This is a character sheet for the Heist Society series of books written by Ally Carter.
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Main Characters
Katarina "Kat" Bishop
The youngest member of the infamous thief family known as the Bishops and the protagonist of the story. She pulls off multiple heists throughout the series and is more than deserving of her status as a prodigy.
- Affectionate Nickname: Is called "Kat" by everyone in her family and most of the characters we're supposed to like with the exception of Uncle Eddie. Usually, she's only referred to as Katarina by villains or side characters.
- Brainy Brunette: Has dark hair and is the brains behind most of the cons we see in the books. She can think on her feet by improvising when plans go wrong and is seen outsmarting most adults in the series on multiple occasions.
- Classy Cat-Burglar: Kat is the embodiment of this trope, the author actually got the inspiration for the series after deciding she wanted to write a book about a girl named Kat who was a cat burglar
- Clingy Jealous Girl: She gets upset nearly every time a girl shows interest in Hale despite her claims of not being the jealous type. In The Grift of the Magi, she nearly throws a lit candle at Lady Georgette after she's implied to have groped Hale during a blackout.
- Girliness Upgrade: Gets this when Gabrielle hems a disguise for her during their heist in the first book with the skirt being fixed to her own preference. The end result has Simon and the Bagshaws gawk hilariously upon seeing her post-puberty figure in tight clothes for the first time.
- Hates Wearing Dresses: Prefers a simple shirt and jean combo over "girlier" wear. In Perfect Scoundrels, it's revealed she used to wear frilly clothes but stopped after getting a bow caught in the gates of Buckingham Palace during a heist.
- Little Miss Snarker: She's 5"2 and rather sharp witted.
- Nice Girl: Is generally polite towards others so long as they don't provoke her. She took pity on Hale after seeing how lonely he was when they first met and the two share a close bond. In Heist Society, she promises Abraham Stein that she'll get the paintings back even though the Henley has never been successfully robbed before. After the actual heist is over, she retracts a statement that hurt Nick's feelings. This is after she realized he'd been secretly plotting to help his mother catch her dad.
- Raised by Dudes: Given that the thief world is comprised almost entirely of men save for a few outliers, this was unavoidable. After her mother's death, Bobby raised her alongside Eddie and her various Uncles.
- Rookie Male, Experienced Female: Is this with Hale. She took him in when she found him alone at his family's mansion and taught him the art of conning.
W.W Hale The Fifth
Young heir to the billion dollar company known as Hale Industries and Kat's best friend. He runs away from home to join the Bishops on heists and considers them to be his real family.
- Black Sheep: Is treated as such by his upper class family and even refers to himself as one. However the exact reason for this is somewhat left to interpretation. His expulsion from the Colgan School happened as a teenager and it's shown in Perfect Scoundrels that his parents' disregard seems to backdate to his days as a toddler. It could be the shenanigans throughout his childhood or his closeness to the "new money" matriarch Hazel instilling paranoia that he might take over Hale Industries one day. This is probably the correct option given that's exactly what happens at the start of Perfect Scoundrels which boosts his family's hostility to an all time high.
- Childhood Friends: Was this with Natalie Garrett, the daughter of the Hale family lawyer. The two are no longer on good terms due to Natalie's involvement with her father's scheme to bankrupt Hale Industries and her accidental complacency in his grandmother's death.
- Cool Boat: Has a luxurious yacht with his name on it. Also has a Cool Plane via access to the Hale Industries private jet.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: Downplayed. He's rather hostile towards Nick even before he's revealed to be Amelia Bennett's son, and tells Kat flat out that he doesn't trust him. This animosity only gets worse during Uncommon Criminals. Despite everything being out in the open at this point and Nick approaching the crew without any ill intent, Hale remains antagonistic and goes so far as to eavesdrop on him and Kat during a private conversation. Later, this escalates into a full on physical fight between the two in the middle of a heist.
- Curtains Match the Window: Has brown hair and brown eyes.
- Gilded Cage: His home life is often referred to as this. Regardless of the vast riches and luxuries available to him, Hale has never felt a sense of belonging due to his family branding him as an outcast and has abandonment issues to this day.
- Hates Being Alone: Understandable considering his backstory. He expresses anger or passive aggressiveness whenever Kat leaves the family or even just doesn't tell him something regardless of significance.
- Lonely Rich Kid: Hale is implied, and in Perfect Scoundrels confirmed, to have been one of these before he met Kat and joined her world.
- Parental Neglect: Hale's parents decided to sail around the world when he was only six. Despite the nanny and cook quitting while they were away, they did not come back since the gardener was still there to watch him. This would qualify as criminal child neglect if not for the talents of the Hale family lawyer and the failsafe of y'know...being rich.
- Money to Burn: Unsurprising given that he's a teenager who is often left unsupervised with credit cards.
- Spoiled Sweet: Despite his upbringing Hale is a very kind and generous young man. This is especially apparent when the rest of his family is around for comparison. He picks up Kat in a limo, brings his friends around the world on a huge yacht, and funds various capers.
- The Casanova: Hale's handsomeness is stated at least once per book and he's apparently had "many" girlfriends if his family is to be believed.
