eu_reka's review
I seldom say that but this book made me want to throw it out of the window. I didn‘t Luke the writing, some parts felt incredibly forced or really cliché and not in line with the “romantic caper” the book wants to be.
Content Warnings
Minor: War
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
4.0
For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
This past year I read two books by C.W. Gortner ,The Romanov Empress, and M.J. Rose's The Last Tiara and enjoyed both of them, so when NetGalley and Blue Box Press offered me The Steal, a collaboration between the authors, I was all in. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book will be released August 10.
The Steal is a quick read, more like a novella than a full-length novel. Things move fast with the plot, too. The setting is practically Cannes one day, Paris the next, and New York the third. The plot keeps moving along with both Ania, the jeweler, and Jerome, the insurance investigator’s points of view.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and the pacing, and while I have no need for them personally, imagining hundreds of thousands of dollars of jewels in intricate designs was fun. Jerome is sort of a stereotypical detective, of scruffy face and schlumpy dress, ala Columbo, but he’s a lot younger and handsome in his scruffiness. He eludes to a dark past, which is revealed in time.
I was a little disappointed in the depiction of Ania as an icy woman who’d never had a proper man show her a good time. Sparks fly between her and Jerome, and you know it’s just a matter of time before they get together. What surprised me was how quickly they got together. Like I said, things move FAST in The Steal. And things get a bit graphic, for those that don’t like that in their romantic mysteries.
As Jerome and Ania try to avoid the Leopard, the famous jewel thief who’s never been caught but seems to have a vendetta against Ania’s company in particular. Jerome figures it has something to do with his shady past post-WWII as someone in covert ops hunting down Nazis because the guard Ania employs happens to be one of his old army buddies. The Leopard knows who they are and what they’ve done.
Jerome and Ania close in on the elusive thief, and just when you think the story is about to wrap up, it just ENDS! Looking into it, it appears this is the first in a series of caper books about The Leopard. Apparently Gortner and Rose enjoyed Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief as much as me because this book reminds me of it. Even the cover features a woman who looks suspiciously like Grace Kelly. That being said, I will continue with the series to get to know Ania and Jerome a little better.
This past year I read two books by C.W. Gortner ,The Romanov Empress, and M.J. Rose's The Last Tiara and enjoyed both of them, so when NetGalley and Blue Box Press offered me The Steal, a collaboration between the authors, I was all in. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book will be released August 10.
The Steal is a quick read, more like a novella than a full-length novel. Things move fast with the plot, too. The setting is practically Cannes one day, Paris the next, and New York the third. The plot keeps moving along with both Ania, the jeweler, and Jerome, the insurance investigator’s points of view.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and the pacing, and while I have no need for them personally, imagining hundreds of thousands of dollars of jewels in intricate designs was fun. Jerome is sort of a stereotypical detective, of scruffy face and schlumpy dress, ala Columbo, but he’s a lot younger and handsome in his scruffiness. He eludes to a dark past, which is revealed in time.
I was a little disappointed in the depiction of Ania as an icy woman who’d never had a proper man show her a good time. Sparks fly between her and Jerome, and you know it’s just a matter of time before they get together. What surprised me was how quickly they got together. Like I said, things move FAST in The Steal. And things get a bit graphic, for those that don’t like that in their romantic mysteries.
As Jerome and Ania try to avoid the Leopard, the famous jewel thief who’s never been caught but seems to have a vendetta against Ania’s company in particular. Jerome figures it has something to do with his shady past post-WWII as someone in covert ops hunting down Nazis because the guard Ania employs happens to be one of his old army buddies. The Leopard knows who they are and what they’ve done.
Jerome and Ania close in on the elusive thief, and just when you think the story is about to wrap up, it just ENDS! Looking into it, it appears this is the first in a series of caper books about The Leopard. Apparently Gortner and Rose enjoyed Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief as much as me because this book reminds me of it. Even the cover features a woman who looks suspiciously like Grace Kelly. That being said, I will continue with the series to get to know Ania and Jerome a little better.
brancrisp's review
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
shirin_mandi's review against another edition
5.0
The mystery/romance story set in 1957, France, Cannes film festival, is told by Jerome and Ania.
Jerome Curtis works for, insurance firm, Lambert Securities.
Ania Thorne is the director of his father's company (Thorne and Company) and designs jewelry. She designed the jewels for Cannes and has been robbed. This made the actresses furious and put Ania in a difficult situation.
This was a time that Jerome came to investigate from the insurance company. He saw his old friend of war who works for Ania in a very unexpected situation.
"In war, friendship is a luxury that’s less important than loyalty to your fellow soldier. It’s life or death, not happy hour at the bar after a bad day at work. In war, it’s never happy hour. It’s always a bad day at work."
Leopard, a jewelry robber is a very dangerous man, a thief, and a murderer. Jerome and Ania make a plan to catch him.
A short and quick story that you are in the middle of it from the first page. The story moves along knowing the characters. Well written, and easy to follow. I liked the end and very interesting if the story continues that way.
"I'm in awe of the stones. I bow to them. Respect them. Adore them. I fall in love with every stone I work with." me too. :)
"Every Gem contains a bit of magic."
Thanks to Netgalley, I have given an honest review of The Steal by M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner.
Published Date 10 Aug 2021
My review on 09 Jul 2021
Jerome Curtis works for, insurance firm, Lambert Securities.
Ania Thorne is the director of his father's company (Thorne and Company) and designs jewelry. She designed the jewels for Cannes and has been robbed. This made the actresses furious and put Ania in a difficult situation.
This was a time that Jerome came to investigate from the insurance company. He saw his old friend of war who works for Ania in a very unexpected situation.
"In war, friendship is a luxury that’s less important than loyalty to your fellow soldier. It’s life or death, not happy hour at the bar after a bad day at work. In war, it’s never happy hour. It’s always a bad day at work."
Leopard, a jewelry robber is a very dangerous man, a thief, and a murderer. Jerome and Ania make a plan to catch him.
A short and quick story that you are in the middle of it from the first page. The story moves along knowing the characters. Well written, and easy to follow. I liked the end and very interesting if the story continues that way.
"I'm in awe of the stones. I bow to them. Respect them. Adore them. I fall in love with every stone I work with." me too. :)
"Every Gem contains a bit of magic."
Thanks to Netgalley, I have given an honest review of The Steal by M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner.
Published Date 10 Aug 2021
My review on 09 Jul 2021
christinesreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
shankl's review
4.0
France, the 1950's and a jewell heist in Cannes - this is the allure of The Steal. A short, quick story that throws the reader into the fray, with a socialite and a insurance investigator, when millions of dollars of custom jewelry are stolen.
The Steal is a mystery and a romance. And, the authors have done nice job in pairing the two together as detectives and lovers. This caper sparkles like a diamond.
Thank you to Lets Talk Book Promo and the authors for a complimentary copy.
#letstalkthesteal #thesteal #letstalkbookspromo
The Steal is a mystery and a romance. And, the authors have done nice job in pairing the two together as detectives and lovers. This caper sparkles like a diamond.
Thank you to Lets Talk Book Promo and the authors for a complimentary copy.
#letstalkthesteal #thesteal #letstalkbookspromo
windycityreader's review
4.0
I really enjoyed The Steal! I was immediately drawn in by the cover. It reminded me of a Nancy Drew book, which was irresistible to me since I devoured as many as I could get my hands on as a kid. The story itself reminded me of the old caper movies of the 1950s with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn, which was really fun to read. The story was engaging, and the characters had enough depth to keep me interested. It’s a short book, so it’s a great option for a fun summer read or a day when you’re curled up inside. I can’t wait to read The Bait, the next book in the To Catch A Leopard series, to see what happens next! Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for my advanced copy!
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting novella, fun and entertaining.
I wasn't a fun of the end as I don't like cliffhanger but liked the story and the characters. I will read the next book in this series
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I wasn't a fun of the end as I don't like cliffhanger but liked the story and the characters. I will read the next book in this series
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
mamasin's review against another edition
4.0
The book is short being only 138 pages. However it has something for everyone is this quick but wonderful read. Ania Throne is the daughter of a famous jewelry designed. The jewels are stolen on the way to a show. The book contains high crime, investigations, romance and travel. Each page is action packed.
transportedlfl's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a fun 1957 caper. The book is set in Cannes with a backdrop of all the most glamorous actresses in Hollywood from Elizabeth Taylor to Audrey Hepburn.
As the head jewelry designer at her family's company, Ania is a strong woman, far ahead of her time. Jerome is the insurance investigator assigned to the case when millions in jewels are stolen.
I loved the dual first person perspectives from Jerome and Ania. The tone of this was great, an extremely fast and engrossing read. The story ends with just enough of a conclusion while leaving excitement for the next installment.
Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. These opinions are my own.
As the head jewelry designer at her family's company, Ania is a strong woman, far ahead of her time. Jerome is the insurance investigator assigned to the case when millions in jewels are stolen.
I loved the dual first person perspectives from Jerome and Ania. The tone of this was great, an extremely fast and engrossing read. The story ends with just enough of a conclusion while leaving excitement for the next installment.
Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. These opinions are my own.