Wānaka author Kate Gordon-Smith has tapped into everything she loves about dogs and children’s adventure stories when creating the second book in her Red Collie Mysteries series for young readers aged seven to ten.

Maddison McQueen and the Disappearing Dogs continues the adventures of ten-year-old Maddie and her red-and-white Border Collie, Ruby, who readers met in the first Red Collie Mystery, Maddison McQueen and the Cupcake Mystery, which was released earlier this year.

In the new book, Kate continues with the Wānaka setting, fast pace, and short chapters of the first book but delves into a more complex mystery when Maddie’s best friend’s puppies are stolen.

“The feedback I’ve had about the first Red Collie Mystery has been enormously encouraging,” Kate said.

“There’s nothing better for an author to hear that readers really enjoyed their book and are keen to read the next story in the series.”

Among the reviews for Maddison McQueen and the Cupcake Mystery, Leila Austin writing for The Sapling said: “Sure, this book might be cute and sweet, but it’s not at all shallow. Gordon-Smith has done an artful job of writing a rip-roaring plot but sneaking in all kinds of thoughtful details that give her world a rare depth for a junior fiction series.”

“Writing the Red Collie Mysteries has been so much fun and my own red-and-white collie, Kenzie, makes me laugh and gives me ideas for the books all the time," Kate said.

"Maddie’s fictional dog is a mix of Kenzie and our first much-loved Border Collie, Ruby, who was very smart and not nearly as goofy and noisy as Kenzie."

Kate is working on the next two books in the series, both of which she intends to release next year.

Kate's books are available at Paper Plus Wānaka.