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The New Cut Gang #1-2
Two Crafty Criminals!: and how they were Captured by the Daring Detectives of the New Cut Gang
Benny Kaminsky and Thunderbolt Dobney lead a rag-tag gang of neighborhood rowdies. Their territory is the New Cut on London's South Bank—a place bristling with swindlers, bookies, pickpockets, and the occasional policeman. And their aim is to solve crimes.
When counterfeit coins start showing up in their neighborhood, Thunderbolt fears his own father may be behind the crime. But his friends devise a way to trap the real culprit. Then the gang takes on the case of some stolen silver. They have just two clues—a blob of wax, and an unusually long match. But even this slippery thief is unmasked by the determined kids of the New Cut.
Filled with silly sleuthing, improbable disguises, crazy ruses, and merry mayhem, these stories are action-packed romps from one of the best storytellers ever—Philip Pullman.
When counterfeit coins start showing up in their neighborhood, Thunderbolt fears his own father may be behind the crime. But his friends devise a way to trap the real culprit. Then the gang takes on the case of some stolen silver. They have just two clues—a blob of wax, and an unusually long match. But even this slippery thief is unmasked by the determined kids of the New Cut.
Filled with silly sleuthing, improbable disguises, crazy ruses, and merry mayhem, these stories are action-packed romps from one of the best storytellers ever—Philip Pullman.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
21 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
About the author
Philip Pullman
261 books25.7k followersSir Philip Nicholas Outram Pullman is an English writer. His books include the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials and The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, a fictionalised biography of Jesus. In 2008, The Times named Pullman one of the "50 greatest British writers since 1945". In a 2004 BBC poll, he was named the eleventh most influential person in British culture. He was knighted in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to literature.
Northern Lights, the first volume in His Dark Materials, won the 1995 Carnegie Medal of the Library Association as the year's outstanding English-language children's book. For the Carnegie's 70th anniversary, it was named in the top ten by a panel tasked with compiling a shortlist for a public vote for an all-time favourite. It won that public vote and was named all-time "Carnegie of Carnegies" in June 2007. It was filmed under the book's US title, The Golden Compass. In 2003, His Dark Materials trilogy ranked third in the BBC's The Big Read, a poll of 200 top novels voted by the British public.
Northern Lights, the first volume in His Dark Materials, won the 1995 Carnegie Medal of the Library Association as the year's outstanding English-language children's book. For the Carnegie's 70th anniversary, it was named in the top ten by a panel tasked with compiling a shortlist for a public vote for an all-time favourite. It won that public vote and was named all-time "Carnegie of Carnegies" in June 2007. It was filmed under the book's US title, The Golden Compass. In 2003, His Dark Materials trilogy ranked third in the BBC's The Big Read, a poll of 200 top novels voted by the British public.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
March 27, 2012
Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!
The kids of the New Cut Gang live in that charmed and whimsical world children inhabit until the crush of adulthood and responsibility; adults fall in line with their demands and nothing is impossible for the likes of Benny, Thunderbolt, Bridie and Sharky Boy - not even uncovering dastardly criminals or even meeting the Prince of Wales. Philip Pullman's latest publication might not stand level with the likes of the His Dark Materials trilogy but Two Crafty Criminals will certainly make for a diverting and thoroughly charming entertainment for middle-grade children it was created for.
Two Crafty Criminals is not one novel but rather is a book containing of two entirely different stories set within the New Cut Gang - a constantly shifting alliance of meddlesome and cheeky pre-teens in Victorian London. While both stories are big on fun and short on filler, the first, Thunderbolt's Waxwork, definitely had the advantage of being first and thus, the more original of the two. With characters like the charismatic Benny running the show and the Gang, earnest and kind Thunderbolt, and strict Bridie managing the scene-stealer Sharky Boy, Pullman eases the reader into a light-hearted but clever mystery set in 1894. Benny, especially, he of the big dreams and even bigger schemes, seems drawn entirely from the period pictured, down to his accent ("Foller him everywhere, like a shadder..") but all the kids shown in both are different, with easy to identify personalities (especially the twins! And Sharky Boy). The Gas Fitter's Ball, the second of the two, retains the humor and cheek of the first without sacrificing ingenuity while fostering an entirely new mystery for the Gang to "detect".
I read this entire book with an amused smile on my face. Even more than ten years removed from the target audience, Pullman's foray into Victorian London sleuthing is nearly pitch-perfect and enjoyable from start to end; only its lack of length makes for any quibbles. I think even the younger, intended readers would appreciate a little more length extended to both stories, populated as they are with such colorful kids and adults. There's an awful lot of imagination at play within Two Crafty Criminals, and if jailbreaks, robberies, reported hauntings, balls and get-rich-quick schemes in addition to pre-teen Victorian detectives, don't float your boat...well, there's something wrong with you.
The kids of the New Cut Gang live in that charmed and whimsical world children inhabit until the crush of adulthood and responsibility; adults fall in line with their demands and nothing is impossible for the likes of Benny, Thunderbolt, Bridie and Sharky Boy - not even uncovering dastardly criminals or even meeting the Prince of Wales. Philip Pullman's latest publication might not stand level with the likes of the His Dark Materials trilogy but Two Crafty Criminals will certainly make for a diverting and thoroughly charming entertainment for middle-grade children it was created for.
