Old Money, New Money

by Peter Sheridan

The city is Dublin, the year is 1972. Redser and Pancho are two teenagers from the North Wall. Redser is top of the class, especially good at math. Pancho's knack is finding money, not adding or subtracting it. Redser's parents run the local credit union. Pancho's dad runs riot in the city pubs on pay day. The boys' worlds could not be further apart. Yet they are the best of friends. One day, on his regular paper round, Redser stumbles upon the aftermath of a crime. Two elderly sisters, 'the East Wall witches', have been burgled. But the robbers haven't taken all the money. Redser and Pancho are about to face the biggest challenge of their lives.

84 pages, ebook

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Thea | (unapologetic_bibliosmia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep these little quick reads on my bookshelf ready to pick up if I need a short and sweet answer to a reading challenge from one of the groups I’m part of. Today I needed a book with a black cover and this was the one that got its turn.

At only 65 pages long it is a very quick read, and took me less than an hour, but the story was enthralling and kept me hooked till the end with just the right amount of excitement throughout and a crescendo to finish.

The story follows two young boys in a sleepy parish in Ireland - Redster and Pancho, who despite being born 1 day apart, live the most opposite of lives - one on the nice houses side of the parish, and one in the blocks of flats on the other. Despite their differences the boys are best friends and when one of the boys faces trouble at home, the other is there and willing to help out....but how far are the boys willing to go for each other...?? When a robbery of two creepy sisters happens...what will the boys do or not do to help?

A great little story for only 65 pages and I was pleased at the ending.

[sonataiscool · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story but there were SO many grammar and spelling mistakes it was all I could focus on 😭

[Book_Worm_Jim.83 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quick read that makes up part of the Open Doors Series, which is a series of books that are all by Irish authors. I enjoyed this one.

Two friends from totally different backgrounds with an unusual friendship. They stumble on the opportunity to take a lot of money or simply what they need or to do the right thing and return it all. The story has twists and turns and has a pretty good ending as well.