What is Dog Gone Crazy about? 
Grandad has been tinkling with his inventions again. This time he has made an invisibility collar that he tries on his dog DaVinci. The resulting chaos is hilarious.
Whilst trying to catch him in the park, Finn finds Jesus (Hey-Zeus) sleeping on a bench, homeless and unhappy. Feeling responsible for the ex-security guard’s plight (Read A Screw Loose, to find out why), Finn decides to help him, with surprising, then shocking results.
Plot summary of Dog Gone Crazy (No Spoilers)
When Finn gets a frantic phone call from Grandad, he rushes around to his home. He didn’t listen to Grandad’s instructions, and lets himself inside without ringing the door bell. He’s attacked by a slobbering, heavy, invisible thing, before it escapes out of the door. It was Grandad’s dog DaVinci wearing another new invention by Grandad – a collar that makes him invisible.
Much time is spent trying to catch the invisible dog whilst he wreaks havoc in the park amongst many family picnics. He’s not the only problem though. In his search, Finn discovers Jesus (Hey-Zeus) homeless and hungry. He decides to help, but when he returns, there is no trace of him.
Other homeless people have begun to disappear as well. Finn and his big sister Sally use the collar to investigate. Sally is soon in life-threatening trouble, and Finn must figure out how to save her, many homeless people, and his crotchety neighbour too!
Review
This is the final in the Barking Mad Trilogy and a great finale as it holds all the characters from within the series. Siblings Finn and Sally are a lot closer after their adventures together, and they have both changed along the way.
I enjoyed the mystery in the 1st part of the novel, and then the hilarious way they pursued it. Paul Beavis’ hilarious illustrations have been a constant throughout the series and Tom E Moffat books, aiding continuity of style and laughs.
The conclusion was a surprise, but the perfect way to solve the dilemma they found themselves in. I think this episode is my favourite in the trilogy.
Characters
Finn Butterby is known for his butterfingers and clumsiness, even though he tries to do his best. In Dog Gone Crazy, Finn has changed after his past adventures in Barking Mad and A Screw Loose, becoming closer to his big sister, Sally, and more determined to sort out problems on his own. Note: He’s still clumsy.
Sally Butterby is 15 and has become a whole lot more confident, even wearing a funky new hairstyle. She is much more patient with her klutz of a little brother, is more understanding and immediately wants to help him in his dilemmas.
Writing Style
This novel is from Finn Butterby’s point of view, which is authentic for a boy aged 11, and funny at the same time. Finn tells the reader what is going on, filling the reader’s imagination with hilarious scenes, even when he is invisible.
The font is clear and the chapter headings pop off the page. Scattered throughout are illustrations by Paul Beavis who has been the illustrator for this trilogy. These add to the laughs as the reader is entertained by Finn’s ever increasingly tricky predicaments.
FAQs
What age is it for?
8+ years
Where & When is it set?
A town / Present day
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
1st person / Past tense
What genre is Dog Gone Crazy?
Middle Grade / Tween / Humour
Themes
Family / Humour / Mystery/ Courage / Doing the right thing / Fixing past mistakes
Is it part of a series?
Yes. Released March 2026. It is the 3rd book in the Barking Mad series
- Barking Mad (2024) Reprint
- A Screw Loose (2024)
- Dog Gone Crazy (2026)
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Author
Tom E Moffat
Illustrator
Paul Beavis
Publisher
Write Laugh Ltd
(2026, Write Laugh Ltd, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ Author, Series, Animals, Humour, Funny, Wacky, Invisible, Homeless People, Villain, Twin Police Officers, Neighbours, Mystery)