10 Best Phantom Thief Mystery Books Featuring Fascinating Criminals!
Hey, mystery enthusiasts! We all love a good heist, don't we? The thrill of the chase, the elaborate plans, the precious artifact or vast fortune at stake; there's nothing quite like a phantom thief mystery. Sophisticated, cunning, and elusive, phantom thieves capture our imagination like no other criminals. Just when detectives think they've cornered them, poof, they vanish! Now who wouldn't want to dive into a story like that?
We've picked out the ten best phantom thief mystery novels where you'll encounter some of the most enigmatic and fascinating criminals you'll ever come across. These books will take you on adrenaline-fueled journeys through dimly lit museums, into fast-paced chases down shadowy alleyways, and the unraveling of masterly crafted plans. They weave magic with words, letting you experience the thrill and anticipated satisfaction of the perfect crime and the relentless pursuit of truth.
But don't be fooled! These are not just thrilling crime tales. They are also packed with plot-twisting surprises, complex characters, and intricate narratives that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Whether you're a seasoned mystery lover or just looking to test the waters, these novels will show you why phantom thief mysteries are a genre unto themselves. Now, who's ready to step into the secret world of phantom thieves? Let's get started!
『The Lies of Locke Lamora』
'One of my top ten books ever. Maybe top five. If you haven't read it, you should' Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind 'Fresh, original and engrossing' George R.R. Martin, the phenomenon behind A Game of Thrones They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count. Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves. What Locke cons, wheedles and tricks into his possession is strictly for him and his band of fellow con-artists and thieves: the Gentleman Bastards. Together their domain is the city of Camorr. Built of Elderglass by a race no-one remembers, it's a city of shifting revels, filthy canals, baroque palaces and crowded cemeteries. Home to Dons, merchants, soldiers, beggars, cripples, and feral children. And to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city. But there are whispers of a challenge to the Capa's power. A challenge from a man no one has ever seen, a man no blade can touch. The Grey King is coming. A man would be well advised not to be caught between Capa Barsavi and The Grey King. Even such a master of the sword as the Thorn of Camorr. As for Locke Lamora ... Readers can't get enough of Locke Lamora: 'Original, engrossing, emotional, and devastatingly impactful; this extremely well-written tale of avarice and brotherhood is a treasure of gold, and you will want your share of it' Novel Notions 'A rewarding read, well written, and entertaining. I'd recommend any fantasy fan to give it a try' Mark Lawrence, Sunday Times bestselling author 'It is witty, profane, violent, over the top, and frequently hilarious. I can't believe this is Scott Lynch's first novel, and I can't wait to read more. This is an incredibly fun adventure novel. Find yourself a copy and read it' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'You guys, this story is unreal. It's so morally wrong that you don't even want it to be right. It's that luring, that gritty, that bold . . . its masterfully chaotic - so many subplots, so many characters, so much world-building. theres never a dull moment . . . its intricately woven - no movement, no scene, no word is insignificant. Everything is so interconnected on so many levels. I straight up got chills in some parts' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'A love child of Ocean's Eleven and The Godfather. With blood, deaths, betrayals, money, and drowning in horse urine . . . and it's SO. GOOD' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'It stole hours of sleep. It wrapped me in cozy myth. It gave me the blessing of feeling like a kid again, snuggled up with a book, wondering how the hell 10pm became 4am. Find. Buy. Consume' Pierce Brown, bestselling author of the Red Rising series 'I mean seriously, I loved all those characters and their cunning and deceiving ways. XD Throughout the entire book I never knew what to expect and there were about a ton of "Oh, sh*t!" moments that were shortly followed by "Jeez! NO!" and "What happened now?" exclamations' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Author | Scott Lynch |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Hachette Book Group |
Release Date | Sep 18, 2008 |
Source | Google Books |
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Source | Google Books |
『The Lock Artist』
Steve Hamilton steps away from his Edgar Award-winning Alex McKnight series to introduce a unique new character, unlike anyone you've ever seen in the world of crime fiction. "I was the Miracle Boy, once upon a time. Later on, the Milford Mute. The Golden Boy. The Young Ghost. The Kid. The Boxman. The Lock Artist. That was all me. But you can call me Mike." Marked by tragedy, traumatized at the age of eight, Michael, now eighteen, is no ordinary young man. Besides not uttering a single word in ten years, he discovers the one thing he can somehow do better than anyone else. Whether it's a locked door without a key, a padlock with no combination, or even an eight-hundred pound safe ... he can open them all. It's an unforgivable talent. A talent that will make young Michael a hot commodity with the wrong people and, whether he likes it or not, push him ever close to a life of crime. Until he finally sees his chance to escape, and with one desperate gamble risks everything to come back home to the only person he ever loved, and to unlock the secret that has kept him silent for so long. The Lock Artist is the winner of the 2011 Edgar Award for Best Novel and a 2011 Alex Award winner.
