Heist Society

Heist Society is a book about a fifteen year old girl named Katarina Bishop, who comes from a long line of art thieves. Just when Kat starts to think she has escaped from the family business for good, Kat's father is accused of stealing paintings from Auturo Taccone, a dangerous criminal who will stop at nothing to get them back. Kat and her entourage of computer geniuses, pickpockets and professional art thieves must track down the person who stole the paintings and return them to Taccone, if Kat ever wants to see her father again. This is an action packed novel full of high paced chases, romance and thieves behind dark corners. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting read.

Heist Society is a book written for readers in search of a good time. This novel about teenage thieves and their global adventures is far from serious—and far from realistic. Author Ally Carter writes in a style that’s appropriate for younger audiences, in the vein of the Spy Kids films. At times, I found this book to be hilarious and endearing. At other times, I found it to be a bit stiff and dull. Altogether, however, I found Heist Society to be a quick and enjoyable read, if an imperfect one.

The book opens with fifteen-year-old Kat Bishop getting expelled from a prestigious prep school—her one shot at a “normal” life. When it turns out that her friend Hale (also known as W.W. Hale the Fifth, billionaire and wannabe con-man) was the reason for her expulsion, and that Hale needs her help clearing her father’s name, Kat rushes off to Europe. Her goal: to outsmart the greatest thief the world’s ever known. With a motley group of kid-geniuses at her side, Kat will stop at nothing to save her father’s life, even at the cost of losing Hale’s trust.

Obviously, Heist Society doesn’t have the most original plotline in the world. I can’t say that I was truly surprised by any of the twists Carter threw at the reader. However, it was very simplistic and easy to follow, and made for a fairly good time. I flipped pages quickly and there was definitely never a dull moment. All good things in an escapist read like this one!

Kat, Hale, and the rest of the cast were fun and quirky bunch, if slightly reliant on tropes and also a tad bit shallow. I thought Hale’s obvious crush on Kat was cute, as was her independent, “so what?” attitude. I thought the two bantering Bagshaw brothers provided nice comedic relief at opportune moments. Nothing to stop the presses for, really, but still fun.

Basically, if you’re looking for a light read that won’t require too much mental effort but is still worthwhile, Heist Society is a book you need to check out. Carter’s simple yet effective writing kept me interested, even if it wasn’t quite as remarkable as I wished. This is a good book.

I'm not sure if I'm in some kind of slump or what, but it took me a while to get into Heist Society. Don't take that the wrong way though. The story is done well and it's a pretty quick read. Every time I sat down to read I was able to knock out a good 50 pages or so before something distracted me and I had to put it down.

I loved the fact that the story was like pranking taken to a huge new level. All the heist talk was fun and exciting (even if I did get lost a few times). That brings me right into Katarina's "family." It's necessarily a family as you or I might think, but they're just as close, if not closer. In fact, they seemed almost mob-like to me with the way they all kept shunning Kat because she left the life. Though the cold-shoulder deal kind of bothered me, I ended up loving every part of her family.

Another fantastic thing about Heist Society is all the different POVs woven in. The story does follow Kat and for the most part, it's her shoulder you're standing behind, but sometimes you get to see the world through the villain's or shopkeeper's eyes. It added both a feeling of mystery and inclusion.

Final Thoughts: Heist Socieity is a fun, quick read full of action and family. There's a small bit of romance added in, but for all intents and purposes, this story is about Kat and her family. It's like a James Bond movie, but for girls.

Julie, you've never read a book like this? What changed your mind?

Excellent Question, Self. I picked up this book because Ally Carter kept tweeting about Hale in a tux! Shirtless! Shirtless more! Shirtless again! And I can be that shallow (also, what kind of situations are these people in that he can always be shirtless?)

But also because a lot of people I know really seem to like this series and Ally Carter seems pretty cool.

So, this isn't My Type of Book. But the story was enjoyable and fun, despite the high stakes. It was nothing like I usually see in YA and while I wasn't super in love with the story or anything, I definitely enjoyed it.

The characters were the real selling point for me. I really loved how clever and loyal Kat was. I loved that she was not going to back down from her beliefs unless it was necessary. I also really loved Hale. He was funny and witty and as wonderful as I'd hoped he would be.

Ally Carter definitely has a lot of writing talent. I sped through this book because I was captivated. She's seriously earned her reputation.

So, this is a quick, fun read with awesome characters and an interesting story line. I'm definitely hoping to pick up book 2 in the future!

I don't usually like reading books in third person but I barely even noticed it because this book is so amazing!

