Children's Author Vidya Varadarajan On Writing Mysteries Beyond The Whodunits

Oh, what an exciting and immersive job it is to be a children’s book author! To step into the imagination of a young reader, push creative boundaries, and invite them to see the world through a different lens. Bengaluru-based writer Vidya Varadarajan knows this well. Her children’s mystery book collection, AKA Detective Series, started as a way to get her 10-year-old daughter hooked on reading, and has now become a favourite among children across India. Set in Bengaluru, the book follows three children, Asha, Karthik, and Aarav, as they crack mysteries and outsmart tricky foes in their neighbourhood.

“I recalled how a fast-paced adventure could get me turning the pages,” reflected Vidya, in an interview with SheThePeople. “So I thought this series would be a great way to encourage reading in the nine-to-12-year age group, where many kids struggle to transition from comics to chapter books.”

Of puzzles, daring escapes, and trust

An avid mystery reader herself, this California-born, Chennai-raised author has a knack for weaving suspense and adventure into her books. “My books and characters reflect the lives of children in urban India, and I try my best to bring strokes of that into my stories,” she expressed. “This involves asking myself a lot of questions like, ‘How would kids get from here to there?’ or ‘How would a 9-year-old girl really react if she found this out?’

 "A lot of my writing is based on my understanding of children this age and what my own inner child would love to do."

In Vidya’s latest book, The Mystery of the Disappearing Drone, a priceless watch vanishes from a balcony, and the young detectives suddenly find themselves the prime suspects. At an age when children are just learning about trust and loyalty, the story captures the challenges and complexities of relationships.

Vidya explains, "This is the age kids are learning a lot about what good friends are like and what is acceptable in friendship. Limits get tested, and kids find themselves in uncomfortable situations where they are unsure whether to be loyal or to move on. This is natural, and my latest book covers some of these concerns… I think it’s a great way to explore these topics in a non-preachy way, which is integral to the story.”

Creating a larger impact

Beyond the crime-solving and adventures, Vidya's take on parental relationships and domestic work seems like ordinary details in the book, but are written as intentional symbols that, not-so-loudly yet strongly influence children's understanding of gender dynamics. They provide young readers with familiar touchpoints while gently expanding their perspective on the diverse roles people play in family and society.

"I think as authors we have a voice, and I have consciously created some characters who challenge stereotypes," she said. "For example, Asha and Aarav’s mother runs a bakery for which she has to leave home very early, and so the dad (who can work from home) often does the picking up or packs their lunches. Similarly, Karthik’s mother is the super successful CFO of a large IT company, and we meet her for the first time in the latest book."

Vidya detailed how the Indian literary community is increasingly encouraging diverse voices, supporting authors who explore new themes, and creating spaces for stories that reflect the realities and aspirations of children today. "There are many talented authors in the children’s industry who are making great strides in exploring themes that were either taboo or just never explored from an Indian context before. They are being encouraged by many publishers and litfests to push the boundaries, which in turn is making children’s writing more exciting than ever before," she shared.

Reflecting on her own impact, Vidya Varadarajan hopes her books inspire curiosity, empathy, and a sense of fairness in young readers. "I certainly hope that my books, which share ideas of fair play, right and wrong, and gender equality, do make it into some lives. We all have favourite books which shape us, and books are the first way we begin to understand how other people think. I think it would be amazing if some adult one day approaches me and tells me how something I wrote in my books made a positive impact on their lives."