School Library Journal
March 1991

Flatfoot Fox calls himself “the smartest detective in the whole world.” He has a chance to prove his mettle by finding out who was mean enough to steal Fat Cat’s beautiful blue glass eye at the cat’s birthday party. Of course, Fox and his trusty Sidekick, Secretary Bird, crack the case by questioning the party guests, paying attention to detail, and tricking the culprit into confessing. Newly independent readers will smile at the silliness and solve the mystery long before Flatfoot Fox does. But no matter, this is just the stuff for beginning mystery buffs, and Lies’s entertaining black-and-white pen-and-ink drawings add to the fun. Watch for another, for the ending sets the stage for Flatfoot Fox’s next case.

Booklist
December 15, 1990

Move over, Miss Mallard (Robert Quackenbush’s famous “ducktective”), Flatfoot Fox—the smartest detective in the world—is here. This time the savvy sleuth and his loyal assistant, Secretary Bird, set out to recover Fat Cat’s glass eye. A zany assortment of suspects, including Really Ridiculous Rabbit, Picky Pig, Greedy Goat, and Snake-in-the-Grass all deceive Flatfoot, yet he still manages to ferret out the real thief. The ending alludes to another case, suggesting that a sequel may be in the works. Lies’ expressive black-line drawings perfectly complement Clifford’s dry wit, making this a clever and funny first chapter book.