Play Audiobook Sample
Two Crafty Criminals!: and how they were Captured by the Daring Detectives of the New Cut Gang Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.00) - 133 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
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.
Download and start listening now!
"I love how the author captures the kids point of view from their wild imaginations to their inflated self importance. By the way, I listened to the audiobook version. I expect this book is much better heard aloud than read. I imagine the British slang could get overwhelming if read in print."
— Ryan (4 out of 5 stars)
Two Crafty Criminals! Listener Reviews
-
" Highly amusing. Who knew Philip Pullman could be so hilarious? I was certainly surprised. This would be a fun one to share with kids. "
— Heather, 2/9/2014 -
" Philip Pullman's Two Crafty Criminals consists of two novellas--Thunderbolt's Waxwork and The Gas Fitter's Ball. Like The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials) the stories were probably written for youth, but they are at least as likely (or more) to be appreciated by adults, and like The Golden Compass et al, they are set in Victorian England with a lot of accurate historical trivia. Thunderbolt's Waxwork does have a head scuplted by Benny, not Thunderbolt, which gets placed in the Horror section of the Waxwork Museum, but the real plot is about "uttering snide"--putting fake money into circulation. The smasher was not Thunderbolt's father after all, and the gang is able to prove it and set him free from prison. The Gas Fitter's Ball is ostensibly about getting Dick, an extremely shy guy, to propose to Daisy, a gorgeous girl. However it is really about the theft of some silver, and as the gang discovers the real culprit, they not only help Dick get Daisy, but Orlando, the strong man, get Honoria, the daughter of the Mr. Whittle, the leader of the Ancient and Worshipful Company of Gas-Fitters. The plots are intriguing, but the main interest for the reader is humor. Many time I laughed out loud reading these exploits. My cats thought I was crazy, but I enjoyed the novellas immensely. "
— Marilyn, 2/4/2014 -
" Two stories in one. The New Cut Gang solves mysteries in 1800's London. Humorous, but the vernacular demands a more mature reader. Read-aloud would be a fun option. "
— Julie, 1/23/2014 -
" Quite the romp, with much use of British slang, money, and slapstick. With guidance a young person could be introduced to the basics of gambling and good deeds through the reading of this novel. Fun! "
— Virginia, 1/2/2014 -
" Two fun and funny mysteries with a bit of steampunk flavor. A quick, enjoyable read for adults; ideal for upper-elementary readers. "
— Kathryn, 12/28/2013 -
" It's pretty good, but not great. I had never read any books by Pullman other than His Dark Materials, so I was looking forward to this, but I think maybe it's just targeted at a much younger audience. Probably good for 8-10 year olds. "
— Eileen, 12/9/2013 -
" I like Pullman's writing though I find his political, anti-religious bias off putting to say the least. This book was just dull. Yawn. "
— Amy, 9/23/2013 -
" My only complaint is that this is really two seperate stories. So though the book is over 300 pages each story is about 150 pages. I loved the characters Pullman creates. They are well defined and funny. The plots are a bit fantastic but I was charmed by them. "
— Carol, 8/23/2013 -
" I don't have the patience for this right now. I read about 70 pages - totally bored. Giving up for something else. "
— Sarah, 6/25/2013 -
" I probably would have liked this a lot when I was eight. "
— Emily, 4/12/2013 -
" Fun mysteries for kids. "
— Rachel, 2/2/2013
About Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman is the Whitbread Award–winning author of the bestselling His Dark Materials series—The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass—as well as the Sally Lockhart trio of Victorian mysteries and other books for young readers. Among his other awards, he has won the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in honor of the body of his work.
About Bruce Mann
Bruce Mann, Earphones Award–winning narrator,studied classical acting at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has been a successful voice-over artist and actor for over ten years.