Two Crafty Criminals is not one novel but rather is a book containing of two entirely different stories set within the New Cut Gang - a constantly shifting alliance of meddlesome and cheeky pre-teens in Victorian London. While both stories are big on fun and short on filler, the first, Thunderbolt's Waxwork, definitely had the advantage of being first and thus, the more original of the two. With characters like the charismatic Benny running the show and the Gang, earnest and kind Thunderbolt, and strict Bridie managing the scene-stealer Sharky Boy, Pullman eases the reader into a light-hearted but clever mystery set in 1894. Benny, especially, he of the big dreams and even bigger schemes, seems drawn entirely from the period pictured, down to his accent ("Foller him everywhere, like a shadder..") but all the kids shown in both are different, with easy to identify personalities (especially the twins! And Sharky Boy). The Gas Fitter's Ball, the second of the two, retains the humor and cheek of the first without sacrificing ingenuity while fostering an entirely new mystery for the Gang to "detect".
I read this entire book with an amused smile on my face. Even more than ten years removed from the target audience, Pullman's foray into Victorian London sleuthing is nearly pitch-perfect and enjoyable from start to end; only its lack of length makes for any quibbles. I think even the younger, intended readers would appreciate a little more length extended to both stories, populated as they are with such colorful kids and adults. There's an awful lot of imagination at play within Two Crafty Criminals, and if jailbreaks, robberies, reported hauntings, balls and get-rich-quick schemes in addition to pre-teen Victorian detectives, don't float your boat...well, there's something wrong with you.
abandoned
June 19, 2024DNF at 95 pages.
Its a good "Hitchcockian" mystery (you'll know when you read it!) with elements of humor, friendship and childhood innocence.
My first Pullman. What didn't work for me was the narration style and obscure conversations. My understanding is pathetic of the British tone of conversations and lingos. Thats what put me off. This is a collection of two stories. I did not try the second one.
Overall:
Its a good mystery filled with old school nostalgia. Illustrations felt forced and not cute. Avoid if you don't like kids books
Its a good "Hitchcockian" mystery (you'll know when you read it!) with elements of humor, friendship and childhood innocence.
My first Pullman. What didn't work for me was the narration style and obscure conversations. My understanding is pathetic of the British tone of conversations and lingos. Thats what put me off. This is a collection of two stories. I did not try the second one.
Overall:
Its a good mystery filled with old school nostalgia. Illustrations felt forced and not cute. Avoid if you don't like kids books
May 11, 2013
I truly loved the books of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy — The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass — despite a streak of darkness in that magical children’s series, but I was totally put off by Pullman’s contrarian cruelty in the second of the Sally Lockhart mysteries, The Shadow of the North, which I quit reading even though I was nearly to the end.
Despite that, Two Crafty Criminals!: and how they were Captured by the Daring Detectives of the New Cut Gang looked so cheery and so unlike Pullman’s The Ruby In The Smoke and The Shadow in the North that I decided to take another chance on him. Like The Water Babies, A Wrinkle in Time, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Book Thief or The Magic Thief — other children’s books beloved by adults — Two Crafty Criminals! will reward any adult who abandons the widespread prejudice against children’s classics.
Set in late 19th century Lambeth, combines two slim volumes that Pullman published in the 1990s: Thunderbolt's Waxwork and The Gas-Fitter's Ball. Two Crafty Criminals! describes the exploits of a gang of street urchins led by the bespectacled Sam “Thunderbolt” Dobney and the charismatic Benny Kaminsky. In the first book, set in 1894, when someone starts passing counterfeit coins in Lambeth and the New Cut, Thunderbolt’s inventor father gets the blame. The boys and girls in the gang decide to discover the real culprit — which they do after a number of madcap adventures. In the second, set the following year, the gang tracks down the thief who pilfered £10,000 worth of antique silver from the Gas-fitters’ Hall and manage to ensure that a sweet, young couple get engaged. But the resolutions come only after some comic adventures worthy of a 19th century melodrama, including a daring jail break orchestrated by New Cut Gang members, Zerlina and Angela Peretti, redoubtable twins “pretty as angels, and so wicked they were hardly human” (p. 136) and an electrifying revelation of the thief at the eponymous Gas-fitter’s Ball. I don’t know if the title serves as an homage to an episode, “The Tragedy of the Gasfitter’s costume (fancy-dress) ball,” in an old 1950s radio series featuring Sherlock Holmes, but I can’t see how it could be otherwise.
Pullman provides an unabashedly Dickensian cast of characters. (Who could forget the child-like old roasted-chestnut seller, Dippy Hitchcock; the clever, kind-hearted Bridie Malone, the love-sick but tongue-tied young gas-fitter Dick Smith, the lugubrious strongman Orlando, the fearsome bookie “Snake Eyes” Melmott; the oily Mr. Horspath, a very twin for Dickens' Uriah Heep; or the voracious “Sharkey” Bob Malone, for instance?) This narrative delights readers, young or old, with unlikely disguises, clever traps, humorous situations and various hijinks worthy of any Victorian pulp novel.
