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, Chipper's 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 something's wrong and The Institute knows it.

He's about to be terminated. Across the state, twelve-year-old orphan Jeff Conway is working all hours at his aunt Flo's lakeside cabin business.

He misses his parents, his old life, and the dog he had to leave behind. When Chipper escapes and his and Jeff's 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 Kid's Crime NovelDanger, secrets and thrilling suspense in Linwood Barclay's action-packed first novel for children.