Hell to Pay Oceans Eight meets Six of Crows in this supernatural heist thriller with jaw-dropping plot twists by Lora Beth Johnson

This was the first heist type book I have read in a long time and I really enjoyed it. The premise of this book had me hooked from the get go and once I started it I finished it quickly. The book revolves around a gang of thieves who are going to steal a soul from the afterlife. It is a very enjoyable supernatural story and I really liked the characters. I'm a fan of any story involving a found family and this book has that as we see how the crew interact with each other and grow those bonds. It has drama and chaos and a sprinkling of madness and it's a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publishers, and to Netgalley for this ARC,

Honestly, this book was a lot of fun. Hell to Pay leans fully into the chaos of a supernatural heist, and from the moment the job is introduced it feels like things could go wrong in about ten different ways.The premise alone hooked me. A crew of thieves breaking into the afterlife to steal a soul is already such a wild idea, and the heist structure gives the story this constant tension of “there is absolutely no way this plan will go smoothly.”Elle was also easy for me to root for. She’s carrying a lot of grief after losing her family and crew, and you can feel how much this impossible job means to her. Watching her pull everyone back together while trying to hold herself together emotionally added more weight to the story than I expected.
The crew dynamic was probably my favorite part. There’s mistrust, sarcasm, and that slow shift where you start to see them actually care about each other again. Those messy found-family moments made the whole heist feel more personal.
I also liked that the story embraces how ridiculous the premise could be and just runs with it. There are high stakes and dangerous situations, but there’s also plenty of banter and chaotic planning that makes it really entertaining.
If you enjoy supernatural adventures with clever heists, messy alliances, twists, and a crew you can’t help but root for, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.