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Quick answer: If your child loves A to Z Mysteries, try Calendar Mysteries, Capital Mysteries, Cam Jansen, Nate the Great, Encyclopedia Brown and The Boxcar Children. They have short, clue-filled stories for new chapter-book readers.
Ron Roy's series, from The Absent Author to The Zombie Zone, follows Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose as they solve one mystery for each letter of the alphabet. It is perfect for early readers. Kids who love it want more kid-detective books with simple clues and short chapters. These 15 books suit ages 6 to 10.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calendar Mysteries: January Joker | Ron Roy | 6-9 | more Ron Roy |
| Capital Mysteries: Who Cloned the President? | Ron Roy | 7-10 | readers who like travel mysteries |
| Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds | David A. Adler | 6-9 | readers who like clever kids |
| Nate the Great | Marjorie Weinman Sharmat | 5-8 | young detectives |
| Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective | Donald J. Sobol | 7-10 | puzzle lovers |
| The Boxcar Children | Gertrude Chandler Warner | 6-10 | series readers |
| Jigsaw Jones: The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster | James Preller | 6-9 | young detectives |
| Nancy Drew Clue Book: Pool Party Puzzler | Carolyn Keene | 6-9 | beginner readers |
| Geronimo Stilton: Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye | Geronimo Stilton | 7-10 | readers who like colorful pages |
| Greetings from Somewhere: The Mystery of the Gold Coin | Harper Paul | 6-10 | readers who like travel |
| Basil of Baker Street | Eve Titus | 7-10 | Sherlock fans |
| The Westing Game | Ellen Raskin | 10+ | strong readers |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | puzzle fans |
| Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library | Chris Grabenstein | 8-12 | puzzle fans |
| The Case of the Missing Marquess | Nancy Springer | 10+ | older readers |
1. Calendar Mysteries: January Joker by Ron Roy
Ron Roy's other series follows Bradley, Brian, Nate and Lucy through a mystery each month. Similar style and tone.
Best for: more Ron Roy.
2. Capital Mysteries: Who Cloned the President? by Ron Roy
KC Corcoran and her friends solve mysteries in Washington, D.C. Fun and educational.
Best for: readers who like travel mysteries.
3. Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds by David A. Adler
Cam has a photographic memory and says “click” to remember. Short and clever.
Best for: readers who like clever kids.
4. Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Nate solves small mysteries with his dog Sludge. Gentle and funny.
Best for: young detectives.
5. Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol
Ten-year-old Leroy Brown solves mysteries, and each ends with a puzzle for the reader. A classic.
Best for: puzzle lovers.
6. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Four orphans live in an abandoned boxcar and solve mysteries. A cozy classic with many sequels.
Best for: series readers.
7. Jigsaw Jones: The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster by James Preller
Jigsaw Jones is a second-grade detective who solves school problems. Funny and light.
Best for: young detectives.
8. Nancy Drew Clue Book: Pool Party Puzzler by Carolyn Keene
A younger version of Nancy Drew for early readers. Short and puzzle-focused.
Best for: beginner readers.
9. Geronimo Stilton: Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye by Geronimo Stilton
A mouse reporter solves silly mysteries with colorful text. Fast and funny.
Best for: readers who like colorful pages.
10. Greetings from Somewhere: The Mystery of the Gold Coin by Harper Paul
Kids travel the world and solve mysteries with their parents. Fun and geographic.
Best for: readers who like travel.
11. Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus
A mouse detective inspired by Sherlock Holmes solves cases. Classic and clever.
Best for: Sherlock fans.
12. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Sixteen heirs must solve a puzzle to inherit a fortune. A Newbery winner.
Best for: strong readers.
13. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted kids go on a secret mission. Puzzles and teamwork.
Best for: puzzle fans.
14. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
Kids solve puzzles to escape a game-themed library. Fast and fun.
Best for: puzzle fans.
15. The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer
Enola Holmes, Sherlock's younger sister, tracks down her missing mother. A lively series opener.
Best for: older readers.
How to Choose
For ages 5 to 7, start with Nate the Great, Cam Jansen or Jigsaw Jones. For ages 7 to 9, read Calendar Mysteries, Encyclopedia Brown or The Boxcar Children. For ages 9 and up, try The Westing Game or Mr. Lemoncello. A simple plan is to guess the culprit before the last chapter and write down your clues. Many of these are great for car rides and read-alouds. To make mystery reading interactive, keep a notebook of clues and suspects, and let your child guess before the reveal. Many libraries have mystery series bundled together, which makes it easy to read a series in order.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is A to Z Mysteries for?
It is recommended for ages 6 to 9.
How many A to Z Mysteries are there?
There are 26, one for each letter, plus the Super Edition books.
Are there similar books for older kids?
Yes. The Westing Game and The Mysterious Benedict Society suit ages 9 and up.
Who wrote A to Z Mysteries?
Ron Roy, with illustrations by John Steven Gurney.
How can I help my child solve the mystery?
Ask what clues they noticed and which one seems odd, then see if it matches the ending.
Are these good for reluctant readers?
Yes. The short chapters, simple clues and quick endings keep kids reading.