These books were apparently meant to launch a new mystery series aimed at children, but no other volume has appeared in nearly 20 years; now, with Pullman laboring with The Book of Dust, which builds on His Dark Materials, it’s unlikely that we’ll ever hear more from the New Cut Gang. That’s too bad because I thoroughly enjoyed these lighthearted books, which read like a cross between the Dead-End Kids, London edition, and the Baker Street Irregulars, with a soupçon of Our Gang thrown in for good measure.
Despite that, Two Crafty Criminals!: and how they were Captured by the Daring Detectives of the New Cut Gang looked so cheery and so unlike Pullman’s The Ruby In The Smoke and The Shadow in the North that I decided to take another chance on him. Like The Water Babies, A Wrinkle in Time, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Book Thief or The Magic Thief — other children’s books beloved by adults — Two Crafty Criminals! will reward any adult who abandons the widespread prejudice against children’s classics.
Set in late 19th century Lambeth, combines two slim volumes that Pullman published in the 1990s: Thunderbolt's Waxwork and The Gas-Fitter's Ball. Two Crafty Criminals! describes the exploits of a gang of street urchins led by the bespectacled Sam “Thunderbolt” Dobney and the charismatic Benny Kaminsky. In the first book, set in 1894, when someone starts passing counterfeit coins in Lambeth and the New Cut, Thunderbolt’s inventor father gets the blame. The boys and girls in the gang decide to discover the real culprit — which they do after a number of madcap adventures. In the second, set the following year, the gang tracks down the thief who pilfered £10,000 worth of antique silver from the Gas-fitters’ Hall and manage to ensure that a sweet, young couple get engaged. But the resolutions come only after some comic adventures worthy of a 19th century melodrama, including a daring jail break orchestrated by New Cut Gang members, Zerlina and Angela Peretti, redoubtable twins “pretty as angels, and so wicked they were hardly human” (p. 136) and an electrifying revelation of the thief at the eponymous Gas-fitter’s Ball. I don’t know if the title serves as an homage to an episode, “The Tragedy of the Gasfitter’s costume (fancy-dress) ball,” in an old 1950s radio series featuring Sherlock Holmes, but I can’t see how it could be otherwise.
Pullman provides an unabashedly Dickensian cast of characters. (Who could forget the child-like old roasted-chestnut seller, Dippy Hitchcock; the clever, kind-hearted Bridie Malone, the love-sick but tongue-tied young gas-fitter Dick Smith, the lugubrious strongman Orlando, the fearsome bookie “Snake Eyes” Melmott; the oily Mr. Horspath, a very twin for Dickens' Uriah Heep; or the voracious “Sharkey” Bob Malone, for instance?) This narrative delights readers, young or old, with unlikely disguises, clever traps, humorous situations and various hijinks worthy of any Victorian pulp novel.
These books were apparently meant to launch a new mystery series aimed at children, but no other volume has appeared in nearly 20 years; now, with Pullman laboring with The Book of Dust, which builds on His Dark Materials, it’s unlikely that we’ll ever hear more from the New Cut Gang. That’s too bad because I thoroughly enjoyed these lighthearted books, which read like a cross between the Dead-End Kids, London edition, and the Baker Street Irregulars, with a soupçon of Our Gang thrown in for good measure.
February 1, 2020
Thunderbolt's Waxwork
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
*
The Gas-Fitter's Ball
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
typo:
p84: "He's the Deputy Manger at the Gasworks," said Zerlina.
p91: MacPhail's was the tobacconist's at the corner of the New Cut.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
*
The Gas-Fitter's Ball
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
typo:
p84: "He's the Deputy Manger at the Gasworks," said Zerlina.
p91: MacPhail's was the tobacconist's at the corner of the New Cut.
May 4, 2012
The minute I saw this one in NetGalley, I wanted it desperately, because I loved the His Dark Materials series. Two Crafty Criminals is quite a different story than those books. In fact, the book isn't so much a book as two shorter books bound into one. This could just as easily have been published as two volumes in a series.
Two Crafty Criminals! reads kind of like a television show for kids, one where they solve mysteries or commit hijinks along a particular plot line in each episode. The third person narration follows around the various members of the New Cut Gang in their detecting. The kids are quirky, especially the youngest one Sharky (who doesn't appear in the second story, except in a mention), who reminded me of the baby from the Lemony Snicket series, because he also will chew/eat ANYTHING. And I mean anything.
The first episode, entitled "Thunderbolt's Wax," centers around the mystery of the counterfeited coins being spent in the gang's little town. When Thunderbolt's father is arrested, they feel that they must prove his innocence by finding the true criminal. A second plot line, which I found slightly clunky, involved them desperately trying to get their friend (a food vendor) a waxwork of himself in the museum. This was probably my favorite of the two stories, despite the bit of awkwardness. The kids are quirky and fun, and the mystery was relatively interesting, albeit simple for the children.
The second tale, "The Gas-Fitters' Ball," also involved a crime to be solved, but that definitely did not feel like the central part. In fact, this story was more about children gambling on whether or not a man will propose to the prettiest girl in town. To help their odds, they try, in various ways, to help his suit, but, unsurprisingly, young children don't make the best matchmakers. Along the way, they solve the case of the stolen silver.
