Donald J. Sobol

American author

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July 20, 2026

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Donald J. Sobol was an American author best known for the Encyclopedia Brown series of children's mystery novels. The series features Leroy Brown, a 10-year-old detective with extensive trivia knowledge and deductive skills. Published from 1963 to 2012, the 29 books each contain multiple mysteries, with solutions provided at the end to encourage young readers to solve them alongside Brown. Sobol, a World War II veteran and former newspaper reporter, wrote the series until his death in 2012. The stories, which have been adapted into comic strips and TV series, focus on mysteries like theft and cheating, with Brown charging a small fee for his services.

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Encyclopedia Brown
…novels written by American author Donald J. Sobol, featuring the 10-year-old detective Leroy (“Encyclopedia”) Brown, who has tremendous knowledge of trivia and powers of deduction. The series features 29 books published from 1963 to 2012, each including multiple mysteries. The solutions are provided at the end of each book as…
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…novels written by American author Donald J. Sobol, featuring the 10-year-old detective Leroy (“Encyclopedia”) Brown, who has tremendous knowledge of trivia and powers of deduction. The series features 29 books published from 1963 to 2012, each including multiple mysteries. The solutions are provided at the end of each book as…
Read More