A very good detective story, realistic, heartfelt with a quirky twist. Features children with different social backgrounds. That makes for some interesting humour whilst instilling a good feel factor at the end. A book you might want to track down.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable contemporary detective story that would be enjoyed by boys or girls from 7 upwards. Lori and Max are two great characters - Lori lives with her gran after the death of both her parents when she was a baby, and is an obsessively observant detective. Her friend Max is dealing with having to move house after her parent's separation (Dad's gambling problem and Mum's depression are alluded to) which is causing them financial problems. However, these details are dealt with lightly and realistically, which is nice to see.

This book really reflects modern life, with the teacher struggling to calibrate the interactive whiteboard, and the baddie turning out to be a version of the antiques expert from Salvage Hunters, which amused me as the adult reading! It is always tricky to have a properly engaging detective story that is both believable and suitable for children, but Catherine O'Flynn has managed it. I will be recommending this book to all of Key Stage 2!

I read the first Lori and Max book through Netgalley and loved it so was very pleased to be approved for this one. This book was equally fab. Another brilliant, engaging story with great characters. I hope Taylor, Mr Probert and Mr Meacham become regulars!

This book was such a thrilling read! It took a while to get into the book thief case but once it got into it was so fun.
Lori and Max are such an adorable, loving detective duo and the read (once you get into it) is very fast paced.
The story starts off when Max’s phone gets stolen from school, during which Lori finds a box from her past, that unveils a mystery about a missing book!
This book is a very entertaining read from such a talented writer. It’s a very easy read, and will be an easy introduction for kids into the detective/mystery genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Firefly Press for providing this copy in return for an honest review.

When Max’s phone is stolen, Max and Lori gang up with Taylor to get it back. Then Fang digs up a tupper box that leads Lori not only into her own past, but to the second case, the case of the book thieves.

The first case presents itself right at the beginning of the story, but the reader has to get to the middle of the book before the story of the stolen book is even introduced. This made me wonder why the book was supposed to be about book thieves when the first half of the book was about phone thieves. Young readers (age group 9-12 years) might be confused about this long wait.

The Book Thieves is the second book in the Lori & Max series from Costa award-winning author Catherine O’Flynn. The first Lori & Max book featured in the 2020 long lists for both the Branford Boase Award and the Blue Peter Awards.

After loving my first detective outing with Lori & Max I was full of excitement to join them on another mystery-solving adventure. Catherine O’Flynn did not disappoint me. The loveable, slightly odd detective duo are back doing what they do best in a read that is fast-paced, full of excitement and with no shortage of mysteries. This can be read as a stand-alone, but I would strongly advise readers to start off with Lori & Max’s first adventure, which is titled Lori & Max, as it provides some useful background information on the characters and the second book does reference things that happened previously. Also, the first book is a brilliant read!

After the drama that unfolded at New Heath Primary School earlier in the year, things are back to normal. Well, as normal as school ever can be. Miss. Casey is away on maternity leave and has been temporarily replaced by Mr. Probert, a Newly Qualified Teacher who has a possible passion for polish and regularly refers to the ‘real world’. Lori is delighted to have solved her first real mystery and herself and Max have become the best of friends. But somethings stay the same and Lori’s nan is as forgetful as ever, regularly losing her glasses despite Lori’s best attempts. Things are better in Max’s life too. Her gambling addicted dad has moved out of her home and her mum is not feeling as sad as she did.

But life has a way of tripping you up when you’re least expecting it. Max’s phone is stolen from school and then Lori digs up a box from her past that reveals a mystery about a missing antique book. Soon, Lori and Max find themselves hot on the heels of phone-thieving bullies and a fraudulent antiques dealer.

Told from the view point of each of the girls, The Book Thieves is a thoroughly entertaining detective mystery read from a very talented writer. It is an easy read and is the perfect introduction to the crime and mystery genre. I love the way both the mysteries unfold. There are enough unknowns to keep the reader guessing, but not so many that the narrative becomes confusing.

It is full of everything a good detective read should be with secret spy missions, undercover detective work, interrogations, magnifying glasses, a tape recorder, a camera, and the hope of one day owning some night vision goggles.

Despite the dangers and the risks, the two girls are determined to see right triumph over wrong and this is a valuable lesson for readers. The read also has positive messages about friendship, trust, family, and it touches sensitively on mental health through Max’s mum who has battled depression.

Amateur sleuths will have great fun trying to piece together the clues and trying to unravel the mysteries. I’m already full of anticipation for news on Lori & Max’s next case. Lori & Max: and the Book Thieves is due for release on 8th October 2020.

Recommended for 8+.

With thanks to Netgalley and Firefly Press for the review copy.

A spontaneous change from my usual type of text. This was a great, light-hearted detective story which would be a great introduction into the genre for children.

Max and Lori are well created characters, both bringing a very different set of skills to their cases! I enjoyed how there were multiple layers to the cases which kept the story fresh throughout.

The relatable character of the antiques dealer was fantastic and captured a wonderfully eccentric character for Lori to investigate.

It was so wonderful to be back with Lori and Max, perhaps one of my all time favourite detecting duos!

As with the first in the series, there are two mysteries to be considered and the tenacity, bravery and insight of the two girls is second to none. They know the dangers but are more keen to solve the mystery or crime.

Max's Mum allows her to have one of her old phones for safety, ever since the kidnapping in book one. Max is thrilled until she finds it stolen. The girls search for the phone via GPS and track it down to a park where they find two boys running from each other. Max catches one of the boys and discovers it is the new kid in class. He eventually lets them in on his worries. A larger boy loaned him his phone which was then stolen by a teenager leaving Taylor in debt to Calum. It turns out to be phone theft ring and Max is fully determined to get her phone back.
Undercover sleuthing, surveillance and trickery leave the girls with enough evidence to go to the police.

The girls, though best friends, are still dealing with plenty of issues on their own and at home. Max has to move house, give up her new guard dog and still worry about her Mum's depression. Lori finds a long hidden video of her parents when she was a baby and longs to hear their voices.

An action packed adventure and perfect detecting skills put Max and Lori at the top of the chart. I love their friendship and trust in each other, even when times are dangerous and scary.

A brilliant read and I am hopeful there are still more to come!