Obviously, I wasn't overwhelmed by the plotting of either tale. Both had good elements, but didn't seem well-balanced. Neither seemed to successfully weave the two main plot threads together. HOWEVER, the writing is delightful. Philip Pullman has a way with language, and that made these a joy to read. I would really recommend parents reading these aloud to children, because some of the words might be seriously confounding to young readers. It would also probably lend itself well to narration. Oh, brief PSA, if you're a parent and you don't read to your child, you totally should. My parents did for years and years, and I am so grateful for that.
The book comes off as a sort of mashup between Scooby Doo and The Mysterious Benedict Society, perhaps with a dash of Newsies for British flair. It's quick and fun, and even has pictures! The last sentence of the description actually sums it up quite well, so if you like those things, get to a bookstore with speed
Two Crafty Criminals! reads kind of like a television show for kids, one where they solve mysteries or commit hijinks along a particular plot line in each episode. The third person narration follows around the various members of the New Cut Gang in their detecting. The kids are quirky, especially the youngest one Sharky (who doesn't appear in the second story, except in a mention), who reminded me of the baby from the Lemony Snicket series, because he also will chew/eat ANYTHING. And I mean anything.
The first episode, entitled "Thunderbolt's Wax," centers around the mystery of the counterfeited coins being spent in the gang's little town. When Thunderbolt's father is arrested, they feel that they must prove his innocence by finding the true criminal. A second plot line, which I found slightly clunky, involved them desperately trying to get their friend (a food vendor) a waxwork of himself in the museum. This was probably my favorite of the two stories, despite the bit of awkwardness. The kids are quirky and fun, and the mystery was relatively interesting, albeit simple for the children.
The second tale, "The Gas-Fitters' Ball," also involved a crime to be solved, but that definitely did not feel like the central part. In fact, this story was more about children gambling on whether or not a man will propose to the prettiest girl in town. To help their odds, they try, in various ways, to help his suit, but, unsurprisingly, young children don't make the best matchmakers. Along the way, they solve the case of the stolen silver.
Obviously, I wasn't overwhelmed by the plotting of either tale. Both had good elements, but didn't seem well-balanced. Neither seemed to successfully weave the two main plot threads together. HOWEVER, the writing is delightful. Philip Pullman has a way with language, and that made these a joy to read. I would really recommend parents reading these aloud to children, because some of the words might be seriously confounding to young readers. It would also probably lend itself well to narration. Oh, brief PSA, if you're a parent and you don't read to your child, you totally should. My parents did for years and years, and I am so grateful for that.
The book comes off as a sort of mashup between Scooby Doo and The Mysterious Benedict Society, perhaps with a dash of Newsies for British flair. It's quick and fun, and even has pictures! The last sentence of the description actually sums it up quite well, so if you like those things, get to a bookstore with speed
April 9, 2012
Two Crafty Criminals! and How They Were Captured by the Daring Detectives of the New Cut Gang is actually a really long, unwieldy new title for two previously released UK novellas: Thunderbolt's Waxwork and The Gas-Fitters' Ball. These two hilarious stories tell the adventures of a 'gang' of enchanting, lively, quirky, kids in Victorian England.
Once again, Pullman has crafted characters that dwell in the reader's mind rather than the page. These kids are real kids: by turns smart, clueless, brave, cowardly, resourceful, compassionate, condescending, or just plain weird. Pullman takes turns following the different children, boy and girl alike, with each holding their own. I think that Two Crafty Criminals would be an exuberantly lively and amusing read to boys and girls alike--no matter which character takes the lead.
Pullman also does and excellent job of establishing time and place. He drops little hints here and there that make the story feel authentically Victorian, while never allowing the setting to overrun the story. And the slang is just fun; it was an absolute delight to read this aloud to my son!
The mysteries, and the antics the kids get up to while solving them, are often over-the-top--making them feel like the stories kids tell each other about their weekends or school vacations while bragging at recess. They are easily solved, but in a way that leaves young readers feeling triumphant at having figured things out. Plus, there are whimsically amusing pictures scattered throughout.
I think that Two Crafty Criminals joins the ranks of other Pullman works that are a pleasure to read aloud at bedtime. It would also do well to encourage a newly independent chapter book reader. My only caveat: the stories lend themselves best to younger middle grade readers, but the ability needed to understand the slang from context clues, and the occasionally difficult vocabulary words, make them better for older middle grade readers.
Once again, Pullman has crafted characters that dwell in the reader's mind rather than the page. These kids are real kids: by turns smart, clueless, brave, cowardly, resourceful, compassionate, condescending, or just plain weird. Pullman takes turns following the different children, boy and girl alike, with each holding their own. I think that Two Crafty Criminals would be an exuberantly lively and amusing read to boys and girls alike--no matter which character takes the lead.
Pullman also does and excellent job of establishing time and place. He drops little hints here and there that make the story feel authentically Victorian, while never allowing the setting to overrun the story. And the slang is just fun; it was an absolute delight to read this aloud to my son!
