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.

This novella set in the 195os is an absolute delight. The story centers around a jewelry heist and is told in alternating chapters by Jerome Curtis, insurance investigator, and Ania Thorne, head of a jewelry company and also their main designer. The authors nail the setting and atmosphere of the book, and the dialogue feels absolutely right for the time period. Jerome and Ania team up to try to catch the thief who has stolen Ania's priceless creations, and their search takes them from Cannes to Paris to New York. Two small quibbles: I would have liked more lead-up in the characters' romance; it felt like they went from zero to sixty in the space of one page. And second, I wish I'd realized this wasn't a standalone, as the ending is abrupt and gives no closure. Bring on book two, whenever it may appear! Thank you to Blue Box Press, C.W. Gortner & M.J. Rose, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of THE STEAL.

The cover is misleading with a drawing of Grace Kelly in TO CATCH A THIEF, which was filmed near Cannes.

The story centers around the Film Festival in Cannes. It does not make sense that the only jewelry company that has NOT been robbed would get burglarized after years in business. The ending did not make sense to me.

Maybe I am too picky here.

Sorry to say this novel was not my cup of tea. Maybe the book would appeal to other people.

This was a nice quick beach read by way of "To Catch a Thief". It was the cover that drew me in as I am a huge fan of the aforementioned movie, and that looked like a Grace Kelly cover right there. It didn't quite meet my expectations, but that's a classic not much can touch. That being said this was a short fun and fast-paced read. Most of it takes place over a couple of days as a Jewelry designer/heiress finds herself teaming up with a rough shod insurance investigator after the majority of her collection is stolen (possibly by a notorious thief "the leopard"). **Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for my eARC in exchange for an honest review!**

The plot had all the right ingredients, a great setting/location (the Cote d'azur, Paris) and a nice mid-century vibe, danger and mystery....but it missed the mark for me when it came to the characters matching the time period, especially Ania, she felt wayyyy too modern, both in her actions and the way she spoke (and her thoughts) so it kept taking me out of that 50s/60s vibe and straight into current day. Jerome was a little better with more of a Philip Marlowe noir vibe, but even he slipped in and out of feeling too modern. Also of note for potential readers, this must be a part 1 of a series (Im hoping?), because its definitely a bit of a cliffhanger/to be continued sort of ending.

All that being said, still a fun quick summer read and would recommend to readers who like mid century settings, and caper heist stories, good for those with short attention spans or who are looking for a good vacation read.

The book definitely captures the spirit of the great 1950s romantic mystery films with the hardboiled male lead and the icy princess heroine who may or may not need to be rescued (and who may or may not be able to be trusted) and the larger than life thief who is always three steps ahead in the game. For me, this was a fun caper until the end which was abrupt and seems to be setting up a series? I would have preferred another 30 pages to just have a good tale done with, to be honest; or if it's not the start of the series, it was a very unsatisfying ending.

"They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend - until they’re stolen. Ania Throne is devoted to her jewelry company. The daughter of one of the world’s most famous jewelers, she arrives in Cannes with a stunning new collection. But a shocking theft by the notorious thief known as the Leopard throws her into upheaval - and plunges her on an unexpected hunt that challenges everything she believes.Jerome Curtis thinks he’s seen it all, especially when it comes to crime. Until he’s hired to investigate the loss of Ania Thorne’s collection, his every skill put to the test as he chases after a mysterious master-mind responsible for some of the costliest heists in history - and finds himself in a tangled web with a woman he really shouldn’t fall in love with.From the fabled Carlton Hotel to the elegant boulevards of Paris, Ania and Jerome must race against time to catch a thief before the thief catches them. With everything on the line, can they solve the steal or will the steal take more than diamonds from them? Set in the late 1950s, The Steal is a romantic caper by bestselling authors C.W. Gortner and M.J. Rose."

August always needs a good Hitchcock To Catch a Thief vibe!

When a fortune in jewels is stolen from the Carlton hotel in Cannes Jerome Curtis is brought in by the insurance company to try and find the jewels. Ania Thorne is trying to restore the reputation of her family jewelry company and will do whatever it takes. Together they are trying to figure out the crime before something else happens but is it already to late?

