REVIEW: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Uncommon Criminals

Ally Carter

298 pages

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: June 21st 2011

Source: Hardcover from Publisher

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.

   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.

Matches the first book perfectly, and gives us a glimpse at the Cleopatra Emerald in her glasses!

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