Classic series
Start with The Absent Author.
Book Series · 26 Books
A to Z Mysteries Books
In order from The Absent Author to The X'ed-Out X-Ray.
Twenty-six alphabetically organized mysteries about Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose, alongside four distinct related mystery lines.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the A to Z Mysteries
Read the original 26 books from A through Z. Super Editions are longer adventures with the same trio; Calendar Mysteries follows younger siblings, Capital Mysteries uses different Washington detectives, and Animal Mysteries follows a new animal-loving team.
Sources: Penguin Random House: A to Z Mysteries.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
Cases involve thefts, disappearances, spooky-looking situations, occasional kidnapping or threats, and animal worries. Mysteries resolve safely and violence is not graphic.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Easier chapters
Try January Joker in the Calendar Mysteries line.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$674
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 1997
The Absent Author
By Ron Roy, John Steven Gurney (Illustrator)
A famous mystery writer goes missing after being invited to a book signing event in a small town.
96 pages· 8,685 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Dink eagerly awaits the arrival of his favorite mystery author, Wallis Wallace, in Green Lawn. But when the big day comes, Wallace is missing. While the police dismiss it as a travel mishap, Dink suspects something more sinister. With his friends Josh and Ruth Rose, he embarks on a quest to find the missing writer. As they delve deeper, they must unravel clues and face unexpected twists. Can they solve the mystery before it's too late?
In reading order
A to Z Mysteries Series
26 books · Published 1997–2005
#1
Sale price
$674
The Absent Author
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 1997
A famous mystery writer goes missing after being invited to a book signing event in a small town.
#2
Sale price
$674
The Bald Bandit
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 1997
Three friends try to solve a bank robbery by finding a video that shows the thief's face
#3
Sale price
$674
The Canary Caper
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 1998
Three friends try to solve the mystery of a missing cat and a canary, which leads them to uncover a string of burglaries in their town.
#4
Sale price
$674
The Deadly Dungeon
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 1998
Three friends visit a famous mystery writer in her castle in Maine and become embroiled in a mystery involving a secret tunnel and a hidden treasure of rare parrots
#5
Sale price
$674
The Empty Envelope
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 1998
A young boy receives a series of mysterious letters in the mail that lead him and his friends on a treasure hunt to uncover the truth behind a valuable stamp.
#6
Sale price
$674
The Falcon's Feathers
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 1998
A falcon's nest is empty. Can three friends uncover the mystery before it's too late?
#7
Sale price
$674
The Goose's Gold
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 1998
Three kids investigate a possible robbery on a Florida island
#8
Sale price
$674
The Haunted Hotel
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 1999
Three friends investigate a ghost haunting a hotel.
#9
Sale price
$674
The Invisible Island
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 1999
Three friends try to solve a mystery involving counterfeit money on a small island.
#10
Sale price
$674
The Jaguar's Jewel
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2000
A priceless emerald is stolen from a museum, and three young friends must solve the mystery to clear the name of one of their relatives.
#11
Sale price
$674
The Kidnapped King
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2000
A young prince is kidnapped and must be rescued by his new friends.
#12
Sale price
$674
The Lucky Lottery
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2000
Three friends try to solve a mystery involving a stolen lottery ticket worth seven million dollars.
#13
Sale price
$674
The Missing Mummy
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2001
Three friends solve a mystery involving a stolen mummy and a treasure heist at a museum.
#14
Sale price
$674
The Ninth Nugget
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2001
A stolen gold nugget at a dude ranch leads to a thrilling mystery.
#15
Sale price
$674
The Orange Outlaw
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2001
A group of kids try to solve the mystery of a stolen painting.
#16
Sale price
$674
The Panda Puzzle
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2001
A baby panda is kidnapped from a petting zoo and the main characters must solve the mystery before it's too late.
#17
Sale price
$674
The Quicksand Question
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2002
Three friends try to solve the mystery of a stolen duck bank filled with money meant for a duck bridge.
#18
Sale price
$674
The Runaway Racehorse
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2002
Three friends visit their friend Forest Evans to watch his horse Whirlaway run in a race in Saratoga Springs, but when they arrive, they discover that Whirlaway has gone missing
#19
Sale price
$674
The School Skeleton
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2003
A school skeleton goes missing and a group of students try to solve the mystery.
#20
Sale price
$674
The Talking T. Rex
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2002
Three friends help a man who has a life-sized robotic T. rex to raise money for a museum and then try to solve the mystery of the stolen money.
#21
Sale price
$674
The Unwilling Umpire
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2004
A baseball game fundraiser turns into a mystery when a valuable collection of autographed baseballs goes missing
#22
Sale price
$674
The Vampire's Vacation
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2004
Three friends try to solve the mystery of a man in black who seems to be a vampire.
#23
Sale price
$674
The White Wolf
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2004
Three friends help a girl named Abbi solve a mystery involving stolen wolf pups.
#24
Sale price
$674
The X'ed-Out X-Ray
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2005
A concert, a stolen necklace, and an X-ray. Can three kids connect the dots?
#25
Sale price
$674
The Yellow Yacht
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2005
A robbery disrupts paradise. Can three kids uncover the yacht's secret?
#26
Sale price
$674
The Zombie Zone
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2005
Three kids on vacation in New Orleans stumble upon a mysterious grave robbery in a small village
Companion series
Calendar Mysteries Series
13 books · Published 2009–2014
#1
Sale price
$674
January Joker
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2009
A group of kids try to figure out what is happening when their friends and pets start disappearing.
#2
Sale price
$574
February Friend
Chapter Book · Ages 6–8 · 2009
A group of friends try to find the owner of a mysterious rabbit that was left in their classroom closet.
#3
Sale price
$674
March Mischief
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2010
A group of kids try to solve the mystery of stolen leprechaun statues in their town.
#4
Sale price
$674
April Adventure
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2010
Four kids search for hidden Easter eggs and solve a mystery involving a family of swans.
#5
Sale price
$674
May Magic
Chapter Book · Ages 6–8 · 2011
A family's life is turned upside down when the mother is hypnotized and starts acting like a duck.
#6
Sale price
$674
June Jam
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2011
A group of kids work together to solve the mystery of a garden monster that is eating their strawberries
#7
Sale price
$574
July Jitters
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2014
Pets vanish before a Fourth of July parade. Can the kids find them in time?
#8
Sale price
$674
August Acrobat
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2014
A group of kids try to help a struggling circus by finding a mysterious acrobat.
#9
Sale price
$759
September Sneakers
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2014
A missing hamster and mysterious sneakers lead four friends on a puzzling quest.
#10
Sale price
$759
October Ogre
Chapter Book · Ages 6–8 · 2014
Four friends try to solve the mystery of a haunted house on Halloween night
#11
Sale price
$759
November Night
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2014
Four kids try to uncover the mystery of their new neighbors' secret project in their backyard
#12
Sale price
$574
December Dog
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2014
A lost puppy on Christmas Eve leads to a mystery. Can the kids find its owner?
#13
Sale price
$574
New Year's Eve Thieves
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2014
Four friends try to solve a mystery involving a stolen laptop and a suspicious couple in their town.
Companion series
Capital Mysteries Series
14 books · Published 2001–2012
#1
Sale price
$674
Who Cloned the President?
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2001
Two fourth-grade friends discover that the President of the United States has been cloned and embark on a mission to rescue the real president
#2
Sale price
$574
Kidnapped at the Capital
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2002
A young girl's mother and the President of the United States are kidnapped, and she must navigate a complex web of clues to rescue them.
#3
Sale price
$599
The Skeleton in the Smithsonian
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2003
Two kids help the President of the United States solve a mystery involving a claim to a large fortune.
#4
Sale price
$574
A Spy in the White House
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2004
A young girl and her friend try to solve a mystery involving a spy in the White House
#5
Sale price
$574
Who Broke Lincoln's Thumb?
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2005
A missing thumb from Lincoln's statue threatens a presidential celebration. Can two kids solve the mystery in time?
#6
Sale price
$574
Fireworks at the FBI
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2006
A group of friends try to solve a mystery involving rockets, fireworks, and a witness protection program.
#7
Sale price
$599
Trouble at the Treasury
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2005
A bundle of cash vanishes from the Treasury. Can KC solve the mystery?
#8
Sale price
$574
Mystery at the Washington Monument
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2007
A young girl and her friend solve a mystery involving a monkey and a historic monument.
#9
Sale price
$574
A Thief at the National Zoo
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2007
A precious jewel vanishes from a locked room. Can KC and Marshall solve the mystery?
#10
Sale price
$599
The Election-Day Disaster
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2008
Can two kids save the president's election after a Halloween scandal?
