Mystery books are timeless for people of all ages. Whether it’s a tough problem solver or a short story that scratches your brain, mystery novels are a great way to exercise your thinking processes.
This is especially true for kids, as mystery novels help to challenge their problem-solving skills. Reading is an invaluable skill for children of all ages, so it’s never too late or too early to get them into novels.
Plus, the great thing about mystery books is that they become addicted, and it’s likely they will want more from the same genre.
So, if you’re looking for a mystery book for your curious kid, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 58 fantastic mystery books for kids.
The Secret Lake is a story about a brother and sister’s journey to find a lost dog, embarking on a quest through a time tunnel and – you guessed it – a secret lake.
Described as a modern classic, this book is suitable for kids aged 8-12.
Follow the iconic amateur sleuth Nancy Drew through the first 4 books of the series. This is a hardback box set that is the perfect gift for any Nancy Drew lovers or collectors.
These books are suitable for kids (and adults) of all ages.
If your teenager likes scary stories, they’ll love this book. Bella Gubbins starts a new school, only to find that it’s haunted by an old man who strolls the corridors.
It’s scary but exciting, and ideal for kids aged 9 to 15.
The first of four books, Mystery in the Mansion is a pick-your-own-path story. It’s filled with puzzles and adventure, and encourages kids to be thoughtful and curious to crack the case.
This is a graphic novel in the Baby-sitters Club series, and it’s ideal for kids who are visual learners. The addition of illustrations makes it easier to understand, and it’s a lot of fun.
More suitable for young kids, this book follows a fairy’s adventure to find the missing Tooth Fairy coins, by enlisting the help of best friend Detective Foxglove.
This book is about Mackenzie Miller, a smart 10-year-old who tries to figure out the mystery of a missing Babe Ruth baseball while completing 4th grade.
This is a popular mystery series that covers everything from natural history and friendship to survival skills and mystery. It’s a single-volume book consisting of all 3 books in the series.
If your kid loves history and mysteries, they’ll love this book. It’s about 12-year-old Zet, who embarks on a mission to find a stolen scroll throughout exciting and mysterious Egypt.
The first book of an eleven-book-series, Summer of the Woods is packed with magic, nature, summer, and the uncovering of deep secrets. Your kids will want the whole series.
Patrick stumbles upon a book for a singular penny, but his journey home isn’t as easy as he thought. It’s vibrant and magical, and ideal for kids aged 3 to 9.
Filled with 15 short stories, this book follows detective Hailey Haddie as she solves supernatural crimes across history. It’s a great book for amateur sleuths.
If your kid is dyslexic but wants to read, this book is formatted with easy-to-read sentences for kids of all reading levels. It even comes with phonetic practices, decodable words, and short sentences.
When the school’s meatloaf gives everyone food poisoning, Club CSI have to figure out why. The first book in a series of six, this novel is great for kids with an interest in forensic science.
If your kid loves Lemony Snicket, they’ll adore this book. Following kids on a secret mission to attend a no-rule school, The Mysterious Benedict Society is for the most curious of kids.
Another Bowman classic, this collection of short stories are aptly holiday-themed, making this the perfect gift for Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, and Valentine’s Day.
Following the magical journey of a tree and young girl, this book is a beautiful and fun telling of the natural world and the importance of the ecosystem.
This is a gorgeous illustrated book ideal for kids aged 4-9.
There’s no better way to get your kids into mystery than with a book about Sherlock and Watson. This is a kid-friendly story of the famous detective and his sidekick, ideal for kids aged 6 and up.
Jack has an allergy to the sunshine, confining him to adventure in the shadows. As his condition worsens, only his dad (a missing scientist) can save him.
The first of a 26-book series, The Absent Author follows the tale of a superfan who goes to meet his favorite author – only he never shows up. It’s up to a group of friends to find the author.
Two cousins and a new friend find a wooden box with a key inside, but finding out what it opens is no easy task. This book is about jealousy, pride, and riddling family relationships.
Every kid becomes enamored by the story of the Loch Ness Monster at some point. To feed into their hyperfixation, this book explores the science of the elusive creature.
The eighth book in a series, this book follows detectives Ava and Carol as they investigate the story of Alice Scarlett. A tale of magic and curiosity, this book is ideal for middle graders.
Delving into the nation’s history, this book follows four kids as they investigate the colossal Mount Rushmore. It’s fun and laced with history, and comes from a series of 50 books about real places.
Another book set in the universe of child detective Zet, this book follows a perilous quest to find his best friend. Riddled with ancient history and mythology, this is a real page-turner.
This book follows older brother Joe and his two sisters as they explore Smugglers Cove for the summer holidays, but it’s not as relaxing as most vacations.
When Clover moves into the new family house, she can’t help but find it creepy. Alongside her friends, she plans to find out exactly what’s happening in the house.
The perfect book for fall, this story follows Lily, who visits her cousin’s pumpkin farm for Halloween. What she doesn’t expect is for the farm to be magical, and filled with traps.
Another book in the series, this story follows the mystery and excitement of a trip to Niagara Falls. It’s filled with secrets and curiosity, and a good gift after visiting the famous landmark.
This story follows four twelve-year-olds who love math and solving mysteries, but they weren’t expecting to be solving those mysteries in their hometown of Ravensburg, New York.
This is the first book in the crime fighting series.
If your middle grade kid loves solving problems, they’ll have fun sinking their teeth into this book. It’s filled with mysteries and unsolved crimes, and will get them into the detective mindset.
Suitable for kids and teens alike, this book follows an alleged ghost that haunts the county courthouse. It’s a classic cat and mouse story, and a real page-turner.
If your kids like puzzles, they’ll love this exercise book. It’s great for junior-grade self-proclaimed sleuths, and is bound to be a real head scratcher.
The puzzles range from embezzlement to murder, all of which are child-friendly.
Follow the adventures of a cat space pirate as he takes on a mission from a strange scientist to retrieve a bird egg from a dying planet. Only thing is, he’s not the only one who wants the egg.
If your kid loves all things cowboys, they’ll enjoy this book. This book explores 13 true and unsolved mysteries of the Old West, and will really get kids thinking about the history of the American West.
When a dancer steps out of an ordinary ballet book, Sierra finds that the ballerina’s life is in her hands. Filled with magic, fantasy, mystery, and dancing, this book is great for any ballerina-to-be.
Every kid loves Disney World, but did you know that it’s packed with mystery? This is a great book for any kid who loves problem-solving, and of course, anyone who loves Disney.
Not only is this a head-scratching mystery, but this book is designed to improve and challenge a child’s learning abilities. It’s educator-approved, and ideal for young kids.
Based on the beloved children’s cartoon series, follow SpongeBob SquarePants as he tries to find his missing best friend, Patrick Star, with the help of Squidward.
The deeper they go into the investigation, the more secrets about Patrick are unearthed.
Follow Harley James, an amateur cryptologist, as she explores the jungle of Tikal in Guatemala.
Upon finding a Mayan statue, it’s then stolen from her room, and she embarks on a journey to find it once again to impress her father. This is the first book in a series of 5 books.
Summary
So, there you have it! There are countless mystery books out there for kids, ranging from complicated fantasy mysteries to silly puzzles.
Hopefully, this list has introduced you to your kid’s new favorite adventure.
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