What Are The Best Early Reader Mystery Books For Kids?

My little cousin loved ‘Ricky Ricotta’ and I managed to find some other books of a similar nature for her. ‘The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian’ is a great new podcast turning into a book series for kids who love sci-fi. For more robot fun, I highly recommend ‘Little Robot’ by Ben Hatke. It is a nearly wordless graphic novel, great for building a child’s confidence in reading. Just one more – ‘Frank Einstein’ by Jon Scieszka – fun, science and lots of inventions. It is wonderful to see kids develop a love for reading.

"I was supposed to be getting dressed for the party, the first since my murder." Katie Williams, My Murder. Short, shocking, and makes absolutely no sense until you keep reading. Perfect for hooking mystery readers.

Yes. So these chapter books are meant for 6-9 year olds but really that’s just a rough age range. The books are written for kids who have just learned phonics and are not yet ready to read complex language. They’re short and simple with straightforward dialogue and relatable storylines about things like friendship, school and family. Many chapter books include reading level indicators in the back, like Lexile 300L or Guided Reading Level M. While some kids can read chapter books by the time they’re five, others won’t be ready until they’re eight or so. Most series for this age group of readers combine humor with easy language. Examples are Narwhal and Jelly and the Owl Diaries.

I am so behind this book, 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. Our library copy is worn to shreds from being passed from hand to hand. The twist and turn of the plot is so sharp it cuts like a knife. And, although the story is told by two very unreliable narrators, it makes for a wonderful and uncomfortable read into the marriage of a middle aged couple and the media frenzy that ensues after their disappearance. Not a light or fluffy mystery by any stretch but with great tension and humor, it’s a favorite modern thriller of mine. And the library is just so cool in including modern and edgy titles like this one in their mystery collection. That favorite novel of mine is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, a paperback copy worn from being read by so many. The main character, Lisbeth Salander, is an amazing protagonist of the mystery genre. The author developed a great plot, combining the corruption of large corporations with the investigation of an old murder and the noir atmosphere of Sweden. And, on top of all that, there are many puzzles to unravel throughout the book, with lots of social commentary. Mabel Fry Library has a great selection of international mysteries, like this one, to introduce local readers to a wide variety of writers and stories. Historical mysteries are a favorite of mine, and 'The Alienist' by Caleb Carr is an excellent choice. Set in 1896 New York, a team of early criminal psychologists work to find a serial killer. The hardcover edition of this book feels heavy and is an excellent representation of the dense prose that Carr has created in this atmospheric and engaging book. Carr has done excellent research in order to create a Gilded Age New York that is full of crime and inquest. In addition to the gripping storyline, Carr has created a cast of memorable characters in the group of men, led by newspaper illustrator John Moore, who are determined to solve the puzzle of the murder of young boys.

If you’d like to introduce children to the world of Dolly Parton, Coat of Many Colors is the perfect starting point. This is Dolly’s most personal story to date and is beautifully illustrated by Brooke Boynton Hughes in gorgeous colors and emotions. Coat of Many Colors showcases the value of resilience and pride of ancestry that Dolly so proudly embodies. If you’d like to introduce children to another story by Dolly Parton, then Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Makes It Big is lots of fun! This tale about a goat in Nashville who dreams of making it big in Music City is a fun read with very catchy rhymes. As with all of Dolly Parton’s books for children, her stories feel as though she is right there with them reading to them, full of warmth and wit.

Sherry Thomas' Lady Sherlock series

A really good introduction to the great Detective Stories of Arthur Conan Doyle would be to start with ‘The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’. The stories are all fairly short and the samplers together present a wonderful cross-section of many of Holmes’s greatest and most famous cases. The stories introduce readers to the great detective and to his ingenious methods – the remarkable powers of observation and the cool and logical powers of his great brain, which enable him to solve the most complex of cases and unravel the most intricate of puzzles. Other works by Doyle include The Sign of the Four, an intriguing combination of adventure, and a complex plot full of twisting turns which make for a highly entertaining read. While the reader is pondering the plot, he or she is having fun at the same time. I hope you get to read these and can see why Doyle has had such an influence on the detective genre.

I'm basically planning to camp out in this comment section.

You can find Dolly's children's books, including "Billy the Kid Makes It Big" at most Walmart stores between the regular picture books. There are also online copies of her books, including autographed copies, that can be found on websites such as eBay. Many of her books are also available on Audible.com for audiobook download. Her books are found at many local fairs and country-themed gift shops here in Tennessee. I can recommend any of her children’s books as they are always fun and often have a lot of humor and heart to them. We even have a handmade “patchwork” scarf that my niece made inspired by Dolly’s “Coat of Many Colors”.

The celebrated mystery writer Agatha Christie, is the best-selling author of all time. The two mystery novels that are possibly her best are ‘The ABC Murders’ and ‘Evil Under the Sun’. I personally really enjoy her work because it’s so cleverly written and she keeps sending the reader back to re-read the story in order to uncover little clues that have been hidden by the writer. Her influence extends to television, film and even other writers, and her books are a perfect combination of intellectual and entertaining read. Therefore Christie is the undisputed Queen of Mystery writing.