Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum
For ages 6+
Detective Stanley - a not-for-the-want-of-trying almost retired old dog of crime-solving fame in Narlybone town - is just about to tuck into his stack of pancakes at breakfast, a bird delivers a plea for help… irresistible for his eccentric crime-fighting mind to refuse.
An ode to Sherlock Holmes and Piet Mondrian, this noiresque, Tintin-style detective mystery instantly drew me in. For early readers ‘Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum’ is a debut Children’s book written by Hannah Tunnicliffe and illustrated in vibrant and humour filled full colour by Erica Harrison, published by Flying Eye Books for ages 6+. It’s perfect for children who love graphic novels, comic books, or highly illustrated stories, and for those transitioning from picture books.
Detective Stanley - a not-for-the-want-of-trying almost retired old dog of crime-solving fame in Narlybone town - is just about to tuck into his stack of pancakes at breakfast, a bird delivers a plea for help… irresistible for his eccentric crime-fighting mind to refuse.
Readers can solve the mystery alongside the text while spotting clues in the vibrant illustrations - some red herrings, some leading straight to the culprit. Detective Stanley doesn’t miss a thing, and the museum’s Bleat Mondrian (aka Piet Mondrian) disaster is not quite as it seems. Framed at the scene of the crime, Stanley is thrown into prison (loving the cross-section illustration… plip plop, giggles) from where the clues keep revealing themselves… there’s a connection to be made in this enigmatic riddle of a mystery with every new development.
Someone isn’t quite who they seem, but with this woof-less sleuth is on the case, it’s only a matter of time before their dastardly plot is revealed and justice is served.
Once you’ve had a super time reading ‘Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum’ do go back through the pages to find any clues you didn’t spot first time round, and other fun little asides you might have overlooked. Then check out the ‘Case File’ at the back, packed with brilliant true-life facts about Mondrian, his famous artwork, and his life.
Time to get back to those pancakes, Detective Stanley - before your services are needed again! Book 2, ‘Detective Stanley and the Green Thumbed Thief’ arrives on 6th February 2026, and I can’t wait!
PRAISE
"This boldly illustrated graphic novel series kickoff by Tunnicliffe and Harrison stars a pancake-loving, Sherlock-style black and white dog with floppy ears and piercing eyes as the eponymous sleuth… Clear line drawings and single-plane compositions propel the meaty, joke-punctuated plot at a brisk pace and echo the crisp geometry and vibrant colors of Mondrian's work. Ages 6-9. (Feb.)" - Publisher's Weekly
"This Poirot-esque pooch quietly uses his powers of observation to gather evidence until the climactic scene in which he elegantly ties everything together. Bustling, precisely constructed panels give the settings plenty of life and personality. … The arrival of a plucky new detective on the scene is cause for celebration." - Kirkus Reviews
"Detective Stanley has an unerring nose for solving any case, and you, dear reader, will love this lovely book." -- Laura Suàrez, author of Monster Support Group
