The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone, who is fifteen and has Asperger's, a form of autism. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour's dog murdered, he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down.
Editor notes: After graduation, Mark Haddon became a caretaker for disabled people. A little later, he wrote this book using his experience, so the novel reflects the behavior and logic of those who have autism. In the first person of Christopher, the author explains the boy's mindset, and it's fantastic. Moreover, it's an adult picture book, just like you like it.