I love a good mystery book! One of my favorite mysteries with a puzzle at its heart is Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game. For kids who loved working out the clues that the eccentric and reclusive millionaire Sam Westing left for his 16 potential heirs, these puzzling mystery books like The Westing Game are oh-so-satisfying reads!
Although I have an additional middle grade mystery book list and an early chapter book list of mysteries, I chose titles for this list based on the sheer density of conundrums, brainteasers and puzzles that junior sleuths must piece together. Many of these mysteries also require the protagonists to crack codes and go on scavenger hunts. All in all, they are the kinds of books that keep kids ages 8-12 reading long after bedtime!
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THE WESTING GAME by Ellen Raskin
Of course, if you haven't read Raskin's novel you must begin with the classic puzzle mystery! I still remember my 5th grade teacher reading The Westing Game to the class. I was completely riveted, and it continues to be one of my favorite children's novels of all time. Mr. Westing, an eccentric millionaire writes his will as a game. The named beneficiaries must discover who murdered him in order to inherit his fortune. “Players” are separated into teams and given clues. I love how this book requires readers to pay close attention to details, thus exercising kids’ reading comprehension skills.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel) by Ellen Raskin
The Westing Game gets so much attention that Raskin's other books are often overlooked. As you can tell from the title, wordplay is a big part of the puzzles in this marvelous book for kids. Mrs. Leon Carillon is headed off to reunite with a husband she hasn't seen since childhood (!). After a storm upends their boats, she is left with one very strange clue which she must use to find Leon (or Noel?). Fun fare.
Other books by Ellen Raskin that are great puzzling mysteries:
The Ambrose Deception by Emily Ecton
Three middle school contestants, Melissa, Wilf, and Bondi, compete for a ten thousand dollar scholarship. On a scavenger hunt over Chicago they must solve clues that lead them toward the prize. But as the competition goes on, the three begin to wonder if there is another, bigger mystery to be solved. Fast-paced and enjoyable for kids who love mysteries!
The Book Scavenger (series) by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Emily's family never stays in one place for long, and now they are moving to San Francisco. 12-year-old-Emily is a follower of Garrison Griswold, the creator of "Book Scavenger," an adventure challenge in which kids solve clues to locate hidden books. However, after being attacked, Griswold is in the hospital and Emily, along with her neighbor James, believe they have come into possession of a mysterious book which is the beginning of a new game, bigger and more mysterious than Book Scavenger.
The Puzzling World of Winston Breen (series) by Eric Berlin
After Winston gives his little sister a puzzle, they both find themselves stumped. They begin a journey to solve the puzzle which leads them on a scavenger hunt which may lead to a load of cash. Readers solve puzzles along with the protagonists, all the while realizing that cooperation is the most necessary ingredient.
MORE: Intrepid Girl Detectives like Enola Holmes
Chasing Vermeer (series) by Blue Balliet
This book is a tour de force! When a painting is stolen, friends Petra and Calder team up to find the thief. The thief leaves a series of clues in the newspaper and challenges the community to become art detectives. If they solve the mystery, he will return the painting. Illustrator Brett Helquist incorporates clues for the reader throughout the book's illustrations. These clues revolve around pentominoes (Calder loves puzzles) and frogs.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (series) by Chris Grabenstein
If you've ever dreamed of spending a night in the library, this popular adventure mystery is the book for you. Luigi Lemoncello, a world-famous game creator has designed the local library and twelve 7th graders get to spend the night. They have exactly 24 hours to find the secret exit and win a prize.
The Gollywhopper Games (series) by Jody Feldman
Gil has prepared hard for the Golly Toy and Game Company competition. The games commence as two teams must tackle puzzles and ciphers. Gil wants to win the game as a way of helping his father who has been falsely accused of crimes at the toy company. A fun book that may remind readers of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and is also great for kids who like books by Roald Dahl.
Secret Coders (series) by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Mike Holmes
How many graphic novels have your kids read that were written by a MacArthur Fellow (aka "the genius grant")? Hopper is the new kid at school and she starts things off on the wrong foot. She gets her hackles up when she gets into a tussle on her first day at the strange and creepy Stately Academy, but soon Hopper and another student, Eni, team up to solve the mystery of the school. There are binary numbers to figure out, coding puzzles to solve, and computer programs to unravel. If your kids can spend hours on coding websites, convince them to enjoy some off-screen time while working on the same type of problems—but with a book.
The Shadow Cipher (series) by Laura Ruby
In this elaborate story, three friends band together in New York City to solve a cipher that connects their apartment building to a centuries-old mystery of how the city was conceived. This is a hefty, compelling book with stellar writing, and complex, well-rounded characters.
The Mysterious Benedict Society (series) by Trenton Lee Stewart
This is an incredibly popular series with plenty puzzles and mysteries to be solved. The story revolves around 4 children who answer an advertisement for gifted children only to find themselves at the center of an elaborate adventure that puts all their mental strengths to the test.
The Blackthorn Key (series) by Kevin Sands
This is an incredibly suspenseful and action-packed upper middle grade series. Christoper, an orphaned apprentice in 17th century London, must solve a complex puzzle surrounding the recent rash of murders of apothecaries. Despite the seriousness of the plot, the well-drawn characters provide some humor.
Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye (series) by Tania del Rio
Tania del Rio's series features a delightfully weird cast of characters, a mysterious hotel, subterranean chambers, even a hedge maze! 12-year-old Warren the 13th looks after the hotel while his witchy aunt (or is she??) searches for the All-Seeing Eye. Not for the feint of heart.
Nooks and Crannies by Jennifer Lawson
Like The Westing Game, this story revolves around a group of people called together by an eccentric benefactor. A philanthropist Countess sends out six mysterious invitations to six children. The eclectic group of children, including our heroine, Tabitha Crumb, arrive at the mansion to discover that one of them is believed to be the Countess's long lost grandchild. However, things are not always as they seem and the children (or at least the good children) must work together to unravel the mysteries of the house. The cast of characters here is delightfully kooky and weird, with inept and neglectful parents, both spoiled and erudite children, and disguise-wearing servants.
When your kids are done reading these puzzle mysteries, here are more great middle grade book lists:
JOSHUA ROSENFIELD says
I'm trying to locate a book unknown title /author that my son read around 2000 as 10 year old. It was about a quest by boy and perhaps uncle, that involved dice with cryptic markings. there were puzzles to solve. We recall one of the events in which llamas were mentioned, perhaps "llama stew" or "llama pie".the travelers felt threatened and left.
Any ideas?
Thanks!