Mystery and Detective Books for Kids

Go beyond Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Encyclopedia Brown with these mysteries for kids.
Updated September 19, 2022
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The Westing game /
Raskin, Ellen
Paper Book
NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER * Ellen Raskin's unforgettable, timeless classic continues to be cherished by young readers of each new generation. "Great fun for those who enjoy illusion, word play, or sleight of hand." --The New York Times Book Review A...
Harriet, the spy /
Fitzhugh, Louise
Paper Book
It's no secret that Harriet the Spy is a timeless classic that kids will love! Every day can be an adventure if you just look carefully enough! A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. In her notebook, she writes down everything...
Nate the Great /
Sharmat, Marjorie Weinman
Paper Book
Join the world's greatest detective, Nate the Great, as he solves the mystery of the lost picture! Perfect for beginning readers and the Common Core, this long-running chapter book series will encourage children to problem-solve with Nate, using logical thinking to solve mysteries!  ...
The absent author /
Roy, Ron,
Paper Book
Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve mysteries from A to Z! Kids love collecting the entire alphabet and super editions! With over 8 million copies in print, the A to Z Mysteries have been hooking chapter book readers on mysteries and reading for years. Now this classic kid...
Liar & Spy
Rebecca Stead
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...
The great cake mystery :
McCall Smith, Alexander,
Paper Book
THE NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY - Young Readers Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the basis of the HBO TV show, and its proprietor Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's premier lady detective.  In this charming series, Mma ...
Premeditated Myrtle /
Bunce, Elizabeth C.
Paper Book
A 2021 Edgar® Award Winner, Best Juvenile A BookPage Best Book of 2020: Middle Grade A Mighty Girl's 2020 Books of the Year Introducing Myrtle Hardcastle, your favorite new amateur detective: a wickedly smart...
The Amelia Six :
Gray, Kristin L.
Paper Book
"A cozy whodunit that cheerfully affirms girls' and women's contributions to aerospace." --Kirkus Reviews "Comparisons with Nancy Drew and Sammy Keyes come to mind, but this satisfying mystery seems more like the works of Ellen Raskin, E.L. Konigsburg, and Gennifer...
The crown heist /
Hicks, Deron R.
Paper Book
In another "suspenseful mystery romp with art appreciation" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), Art and Camille head to London to find her estranged father, and soon find themselves embroiled in a heist involving a long-dead monarch.  Packed with fascinating facts about real places and pieces of...
Alice Fleck's recipes for disaster /
Delaney, Rachelle
Paper Book
When Alice agreed to appear in a reality cooking show with her father, she had no idea she'd find herself in the middle of a mystery! Will Alice and her new friends be able to save the show? A light-hearted and funny middle grade novel for fans of Rebecca Stead and Lynda Mullaly Hunt. ...

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