‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time’ by Mark Haddon [Book Review]

This is not your ordinary detective novel.

The story begins when a dog called Wellington gets killed one night. Christopher, the protagonist, is about to say hi to his neighbor’s pet but to his surprise, the dog’s already dead. Someone has just stabbed him with a garden fork.

Then, his adventure begins. After the incident, he decides to find out who the dog killer is. Inspired by his favorite character, Sherlock Holmes, he uses his investigative skills and starts looking for clues. He also decides to write everything down in a book. He also tries to roam around the neighborhood and talk to people, hopeful that one day he will eventually meet someone who can give useful information on who the killer is.

Of course, in the end, he will find out who it is — plus more. As he talks to people within the neighborhood, he also unveils a secret about his family.

More things about Christopher will also surface as the story progresses: his condition, how he looks at things, and how brilliant he is as a person.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time is definitely one of the most emotional books I have ever read. It is entertaining and touching at the same time.

I think this is made possible by the very promising design of the characters, particularly Christopher. His motivations, leading to the shocking discoveries he has had, and how it has sparked conflict with the other characters, make the novel even more interesting.