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Thieves Like Us #3
The Bloodline Cipher
Jonah and the rest of the elite team of teenage thieves have been sent on a mission by Coldhardt to retrieve an ancient grimoire. He believes it to be a magical book of the law of the dead. Something like that could fetch a very good price in the right market.
But when they go in to get it, they discover another team of thieves has beaten them to it. Even more disturbingly, this team is better trained, and better informed.
It seems Coldhardt's old mentor, a man he thought was dead, is not only very alive, but has a highly efficient rival organisation, and a devilish plan to wipe out Coldhardt. Only the best will make it.
In a thrilling adventure with brilliant plotting and fiendish twists, Jonah faces his toughest challenge yet - but will it be his last?
But when they go in to get it, they discover another team of thieves has beaten them to it. Even more disturbingly, this team is better trained, and better informed.
It seems Coldhardt's old mentor, a man he thought was dead, is not only very alive, but has a highly efficient rival organisation, and a devilish plan to wipe out Coldhardt. Only the best will make it.
In a thrilling adventure with brilliant plotting and fiendish twists, Jonah faces his toughest challenge yet - but will it be his last?
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
19 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Cole
229 books146 followersSee also: Steve Cole.
Stephen Cole (born 1971) is an English author of children's books and science fiction. He was also in charge of BBC Worldwide's merchandising of the BBC Television series Doctor Who between 1997 and 1999: this was a role which found him deciding on which stories should be released on video, commissioning and editing a range of fiction and non-fiction titles, producing audiobooks and acting as executive producer on the Big Finish Productions range of Doctor Who audio dramas.
Stephen Cole (born 1971) is an English author of children's books and science fiction. He was also in charge of BBC Worldwide's merchandising of the BBC Television series Doctor Who between 1997 and 1999: this was a role which found him deciding on which stories should be released on video, commissioning and editing a range of fiction and non-fiction titles, producing audiobooks and acting as executive producer on the Big Finish Productions range of Doctor Who audio dramas.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 14, 2012
I was really sad reading The Bloodline Cipher because I knew I was getting so close to ending the series.
I really did fall in love with these books. I love the concept of the team and even though the plot became a little far fetched at times, I didn't really mind.
The book had a few surprises in it. One that made me so so sad and then one that made me so so happy.
Anyway, I advise anyone to read these, especially fans of the Heist Society. These are aimed at a more male audience but that doesn't matter, they are still great.
I don't want it end.
I really did fall in love with these books. I love the concept of the team and even though the plot became a little far fetched at times, I didn't really mind.
The book had a few surprises in it. One that made me so so sad and then one that made me so so happy.
Anyway, I advise anyone to read these, especially fans of the Heist Society. These are aimed at a more male audience but that doesn't matter, they are still great.
I don't want it end.
July 13, 2018
Still not sure I liked the series... Felt a little forced and the occult stuff either felt too much or not enough at the same time, but overall a fun read. Also, .
July 2, 2012
okay.....please tell me there's more..... When Coldhart comes back and everything starts again..... Ahhhhhh I want more!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 21, 2015
A cool book but a bit too complicated for me
January 17, 2021
Thieves and multiple double crosses. The enigmatic old boss, and the shrewd associates. I found this strangely fascinating and appealing, as I took on this series not at all expecting myself to get so hooked that I read the trilogy within 3 days.
September 21, 2021
Not bad but I wish it had done something a bit different for the last book of the trilogy. Felt like it was just reusing the 'is Coldhart going to betray us?' thing from the first two books; even though it had already been pretty well established from those previous books, that he wouldn't.
Also, while I liked the premise of having all his enemies coming together against him, I feel like it didn't go as big as it could have. It was almost juvenile how they were going to do this 'big reveal' that they'd duped him. These are supposed to be the enemies of a criminal mastermind, I mean come on!! A bit more flare, a bit more effort- I just wanted something more.
Still has the same gang of characters and I do love how they play off each other and banter- Patch will forever be my favourite. The romance is alright, but thankfully they know when not to focus on it and let the action play out.
It irked me, how many Patch death fake-outs they did. There was the 'shot by an arrow, but had protective blanket one', there was 'end of chapter with him about the get his throat slashed, but turns out they missed' and then there was 'blown up on the boat, but of course not really'. By the third one- you know he's going to survive. They barely spend any time with the characters dealing with his supposed death anyway, so even if he had died, it would have been substandard. Having it happen throughout the book just made me roll my eyes at what could have been a shocking and suspenseful moment.
Also, while I liked the premise of having all his enemies coming together against him, I feel like it didn't go as big as it could have. It was almost juvenile how they were going to do this 'big reveal' that they'd duped him. These are supposed to be the enemies of a criminal mastermind, I mean come on!! A bit more flare, a bit more effort- I just wanted something more.
Still has the same gang of characters and I do love how they play off each other and banter- Patch will forever be my favourite. The romance is alright, but thankfully they know when not to focus on it and let the action play out.
