Andersen Press A Hugh Dunnit Mystery Taking Shelter.

by Guy Bass (Illustrator), Guy Bass

Hugh Dunnit may be a schoolboy, but that doesn't stop him from cracking the toughest cases. Like the case of the shredded maths homework. Sure, lesser minds might collar Hugh's new dog, Shelter. But Hugh knows there's more to sniff out. Working through the suspects, Hugh digs up a bigger just where does Shelter come from?

A brilliantly funny detective story with comic-book art throughout by Lee Cosgrove.

80 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2024

About the author

Guy is an award-winning author whose children's books series include Stitch Head, Skeleton Keys, Dinkin Dings, Spynosaur, The Legend of Frog and Atomic! In 2010 Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things won the Blue Peter Award for Most Fun Book with Pictures.

Guy's has also written plays for both adults and children. He has previously been a theatre producer, illustrator, temp, gerbil whisperer and has acted his way out of several paper bags.


Guy spent his childhood reading comics and hoping one day to become a superhero. He spends his adulthood in more or less the same way.

Guy lives in London with his wife and no dog - yet.

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is right up my street. Full of humour. Full of puns. Hugh is a hilariously gorgeous kid. When his homework is eaten… who is the TRUE criminal?! It’s up to Hugh Dunnit to solve the crime! I love the mix of traditional novel and comic pages too!

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

7

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full-on comedy drama here, as a kid with a new-ish dog, called Shelter, has to prove the mutt did not tear up his maths homework. Not only is it a sprightly little crime piece for sprightly little readers, but the whole thing is laced through with the most ridiculous Tim Vine-styled quips and dad jokes. "I tried to imagine what it would be like to suddenly have no hand, but I was stumped" – you get the idea. "Like an owl with a stuck neck, I was going to have to watch my back", indeed. I think there is an issue with the ending – while the story proves it was about something else, it only disproves that in turn, is about the most I can say, and it feels awkward on reflection. But before the end I had the beginning and the middle, and those (at least, in that order) are great fun. A strong and strongly punning four stars.