Happy Monday and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for THE CURIOUS LEAGUE OF DETECTIVES AND THIEVES: EGYPT’S FIRE by Tom Phillips! I’m so excited because today I have an excerpt of the book to share with you! This book is truly amazing and I’m so excited to for you to find out more about it, PLUS enter for a chance to win a print copy!
Egypt's Fire by Tom Phillips Series: The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves
Published on June 7, 2022 by Holiday House, Pixel + Ink
Genres: Contemporary, Middle Grade, Mystery
Pages: 256
Add to Goodreads
Author Links: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, TikTok
After twelve-year-old John Boarhog’s mom dies, the last thing he wants is to be schlepped off to the Jersey Home for Boys, where kids are forced to make skinny jeans for hipsters and are fed nothing but kale. Instead, he makes himself a snug home in the ceiling of the New York Museum of Natural History, where he reads anything he get his hands on and explores the artifacts afterhours.
But when a rare Egyptian ruby—the highlight of the museum’s new exhibit—goes missing, John is accused of the crime. That is until the unpredictable Inspector Toadius McGee sweeps in to wrestle control of the case, certain that the true culprit is a notorious criminal he’s been tracking for years.
John quickly becomes the Watson to Toadius’s Holmes as they race from Broadway to back alleys to a speak-easy that only serves root beer. And along the way, John uncovers secrets about his own past, including that he’s a lot more involved in this web of endearing ne'er-do-wells than he ever could have imagined.
A love letter to classic middle grade, Egypt's Fire introduces a remarkable new duo that will steal your heart as surely as it leaves you begging for their next grand adventure.
PROLOGUE
The time you discovered the greatest detective who ever lived.
Most detective stories start with a phrase such as “It was a dark and stormy night” or “The moment she walked through the door, I knew she was trouble.” But this story, I dare say, is not like most detective stories.
This is the story of the greatest detective who ever lived, and whom you’ve never heard of.
Now, before I continue, I’ll answer a couple of questions: First, the set of keys your mother is frantically looking for can be found under the left cushion of your couch, and second, the reason why you have never heard of the detective in question is that you haven’t read this book. But I am sure after you do, you’ll agree with me.
And who am I? Just a humble observer who feels compelled to set the record straight.
Throughout my lifetime, I have witnessed, collected, and recorded mysterious events all over the world, but the strange happenings I am about to recount are by far the most interesting I have ever laid witness to. I’ve changed some of the names to protect the not-so-innocent, but every other detail is exactly as it occurred.
It all began with a lonely boy, a priceless ruby, and an inspector named Toadius McGee.
Excerpt from The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves 1: Egypt’s Fire / Text copyright © 2022 by Tom Phillips. Reproduced by permission from Pixel+Ink. All rights reserved.
About Tom Phillips
As a dyslexic child, Tom Phillips eagerly listened to any story his mom or older sister would tell him. Today, he writes books that kids can not only enjoy on their own, but also can be read aloud and shared. Tom employs his passion for storytelling as an artist and video editor in Los Angeles, California. His work includes editing for the acclaimed LeVar Burton Kids, and he is currently at work on a screenplay for a major studio. An armchair detective and Sherlockian, he is an obsessive watcher of crime dramas. Tom can often be found walking his dog, Dr. Watson, with his wife Autumn.
Week One
| 7/4/2022 | Yabookscentral | Excerpt |
| 7/4/2022 | Kait Plus Books | Excerpt |
| 7/5/2022 | Rajiv’s Reviews | Review/IG Post |
| 7/5/2022 | BookHounds YA | Excerpt/IG Post |
| 7/6/2022 | #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog | Excerpt |
| 7/6/2022 | Two Chicks on Books | Excerpt |
| 7/7/2022 | @jaimerockstarbooktours | IG Post |
| 7/7/2022 | Little Red Reads | Review |
| 7/8/2022 | One More Exclamation | Review/IG Post |
| 7/8/2022 | Locks, Hooks and Books | Review |
Week Two
| 7/11/2022 | beersbooksandboos | Review/IG Post/TikTok Post |
| 7/11/2022 | hodophile_z | IG Review |
| 7/12/2022 | The Bookwyrm’s Den | Review |
| 7/12/2022 | Nerdophiles | Review |
| 7/13/2022 | @ReadsReaders | YouTube Review/IG Post/TikTok Post |
| 7/13/2022 | The Page Ladies | IG Review |
| 7/14/2022 | The Momma Spot | Review/IG Post |
| 7/14/2022 | GryffindorBookishNerd | IG Review |
| 7/15/2022 | More Books Please blog | Review/IG Post |
| 7/15/2022 | lexijava | Review/IG Post |
(US Only)
What do you think about The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves: Egypt’s Fire? Have you added it to your tbr yet? Let me know in the comments and have a splendiferous day!
I’m excited to read this book–it sounds action packed and has a deeper emotional plot.