Author | Steve Hamilton |
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Price | $12.99 |
Publisher | Minotaur Books |
Release Date | Jan 05, 2010 |
Source | Google Books |
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Source | Google Books |
『The Great Train Robbery』
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Jurassic Park comes classic historical thriller about Victorian London’s most notorious gold heist. London, 1855, when lavish wealth and appalling poverty exist side by side, one mysterious man navigates both worlds with perfect ease. Edward Pierce preys on the most prominent of the well-to-do as he cunningly orchestrates the crime of his century. Who would suspect that a gentleman of breeding could mastermind the extraordinary robbery aboard the pride of England’s industrial era, the mighty steam locomotive? Based on fact, but studded with all the suspense and style of fiction, here is a classic historical thriller, set a decade before the age of dynamite—yet nonetheless explosive…
Author | Michael Crichton |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Vintage |
Release Date | Mar 11, 2014 |
Source | Google Books |
『Heist Society』
For as long as she can remember, Katarina has been a part of the family business—thieving. When Kat tries to leave “the life” for a normal life, her old friend Hale conspires to bring her back into the fold. Why? A mobster’s art collection has been stolen, and Kat’s father is the only suspect. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help. /DIVDIVThe only solution is to find the paintings and steal them back. Kat’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s history—and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way. With its glamorous international settings, intriguing suspense, complicated cons and even more complicated romance, Heist Society is stealing the hearts of Ally Carter fans everywhere.
Author | Ally Carter |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Hyperion |
Release Date | May 17, 2011 |
Source | Google Books |
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Source | Google Books |
『The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam』
Originally published: Great Britain: Long Barn Books, 2007.
Author | Chris Ewan |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Macmillan |
Release Date | Apr 28, 2009 |
Source | Google Books |
『Six of Crows』
The Grishaverse will be coming to Netflix soon with Shadow and Bone, an original series Enter the Grishaverse with the #1 New York Times-bestselling Six of Crows. Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone. . . . A convict with a thirst for revenge. A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager. A runaway with a privileged past. A spy known as the Wraith. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction--if they don't kill each other first. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity--and the adventure--of a lifetime. "Six of Crows is a twisty and elegantly crafted masterpiece that thrilled me from the beginning to end." -New York Times-bestselling author Holly Black "Six of Crows is] one of those all-too-rare, unputdownable books that keeps your eyes glued to the page and your brain scrambling to figure out what's going to happen next." -Michael Dante DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra "There's conflict between morality and amorality and an appetite for sometimes grimace-inducing violence that recalls the Game of Thrones series. But for every bloody exchange there are pages of crackling dialogue and sumptuous description. Bardugo dives deep into this world, with full color and sound. If you're not careful, it'll steal all your time." --The New York Times Book Review Praise for the Grishaverse "A master of fantasy." --The Huffington Post "Utterly, extremely bewitching." --The Guardian "The best magic universe since Harry Potter." --Bustle "This is what fantasy is for." --The New York Times Book Review " A] world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp." --NPR "The darker it gets for the good guys, the better." --Entertainment Weekly "Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down." --USA Today "There's a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo's original epic fantasy that sets it apart." --Vanity Fair "Unlike anything I've ever read." --Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent "Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery " --Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series "This is a great choice for teenage fans of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien." --RT Book Reviews Read all the books in the Grishaverse The Shadow and Bone Trilogy (previously published as The Grisha Trilogy) Shadow and Bone Siege and Storm Ruin and Rising The Six of Crows Duology Six of Crows Crooked Kingdom The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic
Author | Leigh Bardugo |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Macmillan |
Release Date | Sep 29, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid』
From the creators of the New York Times bestselling Wildwood Chronicles comes an original, humorous, and fast-paced middle grade novel about a band of child pickpockets—imagine The Invention of Hugo Cabret meets Oliver Twist. It is an ordinary Tuesday morning in April when bored, lonely Charlie Fisher witnesses something incredible. Right before his eyes, in a busy square in Marseille, a group of pickpockets pulls off an amazing robbery. As the young bandits appear to melt into the crowd, Charlie realizes with a start that he himself was one of their marks. Yet Charlie is less alarmed than intrigued. This is the most thrilling thing that’s happened to him since he came to France with his father, an American diplomat. So instead of reporting the thieves, Charlie defends one of their cannons, Amir, to the police, under one condition: he teach Charlie the tricks of the trade. What starts off as a lesson on pinches, kicks, and chumps soon turns into an invitation for Charlie to join the secret world of the whiz mob, an international band of child thieves who trained at the mysterious School of Seven Bells. The whiz mob are independent and incredibly skilled and make their own way in the world—they are everything Charlie yearns to be. But what at first seemed like a (relatively) harmless new pastime draws him into a dangerous adventure with global stakes greater than he could have ever imagined.
Author | Colin Meloy |
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Price | $10.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | Oct 24, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
So, that's it, fellas! Ten twists and turns taking you into the thrilling world of phantom thieves and spectacular heists! Now, with this list in your hands, you're all set to experience a delightful journey filled with suspense, surprise, and satisfaction. These mysterious burglars are anything but ordinary. They'll be stealing more than just precious artifacts—they'll steal your attention and your heart as well! Each novel infuses that dash of charm and wit that makes you root for them, even if they're on the wrong side of the law. Whether you're a seasoned mystery novel fan or just beginning to dip your toes into the genre, these books are guaranteed to keep your eyes glued to the pages and your heart pounding with anticipation till the very end. So, are you ready for a suspense-filled reading marathon? Once you dive into these unique worlds, where secret codes, creative prowess, and spectacular capers abound, there's no turning back! Go ahead, pick a book from the list, and get started on the hypnotic journey!
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