Do you know what you need? When your life is too monotonous and uneventful? You guessed it – heist books! It’s not only about giving a huge adrenaline boost, but they also give lots of ideas (you didn’t hear that from me, so don’t name me if you ever find yourself caught by the police – blame these books). So, here are some of the best books involving a heist that will leave you pumped up and looking for trouble (even if the biggest heist you will do is that of the fridge).
P.S. The books are all arranged in alphabetical order.
So, let’s get started with the best heist books to read:
#1 Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
About the Book
Title: Blacktop Wasteland
Author: S.A. Cosby
Genre: Contemporary, Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Type: Standalone
Pages: 285
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
Beauregard “Bug” Montage is a car mechanic. He is also an ex-getaway driver whose name is well known from North Carolina to Florida, along the East Coast. After a series of financial calamities (worsened because of the racial prejudices he and his family suffers through in the small town he lives in), Bug reluctantly takes part in a daring diamond heist to solve his money troubles – and to go straight once and for all for his family. However, when all goes horrifically wrong, he’s sucked into a grimy underworld that threatens everything he holds dear. Will he safely get to his family on time?
Why do we recommend this book?
Heists that make you cheer for the criminal because the person has the right motivation for the right reasons. Just his method is wrong, but you can’t begrudge him that. Well, doesn’t everyone love some sympathetic anti-heroes? Blacktop Wasteland is an amazingly written heist story walking through a thin line between greed and helplessness.
To buy/gift Blacktop Wasteland, click on the below link :
#2 Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig
About the Book
Title: Death Prefers Blondes
Author: Caleb Roehrig
Genre: Young Adult, LGBT, Contemporary
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Type: Standalone
Pages: 442
Goodreads rating: 3.8/5
Margo Manning, a socialite by day and a criminal mastermind by night, leads a dangerous but thrilling life. Breaking into museums, stealing diamonds from banks, Margo pulls off high-stakes cat burglaries with her tea of best friends (who, by the way, partakes in drag culture). But then Margo’s personal life takes a dark turn, and a night mission ends up wrong. As a result, everything in her life is at risk. Along with the group’s attempts growing more and more complex, the night escapades turning into a life and death situation, Margo and her team must decide if this life of crime is worth it—before it catches up to them.
Why do we recommend this book?
Uff the queer representation! The drag queens? The concept of this book is so perfect, and the action is so on point. It’s noticeable that the author is great at writing actions, although their constancy does get tiring after a few times (even though they aren’t repetitive or boring, just tiring). Either way, read this for Margo and her super awesome, cool friends.
To buy/gift Death Prefers Blondes, click on the below link :
#3 Gentleman Bastard Series by Scott Lynch
About the Book
Title: Gentleman Bastard
Author: Scott Lynch
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Adult
Publisher: Spectra
Type: Series
No. of Books: 4 (and ongoing)
Books in it: #1 The Lies of Locke Lamora, #2 Red Seas Under Red Skies, #3 The Republic of Thieves, #4 The Thorn of Emberlain
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
In the mysterious island city of Camorr, Locke Lamora, an orphan, lives a harsh life, dodging death and slavery at every turn. Now he is a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. The leader of a band of thieves – Gentleman Bastards – Locke is infamous, smart enough to fool the underworld’s most feared ruler. But there is someone even more ambitious and dangerous than him—one who is threatening to destroy his empire of crime. Gentleman Bastard series follows Locke (and his trusted sidekick, Jean) in his mission to beat the system and survive in the cruel world (where it’s a matter of kill or be killed) as he battles his past and the secret of his existence that he doesn’t know.
Why do we recommend this book?
Jean, my love! I would die for this guy. Not for Locke, though. He doesn’t need it – he is so talented at surviving that he doesn’t need anyone else to sacrifice for the cause. Locke is honestly so charming as a con man makes me wish I was his sidekick too (along with Jean, and we would fall in love and get married and have Locke as our kids’ godfather and- yeah, I need to calm down).
To buy/gift Book 1 in Gentleman Bastard Series, click on the below link :
#4 Heist Society by Ally Carter
About the Book
Title: Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Adventure
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Type: Series
No. of Books: 3
Books in it: #1 Heist Society, #2 Uncommon Criminals. #3 Perfect Scoundrels
Goodreads rating: 4/5
Katarina Bishop was three when her parents took her to Louvre, seven when her Uncle Eddie took her to Austria. Not for a vacation. It was for educational purposes – for the family business (conning). Wishing to leave that life behind, to lead an everyday life, at the age of 15, Katarina planned a con of her own, scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country. When her friend and former co-conspirator turn up to bring Kat back into the world she ran away from; she is less than happy. But a powerful mobster has been robbed, and her father is the prime suspect. So Kat is back in action, with two weeks at hand to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s history, tracing and stealing the stolen painting back, and get her life back along the path.
