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Encyclopedia Brown Books in Order

Part ofDonald J Sobol Books in Order

See the Encyclopedia Brown books in order by Donald J Sobol, with quick summaries, series background, and an easy guide to where new readers should begin.

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Encyclopedia Brown books in publication order

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30 books

1

Idaville's ten-year-old detective opens his garage agency and starts solving baffling neighborhood cases. Each short mystery gives readers a fair shot at spotting the clue before Encyclopedia Brown explains it.

2

Encyclopedia Brown tackles ten brisk mysteries that range from a remarkable baseball pitch to everyday scams and tricks. The clues are all there, if readers can catch them before he does.

3

A stolen necklace, a missing statue, and even Bugs Meany's supposed kidnapping land on Encyclopedia's desk. Ten short cases invite readers to follow the clues and test their own logic.

4

Encyclopedia Brown Gets His Man

by Donald J Sobol

1967

Leroy Brown keeps Idaville honest in ten compact mysteries involving cons, thefts, and impossible-sounding stories. Readers get every fact they need, then can flip to the back to see how he got his man.

5

Ten new Idaville puzzles send Encyclopedia after liars, thieves, and neighborhood troublemakers. The fun is in noticing the tiny inconsistency that turns an ordinary story into a solved case.

6

Encyclopedia tries to keep the peace as fresh scams and petty crimes break out around Idaville. These short cases are clever, fast, and built for readers who like solving the puzzle first.

7

From schoolyard tricks to real police problems, Encyclopedia keeps stepping in when a case needs cool thinking. Each chapter is short, fair, and ends with a satisfying explanation in the back.

8

A flying submarine, a valuable half-dollar, and several very shaky alibis keep Encyclopedia busy in Idaville. Ten short mysteries let readers track the clues right alongside him.

9

A ripped-off rattlesnake, a guard dog with strange nerves, and a pickpocket with a kangaroo are just the start. This volume delivers ten oddball mysteries with answers tucked in the back.

10

Encyclopedia takes on another round of quick mysteries for classmates, neighbors, and his police chief father. Sobol keeps the cases light, logical, and just tricky enough to make readers feel smart.

11

Encyclopedia Brown Lends a Hand

by Donald J Sobol

1974

Idaville's young sleuth is back with ten more cases involving missing items, bad stories, and small-town mischief. The clues hide in plain sight, waiting for sharp readers to catch them.

12

Dead eagles, a hypnotism lesson, and other strange reports land on Encyclopedia's desk in this ten-case collection. He cuts through the confusion with observation, logic, and a little patience.

13

A surprise visitor, a bank holdup, and other suspicious events give Encyclopedia plenty to untangle. Readers can stop after each mystery and see if they can beat him to the answer.

14

Encyclopedia Brown Carries On

by Donald J Sobol

1980

Encyclopedia carries on with ten more kid-sized mysteries, each built around one small detail that does not fit. The tone stays playful, but the logic is sharp.

15

This volume serves up ten short puzzles that start with ordinary situations and turn unexpectedly tricky. Encyclopedia's calm reasoning keeps the cases moving and the answers satisfying.

16

New cons, new clues, and new chances to embarrass Bugs Meany keep Idaville's boy detective on the move. These quick mysteries reward close reading and common sense.

17

Part mystery book and part cookbook, this collection pairs Encyclopedia Brown cases with recipes readers can try at home. It is a playful spin on the series, with puzzles, food, and plenty of Idaville charm.

18

Handprints, stolen tools, a prize pig, and other odd clues send Encyclopedia hunting for the one fact that does not add up. Ten short mysteries keep the pace quick and inviting.

19

Identical twins, a leaking tent, magical worm pills, and a missing treasure trail all turn suspicious. As always, Encyclopedia gives readers every clue before the answers appear in back.

20

Encyclopedia and Sally Kimball sort through ten mysteries, including broken objects, brain games, and one very suspicious sneaker contest. The cases are brisk, funny, and fun to outthink.

21

Two spies are only the beginning in this set of ten short Idaville mysteries. Encyclopedia follows crooked stories, planted clues, and everyday deceptions until the real answer clicks into place.

22

Idaville's secret weapon against bad logic returns with ten more mysteries, topped by the case of Pablo's nose. The stories are short, strange, and built to make readers think twice.

23

A sleeping dog and nine other puzzlers give Encyclopedia fresh chances to expose scams and sloppy lies. The clues are simple, but spotting the right one is the whole challenge.

24

This collection keeps the classic formula humming, with ten mysteries centered on one slippery clue after another. Encyclopedia wins the day by noticing what everyone else ignores.

25

Jumping frogs headline another batch of fast, fair mysteries from Idaville. Sobol mixes humor, schoolyard tension, and neat little logic traps that invite readers to solve along.

26

Encyclopedia earns the super sleuth title in ten more short cases for kids, neighbors, and the police. It is a great pick for readers who like mysteries they can actually crack.

27

Rumors of UFOs are only one part of this late-series collection of ten new mysteries. Encyclopedia still solves everything the old-fashioned way, by paying attention and asking the right question.

28

Giant diamonds, lazy lions, a country singer, and a trip to the carnival all hide fresh problems for Idaville's young detective. Ten short mysteries keep the book lively and easy to binge.

29

An African killifish, a vandalized library book, and a nail-biting soccer match are among Encyclopedia's final cases. The format stays classic, giving readers ten chances to solve the puzzle first.

30

This greatest-hits collection gathers standout Encyclopedia Brown cases in one handy volume. It works as both a nostalgic revisit for fans and an easy first stop for curious new readers.

