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The Dragon Detective Agency #1
The Case of the Missing Cats
A witty and dramatic detective story - with a dragon hero, a feisty little girl and a lot of mystery!
192 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 2, 2007
3 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Gareth P. Jones
77 books153 followersGareth first started writing when he was very young but it wasn’t until he was in his early twenties that he completed his first novel. Having had it universally rejected he wrote a novel for children called Who Killed Charlie Twig, which received an equally unimpressed reception and remains rightly unpublished to this day.
Some years passed during which Gareth met his future wife, Lisa and began a career in TV, working on shows such as The Big Breakfast and Richard & Judy. Then one day he found himself having lunch at the offices of Bloomsbury. He mentioned the unpublished book to a nice lady called Sarah, who politely suggested that he should send in the first three chapters for her to look at (and most likely dismiss, she thought to herself). Gareth returned home and excitedly told his wife this news, who gently explained that the book he had written actually wasn’t very good, but reminded him that he had recently begun work on a much better idea. This turned out to be good advice. In 2007 Bloomsbury published the first of four books in the series The Dragon Detective Agency and have since published The Thornthwaite Inheritance, Space Crime Conspiracy and The Considine Curse. He has also written a shorter story, Perry’s 5, published by Barrington Stoke and a series of books called Ninja Meerkats, published by Stripes.
Gareth now divides his time between writing books, producing TV programmes, spending time with his wife and son, Herbie and playing the slightly ludicrous number of stringed instruments in his front room.
NOMINATIONS & AWARDS
The Dragon Detective Agency: The Case of the Missing Cats was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Book Prize.
The Thornthwaite Inheritance was shortlisted for eleven local book awards and won seven of them.
The Considine Curse was voted Blue Peter Book of the Year 2012.
Some years passed during which Gareth met his future wife, Lisa and began a career in TV, working on shows such as The Big Breakfast and Richard & Judy. Then one day he found himself having lunch at the offices of Bloomsbury. He mentioned the unpublished book to a nice lady called Sarah, who politely suggested that he should send in the first three chapters for her to look at (and most likely dismiss, she thought to herself). Gareth returned home and excitedly told his wife this news, who gently explained that the book he had written actually wasn’t very good, but reminded him that he had recently begun work on a much better idea. This turned out to be good advice. In 2007 Bloomsbury published the first of four books in the series The Dragon Detective Agency and have since published The Thornthwaite Inheritance, Space Crime Conspiracy and The Considine Curse. He has also written a shorter story, Perry’s 5, published by Barrington Stoke and a series of books called Ninja Meerkats, published by Stripes.
Gareth now divides his time between writing books, producing TV programmes, spending time with his wife and son, Herbie and playing the slightly ludicrous number of stringed instruments in his front room.
NOMINATIONS & AWARDS
The Dragon Detective Agency: The Case of the Missing Cats was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Book Prize.
The Thornthwaite Inheritance was shortlisted for eleven local book awards and won seven of them.
The Considine Curse was voted Blue Peter Book of the Year 2012.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 3, 2020
Miss 6 really enjoyed listening by audiobook to both 'The Case of the Missing Cats' and 'The Case of the Wayward Professor' (it's a shame our library doesn't have copies of books #3 and #4!). She likes the somewhat grumpy dragon detective with a heart of gold (and his attempts to keep the humans from discovering that he is a dragon) and she liked Holly.
Miss 6 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 6 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
January 13, 2021
Funny. Silly curses- big fat rats. Dirk, red-backed green-bellied mountain dragon, camouflages to hide, leapfrogs London roofs to find Willow, for Holly 11 who skips school. In sketches, duo are equally wide-eyed, takes few lines to clearly convey emotions, height. Villains are humans and dragons.
September 26, 2018
I thought this was cute but the boys weren’t that into it.
February 7, 2021
Easy to follow for my son and was a good mystery for his age group (7-9)
February 15, 2014
Just finished reading the book. It was one of those books which you know that could go far far and deep to deeper with plot but gave you a glimpse of how great the story can be and keep you on the edge by making you want to look forward for the upcoming novels of the series.
The story starts with a detective case, a very silly one. But the person or (the thing) investigating the case is not to be taken lightly! He is a dragon for GODS SAKE! I mean come on! How often do you get to see a authentic dragon detective in the real world! I have never seen one in my life. And that alone made me interested to get into the story at once.
