Published by Aralyn Press, 2025.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Seven, Distracted Detective. It’s a really engaging story with a sparky central protagonist and some weighty themes. I always enjoy a good mystery story and this book kept me on my toes with plenty of false leads and a pacy plot.

Mr O, the caretaker at Riverside Academy, has gone missing and Seven was the last person to see him (as she gazed distractedly out of the classroom window during a maths lesson). He was on the school field and he didn’t look well… Seven becomes convinced that there’s foul play involved and so she and her friends decide to investigate.

I really like how there’s a core friendship group at the heart of the story – it’s so important to model supportive female friendships to this age group of readers. The girls take risks, unearth clues and question suspects. Will they be able to get justice for Mr O in time?

Running alongside the mystery of Mr O’s disappearance is a sub-plot about Seven’s difficult home life. Her mom is an alcoholic who hasn’t acknowledged her addiction. We see the impact that her drinking has on the family, and on Seven in particular. The topic is explored sensitively but honestly and, at the back of the book, there are details of organisations that offer information and support to anyone affected by a similar situation.

Despite the darker themes, the book contains plenty of humour – particularly in the interactions between the four friends – and in the voice of the first person narrative. This is a gripping and empathy-rich book and one which I can heartily recommend to upper key stage 2 readers.

Rating: 💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 10+

Thank you to the author, Rachel Pattinson, for sending me a copy of this book to review.