Mystery books from Hamburg · for children ages 6 to 10
Five children, six animals with superpowers, and a secret houseboat on the Alster. The Hamburg Superdetectives solve cases in real cities. Each book comes in three reading editions.
Coming soon: Book 1, “…and the Shadow in the Speicherstadt,” in English.
NewCityNew Case
Three Reading LevelsSiblings read the same adventure, each at their own pace.
Exciting, Never ScaryReal cities, no violence, and mysteries to solve along the way.
25% of Profits for Children in NeedAt least 25 euro cents per book, split equally between Sternenbrücke and the Barakiel-Stiftung. Learn more
All Six Goals for Parents →
Welcome Aboard
At the edge of the Außenalster, tied to a little wooden dock, a small, colorful houseboat called the “Detektiv” rocks gently. White wooden walls, blue shutters, a red tiled roof, and one word in gold letters on the chimney: DETECTIVES.
Anyone walking past thinks a family who likes making things lives here. What no one knows: this is the Hamburg Superdetectives’ secret headquarters. Finn, Mia, Greta, Lia, Ben, and their six animals set off on every new adventure from here—in Hamburg, they like taking the detective bike.
Meet the Team
Every child has a special talent and at least one animal companion. Tap a face to open a secret Detective File—with a profile, detective tips, and real animal facts.
Detective File
The Leader
“I spot things first. Usually. And if I don’t, I pretend until it’s true.”
A Detective Tip for You
Sit by the window for two minutes and write down everything that moves. Try again the next day. What’s different?
Detective File
The Planner
“A good plan is like a map: you can see the way before you set off.”
A Detective Tip for You
Draw a map of your room. Mark a secret hiding place with a little X—and don’t tell anyone.
Detective File
The Brave One
“Being strong doesn’t mean winning. It means being there when someone needs help.”
A Detective Tip for You
Help someone today without waiting for them to ask. Watch what happens.
Detective File
The Animal Whisperer
“Animals have a lot to say. You just have to listen carefully.”
A Detective Tip for You
Watch a bird for five minutes. How can you tell whether it feels safe?
Detective File
The Tinkerer
“Every problem is just an invention waiting to happen.”
A Detective Tip for You
Write a secret message in mirror writing. Only someone with a mirror can read it.
Detective File
The Tracker
It’s True!
A dog’s nose has up to 300 million smell receptors. Your nose has about 5 million.
Detective File
The Clue Finder
It’s True!
Guinea pigs should never live alone. That’s why Lulu always comes with Rocky.
Detective File
The Wisecracker
It’s True!
Happy guinea pigs make little jumps in the air. This is called “popcorning.”
Detective File
The Wise Cat with the Riddles
Alva’s Riddle for You
“The more you take away from it, the bigger it gets. What is it?”
a hole
It’s True!
In Britain and Japan, black cats are considered lucky.
Detective File
The Teleporting Cat
It’s True!
Most orange cats are male. So an orange female cat like Charlie is something special.
Detective File
The Laser Reflector
It’s True!
Hamsters carry food home in their cheek pouches. They are mostly awake at dusk and at night.
What about you? Which detective are you? Get your ID!
The Books
Each book tells its own mystery in a real city and comes in three reading editions. Book 1 is coming soon in English. We’ll introduce the next books one by one.
Every Book in 3 Reading Editions
Lina Storm · three reading editions: grade 1 (ages 6+), grade 2 (ages 7+), grades 3/4 (ages 8–10)
In the middle of the night, a gold-plated ship no bigger than a thumb vanishes from Miniatur Wunderland. The alarm? Didn’t notice a thing.
A red thread and a riddle on a tiny scrap of paper lead the Hamburg Superdetectives up the Michel’s 452 steps. Three black feathers and an old map await them at the top. The trail continues through the golden glow of the Speicherstadt to a door with a warm light behind it. Who is collecting Hamburg’s smallest treasures—and why? A children’s mystery about courage, friendship, and whether a thief can have a good reason.
Coming soon Book 1 will be available soon in English as a paperback and e-book. Sign up for the newsletter—we’ll let you know as soon as it’s ready.
Book 1 is already available in German. diehamburgersuperdetektive.de · Newsletter · Not sure which level fits? Find a Reading Level
Three questions to start a conversation, not a test. For example, after Chapter 1:
Every Book in 3 Reading Editions
Lina Storm · planned in three reading editions
A shiny black crow. A tiny red dot of light in its beak. A feather left behind on a houseboat dock. And a letter with a stamp from Paris…
The Hamburg Superdetectives’ second case takes them to Paris. We’ll share more when the book is ready.
In progress. The text is being revised, and some illustrations still need adjustments. There is no publication date yet.
Every Book in 3 Reading Editions
Lina Storm · planned in three reading editions
A tulip bulb on a houseboat dock in Hamburg. A sparkling drop that never dries. And a letter about a woman who makes pictures out of light and water…
The Hamburg Superdetectives’ third case takes them to Amsterdam. We’ll share more when the book is ready.
In progress. The text and illustrations are being revised. There is no publication date yet.
One Adventure, Three Reading Levels
All three reading editions tell the same story. Sentence structure, vocabulary, print size, and line spacing match each reading level. A big sister and little brother can solve the same mystery together, and no one gets left behind.
Grade levels are a guide. What matters is how your child reads right now—some first graders already read at Reading Level 2, while some third graders prefer to start there.
Try it: the same page, three ways.
Reading Level Finder
Three quick questions. Grade is only a guide; reading ability matters most.
Our Recommendation
Not sure? Start one level lower: the feeling of success matters. Reading together helps, too—take turns reading a page each. Siblings can each read at their own level and still share the same story.
Chapter 1 · The Houseboat on the Alster
It was morning in Hamburg. The sun was shining. A houseboat rocked on the Alster.
The houseboat was small and colorful. Its windows were blue. Its roof was red.
The word DETECTIVES was on the chimney.
This was no ordinary houseboat. It was the Hamburg Superdetectives’ secret headquarters.
Chapter 1 · The Houseboat on the Alster
It was a sunny morning in Hamburg. A small, colorful houseboat rocked on the Alster. It had blue shutters and a red roof. On the chimney, in big letters, was the word DETECTIVES.
This was no ordinary houseboat. It was the Hamburg Superdetectives’ secret headquarters.
Chapter 1 · The Houseboat on the Alster
At the edge of the Außenalster, tied to a little wooden dock, a houseboat rocked gently. It wasn’t the biggest or the fanciest houseboat on the Alster—but it was definitely the most colorful. Its shutters were painted bright blue, its tiled roof fiery red. You could tell the white hull had been painted by hand: brushstrokes showed here and there. And on the chimney, a single word shone in gold letters:
DETECTIVES
Anyone walking past would probably have thought it belonged to a family whose children liked making things. What no one knew was that this houseboat was the headquarters of the Hamburg Superdetectives.
Your Five-Finger Test
Read the sample page above out loud. Hold up a finger for each word you can’t read or don’t understand. This test is only a rough guide.
The sample pages have different lengths: Reading Level 1 has 48 words, Level 2 has 45, and Level 3 has 105. That’s why the guidelines below match the level selected above.
How to count for Reading Level 1 (48 words):
How to count for Reading Level 2 (45 words):
How to count for Reading Level 3 (105 words):
A few new words are part of reading—that’s how you learn them. More important than your fingers: Can you explain what happened in two or three sentences afterward? Then this level fits.
The Big Journey
Hamburg is home. From there, the detectives travel to real cities: up real towers, across real bridges, and through real streets. Each book tells a separate, complete mystery.
Book 1 is coming soon in English. Paris and Amsterdam are being revised, and first drafts exist for Berlin and Venice. The other cities are planned. The order is set; publication dates are not.
Join In
Every real detective needs an ID. Enter your name, choose your skill and animal partner, then print it, add a photo, and sign. Done!
Here’s how the Hamburg Superdetectives do it on the houseboat: map on the table, pencils out, and off you go. Not every case is a theft—sometimes it’s a misunderstanding. Five steps, and your first case is ready.
Secret Messages
Real detectives send each other secret messages. Type your message and choose a secret number. Then only someone who knows the number can read it.
You can do it without a computer, too: the code chart shows the secret letter below each normal letter.
I only speak in riddles anyway…
How It All Began
It took shape on long car rides, on vacation, and in bed just before sleep. Two children dreamed up the whole world: which animal belongs with which child, who gets which superpower, what has to be in Ben’s backpack, and what Greta uses her strength for. Long before the first word went down on paper.
Who Is Lina Storm? Lina Storm is the shared pen name of a family from Pinneberg, near Hamburg. The two children dream up the stories; their parents write the cases down. The illustrated Lina on this site is the series’ fictional storyteller. More for Press and Schools
“I just write the stories down. The two of them dreamed them up.”
— Lina Storm
For Parents, Grandparents, and Teachers
Every child deserves a story they can finish on their own. That’s why each book has six goals—without feeling like a lesson.
A Promise
These stories began in a family full of happiness. But not every child has evenings filled with detective stories and hot chocolate at breakfast. Some are seriously ill; some families carry a heavy burden every day.
There is a minimum: for every copy sold, paperback or e-book, we donate at least 25 euro cents, split equally between the two foundations.
Buying a book gives your own child a story and another family a little support. Thank you.
How we calculate and report our donations: calculation and annual report →
Mail from Lina
New books, new cities, new activities: Lina will write when there’s news from the Hamburg Superdetectives.
A question, kind words, a drawing, or a case you’ve invented? Lina would love to hear from you:
lina@thehamburgsuperdetectives.com
You can also find news from headquarters on Instagram and TikTok:
