Books About Unsolved Mysteries

The Best Unsolved Mysteries Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about unsolved mysteries? 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.

#2 in Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Unsolved Mysteries

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

Jailbreak at Alcatraz

By Tom Sullivan · Book #2 in the Unsolved Case Files series

Three inmates vanish from Alcatraz, sparking an unsolved mystery.

106 pages· 7,212 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 332 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In 1962, Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers pull off a daring escape from Alcatraz, leaving behind a baffling mystery. As the guards discover their absence, a decades-long manhunt begins. Dive into this gripping true story, complete with FBI files and investigation photos, and unravel the secrets of an escape that defied the impossible. Will the truth ever surface?

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$2089

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2021

Escape at 10,000 Feet

By Tom Sullivan · Book #1 in the Unsolved Case Files series

Unravel the mystery of America's only unsolved airplane hijacking.

104 pages· 4,149 words· Est. 37 min read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 861 ratings

$21.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: On November 24, 1971, a mysterious man boards a flight in Portland, demanding $200,000 and parachutes, threatening to detonate a bomb. Dive into the gripping true story of D.B. Cooper, the elusive hijacker who vanished without a trace. This graphic nonfiction series combines comic panels, FBI documents, and photos to captivate sleuths and history buffs. Will you uncover the secrets behind this unsolved case?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

The In-Between

By Rebecca K.S. Ansari

A mysterious symbol links a century-old tragedy to a strange neighbor. Can Cooper and Jess prevent history from repeating?

336 pages· 60,702 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,775 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Cooper feels lost after his father's departure, but a century-old mystery offers a distraction. His sister Jess discovers a symbol from a deadly train crash matches their eerie neighbor's jacket. As they delve deeper, Cooper and Jess uncover unsettling connections, raising fears of a looming disaster in their town. Can they unravel the truth before it's too late?

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$2564

Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2012

Seconds Away

By Harlan Coben · Book #2 in the Mickey Bolitar series

A teen uncovers dark secrets while solving a classmate's shooting.

395 pages· 67,039 words· Est. 6 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 20,524 ratings

$26.99Save 5%

Library Binding

Summary: Mickey Bolitar faces a deadly mystery when his classmate Rachel is shot. With danger lurking, he and his friends, Ema and Spoon, must unravel secrets tied to the Abeona Shelter and his father's death. As they delve deeper, Mickey must protect those he loves from an unseen threat. Can he solve the mystery before it's too late?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2011

Collision Course

By Gordon Korman · Book #2 in the Titanic series

Aboard the Titanic, four kids face a hidden killer as disaster looms.

166 pages· 29,331 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,988 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: On the Titanic, Paddy, Sophie, Juliana, and Alfie uncover a chilling mystery: a killer may be among them. As the ship sails toward its fateful iceberg encounter, secrets unravel and lives intertwine. Can they solve the mystery before it's too late, or will the ocean claim them all? The clock is ticking, and danger lurks in every shadow.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2019

Two Can Keep a Secret

By Karen M. McManus

A town's deadly secrets resurface as Ellery uncovers a chilling mystery.

352 pages· 82,740 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 178,254 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: Ellery moves to Echo Ridge, a town haunted by disappearances and murder. As homecoming approaches, another girl vanishes, and Ellery must navigate a web of secrets. Can she unravel the truth before becoming the next target?

Sale price

$1498

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

The 500 Million Dollar Heist

By Tom Sullivan · Book #3 in the Unsolved Case Files series

Two thieves steal $500 million in art, leaving an unsolved mystery.

104 pages· 6,414 words· Est. 54 min read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 303 ratings

$15.99Save 6%

Paperback

Summary: In 1990, two men disguised as police officers infiltrate the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, executing the largest art heist in U.S. history. Thirteen masterpieces vanish, including rare Rembrandts. Despite exhaustive investigations, the case remains unsolved. What secrets lie behind this audacious theft, and will the truth ever surface?

Picture Book · 2006

The Death Collector

By Justin Richards

Teens and a curator face a madman's plan to revive the dead.

72,027 words

3.4/5 Goodreads · 985 ratings

Paperback

Summary: In the heart of the British Museum, three teens and a curator confront a madman with a chilling ambition: to bring the dead back to life. As they delve into the mysteries of unclassified artifacts, they must outsmart a villain whose methods could unleash chaos. Can they stop him before humans and dinosaurs walk the earth again? The stakes are high, and time is running out in this thrilling race against resurrection.

Sale price

$1425

Chapter Book · Ages 7–12 · 2024

The Phantom of Eerie Hollow

True Hunter series

A boy inherits a mansion and uncovers a ghostly mystery in Eerie Hollow.

232 pages· 47,176 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

4.6/5 Goodreads · 9 ratings

$15.00Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Twelve-year-old McKay's life flips when he inherits a mansion in Eerie Hollow. With his cousin Jack, he dives into a mystery involving a ghostly legend, Crazy Carl, and the elusive Phantom Buck. As they unravel secrets, they must outwit notorious poachers and uncover the truth behind the town's eerie tales. Can they solve the mystery before it's too late?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2026

The Claiming

By Jasmine Warga · Book #2 in the The Last Resort series

A boy's secret and a flickering friend lead to a battle against dark forces.

240 pages· 43,087 words· Est. 6 hour read

3.8/5 Goodreads · 179 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Teddy is thrilled for school with new friends Lila and Caleb, but his hidden past looms. As strange events unfold at Castle Hill Inn, Lila flickers between worlds, hinting at a sinister force. Teddy must confront his deepest fears to protect his friends and stop the fire maiden's evil plans. Can he unravel the mystery before it's too late?

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