Two Crafty Criminals, written by Philip Pullman. Alfred A. Knopf, Random House. 2012. $18.99 ages 9 and up

"Mr. Paget leapt like a dog discovered eating from the cat's bowl. His arm nudged the top shelf of the glassware display and a cascade of crystal decanters, saltcellars, goblets and tumblers fell to the floor with a mighty crash. Mr. Paget gave a yelp of dismay and tried simultaneously to pick up the broken glass, answer the customer's question and keep an eye of Dippy; but he couldn't do all three, and Dippy was gone."

Philip Pullman wrote the two novellas that are included in Two Crafty Criminals nearly twenty years ago. They remain as enjoyable today as they were then, giving us a glimpse of  London in the late nineteenth century. It is a thoroughly enjoyable time spent with boy and girl detectives who tackle two separate cases in Thunderbolt’s Waxwork and The Gas-Fitters’ Ball. They are the New Cut Gang and they are a riot.

In the first story, Thunderbolt watches as his father is taken to jail and accused of passing counterfeit sixpences. It is a crime that has the most dire effect on those who already have little. He sets out to prove that his father would do nothing of the kind, and enlists the help of the rest of the gang to find the real culprit. They are intent on the task at hand and through a series of very funny actions bring the real crook to justice.

In the meantime, the reader is highly entertained with outrageous humor and great characters whose idiosyncrasies astound and delight. Much of the comedy comes from the witty dialogue penned by this master at telling a great story. The gang is consumed with what is right and good, and a sense that wrongs must be righted. Cutting school with the greater good in mind is to be applauded and offers a most welcome escape for each member of the group. It only adds to the enjoyment for all.

We are introduced to Thunderbolt on the first page:

"Thunderbolt had never thought of himself as a criminal; he was a mild and scholarly youth. But he was a passionate collector of curiosities, and for some days now he had been filled with desire for the odd-shaped lump of lead belonging to Harry Fitchett, a boy in his class. Finally, after much bargaining, he had persuaded Harry to swap it for a length of slingshot rubber."

The Gang is distressed at the lack of action in London, and wondering what their next case might be when one falls into their lap. A burglar at The Gas-Fitter's Ball provides just the incentive to set them on a trail again. Their investigation gets tangled up with the work they are also doing to get their shy friend Dick to ask Daisy to marry him. He just hasn't got what it takes. Orlando makes a suggestion:

"The secret of love," said Orlando, "was told to me by a Spanish acrobat in a circus what I worked in once. And he ougther know, 'cause he had six wives at least. In different countries, of course. What he said was, you take a deep breath, close your eyes, grab hold of her hand, and cover it with burning kisses. About a dozen, he said. Once you done that, you feel quite different. Telling her you love her's easy after that."

Keep your fingers crossed that this new case and their wanting to help Dick and Daisy will up their game and give them the boost they have needed, and perhaps lead them on to their next case. Solution to this one? You bet! Fun? Oh, yes! You betcha!