Introduction

Mystery fiction is one of the most popular genres amongst readers of all ages, and even for those not yet able to read alone. This guide will look at the Mystery genre, which is also known as Crime or Detective fiction. The guide focuses, for the most part, on children aged 4-12. Between these ages children move from being read to (picture and other books) into beginning to read alone. They then move onto more complex chapter books. 

Mystery and detective fiction for young readers is a relatively new phenomenon, first gaining widespread popularity with the birth of The Hardy Boys in 1927 (Routledge 2010). The basis of a mystery story is a puzzle. Clues are presented throughout and the mystery is eventually solved (Saricks 2009). Readers enjoy being drawn into the proceedings and attempting to solve it.  Often written in series, readers like to learn more about the sleuth as they read different books (Saricks 2009). Mostly children’s mysteries lack the violence, gore and procedural elements of some adult novels; the focus is more on the adventure of solving the puzzle and using ones intellect to save the day. Surprisingly though some older children's fiction does include violence and mortal danger. Though this aims to make stories more exciting, total suspension of belief is required.

Unlike in adult crime/ mysteries, plots rarely include a murder. That said, the range of mystery plots is vast. Stories may be as simple as Benjamin Bunny and Peter Rabbit tracking down the kidnapped Flopsy Twins (Routledge 2010). Also featured is treasure hunting, smugglers, missing persons and objects, innocent people framed; the list goes on. In such plots the reader is driven to find out what happens next and they usually look forward to a satisfactory resolution. Routledge (2010) points out that even many of the earliest fairytales had an element of crime/mystery. This often involved foiling the plans of criminal adults such as the witch in Hansel and Gretel. In more modern times,  the Famous Five and other junior sleuths follow a similar formula. Books for older readers often involve danger and risk taking; thankfully Nancy Drew has been tied up just as often as the Hardy Boys (Routledge 2010).