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Skulduggery Pleasant #2.5

Gold, Babies and the Brothers Muldoon

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A jolt of Skulduggery Pleasant action for free.

Midnight. Valkyrie Cain approaches an old, ramshackle church to make a delicate deal with a trio of ugly, hairy goblins. To her absolute non-surprise, the goblins have no intention of honouring that deal- but not to worry. Skulduggery Pleasant is standing by to deliver a surprise of their own.

Things, however, don’t go exactly according to plan. Not least because the goblins have a sister. A very big, very strong sister. Who might just have a TINY crush on one of our heroes…

All the following Skulduggery Pleasant novels are available in ebook now:
• Skulduggery Pleasant
• Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire
• Skulduggery Pleasant: The Faceless Ones
• Skulduggery Pleasant: Dark Days
• Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil

26 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2011

14 people are currently reading
2918 people want to read

About the author

Derek Landy

256 books5,300 followers
Derek Landy is an Irish writer and screenwriter. In addition to the bestselling children's/YA series of Skulduggery Pleasant books, a supernatural mystery series starring Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton detective, and Valkyrie Cain, a young female magician, he has written two screenplays that have been made into films: the IFTA award winning "Dead Bodies" and the IFTA nominated "Boy Eats Girl". Landy himself was nominated for an IFTA for Best Script.

He doesn’t like to brag about all the awards he’s won, such as the Irish Book of the Decade, or the Red House in the UK, or all the other awards that he humbly displays on his mantelpiece. He is also far too modest to mention things like the first book being a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year, but would like to extend an invitation to Oprah to pop around one day for tea, in thanks for selecting his book for the Oprah’s Book Club Kids Reading List.

Derek plays too many video games, reads too many comics, and watches too many movies. He lives in Ireland with too many cats. Occasionally he talks to real people, but only when he absolutely has to.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
749 (45%)
4 stars
495 (30%)
3 stars
320 (19%)
2 stars
66 (4%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
Profile Image for ambsreads.
818 reviews1,583 followers
March 30, 2017
Eh, this one wasn't the best. Had the humour, but fell quite short.

The story itself needed a bit more oomph and more snark to have full the full effect of the full books.
Profile Image for Ryan Buckby.
704 reviews92 followers
April 15, 2021
It is I, and I stand with the girl, the Elemental and the partner of the skeleton detective, and although she is late she is here, which is the important thing, and we are moving on.

Not my favourite story but it still has the humour that makes this series what it truly is and i always love having extra adventures with skulduggery and co.
21 reviews
May 9, 2021
I think I might have a new favourite character. The second Peg showed up I couldn't stop laughing
Profile Image for Steve.
192 reviews
November 4, 2025
That was... interesting. Fun. Wild, but fun.
Profile Image for Olivia.
333 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2017
Yo listen up here's a story
About a little guy that lives in a blue world
And all day and all night and everything he sees
Is just blue like him inside and outside
Blue his house with a blue little window
And a blue corvette
And everything is blue for him and himself
And everybody around
'Cause he ain't got nobody to listen to

I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...

I have a blue house with a blue window.
Blue is the colour of all that I wear.
Blue are the streets and all the trees are too.
I have a girlfriend and she is so blue.
Blue are the people here that walk around,
Blue like my corvette, it's in and outside.
Blue are the words I say and what I think.
Blue are the feelings that live inside me.

I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...

I have a blue house with a blue window.
Blue is the colour of all that I wear.
Blue are the streets and all the trees are too.
I have a girlfriend and she is so blue.
Blue are the people here that walk around,
Blue like my corvette, it's in and outside.
Blue are the words I say and what I think.
Blue are the feelings that live inside me.

I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...

Inside and outside blue his house
With the blue little window
And a blue corvette
And everything is blue for him and himself
And everybody around
'Cause he ain't got nobody to listen to

I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...

