Though this is essentially meant to be a children's book (well, young adult), it's something that you shouldn't miss an opportunity to read. It's the story of a deeply disturbed child, his search to discover who killed his neighbour's dog - and the family dramas that come with his investigation.

The tone of the book is astounding. It's written from the perspective of a child with behavioural problems - Asperger syndrome, a form of autism - and a photographic memory. It's an excellent device which allows Haddon to render scenes with a level of specificity that would seem out of place otherwise. The monomaniacal narrator's enthusiasms and totems come through clearly, and it's not uncommon for the narrative to be broken up by illustrations or mathematical problems.

The novel is particularly good at prompting thoughts on how society handles disability, though the reader isn't bludgeoned with it. Instead, we're drawn into the world of a child with deep emotional problems, and are pained at the state of the family surrounding him.

Ignore where this is shelved and pick it up. It's just brilliant.