#11
Sale price
$674
The Secret at Jefferson's Mansion
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2009
A hidden treasure is stolen from Monticello. Can KC and Marshall solve the mystery?
#12
Sale price
$574
The Ghost at Camp David
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2010
A ghostly legend at Camp David leads to eerie mysteries. Is it really a dead president's spirit?
#13
Sale price
$599
Trapped on the D.C. Train!
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2011
A group of kidnappers target the vice president of the United States and her stepdaughter on a train ride to Pennsylvania
#14
Sale price
$574
Turkey Trouble on the National Mall
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2012
Who stole 117 turkeys before Thanksgiving? KC and Marshall must solve the mystery.
Companion series
A to Z Mysteries Super Edition Series
14 books · Published 2006–2022
#1
Sale price
$759
Detective Camp
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2006
Three friends attend a detective camp and solve a mystery involving a stolen ring and a treasure hunt.
#2
Sale price
$759
Mayflower Treasure Hunt
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2007
A lost sapphire necklace from the Mayflower sparks a thrilling treasure hunt.
#3
Sale price
$759
White House White-out
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2008
Three friends try to solve the mystery of a missing dog and a kidnapping plot.
#4
Sale price
$759
Sleepy Hollow Sleepover
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2010
Is the Headless Horseman real? Strange events unfold in Sleepy Hollow.
#5
Sale price
$759
The New Year Dragon Dilemma
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2011
A girl vanishes during a parade. Can young detectives solve the mystery?
#6
Sale price
$674
The Castle Crime
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2014
Three kids race to solve the mystery of stolen royal jewels in London.
#7
Sale price
$674
Operation Orca
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2015
A baby orca vanishes. Can three kids solve the mystery?
#8
Sale price
$759
Secret Admirer
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2015
Secret admirer sends clues. Can they solve the Valentine mystery?
#9
Sale price
$674
April Fools' Fiasco
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2017
A bookstore prank turns into a real robbery. Can the kids solve the mystery?
#10
Sale price
$759
Colossal Fossil
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2018
A sleepover at a museum turns mysterious after a loud crash. What happened to the Spinosaurus?
#11
Sale price
$674
Grand Canyon Grab
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2019
A TV star vanishes at the Grand Canyon. Can three kids solve the mystery before it's too late?
#12
Sale price
$759
Space Shuttle Scam
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2020
A space museum visit turns mysterious as someone targets Alice's property.
#13
Sale price
$674
Crime in the Crypt
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2021
A stolen vase implicates a grandmother. Can three friends uncover the truth?
#14
Sale price
$674
Leopard on the Loose
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2022
A rare leopard vanishes at the zoo. Can young detectives crack the case before it's too late?
Companion series
A to Z Animal Mysteries Series
7 books · Published 2023–2026
#1
Sale price
$674
The Absent Alpacas
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2023
Alpacas vanish before a fair contest. Can young detectives solve the mystery?
#2
Sale price
$674
Bats in the Castle
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2023
A mysterious sound leads Abbi and friends on a quest to uncover the truth.
#3
Sale price
$674
Cougar Clues
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2024
A cougar mystery in Maine challenges young sleuths. Is it real or a clever ruse?
#4
Sale price
$674
Dolphin Detectives
Chapter Book · Ages 4–8 · 2024
Kids uncover a dolphin mystery at sea. Is it play or danger?
#5
Sale price
$674
The Emerald Egg
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2025
An emu egg is missing. Can young detectives crack the case?
#6
Sale price
$674
Find That Ferret!
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025
A missing ferret leads to a bigger mystery at the petting zoo.
#7
Sale price
$674
The Gecko Escape Room
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2026
Kids unravel a gecko-themed escape room mystery. Are they truly safe?
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the A to Z Mysteries series?
There are 26 books in the A to Z Mysteries series. It began with The Absent Author in 1997, and the newest book, The X'ed-Out X-Ray, was published in 2005.
What order should you read the A to Z Mysteries books in?
Start with The Absent Author and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #26.
What ages are the A to Z Mysteries books best for?
The series is best for ages 6–9, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which A to Z Mysteries book is the longest?
The Talking T. Rex (Book #20) is the longest book in the series at 10,025 words (96 pages).
Which A to Z Mysteries book is the shortest?
The Empty Envelope (Book #5) is the shortest at 6,456 words (96 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring A to Z Mysteries to life.
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