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Rory Branagan #1
Rory Branagan (Detective)
Meet RORY BRANAGAN – he eats bad guys for breakfast. Well, not ACTUALLY. But he IS the best detective in town. First in a hilarious seven-book, comedy-crime series for readers of 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…
There are seven books in the RORY BRANGAN (DETECTIVE) series and this is the first, in which you meet Rory and his accomplice Cassidy as they investigate the poisoning of Rory’s next door neighbour. Rory’s adventures are all highly illustrated so you can see everything he gets up to in glorious black and white.
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…
There are seven books in the RORY BRANGAN (DETECTIVE) series and this is the first, in which you meet Rory and his accomplice Cassidy as they investigate the poisoning of Rory’s next door neighbour. Rory’s adventures are all highly illustrated so you can see everything he gets up to in glorious black and white.
352 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2018
16 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Clover
22 books21 followersAndrew Clover is the author of the Dad Rules column published in The Sunday Times Style. Learn Love in a Week is his first adult novel. We talk about his brilliant solution to writers block, who’d he like around for dinner and his new novel…
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 24, 2018
Rory Branagan was three when his father left. He’s now ten and no one tells him anything. Rory lives with his mother, older brother Seamus who kind of looks like a banana with stick figure arms and legs, and Auntie Jo who isn’t really an Auntie.
Rory’s best friend is Wilkens Welkin, a sausage dog owned by elderly neighbour/babysitter Mrs Welkin. Rory is also friends with Corner Boy who stands on a corner, spear in hand, ready to hit you with it if you go near him without asking first. Corner Boy’s father seems to make a living by selling unpackaged goods that may have fallen off the back of a truck.
Cassidy Corrigan-or-Callaghan (depending on which of the two surnames she uses to introduce herself you believe) and her parents have just moved in next door. Their house was previously empty for three years and this empty home used to be the biggest mystery on Rory’s street. After spotting Rory spying on her parents Cassidy and Rory strike up a conversation and then hang out for most of the rest of the book.
I get the feeling Cassidy is supposed to be strong, smart and mysterious but she annoyed me a lot. She’s a brash know-it-all who seems to do as she pleases, including rummaging through Rory’s mother’s bedroom looking for evidence just minutes after meeting Rory.
What begins as Rory and Cassidy deciding to solve the mystery of Rory’s MIA father turns into their first case as detective and accomplice when it appears that Corner Boy’s father may have been poisoned.
This new series (the first of seven books) is marketed as comedy-crime, but I didn’t find this first book funny. With a lot of series already established that are pretty much half story and half illustration there needs to be something special to make another new series a must-read for me. The illustrations weren’t the type I’d usually pick up a book for. However I was partial to the sharks and the “huge puffer fish that has hair like Donald Trump”.
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters and none of them had that personality spark that makes me want to read the next book immediately. The mystery got solved too easily and while we’re given a hint about Rory’s father at the end of the book, I get the feeling that this mystery is going to get dragged out to the end of the series. I might give the second book a try to see if it gets into a groove but this one felt like it was trying too hard.
Rory’s best friend is Wilkens Welkin, a sausage dog owned by elderly neighbour/babysitter Mrs Welkin. Rory is also friends with Corner Boy who stands on a corner, spear in hand, ready to hit you with it if you go near him without asking first. Corner Boy’s father seems to make a living by selling unpackaged goods that may have fallen off the back of a truck.
Cassidy Corrigan-or-Callaghan (depending on which of the two surnames she uses to introduce herself you believe) and her parents have just moved in next door. Their house was previously empty for three years and this empty home used to be the biggest mystery on Rory’s street. After spotting Rory spying on her parents Cassidy and Rory strike up a conversation and then hang out for most of the rest of the book.
I get the feeling Cassidy is supposed to be strong, smart and mysterious but she annoyed me a lot. She’s a brash know-it-all who seems to do as she pleases, including rummaging through Rory’s mother’s bedroom looking for evidence just minutes after meeting Rory.
What begins as Rory and Cassidy deciding to solve the mystery of Rory’s MIA father turns into their first case as detective and accomplice when it appears that Corner Boy’s father may have been poisoned.