Why do we recommend this book?
This is one of those series that keeps getting better with every book. Kat is such a wonderful character, badass, wise, lovable, and relatable, and her character development throughout the series is just immaculate. Her dynamics with family and friends were the heart and soul of the series (because the plotholes are too large to ignore). Despite the flaws, the series is charming enough to get addicted to (which is why I am still begging the author every two months to release the 4th book of the series).
To buy/gift Book 1 in Heist Society, click on the below link :
#5 Portrait Of A Thief by Grace D. Li
About the Book
Title: Portrait Of A Thief
Author: Grace D. Li
Genre: Mystery, Contemporary, Adult, LGBT
Publisher: Tiny Reparations Books
Type: Standalone
Pages: 384
Goodreads rating: 3.8/5
History is told by the conquerors. Across the Western world, museums display the spoils of war, conquest, and colonialism: priceless pieces of art looted from other countries, kept even now. Will Chen plans to steal back works of art. A senior at Harvard, Will is a model A art history student. But when a mysterious Chinese benefactor brings him an impossible and illegal job offer, Will finds himself the leader of a heist to steal back five priceless looted Chinese sculptures. With a crew consisting of a con artist, thief, getaway driver, and hacker, those who have complicated feelings for the country but can’t refuse the offer of fifty million dollars, Will moves forward with the heist. With the full knowledge that the failure to steal the art will end in paying the price much higher than some few measly million dollars.
Why do we recommend this book?
Tackling the themes of colonialism, racism, and its effects, the concept of this book is pretty unique, though the execution could have been better. That is not to say that the book isn’t great, because it is fantastic. The crew is super cool overall, all the characters have their complexities and depth, and the writing is simple and easy but not cringy or childish. Give it a try!
To buy/gift, Portrait Of A Thief, click on the below link :
#6 Six Of Crows Dulogy by Leight Bardugo
About the Book
Title: Six of Crows
Author: Leight Bardugo
Genre: Young Adult, Adventure, LGBT
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Type: Series
No. of Books: 2
Books in it: #1 Six of Crows, #2 Crooked KIngdom
Goodreads rating: 4.5/5
Kaz Brekker, a criminal prodigy, and his unlikely group of misfits are on a mission to perform the biggest heist of the century. A heist that could change the entire world as they know it. But when you put together a thief, a spy, a genius runaway, a gambling addict sharpshooter, a wrongly convicted ex-army member, and a Heartrender who can use her magic to manipulate someone’s internal organs, what could go wrong? Well, when you are on a journey to commit a serious crime, and the group is as imbalanced as this one, then the answer is everything.
Why do we recommend this book?
At this point, I am just deciding on all the genres/sub-genres I can find to keep on recommending this series. And I am not at all ashamed of owning my obsession with Kaz Brekker and his crew because this group is worthy of it. I am legit in love with all these characters (all of them are in my top 10 favorite fictional characters, ever), and their dynamics as a group is just so freaking cool! I will seriously never get tired of mentioning this book in as many articles as possible.
To buy/gift Book 1 in Six Of Crows Dulogy, click on the below link :
#7 The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton
About the Book
Title: The Great Train Robbery
Author: Michael Crichton
Genre: Historical fiction, Mystery, Adventure
Publisher: Bantam Books
Type: Standalone
Pages: 300
Goodreads rating: 3.8/5
Lavish wealth and appalling poverty live side by side in Victorian London — and Edward Pierce juggle both worlds. Rich, handsome, and ingenious, he charms the city’s most prominent citizens even as he plots the crime of his century, the daring theft of a fortune in gold. But even Pierce could not predict the consequences of a great robbery targeting the pride of England’s industrial era: the mighty steam locomotive. A thrill ride that races along steel tracks at breakneck speed, The Great Train Robbery is a fast-paced read that is a page-turner from the first to the very end.
Why do we recommend this book?
Based on the true story of 15 May 1855, when one of the most notorious robberies of the Victorian era took place, The Great Trian Robbery tells the story of what went on during that time and how the heist took place. In 1855, £12,000 worth of gold was stolen from a South Eastern Railway Company train while gold was being taken from London to Boulogne in France by four men, and it later came to be known as the Great Gold Robbery. A thrilling blend of actual facts and fiction, this book is a must-read for heist lovers.