The mysteries, and the antics the kids get up to while solving them, are often over-the-top--making them feel like the stories kids tell each other about their weekends or school vacations while bragging at recess. They are easily solved, but in a way that leaves young readers feeling triumphant at having figured things out. Plus, there are whimsically amusing pictures scattered throughout.
I think that Two Crafty Criminals joins the ranks of other Pullman works that are a pleasure to read aloud at bedtime. It would also do well to encourage a newly independent chapter book reader. My only caveat: the stories lend themselves best to younger middle grade readers, but the ability needed to understand the slang from context clues, and the occasionally difficult vocabulary words, make them better for older middle grade readers.
March 2, 2016
Do you know if there are criminals where you live ? This book is a action book because it has robbers, criminals , and detectives . I think the book was okay could have been way better .
The setting of the book is London 1895 . The detectives wanted to catch the criminals but they were really sneaky so it was really hard for them . This is person VS person because it is the criminals vs the detectives . The theme of the book is nothing comes easy because it took them a while to find the criminals .
The fact that it was first person effected the story because we knew the whole time who the criminals were . The title relates to the book because it was about criminals and the title was " two crafty criminals " also there was two . The authors word choice made it sound like it was old because it really was not when it was made but the setting . The setting adds to the conflict because there is a queen And they could do something to the queen.
I like how the author calls them crafty . An interesting thing I learned from the book was that not many things come as easy as you think. I was angry that they were criminals because they are not helping the world with anything at all . The detectives and the criminals are similar because they're both scared of each other.
I will give this book a 3 out of 5 because it was not the best but it was not the worst thing ever. I would recommend this book to people who like action and mystery. Can you some times be secretive?
The setting of the book is London 1895 . The detectives wanted to catch the criminals but they were really sneaky so it was really hard for them . This is person VS person because it is the criminals vs the detectives . The theme of the book is nothing comes easy because it took them a while to find the criminals .
The fact that it was first person effected the story because we knew the whole time who the criminals were . The title relates to the book because it was about criminals and the title was " two crafty criminals " also there was two . The authors word choice made it sound like it was old because it really was not when it was made but the setting . The setting adds to the conflict because there is a queen And they could do something to the queen.
I like how the author calls them crafty . An interesting thing I learned from the book was that not many things come as easy as you think. I was angry that they were criminals because they are not helping the world with anything at all . The detectives and the criminals are similar because they're both scared of each other.
I will give this book a 3 out of 5 because it was not the best but it was not the worst thing ever. I would recommend this book to people who like action and mystery. Can you some times be secretive?
May 25, 2013
I was not a fan of Pullman's The Golden Compass but when I saw this book on the shelf of the local bookstore it looked like something right up the alley of my 9-year-old son ... and I was right. I read it aloud to him and he (and I) absolutely loved it. These are two short tales of a Victorian-era gang of children who solve mysteries in their town of Lambeth. My son said it reminded him of Emil and the Detectives, which is another favorite of ours. I appreciated the opportunity to teach him about the byzantine structure of pre-decimalization British money (pence, and shillings, and farthings, and guineas ... oh my!) and the side discussions about justice, ethics, and when "doing the right hing" might mean breaking a few rules. Plus, there's slapstick! Highly recommended for the 8-10 year-old set.
January 9, 2020
This volume pulls together the first two of six proposed novellas, first published in the 1990s.
Set in Victorian London, the New Cut Gang aspires to catch the crooks operating in their neighborhood. In these novellas they catch the person passing counterfeit coins and solve the theft of valuable silver pieces. High on action, these incredulous mysteries are full of humor and humanity, fraught with twists, turns and red herrings.
Pullman uses period street slang and formal language; the glossary will help young readers understand the vocabulary. Line drawings add another dimension by giving visual cues to build understanding for young readers.
Optional purchase for grades 4-6.
Set in Victorian London, the New Cut Gang aspires to catch the crooks operating in their neighborhood. In these novellas they catch the person passing counterfeit coins and solve the theft of valuable silver pieces. High on action, these incredulous mysteries are full of humor and humanity, fraught with twists, turns and red herrings.
Pullman uses period street slang and formal language; the glossary will help young readers understand the vocabulary. Line drawings add another dimension by giving visual cues to build understanding for young readers.
Optional purchase for grades 4-6.
February 5, 2018
Funny and entertaining - meant for young audiences...however as an older person I enjoy the colorful characters, Pullman's detailed and humorous depictions, and the antics of children and adults alike. The kids set out to be detectives in London, and are innovative and daring. I find myself chuckling at the witticisms in the story. My 2nd time listening to this audiobook. If you need something light, if you like humor that might be a little more subtle, and stories about wily kids...this might just be the thing.
February 24, 2022
Oh my goodness! This book was SO good! I loved it from the beginning to the end, just the short miniature stories told throughout it are worth the whole read. I fell in love with this book even though I was thirteen when I had read it, but I would still recommend. SUPER FUNNY! Get ready to laugh a LOT.
March 4, 2018
Two mysteries to solve, & the New Cut Gang is ready and willing. The kids are sweet & intelligent, and fiercely loyal to friends & family. Suspicious coins lead to a hilarious scene with a store mannequin, and a unique corset. A lovers’ triangle is in the middle of a heist of silver, homing pigeons, and a grand ball. All of these events make for fun, fast reading that feels good by the end.
