I’ve been asked a few times lately what sort of books I could recommend for children or young adults interested in reading Cozy Mysteries. Though I wrote an article on mystery books for pre-teens a few years ago, I thought it might be interesting to take another look at some of the more popular mystery authors (both Cozy Mystery and some not so Cozy) who write mystery series for adults and also write mysteries for children and young adults. This time I’ll be going into a bit more detail than in my previous post instead of making a longer list.
As a note for the recommended ages I list in these articles, I unfortunately have not had the time to read any of them so this is going off the synopsis and what other people have recommended to me. Don’t just take my word for it if you are worried about exposing your child to potentially rough concepts!
First up, Harlan Coben is an author who doesn’t deal with Cozies so much, however I enjoyed reading his Myron Bolitar series as it was being released. He also has a young adult mystery series worth investigating, the Mickey Bolitar Mystery Series. Mickey’s already been through a lot by the beginning of his first book, Shelter, which was nominated for both the Agatha Awards for Best Children/Young Adults mysteries as well as the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Young Adult mysteries. In Shelter, Mickey’s father has died and his mother is in rehab, leaving him with his Uncle Myron. When his girlfriend Ashley unexpectedly disappears, he decides he’s had enough, and sets out to find her on his own if necessary. Though less cozy than many of the series, I’ve had this one recommended several times. This series might be a bit more advanced as it deals with some sensitive issues such as drug addiction, and is likely more appropriate for high-schoolers.
Amanda Flower (aka Isabella Alan) was recently nominated for the Agatha Award for Best Children/Young Adult mystery for Andi Unexpected, the first book in her Andi Boggs Mystery Series. After the death of their parents, Andi and her sister Bethany are forced to move to the family’s old homestead in Ohio to live with their aunt. When Andi discovers an old trunk in the attic containing relics of another Andora Boggs from years ago, who apparently disappeared under mysterious circumstances, she decides to investigate and try to learn what happened to her relative – despite the fact that the townspeople seem to be covering it up for some reason. From what I’ve heard, this series should be well-suited to older elementary or middle schoolers.
Though John Grisham isn’t known for Cozy Mysteries, rather for the courtroom dramas and thrillers he writes, in more recent years Grisham has been branching out into chilren’s mysteries with his Theodore Boone Mystery Series beginning with Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. Grisham’s series stars 13 year old Theo Boone, a young man who wants nothing more than to grow up and become a trial lawyer. When Theo accidentally learns too much, he becomes the only hope to help put a killer behind bars for good. As with Grisham’s other works, the Theodore Boone series takes full advantage of Grisham’s strong understanding of the American legal system. This series appears to be aimed at middle schoolers. Oh, and it has been nominated for the Agatha Awards Best Children/Young Adults mysteries category.
Finally, Carl Hiaasen is a popular mystery author for adults with his Skink Mystery Series. His children books are all stand-alones rather than being organized into a single series. Hiaasen’s children’s mysteries have been nominated for the prestigious Agatha Awards Best Children/Young Adult mysteries, the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Juvenile mysteries, and he is a Newbery Honor winner. Most of Hiaasen’s children’s mysteries seems to be appropriate for 5th grad (10 year olds) and up.
I’ll probably be making a few more entries on this subject in the near future – there are still plenty more great mysteries suitable for children and young adults! For now, are there any child-friendly mystery series you might recommend? Be sure to leave a comment below!
Best Selling Authors with Children’s or Young Adult Mystery Series, Part 2
Best Selling Authors with Children’s or Young Adult Mystery Series, Part 3
Shari says
For early- to mid- elementary schoolers, I always loved the Encyclopedia Brown books.
Rebecca says
Just finished listening to the first in the Echo Falls mystery series for young folks by Peter Abrahams. It was very good. You might want to add it to your list. I’m listening to Shelter now by Harlan Coben now and really an enjoying it. Thanks for this new addition to your cozy list. I love young adult literature and mysteries.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rebecca, thank you for letting us know how good Peter Abrahams’ Echo Falls Mystery Series is and how much you are enjoying Harlan Coben’s Shelter. I will be sure to include Abrahams’ Echo Falls to this list of famous mystery authors who write mystery series for children/young adults.
Judith says
Peter Abrahams also writes the Outlaws of Sherwood St. series for children.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judith, I’ll be sure to include that with his Echo Falls Mystery Series. Thank you!
Bobbie says
Rhys Bowen, who writes the Her Royal Spyness cozies, just today published a YA fantasy book called Red Dragon Academy.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bobbie, thank you! I had no idea about Rhys Bowen going into the YA fantasy genre world! I just looked up her first Red Dragon Academy book (which she co-authors with her daughter, C.M Broyles) called Dreamwalker. Thanks for the information!
(I also didn’t know – until I searched for the Red Dragon Academy series, that Rhys Bowen previously wrote children’s books as Janet Quin-Harkin!)
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
Oh thanks for that info. I blogged about the Dreamwalker book yesterday, but I couldn’t figure out who C.M Broyles was! Thank you.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maria, well, I wouldn’t have known it either if Bobbie hadn’t told us about Rhys Bowen writing this series with her…
Susan* says
Thriller writer Clive Cussler, and adult crime writer James Patterson have both written for young people, as well.
The Cusslers I believe, are not too easily come by, these days, but James Patterson’s ‘Maximum Ride’ series is readily available.
I haven’t actually read them, but I believe them to be a spin-off from his ‘Lake House’ books; featuring a group of genetically-engineered, winged, children.
Not so much mysteries as Young Adult thrillers. Probably recommended for young – mid teens, depending on reading age of the child concerned.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, I’m writing this information down for a future entry in this theme. Thank you!
Anne says
I would say Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys for young adults.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Anne, you’re so right!I am guessing those have got to be #1 and #2 of all the children’s mystery series.
Melanie says
I love the Lady Cavendish mysteries. They are great for pre-teen to adult
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Melanie, thank you for telling us about the Lady Grace mysteries by Grace Cavendish. I had never heard of these mysteries before, but now that I found them, they look absolutely delightful!
Bobbie says
These do look good! Thanks for the recommendation Melanie. I love hearing about new book series and I don’t know how I missed this one!
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
Trixie Beldon, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and the Treehouse mysteries are all good for the younger readers. For reading to small children, there’s a series out by a mom who has done a series with her daughter. The Tania Quartet by Kanika G. I’ve read one and they are cute and really do try to introduce new words.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maria, thank you! I had never heard of Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House mysteries for children. I know my children would have both loved these books.
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
The Tree House Mysteries were very popular at my library when I worked there. Our librarians also recommended them often!
Edie Dykeman says
I find it interesting that authors like Grisham have also written children’s mysteries (or at least children’s stories). I don’t blame them at all for wanting to try other types of books, especially if they have spent years on one genre.
I remember reading so many children’s books when I was young, and now I’m reading similar stories to my grandson although the topics nowadays have a wider range.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Edie, I think it’s terrific when authors who clearly are very, very popular for their mysteries for adults write mysteries for children. For me, it makes these authors really well-rounded, even though I know they write mysteries for both age groups.
Judith says
Penny Warner, who writes the Party Planning mysteries and the Food Festival mysteries (as Penny Pike), writes the Code Busters Club series for children. These books are aimed at younger children than some of the books you mention in your post and have been nominated for Agatha Awards (and one won).
Joelle Charbonneau, who writes the Rebecca Robbins and the Glee Club mysteries, also had a young adult book nominated for an Agatha Award. This was more of a dystopian thriller (think Hunger Games) and is definitely more for the high school age.
The American Girl has a series of mysteries featuring their historical doll characters, some of which have been nominated for Agatha Awards, including ones by Kathleen Ernst who also writes the Chloe Ellefson mysteries (although in her case, she was writing the children’s books first and later wrote the adult series).
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judith, thank you for all the suggestions. You have reminded me that Kathleen Ernst is one of the authors in my next “batch” of authors to post on the site. Her Chloe Ellefson series has been recommended to me as belonging on the site. So, thanks for the suggestions, as well as the reminder!
