ABANDONED. Childrens Book, Boy goes to live with old age pensioners (possibly granny) who are retired thieves

[Catherine]

Read around 1995-1997 think it was new(ish) at that time, age range Childrens/MG, paperback

Story is about a boy who is sent to live with or regularly visits his relatives in an home, could be a stately home or ...... Hall. He finds out they are retired thieves/catburgulars, theres something to do with school and someone trying to catch either him or the OAPs in one last heist. Theres a clever bit with an appointment for a Mr Edward Mann or Mr. E. Mann.

[Kris]

OAPs = old age pensioners, retired seniors?

Gangsta Granny (2011) by David Walliams has a similar theme, but it's too recent. Many reviewers refer to the strong influence of Roald Dahl, so I wonder if Dahl wrote a similar book.

[Catherine]

yes, similar but no cigar, i think the main character might be called Henry or harry, the title could be "Henry and the..." or "Harry and the..."

[Tab]

Do you remember the cover? Part of a series?
Time period/location story takes place?

Did the boy refer to the relatives as the term "OAP" in the book?
What country were you in when you read this book?

[Catherine]

Read it in England, when I read it it wasn't part of a series

Set in the present, can't remember a specific location

I think the cover was a cartoon picture of the stately home/oap home, green grounds tree lined road/drive

I'm sure that he was related to one of the pensioners, I don't remember how he referred to them,

[Ayshe]

Harry and the Wrinklies by Alan Temperley? If it turns out to be the the book, this will be the fourth time (at least) it has been searched for in this group.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Catherine, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Rainbowheart]

Still out there, Catherine?

Seconding Harry and the Wrinklies.

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

Catherine (OP) was last active on the site in September 2021.