The Goldfish Boy

12-year-old Matthew Corbin hasn’t been to school for weeks. He passes much of his time observing the goings-on of the local neighbourhood from his bedroom window. He even makes little notes about neighbours’ movements. Their everyday activity is nothing out of the ordinary - chatting, gardening, jogging, and going off to work or the shops.

Until, that is, a toddler goes missing, and Matthew realises he may be one of the few people who can help shed some light on the disappearance. However, Matthew has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and everyday life has become increasingly challenging. Can he possibly play a major role in an investigation into the abduction of a child, perhaps without even leaving his house?

This is an utterly captivating read, combining a compelling whodunit with additional questions about what it was that triggered Matthew’s OCD. We see how, with the help of his family and therapist, he can find a way forward and identify strategies to manage the condition. 

The reality of struggling with mental health is depicted in a convincing yet accessible manner, and the reader cannot fail to be drawn in by this absorbing mystery and its thoroughly engaging protagonist.