August 14, 2019
This was a fun book. I love reading/listening to books set in the past. It really helps you realize how life would have been different. The book had an unusual cast of characters making the stories even more fun.
November 12, 2020
Notes for book talk: Humorous and full of hijinks. Street gang of young scoundrels running around London. Great for anyone who is reading Enola Holmes, since roughly the same time period. Book contains 2 mysteries. Reads a bit like Dickens since the characters are more like caricatures than really fleshed out people.
November 5, 2018
Fun romps.
April 10, 2019
A cohesive, well-structured novel that is simple enough to let people really appreciate Pullman's incredible ability as a storyteller. Absolutely anyone could read this book and love it.
February 8, 2021
Hilarious. Phillip Pullman is at his best when he is writing about horrible Victorian children.
Read
July 6, 2021Very fun and entertaining – and not only for children.
May 16, 2022
A right good romp. Be warned it’s British but very humorous!!!
September 26, 2022
An amusing children/tween's that really two novels in one. Just the thing I needed when I was finding it difficult to concentrate.
May 14, 2023
Absolutely charming and clever. Enjoyed every minute (even the parts I had to listen to several times to really get the meaning). I hope there are more in this series!
August 16, 2023
Fun premise. The characters are cute and outlandish. Plot easy to follow .
I love this author
I love this author
May 18, 2024
Novel ini lebih lucu dalam format audiobook.
March 9, 2017
The kids are rough around the edges and spunky, thinking themselves tough and daring when usually ridiculous. The solemn way they pursue strange plans is endearing. It makes me want my own kids to have a hideout and roam the streets of the city looking for criminals. A good read.
September 5, 2011
The Adventures of the New Cut Gang is a bind up of 2 stories by Philip Pullman that were originally published in the 1990's - Thunderbolt's Waxwork and The Gas-Fitters' Ball. This is a beautiful hardback edition and has been wonderfully illustrated by Martin Brown making it a lovely book to hold a permanent position on any bookshelf. I hadn't read either of these stories before but as a fan of Philip Pullman I couldn't wait to get stuck in and I definitely wasn't disappointed.
In Thunderbolt's Waxwork we are introduced to the New Cut gang, a rag tag group of mischievous children who want to be detectives. In their first "case" they are determined to track down the person behind a spate of counterfeit coins doing the rounds in Lambeth. Thunderbolt's dad has been arrested but they are sure it couldn't be him who was making the coins - can they find a way to prove it and have him released from prison?
The Gas-Fitters' Ball continues the adventures of the New Cut gang, this time they are on the hunt for a burglar - someone has stolen the Gas-Fitters' silver trophies and the gang are intent on finding out who. Can they beat the police to find the burglar?
I absolutely loved the characters that make up the New Cut gang. You have leader Benny who has an imagination that often runs away with him and comes up with crazy plans bound to get them all in trouble, then there is Sam (AKA Thunderbolt) - he is the smart and studious one, Bridie is the hot tempered red head with a heart of gold who is always looking out for the others and her little brother Sharkie Bob who was probably my favourite. A lot younger than the others he tags along wherever they go eating everything in sight. You can't forget the Peretti twins Angela and Zerlina who may look like angels but you wouldn't want to end up on their bad side.
The stories themselves are fun and lighthearted adventures that had me laughing out loud as I read them. They're perfect for bedtime reading and will be enjoyed by both children and adults. The Victorian setting is well done and I loved the use of British slang. I read on Philip Pullman's website that there were originally going to be 6 stories about the New Cut gang and I really hope he gets time to write the remaining 4 - I'll be first in the queue to buy them if he does!
In Thunderbolt's Waxwork we are introduced to the New Cut gang, a rag tag group of mischievous children who want to be detectives. In their first "case" they are determined to track down the person behind a spate of counterfeit coins doing the rounds in Lambeth. Thunderbolt's dad has been arrested but they are sure it couldn't be him who was making the coins - can they find a way to prove it and have him released from prison?
The Gas-Fitters' Ball continues the adventures of the New Cut gang, this time they are on the hunt for a burglar - someone has stolen the Gas-Fitters' silver trophies and the gang are intent on finding out who. Can they beat the police to find the burglar?
I absolutely loved the characters that make up the New Cut gang. You have leader Benny who has an imagination that often runs away with him and comes up with crazy plans bound to get them all in trouble, then there is Sam (AKA Thunderbolt) - he is the smart and studious one, Bridie is the hot tempered red head with a heart of gold who is always looking out for the others and her little brother Sharkie Bob who was probably my favourite. A lot younger than the others he tags along wherever they go eating everything in sight. You can't forget the Peretti twins Angela and Zerlina who may look like angels but you wouldn't want to end up on their bad side.
The stories themselves are fun and lighthearted adventures that had me laughing out loud as I read them. They're perfect for bedtime reading and will be enjoyed by both children and adults. The Victorian setting is well done and I loved the use of British slang. I read on Philip Pullman's website that there were originally going to be 6 stories about the New Cut gang and I really hope he gets time to write the remaining 4 - I'll be first in the queue to buy them if he does!
