"Uncommon Criminals" Review

"Uncommon Criminals"
by Ally Carter

Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: June 21, 2011 
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

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.

My Review:

If you like movies like "Oceans Eleven", you are going to love this book! The teens in the book are smart, strong, and are able to pull off major heists, (almost) all on their own.

This was such a fun book. The action never stopped, and it was smart action, too. The teens always found clever loopholes and tricks to get their way.

The book does walk a fine line, almost glorifying stealing. But I think the author makes it clear that they are stealing what was already stolen and returning it to its rightful place. I also think I may have missed some of the explanation of what they will and will not steal/do by not reading the first book.

One of the things I loved most about the book was that Kat teamed up with her cousins for the capers.  It was great to see extended family represented as a team like this. They were always under the guidance of their uncles, I loved that it was a family business.

Of course, Hale was not Kat's cousin. He was a great love interest, just aloof enough to keep you guessing, but also still caring.

I'd say the main theme of the story is admitting that you need back up. It sends a great message about working together to get the job done.

After reading the Gallagher girls book by this author, I was really impressed with "Uncommon Criminals." The characters and story are much more mature. Kat and her gang seem more like young adults instead of young teens.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5


Bottom Line: A fast-paced, quick-witted, overall fun read!