Children's reading lists

13 must-read crime and mystery books

From stolen paintings to shocking murder mysteries, these suspenseful stories are awash with terrible crimes. Luckily, there’s always a brave investigator first to the scene to try and save the day.

Puffin team

Image: Alicia Fernandes/Penguin

Lizzie and Lucky: The Mystery of the Missing PuppiesMegan Rix, Tim Budgen

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Lizzie and Lucky: The Mystery of the Missing Puppies by Megan Rix & Tim Budgen (2021)

The first title in a brand-new series by Megan Rix is perfect for little readers new to the mystery genre. Lizzie really wants a dog, but first she needs to convince her parents. So, she’s started to write a list of 101 reasons why it is paramount they get one – one of those reasons being that as Lizzie and her parents are deaf, Lizzie could train one to be a hearing dog. Then one day whilst out on a walk, Lizzie spots a suspicious-looking man running out of an alleyway with a little puppy in his arms. He throws it into his van and drives off, leaving Lizzie very worried for the poor dog’s safety. Will she be able to track down this shifty character and save the day?

Recommended reading age: 5-8 years old

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