This new series (the first of seven books) is marketed as comedy-crime, but I didn’t find this first book funny. With a lot of series already established that are pretty much half story and half illustration there needs to be something special to make another new series a must-read for me. The illustrations weren’t the type I’d usually pick up a book for. However I was partial to the sharks and the “huge puffer fish that has hair like Donald Trump”.
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters and none of them had that personality spark that makes me want to read the next book immediately. The mystery got solved too easily and while we’re given a hint about Rory’s father at the end of the book, I get the feeling that this mystery is going to get dragged out to the end of the series. I might give the second book a try to see if it gets into a groove but this one felt like it was trying too hard.
February 4, 2020
RORY BRANAGAN: DETECTIVE. (Full disclosure, I only review books I love). As a kid I snapped up mystery and detective series like Harriet the Spy. In fact I wanted to BE a real-life version of Harriet the Spy, and I still dream of writing a funny, zesty, child-detective series. I adore Rory Branagan, Detective, and his loyal companions (some human, some dogs).
The Rory Branagan books (I dole them out; currently on Book Two in the series) are perfect for children who love graphic novels, laughter, and actual mysteries. They're also perfect for grownups who love the same things. Illustrations (by Ralph Lazar) are hilarious, full of motion, and propel you from page to page because they're irresistible. (I mean, just look at the covers.)
Gobble up one of these books in an hour or pace yourself to make them last. Five out of five stars! Go forth and enjoy!
The Rory Branagan books (I dole them out; currently on Book Two in the series) are perfect for children who love graphic novels, laughter, and actual mysteries. They're also perfect for grownups who love the same things. Illustrations (by Ralph Lazar) are hilarious, full of motion, and propel you from page to page because they're irresistible. (I mean, just look at the covers.)
Gobble up one of these books in an hour or pace yourself to make them last. Five out of five stars! Go forth and enjoy!
Read
March 9, 2018RTC.
I feel like there was a pretty big disconnect between the language (suitable for 6+) and the story (8 or 9+ due to content), and there were a lot of cringey moments.
On the plus side, it's illustrated, and in a similar silly style to the Treehouse and WeirDo books.
But if you're looking for a silly book about investigating aimed at readers 8+, I'd much more readily recommend Greta Zargo and the Death Robots from Outer Space.
It could be good for older readers with lower reading ability, but it smacks of obvious pandering which might bug those same readers.
I feel like there was a pretty big disconnect between the language (suitable for 6+) and the story (8 or 9+ due to content), and there were a lot of cringey moments.
On the plus side, it's illustrated, and in a similar silly style to the Treehouse and WeirDo books.
But if you're looking for a silly book about investigating aimed at readers 8+, I'd much more readily recommend Greta Zargo and the Death Robots from Outer Space.
It could be good for older readers with lower reading ability, but it smacks of obvious pandering which might bug those same readers.
February 21, 2020
Rory Branagan will forever hold a specical place in my heart. After reading a couple of dozen pages of this goofy, illustrated tale about a kid detective, I passed it on to my almost 7 year-old grandson who is reading pretty well but has never previously attempted anything thicker than a picturebook or slim easy-reader. Over the next week, he read all 352 pages about Rory Branagan's first case and then demanded to know about getting a copy of the second book in the series.
November 25, 2025
Dit is de eerste boek van de Rory de Raaf reeks.
Rory is tienjarige jongen, die is vastbesloten om met wat is er met zijn vader gebeurd uit te vinden en daarom word hij een detective.
Dit is het boek die laat zien hoe Rory detective wordt. Samen met behulp van buurmeisje Kato de Kat en hondje Willy Williams.
Rory is tienjarige jongen, die is vastbesloten om met wat is er met zijn vader gebeurd uit te vinden en daarom word hij een detective.
Dit is het boek die laat zien hoe Rory detective wordt. Samen met behulp van buurmeisje Kato de Kat en hondje Willy Williams.