It irked me, how many Patch death fake-outs they did. There was the 'shot by an arrow, but had protective blanket one', there was 'end of chapter with him about the get his throat slashed, but turns out they missed' and then there was 'blown up on the boat, but of course not really'. By the third one- you know he's going to survive. They barely spend any time with the characters dealing with his supposed death anyway, so even if he had died, it would have been substandard. Having it happen throughout the book just made me roll my eyes at what could have been a shocking and suspenseful moment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2013
3.5 stars.
I remember reading the first two books in this series when I was in middle school or high school, and falling absolutely in love with them. They weren’t like other books I’d read. A love triangle wasn’t the main focus of the story, although romance was present, if an afterthought. No, instead, these books were about the action, the excitement, the thrill of adventure and danger that reminded me a bit of the Alex Rider books I used to read. I was so bummed that they never published the third and final book in the States, and for years I searched for a relatively cheap copy on Amazon that I could ship from the UK and read, finally. And while this book didn’t exactly hold up to my rather idealized expectations of the series, it still proved to be a quick, fun read that kept me engaged from start to finish.
Jonah Wish and his team of fellow thieves find themselves targeted by their employer’s rival after a deal gone bad. This team is just as young as they are, but for some reason always three steps ahead. What started out as a chance encounter turns into a battle of wits and lives as Coldhardt’s crew realizes that a lot more is at stake if they want to crack the Bloodline Cipher.
I was a bit worried that, since it had been years, I wouldn’t be able to get into the story easily. I shouldn’t have been worried—Cole handles the exposition nicely without beating the subject over the reader’s head, quickly and efficiently introducing the main characters and their talents (Jonah is a hacker, Motti is the security and weapons, Con is the seductress who can convince anyone to do anything, Patch can pick any lock, and Tye is a human lie detector). It was like being with old friends again, and I was able to quickly focus my attention on the story.
The plot itself had its ups and downs. We’re introduced to a new character who is supposed to serve as the third point in a love triangle between herself, Jonah, and Tye, but that part fell a little flat for me. The missions that the group went on, however, were exciting and adrenaline-filled. The plot moved along at a fast enough pace to keep my interest throughout the story, and without being overly detailed so as to be boring. Plus, I felt like the stakes were really high. Some authors attempt to write dangerous scenarios and fail because they aren’t willing to risk the safety of their main characters. Cole does not have such qualms, and there were several moments in the book where I had mini-heart attacks when one of my faves was put in harm’s way.
While I didn’t find the plot as engrossing as the first two books, both of which had more elements of Indiana Jones-esque tomb raiding, I still appreciated the techno-thriller aspect combined with mysticism. I also liked how much of the book focused on Jonah and Tye’s alternating perspectives, which keeps the reader on their toes. Overall, The Bloodline Cipher was a breezy, quick, adventurous read that took me to places all over the world and made me fall in love with the characters all over again.
____
For more book reviews, visit my blog The Bookshelf!
I remember reading the first two books in this series when I was in middle school or high school, and falling absolutely in love with them. They weren’t like other books I’d read. A love triangle wasn’t the main focus of the story, although romance was present, if an afterthought. No, instead, these books were about the action, the excitement, the thrill of adventure and danger that reminded me a bit of the Alex Rider books I used to read. I was so bummed that they never published the third and final book in the States, and for years I searched for a relatively cheap copy on Amazon that I could ship from the UK and read, finally. And while this book didn’t exactly hold up to my rather idealized expectations of the series, it still proved to be a quick, fun read that kept me engaged from start to finish.
Jonah Wish and his team of fellow thieves find themselves targeted by their employer’s rival after a deal gone bad. This team is just as young as they are, but for some reason always three steps ahead. What started out as a chance encounter turns into a battle of wits and lives as Coldhardt’s crew realizes that a lot more is at stake if they want to crack the Bloodline Cipher.
I was a bit worried that, since it had been years, I wouldn’t be able to get into the story easily. I shouldn’t have been worried—Cole handles the exposition nicely without beating the subject over the reader’s head, quickly and efficiently introducing the main characters and their talents (Jonah is a hacker, Motti is the security and weapons, Con is the seductress who can convince anyone to do anything, Patch can pick any lock, and Tye is a human lie detector). It was like being with old friends again, and I was able to quickly focus my attention on the story.
The plot itself had its ups and downs. We’re introduced to a new character who is supposed to serve as the third point in a love triangle between herself, Jonah, and Tye, but that part fell a little flat for me. The missions that the group went on, however, were exciting and adrenaline-filled. The plot moved along at a fast enough pace to keep my interest throughout the story, and without being overly detailed so as to be boring. Plus, I felt like the stakes were really high. Some authors attempt to write dangerous scenarios and fail because they aren’t willing to risk the safety of their main characters. Cole does not have such qualms, and there were several moments in the book where I had mini-heart attacks when one of my faves was put in harm’s way.