A good suspense mystery with a slight romance.
About a jewels heist and the owner and insurance agent goes on the hunt to find the jewels and thief. An unexpected surprise
Voluntarily reviewed.

The cliffhangers are so perfect that it is difficult to put the book down. The well titled book "the steal" will steal your attention from everyday life and got you trapped. This first book of a promising series is perfect for escapism. The "atmosphere" of different towns, the complexity of the characters, and the originality of the plot are huge pleasers. Reading such a good novel resulting from the conjugated talents of two brilliant authors is fun and the standard of the story telling is excellent.
All opinions are mine, i received a copy from NetGalley.

A quick and excellent read! At first glance I thought it was an old Nancy Drew book so I gave it a try. I’m so glad I took a chance! It was fast-paced and exciting. The 1950’s setting made the characters easier to imagine and explore. I loved the romance, drama, and intrigue. A great summer read! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

I received this ARC and this is my review. I loved this book! It is set in post-World War Ii France and England and is stylish and smart and reads like a screenplay. The characters are excellently flawed and the story is loaded with twists. I totally recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good mystery with plenty of suspense and numerous pitfalls.

I really enjoyed The Steal! I was immediately drawn in by the description of the story, It made me think of the old caper movies with Cary Grant. It’s a fun read.

M.J.Rose books have always been some of my favorites. Her collaboration with C.W. Gortner is a slight departure from her normal novels. But having said that I enjoyed this book. This was a mid-century story with a male insurance investigator and a CEO of a jewelry design company. These two are polar opposites that must learn how to work together to solve a theft. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

I’ve read several books by MJ Rose before but hadn’t come across CW Gortner before. I’m so glad I did. This book was fantastic. I can’t wait to read the next one!

This is a fast,fun read. I so enjoyed the 1950s time period as this decade is seldom chosen for new fiction. The plot may not be super original, but it takes you away to travel, romance and glamour of days past.

I really enjoyed The Steal! I was immediately drawn in by the cover. It reminded me of a Nancy Drew book, which was irresistible to me since I devoured as many as I could get my hands on as a kid. The story itself reminded me of the old caper movies of the 1950s with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn, which was really fun to read. The story was engaging, and the characters had enough depth to keep me interested. It’s a short book, so it’s a great option for a fun summer read or a day when you’re curled up inside. I can’t wait to read The Bait, the next book in the To Catch A Leopard series, to see what happens next! Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for my advanced copy!

A fast-paced, tightly written novella with strong character development. It also provided an interesting reminder of the ongoing impact of war on those who fight. Look forward to reading more about Ania and Jerome.

You know those film noirs set in the 50’s? Like Double Indemnity and The Maltese Falcon? This is a book noir. Grabbed my attention immediately with damaged hero, Jerome Curtis, a private insurance investigator who served in a secret group following WWII. He is sent to “THE” film festival in Cannes following the heist of the entire collection of jewels designed by Ania Thorne, daughter and artistic heir of a legendary jewelry designer. These jewels were to have adorned the most beautiful actresses of the day, including Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Hepburn, and Sophia Loren. This is just the latest in a series of jewelry robberies performed by “The Leopard”. Jerome has a personal stake in catching this thief. Alternating points of view between Ania and Jerome reveal their growing attraction to each other. The ending is a cliff-hanger, which is ok by me. I can’t wait to read the next installment in this ongoing saga!
I received the ARC of this delightful book at no charge from NetGalley and the authors M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner, but all opinions are my own. This book will be available for purchase on August 10, 2021.

A mystery with some romance set in the 50's. The dialogue certainly sounds like that era, and the writing is good, but unfortunately the story - about the investigation of a jewellery robbery in Cannes - wasn't really to my taste. It reminded me of some of the detective TV shows or movies from that era though. Lots of characters and information loading in a short period of time and heaps of internal narration. I really didn't connect with either Ania or Jerome and the story wasn't concluded in this book, so be aware of that. My thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me the eArc in return for my opinion.