Ein denkwürdiger Diebstahl

The Swifts #2

by Beth Lincoln, Leena Flegler (translator), Kai Schüttler (illustrator)

Raub auf Französisch

Erbschaft, Mahlstrom, Schelmerei … Bei den Swifts haben alle Familienmitglieder Namen, die so außergewöhnlich sind wie sie selbst!


Eine berühmte Verbrecherbande nimmt das Anwesen der Swifts ins Visier und tauscht ein wertvolles Gemälde gegen einen explodierenden aufblasbaren Vogel ein. Sofort nimmt Schelmerei die Verfolgung auf und ist fest entschlossen, die Diebe zu stellen. Die Spur führt nach Paris, zu ihren französischen Verwandten, den Martinets. Die beiden Familien sind seit Jahrhunderten zerstritten, doch als weitere Raubüberfälle geschehen, müssen sie sich zusammentun, um das Geheimnis zu lüften.

Band 2 der humorvollen Familiengeschichte

In dieser humorvollen Familiengeschichte für Kinder ab 10 Jahren wird ein rätselhafter Kriminalfall gelöst, wobei außergewöhnliche Figuren auf ein cooles Setting treffen. Der innovative Aufhänger, dass der Name den Charakter einer Figur vorgibt, regt zum Nachdenken über Fragen der Identität und persönlichen Entwicklung an. Die Schwarz-Weiß-Illustrationen von Kai Schüttler treffen den besonderen Ton der Geschichte und runden das Leseerlebnis ab. Knives Out im Kinderbuch!


Der Titel ist bei Antolin gelistet.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Fiction, Childrens, Family, Humor, Audiobook

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2024

Reviews

[Shaila]

Let’s just say this: God bless the publisher who was crazy or bold enough to say yes to a witty murder mystery series for kids who can appreciate a good pun or play on words. It sounds so weird, but this is one of the best MG books we’ve read this year. And surprisingly, it’s even better than the first in the series, which we loved last year. It’s like Beth Lincoln is a really good mystery writer who thought the world probably didn’t need another adult mystery series, so she is bringing that same quality to introduce the genre to a new generation. We are here for it!

[Sean]

I was so worried about if this book was going to live up to the first Swifts. Clearly I had nothing to be worried about because Beth Lincoln has done it again! Everything about this book was wonderful. It’s so unique and fun and interesting and I absolutely adore it with all of my heart. The plot is intriguing and the characters are ridiculous but also just great. It’s middle grade, but it doesn’t feel like it’s condescending or treating the reader like a baby. Honestly, everyone should be reading the Swifts no matter your age. It’s perfect for the whole family!

[matty!]

Both "The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels" and "The Swifts: A Gallery of Rogues" manage to capture the narrative of childhood with delightful accuracy and wit. I would love to write a literary analysis on the exact reasons Beth Lincoln is able to accomplish these things, but until I do that I will just leave fun quotes below! (Please note all quotes are from the ARC and thus not final.)

I do want to touch on how flawlessly the author integrates queer/bipoc details into both books. Characters are referred to with nonbinary pronouns without question; characters of color aren't just the Token Diverse Characters, but actually have autonomy and personality. It is refreshing to read this in a series where children are the target demographic of readers. Kids are awesome! Kids have so many emotions and thoughts that adults are too disillusioned to conceptualize! These books are very, very good and very, very smart.

******************

"Escapology was a very useful skill to have, like juggling, and could be helpful in all sorts of situations." (5)

"'So Felicity is staying in the Family murder hotel?' demanded Shenanigan, who felt that an important injustice was being overlooked. 'How come I don't get to stay in the Family murder hotel?'" (16)

"Since it lacked a jungle, a mountain, or dangerous local wildlife, Paris had never been high on Shenanigan's list of places to visit. [...] She would even get to experience streets. Plural! The local village only had the one. Paris must have at least ten." (22)

"Shenanigan, who was no more than a second away from throwing things most of the time anyway, hurled the balloon at the wall as hard as she could." (108)

[Skye Elder]

This was a very intriguing book.
Also very enjoyable and had me trying to figure so many mysteries.
I love it!

