To Catch a Thief

by Mandy Hartley

  So there it was: the first case for the “DNA Detectives” published in the local paper. Annabelle proudly cut out the story and pinned it up on the wall in her room. She kept reading the headline: “DNA DETECTIVES CATCH PET THIEF!” She loved the photograph of her and Harry sitting in pride of place watching the police dog display team with Milly sitting on her lap. She shivered with excitement as she thought of the amazing adventure they had just been through. Surely this was not the end of the “DNA Detectives”? She smiled as she thought about the forensic kit that she and Harry had hidden under her bed.

  “No!” she thought triumphantly. “This was definitely not the end of the ‘DNA Detectives’. No, this was just the very start of their adventures!”

  Acknowledgements

  There are so many people I would like to thank who have helped me with this book but first and foremost I would like to thank my children, Annabelle and Harry and our dog Milly who were the inspiration for the characters in this book. They have given me so much material and great memories to write about! I would also like to thank my husband, Jonathan, who has been instrumental in getting this book to where it is and been incredibly supportive throughout. Thank you for your patience and commitment! I will always be very grateful for all your help. A big thank you to my Mum and Dad, Debbie, Ant, Alice, Emily, Alan, Virginia, Chris, Jo, Evie, Issy, Joanna, Nick, Alex and Peter for reading the book and giving me your valuable feedback. I am very grateful for all your enthusiasm and the encouragement you have given me. What a great family!

  I would also like to thank Ben Duffy at St James’s House Publishing and my book agent Chloe Seager at Diane Banks Associates for believing in me and making my dream become a reality.

  A very special thank you to Jamie Maxwell for providing the fantastic illustrations for this book. You really have brought the story to life. Thank you for capturing the spirit of the book and its characters. You are incredibly gifted at what you do.

  A huge thank you to the public-engagement team at the Sanger Institute in Cambridge – Ken, Steve, Fran, Emily and Becky – for your encouragement, advice, support and helping with the web links for this book.

  Finally thank you to all my friends, all the families who attend my DNA workshops/stories and to the children at the many schools, libraries and home- schooling groups who I have met through my work. Your excitement and encouragement when I have told you about this book has meant so much to me. It is finally here and you get to read it! Thank you for all your support. It is magical sharing my love of science with you all.

  Copyright © SJH Publishing 2018

  First edition

  Published by SJH Publishing

  298 Regents Park Road, London N3 2SZ

  020 8371 4000

  sjhpublishing.org

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted without the express consent of the author.

  This eBook edition copyright © SJH Publishing 2019

  Cover design and illustrations: Jamie Mckerrow Maxwell

  ISBN 978-1-78281-484-9