Okay, this book was maybe from the early- to mid- 90’s, and is a “mystery” book, but wasn’t a series – it had several small chapters, with a story and a picture. Based on the story, and the picture, you had to try and solve the “mystery”. They were simple – one took place in a school classroom where a small windmill made out of popsicle sticks had been broken, and the reader had to figure out if the open window and a strong gust of wind broke it, or if another classmate did. The answers (and specific hints about the clues that helped to solve it) were all in the back.
Maybe one of the Solve a Mystery books by Marian Lee?
J.P. Landers, boy detective, solves neighborhood minimysteries, but the reader has an opportunity to solve the cases first.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5309223-solve-a-mystery?from_search=true&search_version=service
Hey, thanks for the clue, and the link to Good Reads! It actually helped me find the book – the Clue Jr. series! Turns out I was wrong on that part 🙂
Thanks for your idea, it helped me find what I was looking for!!