell all the sneaky tricks that are to come. A seemingly just-fun book, is actually a very deep and provocative read. I cannot wait for more!

I love Ally Carter's books because her writing style is so easy to read. It just grabs you and makes you love her characters and their story.

Uncommon Criminals is the sequel of Heist Society, and follows the story of Kat. After the rob at the Henley, Kat has been working alone. So it's not a surprise her family and Hale are mad at her.

They say Kat is drunk with her success, but I don't see her that way. I was glad she is finally becoming herself, and following her own path. She doesn't like to steal from people, but she likes to be a thief. It's kind of confusing, but I understand her. She has a good heart.

I was kind of mad with her family, and Hale, for being so hard on her. It's not like she's betraying them. And I love Hale, but sometimes he was too intense. It's like he wants to control Kat, and when she finally had the guts to do something with him, he kind of freaks out! I don't get it.

I feel like I would have been a bad thief. The plot, and their plans to steal the Cleopatra Emerald where amazing, but let me tell you, I was confused. At the ending, I had so many questions! {spoilers: did Kat knew her Uncle Eddie was the inside man? Did Hale's and Nick's fight was real or fake?}
I really liked Heist Society and Uncommon Criminals wasn't the exception. It has a good plot, better characters and overall, I loved it.

Heist Society was one of my most loved books last year, it was something so new and refreshing, so I was really looking forward to it's sequel, Uncommon Criminals. Uncommon Criminals was the fast-paced, thrill-ride a minute adventure that we have come to expect after Heist Society! I've never read anything like this series, and I absolutely loved it!

The entire crew in this series are fantastic characters. Each one adds something unique to the cons, and none of them could be pulled off without their little piece of the puzzle being locked into place. Kat, out main character is the mastermind of the group. She is a strong lead female that is also flawed and has to learn some hard lessons along the way. Hale, our lead male, is the sidekick. He's the backbone of the team. The observer. He always has Kat's back. Gabrielle is the risk taker, and the head turner. Simon is the brain. Plus, there are several other fun and quirky character that you will just have to read the book to find out about yourself!!!

Uncommon Criminals was different from Heist Society because instead of Kat fighting her con artist ways, she is fully embracing it, which I really loved. Uncommon Criminals is really a heart-pounding, non-stop adrenaline rush. I can never guess which con these inventive, intelligent kids are going to pull off next!! I sincerely hope there is a book 3!

In the second installment to Ally Carter's Heist Society, Uncommon Criminals, Kat is on a mission. Again. And this time its even better and tougher than the last. Especially because half the family is in Paraguay... or Uruguay.

With non-stop action, the right touch of humor, and an unbeliveable teen crew, Uncommon Criminals is one of the best books I've read. Ally Carter's writing style never falters as she describes every scene with utmost detail.

Once again, someone is in need of Kat's skills. Kat, you see, is a thief. A different kind of theif. A good theif. She steals to give items back to the rightful owners. So when Constance Miller comes to the petite girl saying she wants Kat to steal back the Cleopatra Emerald, Kat is ready to refuse. But Constance says Visily Romani sent her. Kat can't say no to that. Can she?

With nothing but the black letters of Visily Romani written on a card, Kat goes after the emerald that no one has seen in years. And before she knows it, Kat is conned. There is nothing so horrible in a thief's life than getting conned. And now, she has to undo her mistake. But how? After all, all she's got is a small teenage crew.

Though the plot had some interesting twists there's much more of the elements of teen novels that I can't stand. However the story is decent if not very believable.
*****************************************************SPOILER ALERT******************************************

Without giving away too much. The worst part of the story is the twist that starts the real story. A group of professional thieves or even amateur ones would investigate their client before taking the job. This story is set in modern times and supposedly the stone in question is widely known and the lawsuit over it is also very public. Any search of the web would have obtained at least one photo of the person the client was portraying. They when they saw the real person on TV they recognized their mistake that they were conned.

For synopsis see above.

The highly anticipated sequel to Heist Society was worth the wait. In Uncommon Criminals, Ally Carter has written a fast paced and page turing teen crime thriller. Wanting to savor the book I purposely read it in spurts over two days.

