Big-Top Mysteries Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Big-Top Mysteries books in order, from the very first to the latest, so you won’t miss anything!

About the Big-Top Mysteries Series

The Big-Top Mysteries series by Alexander McCall Smith is an absolute delight – a mystery series that’s as easy to get into as it is hard to put down. from the very first page you can feel yourself being welcomed into the world of the travelling circus that’s at the heart of the stories. And at the centre of it all are the three Shortbread siblings – Billy, Fern and Joe, growing up in the circus and learning to pick up on all sorts of tiny details as they go, just the sort of skills that can come in handy when you need to solve a mystery. After the first book gets the characters and their world up on the tightrope, the series just keeps on rolling. each new mystery that comes along is different but still has that same familiar and comforting feel that’s so reassuring. As the circus travels from town to town the kids keep meeting new people who often find themselves in a bit of trouble – which is where the kids usually come in and lend a helping hand. The result is stories that are not just fun, but also kind and thoughtful without ever feeling like they’re trying too hard to teach a moral. Take The Case of the Vanishing Granny for example – the whole mystery is tinged with a real emotional edge because of a child’s desperate worry about their missing grandmother. Or The Great Clown Conundrum where the danger suddenly starts to creep a little too close to home as problems start to surface inside the circus itself. These Big-Top Mysteries aren’t just about solving the mystery of the day, but also about kindness, working together and using your talents to do some good in the world. The stories are written in a calm and gentle manner, at a good pacing, with uncomplicated and clear English, making them a good choice for young readers, and beginners in English, or for those who want to unwind with a nice story. But a good thing about the books is that when you read the books in order, it’s like reuniting with an old friend. You return to a charming and happy place where everything is right.