Books About Crime · 75 titles considered

The Best Crime Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

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Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Law and Crime, featuring 15 favorites and recommendations by age.

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Looking for excellent children's books about crime? 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.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Crime

Six of Crows
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2015

Six of Crows

By Leigh Bardugo · Book #1 in the Six of Crows series

Six outcasts. One impossible heist. Can they survive each other and save the world?

465 pages· 134,876 words· Est. 12.5 hour read
4.5 Goodreads · 1,214,641 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: In the bustling city of Ketterdam, criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker assembles a crew for a heist that promises untold riches. Joined by a vengeful convict, a gambling sharpshooter, a runaway, a stealthy spy, a magical Heartrender, and a cunning thief, Kaz faces a mission fraught with danger. As tensions rise, can these six outcasts pull off the impossible without tearing each other apart? Dive into a world where the stakes are high, and the line between survival and destruction is razor-thin. Will they succeed, or will their differences lead to their downfall?
Greetings from Witness Protection!
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2017

Greetings from Witness Protection!

By Jake Burt

An orphan joins a family in witness protection, facing danger and secrets from her past.

368 pages· 81,251 words· Est. 9 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 6,224 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Nicki Demere, a street-smart orphan, is recruited by U.S. Marshals to join a family in witness protection. As they evade notorious criminals, Nicki must juggle school, dodge threats, and confront her own past. Can she keep the family safe while hiding in plain sight? With hitmen on their trail and secrets lurking, Nicki's new life is anything but ordinary. Balancing her new identity and the dangers that come with it, she discovers that the greatest challenges might be closer than she thinks. Will her skills be enough to protect her new family and herself?
The Tell-Tale Heart
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1843

The Tell-Tale Heart

By Edgar Allan Poe

Dive into chilling tales of murder, madness, and mystery.

224 pages· 2,188 words· Est. 13 min read
4.2 Goodreads · 245,766 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Enter a world of suspense with tales like 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' where guilt drives a man to madness, and 'The Cask of Amontillado,' a chilling story of revenge. Meet a detective who outsmarts all in 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue.' Each story, from haunted houses to sinister plots, promises to captivate and terrify. Discover the genius of Poe, the master of Gothic horror and suspense, through these timeless, mind-bending narratives.
Monster
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1999

Monster

By Walter Dean Myers · Book #1 in the Monster series

Teen on trial for murder questions identity and truth.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (1999)Coretta Scott King Honor (2000)National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist (1999)Michael L. Printz Award (2000)
281 pages· 28,057 words· Est. 2.5 hour read
3.7 Goodreads · 76,317 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon faces a harrowing trial for murder, accused of being a lookout in a fatal robbery. As he navigates the courtroom and the harsh realities of juvenile detention, Steve copes by scripting his life as a movie. But as the lines between reality and fiction blur, he must confront the truth about himself and the choices that led him here. Will he find clarity, or will the system define him as a monster forever? Dive into this gripping tale of identity, justice, and the power of perception.
Baby's First Bank Heist
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 3–6 · 2019

Baby's First Bank Heist

By Jim Whalley, Stephen Collins (Illustrator)

A baby plans a bank heist to buy a pet. Chaos ensues.

32 pages· 622 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud
6.5/7 Bookroo·3.7/5 Goodreads · 262 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Baby Frank is on a mission: rob a bank to afford a pet his parents refuse to buy. This adorable yet audacious plan leads to a hilarious adventure. Will Frank succeed in his fluffy quest, or will his criminal caper be foiled? Discover the mischief and mayhem as this pint-sized mastermind takes on the world of crime, proving that even the smallest among us can dream big.
Hunting the Hunter
Sale price
$574
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2006

Hunting the Hunter

By Gordon Korman · Book #6 in the On The Run series

Two siblings must outsmart a killer to free their parents.

160 pages· 26,493 words· Est. 3.5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 2,355 ratings
$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Aiden and Meg Falconer are on a desperate mission to clear their parents' names. They've tracked down Hairless Joe, the dangerous man who framed them. But capturing a professional killer is no easy task. As they close in, the stakes rise—will they succeed, or will Joe escape, leaving their family in ruins? The ultimate showdown awaits, and only one side can prevail.
November
Sale price
$1049
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2010

November

By Gabrielle Lord · Conspiracy 365 series

A teen fugitive races against time to uncover a deadly secret and survive a year on the run.

