With impeccable research and just enough romance . . . bestseller Harper illuminates a part of Tudor history often ignored. Harper writes with effortless prose and an expert take on the era.

The clash between Christopher's view of the world and the way it looks to the rest of us makes this an extraordinarily moving, often blackly funny read. It is hard to think of anyone who would not be moved and delighted by this book, so the decision to publish it simultaneously for older children and adults is certainly well-founded

Brilliantly inventive, full of dazzling set-pieces, unbearably sad, yet also skilfully dodging any encounters with sentimentality, this isn't simply the most original novel I've read in years . . . It's also one of the best

A stroke of genius, as the advantages of having a naive, literal-minded boy in the driving seat are manifold . . . We do learn what it might feel like to have Asperger's Syndrome

The book gave me that rare, greedy feeling of: this is so good I want to read it all at once but I mustn't or it will be over too soon

It's pretty much flawless . . . Haddon stays compassionate to all his characters, but not once does his story descend into treacly pathos or easy tears. This is a high ambition fully achieved

Supremely well-written, funny and oddly affecting

Exceptional by any standards . . . When we look at the world through Christopher's eyes we see it more clearly and understand ourselves better. What more could you want of a book?

Exceptional by any standards. Haddon sticks rigidly to the limits imposed by autism without sacrificing literary viability. When we look at the world through Christopher's eyes we see it more clearly and understand ourselves better. What more could you want of a book?

Mark Haddon has produced a well-executed, unusual mystery.

astonishing and provocative

an unexpected gem and quite possibly the best novel of the year

Outstanding and moving

The most amazing book . . . The author handled the character wonderfully.

heartwarming

A heart-warming story about a boy struggling to communicate with the world

An intriguing, enlightening,and totally compelling read with surely the most unlikely hero in young people's literature

Laugh-out-loud funny

...original, kind, disturbing and profoundly moving.

A stroke of genius, as the advantages of having a naive, literal-minded boy in the driving seat are manifold...we do learn what it might fe el like to have Asperger's Syndrome.

A truly original work of fiction . . .a unique tale

excellent

A wonderful first person narrative of a boy with Asperger;s Syndrome; funny, sad and extraordinarily original

The highlight of the year

This is the magazine of the National Autistic Society: the review is written by someone with Asperger's Syndrome. "This book is a good murder mystery story but a better description of how th mind of a different person with some kind of special need looks upon how things work and come about.

This startlingly original story . . . Has surprised everyone-not least the author.The book is funny, gripping, sad and unstintingly entertaining.

So if you're interested in solving mysteries and want to learn about autism in children, you'll love this book

A triumph from first page to last . . . Haddon's prose is empathetic and you cannot help but be drawn into young Christpher's world

This is a unique book written from the perspective of a unique character . . . It is very easy to read and would satisfy anyone from eight to 88

I found this book highly entertaining and enthralling though it was a bit sad at times.