Heist Society

Heist Society by Ally Carter is the first book in the series of the same name.

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it.  For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels.  When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own- scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind.  Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kate's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape.  But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve.  Only a master thief would have pulled this job, and Kat' father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list.  Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back.  So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job: She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history-- and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

The Breakdown:
1. I have been on con-artist kick lately with books, and this book satisfies that craving so nicely. Carter sets up a couple of really beautiful con-jobs in this book, and very interesting characters. Plus, she throws in a little bit of a deeper, historical sub-plot, of the art stolen by the Nazis during World War 2.  All in all it makes for an exciting read with a few fun twist in it.

2. I really liked Kat.  She is intelligent, and despite her brief journey away from them, she is very loyal to those she considers family.  I loved following her through this book as she makes some discoveries about herself, and what she wants out of life.  Although, at times, she willfully tries to dismiss Hale's feelings for her.

3. Speaking of Kat and Hale, they definitely have an interesting relationship between them.  There is attraction and loyalty between them. Hale seems to be the one ready to take the next step, while Kat is being very cautious of that step.  There is a serious tension between them when Kat brings home Nick. I am excited to see how their relationship will evolve in future books, and if Nick will make more appearances.

To Read or Not to Read:
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