More so than professional detectives, there’s something so fascinating and enjoyable about amateur sleuths — especially when they’re teenagers. They may be looked down upon by some, but these scrappy and sharp-witted investigators are brilliantly effective. From classic detective tales, old cartoons, to YA mystery series, these teenage sleuths deliver on mystery, murder, and mayhem.
The Mystery Gang
Possibly the most iconic group of mystery solvers, these meddling kids have been entertaining viewers since Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! premiered in 1969. You’ve got the trap-obsessed Fred, the fashionable and sharp-witted Daphne, the intelligent Velma, the sometimes clumsy and cowardly Shaggy, and of course, his beloved dog Scooby. A group of teenage detectives with a talking dog and a groovy van, what more could you ask for!
Enola Holmes
You may recognize this character’s last name, as she is the teenage sister of the famous literary detective Sherlock Holmes. The young sleuth first appeared in the middle grade mystery series, The Enola Holmes Mysteries, written by Nancy Springer. It has since been adapted into a Netflix film series starring Millie Bobby Brown. The intelligent and gutsy teen traipses across Victorian England cracking cases and trying to avoid the watchful eye of her conservative eldest brother Mycroft. Fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective tales will spot some familiar faces.
Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew has been inspiring young girls with her bravery and brains since The Secret of the Old Clock was released in 1930. Since then, the character has been revamped into numerous book and graphic novel series, movies, television shows, and video games. Along with her loyal friends, Bess and George, and occasionally her adoring boyfriend Ned, the curiosity of this amateur sleuth sends her on a series of adventures. Not to mention, she drives a seriously cool blue roadster!
Pippia “Pip” Fitz-Amobi
Pip Fitz-Amobi is determined to reopen a closed and solved case of a scandal that rocked her small town. When the widely adored high schooler Andie Bell was murdered, the conclusion was that the violent act was perpetrated by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who committed suicide afterwards. Pip isn’t convinced. As part of a school project, Pip teams up with Sal’s brother and her friends to finally seek closure. But as she investigates the murder, danger begins to follow. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, be sure to check out A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson and watch its recent adaptation.
Stevie Bell
If you find yourself obsessively listening to true crime podcasts, you may feel a certain kinship with Stevie Bell. In Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson, Stevie is set to begin her first year at the illustrious Ellingham Academy. The Vermont boarding school is a haven for geniuses of all kinds, from inventors and artists. Stevie Bell is accepted into the enigmatic school for her mystery-solving skills, which she intends to use to finally solve the kidnapping of the founder’s wife and daughter. This YA series is full of riddles, puzzles, and friendship.
Wednesday Addams
Everyone’s favorite spooky and gloomy girl puts on her detective cap in Tim Burton’s television series Wednesday. After her parents shepherd her off to their alma mater, a boarding school for outcasts called Nevermore, Wednesday is thrust into a web of intrigue. The goth teen finds herself learning how to hone her psychic visions to help her stop a monster plaguing the town, and uncover a mystery about her role in the history and future of this strange school.
Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson
Another Sherlockian descent on this list, Charlotte is the great-great-great-grandaughter of the consulting detective, making Jamie the descendent of none other than Sherlock’s right-hand man Dr. Watson. You can read about the mystery solving duo in this YA series by author Brittany Cavallaro, starting with A Study in Charlotte.
When Jamie finds himself at the same New England private school as Charlotte, he plans to keep his distance from the bright yet unpredictable girl. Things take a turn when a peer is murdered in a manner befitting one of Sherlock Holmes’ classic cases. The budding rivalry between the pair begins to transform into a partnership when the two are framed for the crime.
The Naturals
The Naturals program at the FBI is designed to recruit gifted teens to help the agency finally solve their cold cases. The group consists of profilers Cassie Hobbes and Dean Redding; Lia Zhang, a human lie detector; Michael Townsend, an emotion reader; and Sloane Tavish, a statistical genius. As the colleagues and roommates form complex relationships, the group becomes embroiled in an ongoing murder investigation that is connected to Cassie’s past. The Naturals series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is perfect for fans of Criminal Minds.
From boarding school mysteries, small town scandals, and paranormal hauntings, these teenage detectives can solve it all. They prove you don’t have to be a professional to crack the case. Perhaps you can even solve a few mysteries of your own!
To discover some female mystery authors, click here!
For some nail-biting YA mystery and horror novels, click here!
