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Moone Boy #2
Moone Boy: The Fish Detective
Successful film and TV star Chris O'Dowd collaborates with friend and fellow screenwriter Nick Vincent Murphy on Moone The Fish Detective , the second book in this hilarious illustrated series inspired by the Sky TV series they co-wrote.
Martin's parents are strapped for it's going to be a budget Christmas this year. So Martin plans to buy his own presents - and attempts, unsuccessfully, to get a job. Padraic puts in a word for him with his Auntie Bridget, who runs the local butcher's shop. But her shop is struggling as the fish shop across the road undercuts her, and Bridget just can't compete. No one knows how the owner, Francie Feeley, does it - especially since he doesn't seem to employ anyone at his fish factory. No one goes in; no one comes out - it's a mystery.
Intrigued, Martin decides to go undercover and find out the truth, like a fish-mole - or a fish detective. Martin infiltrates the factory and discovers that Francie is illegally employing a gang of Brazilian fish-gutters. They're a lot of fun and one of them, Fabio, becomes Martin's good friend. But when Martin is exposed as a spy, he has to choose which side he's on. Will Christmas be ruined for the whole of Boyle?
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2015
29 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
About the author
Chris O'Dowd
22 books40 followersChristopher O'Dowd is an Irish actor, best known for comedic roles such as Miles Daly in the Epix comedy series Get Shorty and Roy Trenneman in the Channel 4 comedy The IT Crowd. O'Dowd created and starred in the Sky 1 television series Moone Boy, which aired between 2012 and 2015.He co-wrote a series based on his childhood called Moone Boy for Sky 1. Segments of the series are filmed in his hometown, Boyle. A book based on the series and also co-written by O'Dowd, Moone Boy: The Blunder Years, was published in May 2015. He had a recurring role on the comedy-drama series Girls.
O'Dowd is also known for his film roles, most notably Bridesmaids (2011), This Is 40 (2012), The Sapphires (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Calvary (2014), and St. Vincent (2014). He made his Broadway debut in the play adaptation of Of Mice and Men in 2014, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award.
O'Dowd is also known for his film roles, most notably Bridesmaids (2011), This Is 40 (2012), The Sapphires (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Calvary (2014), and St. Vincent (2014). He made his Broadway debut in the play adaptation of Of Mice and Men in 2014, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 17, 2018
I think this was a very good and sneaky book. I watched the series of moone boy first and then read this! Its set in Ireland where this boy has an imaginary friend.
Read
July 29, 2022I love the TV series, and was so happy to find the book: mistakenly thinking they were equal. They are not.
The TV series is about family.
At the end of the day, no matter what the script was it all came back to family.
This was just another mouth piece for the Almighty Agenda that is Publishing In The Twenty-First Century.
(I love that an entire chapter is dedicated to "They committed no crimes" meanwhile entering and working in a country illegally is a crime! So zero points for that).
Is nothing sacred anymore? Is nothing beyond the scope of The 'Trends In Propaganda'?
Must we all constantly be subjected to non-stop lecturing???
Anyone else just miss happy-go-lucky stories?
The TV series is about family.
At the end of the day, no matter what the script was it all came back to family.
This was just another mouth piece for the Almighty Agenda that is Publishing In The Twenty-First Century.
(I love that an entire chapter is dedicated to "They committed no crimes" meanwhile entering and working in a country illegally is a crime! So zero points for that).
Is nothing sacred anymore? Is nothing beyond the scope of The 'Trends In Propaganda'?
Must we all constantly be subjected to non-stop lecturing???
Anyone else just miss happy-go-lucky stories?
March 13, 2017
O’Dowd, Chris and Murphy, Nick V. Moone Boy the Fish Detective. #327 pages. Feiwel and Friends Press (Macmillan), 2015. $14.99. Language: PG ( 7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.
Martin Moone’s family has fallen on hard times and he soon realizes that if he is going to get the game boy he wants he will need to earn it for himself. So he finds a job at Cross Country Meats as the butcher’s assistant. But when the business is threatened by the Fancy Fishatorium across the street. Martin moonlights as a fish detective, infiltrating the super secret fish factory, convinced that there are fishy things going on!
The book has witty and clever parts but the language and the abundance of mature potty humor make this book a bit too crass for the readers for whom it seems to be intended. The story and plot seem to nothing but a vehicle by which to gross out the reader. The pictures throughout are lively and fun and will definitely be appealing to some.
