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Quick answer: If you want grown-up books like A to Z Mysteries, try The Thursday Murder Club, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, The Westing Game, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and Murder at the Vicarage. They keep the clue-hunting fun and the cozy mood.
Ron Roy's kids' series, from The Absent Author to The Zombie Zone, works because each book is a puzzle with friendly detectives and no gore. Adults who loved it as children, or who read it with their kids, often want mysteries with the same light, clue-driven fun. These 15 books mix cozy adult mysteries, kid-detective classics that grown-ups still enjoy and a few clever young-adult puzzles.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman | Adult | readers who want cozy fun |
| The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie | Alan Bradley | Adult | readers who like a young detective |
| The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | Alexander McCall Smith | Adult | readers who want a calm series |
| The Westing Game | Ellen Raskin | 10+ | puzzle fans |
| A Good Girl's Guide to Murder | Holly Jackson | 14+ | readers who want a modern mystery |
| Murder at the Vicarage | Agatha Christie | Adult | classic mystery fans |
| The Cat Who Could Read Backwards | Lilian Jackson Braun | Adult | animal-mystery fans |
| Murder Most Unladylike | Robin Stevens | 10+ | readers who like school mysteries |
| The Case of the Missing Marquess | Nancy Springer | 10+ | Sherlock Holmes fans |
| Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock | Carolyn Keene | 8-12 | nostalgic readers |
| The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure | Franklin W. Dixon | 8-12 | classic series fans |
| Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective | Donald J. Sobol | 7-10 | puzzle lovers |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | readers who like clever kids |
| The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax | Dorothy Gilman | Adult | readers who want adventure |
| The Hound of the Baskervilles | Arthur Conan Doyle | Adult | readers who want the classic |
1. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Four retirees in a quiet English village meet weekly to solve cold cases until a real murder lands in their laps. Funny, warm and cleverly plotted.
Best for: readers who want cozy fun.
2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Flavia de Luce, an 11-year-old chemist in 1950 England, investigates a body in the cucumber patch. Charming and sharp.
Best for: readers who like a young detective.
3. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Precious Ramotswe opens a detective agency in Botswana. Gentle, wise and full of kindness.
Best for: readers who want a calm series.
4. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Sixteen heirs must solve a puzzle to inherit a fortune. A Newbery winner that adults love.
Best for: puzzle fans.
5. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Pip investigates a five-year-old murder case for a school project. Twisty and fast, and more serious than a cozy.
Best for: readers who want a modern mystery.
6. Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
Miss Marple's first full-length novel, with a hated colonel found dead in a vicar's study. A classic of the gentle mystery.
Best for: classic mystery fans.
7. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun
Jim Qwilleran, an ex-crime reporter, and his Siamese cat Koko solve an art-world murder. The first in a long cozy series.
Best for: animal-mystery fans.
8. Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens
Hazel and Daisy form a detective society at their 1930s boarding school. Charming and clever.
Best for: readers who like school mysteries.
9. The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer
Enola Holmes, Sherlock's younger sister, tracks down her missing mother in Victorian London. A lively series opener.
Best for: Sherlock Holmes fans.
10. Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
The classic first Nancy Drew mystery, with a missing will. A nostalgic read.
Best for: nostalgic readers.
11. The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon
Frank and Joe Hardy investigate a robbery and a hidden fortune. The first book of the series.
Best for: classic series fans.
12. Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol
Ten-year-old Leroy Brown solves mysteries, and each ends with a puzzle for readers. The closest in format to A to Z.
Best for: puzzle lovers.
13. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted kids try to stop a plot using riddles and teamwork. Smart and cozy.
Best for: readers who like clever kids.
14. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
Emily Pollifax, a bored grandmother, becomes a CIA courier by accident. Funny, light and fast.
Best for: readers who want adventure.
15. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes and Watson investigate a family curse on the moors. A classic mystery and a great one to read aloud.
Best for: readers who want the classic.
How to Choose
For cozy mysteries, begin with The Thursday Murder Club or The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. For something to share with children, try Encyclopedia Brown, The Westing Game or Murder Most Unladylike. For nostalgia, pick up Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys. For a more modern pace, read A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Most of these have little violence or strong language.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is A to Z Mysteries for?
It is recommended for ages 6 to 9, and it is a good first mystery series for early chapter readers.
Are these adult books similar in tone?
The Thursday Murder Club and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency match the light tone best.
Which book can I read aloud to kids?
The Westing Game, Encyclopedia Brown and The Mysterious Benedict Society are all good read-alouds.
Is Sherlock Holmes too hard?
Not at all. Doyle's stories are short and clear, and The Hound of the Baskervilles is a good starting point.