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Dotty Detective #1
Dotty Detective
Meet Dorothy Constance Mae Louise, or Dot as she prefers to be called! Dot loves super-sour apple sherberts, running fast and puzzles - especially if they're fiendishly tricky. And with the help of trusty sidekick, Beans and TOP DOG, McClusky, she is always ready to sniff out a mystery. So when meangirl Laura seems set on sabotaging the school talent show, Dot is determined to find out how, and save the day...
192 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2016
9 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Clara Vulliamy
123 books24 followersClara Vulliamy began her career illustrating for newspapers and magazines, but switched to illustrating children’s books after having children of her own. She lives in England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 25, 2018
I found this series wandering through my library’s new acquisitions list online, one of my weekday obsessions habits. At the time I decided to only order the first book to test drive in case I hated it. Who was I kidding?! I knew I should’ve reserved them all at the same time. I’ve now corrected that mistake. 😃
The publisher advises this series is for kids from 6 years, although I’m not sure I know a 6 year old who knows what discombobulated means. Don’t worry, though. It’s not full of big words. I imagine this series as the one you read when you’re not old enough for Dork Diaries yet.
In Dotty Detective we meet Dorothy Constance Mae Louise (Dot) whose family has just moved to a new flat. Dot’s family are her mother, twins (Alf and Maisy) and McClusky, super dog. This book follows Dot’s first four weeks at Oakfield School.
Dot is a budding detective, as is Bean (a new friend at school). Dot and Bean, along with McClusky (of course), form their own detective agency after discovering there is a mystery surrounding the upcoming school talent show. Dot also has another mystery on her hands, that of the items in her room that keep going missing.
Dotty Detective is told in a diary format, complete with illustrated stickers, drawings, Polaroids taped to the pages and other sweet decorative pieces. The drawings have a kiddie feel, not that I could draw that well when I was a kid. Okay, you’ve got me. I still can’t draw a legible stick figure.
I really enjoyed the illustrations as they add to the cute factor of the story, and there are also accidental inclusions to the diary that you’d expect from something well used by a kid, like a stray smear of toothpaste.
When I first tried this book I only made it a couple of pages before deciding it wasn’t for me. I guess I wasn’t in the right mood the first time around though. After giving it a few days and another go, I became hooked and read it straight through. I’m looking forward to continuing this series.
The publisher advises this series is for kids from 6 years, although I’m not sure I know a 6 year old who knows what discombobulated means. Don’t worry, though. It’s not full of big words. I imagine this series as the one you read when you’re not old enough for Dork Diaries yet.
In Dotty Detective we meet Dorothy Constance Mae Louise (Dot) whose family has just moved to a new flat. Dot’s family are her mother, twins (Alf and Maisy) and McClusky, super dog. This book follows Dot’s first four weeks at Oakfield School.
Dot is a budding detective, as is Bean (a new friend at school). Dot and Bean, along with McClusky (of course), form their own detective agency after discovering there is a mystery surrounding the upcoming school talent show. Dot also has another mystery on her hands, that of the items in her room that keep going missing.
Dotty Detective is told in a diary format, complete with illustrated stickers, drawings, Polaroids taped to the pages and other sweet decorative pieces. The drawings have a kiddie feel, not that I could draw that well when I was a kid. Okay, you’ve got me. I still can’t draw a legible stick figure.
I really enjoyed the illustrations as they add to the cute factor of the story, and there are also accidental inclusions to the diary that you’d expect from something well used by a kid, like a stray smear of toothpaste.
When I first tried this book I only made it a couple of pages before deciding it wasn’t for me. I guess I wasn’t in the right mood the first time around though. After giving it a few days and another go, I became hooked and read it straight through. I’m looking forward to continuing this series.
December 30, 2022
I loved it, it was such a good book! I love the diary stile writing. I also liked Dot’s personality.
April 11, 2018
*4,5 STARS*
SPOILER ALERT. THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
My sister gave me this book, and she really wanted me to read it, so I did. And even though it’s “technically” a children’s book—even though reading doesn’t actually have an age—I found myself enjoying it quite a lot.
I loved the characters so much. I found Dotty to be just a little bit annoying at the beginning, but I really liked her afterwards; she was so excited and sweet and just kind of adorable. I also really liked her family; her mom, siblings, and dog were hilarious. Her friends at school were also pretty fantastic; and I loved her dynamic trio pairing with Beans and Amy, although I didn’t like Laura at all.