January 23, 2020
It was a fun read. I liked the style of writing and the plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
March 22, 2019
Grappig boekje, gemakkelijk geschreven. Leuk voor nieuwe lezertjes en ook voor kinderen die niet houden van lezen (wat heel jammer is) Om ook hen aan het lezen te krijgen! Tekst, zinnen, soms maar eentje per pagina aangevuld met grappige tekeningen. Volledig in de leefwereld van kinderen geschreven, waardoor het voor hen zeer spannend wordt! Kinderen met weinig motivatie zullen willen verder lezen! En wat een dik boek. ( oh kunnen zij ook zo’n dik boek lezen? Wat een succeservaring!)
Rory heeft niet veel vrienden, dus heel leuk dat Kato in de straat komt wonen. Een heel ander karakter dan van Rory waardoor hij doorheen het verhaal echt wel uit zijn comfortzone komt! Het begint met een zoektocht naar zijn papa, die uitvloeit in een gans anders verhaal. Wat nog heel wat kansen geeft om een vervolg te schrijven! Aanrader!
Rory heeft niet veel vrienden, dus heel leuk dat Kato in de straat komt wonen. Een heel ander karakter dan van Rory waardoor hij doorheen het verhaal echt wel uit zijn comfortzone komt! Het begint met een zoektocht naar zijn papa, die uitvloeit in een gans anders verhaal. Wat nog heel wat kansen geeft om een vervolg te schrijven! Aanrader!
December 10, 2020
It was an exciting book. You really wanted to keep reading the book. It was a mystery, you never know whats going to happen next. One minute you think she is innocent and the next she has to go to jail.
Its now 10:30pm and I've just finished it!
I might get the next book, I haven't decided yet.
Its now 10:30pm and I've just finished it!
I might get the next book, I haven't decided yet.
July 27, 2019
Sneaky, Deadpan Funny
At first I wasn't sure if I could get into 350 pages of stick figures. Well. Excuuuuuse me for being such a drip. This book was an engaging hoot.
First off, as to the art, these aren't really stick figures. They're more like sneaky minimalist sketches that, once you get on track, are clever and expressive. Sure, the kids don't have hands or feet, and the arms and legs are sticks, but the secret is in the faces and especially the eyes. Name an emotion, an attitude, or a thought, and this illustrator will give you the right eyes. This book is for young readers, and these illustrations just guide you right through the narrative. It's quite an accomplishment.
As to the narrative, it is as antic as you might expect. You have the kid hero detective, who starts out sort of confused and a bit gormless. You have the smart as a whip, slightly acid, almost a know-it-all, spunky kid girl hero. This follows the tradition of kid detectives who don't quite know what they're doing, never fully understand exactly what's happening, and stumble around with lots of high energy and good intentions until inspiration strikes and the mystery gets solved.
But apart from the mystery and the action, the most fun is just following the mind of our hero Rory. The narrative is in the first person, so what you get is pure Rory telling you a story. It jumps around, it ebbs and flows, the mood is haphazard, and the whole thing is an energetic rollercoaster ride. Since Rory is a decent, relatable kid the overall effect is upbeat and authentic in an exaggerated and manic way. And, since the overall story arc for the six books in this series has to do with how and why Rory's Dad disappeared, there's some shameless heartstring tugging going on as well.
I have no idea where to put the reading demo here. It could be for ambitious younger readers who are willing to let some of the bits go over their heads, or it could be for older and more confident readers who don't mind the sketchy art and the youngish main characters. Either way this was enough knuckleheaded fun that I'd be happy to try this first volume on any kid just to see if it clicked. As I said, I thought it was a goofy hoot.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
At first I wasn't sure if I could get into 350 pages of stick figures. Well. Excuuuuuse me for being such a drip. This book was an engaging hoot.
First off, as to the art, these aren't really stick figures. They're more like sneaky minimalist sketches that, once you get on track, are clever and expressive. Sure, the kids don't have hands or feet, and the arms and legs are sticks, but the secret is in the faces and especially the eyes. Name an emotion, an attitude, or a thought, and this illustrator will give you the right eyes. This book is for young readers, and these illustrations just guide you right through the narrative. It's quite an accomplishment.
As to the narrative, it is as antic as you might expect. You have the kid hero detective, who starts out sort of confused and a bit gormless. You have the smart as a whip, slightly acid, almost a know-it-all, spunky kid girl hero. This follows the tradition of kid detectives who don't quite know what they're doing, never fully understand exactly what's happening, and stumble around with lots of high energy and good intentions until inspiration strikes and the mystery gets solved.