May 11, 2012
Two Crafty Criminals by Phillip Pullman is a collection of two stories, featuring a group of young detectives called the New Cut Gang, that were previously published individually in '96 and '98. The stories really are separate from each other and even feature different gang members. The first story, Thunderbolt's Waxwork, follows Sam/Thunderbolt as he tries to figure out who is making the fake currency that has been showing up all over town. His father is suspected, and even Thunderbolt is not entirely sure of his Dad's innocence. Thankfully he has his friends in the New Cut Gang to help him get to the bottom of this mystery. The second story, The Gas fitters ball, features the mischievous twins Angela and Zerlina. Their friends (older) are in love, but having a hard time becoming engaged. To make matters worse, someone has stolen the silver from the Gas Fitters dance hall!
I liked the stories, and thought the mysteries were fun and entertaining. I laughed out loud a few times and got into the plot line. This is one of those instances, where I could tell you about the characters, like Sharky who eats everything, Thunderbolt, and how he is brainy but clumsy, or over-imaginative Benny who solves crimes but also gets carried away and it would sound like a hoot. The trouble I had with this book is, it sort of fell flat in the character department. I mean, we are quickly told who these kids are, but then we never really see it. It mentions more than once that Thunderbolt is excluded out of certain tasks because he is clumsy, but I never once saw him trip or mess up. Sharky was one of my favorite characters and he and Bridie are only mentioned in passing in the second story. I had a hard time remembering who the characters were and felt like I picked this book up mid-series. I know it's hard to balance action and characters in the middle reader age group, but this one fell short for me. There was even a case where the author says that Thunderbolt is only called Sam, except when he is on detective duty but later his Dad calls him Thunderbolt. I know it sounds like I am being nitpicky here, but I felt like the mysteries were fun but the people not as much. The author told us who the people were, but failed to really show it with a few exceptions.
I liked the stories, and thought the mysteries were fun and entertaining. I laughed out loud a few times and got into the plot line. This is one of those instances, where I could tell you about the characters, like Sharky who eats everything, Thunderbolt, and how he is brainy but clumsy, or over-imaginative Benny who solves crimes but also gets carried away and it would sound like a hoot. The trouble I had with this book is, it sort of fell flat in the character department. I mean, we are quickly told who these kids are, but then we never really see it. It mentions more than once that Thunderbolt is excluded out of certain tasks because he is clumsy, but I never once saw him trip or mess up. Sharky was one of my favorite characters and he and Bridie are only mentioned in passing in the second story. I had a hard time remembering who the characters were and felt like I picked this book up mid-series. I know it's hard to balance action and characters in the middle reader age group, but this one fell short for me. There was even a case where the author says that Thunderbolt is only called Sam, except when he is on detective duty but later his Dad calls him Thunderbolt. I know it sounds like I am being nitpicky here, but I felt like the mysteries were fun but the people not as much. The author told us who the people were, but failed to really show it with a few exceptions.
September 12, 2011
These are classic kids' stories: fast-paced, funny and exciting. The Victorian setting allows Pullman's gang to roam around, getting into scrapes and generally being much more independent than is possible for contemporary kids. And of course, that's at least half the fun - kids will love imagining they could have such adventures. Parents will also find these reminiscent of beloved stories from their own childhood. Although they are entirely suitable for a confident reader to read alone, they're a lot of fun shared too. The youngest readers may need help with the occasional piece of specific vocabulary (such as tanner or snide), although most is perfectly clear in context.
The characterisation is sharp, with great dialogue and a supporting cast of hapless grown-ups in need of help from the enterprising children. The child characters are endearing and funny at the same time - each has their quirks, and all contribute to the madcap schemes and general excitement. I also appreciated that there are boys and girls in the gang and this is definitely a book which will have cross-gender appeal.
Pacing is effective, with plenty of action to keep you turning the pages, and chapter ends that are suitable for bedtime reading (i.e. not too much of a cliffhanger to go to bed on!). The overall tone is warm and cosy: although the kids may not be perfect little angels, they are good-hearted and have a strong sense of right and wrong.
There is a cartoonish quality to these stories, due to the crazy improbability of the children's plans, and no doubt the illustrations will enhance this aspect (I was reading an unillustrated proof). Words like 'madcap' and 'hare-brained' keep trying to add themselves to this review, with good reason.
Overall, this is a great fun read. I definitely recommend it for boys and girls aged around 8 and up. My thanks go to Waterstones for providing this review copy.
The characterisation is sharp, with great dialogue and a supporting cast of hapless grown-ups in need of help from the enterprising children. The child characters are endearing and funny at the same time - each has their quirks, and all contribute to the madcap schemes and general excitement. I also appreciated that there are boys and girls in the gang and this is definitely a book which will have cross-gender appeal.
Pacing is effective, with plenty of action to keep you turning the pages, and chapter ends that are suitable for bedtime reading (i.e. not too much of a cliffhanger to go to bed on!). The overall tone is warm and cosy: although the kids may not be perfect little angels, they are good-hearted and have a strong sense of right and wrong.
There is a cartoonish quality to these stories, due to the crazy improbability of the children's plans, and no doubt the illustrations will enhance this aspect (I was reading an unillustrated proof). Words like 'madcap' and 'hare-brained' keep trying to add themselves to this review, with good reason.