[Molly]

I didn’t think it was possible for me to like this one more than the first one, but WOW! This book is so, so worth reading. This whole series is delightful, and it’s one of my favorite things I’ve read in a long time (overall, not just of children’s and middle grade lit). Do yourself a favor and read them both, posthaste. And then, sign my informal petition to Beth Lincoln begging for a third book.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads]

Still just as clever and funny as the first book, and with some nice gender diversity. The Parisian setting was fun, and we all laughed out loud a few times as we listened. But we also all agreed the plot dragged a tad more than book 1; and it probably should’ve been a little shorter.

[Jennifer]

4.5 stars. While the magic of the first book could never be replicated, this sequel was a magnificent follow-up. Another cleverly written, all-ages mystery, full of fun, intrigue, and somehow exploring very complex emotions at the same time. So many twists and turns with a very satisfying conclusion. I loved the added layer of wordplay introduced with the setting of France. So looking forward to the next one!

[Mehsi]

Meeting new family members (Martinets), crimes are happening, things are stolen, we go to Paris, stay in a hotel that is even stranger than the Swifts normal house (but also a lot tamer which is nice... well unless of course you get lost, oops. I loved finding out more what happened to Pierrot and why Ouvolpo (or whatever it was called) was targeting Pierrot while it didn't seem to fit in their MO. Also lots of fancy words, tons of shenanigans, is that a romance between Uncle Maelstrom and that police dude (because I am seriously in for that), also a ton of great illustrations!

Long review in Nov or Dec.

[Layli]

Better on re-read!! I actually enjoyed it even more than the first novel in the series. Strangely enough, the last time I read them it was the other way round. Very well written and plotted excellently - I really love Beth Lincoln’s writing style, she has a very distinctive voice and well rounded characters. A very neatly plotted murder mystery about art thieves, extended family and French.

[Shannon]

These books are so, so good. Clever, funny, and sweet, I genuinely think they deserve a place on everyone’s “Must Read” list. They’re the perfect amount of quirky and whimsical, and every character is unique and brings something important to the story.
I think both books are equally entertaining and well-plotted, the sequel definitely living up to the precedent that A Dictionary of Scoundrels set. If you want a middle grade novel to read that is enjoyable regardless of how old you are, please please read these books.

[Mom]

This second offering by Beth Lincoln doesn't disappoint, it is full of intrigue and twists that you loved about the first book. I must confess that I was confused for the better part of this mystery. The first book was relatable because it revolved around a family reunion. This one continues in their future but everyone is doing their own thing and it's hard to keep up with them. Plus we are introduced to a whole new branch of the family before we even got comfortable with the original sect. The plot wasn't as surprising or as eye-popping as the first, or even as satisfying. I still want to read the next one coming out though.

[Linda 😊 Tam]

Simply amazing! Several passages of writing that stopped me in my tracks and just made me feel joy. Plus, for a tween/YA book, this has the most smolderingist, hottest unrealized sexual tension between two adults that I have ever had the pleasure to read! I have never formally studied French, so I’m sure I didn’t get all of the cross-language wordplay, but I did appreciate that the Parisian setting is located on the “Rue Regrette”… I am assuming that “regrette” is French for the English “rue.”

[Gina]

It's rare that a sequel can capture the magic of the first installment, but this one comes close. While, as usual, there were too many new characters and not enough time spent with those already established, the new characters were not boring or annoying. And this one feels like the author recognized the who of the mysteries wasn't nearly as compelling as the how. I loved the deja vu chapter for this.

[Barb reads......it ALL!]

Always engaging, always imaginative, always fun!
Bring on more Swifts!

[Stephanie Powell]

Sequels can be disappointing and this one did not disappoint ! It was delightful and allowed you to fall in love with the characters quirky traits. Creative and educational and fun.

[Margot]

heel toevallig las ik dit boek over kunstroof tijdens louvreroof. in deze boeken voel je gewoon het schrijfplezier van de auteur, genieten

[BookstrovertReviews]

A Gallery of Rogues is the perfect sequel to A Dictionary of Scoundrels!

