Monday, September 2, 2013

Summer Reads: The Heist Society series by Ally Carter

Synopsis via goodreads for Uncommon Criminals. 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 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.

Synopsis via goodreads for Perfect Soundrels. Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it's that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting-or stealing-whatever they want. No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale's family, all bets are off when money is on the line. When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother's billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there's no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won't let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother's will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company's fortune. So instead of being the heir-this time, Hale might be the mark. Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she's willing to save her boyfriend's company if it means losing the boy.

For some reason of all the series I have experienced this summer, this is one that I wanted to continue. I wrote about the first one (as an audiobook) back in July.  I really enjoyed the plot, to the point where after catching up this past month, I went out to borrow these titles and read over a weekend.  I could not put them down! This series has now sort of become my guilty pleasure. I can’t explain it. I know I gave Delirium and Shiver some crap for being predictable and cliché, but this one I love? Perhaps it is because Ally Carter does not take it too seriously. This is supposed to be action-packed, fun, and plot driven, not super lovey dovey or dramatic. Also, I had a little crush on Hale. What can I say?! I found him to be adorable.

So this series is not exactly literary gold, but it’s a lot of fun and it will get reluctant teen readers reading. Additionally, aside from kisses, it’s not heavy on language or sex scenes so I think parents would be OK with these books.  I only have one issue, it looks like a Heist Society 4 may not happen for a few years! Grrrrrr! Maybe they will make an awesome movie.

I recommend these for teen mystery sleuths who have graduated from Nancy Drew.

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