The first book to assess critically mystery in children's literature, this collection charts a development from religious mystery through rationally solved detective fictions to insoluble supernatural and horror mysteries. Written by internationally recognised scholars in the field, these thirteen original essays offer challenging and innovative readings of both classic and popular mysteries for children. This volume will be essential and stimulating reading for anyone with an interest in children's literature or in mystery fiction.

TROY BOONE Assistant Professor of English, University of Pittsburgh CLARE BRADFORD Associate Professor, School of Literary and Communication Studies, Deaking University, Melbourne KAREN COATS Assistant Professor of English, Illinois State University VALERIE KRIPS Lecturer in English, University of Pittsburgh ROBYN MCCALLUM Lecturer in English, Macquarie University, Sydney MARY JEANETTE MORAN Doctoral Studies, University of Iowa, USA ROBIN AMELIA MORRIS Poet and Scholar PAT PINSENT Senior Research Fellow, English Department, Roehampton Institute, London DAVID RUDD Senior Lecturer, Bolton Institute, UK JOHN STEPHENS Associate Professor of English, Macquarie University, Sydney