MS - NO. Reviewer: Jen M. Elementary Librarian.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
Martin Moone’s family has fallen on hard times and he soon realizes that if he is going to get the game boy he wants he will need to earn it for himself. So he finds a job at Cross Country Meats as the butcher’s assistant. But when the business is threatened by the Fancy Fishatorium across the street. Martin moonlights as a fish detective, infiltrating the super secret fish factory, convinced that there are fishy things going on!
The book has witty and clever parts but the language and the abundance of mature potty humor make this book a bit too crass for the readers for whom it seems to be intended. The story and plot seem to nothing but a vehicle by which to gross out the reader. The pictures throughout are lively and fun and will definitely be appealing to some.
MS - NO. Reviewer: Jen M. Elementary Librarian.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
June 22, 2016
Moone Boy: The Fish Detective I won a free copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
I picked up this book because I was looking for something light and funny after the events of last weekend. This book fulfilled that requirement and while the humor was a little juvenile in parts, that's to be expected for a book aimed toward middle-grade aged children. What made me rate it so highly was the message in this book, which I didn't expect. With all the xenophobic rhetoric that's being thrown around it's extremely relevant and I'm glad to see acceptance of others being pushed so heavily in a book aimed toward the middle-grade crowd. I needed that after last weekend.
I picked up this book because I was looking for something light and funny after the events of last weekend. This book fulfilled that requirement and while the humor was a little juvenile in parts, that's to be expected for a book aimed toward middle-grade aged children. What made me rate it so highly was the message in this book, which I didn't expect. With all the xenophobic rhetoric that's being thrown around it's extremely relevant and I'm glad to see acceptance of others being pushed so heavily in a book aimed toward the middle-grade crowd. I needed that after last weekend.
June 26, 2016
Fun book. can't wait to read it to my kiddos.
March 3, 2021
The first Moone Boy was zippy, unexpected, quirky, and hilarious. Second Moone Boy was convoluted, disorganized, bloated, and not very funny. Skip it.
March 20, 2017
After reading the first Moone boy and finishing seasons 1,2 and 3 on Sky, I wanted more Moone boy. Then I discovered there was a second book (which I am reviewing right now) The Fish Detective. When I first looked at this book I had suspicions. Then I read the introduction, and it was one of the most hilarious things I read in my life. Then after a few days I fell in love with this book. After finishing it I was in stitches, it was the funniest thing I ever read. Once I finished it I lent it to friend after friend, and all were laughing like crazy. I highly recommend this book it's funny, smart and original. A must read for all ages.
November 18, 2021
Martin wants a game boy and realizes the only way he'll get one is if he gets a job. Padraic helps him get a job at his aunts butcher shop, but his aunt has stiff competition from Francie Feeley's fish shop. She sends Martin to work undercover at the fish factory to find out how Francie can sell his fish so freshly and so cheaply. Can Martin uncover the fishy secrets and wake up early enough to take the make up off that his sisters put on him?
The show is still better but for pre-teens this is a good series. Amusing, silly and fun. Part of the plot is in the show and I wonder what it would have been like had they done it all.
The show is still better but for pre-teens this is a good series. Amusing, silly and fun. Part of the plot is in the show and I wonder what it would have been like had they done it all.
October 27, 2020
Another winner with these reluctant readers! My kids even requested it to be read with my awful Irish accent... I seriously don’t know what’s wrong with them. Even before we’d finished, my youngest (12) was already asking if we could order the next book. I then had to lie through my teeth and tell him that I would look into getting it but it was very difficult to find in North America... when in actuality, it was actually already in the mail on its way, but it’s earmarked as a Christmas gift, so here’s hoping he’s forgotten about it until then.
August 15, 2017
Read with 10 year old and we loved it more than the first one. Laugh out loud funny! Watched the tv series after reading the first and recommend that too. Different brand of humour than anything we've seen.
November 16, 2017
Loved it from start to finish need to find the 1st book some where
July 13, 2018
Not as good as the TV show, but still funny.
August 1, 2019
Not quite as funny as the first book but still an enjoyable read.
Read
October 19, 2019good i liked it
July 16, 2020
So funny and topical. Liked the first book better, but it was still very entertaining. Laughed out loud a few times
June 22, 2022
Humorous story. The plot may be a bit heavy for early middle school readers. Still, there a couple of morals espoused and no real violence. Much easier to read if you have seen the series.
