The best books to hook young readers on puzzling and magical mysteries

By Linda Joy Singleton

Who am I?

My love for magical and mysterious books was inspired by Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton, and Harry Potter. Since I was 8 years old, I longed to write my own mystery series—SO I DID! My latest mystery series, The Curious Cat Spy Club, is based on my own childhood club. My friends and I played cryptic games, spied on suspicious neighbors, and helped abandoned kittens. I love writing about mysteries + animals. And I’m excited to share my favorite mysterious and magical books with you!!

I wrote...

The Curious Cat Spy Club, #1

By Linda Joy Singleton

The Curious Cat Spy Club, #1

What is my book about?

Runaway zorse!! When a zebra-horse hybrid gallops down the street, aspiring spy Kelsey Case joins the chase—and finds three tiny kittens left to die in a dumpster. Kelsey and her new friends, Becca and Leo, can’t keep the kittens, so they secretly form the Curious Cat Spy Club. They care for the kittens and solve mysteries to help animals.

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The Books I Picked & Why

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

By Jessica Townsend

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Why this book?

I haven’t been this excited about a series since Harry Potter. I love, love, LOVE Morrigan and have read this series over and over. They’re magically mysterious with amazing characters and wondrous world-building! I was especially impressed with the Christmas Eve parade, the gigantic Magnificat, and the magical battle between St. Nick and the Yule Queen. Fantastic series!!

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Six Feet Below Zero

By Ena Jones

Six Feet Below Zero

Why this book?

I love a thrilling mystery with secrets, humor, and surprises. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out if anyone would realize Rosie and Baker were hiding their Great-Grandma in a freezer. It was all Great-Grandma's idea! The kids race against time to piece together clues to find a missing will and save the family home from destruction. Reminiscent of an Alfred Hitchcock story with unexpected twists and heart-pounding danger. Fun mystery!

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Winterhouse

By Ben Guterson, Chloe Bristol

Winterhouse

Why this book?

It’s fun to travel and stay at hotels, so I couldn’t resist this mystery set in a very mysterious and magical hotel. When orphaned Elizabeth is sent away to Winterhouse Hotel, she finds a puzzle book and solves cryptic clues that lead to secret passages and magic. Readers will enjoy trying to decipher the secret codes and clever puzzles. Enjoy!!

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Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief

By Wendelin Van Draanen

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief

Why this book?

When Sammy Keyes witnesses a burglary, she must solve the crime before the thief catches her! Sammy is clever, sneaky, sassy, and brave. Her actress mother is too busy for her, she doesn’t have a father, and she’s living illegally with her grandma in a seniors-only hotel.! Exciting, mysterious, and funny! Not many series go past three books, but super sleuth Sammy stars in 18 books! I collected the whole series.

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Book Scavenger

By Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Book Scavenger

Why this book?

Instead of Willy Wonka’s candy hunt, Garrison Griswold created a game called Book Scavenger, where books are hidden all over the country. But when Griswold is attacked, Emily and James follow cryptic clues to a missing book—and a dangerous thief. I love books where BOOKS are part of the mystery. And I enjoyed the San Francisco setting, having visited there many times. Book Scavenger is an exciting ride through pages!