The Steal is a short romantic caper with a 1950's feel. I enjoyed it. However, the ending is less than satisfying unless there's a Book #2 expected.

This was such a fun and exciting quick read! It’s different than what I normally read, but I really enjoyed it.

Meet Ania Thorne, a jewelry designer who is the head of her family’s jewelry company which also happens to be the top jewelry company in the world . When millions of dollars in jewelry is stolen, Jerome Curtis, an insurance investigator, is the man assigned to get them back. A cat and mouse game unfolds. Is the culprit the notorious jewelry thief known as the Leopard? Or is it someone else? It’s a race against time! Add in a little romance, blackmail, and adventure, and you’ve got quite the story!

This was an interesting read. It took a while for me to get invested with the characters but the mystery had me hooked pretty quickly. Once I got through the first few chapters, I did really enjoy the interaction between them, though. I saw another reviewer mention a sequel was coming and hopefully, they're right because if not, the ending is extremely unsatisfying.

Disappointing! Here are my issues:
1. The chapters alternate between the main male character, Jerome, a lower class insurance investigator, and the main female character, Ania, a wealthy jeweler. I could not tell them apart and kept getting thrown off when I realized the perspective had shifted.
2. The dated James Bond-like romance. Cheesy male fantasy: “The girl had an appetite, and I fit the menu.” Barf.
3. The fact that the whole plot is really just an exposition stretched out.

I did think the style fit the setting (1950s Cannes film festival), and I love a stylized world/setting, but mostly I was bored reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this arc for an honest review!

All imma say if u read this book and didn’t enjoy it. Means you didn’t understand the serotonin it was trying to give you. It was this 50s feelings crime investigation. MC trying to catch this thief that stole a valuable object with a hint of romance. It was spectacular, just like watching one of those old black and white movies with a hint of Nancy drew vibes.

This book reminded me of a black and white movie from the 1940’s. Ania Thorne runs her family’s jewelry business, that gets robbed before the Cannes festival. Jerome Curtis is the investigator from the insurance company trying to get the stolen jewels back from The Leopard, a jewel thief. They are thrown together to solve the mystery.
This is a quick, enjoyable read! The sequel is coming out in January. I can’t wait to see if the catch The Leopard.!!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Ania Thorne heads her family's jewelry company, and they're poised for a great showing at Cannes. That is, until her jewelry collection is stolen. Investigator Jerome Curtis suspects infamous jewel thief The Leopard and sets out to find the truth.

I liked the 1950s feel of the story - Ania's life of luxury was fun to follow. She and Jerome had some witty banter, but I didn't feel the sparks between them or connect with either of them. The mystery also wasn't very satisfying. Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me.

Thank you to BlueBox Press for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Cannes in 1957 as the international film festival starts, I thought this story quickly became a page turner. I had a feeling every detail I read was going to be important.
Two very different people are brought together by the worst of circumstances. With the POV switches, I thought it was easy to be invested in both the characters & the crime. Each are individually very good @ what they do, but they are better working together. The jewelry itself almost becomes a character as the twisty turny action unfolds.
So interesting to think about investigative work without modern technology like cell phones & security cameras. I’m definitely old enough to remember problem solving without iPhones, emails, & texts, but it seems almost impossible to do even mundane tasks now.
I really only have one complaint. I want more! Dare I hope a book about the trap or the bait will follow The Steal? I’d definitely read anything that has these characters working together & developing their relationship further.

Was happy to read an ARC through NetGalley & this is my honest review.

All I can say is I want more. It was stylish, clever, elegant, nostalgic and gripping, and had me from the first page. I literally couldn’t put it down. It took me to a place and time that was both comforting and uncomfortable. I also have an uncontrollable urge to go watch Cary Grant in ‘To Catch a Thief’.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This book reminded me of an old black and white movie mystery. It was a quick book with a few surprises. I don’t think I was quite ready for it to end. I enjoyed this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

A charming read, with well-developed characters and a great sense of time and place. The insight into the relationship between jewelers and movie stars was a clever place to start, and the growing sexual attraction between the two protagonists was carried off very well.

This is set to be a classic romantic caper and begins as so. However, the characters felt a little off for me. To be specific would ruin the mystery but there were elements that just felt unbelievable. Not my sort of book, all in all, made worse by the ending not having a resolution that is satisfying. It's a two out of five for me on the enJOYment scale.

