Rory Branagan detective by Andrew Clover and Ralph Lazar

HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 9780008265830
(Age: 8+) "Hello. I am Rory Branagan. I am actually a detective.
People always say, 'How do you become a detective?'
And I say, 'Ahhhh... you don't just FIND YOURSELF suddenly sneaking up on baddies, or diving out of the way as they shoot, or hurtling from an open plane towards the ground! You have to want it.'
And what made ME want it? I needed to find out what happened to my dad... "(Publisher)
What a highly entertaining book to read. Children 8 years and up will find this a highly entertaining read and will be proud of themselves for reading such a lengthy novel with it having in excess of 300 pages! Don't be put off by this - there are large illustrations interspersed between the text with some pages only containing a sentence. Rory and Cassidy are strong lead characters and have many likeable traits. This is the first book in a series of seven and the authors have successfully mixed crime with humour. Themes such as suspense, mystery, determination and friendship are developed throughout the book. It would make a fantastic read aloud and one that would be enjoyed by boys and girls alike. A welcome addition to the collection.
Kathryn Schumacher