Check out these kids’ mystery series books, both on and off our platform!
One mystery story might not be enough for every young sleuth, and lucky for yours, it doesn’t have to be. Whether your kid is gearing up to be the next Sherlock Holmes or just loves a good problem-solving adventure, there are tons of fun, high-quality mystery books out there to choose from, many of which they can find on Epic. If you’re looking for a binge-worthy mystery series to keep your kid coming back for more, look no further than this list.
Take a look at our picks for the best kids’ mystery series books below!
Kids’ Mystery Series Books on Epic
Epic Originals: Undersea Mystery Club
By: Courtney Carbone
Ages: 5-7
In this adorable Read-To-Me book, Violet the mermaid and Wally the narwhal must follow a series of clues to find out why a new playground in Aquamarina seems to have mysteriously fallen apart. Let your young reader dive into adventure with Violet and her aquatic friends as they solve the mystery of the disappearing playground. If your kid loves this, check out Books 2-9 on Epic.
Ick and Crud: Mystery in the Barn
Written by: Wiley Blevins
Illustrated by: Jim Paillot
Ages: 5-7
Ick and Crud are canine best friends who spend most of their days playing in the sun. But for the two buddies, today is no normal day. Something big is happening and all their animal friends, from the cows to the chickens, are stirring up a fuss. Unable to resist the urge to sniff out the mystery, off they go to the barn. Young readers can join this doggie duo in getting to the bottom of what’s really going on in this seriously cute children’s book. If your kid loves this, check out the first book in the series, “Ick and Crud: Ick’s Bleh Day” (and the rest)!
Scooby-Doo and the Search for the Lost Tooth
Written by: Maria S. Barbo
Illustrated by: Duendes Del Sur
Ages: 5-7
Scooby and Shaggy are playing with their friend Billy when his tooth mysteriously goes missing! They suspect a monster or other supernatural force could be the culprit, and set off to get to the bottom of it. This story follows Billy and the gang as they work through various scenarios, introducing kids to deductive logic and basic problem solving along the way. This fun book is part of an exciting series about the 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!
The Boxcar Children Book 12: The Houseboat Mystery (Audiobook)
Written by: Gertrude Chandler Warner
Illustrated by: Anthony VanArsdale
Ages: 8-10
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. In this book, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden now have a home with their grandfather. While traveling down the river on a houseboat, they notice a strange car at every dock an suspect they’re being watched. Can they figure out who’s following them and what they want? Let your kid enjoy this audiobook and more by checking out the entire collection on Epic.
Max Finder Mystery: Collected Casebook #1
Written by: Liam O’Donnell and Craig Battle
Illustrated by: Ramón Pérez
Ages: 8-10
Max Finder, a self-proclaimed fact collector, is a brainy 12-year-old who loves nothing more than using his talent for trivia to solve mysteries. With the help of his best friend and partner in crime, Alison, he investigates suspects, clues and more to solve 10 tough crimes. Your kid will be hooked from start to finish as they crack codes, decipher riddles and hone their crime-solving skills. And when their done, they can find several more from this series on Epic.
The Hardy Boys Adventures: A Treacherous Tide (Audiobook)
By: Franklin W. Dixon
Ages: 8-10
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.
Dear Beast No. 3: Someone is Missing!
Written by: Dori Hillestad Butler
Illustrated by: Kevan Atteberry
Ages: 8-10
This playfully illustrated chapter book series shows kids that opposites can make great teams. Told in a series of letters, a friendly dog named Baxter and a very jealous first pet Simon the cat butt heads over their shared human: a boy named Andy. At first, Simon isn’t happy about Andy adopting Baxter at his second home. But when Andy’s class pet goes missing, the two team up to find the beloved animal. Soon a town full of “beasts” are on the case. This heartwarming story is one of several in the hilarious Dear Beast series available on Epic.
Farm Crimes!: Cracking the Case of the Missing Egg
Written by: Sandra Dumais
Ages: 8-10
It’s a peaceful day on the farm until a blood-curdling scream rings from the barn… Hen’s egg has been stolen! She turns to Billiam Van Hoof, the world’s top goat detective (so he says) to find the missing egg. But as Van Hoof questions the animals and collects clues, the solutions seems obvious to everyone except the bumbling inspector. He instead draws absurd conclusion after conclusion. Your kid will laugh along to this silly graphic novel as they piece together clues and out-sleuth this hapless goat detective. Filled with sight gags and lovable characters, this is a fun, hilarious intro to the rest of the series. If your child loves this, check out the next book, “Farm Crimes!: The Moo-serious Disappearance of Cow” on Epic.
Inspector Flytrap
Written by: Tom Angleberger
Illustrated by: Cece Bell
Ages: 8-10
In this first book in this goofball detective series, kids can follow along as a potted flytrap (ahem… that’s Inspector Flytrap!) rolls around town on a skateboard solving a series of BIG DEAL mysteries. Like, what is the secret message in a yellow blob found on a priceless Da Vinci painting? What’s behind that stinky smell coming from Koko Dodo’s Cookie Shop? This is the start of a clever, wacky series starring the master sleuth and his assistant, Nina the Goat, as he cracks unsolved cases in his community. We have two more from the series on our platform!