While I didn’t find the plot as engrossing as the first two books, both of which had more elements of Indiana Jones-esque tomb raiding, I still appreciated the techno-thriller aspect combined with mysticism. I also liked how much of the book focused on Jonah and Tye’s alternating perspectives, which keeps the reader on their toes. Overall, The Bloodline Cipher was a breezy, quick, adventurous read that took me to places all over the world and made me fall in love with the characters all over again.
____
For more book reviews, visit my blog The Bookshelf!
December 15, 2008
This book is the last of the Thieves Like Us trilogy. It is about a Powerful Tycoon called Coldheart who deals through the other side of the law. His operations are completed through a group of specially trained kids whom he calls his "Talent". This adventure is about a mysterious cult that can alter genetics to keep one from dying, and the only clue about them is a scroll called the Bloodline Cypher. Coldheart is desperately trying to contact this cult for his time is coming, but all the clues that are found keep leading back to one person, a man who died 20 years ago, Coldheart's old boss.
The main characters are Coldheart and his "Talent".
Coldheart is a very powerful and rich man who has a shady past, he has no living family and he always is trying to beat his last enemy, Death.
Jonah is a very smart and intelligent boy, when on the computer he is able to hack and decode anything or so it seems. He is desperately trying to find meaning and place in the world.
Motti is a very strong and gifted boy, security systems are his speciality and there isn't one in the world that can stop him. All he wants is to live his life to the fullest.
Patch is a very weak but sneaky boy. He can pick locks with a paper clip faster than you can tie your shoe with your hands. He is saving up for a cyber-tectonic eye to replace the one he lost in an accident involving his parents.
Tye is a very fast and swift girl. She is very able when it comes to hand to hand combat and she is unstoppable behind the wheels. She is searching for a lost friend who disappeared when she was a kid.
Con is a very strong and charming girl. She is also very able when it comes to fighting but she has the ability to mesmerize people. She is trying to overcome a horrible past.
I really liked the book because it does a really good job describing the feelings and thoughts of the characters. It also includes lots of interesting twists and turns to make the story-line and plot more interesting. I would give it 10 out of 10. One connection I have would be to
The main characters are Coldheart and his "Talent".
Coldheart is a very powerful and rich man who has a shady past, he has no living family and he always is trying to beat his last enemy, Death.
Jonah is a very smart and intelligent boy, when on the computer he is able to hack and decode anything or so it seems. He is desperately trying to find meaning and place in the world.
Motti is a very strong and gifted boy, security systems are his speciality and there isn't one in the world that can stop him. All he wants is to live his life to the fullest.
Patch is a very weak but sneaky boy. He can pick locks with a paper clip faster than you can tie your shoe with your hands. He is saving up for a cyber-tectonic eye to replace the one he lost in an accident involving his parents.
Tye is a very fast and swift girl. She is very able when it comes to hand to hand combat and she is unstoppable behind the wheels. She is searching for a lost friend who disappeared when she was a kid.
Con is a very strong and charming girl. She is also very able when it comes to fighting but she has the ability to mesmerize people. She is trying to overcome a horrible past.
I really liked the book because it does a really good job describing the feelings and thoughts of the characters. It also includes lots of interesting twists and turns to make the story-line and plot more interesting. I would give it 10 out of 10. One connection I have would be to
September 5, 2014
I dunno how Stephen Cole managed to do it but he did. Jonah and Tye are fucking morons. Neither should exist!
The series was nicely written, kind of Indiana Jonesy, sneaking around stealing valuable stuff that may or may not be cursed(?). However it would have been nice to have Motti, Con and Patch's points of view rather than just the two in love dumbasses mentioned above.
The series was nicely written, kind of Indiana Jonesy, sneaking around stealing valuable stuff that may or may not be cursed(?). However it would have been nice to have Motti, Con and Patch's points of view rather than just the two in love dumbasses mentioned above.
May 18, 2012
The epic conclusion to a thrilling trilogy. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time--didn't stop reading for three straight hours. And considering the way I've devoured the first two books again and again, I know I'll be coming back for more.
August 26, 2012
This book is good because it tells a story about adolescence's with talents who are hired by a millionaire to steel artefacts and sell them on the black market and to get the top dollar.
April 8, 2013
The idea of these books as a trilogy was brilliant.
I do get the feeling that some things were a little forced. Like forcing Jonah and Tye together. It made them both seem a little out of character.
All in all, it was an okay read, but it felt like a book full of neatly tied up plot lines.
I do get the feeling that some things were a little forced. Like forcing Jonah and Tye together. It made them both seem a little out of character.
All in all, it was an okay read, but it felt like a book full of neatly tied up plot lines.
December 16, 2016
I like Cole's books a lot. They may not be epics but they are fun, and have good character elements. This third book follows the series well and was a satisfying read. Cole's books are a lot like Gordan Korman's in tone and content.
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December 27, 2008action packed!! just the way i like it..
May 13, 2011
Oh, how I love these guys. These books have everything I look for in a book.
April 21, 2014
Loved the series and the book, the ending came too soon!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews