Uncommon Criminals

I told you I was on a roll...and here is my next book review. Two book reviews in a row!!! And the third for this week. I am getting it done!

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ocean's Eleven or probably, since we are talking sequel, Ocean's Twelve, for the younger set. But I must qualify that statement now, since Ocean's Twelve was such a mess and I didn't love that movie. But this, this I did like. This was cute, clever, light, fun. I listened to it while I was either cleaning or working out. And let me say, it made both tasks much more enjoyable.

So Kat Bishop is back at it again - robbing the rich to give to the poor. Or rather, she's robbing the robbers to return the loot to its rightful owner. But this time Kat thinks she's playing Robin Hood when Kat might actually be playing right into the thief's hands. She's been tasked with stealing the Cleopatra Emerald, a gem that has been out of the public eye for over thirty years and AND that is rumored to be cursed. So will Kat and her crew take the risks necessary to return the emerald to its rightful owner even if the gem is supposed to bring bad luck?

It's easy to get on board with Kat's exploits. The story is fast and the heists are cleverly planned. I even liked this more than the first Heist Society novel because of the twist at the end. I wouldn't say that the actual plans for the robberies were rocket science, cutesy names aside (which I love, by the way). Still, Carter takes us on a series of twists and turns that lead to an exciting and unexpected end. I also really like this Visily Romani mystery. It ties the series together, and it has me anticipating the next book in the series. I want to figure out who this guy (or perhaps gal) really is.

I've made no secret that I'm a little tired the whole love triangle gimmick (hackneyed, really, if you ask me), and Carter is flirting with one. Besides I think that Kat clearly likes Hale and Hale clearly likes Kat so that no one else really stands a chance. Overall, I could do with a little less of the romantic drama between the two. I get it - the romance has to drag out a little to keep the reader's interest peaked, but at times it seems a little melodramatic and I got a bit tired of it. It's a sweet, budding relationship, though, so fair enough with the melodrama. I suppose it is to be expected.

Overall, it's great fun and it's clean. I appreciate that Carter recognizes age appropriate boundaries for her audience - tweens and teens. What could be better? Just good, clean thievery with a little romance mixed in.


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