What do you think?
Rate this book
Lori and Max and the Book Thieves
A stolen phone and an unruly dog; a buried lunchbox and an antique children's book. Lori and Max must dig through layers of lies to solve two mysteries.Second in the Lori and Max detective series.'A wittily told detective story about two eccentric and endearing girls – it's a real page-turner.' Jacqueline Wilson
127 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2020
13 people want to read
About the author
Catherine O'Flynn
10 books111 followersCatherine O'Flynn, born in 1970, is a British writer.
Her debut novel, What Was Lost, won the Costa First Novel Award, was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award, The Commonwealth Writers' Prize and The Southbank Show Literature Award. It was longlisted for the Booker and Orange Prizes. She was named Waterstone’s Newcomer of the Year at the 2008 Galaxy British Book Awards.
Her second novel The News Where You Are, published in 2010, was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, an Edgar Allen Poe Award and was a Channel 4 TV Book Club selection.
Her third novel Mr Lynch's Holiday is published in 2013.
Her debut novel, What Was Lost, won the Costa First Novel Award, was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award, The Commonwealth Writers' Prize and The Southbank Show Literature Award. It was longlisted for the Booker and Orange Prizes. She was named Waterstone’s Newcomer of the Year at the 2008 Galaxy British Book Awards.
Her second novel The News Where You Are, published in 2010, was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, an Edgar Allen Poe Award and was a Channel 4 TV Book Club selection.
Her third novel Mr Lynch's Holiday is published in 2013.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 5, 2021
Lori & Max and The Book Thieves is the second book in the series from Costa award-winning author Catherine O'Flynn. Although I hadn't read the first Lori and Max adventure, that didn’t impact on the structure of the story, as O’Flynn appears to write each book as a standalone adventure. Although, I am sure that many young readers would like to read the developing series in published order, as I did when I was a child.
Lori & Max and The Book Thieves is a rip-roaring, fast paced adventure story and a great introduction to crime fiction, allowing its reader to 'join the dots' as the story unfolds. Our super sleuthing heroine is Lori who, with her loyal side kick Max, yearns to be a private detective. She spends her days actively seeking for signs of criminal activity at school and on the streets, keeping note of almost everything she sees in her secret notebook. This aspect did make me smile as it brought memories of my own childhood, when my friend and I would walk up and down our very short cul-de-sac taking down the number plates of parked cars…just in case. We were never really sure what use our meticulous notes would serve, but I suspect that our notebooks resembled those of Lori’s.
Unfortunately though, and much to Lori's displeasure, nothing much seems to happen in the town where she lives. And things don’t even start to improve when Max’s phone is stolen, and the feisty girls find themselves in hot pursuit of phone thieving bullies. This is a great introduction to crime fiction, allowing its reader to 'join the dots' as the story unfolds. While the main focus of this story is the detective skills of the amateur sleuthing duo, the themes of family, friendship, loss and issues surrounding mental health are woven neatly through the story. And while these are intrinsic elements to the story, O’Flynn approaches these with the lightest of touches appropriate to the age range of the intended reader.
O’Flynn has created some great side characters from antique loving grandmothers to egotistical TV antique dealers which add a sense of fun to the story. This is an enjoyable read and one that would be perfect read aloud to a class, or just curled up on the sofa on a wet Saturday, or in the garden on a sunny Wednesday.
Lori & Max and The Book Thieves is a rip-roaring, fast paced adventure story and a great introduction to crime fiction, allowing its reader to 'join the dots' as the story unfolds. Our super sleuthing heroine is Lori who, with her loyal side kick Max, yearns to be a private detective. She spends her days actively seeking for signs of criminal activity at school and on the streets, keeping note of almost everything she sees in her secret notebook. This aspect did make me smile as it brought memories of my own childhood, when my friend and I would walk up and down our very short cul-de-sac taking down the number plates of parked cars…just in case. We were never really sure what use our meticulous notes would serve, but I suspect that our notebooks resembled those of Lori’s.
