What do you think?
Rate this book
Tuppenny Hat Detective
A Period Murder Mystery: Was the old Star Woman murdered? Young Billy Perks, who found her body, is sure she was, but the authorities disagree. Their haste to close the case heightens Billy's suspicions and he and his pals decide to investigate. They turn detectives, unwittingly provoking a long hidden killer and unearthing secrets of wartime conspiracy and betrayal.
Written for those teenage and adult readers who like a genuinely intriguing mystery, the story is set in Sheffield in 1951 as the bomb damaged steel city struggles to recover from World War Two. It's funny and nostalgic, but a genuine whodunit nonetheless – and with a surprise at the end.
Written for those teenage and adult readers who like a genuinely intriguing mystery, the story is set in Sheffield in 1951 as the bomb damaged steel city struggles to recover from World War Two. It's funny and nostalgic, but a genuine whodunit nonetheless – and with a surprise at the end.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2008
43 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 22, 2014
I had some issues with this book initially - getting my head around the idea that I was reading about an 11 year old boy who was trying to solve a crime that the police were not was quite challenging. However once I got over that I rather enjoyed this simply because I found it very well written. It was so evocative of both time and place while still being a reasonable crime story. Set in 1950s Sheffield I really felt I was around there at that time. Maybe not brilliant but definitely enjoyable.
November 6, 2015
This is a very refreshing murder mystery set in the 1950's. The main protagonist is a precocious twelve year old boy named Billy, who takes it upon himself to solve a neighbour's murder when the police close the case, saying it was an accident. Billy is a typical boy, brave and more than ready to take on the world, but with more street sense and deductive abilities than the average pre-teen. Aided by his bosom buddies Yvonne(Wy) and Michael(Kick), Billy has many adventures and narrow escapes in his search for the truth!
May 9, 2016
There's nothing wrong with this book; it's well-crafted and meticulously sets the scene of post war Sheffield. I easily imagined myself being there experiencing the sights and sounds through the eyes of the children. However, I wasn't excited by this book. I'm sad to say it just lacked 'something' despite my wanting to like it so much more than a 2/5 'it was ok' rating.
July 24, 2021
I have a problem at working out exactly who this book is aimed at. The basic concept that an 11 year old boy is trying to solve a crime that the police were don't even think exists, for an an adult is challenging. However the idea of a 1950's setting being understood and appealing to a younger reader is equally challenging.
However putting that aside I rather enjoyed this simply because it reminded me of the Enid Blyton Secret Seven stories that I had loved as a child. Maybe not the best story I have ever read but definitely enjoyable.
However putting that aside I rather enjoyed this simply because it reminded me of the Enid Blyton Secret Seven stories that I had loved as a child. Maybe not the best story I have ever read but definitely enjoyable.
September 30, 2024
I loved the main character here. He is a spunky twelve year old who unwittingly becomes a detective in a mysterious death he stumbled upon. The nostalgia is wonderful. The mystery is realistic. The villain is terrifying because no one knows who it could have been until the pieces of the puzzle come together. A good read.
May 31, 2017
Spellbinding
This story held my attention from the very beginning. It shows intelligence and imagination in these characters. I loved their perseverance and stubborn refusal to give up. It is an awesome book.
This story held my attention from the very beginning. It shows intelligence and imagination in these characters. I loved their perseverance and stubborn refusal to give up. It is an awesome book.
May 1, 2018
I'm glad I stuck it out. The middle of this one gets really slow, but the last 25% is really good. :)
July 31, 2019
Well Done!
A very well written story that’ll keep you guessing until the end!! Will definitely look for more by this author!
A very well written story that’ll keep you guessing until the end!! Will definitely look for more by this author!
August 1, 2021
Bought this book as something different to read and because it was based around Sheffield. It was a good read and a lot of plot brought back happy memories from my childhood.
February 5, 2023
An intriguing story. I did have a niggle with using the words 'tank top' to describe a sleeveless pullover. That American word did not appear in the U.K. until the mid 1960s.
July 25, 2014
As a free Kindle download I must admit I didn’t expect much from this book. What a surprise it gave me, from the opening paragraphs I was hooked and it just got better.