Content warning: it does include graphic sex scenes and foul language.

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

Super quick read. I enjoyed the characters and concept of this story. Very Noir! I was a little confused at the abrupt ending.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Very enjoyable and highly entertaining! The love that each author has for beauty and art shines through in the descriptions of the jewelry.

After jewelry stolen at Cannes show, insurance detective Jerome clashes with jewelry owner, Ania.

Book written from each of their perspectives.

Not strong enough mystery to really put it in this category. Not enough romance for that category.

The ending did surprise me.

Overall it was just an ok real that I would not recommend

France, 1957. Jerome Curtis works for Lambert Securities, one of the world’s largest insurance firms, and is in Cannes from London on a special assignment. Specifically, he’s here during the Cannes film festival, and the jeweler, who is a very important client, has been robbed for millions of dollars.

Ania Thorne is the company’s director and the soul of the company, designing jewelry for famous clientele. She’s been designing the Thorne and Company collections since she was nineteen, and apprenticed under Cartier before joining her father’s company as lead designer. This theft is bringing her bad publicity and the amount of money invested in the stolen jewelry could bankrupt the company and diminish her father’s legacy.

Jerome investigates the characteristics of the whole operation and there is only one who leaves such trademarks: fast, efficient, executed to perfection, all witnesses left alive. That’s Leopard’s signature stunts.

The Carlton is one of the most respected establishments in Cannes, where guests value their privacy and hotel’s discretion. Was there a breach in not hiring security guards?

After questioning Ania’s security guard and personal assistant - the only one who caught a glimpse of the rubber - Jerome very quickly recognizes some breaches. He is pretty certain that someone close to Ania likely gave the rubber the codes. This is not just a high-profile theft, but also the opportunity for international press and scandal. Who would aim for that?

Jerome sees a lot of beautiful things in his job, but when he sees Ania, he is enchanted by her magnetic air and the aura, and her blue-grey eyes, almost jewel-like themselves. What Ania sees across from her is quite a different picture. She sees his x-ray eyes, rumpled suit, and cheap pine pomade. While making themselves acquainted, Ania receives requested salad at the hotel, but it is accompanied by a stolen necklace and a note. Who else is involved?

Jerome is observant, good at deducing scenarios, and quick in thinking, but this theft puts his every skill into test. Ania is an accomplished woman who had to make her way in man’s world. She is a talented jewelry designer and a savvy businesswoman, but what comes next challenges everything she believes. The interesting characters add the flavorful layers to the story. Some mystery of past secrets and the twists and turns keep you on high alert. In this race every minute counts, taking them from Cannes to Paris and NYC, making this plot-driven story fast-paced.

This short romantic caper is fun and quick to read.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

Jerome Curtis is a former solder with deep secrets, currently working for Lambert Securities an Insurance firm. Ania Thorne is the CEO of her fathers world famous jewelry company after he was ousted by the board of directors. After a thief stole jewelry that was made for the International Movie Festival Jerome Curtis is on the case to find the thief known as the Leopard. This is where the journey begins and truth comes out from all the hidden secrets. Will the jewelry be found or does Ania have to admit defeat and try to repair her family’s name?

This was an enjoyable “ who done it “ read. Very well written and I look forward to reading future books by C.W. Gortner and M. J. Rose.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Ania who comes from a long line of jewelers asks Jerome fir assistance when some jewelry goes missing. Jerome encounters more hurdles in his investigation. This was a quick read.

Annia Thorne, a hugely influential supplier of gems to the stars, has her collection stolen. Jerome Curtis, an employee of her insurance company, investigates.
Who doesn’t love a jewellery heist story? Ania and Jerome have alternate chapters, each of which is written in the first person. It’s like a literacy game of tennis and it is a fascinating idea, giving the reader an insight into the thinking of both characters.
I loved it when the action was in the Cannes hotel. So beautifully detailed, it was like one of the movie stars that it was housing. Occasional name-dropping of Miss Taylor and Miss Hepburn gave this hotel and book, that extra bit of Hollywood class.
The story moves along at a cracking pace, the characters are interestingly complex and yet the story is easy to follow. So well written, the words almost seemed to rise from the page, demanding to be read.
I loved it! My only quibble is the ending. No spoilers, but I was a little under-whelmed. I understand why it was done, the story must continue! I hope the follow-up book is hot on the heels of this delightful story. I intend to be right at the head of the reading queue.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.