Reader reviewed by Kitkat-Kate

Heist Society 

By Ally Carter

Mystery/Contemporary fiction

4 out of 5 High heels and Diamonds

Review by Kate Coggins

Main character Katrina Bishop starts off as a girl in a standard boarding school.  She gets average grades and wears normal clothes but Katrina Bishop is not your typical girl. She belongs to a family of thieves and con men.  She has tried to leave this life behind, but when she is framed for something she did not do, Katrina has no choice but to get back into the game. As a world-traveling thief, her father made his share of enemies. Her father has made the leader of a mob, Arturo Tuccone, mad. Tuccone believes Katrinas father has stolen some priceless paintings from his mansion.  Katrina must figure out who really did steal the paintings, and then get them back to Tuccone or her father might get seriously hurt.

It gets even more complicated when Katrina realizes she needs to form a team without the help of her uncle.  The recruits are Gabrielle the blond haired, blue eyed long legged cousin, sure to draw some attention.  The twins, Hamish and Angus, are always getting into trouble with explosives or stealing unawarely from nuns.  Simon is the technology genius.  He is a nervous guy and is comfortable behind the scenes.  Hale,  is a good looking best friend who happens to be a million heir, but could he be more?  Then Nick, a new addition to their group, is a pick pocket from London and is slowly trying to win Katrinas love.  Who will Katrina choose, the friend who has always been there as just a friend or the exciting new guy? Together they travel the art world meeting excitement and adventure.

This intriguing 289-page mystery by Ally Carter is a wonderful example of what we all wish our lives were like, traveling from Italy to Germany on a private plane with just a few handsome guys as company on their way to spy and con.  It is narrated by the main character Katrina and is sometimes a little hard to follow.  She will hint at something but the reader has no idea and the next thing the reader knows, the characters are in Austria.  But it is still a great book.  E. Lockhart (author) said, Heist Society is an edge-of-your-seat caper with more twists than Oceans Eleven and cooler gadgets than Casino Royal.  Also cuter guys than either one.   Ally Carter also wrote] The Gallagher Girl books.  A fun series to read as well, and is coming out with a second book in the Heist Society called Uncommon Criminals expected to come out June 21st 2011.  I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of ten or eleven, and to people who like action, romance, and mystery.  This story reminds me of when I was little (or possibly yesterday, who really knows) and I snuck around the house in my moms high heels and make-up while talking into a walkie-talkie.  Ah, the good old days.  This book makes me want to do it all again.

Reader reviewed by Ruthie

I was not expecting to like this book. I'd read the Gallagher Girl Series and disliked it. I'd expected the same from this, but wow! Kat and her "family" were awesome! The crazy hi-jinks, the absolute insanity of the crime. It was fantastic writing! I quickly collapsed into Kat's sophisticated and dangerous world. In addition, it's one I'd like to visit again and again in the future.

Reader reviewed by Reading Angel

"Kat is pulling the biggest con of her life. Living like a regular girl, attending the Colgan boarding school. But when Hale, her friend and fellow theif, shows up and pulls her back into the "family business", Kat learns that maybe she's been away longer than she should have.

Her father is in trouble, accused by an evil man of stealing some high-security art. Kat now has to pull the most unusual job of her life. Stealing the paintings from the theif, to return them to the owner, and her families life is on the line. But can Kat pull this job off when she's so out of practice?

This is a fast-paced, super-cute, entertaining book. I really enjoyed this one! A great YA read that is original, and a great read for teens and adults alike!"

Reader reviewed by Daisy

  Katarina
Bishop has been a thief all her life. But now she's trying to get
out. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves
harder than she'd expected. A powerful, evil man has been robbed of five
priceless painting and he has one suspect: Katarina's dad. And he didn't do it.
Now Katarina has two weeks to get the paintings and return them to him or else.      

       Ally Carter
has switched her gears from spying to stealing in this brand new series, Heist Society.
Chalk-full of surprising twist and turns you'll not be disappointed. If only
now I get some great arm-candy like Katarina. * This reviewer sighs*.   

Reader reviewed by Joanne

This book is about a girl who is in a family that involves stealing art. Kat the main character doesn't want to be part of that life anymore. But one day a guy name Hale shows up and Kat knows that he came back to make her come back. But when Hale tells Kat that her father is in trouble Kat has no choice but to help. Her father is the main suspect of a powerful mobster's priceless art collection. Kat has three choices but follows on with her first one stealing it back. But when they find out the person who stole it they are shocked. the person is one of the greatest thieves name that only certain thieves can use. But Kat has no choice she finds along the way people that will help her steal the paintings back. In the process she finds emotion between Hale and Nick who she finds talking to her father.

This is a book that is surprising, romantic and backstabbing. This book won't waste your time.