Top Five Detective Stories for Children - Katherine Woodfine

Katherine Woodfine - author of The Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series - shares five recommendations for children who love detective fiction.

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The London Eye Mystery

Siobhan Dowd

Ted and his sister Kat watch their cousin Salim climb aboard the London Eye. But when his pod returns to the ground and the doors open, Salim has completely vanished. Where could Salim have gone? Has he been kidnapped — or worse? With the police baffled by his disappearance, it’s down to Ted to use his unique abilities to solve the mystery — following a trail of clues that lead across London, with Kat’s help. Starring a brilliant young detective, Siobhan Dowd’s ‘howdunnit’ is a real classic, which will keep you gripped from beginning to end.

First Class Murder

Robin Stevens

Robin Stevens’ Murder Most Unladylike mystery series brilliantly evokes the golden age murder mysteries of the 1930s: intrepid schoolgirl detectives Daisy and Hazel piece together clues, investigate suspects, assess crime scenes and bring murderers to justice — with plenty of bunbreaks along the way. First Class Murder is one of my favourites in the series, incorporating a clever ‘locked room’ mystery and a glamorous railway journey, in a delightful tribute to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. 

Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase

Jonathan Stroud

I’m a huge fan of Jonathan Stroud’s brilliantly spooky and suspenseful series about paranormal detectives Lockwood & Co. Set in an alternate London plagued by terrifying supernatural forces, it will send genuine shivers up your spine. In the first book, The Screaming Staircase, Lucy Carlyle finds a job at Lockwood & Co, a psychic detective agency run by the mysterious Anthony Lockwood. But can his ramshackle gang of young ghost-hunters survive the night in one of the most haunted houses in England?

Dead Man’s Cove

Lauren St John

11-year-old Laura moves to live with her uncle in Cornwall, where she soon discovers mystery is in store. Why won’t her uncle let her go to Dead Man’s Cove? Who has left a secret message in a bottle for Laura to find? The award-winning first book in Lauren St John’s Laura Marlin series is an absolute delight. It has all the ingredients of a classic children’s mystery story: friendship, adventure, a seaside setting and of course, a loyal dog.

High Rise Mystery

Sharna Jackson

When their art teacher is mysteriously murdered during the summer holiday, sisters Nik and Norva turn detective to solve the case and find his killer. With a modern-day urban setting in a high-rise block, this entertaining whodunnit will keep you turning the pages. A sequel, Mic-Drop, sees the smart and curious young sleuths investigate the suspicious death of a pop-star — and I hope there will be lots more mysteries to come for Norva and Nik.

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Villains in Venice

Katherine Woodfine & Karl James Mountford

Katherine's own international detective series, Taylor and Rose: Secret Agents,  is a popular choice with fans of detective fiction. Find out more about the latest instalment on our blog.