Books About Mystery, Espionage And Detective · 2,692 titles considered

The Best Mystery, Espionage And Detective Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about mystery, espionage and detective? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

Ada Lace, on the Case
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Mystery, Espionage And Detective

Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 8–13 · 2007

The Mysterious Benedict Society

By Trenton Lee Stewart, Carson Ellis (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the The Mysterious Benedict Society series

Four kids face a secret mission at a ruleless institute. What will they uncover?

485 pages· 117,838 words· Est. 13 hour read
7.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.2/5 Goodreads · 178,790 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Notorious

On a peculiar island, two teens unravel a dog's murder mystery linked to a gangster past.

307 pages· 57,253 words· Est. 8 hour read
6.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,829 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Trapped in a library, Kyle must solve puzzles to escape.

Agatha Award (2013)
336 pages· 47,521 words· Est. 6.5 hour read
6.3/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 63,451 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2007

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

A hidden life in a Paris station unravels with a cryptic message.

533 pages· 24,938 words· Est. 3 hour read
6.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.2/5 Goodreads · 191,208 ratings
$29.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

City Spies

By James Ponti · Book #1 in the City Spies series

A young hacker joins a secret spy team to stop a villain and save the world.

378 pages· 64,521 words· Est. 9 hour read
6.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 18,589 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 1979

Bunnicula

A family adopts a mysterious rabbit that may be a vampire, leading to a series of strange events and discoveries.

98 pages· 14,524 words· Est. 2 hour read
5.8/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 72,036 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10

Ada Lace, on the Case

A young girl investigates the disappearance of a neighbor's dog in her new neighborhood

128 pages· 11,233 words· Est. 2 hour read
5.8/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 763 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2018

The Story Collector

A library prank spirals into a quest to uncover a ghost and a missing stamp collection.

272 pages· 39,626 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
5.8/7 Bookroo experts·3.8/5 Goodreads · 1,139 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

Mice of the Round Table #1: A Tail of Camelot

By Julie Leung, Lindsey Carr (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Mice of the Round Table series

A young mouse must uncover a hidden threat to save Camelot from destruction.

320 pages· 55,221 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
5.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.2/5 Goodreads · 399 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1967

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

A young girl runs away from home with her brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

172 pages· 30,922 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
5.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.2/5 Goodreads · 221,611 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
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Browse by age

Mystery, Espionage And Detective Board Books for Babies & Toddlers

Sturdy, inviting books about mystery, espionage and detective for the youngest readers and listeners.

Sherlock Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles

Ages 2–4 · 2013

Explore the eerie sounds of a mysterious night.

The Missing Bouncy Ball

Ages 0–6 · 2018

A lost ball leads to a playful park mystery. Can it be found?

The Lost Race Car

Ages 0–6 · 2018

A missing race car leads to a playful detective hunt.

The Misplaced Toy Hammer

Ages 0–5 · 2019

A toy hammer is missing. Can young detectives solve the mystery?

The Vanishing Baseball Cap
Sale price
$999

The Vanishing Baseball Cap

Ages 0–5 · 2019

A missing cap in a museum leads to a playful detective hunt.

Whobert Whover, Owl Detective

Ages 4–6 · 2017

Owl detective seeks the truth behind a possum's mysterious fate.

Halloween Heroes!

Ages 0–3 · 2017

Puppy heroes embark on a Halloween mission to save Adventure Bay.

Scooby-Doo and the Pirate Treasure

Ages 2–5 · 1974

A beach day turns into a spooky treasure hunt with ghostly pirates.

View all mystery, espionage and detective board books
Browse by age

Mystery, Espionage And Detective Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about mystery, espionage and detective for preschool and elementary-age readers.

The Parker Inheritance

Ages 8–12 · 2018

A hidden letter reveals a mystery and a fortune. Can Candice and Brandon solve it before it's lost forever?

The Vampire Bunny

Ages 6–8 · 2004

A cat suspects the new pet rabbit is a vampire. Can he protect the family?

Young Cam Jansen and the Dinosaur Game

Ages 6–8 · 1996

Can a photographic memory solve a birthday party mystery?

The Case of the Missing Monkey

Ages 6–8 · 2000

A glass monkey is missing. Can detectives solve the mystery?

Catch That Cookie!

Ages 3–5 · 2014

Gingerbread men vanish. Can Marshall solve the clues and catch them?

Madame Badobedah

Ages 5–8 · 2020

A young girl suspects a mysterious hotel guest is a supervillain. Is she right, or is there more to the story?

The Detective Dog

Ages 3–6 · 2016

A dog detective sniffs out missing books. Can she solve the mystery?

Little Fox and the Missing Moon

Ages 3–7 · 2019

Fox dreams the moon is missing. Can he find it?

Ellie and the Good-Luck Pig

Ages 4–8 · 2015

A young girl's life is affected by the arrival and departure of a pig at an animal shelter she helps run with her friends

The Mystery at the Coral Reef
Sale price
$599

The Mystery at the Coral Reef

Ages 5–9 · 2015

Twin siblings Ethan and Ella Briar travel to Australia with their parents and become embroiled in a mystery involving stolen coral and a cryptic message from their grandfather

The Mystery Across the Secret Bridge

Ages 5–9 · 2015

A hidden structure at Machu Picchu holds a puzzling secret. What will Ethan and Ella uncover?

The Mystery of the Lion's Tail

Ages 5–9 · 2014

Twins on safari hunt for elusive lions in Kenya's wilds.

Browse by age

Mystery, Espionage And Detective Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about mystery, espionage and detective for developing and independent readers.

Horton Halfpott

Ages 8–12 · 2011

A loosened corset leads to chaos and a missing heirloom. Who's to blame?

Book Scavenger

Ages 8–12 · 2015

Emily races to solve a book's mystery before danger catches up.

The Language of Spells

Ages 10–14 · 2018

A dragon and a child unravel Vienna's forgotten mystery: the fate of missing dragons.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington

Ages 8–12 · 2020

A girl seeks the truth about her imprisoned father's innocence, risking family secrets.

The Westing Game

Ages 11–15 · 1978

Sixteen heirs must solve a cryptic puzzle to claim a fortune. But what is the real game?

Cat Detective

Ages 7–10 · 2018

A royal cat and beetle sidekick hunt a thief in ancient Egypt.

Basil of Baker Street

Ages 6–9 · 1958

A detective must solve the mystery of the missing twins and save the town from the Terrible Three, a gang of notorious criminals.

Thea Stilton and the Dragon's Code

Ages 7–10 · 2009

A mysterious invitation leads to a thrilling adventure at Mouseford Academy.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

Ages 8–12 · 2017

A girl without arms uncovers secrets in a mysterious theme park while facing new challenges and friendships.

Fuzzy Mud

Ages 10–14 · 2015

Two kids take a shortcut through forbidden woods and uncover a world-altering secret.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Ages 14–18 · 2019

A closed murder case reopens, revealing dark secrets and danger.

An Ember in the Ashes

Ages 12–18 · 2015

A slave and a soldier defy an empire, risking everything for freedom.

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Books about problem solvingBooks about solving crimesBooks about books and librariesBooks about books and readingBooks about buried treasureBooks about coding and programmingBooks about gamesBooks about hackers

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