Famous Mystery Books for Kids

Detective Zebra and his trusty partner Dot are just starting their day at the detective agency on Bakery Street when a family reports that some delicious jam tarts have gone missing. Who could’ve taken them? Was it a magical unicorn? A ravenous tart-eating monster? Zebra and Dot are on the case! 4-8 year-olds will have tons of sleuthing fun following Detective Zebra in this hilarious must-read picture book.

Scooby and the gang are on the case again after spotting a creepy looking crocodile. Could the local power plant have something to do with creating this mutant reptile? Kids can take part in the investigation and learn a few things about the science of electricity all at once in this fact- and fun-filled illustrated story. This book is part of a popular series about the mystery adventures of Scooby, Fred, Velma, Daphne and Shaggy as they travel around solving (not so scary) mysteries to help their friends. Check out the collection here to get started!

Sherlock Holmes fans and newbies alike will love this playful adaptation of the classic book by Arthur Conan Doyle. The updated storytelling reaches an entirely new generation of readers and includes themed bonus activities at the end, like games, quizzes, puzzles and more. Filled with adventure, intrigue and fun, this masterful adaptation will get your kid hooked on classics. And if they want to read the original stories of this famous detective duo from Baker Street, we have the classic version on Epic as well. Check out the Ghostwriter series on Apple+!

Mystery lovers and Disney fans will love this graphic novel adaptation of the hit movie. Rookie Bunny cop Judy Hopps is the first rabbit to join to police force in the city of Zootopia. She literally jumps at the chance to crack a case, but has to partner a sly fox scam-artist named Nick Wilde who makes her job tough to say the least. This adventurous read will show your kid the value of friendship and following your dreams (and the cute animal illustrations don’t hurt, either).

In a fresh approach to the classic mystery series, teenaged super-sleuth Nancy, along with her friends Bess and George must race to catch an international jewel thief who’s been using a dog show as a cover for their thefts. It starts when she discovers a dog has been drugged, and she suspects a competitor is trying to sabotage the competition. But soon she realizes it’s much bigger: an entire smuggling operation. Will they solve the mystery before it’s too late? Older kids and middle-grade readers can find out in this audiobook.

This is no ordinary math assignment! When librarians open the local library and discover a cardboard book bandit monster statue with a note challenging them to figure out how it got there. The librarians offer a prize to whoever can figure out the puzzle and a group of kids from Sifu Faiza’s Kung Fu School take the case. What follows is an interactive problem-solving adventure, walking readers through clues and geometry-themed prompts. Your kid will put on their thinking caps and sharpen their math skills in this engaging, fun-filled graphic novel.

This installment of The Hardy Boys Adventures series takes detective brothers Frank and Joe deep into the Florida Keys. It begins when a marine biologist from the Bayport Aquarium invites the two on a mission to save sharks in the archipelago. But their mission changes after the doctor goes missing from their research vessel. The boys’ investigation gets them involved in the politics around establishing a resort on Lookout Key. What follows is a journey that introduces the brothers to enthusiastic liars and mysterious politicians. The book is full of humor and mystery with a satisfying ending, making it an engaging read for young kids.

Parents everywhere can revel in nostalgia with this update to the classic series about four orphans who enter a world of freedom, adventure and self-reliance after discovering and moving into an abandoned boxcar. Before they were the Boxcar Children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden lived with their parents at Fair Meadow Farm, and this prequel tells the story of the kid sleuths’ origins and the challenges they faced before their many boxcar adventures. Ranked among the all-time “Top 100 Chapter Books” in a School Library Journal survey, The original series is also among the National Education Association’s “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children,” and you can find several on Epic.

This thrilling graphic novel is based on the Netflix series starring Gina Rodriguez, and introduces a new generation of kids to the infamous lady in red many of us know and love. In this exciting update, Carmen is a force for good: stealing from the bad guys and returning the valuable wares to their victims. This time she’s heading to Indonesia in search of their hideout. Your kid will love this action-packed intro to geography, culture and history.

An animal crime spree has broken out and it’s up to a homing pigeon named Homer, his bird pal Carlos and a parrot named Lulu to investigate. After they spot four-legged thieves stealing, they must not only track down the bandits but lead their humans to their hideout to stop them. This light, illustrated detective story combines silly humor and intrigue to keep your kid giggling and guessing every step of the way.

It’s an ordinary day in New Mouse City, when Geronimo discovers the Pirate Cats are using a time machine to steal the Mona Lisa. To stop them, Geronimo and friends must travel to 1517 Venice, Italy and prevent them from nabbing the world’s most famous painting and taking credit for its creation. With snappy dialogue and loads of action, this middle-grade mystery will keep your older kids and tweens on their toes as they learn about art, history and the Renaissance.

Jesse Rigsby can’t stand video games, but that doesn’t stop him from being transported into one against his will. Soon he’s fighting for his life against a slew of game villains, ranging from a man-sized praying mantis to aliens and a giant monster made of sand. Kids who love video games will love following Jesse and his best friend Eric as they blast, vaporize and jetpack through a digital world. Will they reach the final level and beat the game? This thrilling book is currently #2 on Amazon’s list of Best Sellers in Children’s Mystery, Detective, & Spy books.