September 29, 2019
No tale pa je bla mal drgačna od serije, tam samo spoznamo smrdečega pretirano objemajočega lastnika ribarnice, tukej pa Martin tam dobi neplačano službo, se spoprijatelji z Brazilskimi delavci in jim potem na koncu pomaga rešit njihova delovna mesta, ko so jih zarad njega skorej zgubili, k se je cela vas obrnila prot njim - da so ukradli delo ki ga noben drug ni hotu opravljat.
Pa oče mu za Božič naredi Same Boy, k nimajo dost dnarja za Game Boy :) hehe
Pa oče mu za Božič naredi Same Boy, k nimajo dost dnarja za Game Boy :) hehe
September 8, 2016
3.5
Chris O’Dowd and Nick V. Murphy have done it again. Kids who like the Diary of a Wimpy kid series (which continues to be popular non-stop at my library) will enjoy the illustrations and underdog nature of Moone Boy.
The difference here from other books in the Wimpy Kid vein is that Moone Boy books are narrated by a (kind-of) adult, Martin Moone’s IF (invisible friend) Sean Murphy. Sean often gets Martin in trouble and in general makes him look a bit odd since he’s always seen to be muttering to himself. Due to that and digging holes in the yard from trying to get rid of Loopy Loo (see Moone Boy: the Blunder Years) his parents think he’s a bit odd, but are pleased as punch when he tells them about his two jobs.
The Fish Detective starts out nearing Christmas and what Martin wants more than anything is a Game Boy. However, this year his mom announces it’s Budget Christmas, so if Martin wants a Game Boy, he’ll have to earn it himself. He gets a job at a meat shop, which soon turns into an undercover gig at the fish shop. Just how can Francie Feeley be selling those Christmas Fish so cheap! If Martin can uncover the truth in time for Auntie Bridget to sell her hams, turkeys and meats for Christmas, he’ll get his Game Boy, if not...well it will be nothing!
Hilarious, would be fun to read together with a kid. Or better yet, get Chris O’Dowd to read it to your kid.
Chris O’Dowd and Nick V. Murphy have done it again. Kids who like the Diary of a Wimpy kid series (which continues to be popular non-stop at my library) will enjoy the illustrations and underdog nature of Moone Boy.
The difference here from other books in the Wimpy Kid vein is that Moone Boy books are narrated by a (kind-of) adult, Martin Moone’s IF (invisible friend) Sean Murphy. Sean often gets Martin in trouble and in general makes him look a bit odd since he’s always seen to be muttering to himself. Due to that and digging holes in the yard from trying to get rid of Loopy Loo (see Moone Boy: the Blunder Years) his parents think he’s a bit odd, but are pleased as punch when he tells them about his two jobs.
The Fish Detective starts out nearing Christmas and what Martin wants more than anything is a Game Boy. However, this year his mom announces it’s Budget Christmas, so if Martin wants a Game Boy, he’ll have to earn it himself. He gets a job at a meat shop, which soon turns into an undercover gig at the fish shop. Just how can Francie Feeley be selling those Christmas Fish so cheap! If Martin can uncover the truth in time for Auntie Bridget to sell her hams, turkeys and meats for Christmas, he’ll get his Game Boy, if not...well it will be nothing!
Hilarious, would be fun to read together with a kid. Or better yet, get Chris O’Dowd to read it to your kid.
September 18, 2016
Continuing the adventures of intrepid Martin Moone begun in the first book, Moone Boy, this title follows Martin and his invisible friend Sean Murphy as they get into even more trouble. Martin desperately wants a Game Boy for Christmas, but since times are tough, his parents cannot afford one. In fact, they even make every family member responsible for some part of the holiday festivities, including finding a Christmas tree. After failing at several jobs, Martin finally finds a job as a butcher's boy, but he's not very good at what he does. His employer, the curmudgeonly Bridget Cross, enlists his services in spying on her competitor, Francie Feeley. To his surprise, he discovers the secret to Francie's success, and everything turns out just fine for everyone except Bridget. But that doesn't happen without a few hiccups and a betrayal from Padraic, Martin's best friend. The book is humorous, especially with its asides and references to Irish terms or foods. But even though middle grade readers will be amused--yes, it has that sort of humor--it does tackle some current issues concerning xenophobia and immigration in a thoughtful fashion. I guarantee you've never read a spy book quite like this one. The book was originally published in Great Britain, giving fans of that particular sort of humor a chance to bask in it while providing an introduction to what might be considered humorous in another country.
