When authors began writing mystery stories specifically for children, they discovered that kids were drawn to book that showed other children and young people as the heroes of the stories with little help from adults. Some adults were critical of books where young people got into trouble or had adventures with no adult supervision, but children liked the thrill of the stories and the sense of independence. The “boy detective” genre of children’s mystery series, where a boy or young man, possibly with the help of friends, solved the mysteries, became popular even in the early years of the 20th century. Some of the series listed here are creations of the Stratemeyer Syndicate.
A boy inventor solves mysteries with his sister and friend. By Clifford B. Hicks. 1962-2009.
Bessledorf Mysteries (aka Bernie Magruder Mysteries)
Eleven-year-old Bernie Magruder and his family live in the Bessledorf Hotel in the small town of Middleburg because his father is the hotel manager, and he solves mysteries with the help of his friends. By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. 1983-2003.
Brains Benton is a young genius who investigates crimes along with his friend, Jimmy Carson. By George Wyatt. 1959-1961.
Hardy Boys Mysteries
Two brothers, Frank and Joe Hardy, solve mysteries in their East Coast town of Bayport and around the world. By Franklin W. Dixon, A Stratemeyer Syndicate series. 1927-Present.
Jigsaw Jones is a second-grader who solves mysteries around his school and neighborhood with the help of his friend, Mila. By James Preller. 1998-2008.
J. Huntley English is a boy genius who also happens to believe in monsters and wants to find real ones. With his friends, he investigates strange phenomena and odd people in their small town in Pennsylvania. By Drew Stevenson.
Nate the great is a boy who solves cases for other children, especially friends who live in the neighborhood. By Majorie Weinman Sharmat.
Four neighborhood friends, who call themselves by the nicknames Wizard, Skinny, Tubby, and Snitch, have their own private detective club. By Crosby Bonsall. 1963-1980.
Sam and Dave Bean are a pair of twin boys who solve mysteries with their friends. Most of their mysteries center around people they know from school.
Thirteen-year-old Sebastian solves mysteries with his friends in their small college town, Pembroke. By James Howe.
The Three Investigators Series
Three friends form a detective business, using a trailer in a salvage yard as their headquarters.
Ryan and Chris Taylor are a pair of thirteen-year-old fraternal twins who solve mysteries. They can sense each other’s thoughts. By Adam Mills. 1988-1989.
A boy who loves puzzles solves mysteries in his town. 2007-2012.
Jestress's Forgotten Books and Stories 