Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

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.

I Really liked this book.  In some sense it was better than HEIST SOCIETY, but in others it wasn't.

For instance, I felt that the actual heist was a bit lacking.  The best part of the heist all happened before page ninety.  The rest just felt like they were making it up as they went along.

The twists in the story, however, were a lot more surprising andinteresting.  *Minor Spoiler*  Maggie?  She was a really good bad guy (ahem, girl).  I felt like she was a more cunning apponent, compaired to last books villain, who was more of a "I have body guards that can crush you and your dad" kind of antagonist.  

There was also a more romantic element to this book, between Hale and Kat (who else?).

This book felt a lot like HEIST SOCIETY, but was also much different.   Kat remained the same witty clever heroine, though she did go through some character development.  I liked Gabrielle a lot more in this book, and the rest of the crew was the same.

All in all, I'd give this book a 5/5.  Yup.  Even with all of the bad things I said about it, it was a book I couldn't put down.  I was really sad when I finished it, which is my mark of a good book.  Definately pick this book up, and I for one am hoping there will be another installmentin the series.

I would recomend this book to just about anyone, because it has axtion, adventure, romance, history, and so much more.

Market: YA
Sensuality: Mild
Violence: None/Mild
Language: None