When I was young, my mom bought a massive set of Nancy Drew books from a friend – she paid about 25 cents per one and I think we must have gotten at least 20-30 of them.
I read all of them, many of them multiple times, and I still can’t hear the word “pumps” without thinking of Nancy Drew!
If you have a child who loves Nancy Drew books and wants more books like Nancy Drew, here are some other great mystery books and series to try too!
Titles to Try If You Liked Nancy Drew Books
The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg
The first book in this series came in Ella’s Bookroo chapter book box and after she blazed through it, she checked out the next three books in the series from the library. Shelby Holmes is nine years old (but in sixth grade, thanks to her smarts) and she loves to solve the toughest crime. And when John Watson – the narrator – moves in to her Harlem neighborhood? The dognappers don’t stand a chance.
City Spies by James Ponti
City Spies is the story of five kids from all over the world brought together to operate out of a secret MI6 base in Scotland, working on cases that adults can’t get anywhere near. It’s clever and funny and fast-paced and a total kid pleaser. This is the first in the series which currently has 3 books.
The Doll People by Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin, illustrated by Brian Selznick
The dolls have been sitting in the dollhouse for nearly a hundred years, with nothing changes. Until one day, a new doll family arrives. This one was an illustrated chapter book from the beginning and Brian Selznick’s black and white illustrations really bring it to life.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
This classic Newbery-winning mystery begins when sixteen strangers are summoned to the will reading of Samuel W. Westing, a well-renowned millionaire and game player. Anyone of these sixteen people could end up with his fortune, but only if they could find the answer to the confusing and mysterious game he has them take part in.
Swindle by Gordon Korman
This book was on my 2019 Summer Reading Guide as a book for the whole family to enjoy and it’s such a fun heist story. I used to read this one aloud to my fourth and fifth graders when I was a school librarian and it was a hit with virtually every single kid.
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
Ben Ripley’s dream job is to work for the CIA, but since he’s only a middle schooler, it’s going to be a tough sell. Then he is recruited for a special STEM school program, but to his shock and delight the program is actually a front for a junior CIA!
The Boxcar Children byGertrude Chandler Warner
For all of my children, The Boxcar Children books have been what really cemented their love of listening to audiobooks. These mysteries are wildly popular and have been for decades, for good reason. I like that the mysteries aren’t too scary and I really love that they showcase siblings that like each other, get along, and work together to solve problems.
Framed! by James Ponti
Ella has loved the City Spies books, so when I discovered this mystery series by the same author, I snagged them all for Ella who blew through them in a week. This book follows Florian Bates who is the only kid that the FBI Director has on speed dial (and a kid that a whole lot of criminals want taken care of). After a move to DC, Florian and his new friend Margaret uncover a mystery that involves a major crime ring, the FBI and the National Gallery. It’s up to them to solve the mystery AND get their homework done.
Trixie Belden by Julie Campbell
This is an old classic mystery book series – just like Nancy Drew. Trixie is a young teen, who with the help of her new friend solve mysteries that have even baffled authorities. The series has 8 books and are just so fun!
American Girl MysteriesbyElizabeth McDavid Jones
The American Girl series is a long-standing favorite for historical fiction lovers and short book lovers alike. I’m pretty sure I had them all memorized when I was 7-10! But did you know that they also have a selection of mysteries stories for each of the girls?
Theodore Boone by John Grisham
Theodore Boone is 13 years old and obsessed with the law. He dreams everyday of becoming a lawyer is is constantly networking himself and studying the law. Because of his nosy nature, he ends up in the middle of a murder case and only Theo knows the truth about the main suspect. As an adult reader, I didn’t love it nearly as much as his adult mysteries, but it’s still a fun read. (Full review here)
Julieta and the Diamond Enigma by Luisana Duarte Armedariz
When a diamond goes missing from the Louvre, it is up to nine-year-old Julieta to identify the thief, exonerate her father, and return home to Boston before her baby brother is born. The back end of the book includes tons of extra facts about the Regent Diamond and many of the works of art mentioned in the book.
A to Z Mysteries byRon Roy, illustrated by John Steven Gurney
This was the perfect mystery book series for Ella. She’s gone on to read all of this series as well as the Calendar Mysteries and often revisits both when she’s out of new books.
Sisterhood of Sleuths by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman,illustrated by Vesper Stamper
When a mysterious box of Nancy Drew mystery books is delivered to Maizy’s mom’s second-hand store, Maizy starts to investigate. There’s a clue inside one of the books that appears to be related to Maizy’s grandma, but she’s not talking. What starts out as a personal inquiry grows into something far larger as Maizy works to solve this mystery.
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If you liked this post about other titles like Nancy Drew books, you might also like these other posts:
- 15+ Excellent Mystery Books for Kids
- 11 Books for Fans of the Babysitters Club Graphic Novels
- 20 Favorite Chapter Book Series for Elementary Schoolers