179 pages· 34,974 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 1,774 ratings
$10.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Fifteen-year-old Cal is thrust into a perilous race against time after a chilling warning: survive the next 365 days or face death. With his father's mysterious death shrouded in secrets, Cal becomes a fugitive, pursued by both the law and relentless criminals. As he navigates a world where trust is scarce, Cal must unravel a history-changing secret that could save him and a friend. With enemies closing in and the clock ticking, every second could be his last. Can Cal uncover the truth before it's too late?
Crooked Kingdom
Sale price
$1398
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2016

Crooked Kingdom

By Leigh Bardugo · Book #2 in the Six of Crows series

A crew's survival hinges on outsmarting powerful foes in a city of secrets.

536 pages· 160,962 words· Est. 15 hour read
4.6 Goodreads · 808,622 ratings
$14.99Save 7%
Paperback
Summary: Kaz Brekker and his crew, fresh from a daring heist, find themselves betrayed and vulnerable. With powerful forces closing in on Ketterdam, they must navigate treacherous streets to uncover secrets of a potent drug. As old rivals and new foes test their fragile loyalties, a battle for revenge and redemption looms, threatening the fate of the Grisha world. Can Kaz outwit his enemies and protect his team, or will the city's shadows consume them all?
The Odds of Getting Even
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2015

The Odds of Getting Even

By Sheila Turnage · Mo & Dale Mysteries series

A trial turns chaotic as a kidnapper escapes, leaving a town in lockdown.

368 pages· 64,301 words· Est. 9 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 2,943 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In Tupelo Landing, young detectives Mo and Dale face chaos when a trial against Dale's father, a confessed kidnapper, goes awry. As the town locks down and Dale's brother's life is at risk, the Desperado Detectives, with new intern Harm, must solve the case. But their toughest client yet complicates matters, challenging their skills and resolve. Can they bring justice and safety back to their town?
Stolen Children
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2008

Stolen Children

By Peg Kehret

Babysitting turns into a race against time as Amy faces a kidnapping plot.

165 pages· 40,244 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 8,133 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Amy's babysitting gig spirals into a nightmare when she and young Kendra are kidnapped. Trapped in a remote cabin, Amy must outsmart their captors by embedding clues in ransom DVDs. With only a week before the kidnappers' deadly deadline, can Amy's cleverness save them both? The clock is ticking, and every second counts in this high-stakes game of survival.
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Crime Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about crime for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Grandpa's Teeth
Series
Sale price
$899

Grandpa's Teeth

Ages 4–8 · 1997

Grandpa's teeth are stolen, and now the whole town can't stop smiling. Can the thief be caught?

SWAT
Series
Sale price
$3422

SWAT

Ages 10–14 · 2012

Discover the high-stakes world of SWAT teams and their life-saving missions.

Belle Starr
Series
Sale price
$2693

Belle Starr

Ages 10–14 · 2008

A biography of the infamous outlaw Belle Starr, from her childhood to her death, and the myths surrounding her life.

The First Case (1)
Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$999

The First Case (1)

Ages 5–9 · 2021

A group of students solve mysteries and crimes in their school

View all crime picture books
Browse by age

Crime Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about crime for developing and independent readers.

February
#2 in Series
Sale price
$1099

February

Ages 10–13 · 2010

A teen must survive a year on the run to uncover his father's deadly secret.

Warcross
#1 in Series
Sale price
$1899

Warcross

Ages 12–17 · 2017

A hacker enters a virtual game, uncovering a dangerous conspiracy.

House Arrest
Series
Sale price
$948

House Arrest

2008

Undercover brothers race to stop a killer on a reality show.

Empty Envelope (Turtleback School & Library)
Sale price
$1725

Empty Envelope (Turtleback School & Library)

Ages 7–9

A boy receives mysterious letters meant for someone else, leading to a hidden stamp worth fifty thousand dollars and a scheme involving stolen mail and impersonation.

The Canary Caper
#3 in Series
Sale price
$699

The Canary Caper

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.

The Lucky Lottery
#12 in Series
Sale price
$699

The Lucky Lottery

Ages 7–9 · 2000

Three friends try to solve a mystery involving a stolen lottery ticket worth seven million dollars.

View all crime chapter books
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