But apart from the mystery and the action, the most fun is just following the mind of our hero Rory. The narrative is in the first person, so what you get is pure Rory telling you a story. It jumps around, it ebbs and flows, the mood is haphazard, and the whole thing is an energetic rollercoaster ride. Since Rory is a decent, relatable kid the overall effect is upbeat and authentic in an exaggerated and manic way. And, since the overall story arc for the six books in this series has to do with how and why Rory's Dad disappeared, there's some shameless heartstring tugging going on as well.
I have no idea where to put the reading demo here. It could be for ambitious younger readers who are willing to let some of the bits go over their heads, or it could be for older and more confident readers who don't mind the sketchy art and the youngish main characters. Either way this was enough knuckleheaded fun that I'd be happy to try this first volume on any kid just to see if it clicked. As I said, I thought it was a goofy hoot.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
August 24, 2018
Rory Branagan (Detective) is the first in a new seven-book series featuring ten-year-old Rory Branagan, his neighbour the intrepid Cassidy Callaghan, and his best friend Wilkins Welkin the sausage dog.
Rory is driven to become a detective by a question that’s been hanging over him his whole life—what happened to his Dad? Rory’s Dad disappeared one day when Rory was just three years old but no one will tell him anything about it—not his Mum, his older brother, or even Auntie Jo—the lodger. Nobody tells Rory ANYTHING.
Rory’s first adventure begins when his friend Corner Boy Gilligan’s Dad (‘Guinea Pig’ Gilligan) is poisoned. The police are on the case but Rory thinks someone else could also be in danger, so it is up to him to put on his detective hat and take on the case.
The book is jam-packed with entertaining illustrations of Rory’s friends and family and Rory’s imaginative flights of fancy, which often seem to take the form of undersea scenarios: fishes, sharks, statues deep under the ocean, and even a puffer fish with hair like Donald Trump’s. Andrew Clover’s offbeat characters and Ralph Lazar’s whimsical illustrations have a slightly Charlie and Lola-esque feel to them, but this series is obviously aimed at an older age group so there are higher stakes and plenty of dangerous situations for Rory to face.
With some help from his accomplice, Cassidy, Rory solves the mystery of the poisoned neighbour, but the mystery of what happened to Rory’s Dad, I assume, will continue to be unraveled throughout the seven books of the series. Robin Stevens’s success is convincing proof that kids love detective stories, and this is great series and an exciting adventure for slightly younger kids who are not quite ready for Hazel & Daisy, or Alex Ryder.
(Review originally published on www.armadillomagazine.co.uk)
Rory is driven to become a detective by a question that’s been hanging over him his whole life—what happened to his Dad? Rory’s Dad disappeared one day when Rory was just three years old but no one will tell him anything about it—not his Mum, his older brother, or even Auntie Jo—the lodger. Nobody tells Rory ANYTHING.
Rory’s first adventure begins when his friend Corner Boy Gilligan’s Dad (‘Guinea Pig’ Gilligan) is poisoned. The police are on the case but Rory thinks someone else could also be in danger, so it is up to him to put on his detective hat and take on the case.
The book is jam-packed with entertaining illustrations of Rory’s friends and family and Rory’s imaginative flights of fancy, which often seem to take the form of undersea scenarios: fishes, sharks, statues deep under the ocean, and even a puffer fish with hair like Donald Trump’s. Andrew Clover’s offbeat characters and Ralph Lazar’s whimsical illustrations have a slightly Charlie and Lola-esque feel to them, but this series is obviously aimed at an older age group so there are higher stakes and plenty of dangerous situations for Rory to face.
With some help from his accomplice, Cassidy, Rory solves the mystery of the poisoned neighbour, but the mystery of what happened to Rory’s Dad, I assume, will continue to be unraveled throughout the seven books of the series. Robin Stevens’s success is convincing proof that kids love detective stories, and this is great series and an exciting adventure for slightly younger kids who are not quite ready for Hazel & Daisy, or Alex Ryder.