An opening scene I’m sure we are all familiar with from our childhood, the all important ball has gone into the scary old woman’s garden. What to do? As Billy, Yvonne and Kick make their action plan to get the ball back I was flooded with memories from when I was little.
I can still vividly remember the fear we had for the “witch” who lived down the road, the screams and terror we experienced when she ventured out of her house, convinced she was coming after us. As I sit writing this and remembering I can’t help but smile about how youthful imaginations can spiral out of control. I also have a sense of contrition, how hard we must have made the life of a lonely isolated old lady. You don’t realise when you’re 5 how hurtful a label of witch could be.
But back to the book. With the opening gambit of Billy finding Old Lady Star dead in her home a thoughtful and detailed plot unravels. With her death comes the realisation that she wasn’t a scary lady, just an old lady living on her own. Rather than waiting till he’s older to feel remorse for thinking her scary and weird Billy Perks sets out to make things right for Annabel Loveday. The role of 11 year old Billy as detective is fantastic, the simple and logically way he works through the mystery is cleverly written. There is nothing outlandish in the way he finds clues and evidence, this is detective work 101 – take everything as you see it, question everything, leave no stone unturned and what better way to do that than through the eyes of an inquisitive young boy.
The story is based in Sheffield and Sellars creates a wonderful nostalgic setting. It is easy to imagine the streets the characters are walking and picture the small community where most people know something of everyone’s business. A world where the greengrocer has a cart and pony, police boxes are on the corners of streets and if you get up to mischief you can be sure as hell that someone is going to tell your parents and you’ll be punished for it.
Although the focus is very much on the character of Billy Perks, time has gone into each and every other member of the community. From the helpful Dr Hadfield, Marlene the Co-op’s store cashier and older sister to Billy’s partner in the investigation Yvonne to the mysterious tramp. You feel you know each of them and that although not contained in the book they have a past, a future, a life outside of the Tuppenny Hat Detective’s world.
As you can tell I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to older children and adults alike. I had my suspicions about who dunnit but never would have got the MOM or is it OMM or even MMO!
An opening scene I’m sure we are all familiar with from our childhood, the all important ball has gone into the scary old woman’s garden. What to do? As Billy, Yvonne and Kick make their action plan to get the ball back I was flooded with memories from when I was little.
I can still vividly remember the fear we had for the “witch” who lived down the road, the screams and terror we experienced when she ventured out of her house, convinced she was coming after us. As I sit writing this and remembering I can’t help but smile about how youthful imaginations can spiral out of control. I also have a sense of contrition, how hard we must have made the life of a lonely isolated old lady. You don’t realise when you’re 5 how hurtful a label of witch could be.
But back to the book. With the opening gambit of Billy finding Old Lady Star dead in her home a thoughtful and detailed plot unravels. With her death comes the realisation that she wasn’t a scary lady, just an old lady living on her own. Rather than waiting till he’s older to feel remorse for thinking her scary and weird Billy Perks sets out to make things right for Annabel Loveday. The role of 11 year old Billy as detective is fantastic, the simple and logically way he works through the mystery is cleverly written. There is nothing outlandish in the way he finds clues and evidence, this is detective work 101 – take everything as you see it, question everything, leave no stone unturned and what better way to do that than through the eyes of an inquisitive young boy.
The story is based in Sheffield and Sellars creates a wonderful nostalgic setting. It is easy to imagine the streets the characters are walking and picture the small community where most people know something of everyone’s business. A world where the greengrocer has a cart and pony, police boxes are on the corners of streets and if you get up to mischief you can be sure as hell that someone is going to tell your parents and you’ll be punished for it.
Although the focus is very much on the character of Billy Perks, time has gone into each and every other member of the community. From the helpful Dr Hadfield, Marlene the Co-op’s store cashier and older sister to Billy’s partner in the investigation Yvonne to the mysterious tramp. You feel you know each of them and that although not contained in the book they have a past, a future, a life outside of the Tuppenny Hat Detective’s world.
As you can tell I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to older children and adults alike. I had my suspicions about who dunnit but never would have got the MOM or is it OMM or even MMO!
