The Great Cheese Conspiracy

Merciless Marvin the Magnificent #1

by Jean Van Leeuwen

If Jimmy Cagney had been a mouse, he might have been Marvin the Magnificent. This story of three mice out to make a major cheese heist is guaranteed to delight young listeners even as it makes their parents smile and wink at each other. Perfect for family listening.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Animals, Young Readers

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Jean Van Leeuwen was an American children's book author, of over forty children's books, including the Oliver Pig series, and Bound for Oregon.

Reviews

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun gangster-themed story about mice who want to pull off a heist at a cheese shop. The narrative is entertaining and is reminiscent of old movies. In fact, the mice base their dialogue, ideas and behavior on the numerous movies they've seen since they live in a movie theater. The illustrations are in black and white and complement the story nicely.

Our oldest borrowed this book from her third grade class; she's read it several times and liked it so much that she asked to bring it home. Our youngest didn't like it nearly as much, but on the whole, we all found it to be an interesting story, especially when Giovanni the cat comes into the story. We enjoyed reading this story together.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this in two nights, the boys would have preferred it in one sitting! They laughed a lot, clearly missed all the old movie references but it didn't seem to matter one bit. Smart of the publishers to re-release - we would have missed it. Now I will seek out the other books featuring Merciless Marvin for them to read to themselves.

[Christine Kallner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I forgot to log this book back when we read it in June (or so) -- it was actually one of our first chapter book read-alouds as we've been starting to read those in addition to picture books. It may not be my favorite of what we've been reading lately, but it was still a fun adventure/mystery that my 5-year old really enjoyed. It is a great length for a beginning chapter book, too.

Fast-forward to last night when we picked up our first Christmas chapter book of the season, The Great Christmas Kidnapping Caper, and we were both surprised to discover that it is actually a sequel to this other book we read a few months ago! And apparently there are three more books after the Christmas one -- so I guess I'll be tracking those down as well.

[Piper Lehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really cute! The narrator for the audiobook made it that much better, it was such a fun story to fly through. The pictures also made it even more fun.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable little book about some mice living in a movie theater, who watch a lot of films about bank robbers. When they decide their gang is going to rob a cheese store, they come up with one hilarious plan after another and have several daring escapes, but no cheese. It's up to their fearless leader to pull off the biggest cheese heist in mouse history!

I love stories about mice because they are the ultimate underdog characters! These little guys come up with some ingenious and hilarious projects, and I love the humor and silliness in the writing.

This would be the perfect book to read aloud to children, or for a child just starting to read chapter books. So cute!

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has a cute premise that will appeal to young readers, a gang of mice try to knock over a cheese store. However, the "Cagneyesque" dialogue is simply too dated or mature for young readers who are not well versed in older gangster movies and so much of the story will be lost on them.

[Chazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merciless Marvin the Magnificent feels that life has gotten too easy and soft for his gang. Living in a movies theater, watching movies and eating all the food you can find is not a real world. Marvin thinks it is time to get out and do something daring!

Calling his gang for a meeting, Fats the Fuse, Raymond the Rat put their minds together with Marvin to come up with something. It's time for a robbery! The place is the cheese shop that is in the same block as the movie theater.

Raymond the Rat is the architect and Fats is back up. This gang of slapstick characters is determined to succeed, the problem is there are a few barriers that they had not planned on.

This is a book for chapter readers and comes with illustrations to add to the reading pleasure. It may be a kids book but I find that kids books can still be a Goodread no matter what your age.

[Stephen Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book for young kids about a trio of rats that live in a movie theatre and watch so many movies, they fancy themselves gangsters. Tired of the petty crimes of stealing peanuts and popcorn, they plan a heist of a cheese store outside of the theatre using their knowledge gained from gangster films and war movies.
It’s a delightful short tale with a few old movie references that might make it fun for parents doing a read aloud.
⚠️Parental Warnings ⚠️
None.

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this fifth book of a series, Merciless Marvin the Magnificent is tired of small time heists involving popcorn machines and candy bars and decides his gang of mice is ready for the "Big Time". Can they leave the relative safety of the movie theater and pull off a foolproof plan to rob a nearby cheese shop? Van Leeuwen creates a lighthearted caper of short chapters and easily read text. Unfortunately, most of the movie humor will be lost on the targeted audience.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The three mice (Merciless Marvin the Magnificent, Raymond the Rat and Fats the Fuse) live in a movie theater. After seeing so many crime movies, they decide to commit the "crime of the century" and knock over the cheese store. But their plan doesn't quite go as planned.

As a kid, I read this book over and over.

[Kasandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and sweet, funny with great twists, and an ending I definitely did not see coming! Adorable illustrations. A keeper, and good for kids of all ages, though the old-time gangster in-jokes won't likely be appreciated by the youngest (they won't care, it's fun)!

[LEOLA MCKEE · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the book it is a good book

[David Mccarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first caper book.

[Grace DeBaltzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book about mice who are thieves. The main character is a lot of fun and has a very persistent personality.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Type of book you read when you want to read a silly and ridiculous (in a good way) book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, fun read!

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book because of the illustrator, Imero Gobbato. His drawings were a highlight of the book for me.

[Gabby Proice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raymond was the real mvp

[Surya Challa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book without pictures.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read. It was funny in its portrayal of the mice characters, but I wasn't particularly fond of any of them. The "leader" of the gang was a self-congratulatory mouse that was full of himself. I took the opportunity to ask the kids what they thought of him and asked what we could learn from his behavior, so it wasn't a complete failure. The kids enjoyed the suspense and it is mild enough for younger kids who are ready for a chapter book beyond Magic Treehouse.

[Elentarien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely for children. But it was amusing, and well read/acted. Good addition to a collection by this company. I can't say I found it 'funny', more than mildly amusing. It wasn't as painful to listen to as an adult as some of the newer stuff is.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as The Great Christmas Kidnapping Caper but a fun read nonetheless (and this from one who generally shuns animal stories.) The fast pace and slight mystery should serve to keep young readers interest in check.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a group of mice that live in a movie theater. Marvin has watched too many gangster movies and is restless. He wants to pull "a big job." He discovers a cheese shop in the neighborhood. Marvin and his friends have to figure out a way to get into the shop and steal the cheese.

[Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book. Probably would've rated it 2.5 stars for the written book, but the audiobook gets a full three stars. It has jazzy interludes between scenes and chapters, and the characters all have fun, cartoony-ham voices and accents that give it extra charm.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an absolutely classic like The Great Christmas Kidnapping Caper, but Van Leeuwen's writing is as funny as ever, the three mice are endearing and perfectly drawn, and the story is swift (although a little too slim.) Now I want to track down the other two books in the series!

[Powers Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite the caper! Amusing, a fun listen for a car ride.

[Joe Bolin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! The first in a short series for middle fourth-grade readers, this book has great gangster movie theme with strong characters.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mice who want to be gangsters? A cheese store target? What's not to love about this re-printed classic?

[Yoselis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful adventure that you can fully see in your head as a movie. Sprinkled in are some wisdom tid-bits and the characters are lovable.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS WHEN I WAS A KID, OMG.