Perfect Scoundrels: A Heist Society Novel by Ally Carter

The death of Hale’s grandmother, Hazel Hale—owner of the billion dollar Hale Industries—pulls Kat Bishop away from her comfortable heist-life and into Hale’s ritzy, back-stabbing world. When Hazel’s will states that Hale will inherit Hale Industries, Kat can naturally smell a con. Her suspicions are confirmed when Hazel’s maid, Marianne, approaches Kat about how Hazel’s will is wrong. Using her heist crew, Kat finds the correct will but the person behind the con gets to it first. Kat and Hale must expose the con artist or Hale Industries will be no more. 

Carter’s third Heist Society novel is a more emotional piece than her other books. When Hale loses his grandmother, Hale pulls away from Kat as he reenters his world. To Kat, it seems that the charming and charismatic Hale she loves is lost among his snobby, money-grubbing family members. Hope and their strong friendship are the two things Kat holds on to as she waits out Hale’s grieving. But Kat won't just sit and wait. She uses all her family resources to expose the culprit behind the con. Even though this is a more emotional book, Carter still maintains her expert flare for clever cons and intelligent deception. A rousing read great for ages 12 and up.

Uncommon Criminals: A Heist Society Novel by Ally Carter

During Kat’s investigation into the overlord’s missing paintings, the name Visily Romani was at every corner. Visily Romani is a prestigious pseudonym used only by the greatest and most skillful thieves in history. Soon after her Henley heist, Kat is approached by an old woman carrying Romani’s business card. The woman asks Kat to steal the Cleopatra Emerald—rumored to be cursed—because it rightfully belongs to her family. With Hale’s help, Kat steals the emerald. However, returning the emerald to the woman creates more problems than Kat ever imagined.

Carter creates another amazing edge-of-your-seat read. In this second book, Kat’s character becomes more complex and intriguing. Since the first book, Kat is riding on the successful Henley heist by doing many dangerous jobs on her own. But her family and friends see that she’s isolating herself from others through her pride. By making the jobs define her, she is beginning to lose her true self. This book can create some great discussion topics: like what happens when you let success completely define you and comparing and/or contrasting Kat’s character against the con artist, Margaret Gray.

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Fifteen-year-old Katarina, or Kat, Bishop comes from a long, prestigious line of thieves. However, Kat tries to rise above her family roots by creating a new identity for herself. But when a criminal overlord suspects her father of stealing four priceless paintings, Kat must go back to her thieving skills to clear her father's name. This is not an easy job because the paintings are now housed in the most secure museum in the world, the Henley. With a teenage heist crew behind her, Kat has a slim chance of stealing back the paintings and saving her father.

Carter’s story has the intelligence of The Italian Job, the suspense of To Catch a Thief, and the humor of How to Steal a Million. Carter attributes the creation of her story to actual historical events. During World War II, priceless pieces of artwork were stolen by Nazi forces from many prestigious families and museums. Many of those pieces have not resurfaced since that time. In this story, the four paintings owned by the overlord are a part of that tragic history and Kat feels that it’s her duty to help those painting get returned to their rightful owners. Heist Society is expertly crafted with characters that are worth reading about. A great read for both teenagers and adults.