We design our mysteries for kids between the ages of 8 - 13, but with help with reading and clues some are good for kids age 6 or 7. Our "Escape the Master Loop" mystery is perfect to do as a group that can include teens and adults.
Unlock Your Kid’s Inner Detective (And Love for Reading!)
A world of clues, codes, and thrilling discoveries - right from your kitchen table
"I loved being able to give an experience instead of another toy they don't really need. My son loved it!!!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
JONATHAN H.
Why do kids AND parents love Mail Order Mystery?
Gets Kids Reading
Our story adventures are designed to make reading fun
Solve Puzzles
Kids get excited about problem solving instead of zoning out on screens
Perplexing Clues
Each mystery contains intriguing objects like cipher necklaces, ancient treasure maps or a safe disguised as a dictionary
Personalized
Each mystery is personalized, so kids are heroes of their own stories
“My family has tried out a number of kids subscription boxes and projects over the years, but Mail Order Mystery is in a class of its own.”
What age is this for?
What exactly do I get in a mystery experience?
Mail Order Mysteries are stories that are told through a series of letters, documents and clues. The letters are written to kids from the characters, which means that kids are directly involved in the story. Each mailing also contains documents or objects relating to a mysterious event that you will come to understand as the story unfolds. Depending on the mystery you could receive top secret dossiers, newspaper clippings, postcards, maps, keys, necklaces and so on.
How is the mystery sent out?
Each mystery has six installments. You can have them packaged up together and delivered "All in One Box" which allows you to do the mystery at your own pace. Or you can select "Send Weekly" and we'll mail one installment a week for six weeks. You get exactly the same mystery no matter which delivery option you choose. If you choose "Send Weekly" keep in mind that each installment is being sent lettermail with no tracking information and the speed at which letters move through the postal system is not precise, so delivery times can vary.
What's the perfect "first mystery" to try out?
It really depends on how old the kid is and what they're interested in. If you're not sure where to start, we put together this guide: Help Choose a Mystery.
Is this a subscription where I keep getting charged if I forget to cancel?
Absolutely not! All of our mystery experiences are one time purchases. You pay once for all six installments of each mystery. There is never any recurring billing.
The gift that kids love getting and you'll feel great about giving
What our customers think
from 3815 reviewsChoose the Perfect Mystery Adventure
Age 6+
Pirate themed
Individual or with a partner
Treasure Hunt! is an exciting story involving long-lost pirate treasure and double-crossing pirates. The story has a strong appeal to kids 6 - 10. (Younger kids may need some help with the reading.) The narrative is engaging but not overly complex and this is the age when kids take shovels to the backyard to bury their treasure, imagine trips to remote islands and tell all their friends about their great pirate ancestor.
Age 6+
Fairy-tale themed
Individual or with a partner
The Enchanted Slumber is a magical story involving an unlikely cast of characters. A knight, a troll, a librarian, a dragon, and the child receiving the mystery must come together to wake a princess who has been sleeping for almost 700 years. Younger kids love this story for the wax-sealed parchment missions, the cipher-etched necklaces and the wonderful characters. But 11-12 year olds can appreciate the complexities of the story, a twisting take on the old fairy tales.
Age 9+
Espionage themed
Individual or with a partner
Spies, Lies and Serious Bad Guys contains complex ciphers and clues within clues; it is challenging enough that we get messages from adults who are stumped, and younger kids may need help along the way. This mystery begins with an acceptance letter to a top-secret spy school, but quickly turns into in a madcap mission to find a missing spy and stop an evil villain. Kids receive plenty of gadgets along the way including a very cool safe disguised as a book that they can only open once they crack a secret code.
Age 9+
Detective themed
Individual or with a partner
The Case of the Missing Bigfoot is a whodunnit that takes place in an old mansion not far from where you live. When the contents of a safe at the mansion go missing, the kid receiving the mystery is called in to help solve the case. For kids who are into hidden animals like Bigfoot, Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster, there is a lot to discover about cryptozoology. We recommend this mystery for kids age 9+ because it is elaborate and involves quite a bit of reading.
Age 12 + for kids to do on their own
Age 9 + with adult helpTime travel themed
Perfect for a group or family
Escape the Master Loop is a time travel mystery in which you receive letters from your future self warning you about the messes you have made in the space time continuum. Escape the Master Loop is more like an escape activity than any of our other mysteries, and great for group activities like birthday parties and family game night.