Get ready to run . . . an edge-of-your-seat thriller with bite from international bestselling author Linwood Barclay in his first novel for 9-12 year olds. Chipper is a very special dog. As part of a top-secret multi-million dollar experiment to create the ultimate canine spy technology Chippers whole life has been spent within the walls of a secret organization known only as The Institute. Chipper is supposed to be more machine than mutt but somethings wrong and The Institute knows it. Hes about to be terminated. Across the state twelve-year-old orphan Jeff Conway is working all hours at his aunt Flos lakeside cabin business. He misses his parents his old life and the dog he had to leave behind. When Chipper escapes and his and Jeffs paths collide dog and boy find themselves tangled up in the most dangerous game of chase imaginable... Winner of the Arthur Ellis award for Best Kids Crime Novel Danger secrets and thrilling suspense in Linwood Barclays action-packed first novel for children.