Horn Book (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Encyclopedia Brown-ish boy detective Saxby Smart attempts to unravel three cases involving classmates who are the victims of various mischievous acts. As Saxby gathers clues, readers are invited to participate and solve the mystery along with him. Each case is well paced and injected with a sense of humor and wit that will win many fans. Alley's black-and-white illustrations enliven the tales.

ALA Booklist (Fri May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Saxby Doyle Christie Chandler Ellin Allan Smart, whose father loves crime novels, has cut his literary teeth on great detective stories and developed a schoolyard reputation as a sleuth. In the first case related here, a classmate arrives at the door of Saxby's Crime Headquarters (backyard shed) and announces that her father is cursed by an ancient mask, accused of industrial espionage, and faced with losing his job. In the second, three students find their homework assignments sabotaged. In the third and final case, a girl is accused of stealing jewelry. Confident, though occasionally baffled, the young detective organizes the evidence methodically and, in each case, solves the mystery. Even better, careful readers can do the same. Expressive ink drawings help bring the occasionally quirky characters to life. After reading this well-paced and sometimes funny first-person narrative, young mystery fans will be looking for the second volume in the Saxby Smart Private Detective series.

Kirkus Reviews

Saxby Doyle Christie Chandler Ellin Allan Smart wants to be a detective as good as the greats. Even though he's only ten years old, he is observant and adept at using deductive reasoning. In the first of three "case files," the tale of the Ancient Mask, Saxby, with the help of his friend Izzy, discovers that the mask's real curse is a case of competitive sabotage. The second case file is a thinly disguised examination of human motivations and the effect of scare tactics as Saxby uncovers the secret behind the appearance of purple goo on his classmates' projects. In the third mystery, Saxby sets out to find the thief of a valuable coat clasp. His progress is slowed by false suspects, but Saxby learns that it's all really a case of bad attitude. The stories are liberally illustrated with Alley's homey sketches plus representations of Saxby's notebooks. While each short mystery is involving, the distinguishing aspect of this series opener is Saxby's enthusiastic invitations to readers to participate in the sleuthing. A solid successor to Encyclopedia Brown. (Mystery. 7-12)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This fast-paced U.S. debut for British author Cheshire launches the Saxby Smart, Private Detective series starring a chipper crackerjack sleuth. The protagonist immediately pulls readers into the action, as Saxby explains, “Unlike some detectives, I don't have a sidekick, so that part I'm leaving up to you—pay attention, I'll ask questions.” He involves readers each step of the way, asking about their deductive progress (“Have you figured it out?”), before disclosing his own hunches and findings. Of the three mysteries presented in this volume, the first—involving the connection between a Japanese samurai mask and the bad luck plaguing a friend's father—is the most creatively convoluted. Saxby's resourceful tactics and comedic overstatements will keep kids entertained; his classmates (who play key supporting roles), excerpts from Saxby's notebook and Alley's (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Paddington and the Christmas Surprise) cheery b&w line art further enliven these mysteries. Ages 8–12. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Apr.)

School Library Journal (Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Gr 3-5 Ten-year-old Saxby Smart shares his father's love of detective stories, but unlike his father, who is a local bus driver, his love goes beyond reading. With his Crime Headquarters and Thinking Chair in the shed in his backyard, Saxby is ready and willing to take on any mystery that comes his way. When Jasmine Winchester asks for help in proving that the mask her father bought in Japan is not cursed, he finally gets to put his deductive skills to the test. The title contains the accounts of three separate cases, interspersed with black-and-white drawings and excerpts from Saxby's handwritten notebook. Like Donald Sobol's "Encyclopedia Brown" series (Bantam), the books give children the opportunity to solve the mystery or crime along with Saxby. He asks questions of readers, focusing on important clues or deductions and giving them a chance to follow his thought processes before continuing with the story. Young mystery fans will enjoy tagging along with him. Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL