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In Egypt’s Fire, the first Curious League of Detectives and Thieves adventure by author Tom Phillips, twelve-year-old John Boarhog went from living in the ceiling of the New York Museum of Natural History to living with Toadius McGee, the greatest detective who ever lived. Now, in the second book, S.O.S., they set out on a new crime-fighting adventure.
The story finds John and Toadius embarking on a different kind of cruise, traveling on an airship that travels thousands of miles above ground. Their mission is to keep the notorious Mauve Moth from successfully pulling off yet another heist—but they soon find that there are multiple stowaways on board. They’re also joined by several members of the Society of Sleuths, who surprise John with his test to become a full member. And it’s up to Toadius, John, and his new friends to find a missing dog, a thieving monkey, and a criminal mastermind before they return to land.
As soon as John and Toadius board the ship, they’re joined by another fun-filled cast of random characters: magicians and crooks and captains and young social media influencers. There are new friends and old—and a couple of rivals, too. There’s never a dull moment in John’s second twisting, turning adventure—and that makes it an entertaining read that’s hard to set aside.
Readers of all ages will enjoy this unusual comic crime thriller. It’s filled with quirky characters, mysteries, and surprises. And it’s cleverly written, too, in a way that doesn’t talk down to young readers. Though John’s latest quest sometimes feels a little random—just one bizarre side adventure after another—that’s all just a part of the wild and wacky madcap fun. Along the way, though, readers get to know a little more about John and his mysterious past. They’ll meet lovable new characters and enjoy a whole lot of laughs along the way. And no matter how random and silly it may seem, all of these mysteries and missions and seemingly unrelated side stories come together in the end. And when they do, readers will be left anxiously awaiting more answers in the next installment.
For kids (and parents) who love a read that’s smart and suspenseful and silly, too, this series is a must-read. It’s full of laughter and surprises, but it’s strangely heartfelt, too—a series that will make you look forward to bedtime, just so you can find out what happens next.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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