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CollectionAges 5–8Graphic Novels

Detective Stanley

A universe by Hannah Tunnicliffe

A pancake-loving dog detective cracks bright, funny, properly twisty whodunits; ideal for newly independent and comic-loving readers ready for their first mysteries.

  • Series

    1
  • Books

    2
  • Best for

    5–8
  • Status

    Ongoing

At a glance

Primary creator
Hannah Tunnicliffe
First book
Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum · 2025
Tone
Funny, Warm, Whimsical
Overall sensitivity
Low

The shape of it

The shape of this universe.

Detective Stanley is Hannah Tunnicliffe and Erica Harrison's warm, funny graphic-novel mystery series for children moving on from picture books. Stanley is a pancake-loving, Sherlock-ish retired dog detective who keeps getting coaxed out of his beloved peace and quiet by baffling crimes: a museum broken into where nothing is stolen, priceless plants vanishing from the botanical gardens. Each book is a proper, satisfyingly twisty whodunit built at just-right length for newly independent and comic-mad readers, delivered in bright, gorgeous colour and a gentle, good-humoured voice. With a loveable sleuth, a Narlybone cast of suspects and clues a child can actually follow, it makes classic detective fiction feel approachable, cosy and genuinely fun to solve.

A pancake-loving dog detective cracks bright, funny, properly twisty whodunits; ideal for newly independent and comic-loving readers ready for their first mysteries.

Primary themes

Tone palette

  • Funny
  • Warm
  • Whimsical

The series

One way in.

Cultural footprint

A shelf of evidence.

Cultural ubiquity

2/ 5

A working classic for readers in the know.

Sensitivity

Low, and collection-wide.

LowCollection-wide

Across the collection

All 2 books.

About the creator

Hannah Tunnicliffe.

Hannah Tunnicliffe

Author

Hannah Tunnicliffe: New Zealand novelist turned children's writer whose Detective Stanley comics, drawn by Erica Harrison, serve up a pancake-loving dog sleuth and proper, funny mysteries for newly independent readers.

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