(Review originally published on www.armadillomagazine.co.uk)
May 8, 2018
Rory Branagan has basically an "amazing life. But... there is just one Bad Thing about it... NO ONE TELLS ME ANYTHING!... Why did my dad disappear when I was three?"
And so when new neighbour "probably the best-looking girl I've ever seen, and she is definitely the most CONFIDENT" Cassidy Callaghan arrives and befriends him they set out detecting just where Rory's dad is whilst uncovering other mysteries that need solving along the way.
What makes the book great is Rory's fanciful imagination which is always going into interesting places, all of which are illustrated along the way. For example he imagines he would "be some kind of super-Detective who flies round the world solving crime," or that his brother "could not have been more surprised if a unicorn had come in (which was tap dancing and singing the songs of Justin Bieber)." And the illustrations make this book great too. Fans of Tom Gates will love as there is plenty going on with the illustrations. It makes the 300+ page book very readable for children.
True there are bits at the end which are unfinished (there are more books in the series which will presumably pick these up) but this book was a work of art with a funny story suitable for children and adults who like a visual, fun story.
And so when new neighbour "probably the best-looking girl I've ever seen, and she is definitely the most CONFIDENT" Cassidy Callaghan arrives and befriends him they set out detecting just where Rory's dad is whilst uncovering other mysteries that need solving along the way.
What makes the book great is Rory's fanciful imagination which is always going into interesting places, all of which are illustrated along the way. For example he imagines he would "be some kind of super-Detective who flies round the world solving crime," or that his brother "could not have been more surprised if a unicorn had come in (which was tap dancing and singing the songs of Justin Bieber)." And the illustrations make this book great too. Fans of Tom Gates will love as there is plenty going on with the illustrations. It makes the 300+ page book very readable for children.
True there are bits at the end which are unfinished (there are more books in the series which will presumably pick these up) but this book was a work of art with a funny story suitable for children and adults who like a visual, fun story.
March 20, 2022
Rory has always wondered what happened to his dad who disappeared when he was just 3 years old. When a new neighbor moves in next door with ideas on how to become detective, Rory listens so that he can figure out what happened to his dad. Instead, he stumbles upon a different mystery on his own street when Corner Boy's father is supposedly poisoned. But who would do that? And why? The pacing was off for me. It took too long (for me) to get to the actual mystery and then took a long time to get to the final solving, which then felt really rushed. They caught the bad guys, the end, rather than having a more thorough explanation. While it's over 300 pages, it's a fast read (1 hour for me) with Wimpy Kid style illustrations on almost every page. So, it's a good, fun mystery for 2nd and 3rd graders. I just wanted more answers about Rory's dad and Cassidy's last name than are given in this first book. I guess that's what the rest of the books are for. For fans of Timmy Failure, Captain Underpants, Dog Man, Bad Guys, and Geronimo Stilton.
November 12, 2022
Devo começar por dizer que a opinião dos putos em relação ao livro é melhor que a minha, e visto o livro se para eles, acho que essa opinião deve contar mais que a minha. Eles gostaram mesmo muito.
Já eu achei o livro um tanto ou quanto triste. Isto porque o personagem principal do livro tem o pai desaparecido há 7 anos e ninguém lhe diz nada: nem porque foi embora, se morreu.. nada. Ele só sabe que o pai um dia desapareceu e eu acho isso super triste e sinistro para estar a ler a duas crianças de 6 e 10 anos.
as personagens até estão muito bem conseguidas e teve bastante mistério e suspense para um livro infantil. Acho que demorei um pouco mais em descobrir o mau da fita aqui do que em certos thrillers muito aclamados ahahaha.
O livro parece muito grande, afinal são 344 páginas, mas o tipo de letra é grande e tem imensas ilustrações, algumas ocupam a página completa, portanto lê-se rápido. Ah, e está dividido por capítulos, portanto é fácil fazer pausas.
Já temos o segundo volume para continuar a aventura...
Boas leituras pesssoal 🙂
Já eu achei o livro um tanto ou quanto triste. Isto porque o personagem principal do livro tem o pai desaparecido há 7 anos e ninguém lhe diz nada: nem porque foi embora, se morreu.. nada. Ele só sabe que o pai um dia desapareceu e eu acho isso super triste e sinistro para estar a ler a duas crianças de 6 e 10 anos.
as personagens até estão muito bem conseguidas e teve bastante mistério e suspense para um livro infantil. Acho que demorei um pouco mais em descobrir o mau da fita aqui do que em certos thrillers muito aclamados ahahaha.
