Dogs and Monsters
Dogs and Monsters by Mark Haddon is one of 2026's most credible books, appearing on 1 of the year's most respected lists, including The Guardian, for a Consensus Score of 13 out of 100.
Appears on these lists
Our take
AI-draftedHaddon uses Greek and Norse myth here as scaffolding rather than subject, which is why the strongest entries barely read as retellings at all, the source material recedes and what's left is a very particular interest in bodies breaking down, whether through age, illness, or metamorphosis. Reviewers noted the collection's range is also its risk: a story about a genetically engineered ape sits alongside one set at an English boarding school, and not every experiment pays off at the same level.
In the press
“The work of a consummate storyteller, the brilliantly conceived Dogs and Monsters illuminates a variety of species, both real and mythical.”
Hilma Wolitzer, The New York Times Book Review“All are complex, surprising, evocative and richly entertaining.”
Nina Allan, The Guardian
How the Consensus Score is calculated
Our Consensus Score is our own transparent editorial metric — not a user rating. It weighs each list by the credibility of its source, how recent the listing is, and any award status. Here is the full breakdown.
| Source | Authority | Recency | Award | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Guardian | 0.85 | 0.70 | 1.00× | 0.59 |
| Weighted sum → Score | 0.59 → 13 | |||
Similar consensus books
Because they appear on some of the same lists.
Frequently asked
What lists is Dogs and Monsters on?
Dogs and Monsters appears on 1 list in our 2026 corpus, including The Guardian.
What is its Consensus Score?
Dogs and Monsters has a Consensus Score of 13 out of 100, our transparent editorial measure of how many credible lists agree on it.