Book Review: Double Crossed

Double Crossed by Ally Carter
(Heist Society #2.5)
January 22, 2013
Disney Hyperion
Source: Free on Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists.

My Review:

I loved this free little novella from Ally Carter, crisscrossing the characters from Gallagher Girls and Heist Society. I've only read the first two Heist Society books, and none of the Gallagher books (yet). But the great thing about this little novella is that you can read it without having read either series, if you just want to glimpse at who these characters are and how they may act in their series, and not feel as though you've read any spoilers that would ruin the other books for you. Or, as in my case, I got a glimpse at a couple of Gallagher Girls, and this novella makes me want to start that series because I liked what I read and I'm certainly intrigued to read more about spies (and of course, continue the heist books).

In Double Crossed, we get to see little glimpses into Hale and Kat from Heist Society, and Macey and Abby from the Gallagher Girls. Ms. Carter did a great job intertwining and blending the characters and their interactions with each other, making the storyline flow and not feel forced. Actually, I can picture many more of these interactions in the future if Ms. Carter feels so inclined to write more novellas. The story, though short, still flowed very well and felt very cohesive. This was a great treat. I especially liked that we got peaks at each of the characters' POV, even though this was written in 3rd person. For instance, I felt like I was getting some insight into Hale's mind and how he felt about Kat. Well done, Ms. Carter! Thank you for this little treat!

Memorable Quotes:

"I'm sorry if I'm not flirting with you. I'm kind of spoken for." (Hale)


"Who is that?" Macey asked. "The reason I wasn't flirting with you," Hale told her.


"You know Macey McHenry. And you love her - there's someone you love in there. Well" - Kat drew a breath - "you're not the only one."


"Maybe I don't know much about boys..." Kat shook her head. "Doesn't mean I don't know about safes."


"What kind of Plan B?" Hale asked. He was almost holding his breath when a voice answered, "My kind." Macey tried to read the look on his face then, but it was gone in a flash. It had been a simple moment of peace and joy and pure happiness. That voice made Hale happy. It kept him calm. It was his backup and his conscience. Macey couldn't help herself; she envied him.

4 STARS