However, the plot didn't even looked much interesting at the first 30-40 pages. I mean there were twists that made appear pooped up question bubbles over the top of my head, but I didn't know how the hell it could be interesting. Then around the halfway through the book it really got interesting. As I discovered how grand the whole plot can be, I was really excited to race towards end. But, keeping the remaining length in mind I was certain that the story won't explain everything and take me everywhere I want to go by the end. Either way I carried on reading.
By the end I knew I was right with the assumptions and actually most of the good parts were kept for later, I have still enjoyed the story and it's characters.
As for the character developments, I would say it was great. The main two characters were really well portrait-ed and their relationship developed nicely with time, and with the end it made me want to see more of them.
Being said all these, I would have to admit the plot wasn't flawless. There were explanations I didn't like, but from the fantasy aspect could still ignore. Some characters did things that they were not physically capable of, and some got less surprised where they could have been so shocked that they could stop breathing! And people were convinced with lame excuses while they could have questioned the outcome furthermore. Also the lack of action is visible, maybe it has been kept for later books. All these drawbacks make it down by a star in my eyes, otherwise I could have given it a full 5 stars.
In conclusion, the story is good. The detective elements are in there, the mystery keeps hanging throughout the story, and even after the story makes you look for more. Most of the characters where within their own characteristics and was distinguishable, which very important for any story. There is fun, there is serious moments and there is diversity, as none of the characters are completely overwhelming!
It's a great quick read and if anyone is looking to pass a good 2-2.5 hours time with mild smile in face then dive into the world of Dragon Detective! :)
The story starts with a detective case, a very silly one. But the person or (the thing) investigating the case is not to be taken lightly! He is a dragon for GODS SAKE! I mean come on! How often do you get to see a authentic dragon detective in the real world! I have never seen one in my life. And that alone made me interested to get into the story at once.
However, the plot didn't even looked much interesting at the first 30-40 pages. I mean there were twists that made appear pooped up question bubbles over the top of my head, but I didn't know how the hell it could be interesting. Then around the halfway through the book it really got interesting. As I discovered how grand the whole plot can be, I was really excited to race towards end. But, keeping the remaining length in mind I was certain that the story won't explain everything and take me everywhere I want to go by the end. Either way I carried on reading.
By the end I knew I was right with the assumptions and actually most of the good parts were kept for later, I have still enjoyed the story and it's characters.
As for the character developments, I would say it was great. The main two characters were really well portrait-ed and their relationship developed nicely with time, and with the end it made me want to see more of them.
Being said all these, I would have to admit the plot wasn't flawless. There were explanations I didn't like, but from the fantasy aspect could still ignore. Some characters did things that they were not physically capable of, and some got less surprised where they could have been so shocked that they could stop breathing! And people were convinced with lame excuses while they could have questioned the outcome furthermore. Also the lack of action is visible, maybe it has been kept for later books. All these drawbacks make it down by a star in my eyes, otherwise I could have given it a full 5 stars.
In conclusion, the story is good. The detective elements are in there, the mystery keeps hanging throughout the story, and even after the story makes you look for more. Most of the characters where within their own characteristics and was distinguishable, which very important for any story. There is fun, there is serious moments and there is diversity, as none of the characters are completely overwhelming!
It's a great quick read and if anyone is looking to pass a good 2-2.5 hours time with mild smile in face then dive into the world of Dragon Detective! :)
March 19, 2015
When Dirk Dilly gets a call from Holly asking him to help find her missing cat, he thinks that the case will be very tedious. However, soon he and the intrepid Holly are engaged in a life or death struggle in which the missing cat plays only a small part. This is a case that will seriously test Dilly's detective skills as he finds himself up against some very dangerous foe!
I didn't realise this was a children's book when I selected it from the bookbag - I think I had an idea it would be something like Gordon Dicksons dragon books. I read it anyway & I think it's a clever idea for a kids book. I would have loved it in primary school - cats, dragons, mystery & little girls. Perfect!
I didn't realise this was a children's book when I selected it from the bookbag - I think I had an idea it would be something like Gordon Dicksons dragon books. I read it anyway & I think it's a clever idea for a kids book. I would have loved it in primary school - cats, dragons, mystery & little girls. Perfect!
February 18, 2010
Marcus and Mummy both decided that this book wasn't very well written and was kind of boring, so we stopped reading it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews