5 mysteries
Ages 6 to 12+

CHOOSE A MYSTERY

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  4.6 / 5 Stars across 4,800+ Verified Reviews

Give the Gift 
They’ll Talk About Long After the Toys Are Forgotten

choose a mystery

A personalized mystery mailed to their door, with their name on every letter. Six weeks of ciphers, clues and a case they crack. No screens, no plastic clutter.

Give the Gift They’ll Talk About Long After the Toys Are Forgotten

A personalized mystery mailed to their door. Six weeks of ciphers, clues and a case they crack. No screens, no plastic clutter.

"I was impressed by the surprising, intricate storytelling, and by how deeply invested my kids became in their given missions."
-New York Times Wirecutter, Best Gifts for 10-Year-Olds

5 Reasons a Mail Order Mystery Is the Best Gift Ever

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Their name is on every letter. Characters write to them directly. Depending on the mystery, there’s a mansion near their town or a pirate ancestor with their last name.

Reading and problem solving, in disguise. No screens, just real ciphers and clues. They’re too busy being a detective to notice they’re practicing reading and logic.

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You’ll hear about it for weeks. Excited calls and case updates as the clues pile up. Perfect if you live far away.

Cool stuff to hold, not just letters to read. Think ancient maps, keys and necklaces etched with cipher codes, plus a keepsake at the end that reminds them it was you who gave them the best gift ever.

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Thousands of five-star reviews. Over and over, reviewers call it the best gift their kid has ever received.

choose a mystery

5 Reasons a Mail Order Mystery Is the Best Gift Ever

Their name is on every letter. Characters write to them directly. Depending on the mystery, there’s a mansion near their town or a pirate ancestor with their last name.

You’ll hear about it for weeks. Excited calls and case updates as the clues pile up. Perfect if you live far away.

Reading and problem solving, in disguise. No screens, just real ciphers and clues. They’re too busy being a detective to notice they’re practicing reading and logic.

Cool stuff to hold, not just letters to read. Think ancient maps, keys and necklaces etched with cipher codes, plus a keepsake at the end that reminds them it was you who gave them the best gift ever.

Thousands of five-star reviews. Over and over, reviewers call it the best gift their kid has ever received.

CHOOSE A MYSTERY

The perfect gift for the kid
who “has everything”

The Mail Order Mystery Experience 

Unfolds over weeks, building anticipation as they work to crack the case 

Screen-free brain exercises featuring authentic ciphers and mysterious puzzles

Excited case updates, phone calls and voicemails as they share their latest secret clue with you

Traditional Toys & Gift Cards  

Unwrapped in 10 seconds, forgotten in 10 minutes

Adds more plastic clutter to the bedroom floor and overflowing shelves

A transactional "thank you" text message

CHOOSE A MYSTERY

The perfect gift for the kid
who “has everything”


The Mail Order Mystery Experience   

Unfolds over weeks, building anticipation as they work to crack the case   

Screen-free brain exercises featuring authentic ciphers and mysterious puzzles   

Excited case updates, phone calls and voicemails as they share their latest secret clue with you


Traditional Toys & Gift Cards   

Unwrapped in 10 seconds, forgotten in 10 minutes   

Adds more plastic clutter to the bedroom floor and overflowing shelves   

A transactional "thank you" text message   

CHOOSE A MYSTERY

4.6 / 5 Stars across 4,800+ Verified Reviews

Why Our Customers Think Mail Order Mystery Is a Perfect Gift

It’s not just mail.
It’s a story they can touch.

These aren't just letters. They are carefully crafted artifacts designed to feel real. When kids hold the "evidence" in their hands, they're living the story.

Ancient Maps

Documents that look and feel like they were pulled from a pirate’s chest.

Wax Seals

No two are exactly alike. These hand-crafted details add an elegant, old-world feel.

Real Evidence & Clues

Fingerprint reports, newspaper clippings, and cipher necklaces bring the story to life.

Cool Keepsakes

A wooden treasure 
chest, a secret safe disguised as a dictionary, or a time capsule.

CHOOSE A MYSTERY

It’s not just mail.
It’s a story they can touch.

These aren't just letters. They are carefully crafted artifacts designed to feel real. When kids hold the "evidence" in their hands, they're living the story.

Ancient Maps

Documents that look and feel like they were pulled from a pirate’s chest.

Wax Seals

No two are exactly alike. These hand-crafted details add an elegant, old-world feel.

Real Evidence & Clues

Fingerprint reports, newspaper clippings, and cipher necklaces bring the story to life.

Cool Keepsakes

A wooden treasure 
chest, a secret safe disguised as a dictionary, or a time capsule.

CHOOSE A MYSTERY

How It Works

Step 1:
Choose your mystery

We've got five different mysteries for ages 6 to 12+. Search for long lost treasure, send your kids to spy school, go on a noble mission, help detectives crack a case involving Bigfoot or travel through time.

Step 2:
Choose your delivery style

Option A: Send Weekly

Six installments, mailed once a week for six weeks. You pick the date we mail the first letter. Just remember that letter mail doesn't have tracking and there can be postal delays.


Option B: The All-In-One Box

All six installments ship together in one package. You get exactly the same mystery as if you get the letters mailed weekly. The letters are still personalized and addressed to the child receiving the mystery - we just send them all together in a single package with tracking. It means that you don't have to worry about letters getting delayed in the mail and you can do the mystery as fast or slow as you want.

Step 3:
Personalize the magic

Enter the child's name when you place your order. They are the hero of the story. We personalize all the dispatches, missions and different elements of the mystery, so kids feel like they're part of the story.

Step 4:
Crack the case!

Kids receive cool objects and curious letters from knights, trolls, pirates, spies, and more! There are secret codes to decipher and clues to solve. Each mystery concludes with a special keepsake they'll cherish long after the experience is finished.

CHOOSE A MYSTERY

Have questions?

I don't live in the same city as my grandchild or niece or nephew, can I still gift this?

Absolutely! Over 35% of our customers buy these as long-distance gifts. We send the mystery directly to their address, personalized in their name.

What if they have siblings?

Our mysteries are designed to naturally encourage teamwork! Many siblings love to work together to crack codes and decode ciphers. Just remember to include all the names of the kids who will be working on the mystery when you order so that we can personalize it properly. Or you can buy each child a different mystery so they receive their own personalized letters and clues.

What age is this for?

It depends on the mystery. Treasure Hunt! and The Enchanted Slumber are for kids 6 and up. Younger kids (6 to 7) may need some grown-up help with the reading and puzzles. Spies, Lies & Serious Bad Guys and The Case of the Missing Bigfoot are for kids 9 and up. Escape the Master Loop is built for groups, so teens and adults can join in. For kids on their own, Master Loop is for ages 12 and up, or 9 and up working with an adult. Not sure which mystery to pick? Try Help Me Choose a Mystery.

What exactly do I get in a mystery experience?

Mail Order Mysteries are stories that are told through a series of clues, documents and letters. 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.

Isn’t it a bit expensive for what looks like a few letters and pieces of paper? 

Mail Order Mystery isn’t just a series of letters, it’s a multi-week, interactive mystery experience designed to feel like a top-secret movie unfolding in real life. The experience goes far beyond paper. Kids receive custom-crafted maps, cipher wheels, keys, wax-sealed parchments, and jewelry etched with ciphers that they keep forever. They are carefully crafted artifacts designed to feel real. When kids hold the "evidence" in their hands, they're living the story.

Which delivery style should I choose?

Each mystery has six installments. You get exactly the same personalized mystery no matter which delivery option you choose. With "Send Weekly" we mail one letter every Tuesday for six weeks, with no tracking. You pick the date we mail the first letter. With "All-In-One Box" we send everything together in one tracked package, so you can do the mystery at your own pace. It is the better pick for a gift on a set date or if you don't want to worry about possible mail delays.

How long does shipping take? 

All of our mysteries are personalized and assembled by hand, so it takes some time to prepare each experience. If you choose to have your letters mailed weekly, you pick the date for us to mail the first letter and it usually takes 5-10 business days for the first letter to arrive. And remember, the date you pick is the date we mail the first letter, not the date the letter arrives. The postal system can work in mysterious ways, so please be patient.

 

If you choose to have all the installments in your mystery shipped "All-In-One Box" you should receive your mystery 9-15 days after placing your order. For "All-In-One Box" orders we also offer an express shipping service for customers who want to receive their mystery more quickly.

 

Ordering for the holidays? See our 2026 holiday order-by dates.

 

If you need a gift today, you can download and print a gift note that lets a child know their mystery will start arriving soon.
 

What if a letter doesn't arrive, is lost or chewed up?

We replace it, free. Letter mail can be slow, so please give each letter a little extra time. If one truly goes missing (it happens), or your child misplaces an item (yes, even if the dog ate it), contact us and we will send a new one. Because our mysteries are personalized, we do not offer returns or refunds, but we always replace.

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.

Ready to give the best gift ever?

Not sure which one? Treasure Hunt! is our best seller and a great first pick for ages 6+. Don't want to worry about mail delays? Choose the All-In-One Box: one tracked package they can open at their own pace.

Treasure Hunt!

  • Age 6+ (Age 6-7 may need adult help)

  • Pirate themed

  • Individual or with a partner

  • From $109.00

Long-lost treasure, double-crossing pirates and a pirate ancestor who turns out to be from their own family. They'll get ancient maps and a real treasure chest at the end.

SEND THIS MYSTERY

The Enchanted Slumber

  • Age 6+ (Age 6-7 may need adult help)

  • Fairy-tale themed

  • Individual or with a partner

  • From $114.00

A knight, a troll, a librarian, a dragon and your child team up to wake a princess who has slept for almost 700 years. Wax-sealed parchment missions and cipher-etched necklaces.

SEND THIS MYSTERY

Spies, Lies & Serious Bad Guys

  • Age 9+

  • Espionage themed

  • Individual or with a partner

  • From $119.00

It starts with an acceptance letter to a top-secret spy school. Then comes the mission: find a missing spy and stop a villain. A spy hotline to call, gadgets and a safe disguised as a book.

SEND THIS MYSTERY

The Case of the Missing Bigfoot

  • Age 9+

  • Detective themed

  • Individual or with a partner

  • From $119.00

A safe has been emptied at an old mansion not far from where you live. Who did it? A detective adventure packed with Bigfoot, Yeti and cryptid lore.

SEND THIS MYSTERY

Escape the Master Loop

  • Age 12+ for kids to do on their own
    Age 9+ with adult help

  • Time travel themed

  • Perfect for a group or family

  • From $114.00

Letters from your future self about the messes you’ve made in the space-time continuum. Perfect for family game night or a group of kids.

SEND THIS MYSTERY

Give them a childhood memory, not just a toy

In twenty years, they won’t remember the plastic gadget they got for their 9th birthday. They will remember the summer they spent tracking Bigfoot or the time they outsmarted a secret agent. You aren’t just sending them "mail" - you’re creating the spark of imagination that stays with a child forever.

Not sure which mystery? 
Help me choose.