Kat is a brilliant young girl in her chosen field and once again proves she has a good heart. The budding romance with Hale is believable as is Kat's naivety. Carter gives us just enough of the other teens to whet our whistle but there are certainly more stories to tell. And Marcus. Oh, I just wonder where she is going with him!

Recommended for fans of the the first book, The Gallagher Girls books, mysteries, romance and friendship stories. While it is advertised as a YA, my public library does have it in it's kids section. The subject ( thievery) is quite mature for youngsters and these kids certainly live a life free of adult supervision. However, Carter has kept them away from alcohol, drugs and sex thus far so besides robbing they are pretty good kids! Some 5th grade girls will love it and certainly grades 6 and up.

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter is exactly what we always hope sequels will be - even better than the original. While I enjoyed the series opener, Heist Society, I feel like Carter really stepped up her game with this followup effort.

The biggest change is that Carter spends a lot more time investigating and fleshing out the characters in Uncommon Criminals. Kat and Hale in particular are both marvelously fleshed out - we get a better handle on who they are and what their motivations and feeling are. Which of course, makes it easier to relate to them. I felt like Heist Society was missing that emotional connection to the characters and Carter remedies the situation in Uncommon Criminals.

The basics of the plot remain true to form; we follow around a group of (basically) unchaperoned teenagers as they glamorously make a living as high class thieves. That being said, the story is different enough that it keeps you guessing until the last page. There are certainly plenty of plot twists and a-ha moments to be had.

The writing style is also similar and so is the tone of the book. It's sleek, fast paced and incredibly polished. It's almost like a shine has been added on top of everything; making it irresistibly glossy. I hope that makes sense to you - honestly, it does in my head.

Carter does a fabulous job with all of the characters. She creates a dynamic cast in which each character makes an impression. Well, with the exception of the brothers Hamish and Angus, they kind of blend into one character.

Uncommon Criminals is a decidedly adventurous and exciting book that will leave readers with a smile on their faces. There is nothing particularly ground breaking about this sting operation story, but it is plenty of fun. The characters are both memorable and entertaining, the settings are lavish and beautifully described and the plot line is loaded with exciting twists and turns. I would, without a doubt, say that Uncommon Criminals is even better than it's predecessor. Carter was able to use the foundation she created in Heist Society as a spring board to create a truly great book with Uncommon Criminals.

This book was exactly what I needed. I finished this book in, like, less than 3 hours. Which is unheard of coming from me, because I'm a super slow reader (Heist Society probably took me about 7 hours (not that I keep track)). It was just so fast-paced and fun that I couldn't put it down!

It's very possible that this was better than Heist Society. This time, instead of dealing with some unknown paintings, Kat's dealing with a cursed emerald, a mysterious woman who seems like an older Kat, and a frustrating, but nonetheless sweet, romance with W. W. Hale!

I really liked the writing style. I know contemporary stuff can feel really generic sometimes, but this had so much personality to it! It was so clever, with subtle hints of humor. It tied together the story in a way that could keep even the most apprehensive readers entertained.

I really liked this follow up to Heist Society. Kat, Hale and the gang are back for another caper. I think I liked this crime better than the one in Heist Society. Kat is duped by a con woman into stealing the Cleopatra emerald and of course, tries to steal it back. I really like that Kat and Hale's relationship developed more in Uncommon Criminals. I also liked how Kat decided to get back into the con game but did it to help people and not for her own or her family's purposes. She realized that she cannot do everything on her own and she has Hale, Gabrielle and the rest of the group to help her and catch her when she falls. Once again all the supporting characters were a great addition and I was thankful that Nick only showed up for a small part of the book. I really liked the introduction of Uncle Charlie and the back story of how Uncle Eddie and Charlie were involved with Margaret (the villainess in the story). Hopefully there will be a Heist 3 and we can continue with the adventures of Kat, Hale and the gang. I definitely recommend this one!

