Spies and Detectives

A list of suggested titles for this summer's Reading is an Adventure Challenge: Mystery. Features picture books and chapter books about spies and/or detectives.

Updated June 24, 2024
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Agent Q, or the smell of danger! /
Anderson, M. T.
Paper Book
In the zany and humorous fourth book of National Book Award winner M.T. Anderson's Pals in Peril series, Jasper Dash and his friends must escape the clutches of The Awful Autarch! Having mopped up their last crime-fighting caper, our three heroes--Lily Gefelty, Katie Mulligan,...
Mac undercover /
Barnett, Mac.
Paper Book
A thrilling, hilarious fully-illustrated spy adventure series, from the esteemed New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author Mac Barnett!A New York Times bestsellerAn Amazon Best Book of 2018Before Mac Barnett was an author, he was a kid.And while he...
NERDS : National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society
Buckley, Michael.
Paper Book
The excitement of international espionage combined with the awkwardness of the tween years makes for nonstop laughs in National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society--NERDS--the first book in the hilarious series from New York Times bestselling author Michael...
Greetings from witness protection! /
Burt, Jake,
Paper Book
Nicki Demere is an orphan and a pickpocket. She also happens to be the U.S. Marshals' best bet to keep a family alive. . . . "Jake Burt is a storytelling magician. Partcoming of age tale and part spy thriller, Greetings from Witness Protection could be a...
King and Kayla and the case of the secret code /
Butler, Dori Hillestad.
Paper Book
King & Kayla are back on the case in this laugh-out-loud mystery from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award-winning series. King and Kayla receive a mysterious letter written in code. Mason received an almost identical letter. How can they crack the code? Kayla...
Spy school
Gibbs, Stuart
Paper Book
"Combines Alex Rider's espionage skills with a huge dose of the sarcasm of Artemis Fowl." --School Library Journal Can an undercover nerd become a superstar agent? In the first book in the New York Times bestselling Spy School series, Ben Ripley sure hopes so-...
Mission unstoppable
Gutman, Dan.
Paper Book
The most exciting road trip in history begins! In this action-packed, New York Times bestselling adventure, twelve-year-old twins Coke and Pepsi McDonald embark on a family vacation you'll have to read to believe. Coke McDonald and his twin sister, Pepsi, think...
Spy cat
Kehret, Peg.
Paper Book
Told in the voice of Pete the cat, who can understand English but cannot speak, this adventure follows Pete's master Alex, his friend Rocky, and Alex's little brother Benjie, on the trail of thieves who have been burglarizing the boys' housing development and later kidnap Benjie.
Notorious /
Korman, Gordon.
Paper Book
A funny, suspenseful mystery and unlikely friendship story from New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman--perfect for fans of Swindle and Ungifted. Keenan has lived all over the world but nowhere quite as strange as Centerlight Island, which is split between the United States...
Undercover Latina /
De LeOon, Aya.
Paper Book
A Latina teen spy goes undercover as a white girl to stop a white supremacist terrorist plot in a fast-paced young adult debut from a seasoned author of contemporary crime fiction. In her debut for younger readers, Aya de León pits a teen spy against the ominous workings of a...
The spy's secret
Luper, Eric
Paper Book
Getting lost in a good book has never been this dangerous!Cleo and Evan have a secret. A collection of books so dangerous they are locked up tight. A friend has vanished inside the pages of one of them. It's up to them to find the key that will set her free. A SPY MUST BE READY FOR ANYTHING!Agents...
The case of the missing cheetah
Mang, Veronica
Paper Book
"This book is a delight. Fun. Funny. And full of adventure." --AndreaBeaty, #1New York Timesbestselling author ofRosie Revere, Engineer The first book in a highly illustrated new chapter book series about three delightfully mischievous young girls and some of the most...
Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls /
McMullen, Beth,
Paper Book
A girl discovers her boarding school is actually an elite spy-training program, and she must learn the skills of the trade in order to find her mother in this action-packed middle grade debut. After a botched escape plan from her boarding school, Abigail is stunned to discover...
My mom is a spy!
McNab, Andy
Paper Book
"A fast-paced spy caper complete with good guys to root for, nefarious villains, and plot twists....Thoroughly entertaining and suspenseful. Kids will eagerly await the next volume."--Kirkus Reviews "Idris and Lucía must combine their veterinarian and secret...
City spies /
Ponti, James.
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! A GMA3 Summer Reading Squad Selection! "Ingeniously plotted, and a grin-inducing delight." --People "Will keep young readers glued to the page...So when do I get the sequel?" --Beth McMullen, author of Mrs. Smith's Spy School...
Framed! /
Ponti, James.
Paper Book
A budding genius gets recruited by the FBI to find stolen art in this first book in the hilarious middle grade mystery series that has "elements of Alex Rider, James Bond, and Sherlock Holmes" (School Library Journal) from New York Times bestselling, Edgar Award­-winning James Ponti...
Nina Soni, Snow Spy
Sheth, Kashmira
Paper Book
Lovable, distractable Nina Soni and her friends and family return in another entertaining tale of big plans gone awry and amusing solutions with unexpected consequences.   A long weekend and lots of snow sounds like a recipe for super-special fun to Nina. Best friend...
Liar & spy /
Stead, Rebecca.
Paper Book
The instant New York Times bestseller from the author of the Newbery Medal winner When You Reach Me: a story about spies, games, and friendship.   The first day Georges (the S is silent) moves into a new Brooklyn apartment, he sees a sign taped to a door in...
Geronimo Stilton, secret agent
Stilton, Geronimo.
Paper Book
Enter the world of Geronimo Stilton, where another funny adventure is always right around the corner. Each book is a fast-paced adventure with lively art and a unique format kids 7-10 will love.My sister, Thea, is the mystery-loving rodent, not me! But somehow I found myself going undercover to get...
Detective LaRue :
Teague, Mark.
Paper Book
Ike LaRue--the devilish dog hero of Mark Teague's Book Sense Book of the Year, Dear Mrs. LaRue--goes from obedience school dropout to shrewd sleuth in this exceedingly funny sequel.As if obedience school wasn't bad enough, Ike now finds himself in jail--wrongly accused (of course!) of...

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