The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

How it reads

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is young adult (coming-of-age mystery, specifically), and its dominant mood is melancholy. It's quietly sad, wistful and reflective. The pace is moderate — neither a page-turner nor a slow burn — so it holds up whether you read it in long sittings or short ones.

It's set in several locations, in the present day, told in the first person by a single narrator. Its central concerns are identity, family and coming of age. In weight it sits in the middle: substantial without being heavy going.

It stands alone, so there's nothing else you need to read first or after. The ending resolves happily. At 226 pages it's a quick read. It's a mega-bestseller — the book everyone seems to have read.