A thrilling mystery novel can capture the imagination of readers, and your classroom library is the perfect place to showcase some of the best titles in the genre. With twists and turns that keep students guessing, these 20 mystery novels will keep young readers engaged and on the edge of their seat.
1. Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol
2. Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
3. The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure by Leslie McFarlane
4. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
5. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
6. Greenglass House by Kate Milford
7. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
8. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
9. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
10. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
11. The Boxcar Children: The Mystery of the Haunted Boxcar by Gertrude Chandler Warner
12. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
13. Holes by Louis Sachar
14. Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
15. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
16. Nightmares! The Sleepwalker Tonic by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller
17. Murder Most Unladylike (A Wells & Wong Mystery) by Robin Stevens
18. Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
19. Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Series) by Anthony Horowitz
20. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
This diverse mix of exciting mysteries ensures that there is a book for every young reader in your classroom library – from classic detective stories to more contemporary titles. By incorporating these 20 must-read mysteries into your collection, you’ll provide students with engaging literature that encourages critical thinking and feeds their natural curiosity.
