Fox Investigates: A Brush with Danger

Fox Investigates #1

by Adam Frost (Contributor)

Solving Crime in Record Time! A priceless painting, a mysterious letter, a piece of cheese so stinky it’s deadly… From the art galleries of Paris to the palaces of Moscow, detective Wily Fox is on the trail of Dimitri Gottabottomitch. But the brown bear is doing whatever he can to throw Wily off the scent. Can Wily solve the case of the priceless painting or will he be the victim of an art attack?

Fun and fast-paced detective stories, perfect for fans of Geronimo Stilton and The Dragon Detective Agency.

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade

Paperback

First published July 6, 2015

About the author

"Adam Frost was born in Epping and grew up in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. He attended Buckhurst Hill County High School. He earned a BA in English Literature from the University of Oxford and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. His dissertation was on the short stories of H.H. Munro."

"Adam Frost published his first book Ralph the Magic Rabbit in 2006. It was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize."

"Frost also designs information graphics for The Guardian and other publications. His graphic with Zhenia Vasiliev, ‘The 39 Stats’, was awarded a Silver Medal in the 2013 Information is Beautiful Awards. Other graphics have focussed on the Gothic novel, entomophagy, and the election of Pope Francis."

~Excerpts from Wikipedia.org - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Fro...

Reviews

[G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Literatura infantil que mezcla todo con tal de lograr algo de eficacia. Un poco la logra. Es un detective zorro en un mundo de animales. Parece un Sherlock Holmes al principio con su lupa y su estilo inglés. Después parece un Sam Spade cuando entra en escena Suzy Pedigrí, una femme fatale, literalmente una perra caniche, que casi hace olvidar a Frost que la idea era escribir un libro infantil. Después aparece una baticueva y un mayordomo topo. Se fue al pasto señor Frost. El topo le fabrica al zorro una Vespa con gadgets, al mejor estilo 007. Es moto, es avión, es submarino. También le fabrica un teléfono móvil que explota y le salva la vida al zorro. El enemigo es un oso pardo, Dimitri Culogordovich, que se roba un cuadro, que era en realidad otra cosa. Después aparece una especie de guerra fría, pero por un peluche. Este libro es un caos para minions de Melanie Klein. Lo que pasa es que el disparate mantiene la atención. Esa creo que es la estrategia. Lo único que me gustó es que Culogordovich usaba un queso apestoso como arma. Lo enviaba a los museos para desmayar a los guardias.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed by my 7 year old daughter. She found it funny and exciting. Would love to read more in the series.
Would recommend for readers aged 6+

[André · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eu gostei muito deste livro,porque gosto de misterio.

ANDRE

[Ensiform · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this silly kid’s spy adventure with anthropomorphic animals, international Bond-type figure Wily Fox is hired to solve a case involving a valuable painting (by Kandogski – oh, there are puns and wordplay aplenty in these pages). It seems the painting’s former owner, a Russian bear named Dimitri Gottabottomitch, is threatening the French gallery owner, La Pooch, to recover it. What’s so important about this painting? How can Wily Fox withstand Dimitri’s henchmen and their dangerously stinky cheese? With the help of his Q pastiche, a literal mole, Fox uses gadgets to chase leads from the Eiffel Tower to Red Square. With this book, I’ve found that most third graders enjoy the silliness and humor, but at times have trouble with the tortuous plot. I enjoyed the ridiculous wordplay and the Bond parody, even if it made me roll my eyes a bit.

[Esther B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our detective crazy kids adored this book involving animal detective, suspects, accomplices; travel and detective gadgets. Chose it over a detective book involving a kids dad murdering people in the mafia. Lol. Great book for kids 7 and up with the plot having a couple twists to follow.

Read in French, as it was from the library. Didn’t know it was translated when I first picked it up. The translated translated one register too high for kids this age, in my opinion. Oh well, made for a lovely read with me book. All 3 kids loved it and put a hold on the next installment.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Designed as series fiction, i.e. books for early readers (7-9 years old would be my suggestion) it dives into the action on page 1 and doesn't let up. Wily Fox is an private investigator who has to unpick why a client has had her painting stolen. There's laughs along the way and regular clues and movement in the story that will keep children wondering who is behind it all and why. Will suit young readers who like mystery's with a sprinkle of humour thrown in.

[Mairi]

Päris kabe üle võlli krimka. Kunstiröövb ja maailmahävitamine ühes loos koos.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the Wily Fox Detective Agency, the day gets off to a start with a bang - literally - thanks to Suzie La Pooch! That’s the start of a great adventure, with other animal characters, visits to Paris, a wonderfully adapted Vespa scooter, weird paintings, art thieves and mysteries to be solved. The story is divided into succinct chapters. There are fantastic, appropriate, black and white illustrations throughout the book, enhancing the story. The story itself is fun, fast paced, full of action as Wily Fox sets out to retrieve the stolen art work. Can he discover more about the weird art work and what its purpose is or will his mysterious adversary get away with a criminal coup?

This is a great story that children of either gender will find it easy to relate to and enjoy. I have no hesitation in highly recommending it for able readers who are ready to read longer books. Definitely a book that primary teachers would do well to check out!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley too, for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fox detective investigates when a painting is stolen.

I thought this was a reasonable story for young children.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to the mystery genre for transitional readers (early chapter book). It does have a few European words that may give some young children a stumble but still understandable.