Encyclopedia Brown books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective"

    Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective

    by Donald J Sobol

    1963Encyclopedia Brown, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret Pitch"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret Pitch

    by Donald J Sobol

    1965Encyclopedia Brown, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues"

    Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues

    by Donald J Sobol

    1966Encyclopedia Brown, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Gets His Man"

    Encyclopedia Brown Gets His Man

    by Donald J Sobol

    1967Encyclopedia Brown, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Solves Them All"

    Encyclopedia Brown Solves Them All

    by Donald J Sobol

    1968Encyclopedia Brown, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace"

    Encyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace

    by Donald J Sobol

    1969Encyclopedia Brown, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Saves the Day"

    Encyclopedia Brown Saves the Day

    by Donald J Sobol

    1970Encyclopedia Brown, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Tracks Them Down"

    Encyclopedia Brown Tracks Them Down

    by Donald J Sobol

    1971Encyclopedia Brown, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Shows the Way"

    Encyclopedia Brown Shows the Way

    by Donald J Sobol

    1972Encyclopedia Brown, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Case"

    Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Case

    by Donald J Sobol

    1973Encyclopedia Brown, Book 10
  11. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Lends a Hand"

    Encyclopedia Brown Lends a Hand

    by Donald J Sobol

    1974Encyclopedia Brown, Book 11
  12. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Dead Eagles"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Dead Eagles

    by Donald J Sobol

    1975Encyclopedia Brown, Book 12
  13. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Midnight Visitor"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Midnight Visitor

    by Donald J Sobol

    1977Encyclopedia Brown, Book 13
  14. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Carries On"

    Encyclopedia Brown Carries On

    by Donald J Sobol

    1980Encyclopedia Brown, Book 14
  15. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Sets The Pace"

    Encyclopedia Brown Sets The Pace

    by Donald J Sobol

    1982Encyclopedia Brown, Book 15
  16. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case"

    Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case

    by Donald J Sobol

    1982Encyclopedia Brown, Book 16
  17. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Cake!"

    Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Cake!

    by Donald J Sobol

    1982Encyclopedia Brown, Book 17
  18. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Mysterious Handprints"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Mysterious Handprints

    by Donald J Sobol

    1985Encyclopedia Brown, Book 18
  19. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Treasure Hunt"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Treasure Hunt

    by Donald J Sobol

    1988Encyclopedia Brown, Book 19
  20. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers

    by Donald J Sobol

    1990Encyclopedia Brown, Book 20
  21. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Two Spies"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Two Spies

    by Donald J Sobol

    1994Encyclopedia Brown, Book 21
  22. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of Pablo's Nose"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of Pablo's Nose

    by Donald J Sobol

    1996Encyclopedia Brown, Book 22
  23. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Sleeping Dog"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Sleeping Dog

    by Donald J Sobol

    1998Encyclopedia Brown, Book 23
  24. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Slippery Salamander"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Slippery Salamander

    by Donald J Sobol

    1999Encyclopedia Brown, Book 24
  25. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Jumping Frogs"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Jumping Frogs

    by Donald J Sobol

    2003Encyclopedia Brown, Book 25
  26. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown, Super Sleuth"

    Encyclopedia Brown, Super Sleuth

    by Donald J Sobol

    2009Encyclopedia Brown, Book 26
  27. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret UFOs"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret UFOs

    by Donald J Sobol

    2010Encyclopedia Brown, Book 27
  28. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Carnival Crime"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Carnival Crime

    by Donald J Sobol

    2011Encyclopedia Brown, Book 28
  29. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme"

    Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme

    by Donald J Sobol

    2012Encyclopedia Brown, Book 29
  30. Book cover for "Encyclopedia Brown and his Best Cases Ever"

    Encyclopedia Brown and his Best Cases Ever

    by Donald J Sobol

    2013Encyclopedia Brown, Book 30

Series background & context

At the center of the Encyclopedia Brown series is Leroy Brown, a fifth-grader in the small town of Idaville. Everyone calls him Encyclopedia because he remembers facts the way other kids remember batting averages. In Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, he sets up shop in his family's garage and charges 25 cents a day, plus expenses, to solve neighborhood problems. He also helps his father, Chief Brown, untangle cases that stump the local police.

The hook is simple: each book offers ten short mysteries and then invites readers to solve them before checking the answers in back.

That structure gives the series its snap. Some cases turn on observation, some on logic, and some on everyday knowledge, but the stories usually play fair. Sobol wants readers to pause, go back, and notice the one detail that does not fit. The chapters are short enough for quick reading, but they still feel like complete little mysteries.

A lot of the fun comes from the people around Encyclopedia. Sally Kimball is his closest friend, partner, and unofficial bodyguard, tough enough to scare off the older boys who think brains should be easy to push around. Bugs Meany is the town bully and chief troublemaker, always ready with a scam, a bet, or a revenge plan. Wilford Wiggins adds a different kind of chaos, forever cooking up bad ways to make money.

Idaville matters, too. It is an ordinary small town, which means the mysteries grow out of bikes, baseball, pets, found money, broken windows, and kids telling stories that do not quite add up. The stakes are usually kid-sized, but they feel real to the people inside the books. That keeps the tone light without making the puzzles feel flimsy.

From Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret Pitch to later books like Encyclopedia Brown Tracks Them Down, Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret UFOs, and Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme, the formula stays steady in the best way. Readers know they will get quick setup, a clever snag, and a clean solution. That consistency is a big reason the books work so well as first mysteries for younger readers and as rereads for older ones.

The series also reached beyond the page, with an HBO adaptation and a run of related puzzle and trivia books. But the heart of Encyclopedia Brown never really changed. This is a detective world where thinking hard, noticing details, and standing up to bullies still feels like a superpower.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shape MRB and its growth.

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