I wanted to love this book so much. The title alone sold me. I’ve read a few spy type books involving teens/young adults and they’re fun. But this book fell so short and I’m sad as the potential was absolutely there! It was just way too unrealistic. I can absolutely let things slide here and there, but at some point, a 16-year-old still needs to be a kid in many aspects. And this was not the case. I asked myself if the character was maybe 19 or 20 years old, would I have felt the same? Yes and no. Things would have been a little more believable, but not much.

How many times is the main female going to tell us that she’s a grifter? Other than getting a free coffee she wasn’t really a con artist. And arguably, in real life, the barista would have just been annoyed with some dumb teenager and given the coffee, not because of a con, but because is easier to get rid of the kid. I would have described the main female as more of a manipulative teen girl, not a grifter or con-artist.
Unfortunately, there were far too many unrealistic aspects to this book for me to have any investment in it. A 16-year-old kid finding the head of the Ukraine mod and telling him she’s going to need a few days to “solve the mystery?” Come on. Then this kid is ordering the FBI around, after simply walking into high security buildings? Ugh.

My sole investment was the riddles and mystery. That portion was clever and I was interested to see that conclusion. Sadly, that was it.

Thank you NetGalley for the read. I’m so sad to have a less than positive review, but regardless, I’m always excited to get a book and dive into a different world.

Thank you, Netgalley, for an advanced copy of this audiobook

In this story we are following a young teenager who was brought up by her father to be a grifter, never using her original name never letting anyone to close etc... but when her father goes missing she wants to find him or the reason he went missing.

I want to say that the writing style is not going to work for everyone and some might find it lacklustre or bland because of it, but I enjoyed the story I was presented with and had this read within a few days.

Seeing her trying to piece things together but also finding herself along the way was fun, she wants to be normal and not a grifter anymore

"I want to be normal and the best at it, you know"

The story is quite predictable as well
I gave this 3.75 but rounded up to a 4

3.5 stars on audio this was a fast paced and engaging listen. I wanted more grifting and a more realistic plot line overall.

I think for a younger audience (mid teens) this would be a perfect listen!

3.5⭐️
I usually enjoy YA heists or the “teen criminal with a heart” trope, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark.

This is an audiobook release of a title that first came out several years ago (with some updates, I believe). Unfortunately, it still feels dated and overly convenient. Even for a premise built around teen con artists, the story leaned too heavily on clichés and predictable turns. It read like a newer writer sticking too closely to a formula instead of letting the characters and plot breathe.

That said, I was entertained enough to keep going. The action–mystery blend worked well, and I did appreciate the attempts at weaving in deeper themes, even if they didn’t always land.

The audiobook helped elevate the experience. Elena Anderson’s narration had good pacing at 1x speed, and her deeper voice fit the FMC’s personality, though it didn’t always match the fact that she’s meant to be in high school. Still, her expressive delivery and emphasis kept the story engaging and lively.

Overall, an enjoyable listen but one that leans heavily on tropes without bringing much new to the table.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Monoceros Publishing, LLC through NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.