O livro parece muito grande, afinal são 344 páginas, mas o tipo de letra é grande e tem imensas ilustrações, algumas ocupam a página completa, portanto lê-se rápido. Ah, e está dividido por capítulos, portanto é fácil fazer pausas.
Já temos o segundo volume para continuar a aventura...
Boas leituras pesssoal 🙂
March 27, 2020
Rory Branagan is a boy who never gets told anything and he becomes a detective. He got the idea from his new neighbor Cassidy Callaghan. She is his sidekick.
Later his friend’s dad got poisoned by food so Rory and Cassidy set right to work getting all the clues. They sneaked into the place where his friend’s dad got the poisoning from.
They saw Rory’s aunt sticking a kabob in a tank with an octopus in it. The octopus swam up and poisoned it. She took the kabob out of the water and put it in a freezer.
A few minutes later Rory’s aunt took it out of the freezer and put it on a plate.
Then she took it outside to where Rory’s mom was sitting. Rory shouted “NO ITS POISONED” and jumped out and took the kabob and flung it across the room.
He then tackled his aunt but couldn’t get her to go to the ground. She flung him to the ground then Cassidy tried but failed so Rory’s mom smacked her with a cutting board.
Later his friend’s dad got poisoned by food so Rory and Cassidy set right to work getting all the clues. They sneaked into the place where his friend’s dad got the poisoning from.
They saw Rory’s aunt sticking a kabob in a tank with an octopus in it. The octopus swam up and poisoned it. She took the kabob out of the water and put it in a freezer.
A few minutes later Rory’s aunt took it out of the freezer and put it on a plate.
Then she took it outside to where Rory’s mom was sitting. Rory shouted “NO ITS POISONED” and jumped out and took the kabob and flung it across the room.
He then tackled his aunt but couldn’t get her to go to the ground. She flung him to the ground then Cassidy tried but failed so Rory’s mom smacked her with a cutting board.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2018
This is the first book in the series featuring Rory Branagan who teams up with a fearless girl named Cassidy and decides to become a detective - partly because his Dad mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Madcap adventures ensue which involve a deadly blue ringed octopus and more.
The storyline is good although quite Irish but the illustrations are terribly childish almost like stick figures. Where you get a drawing with a lot of detail, it is hard to tell what's there. I am sure that the illustrator could have done a far superior job given all that they tried to portray.
Hence why I can only give a score of three stars for this one.
The storyline is good although quite Irish but the illustrations are terribly childish almost like stick figures. Where you get a drawing with a lot of detail, it is hard to tell what's there. I am sure that the illustrator could have done a far superior job given all that they tried to portray.
Hence why I can only give a score of three stars for this one.
March 2, 2020
I'm not sure what I was expecting with this book, but it wasn't what I got. I mean that in the best way possible. I didn't really expect anything great, but found myself invested in the story and staying up way to late to finish. Yes, I finished it in one night.
While I enjoyed the mystery, I also really enjoyed all of the humor. From the illustrations and the character's nick names, to the backstories everyone was given, it was a fun read. Rory's main question has not been answered yet, so I'm just going to sit and wait for the next book to see how crazy things end up.
Author: Andrew Clover
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
Publication Date: 22 March 2018
While I enjoyed the mystery, I also really enjoyed all of the humor. From the illustrations and the character's nick names, to the backstories everyone was given, it was a fun read. Rory's main question has not been answered yet, so I'm just going to sit and wait for the next book to see how crazy things end up.
Author: Andrew Clover
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
Publication Date: 22 March 2018
June 7, 2018
I absolutely loved this!
I know it's not targeted for my age group, but I found this absolutely entertaining. A page turner, no doubt!
In short, the book is about a boy named Rory who wants to be a detective so he could find his father. Along with his side-kick, his neighbour, Cassidy, they go about on their snooping adventures, often to much hilarious results.
I guess this is why I like reading children's books. It gives you a sense of imagination, allows you to reset, and just take it easy.