The Gemini Mysteries 1: The North Star
By: Kat Shepherd
Ages: 8-10
In this first book in this action-packed, interactive series, twins Zach and Evie and their friend Vishal start the Gemini Detective Agency. What begins as mostly an excuse to meet up for pizza and go-karting, turns into bonafide crime-solving operation as they track down a priceless diamond necklace. The trio tags along with the twins’ crime reporter mom and rack up clues to solve the robbery. Will they find the culprit?
Nancy Drew Diaries: Hidden Pictures (Audiobook)
By: Carolyn Keene
Ages: 8-10
In a fresh approach to the classic mystery series, teen super-sleuth Nancy, along with her friends Bess and George, must solve a photographic mystery at the local museum. Legend has it that two people visiting the town of Shady Oaks went missing one day, only to turn up in old photographs on display, seemingly frozen in time. There’s also a rumor that the photographer was cursed by his former partner.
Nancy, Bess and George are sure that there’s another explanation for the strange occurance. Will they solve the mystery before it’s too late? Older kids and middle-grade readers can find out in this audiobook.
The 39 Clues: The Cahill Files, Book #1: Operation Trinity (Audiobook)
By: Clifford Riley
Ages: 9-12
For 500 years, the Cahills have been the most powerful family in the world, carefully and secretively guarding their source of their power. And that source is the 39 Clues (ingredients to a serum that can create the most powerful person on Earth). But the Cahills have finally opened their vault to reveal the story of the most coveted work of art in the world, and the many attempts through the centuries to steal it.
This first book in the extraordinary children’s book series chronicles the very first attempt in the 1600s. Then it moves forward to young Grace Cahill’s efforts to save the precious artwork from the Nazis during WWII.
The Graphic Novel Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Adventure of the Second Stain
Written by: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Vincent Goodwin
Illustrated by: Ben Dunn
Ages: 11-12
This mystery series showcases Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s bestselling Sherlock Holmes series in a thrilling graphic novel format. Readers can join Sherlock and his sidekick John Watson as they help the Prime Minister of England and secretary of foreign affairs solve a seemingly unsolvable case. The book is filled with action-packed stories and features world-class illustrations that grab the attention of middle-grade mystery book fans. If you kid loves this, check out the other four books in the series on Epic.
Other Recommendations
Want more? Here are few more of our favorite kids’ mystery series books off our platform, all available on Amazon.
A to Z Mysteries
By: Ron Roy
This wonderful children’s mystery book chronicles the story of three friends: Dink Duncan, Ruth Rose Hathaway, and Josh Pinto of Green Lawn, Connecticut. Although the trio has different hobbies, they all share a love for solving mysteries. The series features 26 books, one for each letter of the alphabet.
Encyclopedia Brown
By: Donald J. Sobol
“Encyclopedia Brown” tells of the adventures of Leroy Brown, a boy detective who is nicknamed “Encyclopedia” for his wide breadth of knowledge. The young sleuth helps his father, the local police chief, solve mysteries while outwitting mean bullies.
Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
By: Chris Grabenstein
When Kyle Keeley discovers that the world’s most famous game maker Luigi Lemoncello has made a new library in town, Kyle does everything he can to get in. But it isn’t long before the curious boy realizes that the tricky part isn’t entering the enormous building—it’s getting out.
Nate the Great
By: Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Nate the Great is a book series consisting of more than two dozen children’s detective stories. It features the eponymous young sleuth, Nate the Great. The series can be a great way to encourage readers to problem-solve with the kid detective and use logical thinking to crack the greatest mysteries!
The Ballpark Mysteries
By: David A. Kelly
Cousins Mike Walsh and Kate Hopkins manage to get their hands on tickets to the Red Sox game and All-Access passes to Fenway Park. But when the lucky bat of the star slugger goes missing, the duo must first crack the case before the game begins. Can the young Mike and Kaye find who pinched the bat before their favorite team loses the game?
The Enola Holmes Mysteries
By: Nancy Springer
“Enola Holmes Mysteries” chronicles the tales of Enola Holmes, the younger sister of the famous detective of Baker Street Sherlock Holmes. The boxed set includes six books packed with adventures involving bouquets, pink fans and gypsies! This mystery story is one of the best books for young readers who seek the challenge to solve seemingly unsolvable cases.
The Mysterious Benedict Society
By: Trenton Lee Stewart
The Mysterious Benedict Society tells the tale of the most inventive children who are put to the test to prove their intelligence. The kids go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened to succeed. In the school, the young geniuses explore the hidden underground tunnels filled with mind-bending tests.
That’s our list of kids’ mystery series books! Do you want to find more exciting book recommendations for kids of all ages? Check out our posts: “Best Mystery Books for Kids on Epic.”