- Wealthy Yacht Owner: Technically it's his father's yacht but he does seem to use it more than he does.
Gabrielle Bishop
Kat's cousin and the second youngest member of the Bishop family. She helps Hale "save" Kat from the Colgan boarding school and goes along on heists. Usually as the female Charmer of the group alongside Hale.
- Ambiguously Absent Parent: The identity of Gabrielle's father is never really explained or even touched upon. Though it can be inferred that Irina had one of her typical heist related flings and moved on.
- Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Even after being electrocuted by a security system while casing the Henley and maintaining scars, Kat comments that it's weird neither Bagshaw tried to look down her shirt as usual. She outlines this further when Gabrielle pops out from a vent covered in soot while still looking like a supermodel.
- Dumb Blonde: Subverted. She pretends to be an airhead for the sake of her role as the inside girl. Around her family, she's shown to be sensible and wise to the point that Kat asks her for advice.
- Fille Fatale: She's only nine months older than Kat but her looks came in much faster and she uses them to her advantage. A good deal of heists are helped out tremendously by her ability to distract marks and security guards.
- Girly Girl: The most feminine female character in the series by a mile. She prefers skirts and designer dresses, frets over her physical appearance, and adores balls and galas. While she does value looks, she's a much deeper character than she lets on much of time.
- Lovable Alpha Bitch: She can be even bossier than her cousin and possesses the typical Bishop family snark. But she's protective of the people around her and wants her family to stick together.
- The Fashionista: Unlike her cousin; she sports trendy and notably revealing clothes that display her figure.
- The Tease: Frequently flirts with Hale. Both because he's handsome and to get a rise out of her cousin.
Simon
The computer wiz of the family and a non-blood connected Bishop family member. His father was apparently attending MIT and got sucked into the thief world by Uncle Eddie.
- Nerds Are Sexy: He's never explicitly stated to be ugly in the books and has no problem getting cheek kisses from the beautiful Gabrielle.
- Nerd Glasses: The designated techie of the group sports "owlish" glasses.
- Smart Guy: The only character in the series thus far with hacking skills. Also points out the obvious when everyone else is too distracted.
- Straight Man: Though he has his eccentricities he's arguably one of the more level headed members of the main cast save for Gabrielle. The fact that he's often grouped up with the Bagshaws helps.
Angus Bagshaw
The elder brother of the infamous Bagshaw siblings, the heist crazy explosive experts of the Bishop family. If any part of a heist involves destruction, mayhem, or just general mischief, the Bagshaws are all in on it.
- Brave Scot: Scottish and hardly scared of anything.
- Childish Older Sibling: Just as mischievous as his younger brother Hamish. Maybe even more so depending on how exciting the heist is.
- Siblings in Crime: The Bagshaws are both thieves who've been stealing since they were kids. Apparently one of their earliest capers was stealing one of Kat's molars to demand ransom from the tooth fairy.
- Younger Than They Look: Shares this trait with his brother since both of them can pass as adults with minimal effort put into disguises.
Hamish Bagshaw
The younger brother of the Bagshaw siblings; the Bishop family's "bombs with colorful fuses" as Kat describes them. While he may be smaller than his big bro, he's still larger than life when it comes to dangerous capers. Both him and Angus can be counted on to create distractions or just stir up trouble.
- Brave Scot: Scottish and hardly scared of anything.
- Siblings in Crime: Both brothers are thieves who express little interest in anything besides heists, explosions, or heists that involve explosions.
Other Family Members
Edward "Eddie" Bishop
The head of the Bishop family and one of the greatest con men of all time. Referred to by most characters as "Uncle Eddie" even by the unrelated, his talent in thievery is the stuff of legends.
- Hypocrite: He spends much of his introduction in the first book deriding Kat's choice to leave behind the family's criminal lifestyle. However once Arturo Taccone accuses Bobby of stealing his paintings and it's revealed that a sacred pseudonym was used, he forbids her from getting involved. This is after his spiel about the importance of family and in spite of her father being in the middle of this.
- Older and Wiser: Viewed as the wisest of the Bishops and is definitely the oldest.
- Old Master: Revered as the best thief in the Bishop family and by some, the whole world.
- The Patriarch: The unquestioned head of the Bishop family with very few willing to disobey him. The go-to way of conveying the riskiness of a heist is by having the main cast do it behind Eddie's back.
Charles "Charlie" Bishop
The twin brother of the hailed Uncle Eddie and a loner member of the family. He retired to a snowy mountain top after a heist with his brother went sour along with their bond.
- Self-Imposed Exile: Distanced himself from his family after falling out with Eddie.
- The Hermit: Lives by himself and no longer pulls cons. He first appears to Kat and the others unshaven, disheveled, and seems to have somewhat lost his grip on reality. At the end of Uncommon Criminals, he helps out with Kat's heist by pulling one over on Maggie and is shown cooking with his brother on Christmas in The Grift of Magi their feud having been settled.
Robert "Bobby" Bishop
Kat's father and a dashing thief who married into the Bishop family. He supports his daughter in all her endeavors so long as they're related to cons and unrelated to boys.
