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Quick answer: If your child loved The Mysterious Benedict Society, read Greenglass House, The Westing Game, Chasing Vermeer and The Bad Beginning. All pair clever kids with puzzles, secrets and mysteries that reward careful reading.
Trenton Lee Stewart's novel follows four gifted children who join a secret mission at a strange school run by a villain. It combines puzzles, friendship and adventure. The books below share its mix of clever heroes, odd adults and mysteries that kids can try to solve alongside the characters, for ages 8 to 13.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenglass House | Kate Milford | 9-13 | cozy mysteries |
| The Westing Game | Ellen Raskin | 9-13 | puzzle classics |
| Chasing Vermeer | Blue Balliett | 9-13 | art mysteries |
| The Bad Beginning | Lemony Snicket | 8-12 | gloomy fun |
| Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow | Jessica Townsend | 9-13 | whimsical magic |
| The Name of This Book Is Secret | Pseudonymous Bosch | 9-13 | secrets and humour |
| Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library | Chris Grabenstein | 8-12 | library fun |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | Norton Juster | 8-12 | wordplay and wonder |
| From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler | E.L. Konigsburg | 8-12 | museum adventures |
| The London Eye Mystery | Siobhan Dowd | 9-13 | logic and mystery |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L'Engle | 10-14 | adventure and science |
| The Inquisitor's Tale | Adam Gidwitz | 10-14 | medieval adventure |
| Framed | Frank Cottrell Boyce | 9-13 | humour and art |
| Spy School | Stuart Gibbs | 9-13 | spy adventures |
| Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes | Jonathan Auxier | 9-13 | fantasy quests |
1. Greenglass House by Kate Milford
Milo, the innkeeper's son, spends his winter holiday trying to solve a mystery with mysterious guests. Cozy, atmospheric and full of puzzles.
Best for: cozy mysteries.
2. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Sixteen heirs are paired up to solve the mystery of a millionaire's death. A Newbery winner with clever clues.
Best for: puzzle classics.
3. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Two sixth graders try to find a stolen painting. A mix of art, mystery and pentominoes.
Best for: art mysteries.
4. The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
The Baudelaire orphans face the wicked Count Olaf. Dark humour and a mysterious narrator.
Best for: gloomy fun.
5. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan is cursed to die on her eleventh birthday until a stranger whisks her to a magical city. Whimsical and fast.
Best for: whimsical magic.
6. The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
Two kids investigate a mysterious death and a secret society. The narrator constantly warns you not to read on.
Best for: secrets and humour.
7. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
Twelve kids are locked in a high-tech library and must solve puzzles to escape. Fun and packed with book references.
Best for: library fun.
8. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Milo drives through a tollbooth into a land of words and numbers. Clever, funny and a classic.
Best for: wordplay and wonder.
9. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Two siblings run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and discover a mystery. Warm and funny.
Best for: museum adventures.
10. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
A boy disappears from the London Eye, and his cousin with an unusual mind tries to solve it. Smart and kind.
Best for: logic and mystery.
11. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Meg Murry goes on a journey through space to rescue her father. A classic of imagination.
Best for: adventure and science.
12. The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz
Children and a holy greyhound travel across medieval France. Funny, inventive and told by many narrators.
Best for: medieval adventure.
13. Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
A boy in a Welsh village helps hide paintings from the National Gallery. Funny and heartwarming.
Best for: humour and art.
14. Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
Ben is recruited to a secret school for spies. Fast, silly and full of action.
Best for: spy adventures.
15. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier
A blind orphan thief finds magical eyes and goes on a quest. Playful and imaginative.
Best for: fantasy quests.
How to Choose
For the closest match in puzzle-solving, pick The Westing Game, Chasing Vermeer or Greenglass House. For humour, choose The Bad Beginning, The Name of This Book Is Secret or Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. For fantasy and imagination, try Nevermoor, A Wrinkle in Time or Peter Nimble. For quick action, Spy School and Framed are great. Parents can read these aloud, and many include puzzles that older kids can try themselves. Several of these books have puzzles inside the text, so keep paper and a pencil nearby. Reading together with a parent or friend and comparing guesses turns each mystery into a game.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Mysterious Benedict Society about?
Four gifted children are recruited for a secret mission to stop a mind-controlling plot at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened.
How many books are in the series?
There are three main books, plus a prequel and a puzzle book.
What age is it for?
About 9 to 13.
Is there a TV series?
Yes, Disney+ released a series based on the books in 2021.
Is the book long?
The first book is about 500 pages, but many kids find it fast.
Are these books good for reluctant readers?
The Westing Game and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library often hook them.
Who is the author of The Mysterious Benedict Society?
Trenton Lee Stewart, with illustrations by Carson Ellis.
Is the series suitable for advanced younger readers?
Yes, though some books are long and have complex vocabulary.