Needless to say, I'm a huge fan of this comedy-crime series and I can't wait for more!
I know it's not targeted for my age group, but I found this absolutely entertaining. A page turner, no doubt!
In short, the book is about a boy named Rory who wants to be a detective so he could find his father. Along with his side-kick, his neighbour, Cassidy, they go about on their snooping adventures, often to much hilarious results.
I guess this is why I like reading children's books. It gives you a sense of imagination, allows you to reset, and just take it easy.
Needless to say, I'm a huge fan of this comedy-crime series and I can't wait for more!
May 17, 2018
Andrew Clover’s comedy mystery for children aged 9+ (the first in a series and illustrated by Ralph Lazar) is a genuinely funny read that does a good job of showing Rory’s frustration and sadness at being without his dad (including some wonderful flights of fancy) and has a quirky cast of side characters but the plot is very slight and at times risks being overshadowed by the great illustrations.
September 13, 2018
Rory brannigan is a child detective who’s solving crime in his own neibourhood with his sidekick Cat Cassidy.
The book was so good I bought it at lunch and had it finished before I went to bed.
Every page is packed with comedy adventure and beautiful illustrations on every page.
I gave it 5 stars.
Joseph. 11
The book was so good I bought it at lunch and had it finished before I went to bed.
Every page is packed with comedy adventure and beautiful illustrations on every page.
I gave it 5 stars.
Joseph. 11
August 7, 2020
This book is not specifically designed for dyslexics but due to its very high image to text ratio my dyslexic 10yr old looks them. They are th same size as a standard Chapter book but a great deal less text. The story in no way suffers because of that, they are hilarious, exciting and great fun. Rory has a fiesty sidekick Cassidy so it's great for boys or girls who love adventures.
February 20, 2021
No one tells Rory anything...and yet he becomes a great detective! Absurd humor and wild imaginings make this a really fun story to read! Illustrated heavily throughout with comical cartoon drawings. Yes, it's a thick book at 321 pages but the vocabulary isn't difficult and the text is widely spaced. Ages 7-10
September 8, 2024
3.5 stars
Rory is desperate to know where his dad is, and when things start going wrong in his town, he teams up with his new neighbour to become a detective. This is funny! Love a good illustrated novel. This was a great quick read - will definitely go down well in my classroom. Will be tracking down the second one now too!
Rory is desperate to know where his dad is, and when things start going wrong in his town, he teams up with his new neighbour to become a detective. This is funny! Love a good illustrated novel. This was a great quick read - will definitely go down well in my classroom. Will be tracking down the second one now too!
May 7, 2025
Um livro apreciado pelos miúdos! Apesar das suas 329 páginas, é de fácil leitura. O tamanho da letra é grande, tem pouco texto e muitas páginas são ilustrações.
Uma forma de introduzir o mundo do mistério às crianças. A meu ver, apenas ficou a faltar responder a uma pergunta: onde se encontra o pai do Rory, a nossa personagem principal.
Uma forma de introduzir o mundo do mistério às crianças. A meu ver, apenas ficou a faltar responder a uma pergunta: onde se encontra o pai do Rory, a nossa personagem principal.
May 4, 2018
This has been really hyped but I don't know why ... a distinctly average piece of writing, with a somewhat confusing plot (because it's the first of 7 books, allegedly?), and with some very non-descript characters beyond Rory and his brother. Illustrations get it to 2 stars though.
February 26, 2020
Offbeat and fast-paced this book totally appealed to me between the illustrations (especially the shark/question combo). Expect middle grade readers will eat this up and relate to Rory's having plenty of questions that never seem to get answered. I look forward to reading book 2!
January 22, 2022
I liked this book because there is a small boy who is detective. And he is on a quest of finding his dad.
He saved his mother from getting poisoned. Rory Branagan,the detective is very brave, intelligent and he has got the right observation.
He saved his mother from getting poisoned. Rory Branagan,the detective is very brave, intelligent and he has got the right observation.
May 28, 2018
The best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Book ever!!!!
September 15, 2018
Review to follow shortly.
Want to Read
February 3, 2020Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Read
February 26, 2020Silly, but will appeal to the Thirteen Story Treehouse crowd.
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