To buy/gift The Great Train Robbery, click on the below link :
#8 The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton
About the Book
Title: The Lock Artist
Author: Steve Hamilton
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Type: Standalone
Pages: 304
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
Traumatized at the age of eight by a tragedy, Michael, now eighteen, is no ordinary young man. He hasn’t uttered a single word in ten years, and he somehow has developed a talent for opening locks – whether it be a locked door without a key, a padlock with no combination, or even an eight-hundred pound safe, he can open anything. It’s a talent that makes him extremely sought after in the criminal underworld. Till he finally finds a way to break open his sealed fate door. But with freedom comes a heavy price that he might have to pay with his past. Because how far can a bird with broken wings fly even if its cage is open?
Why do we recommend this book?
Oh My God, I love Michael. I seriously love him so much (my heart squeezed every time something terrible happened with him) – Hamilton managed to make me so emotionally attached to this lock-picker lock artist. This book was almost perfect, having both action and heart, and the plot progression was absolutely genius. Read it!
To buy/gift The Lock Artist, click on the below link :
#9 Thick As Thieves by Sandra Brown
About the Book
Title: Thich As Thieves
Author: Sandra Brown
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Romances
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Type: Standalone
Pages: 384
Goodreads rating: 4/5
Twenty years ago, in the dead of night, four seemingly random individuals pulled the ultimate heist and almost walked away with half a million dollars. But by daybreak, their plan had been shot to hell. One of them is in the hospital, the other in jail, another dead. And one got away with it. Now, Arden Maxwell, the daughter of the man who got away (presumably with the money), is pulled into the conspiracy between Ledge Burnet and the district attorney, who has been lying, waiting for the other to make one wrong move. All three are inter-connected to the heist gone downhill years ago, and Arden seems to know more about the heist than she lets on. But how much can they keep each other at arm’s length, especially as the passion and spark between Arden and Ledge explodes?
Why do we recommend this book?
Nothing I say about this book would ever be enough to describe how excellent this book is. And the romance between Arden and Ledge was a cherry on top. Though the main characters don’t necessarily go on a heist, their story is still related to one. The past story was way too interesting (more than the present one, in my opinion), but I also love these two protagonists so much. A definite must-read!
To buy/gift Thick As Thieves, click on the below link :
#10 Void Moon by Michael Connelly
About the Book
Title: Void Moon
Author: Michael Connelly
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Type: Standalone
Pages: 416
Goodreads rating: 4/5
This universe has too much criminality, too much money, and too many ways to die. Cassie Black is another beautiful woman in a Porsche, except Cassie, who has just done six years in prison and still has “outlaw juice” flowing in her veins. Now returning to her old profession, she is on another heist to take down a money man in Vegas. But this perfect heist goes wrong, and suddenly Cassie is on the run–with a near-psychotic Vegas “fixer” killing everyone who knew about the job. Between Cassie and the man hunting her are a few last secrets: who set up this job, why this man is after her, and how, in the end, it might all be a matter of the moon.
Why do we recommend this book?
Cassie is honestly such an appealing character, surviving such a dangerous situation purely on her years of talent in conning and by her wits and charm. The mystery element was executed wonderfully for its period. The thrilling part was pretty scary – I had the creeps along with Cassie in many situations she found herself in (all due to her stalker). Give it a try!
To buy/gift Void Moon, click on the below link :
P.S: Some books recommended here are available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, you can read these books for free. Check out this article: Is Kindle Unlimited Worth It?
SO, to conclude, here is the list of the Best Heist Books To Give You An Adrenaline Rush read.
| 1 | Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby | Buy Now |
| 2 | Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig | Buy Now |
| 3 | Gentleman Bastard Series by Scott Lynch | Buy Box set |
| 4 | Heist Society by Ally Carter | Buy Box set (Kindle series) |
| 5 | Portrait Of A Thief by Grace D. Li | Buy Now |
| 6 | Six of Crows Duology Leigh Bardugo | Buy Box set |
| 7 | The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton | Buy Now |
| 8 | The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton | Buy Now |
| 9 | Thick As Thieves by Sandra Brown | Buy Now |
| 10 | Void Moon by Michael Connelly | Buy Now |
We hope that this list of Best Heist Books helps you pick your next book to read or give you recommendations to put on your to-be-read list. We hope you enjoy them all!
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