I am always down for a murder mystery, or any mystery really, and this one did not disappoint. This book was a fun and page-turning read with a very satisfying resolution to the gripping puzzle.

In the first book, one of my favorite things were the characters and all of their fun, quirky personalities. The new characters in a Gallery of Rogues did not let me down! I especially loved how every member of the Ouvolpo were each so unique. I also loved the Martinets and seeing how different, yet similar, they are to the Swifts. Even though there is definitely an big ensemble cast of both new and old characters, Beth Lincoln is so good at creating characters that each stands out in their own way!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed diving back into to Shenanigan's shenanigans (lol) and I can't wait to read what comes next!

[Marc]

A Gallery of Rogues is a delightful second tale in the Swift series. It's just as funny with a fair number of puns and a story that incorporates clowns in a way that does not feel creepy or odd.

Beth Lincoln provides a good (and welcome) escape from the daft political news here in the United States (halfway through February 2025).

Recommended!

[Victor The Reader]

The follow-up to their first story now sees Shenanigan Swift and her family traveling to France when they become the victims of an art heist by a famous group of underground thieves. It won’t be long until they get entangled in a long family feud with Parisian relatives, pose as hotel workers, and discover that it’s all connected closer than they’ll believe.

Right away, there’s definitely plenty more of that exhilarating storytelling found with a French twist added and even more dangerous situations. The more deeper it gets, the more it also sees our characters uncovering more secrets that make it so enticing. Another Swift adventure that delivers, oui? A (95%/Outstanding)

[Patrizia]

Aspettavo il seguito delle avventure degli Swift e sono felice di scrivere che sono stata ripagata dell'attesa.
In questo secondo capitolo Marachella e famiglia si trasferiscono a Parigi dove devono risolvere un mistero riguardante alcune opere d'arte trafugate. Qui ritrovano i Martinet, loro parenti francesi, e ne vedremo delle belle.
È un sequel pieno di avventura, mistero e divertimento e come il precedente appassiona dalla prima all'ultima pagina.
Ringrazio Sarah Allen per il suggerimento.
È stata una piacevole scoperta.
Lettura consigliata. "Marachelloso".

[Candice]

A sequel as full of heart, family, mystery, and wordplay as the first. Tres magnifique!

The cleverness of both the characters and the wordplay between French and English had me chortling, while the way Shenanigan described big feelings had me utterly charmed and in my feels.

Highly recommend!

[Brittany Gillen]

An intriguing sequel, but it was a bit slow. It has an excellent ending, but unfortunately the change in setting, introduction of a second complicated residence, and the new large cast of characters means that the book felt more like a new book than a sequel. It started with a bang but then took too long to get the main ball rolling.

[Melissa Rochelle]

Art, birds, mystery, etymology, amazing & diverse characters -- all things I love in one book. A great way to end 2024 (unless I finish one more...).

Like in the first book about the Swifts, there's murder, but the murdering happens off page while the dead bodies make it on to the page.

[Lily Clark]

I loved the first book when I was younger so I had to pick up the second one. This one was not much of a page turner but i do like the plot and overall essence of the book. With that said, the first book is still my favorite.

[Tim Robinson]

Nowhere near as good as the first one. The novelty has worn off and the action is too slow.

[Crystal Palmer]

I Loved this book. It was thought provoking and fun. I appreciated how the murder wasn’t as gruesome as some of the ones in the first. This book in my opinion was more middle grade worthy. I laughed out loud at shenanigan and cried when she did. I can only hope that more adventures of the Swifts will be written and given to us. Thank you Beth Lincoln

[Hannah | Reading Under Covers]

Another fun adventure featuring the Swifts!

[David Beer]

Really enjoyed this, dry humour at times that I really appreciated and very well written, hope we get more of these.

[Supermomochan (PeachyFishyBooks)]

I love these books! I love the art too. They match perfectly

[Helene]

This book was just as entertaining and funny as the first. A murder mystery for kids 🤩 I read this with my daughter and she loved it so much. I really hope there will be more swifts mysteries to come


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