This book, the sequel to Heist Society, has been on my radar for quite some time. So, when I spotted it on the New shelf of the library, I snatched it up and spirited it away to my house, where I greedily devoured it. I was curious to see whether the first book was so enjoyable on its own merits or because the concept -- a teenage girl master thief heist book! -- was so novel. For me, Uncommon Criminals made it clear that Ally Carter's new series stands strongly on its own legs.

This book follows the same loose pattern as its predecessor -- a job presents itself, a team is roused, a heist is performed. For me, though, the heist itself was more interesting this time, and, perhaps because I had already been introduced to the characters in the first book, I was much more invested in the relationship dynamics of Kat, Hale, and her family. It is true that Kat does spent more of this book moping about the difficult decisions she has to make, her ambivalence felt realistic and warranted, given her big decisions between very different worlds.

If there is a third Heist Society book (which I certainly hope there will be!), I hope that Carter allows the emotional pull of the story to come from a source other than Kat's decisions to dive into her family's world or to run in a different direction, however, because this book seems to show Kat making a somewhat firm decision.

This book is definitely recommended for teenage fans of the Bond series, or anyone who enjoys a good, intricate con.

Uncommon Criminals and I sadly didn't get along quite so well as I'd hoped. Part of it might have been that I wasn't in the mood and part of it could be too high expectations, but it all just kind of felt a bit predictable. I was hoping to learn more about the spy life more but it just felt like I was being conned and left in the dark the whole time. Sometimes that works and it's what I'm looking for, but it just wasn't the case this time.
I felt the focus was on Kat way more this time which made me kind of sad since I really like all the side characters in this series. And the little focus on other characters there was seemed to be solely on Hale and Kat's relationship and that all just felt a little too melodramatic for me.
I really wish I had more lovely things to say about it, but I just don't :[

Near Miss

I love the pace, the characters, the setting, the romance! Everything about these books are fun and fabulous! Kat has got to be one of my favorite characters, she is insecure, self concise but has confidence in who she is. I love that she learns you can do nothing alone and that people loose a little humanity when they try to do everything themselves. And HALE! Wow what a perfect leading man! I love the way she describes him, I can picture him head to toe! The writing is fast pasted and so fun to read. KEEP It Up Ally!

Enjoyable romp, fun characters that you'd like to know with enough plot twists and turns to keep the book interesting. Only gets three stars because this is not a book that you would read again and after reading it once you would probably not remember it a month later.

I firmly believe that this series should not be a series. It should have been a stand-alone focused on the main cast of characters trying to determine the identity of Romani. These filler stories are getting boring, and I just don't care. Dragging a story out doesn't increase suspense in this case, it makes the reader lose interest. I don't know if I want to read more in this series, maybe just the final book, whenever that happens. For now, though, it's just filler, it's like the higher level equivalent of the elementary school Encyclopedia Brown or Nancy Drew, mysteries with a well-developed cast of characters, but a droll, predictable plot. I do like the characters, I want to know more about them, and where there are opportunities for character development, the author chooses instead to go with recounting the details of various heists that would work better on screen and losing my attention. There's a great bigger mystery set-up, why not just go with that one and let the story be, instead of adding unnecessary contrivances?

The second book in the heist society did not disappoint. The twists and turns were great keeping the reader on the edge of their seats. Kat, Hale, Gabrielle, Simon and the Bagshaws will keep you on your feet.

Ally has done it again, writing a fun-filled, complex, intriguing book that will captivate anyone seeking a clean, fairly quick read. Finding "clean" content in the YA genre is almost impossible these days, but this definitely fits the bill. I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel.

Reading this book was like savoring candy. So much fun. I fell in love with the characters in the first book. I feel that the twists weren't quite as well done for this book as they were in the first, but still much fun. Would recommend.

An excellent premise, engaging writing, and wicked-smart characters. The read was fast and fun. Unsupervised teens at their best. I would have liked to keep reading long after the book ended. Will definitely catch the next one!

This sequel is great, really improving upon Heist Society. Ally writes all aspects into a good YA novel for girls. She includes the suspence, action, and romance. She leaves me wanting more of it(especially Hale!)