Unfortunately though, and much to Lori's displeasure, nothing much seems to happen in the town where she lives. And things don’t even start to improve when Max’s phone is stolen, and the feisty girls find themselves in hot pursuit of phone thieving bullies. This is a great introduction to crime fiction, allowing its reader to 'join the dots' as the story unfolds. While the main focus of this story is the detective skills of the amateur sleuthing duo, the themes of family, friendship, loss and issues surrounding mental health are woven neatly through the story. And while these are intrinsic elements to the story, O’Flynn approaches these with the lightest of touches appropriate to the age range of the intended reader.
O’Flynn has created some great side characters from antique loving grandmothers to egotistical TV antique dealers which add a sense of fun to the story. This is an enjoyable read and one that would be perfect read aloud to a class, or just curled up on the sofa on a wet Saturday, or in the garden on a sunny Wednesday.
August 17, 2021
Okay, so I enjoyed this book but I have a complaint about the title. The book's about a stolen phone, introduced by page 25 and a stolen book, which we learn about on around page 118, until then we think it is just missing. So why call the book "Lori and Max and the Book Thieves", giving a clue about the situation with the book, instead of "Lori and Max and the Phone Thieves" which at least is obvious from early on in the book?
I love Lori and Max and the other characters in the book, they're all really well written and feel like real people.
I love Lori and Max and the other characters in the book, they're all really well written and feel like real people.
August 29, 2021
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and this didn’t disappoint.
Whilst there is the mystery of the missing book to be solved Lori and Max also set out on a mission to catch another criminal - helping Taylor (the new boy) to break free from the threats of a criminal gang.
An added case which was a pleasing addition.
This book contained less peril than the first but the mystery is good and as always Lori collects the evidence she needs to solve the crimes.
Easy to read and enjoyable I would recommend for age 8+
Whilst there is the mystery of the missing book to be solved Lori and Max also set out on a mission to catch another criminal - helping Taylor (the new boy) to break free from the threats of a criminal gang.
An added case which was a pleasing addition.
This book contained less peril than the first but the mystery is good and as always Lori collects the evidence she needs to solve the crimes.
Easy to read and enjoyable I would recommend for age 8+
December 11, 2020
A brilliant cozy mystery that was well written and came to a satisfactory end. I loved the main characters and the dual narrative. The plot was a fantastically weaved mystery. It was unpredictable and fun. We got to see all of the characters flaws and strengths which made them pretty well-rounded. The epilogue finished things off neatly by telling us what happened next to the characters. It was a great read an I would definitely recommend it.
October 9, 2024
I’m not sure how to feel about this book. It was good enough to make me want to read more but at the same time, I was a little confused when the story switched from first person to third person. Also, so many of the adults in this book are just truly awful people and it was a little darker than I expected. I did, however, love the kindness of the sweet shop owner and the teacher. Using the dog as a plot device was also a win for me because… dogs!
March 16, 2021
Lori and Max are intelligent and likeable protagonists. Relevant to the age group with immersive crime-solving, this is an engaging first crime fiction book. Action and adventure, vibrant characters and an urban setting with contemporary issues explored insightfully by the author.
I received a copy of this book from Firefly Press via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
October 30, 2022
This is the follow up to Lori and Max and now that the girls have been properly introduced to each other they discover they share a love of mystery solving. I was so excited to hear a second book would be coming out and was not disappointed. In this book loris grandmas love of antiques and car boot sales comes into use when the two girls uncover a crime.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2021
I don’t read many children’s books, but having a small child I thought I would test the waters. I loved this fun and exciting children’s book and would thoroughly enjoy reading it to my child when she is a bit older.
December 8, 2021
A super mystery story and I particularly loved the characters, especially nan.
January 9, 2022
I wasn't greatly excited by this story and felt I would have got more from it had I read the first book first.
July 5, 2022
It’s perfect- has everything you need and expect for a childrens detective novel: clues, suspicious behaviour, stake outs, trap plots and crazy hats. Loved it!
October 23, 2020
Catherine O'Flynn returns with the second adventure in her Lori and Max series. Lori and Max and the Book Thieves involves our intrepid school age sleuths investigating an unruly dog, a buried lunchbox and an antique children's book. Lori and Max are very loveable, slightly eccentric children, I find them very endearing. Catherine O'Flynn writes well and with humour, her Lori and Max mystery stories are great for children aged between 8 and 12. Ideal for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, recommended.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews