Mystery Podcasts for Big Kids and Tweens (Ages 8–14)

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

Ages 8–12Missing kids, big secrets

Kids are going missing from H.G. Wells Middle School, and eleven-year-old Mars Patel and his friends Caddie, JP, and Toothpick are the only ones who seem to notice. Their search leads them to Oliver Pruitt, a tech billionaire who runs a mysterious school of his own and clearly knows more than he’s saying.

If you only try one show from this list, make it this one. It’s scripted and produced like a TV drama, every episode ends on a cliffhanger, and kids who start it tend to finish it within days. It’s also one of the rare kids’ shows grown-ups get hooked on too. There are several seasons, so there’s plenty to listen to once your child is hooked.

Opal Watson

Ages 8–12Kid private eye

At eleven, Opal already runs her own detective business, finding lost pets and missing packages for her neighbors. Then she uncovers a family mystery that turns into her hardest case yet. Opal is curious, brave, and persistent, and kids love that she takes her work completely seriously. The show won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, and it’s a natural next step for kids who loved Sam Archer when they were younger.

Mackaroy Uncovered

Ages 9–13Small-town conspiracy

In the quiet Australian town of Mackaroy, the school principal has vanished, the internet crashes every night, and someone seems to be watching everyone. Best friends Tang and Mitch, who run an online show about conspiracies, decide to investigate, and they quickly learn that someone really doesn’t want the truth to come out.

It’s eight episodes long, which makes it a great weekend binge or a single long road trip. The suspense builds steadily, and the ending is worth waiting for.

Ben and Sophie

Ages 7–12A robot and a missing professor

Two friends find a very philosophical robot named Woby abandoned in the forest, and their boring summer turns into a hunt for where he came from. Longer episodes, about half an hour each, with a funny streak running through the whole thing.

Patrick Picklebottom Everyday Mysteries

Ages 7–11Everyday mysteries

From the parents behind Law & Order comes eleven-year-old Patrick Picklebottom, a book-loving kid with a knack for deduction. Each chapter is its own case, from a missing Brazilian artifact to a flying photograph, and Patrick solves them by noticing what everyone else misses. Based on the children’s book of the same name.

Eleanor Amplified

Ages 8–12Reporter adventure

Eleanor is a world-famous radio reporter who foils villains, uncovers plots, and always gets the story. It’s fast and funny, and it quietly teaches kids how journalists find the truth and how to think about what they read and hear. The whole family will enjoy this one, which makes it a great pick for the car.

Blank Books

Ages 8–12Mystery for book lovers

Rosie and Alice discover a mysterious room in their local library that pulls them into famous stories like Little Women and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Along with their friend Jack and Robert the dog, they race to solve the mystery of the Blank Books. A wonderful pick for kids who love reading, and it might send them looking for the real books afterward.

Mysteries About True Histories (M.A.T.H.)

Ages 6–11Math and time travel

Max and Molly are recruited into a secret order of Problem Solvers and travel through time solving math and logic puzzles set by their enemies, the Troublesome Trolls. Made by the team behind Who Smarted?, it sneaks real math, history, and science into every adventure. Your child can pause and try each puzzle before the answer comes.

The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian

Ages 6–11Mysteries in space

The creators describe it as Scooby-Doo in space. Eight-year-old Finn and his friends explore uncharted planets from their space station and slowly uncover a mystery that threatens to destroy it. With more than 200 episodes of about 15 minutes each, it’s one of the best long-running series for kids who love both mystery and sci-fi.

The August Island Society of Young Detectives

Ages 9–14Cozy island mystery

Twelve-year-old Lucy and her fellow Young Detectives are hired to find a kidnapped parrot with an unusual talent for languages, and the case leads them into the ancient legends of August Island. The story is framed as a handwritten manuscript that washed up on the island’s shore, and the narrator asks listeners to help work out who wrote it.

Episodes are long, closer to an hour each, and they’re best savored a chapter at a time like a good book. It’s cozy and atmospheric, and it works beautifully as a bedtime story for older kids.

Cereal

Ages 8–14Teen podcasters on the case

A fake beard, a conspiracy theorist, and suspects for miles, with two teen podcasters on the scene to get to the bottom of it. This Irish series won Best Children’s Program at the New York Radio Festival, and its short episodes are clever and very funny.

Tomorrow

Ages 9–14A sequel to Annie

Five years after Annie was adopted, the now fifteen-year-old Annie and her orphan friends have to solve a mystery that threatens to bring down Warbucks Industries, while her old enemy Miss Hannigan schemes against them. The cast includes Laura Benanti as Miss Hannigan and the late Lance Reddick as Oliver Warbucks. A fun surprise for any kid who knows the musical.

Forbidden Forest

Ages 9–13Missing classmate

It’s the 1960s in the American South, and twelve-year-old Deidra Ann lives with her grandmother, who some people say is a witch. When a classmate goes missing, Deidra Ann finally has a reason to explore the woods behind her house, where she’s never been allowed to go. Short episodes, with a slightly spooky edge and a lot of heart.

Adventures on Ahway Island

Ages 8–14Riddles and clues

Marie and her best friends JJ and Christian follow clues and solve riddles on the hunt for a hidden treasure that could change everything they know about their island. Great for kids who like to work out the puzzles themselves.

The Mystery Kids Podcast

Ages 8–12Unsolved mysteries for kids

Think of it as a kid-friendly version of Unsolved Mysteries. Each episode explores a real strange event, creature, or bit of history, like ghost ships or the town that was swallowed by a lake, and explains it in a way that’s curious and fun rather than frightening. There are over 200 episodes, so your child can pick the mysteries that grab them most.

Bust or Trust

Ages 6–12Myth or fact?

Two comedians take on famous mysteries like Bigfoot and the Lost City of Atlantis. One argues the myth is true, the other argues it isn’t, and listeners decide whether to bust it or trust it. It’s silly and full of jokes, and it also teaches kids how to weigh evidence and disagree in a friendly way.