The illustrations in this book were really nice and added a lot to the book. They just went great together.
The story seemed really funny to me. I loved the concept and all the defectiveness going on in it. I really liked that Dotty and Beans were working on the “case” together, and all their secret codes and messages, although I did feel that the mystery was left kind of unsolved, because no one really admired anything; it was understood that Laura had something to do with the talent show and the missing shoes and all that, but the issue was never really confronted head on, so...
The writing style was okay. Since Dotty is a little girl, I did feel that at some moments her thoughts were all confused and mixed up and all over the place, and sometimes she was just saying random ideas that popped into her head at the most random moment.
Overall, I surprisingly really liked this book, and I would really like to read the rest of the books in the series. I also think that they could be really good books to read for smaller children who are just getting into reading, or even for them to read them on their own.
SPOILER ALERT. THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
My sister gave me this book, and she really wanted me to read it, so I did. And even though it’s “technically” a children’s book—even though reading doesn’t actually have an age—I found myself enjoying it quite a lot.
I loved the characters so much. I found Dotty to be just a little bit annoying at the beginning, but I really liked her afterwards; she was so excited and sweet and just kind of adorable. I also really liked her family; her mom, siblings, and dog were hilarious. Her friends at school were also pretty fantastic; and I loved her dynamic trio pairing with Beans and Amy, although I didn’t like Laura at all.
The illustrations in this book were really nice and added a lot to the book. They just went great together.
The story seemed really funny to me. I loved the concept and all the defectiveness going on in it. I really liked that Dotty and Beans were working on the “case” together, and all their secret codes and messages, although I did feel that the mystery was left kind of unsolved, because no one really admired anything; it was understood that Laura had something to do with the talent show and the missing shoes and all that, but the issue was never really confronted head on, so...
The writing style was okay. Since Dotty is a little girl, I did feel that at some moments her thoughts were all confused and mixed up and all over the place, and sometimes she was just saying random ideas that popped into her head at the most random moment.
Overall, I surprisingly really liked this book, and I would really like to read the rest of the books in the series. I also think that they could be really good books to read for smaller children who are just getting into reading, or even for them to read them on their own.
February 28, 2024
Another decent early chapter book for Year 3s. Dot is a girl who likes puzzles and maths. Can she, her dog, and her new friend, Beans, solve the mystery of the missing shoes?\
(Spoiler- they can!)
Diary format, nicely illustrated.
(Spoiler- they can!)
Diary format, nicely illustrated.
October 12, 2021
My 6 year-old daughter and I love the Dotty Detective novels. A great mix of approachable writing and fun illustrations. Her detective club and all her amazing stationery supplies make it sound so fun to be young.
June 22, 2022
This boook was very fun to read
Read
May 15, 2021Uh. May. Zeeng. This book was a THRILL to read. Fun and fast, who'd HATE this book???
Plus you get a free lesson of detective vocab.
The penny drops.
{Wow!!!}
Plus you get a free lesson of detective vocab.
The penny drops.
{Wow!!!}
May 6, 2016
I was already excited for this book, but then I read it, and wow. Just wow!
This was just so much fun. A likeable character who is sweet, kind, friendly, and fun. I also loved that she loved puzzles and detective stuff. She even made her own detective agency with a new best friend (and the name for it was just brilliant).
And I do wonder what happened to all the clubs she signed up for. I was actually quite curious about how that one would end up, I mean, signing up for 6 or so clubs? Wow, dedication! I had actually hoped to see how she would juggle that one + homework + her family + her friends. I can't imagine it ending right though. We do see her going to clubs, but apparently she can juggle all of it easily. Wow.
Of course we also have a mean girl *sigh* Seriously, I am so getting tired of this trope. I was just so annoyed with this girl and I just wanted to throw stuff at her head for being such a bitch. Bleh. And for such stupid reasons, but then again.... that is what mean girls are all about. Urgh!
I loved Amy, she was such a fun character, and I just admired her that even though she is totally afraid to stand on a stage she does it! Even if she needs a little help, she just does it. I was just cheering for this girl. Go Amy!
Beans was also a fun character, and I loved how he connected so well with Dot.
The dog was hilarious, and I loved the photograph/illustrations. I also loved the ending and what the dog did there! Go Go!
I also love how the book was formatted, how the book looked from the inside. It was just such a delight. Illustrations, maps, stickers, and so so much more. I just loved it. I could just imagine reading a diary (though that doesn't feel all too well I have to say, but you get the idea). It was so chock-full of fun things I just flew through the book.
All in all, I can't wait for the next book, I got it pre-ordered (as soon as I saw it at the end of this book). And I would highly recommend this book to everyone looking for a fun, cute, delightful book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This was just so much fun. A likeable character who is sweet, kind, friendly, and fun. I also loved that she loved puzzles and detective stuff. She even made her own detective agency with a new best friend (and the name for it was just brilliant).
And I do wonder what happened to all the clubs she signed up for. I was actually quite curious about how that one would end up, I mean, signing up for 6 or so clubs? Wow, dedication! I had actually hoped to see how she would juggle that one + homework + her family + her friends. I can't imagine it ending right though. We do see her going to clubs, but apparently she can juggle all of it easily. Wow.
Of course we also have a mean girl *sigh* Seriously, I am so getting tired of this trope. I was just so annoyed with this girl and I just wanted to throw stuff at her head for being such a bitch. Bleh. And for such stupid reasons, but then again.... that is what mean girls are all about. Urgh!
I loved Amy, she was such a fun character, and I just admired her that even though she is totally afraid to stand on a stage she does it! Even if she needs a little help, she just does it. I was just cheering for this girl. Go Amy!
Beans was also a fun character, and I loved how he connected so well with Dot.
The dog was hilarious, and I loved the photograph/illustrations. I also loved the ending and what the dog did there! Go Go!
I also love how the book was formatted, how the book looked from the inside. It was just such a delight. Illustrations, maps, stickers, and so so much more. I just loved it. I could just imagine reading a diary (though that doesn't feel all too well I have to say, but you get the idea). It was so chock-full of fun things I just flew through the book.
All in all, I can't wait for the next book, I got it pre-ordered (as soon as I saw it at the end of this book). And I would highly recommend this book to everyone looking for a fun, cute, delightful book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 17, 2017
Fantastic, fun detective story that helped turned my daughter into a bookworm!
My daughter loves the Dotty Detective series! After we read the first book together, with it's lively diary format and fun illustrations, she couldn't wait to get more of the series and quickly whizzed through them all herself. The stories are funny, honest and full of adventure, and my daughter can really relate to the characters and their experiences at school/away at camp etc.
I love that Dotty is a strong, intelligent character who follows her own path (as well as the detective clues to solve the mystery) and who looks out for her friends. I particularly like the fact that Dotty's best friend is a boy (Beans). So many children's books, films and TV programmes separate the sexes nowadays, but boys and girls can be friends and enjoy playing together, and both boys and girls can enjoy these books.
My daughter regularly re-reads these books and uses the secret codes and detective ideas in her games and her own stories. She was also lucky enough to meet the lovely author at a book festival, and it really inspired her! She uses the tips she picked up in her own drawings and it made her want to be a writer and illustrator herself one day. We'll have to wait and see!
My daughter loves the Dotty Detective series! After we read the first book together, with it's lively diary format and fun illustrations, she couldn't wait to get more of the series and quickly whizzed through them all herself. The stories are funny, honest and full of adventure, and my daughter can really relate to the characters and their experiences at school/away at camp etc.
I love that Dotty is a strong, intelligent character who follows her own path (as well as the detective clues to solve the mystery) and who looks out for her friends. I particularly like the fact that Dotty's best friend is a boy (Beans). So many children's books, films and TV programmes separate the sexes nowadays, but boys and girls can be friends and enjoy playing together, and both boys and girls can enjoy these books.
My daughter regularly re-reads these books and uses the secret codes and detective ideas in her games and her own stories. She was also lucky enough to meet the lovely author at a book festival, and it really inspired her! She uses the tips she picked up in her own drawings and it made her want to be a writer and illustrator herself one day. We'll have to wait and see!
July 28, 2017
"Dotty Detective" is a super sweet detective story perfect for good 7 year old readers through to reluctant 9+ readers.
Dorothy Constance Mae Louise (or Dot as she is known to her friends) has just moved house is is about to start a new school. Dot has a pair of lucky shoes, loves puzzles and her favourite TV show is 'Fred Fantastic Ace Detective'. Luckily, Dot's new best friend loves 'Fred Fantastic' too and together they must figure out who is sabotaging the school talent show before it is too late.
This book was very well written with excellent use of language. The diary format worked well. It helps the reader understand the timeline and breaks up the text into easy-to-read chapters.
