RUNT (2) and the Diabolical Dognapping

Upson Downs is a much happier place now that the rains have been, leaving the farms lush and busy again. The town villain was washed away in the resultingRunt (2) and the Diabolical Dognapping Book Review Cover flood, and his property is to be the venue for another worldwide dog competition – The Tournament of Champions.

Annie Shearer isn’t sure about being in that much spotlight with her canine star, Runt again, but soon has a bigger worry. Runt has vanished! One morning they find his doghouse empty, a fish lying in the dirt, and a small, dirty rag nearby.

The world is shocked at his disappearance, but no more than the Shearer family, especially his best friend, Annie.

Her brother Max is keen to investigate, even joining a newspaper office team in town. A new girl in town named Verity makes this all the more exciting, as she is the newspaper’s photographer. Max is quite taken with the quiet shy daughter of the new newspaper owner.

Between Max and Verity they discover more about Runt and his past before Upson Downs, but not who his kidnapper might be.

As the Tournament of Champions approaches, the blame game for Runt’s whereabouts is flying around town, with neighbour against neighbour. Annie isn’t listening to them however. All she wants is Runt, and she knows she must compete in the Tournament to get him back. But how can she if she doesn’t have her furry friend and star?

Max’s research and two unlikely heroes come to Annie’s rescue, and bring the truth about her beloved dog. Along with his past, his disappearance, and his now.

 

Just like the 1st blockbuster book and movie, Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping is simply wonderful!

With a cleverly constructed plot, hilarious, corny characters, and more mysteries than you can shake a bone at, this sequel left me with warm fuzzies from top to toe.

There are stories within the story which are wonderful themselves, which are then effortlessly woven into the heart wrenching finale.

I think I love this sequel even more than the first, but I know that without the phenomenon of Runt (1), I wouldn’t have enjoyed it so much. A circle I’m quite happy to go round and round in, until I read it all over again.

 

Author – Craig Silvey

Age – 8+

 

Find a review for the 1st multi award winning book here

 

 

 

(2025, Allen & Unwin, Animals, Series, Family, Humour, Betrayal, Mystery, Dog, Dancing, Competition, Tournament, Dog napper, Kidnapping, Kidnapper, Truth, Newspaper, Friendship)

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Published on September 29, 2025 12:43
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