September 12, 2016
Not as good as the original first story.
August 12, 2016
-I won this book from a Goodreads Giveaway-
This series is just kind of plain fun. I won the first book from Goodreads, too, and both of these things have been just fun. It's like an Irish Diary of a Wimpy Kid that I'm pretty sure takes place in the '90s, which is rad and something that I didn't catch in the first one.
It's got a sort of humor that is almost dumb humor, definitely dry humor, and just definitely a pretty hilarious kind of book. I don't really have much to say about it, because it was just a fun middle grade book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It was pretty great. Martin is just the right amount of idiot to be incredibly hilarious, and the plot of this one was great.
This series is just kind of plain fun. I won the first book from Goodreads, too, and both of these things have been just fun. It's like an Irish Diary of a Wimpy Kid that I'm pretty sure takes place in the '90s, which is rad and something that I didn't catch in the first one.
It's got a sort of humor that is almost dumb humor, definitely dry humor, and just definitely a pretty hilarious kind of book. I don't really have much to say about it, because it was just a fun middle grade book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It was pretty great. Martin is just the right amount of idiot to be incredibly hilarious, and the plot of this one was great.
July 12, 2016
We snatched this book up when we found it on a shelf in Ireland. We're big fans of the TV series, and though this might be a fun one to read together.
It definitely has the same humor as the show, which is what I was looking for. Enjoyed it quite a bit. There was one part where it sermonizes about illegal immigration a bit much, more because it seemed out of character for Martin Moone than for what was actually said. Otherwise, it was about what to expect for fans of the show.
Also, apparently this is a sequel to another book. Since these are all like TV episodes pulled out of context from the show, I don't feel like I missed anything by not reading the first book.
It definitely has the same humor as the show, which is what I was looking for. Enjoyed it quite a bit. There was one part where it sermonizes about illegal immigration a bit much, more because it seemed out of character for Martin Moone than for what was actually said. Otherwise, it was about what to expect for fans of the show.
Also, apparently this is a sequel to another book. Since these are all like TV episodes pulled out of context from the show, I don't feel like I missed anything by not reading the first book.
May 17, 2016
I received this book from goodreads giveaways.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book but after the first chapter I was hooked. It was funny and extremely entertaining to the point where I just didn't want to put it down. Some may say that it is a childs book but I kinda disagree I think this book is for all ages and lets face everyone can use a good laugh and this book can do just that. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in a funny little story and who doesn't mind reading a book that is recommended for 9-12 year olds.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book but after the first chapter I was hooked. It was funny and extremely entertaining to the point where I just didn't want to put it down. Some may say that it is a childs book but I kinda disagree I think this book is for all ages and lets face everyone can use a good laugh and this book can do just that. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in a funny little story and who doesn't mind reading a book that is recommended for 9-12 year olds.
May 5, 2016
I actually enjoyed Moone Boy: The Fish Detective more than its predecessor and that's rare for me. Sequels usually have a hard time of living up to the hype of the first book, but Chris O'Dowd finds his stride here.
Martin Moone is Greg Heffley's funnier Irish cousin and I can't wait to see what happens next in Martin and Sean 'Caution' Murphy's adventures.
Definitely one of the funniest books I've read this year and one of the most underrated middle grade novels.
Martin Moone is Greg Heffley's funnier Irish cousin and I can't wait to see what happens next in Martin and Sean 'Caution' Murphy's adventures.
Definitely one of the funniest books I've read this year and one of the most underrated middle grade novels.
June 15, 2016
A boy investigates a local fish factory.
The first 60 odd pages were good then story became really bizarre and the writing seemed to drift. At the end I couldn’t decide whether this book was meant for young children or adults.
The first 60 odd pages were good then story became really bizarre and the writing seemed to drift. At the end I couldn’t decide whether this book was meant for young children or adults.
October 27, 2015
Read and reviewed for The Bookbag http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/i...
March 22, 2016
It was about a boy called Martin who really wanted a game boy for Christmas but his family was broke so he there fore took up the job of a butcher, fish gutter and detective known as m double one
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2016
Just as fun and quirky as the show. Loved it!
May 20, 2016
I liked this better than the first one. (and I'm not just saying that because I saw Chris and Nick at the 2016 BookCon panel, and loved their live reading of part of the book)
September 6, 2016
Nice adaptation of the television series. Reused a few scenes, but also included new material. Silly, fun fare for the tween set.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews