Perfect chapter books for children who have outgrown picture books but aren't quite ready for adult mysteries. These engaging detective stories feature young sleuths solving age-appropriate puzzles and crimes, building reading confidence while developing critical thinking skills. Each book combines the excitement of mystery-solving with vocabulary and themes suitable for primary school readers taking their first steps into independent reading.
A pencil-thin detective with a photographic memory snaps her eyes shut. "Click!" says ten-year-old Cam Jansen, and suddenly she's reviewing every detail of the crime scene in her mind. It's a superpower every young reader wishes they had, and it's precisely this kind of clever twist that makes mysteries the perfect gateway to independent reading. When children step into the shoes of junior detectives, they're not just reading—they're actively solving puzzles, spotting clues, and racing to beat the protagonist to the solution.
The beauty of starting with Nate the Great lies in its perfect simplicity. Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's pancake-loving detective tackles neighbourhood mysteries with the seriousness of Sherlock Holmes, but with language that newly confident readers can manage on their own. From there, Young Cam Jansen and the Dinosaur Game offers a gentler introduction to David A. Adler's memory-clicking heroine before readers graduate to Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, where the stakes—and the vocabulary—level up.
For children who devour books as quickly as they solve mysteries, Ron Roy's alphabetical adventures await. The Absent Author kicks off the A to Z Mysteries series with Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose investigating a writer's disappearance, while the 13 Book Collection: Calendar Mysteries provides year-round puzzling with a mystery for every month. These series brilliantly satisfy that "what next?" hunger that strikes young readers who've found their groove.
Donald J. Sobol's Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective offers something delightfully different—ten-minute mysteries where readers can test their deductive skills against Leroy Brown's encyclopaedic knowledge. Meanwhile, James Preller's The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster introduces Jigsaw Jones, whose top-secret detective journal might inspire young readers to start their own.
Not every mystery involves magnifying glasses and fingerprints. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner weaves mystery into survival and resourcefulness, while The Pizza Mystery shows these same siblings tackling sabotage at their friends' restaurant. Even The Chalk Box Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla contains its own quiet mystery—how art can transform loneliness into discovery.
Parents often ask where to begin. For six-year-olds, start with Nate the Great's short chapters and clear illustrations. Eight-year-olds ready for meatier plots should dive into Encyclopedia Brown or Cam Jansen. And for those who've caught the mystery bug? Hand them the first A to Z Mystery and watch them systematically work through the alphabet, one delicious puzzle at a time. The real mystery is how these books transform reluctant readers into eager detectives, but that's one case that solves itself with every turned page.

David A. Adler

Gertrude Chandler Warner

Donald J. Sobol

James Preller

Clyde Robert Bulla

David A. Adler

Ron Roy

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Gertrude Chandler Warner

Ron Roy
Hook young readers with these thrilling adventures. Fast-paced and engaging, these books turn reluctant readers into book lovers with stories full of humor, heart, and excitement.
Join ordinary people solving extraordinary crimes. These engaging mysteries feature amateur sleuths who use wit, intuition, and determination to crack cases that baffle the professionals.
Bridge the gap to independent reading with these engaging chapter books. With larger text, illustrations, and exciting stories, these books build confidence in emerging readers.
Curl up with these charming mysteries perfect for crisp fall days. Set in quaint villages and featuring amateur sleuths, these cozy mysteries pair perfectly with a warm blanket and hot cider.
Dive into gripping Australian crime fiction where detectives revisit unsolved cases that have haunted communities for years or even decades. These compelling novels explore how old secrets surface and new evidence emerges, often through the determination of retired cops, journalists, or family members who refuse to let the truth stay buried. Perfect for readers who love methodical investigations and the satisfaction of seeing justice finally served, even when it takes a generation to arrive.