Books About Detectives · 541 titles considered

The Best Detectives Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about detectives? 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 Detectives

Sale price
$674
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10

Ada Lace, on the Case

By Emily Calandrelli, Tamson Weston, Renee Kurilla (Illustrator) · Ada Lace series

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 6–9 · 1958

Basil of Baker Street

By Eve Titus, Paul Galdone (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the The Great Mouse Detective series

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

112 pages· 10,010 words· Est. 2 hour read
5.3/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 2,867 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 10–15 · 2007

Skulduggery Pleasant

A girl and a skeleton sorcerer must stop evil forces threatening the world.

384 pages· 68,048 words· Est. 6.5 hour read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 74,145 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1887

A Study in Scarlet

A penniless doctor and a brilliant detective unravel a dark murder mystery in Victorian London.

120 pages· 43,446 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 506,840 ratings
$24.99Save 5%
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1248
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2020

InvestiGators

A group of alligator investigators solve a mystery involving a missing chef, a stolen scientific invention, and a triceratops escape artist.

208 pages· 8,763 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.3/5 Goodreads · 4,145 ratings
$12.99Save 4%
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2012

Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth

By Jane O'Connor, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Nancy Clancy series

A young girl tries to solve a mystery involving a missing marble and a suspicious twin sister.

144 pages· 7,945 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 4,331 ratings
Chapter Book · Ages 5–8 · 1985

The Mystery of the Pirate Ghost

Is a ghost haunting Boogle Bay? Otto and Uncle Tooth investigate.

48 pages· 2,096 words· Est. 24 min read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 162 ratings
$4.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 1972

Nate the Great

By Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, Marc Simont (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Nate the Great series

Nate the Great is tasked with finding a lost picture of Annie's dog Fang.

64 pages· 1,619 words· Est. 18 min read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 14,688 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 1963

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective

A boy detective solves mysteries and crimes in his neighborhood with the help of his trusty encyclopedia-filled brain.

96 pages· 9,068 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 40,428 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2017

Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls

A girl must master spy skills to find her missing mother.

304 pages· 56,460 words· Est. 6.5 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 2,541 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
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Browse by age

Detectives Board Books for Babies & Toddlers

Sturdy, inviting books about detectives for the youngest readers and listeners.

Sloth Slept on

Ages 3–5 · 2014

Kids find a mysterious creature napping in their tree. What is it, and where does it belong?

Peekaboo! in the Jungle

Ages 1–4 · 2016

Who's hiding in the jungle? Lift the flap to discover!

Sherlock Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles
Sale price
$999

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.

Whobert Whover, Owl Detective

Ages 4–6 · 2017

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

View all detectives board books
Browse by age

Detectives Picture Books

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

The Case of the Missing Monkey

Ages 6–8 · 2000

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

A House That Once Was

Ages 3–6 · 2018

Two children explore an abandoned house, uncovering its mysterious past.

The Detective Dog

Ages 3–6 · 2016

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

Russell and the Lost Treasure

Ages 4–8 · 2006

A sheep named Russell goes on a treasure hunt.

The Eye That Never Sleeps

Ages 6–9 · 2018

A detective thwarts a plot to assassinate Lincoln en route to his inauguration.

The Bear Detectives

Ages 5–8 · 1975

A bear detective duo solves the mystery of a stolen pumpkin.

A Case in Any Case

Ages 5–11 · 2016

Alone at the station, Buffy hears eerie noises. Can she solve the mystery?

Madeline and the Cats of Rome

Ages 6–8 · 2008

A trip to Rome leads Madeline into a thrilling chase with a thief and countless cats.

Agatha Christie

Ages 4–7 · 2016

Uncover the mystery behind Agatha Christie's rise to the queen of crime writing.

Binny Bewitched

Ages 8–12 · 2016

A lost ATM cash leads to chaos and mystery in Binny's life.

The Case of the Stinky Stench

Ages 5–9 · 2017

A foul odor threatens the fridge. Can Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast solve the mystery?

The Millionaire Mystery

Ages 4–8 · 2012

A pearl necklace vanishes at a charity event. Can Cam solve the mystery before the thief escapes?

Browse by age

Detectives Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about detectives for developing and independent readers.

The Secret of the Old Clock

Ages 7–12 · 1930

A young woman investigates the mysterious circumstances surrounding a wealthy man's death and the disappearance of his will.

The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

Ages 7–9 · 1980

A young girl with a photographic memory helps solve a jewelry store robbery with her friend and her friend's baby brother

The Great Cake Mystery

Ages 7–10 · 2010

A young girl in Botswana solves a mystery at her school with the help of her friends and her own detective skills

The Thief Lord

Ages 8–12 · 2000

Two brothers flee to Venice, pursued by a detective, uncovering a magical treasure that alters time.

Super Detectives!

Ages 6–9 · 2021

Two friends start a detective agency and take on their first case, a mysterious pug named Roy.

The Tower Treasure

Ages 8–12 · 1927

Two brothers race to solve a daring jewel heist.

Kat Wolfe Investigates

Ages 8–12 · 2018

A pet-sitting gig leads Kat into a dangerous mystery involving a vanished parrot owner.

Girl Detective

Ages 8–12 · 2014

A young detective uncovers mysteries at an elite boarding school, including a Yeti and a rival student.

Marion and the Secret Letter

Ages 5–9 · 2017

A missing hamster and a mysterious letter lead to a thrilling scavenger hunt.

Power Play

Ages 9–13 · 2018

A kidnapped game creator, a cryptic message, and a global conspiracy. Can Abby and her friends save the day?

Return of the Forgotten

Ages 8–12 · 2015

A missing rodent, a rogue brother, and a hidden secret threaten the fragile peace in Atlantia's tunnels.

Zeus and the Dreadful Dragon

Ages 6–9 · 2018

Olympians must free allies from Tartarus to defeat Cronus. Can they trust them?

Keep exploring
Books about alligators and crocodilesBooks about boarding schoolsBooks about good and evilBooks about imaginary placesBooks about investigationBooks about kidnappingBooks about missing personsBooks about spies

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