- Gentleman Thief: Handsome, charming, and will steal you blind in a moment's notice.
- Like Father, Like Son: Like daughter in this case, but Kat learned her skills from Bobby and he expresses pride whenever he sees himself in her through her passion for cons.
- The Mourning After: Despite his witty demeanor Bobby still seems to be mourning the loss of his wife Nadia. Kat remarks that he occasionally gets spooked by her presence as if he initially mistakes her for her mother.
Irina Bishop
Gabrielle's mother and one of the few female thieves of the Bishop family as well as the whole series. She pulls "cons" by marrying rich men and making off with their cash one way or another.
- Gold Digger: Seems to be her way of pulling off heists. As a child, Gabrielle was trained to call several different men Daddy including wealthy heirs and oil tycoons. In The Grift of the Magi where she gets more focus, she's already married to an earl who appears to be dying of an undisclosed illness and even encourages Gabrielle to wed his nephew despite acknowledging him as a "slimeball".
- Older Than They Look: This is at least this is something Irina would like to believe. The Grift of the Magi has her assert that she's "too young" to have a teenage daughter implying that she frequently lies about her own age.
- Rich Bitch: "Bitch" is a strong term but it's not hard to see where Gabrielle got her haughtiness from. Irina speaks in a posh manner and has no qualms about looking down on servants. She calls her daughter's maid disguise "dreadful" and seems to think that there's no good reason for a wealthy heir to fall for the help.
- Wacky Parent, Serious Child: Wacky parent to Gabrielle's serious child. She's playful and almost disturbingly nonchalant about marrying a man on the verge of death to earn the title of a Duchess while Gabrielle is wholly focused on uncovering the real Egg of Magi.
Recurring Characters
Nicholas Smith
A British pickpocket who catches Kat's eye and her wallet on the streets of Paris. She takes the risk of recruiting him for a heist in order to save her father; but there's more to him than meets the eye.
- Aloof Ally: Nick agrees to help Kat under the guise of needing a job. While he's not hostile towards anyone in the group (his retaliation to Hale's attitude not withstanding), he makes it clear that he has no intentions of sticking around for long. Of course, this is because he'd been secretly planning to help his mother; Detective Amelia Bennett, capture Bobby by getting close to Kat.
- Ambiguously Absent Parent: His mother is single and all he mentions about his father is that he was American. It's unclear if he was ever involved in Nick's life or if he's even alive.
- Disposable Love Interest: While he has the honor of being Kat's first kiss, Nick is ultimately just a friend to her. After Hale and Kat start dating at the end of Uncommon Criminals, his role in the series is drastically reduced. He doesn't even appear in The Grift of the Magi while his mother does!
- Mistaken for Flirting: He asks Kat how long her and Hale have been "together". Cue Kat immediately asserting that they aren't dating and Nick making it clear that he meant their shared work history.
- Momma's Boy: His mother seems to be all he has and the two appear to be close. She uses her knowledge of the law to stop Gregory Wainwright from having him investigated and Nick cares a great deal about disappointing her as shown by his late night conversation with Kat in Uncommon Criminals.
- Witty Banter: Shares a lot of it with Kat and it sometimes leans into full on flirting.
Marcus
Hale's personal butler and an occasional semi-willing participant in heists.
- The Jeeves: He's everything one would expect from a butler. Dutiful, polite, and fiercely loyal towards Hale.
- Hidden Depths: Marcus gets a surprising amount of character development in Perfect Scoundrels. It's revealed that he has a sister named Marianne who was a close friend of Hale's grandmother Hazel. And he loves her enough to defy his role as a servant to investigate the late Hazel's will when she's disinherited. This includes hiding information from Hale and his actual employers.
- Servile Snarker: Briefly becomes this during a heist wherein he's forced to play the role of a cantankerous Uncle towards Hale. Kat even surmises that he must have "several decades worth of snaps" with this being the first chance he's ever had to let them out.
Amelia Bennett
An Interpol agent who's assigned to capture the infamous Bobby Bishop. Smart, sleek and stunning, she gives the old boys of her organization a run for their money.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: As a detective, she's quite cold towards the main cast considering their status as conmen. But she does come in to arrest the villains at the end of each book while letting Kat and her family go. In The Grift of the Magi, she acts much warmer towards Kat and Gabrielle and even prepares a hot meal for them before requesting their help.
- Emotionless Girl: Does not emote a lot and keeps up a cool demeanor no matter what. In all fairness, this describes most of the characters in this series given that the stories tend to revolve around heists.
- Feminine Women Can Cook: The Grift of the Magi shows her preparing a full course pasta meal after getting bored and hungry while waiting for Kat to return to Uncle Eddie's house.
- Glamorous Single Mother: She's unmarried and doesn't seem to be dating anybody. Not only does she excel in her line of work, she's raised a son seemingly by herself and is mentioned multiple times to be jaw droppingly beautiful.
- Great Detective: She's risen through the ranks of Interpol in spite of the network being rife with sexism and she's the first person to realize that Visily Romani is a pseudonym used by multiple thieves for centuries simply by looking through cold case files.
