The Big Break Detectives are three friends, Danny Sullivan, Cait Conway, and her somewhat eccentric twin brother Little Tom, who attend Saint Agatha's National School in a leafy city suburb.

They run a detective agency during their school big break -- they advertise in the local newsagent window and operate from their secret headquarters in a forgotten sub-basement, full of obsolete computers, dusty and forlorn science projects and defunct office equipment, underneath the school.

As their lunch break is only 30 minutes long, they only have this half hour to escape from the school, solve the mystery, and return unnoticed before the bell rings again signaling the end of school break and the end of their adventure.

The Casebook, "written" in typically offbeat style by Little Tom, who has filled the pages with kooky asides and his own cartoons, features four stories full of humour and surprising twists.

[a] fun and re-readable endeavour for younger comic readers

it’s the added details that really boost the charm factor

humour and artwork remind you a bit of the Dandy and Beano

'expertly combines suspense, mystery and comedy'

'the perfect introduction to books for those struggling to find the pleasure in reading'

'kids will be giggling away at the jokes and funny scenarios which Nolan excels at creating'

'I could read this all day ... Kids will love this ... It’s funny, it has tons of adventure ... Expertly paced, snappy ... Recommended'

'hugely impressed at how Nolan and by extension O’Brien Press were pulling out all the stops to ensure that the joy that comics can bring is enshrined in the young minds who has gathered here on a pluvial October afternoon ... I left the store feeling lik

'With the help of an underappreciated robot and a secret sub-sub basement, Tom, Kate, and Danny are a whirlwind of intrepid investigative power. A neat introduction to new comic readers, The Big Break Detectives Casebook will have heads spinning with pith

'full of zany illustrations and snippets to grab readers’ attentions ... it certainly had my seven-year-old laughing, as did Death by Chocolate'

'a lively read, with plenty of off-beat humour that would be sure to appeal to even the most reluctant National School readers'

'this is the perfect book for all young budding detectives ... and for every kid that dreams of escaping to another world instead of sitting in class!'

'Alan Nolan is on the trail of another junior graphic novel hit with The Big Break Detectives Casebook ... The 30-minute time constraint before the detectives have to be back at their school desk adds a sense of whirlwind urgency to these madcap adventure

'The four cases in this book are short, punchy and clever, just like a good joke. Although modern in approach and format, the idea of children detectives is a venerable one into which the Big Break Detectives fit comfortably'

'Fun comic-style investigations with plenty of added information and snippets to enjoy. A novel and enjoyable book which will appeal to a cross-section of ages.'

'attractively animated series of mini-adventures that has something for everybody ... His broad range of characters and jocular repartee make it a winner all round ... There are echoes of everything from Charles Dickens to Hercule Poirot and Inspector Gad

'charmingly presented ... littered with puns and jokes, and a generous sprinkling of funny names, kids will get a big kick out of these'