Overall, this is a great fun read. I definitely recommend it for boys and girls aged around 8 and up. My thanks go to Waterstones for providing this review copy.
May 5, 2012
I think it would be nearly impossible to read these books and to be unhappy while doing so. The sheer charm and cheekiness of the main characters completely won me over as did the lighthearted tone of a romp. These stories are not very serious and there are many comedic moments that left me chuckle.
This book is actually two short stories featuring an overlapping cast of characters but focusing on different mysteries. I found the first one confusing due to the many different personalities present while the second one was more to my taste. Realism is not the priority but having fun certainly is!
We start with "Thunderbolt's Waxwork" and the New Cut Gang comprised of several youths. My main problem here was my inability to keep the kids straight. They all seemed very similar and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't tell them apart. Obviously this makes for a difficult read. The plot itself is also a bit confusing as first the gang is trying to get a sculpture of their friend into a wax museum while also investigating if the father of one of them counterfeited coins. It started with the wax plot and then added in the second awkwardly, which added to my confusion.
The second story is "The Gas Fitter's Ball" which I preferred. In this one, the kids are trying to have a guy propose to his lady love in order to collect on a bet. The mystery comes from some stolen silver. The culprit is fairly obvious but I loved the bumbling attempts of the guy as well as the kids' efforts to ensure that they win their bet. This includes a cute cameo from the Prince of Wales because, why not?
Overall: Cute stories that are well-told; great for younger readers too!
Cover: I love the cute drawings. It captures the chaos of living in their area and references an actual scene from the book.
This book is actually two short stories featuring an overlapping cast of characters but focusing on different mysteries. I found the first one confusing due to the many different personalities present while the second one was more to my taste. Realism is not the priority but having fun certainly is!
We start with "Thunderbolt's Waxwork" and the New Cut Gang comprised of several youths. My main problem here was my inability to keep the kids straight. They all seemed very similar and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't tell them apart. Obviously this makes for a difficult read. The plot itself is also a bit confusing as first the gang is trying to get a sculpture of their friend into a wax museum while also investigating if the father of one of them counterfeited coins. It started with the wax plot and then added in the second awkwardly, which added to my confusion.
The second story is "The Gas Fitter's Ball" which I preferred. In this one, the kids are trying to have a guy propose to his lady love in order to collect on a bet. The mystery comes from some stolen silver. The culprit is fairly obvious but I loved the bumbling attempts of the guy as well as the kids' efforts to ensure that they win their bet. This includes a cute cameo from the Prince of Wales because, why not?
Overall: Cute stories that are well-told; great for younger readers too!
Cover: I love the cute drawings. It captures the chaos of living in their area and references an actual scene from the book.
March 6, 2012
This twosome of books is about the New Cut gang, a gang of well-meaning children based in Victorian Lambeth. On Philip Pullman's website he says:
"Thunderbolt's Waxwork and The Gas-Fitters' Ball are two of my favourites among my stories. There was going to be a series of six of them, but the editor who commissioned them at Puffin left to go to another publisher, and somehow they got abandoned.
"They're funny (I hope) tales about the children in the New Cut Gang, a mixed bunch of vagabonds and rascals in late Victorian Lambeth, and their adventures among the petty crooks and the showmen and the market traders of the time. I like the characters very much, and I love the setting; and one day I shall write some more stories about Benny Kaminsky, and Thunderbolt Dobney, and their friends."
I thought they were funny in places too, and I thought the Victorian setting really came across through the dialect and the use of objects from the time.
"Thunderbolt's Waxwork" tells the tale of how the gang got to the bottom of a counterfeit coins crime and "The Gas-Fitters' Ball" details how the gang solved the mystery over who stole the gas-fitters' hall's antique silver.
Of the two I preferred "The Gas-Fitters Ball" with its concurrent love story which was filled with humour and had a very poignant ending.
My main concern was whether modern day children would still be interested in reading about a gang of children from yesteryear but the stories flowed easily and probably kids of today would love the stories like I did.
"Thunderbolt's Waxwork and The Gas-Fitters' Ball are two of my favourites among my stories. There was going to be a series of six of them, but the editor who commissioned them at Puffin left to go to another publisher, and somehow they got abandoned.
"They're funny (I hope) tales about the children in the New Cut Gang, a mixed bunch of vagabonds and rascals in late Victorian Lambeth, and their adventures among the petty crooks and the showmen and the market traders of the time. I like the characters very much, and I love the setting; and one day I shall write some more stories about Benny Kaminsky, and Thunderbolt Dobney, and their friends."
I thought they were funny in places too, and I thought the Victorian setting really came across through the dialect and the use of objects from the time.
"Thunderbolt's Waxwork" tells the tale of how the gang got to the bottom of a counterfeit coins crime and "The Gas-Fitters' Ball" details how the gang solved the mystery over who stole the gas-fitters' hall's antique silver.
Of the two I preferred "The Gas-Fitters Ball" with its concurrent love story which was filled with humour and had a very poignant ending.
My main concern was whether modern day children would still be interested in reading about a gang of children from yesteryear but the stories flowed easily and probably kids of today would love the stories like I did.
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