I would recommend this to fans of "EJ Spy School" series and the "Billie B Brown Mystery" series.
Danielle
Three Four Knock on the Door
Independent Children's Bookshop
Dorothy Constance Mae Louise (or Dot as she is known to her friends) has just moved house is is about to start a new school. Dot has a pair of lucky shoes, loves puzzles and her favourite TV show is 'Fred Fantastic Ace Detective'. Luckily, Dot's new best friend loves 'Fred Fantastic' too and together they must figure out who is sabotaging the school talent show before it is too late.
This book was very well written with excellent use of language. The diary format worked well. It helps the reader understand the timeline and breaks up the text into easy-to-read chapters.
I would recommend this to fans of "EJ Spy School" series and the "Billie B Brown Mystery" series.
Danielle
Three Four Knock on the Door
Independent Children's Bookshop
January 13, 2022
I really liked it and my favourite character was McCluskey because I love dogs and I just really loved the story and it was just really fun reading and well I loved it and I like the fact that it's like this has happened and so then it's like another thing happening and I just really made me feel really happy and I love the fact that like instead of chapters it's like days of the week
February 7, 2024
This is a fun book. It would be a good introduction to the detective story genre for readers from about age 7. I thought Dotty was going to be a bit annoying at first but she ended up being quite fun and a lovely friend. It's a shame the mystery had to invite a "mean girl" but it's a good book and would definitely have been a favourite when I was younger.
September 15, 2024
I read this with my 7 year old at bedtime, and she loved it.
Written like a diary, this is a really fun little mystery. There are some bigger words in there that really challenged my daughter and had her asking loads of questions about what they meant.
It was a fun mystery to unravel and expanded her vocabulary.
Written like a diary, this is a really fun little mystery. There are some bigger words in there that really challenged my daughter and had her asking loads of questions about what they meant.
It was a fun mystery to unravel and expanded her vocabulary.
August 7, 2017
I loved this book because it's a funny story that I didn't want to put down. The mystery was hard to solve and it made me very thoughtful. McClusky the dog helps Dotty find things so she can solve the mystery.
August 21, 2018
3.5 stars. Cute early chapter book mystery with a chatty, energetic main character. The format is diary-like with pictures and memorabilia taped in for illustrations. The writing is short, with high, almost frantic energy. That sort of pace will keep readers engaged all the way to the end.
March 16, 2023
It was Dotty’s first day at a new school (her real name is Dorothy). She made a new friend called Beans. There was a class talent show that Laura tried to sabotage but Dotty helped her friends do their show.
July 29, 2018
Love the layout of this book - it's a carefully crafted journal. A good mystery book to add to your library.
December 15, 2018
I'm not great at riddles
October 6, 2019
This book is my favourite
You guys should read it !!
You guys should read it !!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2019
Review coming soon!
July 4, 2020
5 Star
I liked the way they solved the case and used secret codes to talk to each other. I can't wait to read the next book. I'm going to start it now!
I liked the way they solved the case and used secret codes to talk to each other. I can't wait to read the next book. I'm going to start it now!
July 15, 2020
LIGHTBULB MOMENT! This book is AWESOME!
February 18, 2021
I thought it was brilliant! Brand and Dotty made excellent detectives!
March 24, 2021
Fun option for new readers.
March 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and getting to know the characters. The story move fast and is entertaining.
May 22, 2021
Such a cute quick read with a cute dog also in the book. ☺️ Can’t wait to read the rest of the series. :)
April 12, 2022
Not bad but not particularly engaging. I won't be continuing the series.
December 16, 2024
l’ho regalato alla mia cuginetta e le è piaciuto un sacco quindi l’ho letto anche io (troppo carino😭💗💗)
March 7, 2024
Dotty Detective was finished by me within ONE WEEK! I enjoyed this book sooooo much and anyone who likes spies and comedy in the same book…,I recommend this one!! 😃
January 8, 2025
4⭐️ Such a cutie pie book for young readers! It’s a story about a young girl and how she has 2 mysteries to solve at school and at home. Her story is told through her journal and includes doodles, pictures and notes as she goes through her thought process to figure things out. I thought the idea of it was adorable and I appreciated the author’s sense of humor- I found myself chucking at certain subtle things she would say that would likely go over a young readers head. One of the girls at my daughter’s skating practice brought this with her and I was able to quickly read it while they were practicing. It took maybe 15 minutes to read but like I said, I thought it was super cute and I think young female readers would really enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews