Find out what Mumsnetters thought of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon

[SorchaMumsnet]

For the first book giveaway of the year, we'd like to introduce you to debut author Joanna Cannon and her first novel The Trouble with Goats and Sheep. You can also read her top tips for aspiring authors.

Mrs Creasy is missing and The Avenue is alive with whispers. The neighbours blame the disappearance on the heatwave, but ten-year-olds Grace and Tilly aren't so sure.

As the summer shimmers endlessly on, the girls decide to take matters into their own hands. And as the cul-de-sac starts giving up its secrets, the amateur detectives find much more than they imagined.

We ask all winners to share their thoughts about the book on this discussion thread. However, you don't have to win a free copy to take part in the discussion - anyone who has read The Trouble with Goats and Sheep can post their thoughts on this thread.

Everyone who posts detailed feedback on the book by the end of Thursday 23 February will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Love2shop voucher.

This giveaway is sponsored by HarperCollins

Thanks for the free copy I am really enjoying all the 70's nostalgia which jumps out from every page. Its great fun for me as I was the same age in that summer of 73' that the little girl in the book is, it is exactly how I remember it. The author has really hit the nail on the head with the small cliquey 'cul de sac' culture, and I can also relate to that. Ive not quite finished it yet, but it is refreshing and funny to read a book as seen through the eyes of a child in the seventies, lets hope they find Mrs Creasey???

Finished reading the copy mumsnet me. Loved this - deceptive easy read, using the innocence of the children to uncover the secrets of an apparently respectable neighbourhood. I didn't predict the ending and would recommend it.

I have limited time for reading. I keep dutifully going back to this to read a bit more but at halfway through 350 pages I'm giving up, it can go on the to-be-finished-sometime pile.

It took a while for me to stop going, this is the same plot device as the Mysterious Story of the Dog in the Nighttime, ie strange grownup goings on see through naive eyes, though these are 10 year olds rather than autistic. That felt like a rip-off. Maybe not.

Her deliberate bits of clever writing, many metaphors etc are really beginning to jar on me, it's attention seeking.

I like the Summer of 1976 nudges, and the sometime cultural/consumer references. That summer ended in a phenomenal storm so I hope it comes soon.

I just keep getting lost and am insufficiently interested in any of the grownups to be able to tell them apart. Then I lose the plot. Maybe if I sat down and read it straight through it would read better.

Sorry. Would be better at 250 pages.