I'm blue (da ba dee da ba die)
Profile Image for Crazyjamie.
209 reviews2 followers
January 21, 2012
Gold, Babies and the Brothers Muldoon is a free short story set in the Skulduggery Pleasant world. In terms of chronology it comes at the end of the second book, though I read it after the sixth and it didn't feel out of place. It is very much stand alone, containing a self contained mini adventure that is about a long chapter in length, and which can easily be read in a single sitting.

The story is short, snappy and entertaining. Crucially it doesn't feel like an afterthought either, and has the type of quality that could easily have seen it as an early chapter in a main book. As such it is essential reading for those wanting more of the Skulduggery Pleasant world. It would have to actively try to not be entertained by this. And considering it's free, you would have to try even harder to complain.
Profile Image for Andrew.
2,567 reviews
January 16, 2012
This like the other Skulduggary book is little more than an over long chapter though as before it still was able to convey the humour and wit of the series - it really does not have its full impact if you have not read the other books in the series and yet does not really add anything - but still a fun read and a must for any fan.
Profile Image for Kribu.
514 reviews54 followers
October 15, 2011
Not my favourite of the Skulduggery Pleasant short stories, but every SP story so far has been a lovely little treat and this was no exception.
Profile Image for becca ❥.
62 reviews2 followers
August 30, 2023
another great thrilling short story, even better than the last!
Profile Image for Nikki Deeley.
624 reviews6 followers
July 22, 2024
Book 84 of 2024: Gold, Babies and the Brothers Muldoon - Derek Landy

Valkyrie Cain must make a deal with goblins to retrieve three babies, but is it a trap and will they double cross her?

Review:
⭐️ 4/5

A quick, easy, fun addition to the series. I enjoy these short stories interspersed between the books, they aren’t integral to the plot but serve as a nice palate cleanser.

Challenges:
📚Books in 2024: 84/60

Book Information:
📖 Pages: 26
📖 Format: e-Book
📖 Type: Fiction
📖 Genre: Fantasy, Short Stories, Young Adult
📖 Series: Skulduggery Pleasant


Profile Image for Lucas Jackson.
82 reviews
October 10, 2025
Not a bad Skulduggery pleasant short story. It was at the back of my “Playing with fire“ copy and I thought I might as well read it. It introduced a new species that hadn’t appeared in book one or book two I don’t think so that was good.
All his did really was make me have questions that they didn’t really answer.
Profile Image for Natalie.
836 reviews62 followers
March 5, 2019
...Not what I was expecting by any means, but not bad. I loved Skulduggery's "entrance" in this one - a failed hero entrance is always brilliant to see/read regardless of the situation ;D And Peg, despite her rather brief appearance, seemed to be a nice character, if a little slow *shrug*
Profile Image for Luke.
835 reviews41 followers
November 5, 2020
Midnight. Valkyrie Cain approaches an old, ramshackle church to make a delicate deal with a trio of ugly, hairy goblins. To her absolute non-surprise, the goblins have no intention of honouring that deal- but not to worry. Skulduggery Pleasant is standing by to deliver a surprise of their own.

A funny and charming little short action packed story! And great if you love the Skull-Man 😀 💀
Profile Image for aseriesofpages .
793 reviews12 followers
April 25, 2018
This was a fun short read and more like the first book than the second....I'm hoping the third is like this....and has teasing about Peg in it! That would be great!!
Profile Image for Isel.
1,493 reviews36 followers
May 5, 2019
I laughed especially after Peg showed up 😂😂😂
Profile Image for Hollie.
160 reviews2 followers
January 31, 2020
A quick and easy read with some light hearted banter at the end
Profile Image for Amy Barhorst.
64 reviews14 followers
June 9, 2021
Interesting as all these snippet stories seem to be. Loved the bit about Peg. The rest was a bit predictable though.
589 reviews6 followers
March 24, 2022
Sort story, not much in it really. OK, but nothing great.
Profile Image for Trupti Nayak.
490 reviews4 followers
April 13, 2024
A good short story about the Goblins who were turned to Goblins by Skulduggery. Now they are kidnapping babies to get Gold which can reverse the curse but is not enough.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews

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