Ritter Ames says
Penny Warner started out with cozy mysteries, but she now publishes the Code Busters Club for kids.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ritter, Penny Warner is definitely one of the authors who I will be featuring in an upcoming entry of this theme. Thanks!
Susan* says
Slightly off-topic, but no-one has mentioned Penny Warner also wrote the ‘Connor Westphal’ series of adult cozies, and I couldn’t let it go by. 🙂
Connor (Female) is deaf, and the books are told from her POV. Definitely something different, and very well-written. Recommended.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, thank you. Penny Warner is definitely on my list of best selling authors with children/young adult mysteries.
Bobbie says
Sports reporter and columnist, John Feinstein, has a series of YA sports themed mysteries starring the same two student journalists. I don’t think there is a single name for the series but the first novel is called “the Last Shot: a final four mystery” it’s about game fixing and cheating. Nothing too deadly or serious and it emphasizes sportsmanship and hard work.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bobbie, thank you for telling us about John Feinstein’s Final Four Mystery Series. This looks like an exciting mystery series for children in middle school (and up?) children.
Bobbie says
Yes, middle school would be the ideal age for this series. Older elementary schoolers might enjoy it if they follow college and pro sports. There is a lot of name dropping and if you don’t recognize the names, you miss a lot. (That would be me, by the way!) The audio book version, read by the author, is great for car rides with multiple ages in the car because the high schoolers may not love it, but it’s insidery enough that they may get a kick out of it and there is not bad language to offend younger ears.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bobbie, thank you >>> the audios sound like they would be great for those long holiday drives so many people do during the holidays. It’s difficult to find something that would be good for the mixture of those ages…
Katie says
I love the Susan Wittig Albert “Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter” series and have given sets to two of my young elementary school-aged granddaughters. The books are delightful and so much fun to read for kids of all ages.
Malie says
I really enjoyed the “Tween noir” Bella Street books by Clare Havens and also the vintage mystery The Bellamy Bird – also by Clare Havens. Other children’s mysteries I liked this year are the Rick Riordan Heroes of Olympus books and Theodore Boone by John Grisham. I haven’t read the Harlan Coben book yet but it looks interesting!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Malie, I’m working on the next part of this theme, and Rick Riordan is definitely on it. Also, thank you for telling us about Clare Havens’ Bella Street Mystery Series.
Susan* says
Danna, if you’re doing another entry on authors who write / wrote for both adults and children, there are at least two who have gone the other way.
Both R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike were bestselling authors of YA horror in the ’80’s (Stine’s ‘Goosebumps’ books are still around) and both wrote at least one Adult horror as well, although neither ever really ‘crossed over’.
Back ON topic, though, Dorothy Gilman, author of the Mrs Polifax series has also written at least one novel that has been classified as a Children’s / Young Adult mystery. “The Maze in the Heart of the Castle”.
This has an interesting history. Ms Gilman wrote a book called ‘The Tightrope Walker’ which centres around the search for a lost / hidden manuscript – the sequel to a children’s fantasy novel that the heroine recalls from her own childhood. A book called… ‘The Maze in the Heart of the Castle’.
So many people apparently wrote to Ms Gilman asking if the book was real (It wasn’t), and saying that they wanted to read it, that she actually wrote it!
Currently out of print and very expensive, but we can only hope it will come back into print one day soon!
Susan* says
Oops! That should have been the 1990’s, not the 1980’s! (Blush)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, I had no idea Dorothy Gilman wrote a chilren’s/young adult mystery. I just looked up The Maze in the Heart of the Castle and found Girl in Buckskin >>> another novel I knew nothing about!
Also, thank you for the information about R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. I didn’t know Stine tried to move into adult horror books, and I’m not familiar with Christopher Pike’s paranormal books.
Susan* says
Another one that may or may not fit here – Australian (Non-cozy) crime writer Gabrielle Lord has also written a a series of thrillers for teens called ‘Conspiracy 365’. 12 books, one for each month of the year.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, thanks – I’ll be sure to check those out!