February 4, 2016
Sheffield, England - 1951
The kids' ball has gone over the Star Woman's fence and 12 year -old Billy Perks is the one to go over and get it. She has a reputation for being mean and wants no one to come onto her property. When Billy finds that the ball has rolled into her back door and he has to get it, he doesn't expect to find her lying dead on the floor.
The police make short work of her death, but Billy has noticed a few things that are out of place. Enlisting his friends, Yvonne Sparks and Kick Morley, they form a team and take on the job of trying to solve the mysterious murder of the Star Woman. Using movie detective characters portrayed by the likes of Humphrey Bogard and Dick Barton as role models, they methodically investigate the clues and comments they come upon. Unknowingly they also stir up long buried secrets and wartime betrayals and conspiracies that could be deadly to them.
Written for older teens and adults, it provides some fun reading with a lot of twists and turns along the way. Gives you somethings to think about while trying to solve the mystery. There is a glossary in the back to help with definitions of the local slang spoken in the Sheffield area.
The kids' ball has gone over the Star Woman's fence and 12 year -old Billy Perks is the one to go over and get it. She has a reputation for being mean and wants no one to come onto her property. When Billy finds that the ball has rolled into her back door and he has to get it, he doesn't expect to find her lying dead on the floor.
The police make short work of her death, but Billy has noticed a few things that are out of place. Enlisting his friends, Yvonne Sparks and Kick Morley, they form a team and take on the job of trying to solve the mysterious murder of the Star Woman. Using movie detective characters portrayed by the likes of Humphrey Bogard and Dick Barton as role models, they methodically investigate the clues and comments they come upon. Unknowingly they also stir up long buried secrets and wartime betrayals and conspiracies that could be deadly to them.
Written for older teens and adults, it provides some fun reading with a lot of twists and turns along the way. Gives you somethings to think about while trying to solve the mystery. There is a glossary in the back to help with definitions of the local slang spoken in the Sheffield area.
January 8, 2015
In the tradition of Nancy Drew and Flavia de Luce, Brian Sellars gives us a murder mystery solved by a young boy. Eleven-year-old Billy Perks kicks his soccer ball into the yard of an elderly woman and soon discovers her dead body. The police say she died of natural causes, but Billy is convinced it was murder. Nobody believes him until several more deaths occur.
For the most part Sellars succeeds in making the story believable with authentic-sounding conversations between the children and the adults. There were a couple of places where credibility was stretched (like when the vicar makes a prolonged confession to Billy, something an adult would probably not do), but, in general, Billy's adventures are age-appropriate and plausible.
This is not a children's book. Sellars intended his book for adults and teens so there is a smattering of off-color language and references to adult situations.The book is witty and well-written and in addition to telling a good story, gives an interesting view of England in the years right after World War II.
For the most part Sellars succeeds in making the story believable with authentic-sounding conversations between the children and the adults. There were a couple of places where credibility was stretched (like when the vicar makes a prolonged confession to Billy, something an adult would probably not do), but, in general, Billy's adventures are age-appropriate and plausible.
This is not a children's book. Sellars intended his book for adults and teens so there is a smattering of off-color language and references to adult situations.The book is witty and well-written and in addition to telling a good story, gives an interesting view of England in the years right after World War II.
October 8, 2013
I loved this book. Set in Sheffield in 1952, it tells the story of 11 year Billy Perks (the Tuppenny Hat Detective) as he and his mates, Yvonne and Kick, investigate the death of a neighbour.
According to the police and the doctor, the old lady died after banging her head in a fall, but Billy is convinced it's murder and sets out to prove it.
It's a beautifully written story, dripping in period detail that brings the past vividly to life. Some may struggling with the dialogue, written in the local dialect, but to me it evoked my childhood better than any book I've ever read.
A great read, a fast-paced read, and thoroughly recommended.
According to the police and the doctor, the old lady died after banging her head in a fall, but Billy is convinced it's murder and sets out to prove it.
It's a beautifully written story, dripping in period detail that brings the past vividly to life. Some may struggling with the dialogue, written in the local dialect, but to me it evoked my childhood better than any book I've ever read.
A great read, a fast-paced read, and thoroughly recommended.
