Dotty Detective

Dot is starting at a new school, having moved flat with her mum, the twins and her beloved dog McClusky. She’s looking forward to it, but, to ensure that she gets off to a good start, she wears her red lucky shoes on her first day. She’s a happy-go-lucky child who loves puzzles – wordsearches, crosswords, mazes, maths – any activity that requires a solution. She soon discovers that classmate Ben, aka Beans, also enjoys problem-solving and, just like her, is a fan of the television series starring ace detective Freddie Fantastic. Together, they set up their own detective agency, which soon comes in handy when they suspect a fellow pupil of sabotaging the class talent contest.

Based on a reality that is familiar to many children in this country, this is an essentially sunny story, carried along by Dot’s harmonious personality. She is friendly and highly imaginative. She enjoys school and learning, and her home life is secure and loving.

In the form of a diary, the writing is clear and elegant, perfect for newly independent readers, the plot straightforward and the characters believable. The exuberant energy of the storyline spills over into the vivacious and always varied black and white drawings that break up the text. A deeply satisfying read, this is the first in a series starring Dot as detective.