February 2, 2014
This story is stupendous. Written for older children/young adults, the author had informed that the work had been enjoyed to date by people of all ages. This is clearly the case, and I am now one of Brian Sellars' adult fans. A wonderful whodunit tale, set in 1950s Sheffield.
The detective is Billy Perks, not yet a teenager. He acquires a tuppenny hat during the course of the story, hence the work's title. Great vocabulary is here, for younger readers in particular to become familiar with. Educational, in fact.
I highly recommend this work, with no hesitation whatsoever.
The detective is Billy Perks, not yet a teenager. He acquires a tuppenny hat during the course of the story, hence the work's title. Great vocabulary is here, for younger readers in particular to become familiar with. Educational, in fact.
I highly recommend this work, with no hesitation whatsoever.
March 23, 2017
I was first attracted to this book by the local interest of it being set in Sheffield, a city in the north of England known as the steel city because of it’s history of steel production. Its author Brian Sellars grew up in the area the story is set and in the period it is set enabling him to paint a vivid picture of life in Sheffield in the early 1950s.
For the rest of the review please click on the following link Tuppeny Hat Detective
For the rest of the review please click on the following link Tuppeny Hat Detective
Read
February 10, 2014Loved the way this book is written. Descriptions paint a wonderful picture. Story really captivating and you're in there at the start. Billy Perks is deliciously grotty and that he can outsmart the local cops with such stunning logic and bright intelligence makes you love him all the more.
Having read the beginning of Dance Floor, am waiting with eager anticipation for its arrival.
Having read the beginning of Dance Floor, am waiting with eager anticipation for its arrival.
May 12, 2014
Wow....I downloaded this book free from Amazon. I wasn't expecting it to be good because a lot of material that is free on Amazon is rubbish. I may be biased because I live in Sheffield and I do a lot of walking around the Rivelin area etc.but this was a great read. I couldn't put it down. I shall definately look out for his other books.
July 11, 2014
Delightful book. The story centers around an engaging and unlikely hero in the form of a tenacious 11-year old boy. There were moments in the book that made me laugh out loud, and the mystery had an unexpected solution. I thought the book was a little slow, but other than that, a very enjoyable read.
September 28, 2014
I couldn't get into the book. I think it's a little dated for the target audience (YA, but more toward tweens, in my opinion). I can't see too many 11-12 year olds enjoying this drawn-out story about some very improbable deduction work by an 11-year-old boy. The dialect seemed inconsistent at time also.
July 2, 2014
"really good read. If you’ve not read it you are missing a gem"
"By far the best piece of writing on pikelets to be found in the whole of English Literature." - see chapter six Full review at:
http://stevek1889.blogspot.co.uk/2014...
"By far the best piece of writing on pikelets to be found in the whole of English Literature." - see chapter six Full review at:
http://stevek1889.blogspot.co.uk/2014...
July 27, 2014
For a free kindle book I wasn't expecting much, it was absolutely charming. A murder mystery told through the eyes of a young boy and his friends, twists and turns and adventures. I really enjoyed it!
August 20, 2014
Once you started reading, it was hard to stop.
Once you started reading, it was hard to stop.
Great story. the book kept you guessing until the end. Can't wait t read more from this author and Billy.
Once you started reading, it was hard to stop.
Great story. the book kept you guessing until the end. Can't wait t read more from this author and Billy.
September 11, 2016
I downloaded this as I am also from Sheffield, so I identified with the characters and the dialect etc, and I enjoy a mystery.
It was cleverly written and I enjoyed it, and it had a good twist at the end.
It was cleverly written and I enjoyed it, and it had a good twist at the end.
March 7, 2014
really enjoyed this. Nice having a child 'detective' plus a few little twists
July 15, 2014
Really liked this book. An adult story about an eleven year old, who the cops recognize as a detective. The time period and location interested me too, the 50s in Sheffield.
December 3, 2014
Great book! Loved the dialect. It became easier to figure out after reading a few pages. Well thought out characters that are fun to get acquainted with.
May 5, 2015
free download, great book!
July 7, 2016
liked this a lot .. what a good story
December 14, 2013
Very good mystery through a ten year old boys eyes, a downloadable freebie
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews