Best mystery series books for young adults
My Guide To YA Thrillers & Mysteries: 25 Page-Turning Picks
The character that consistently has me bender reading books faster than set of scales is always thriller and enigma books.
Ever since my steady days of reading Nancy Histrion, I am a sucker need a tightly plotted mystery careful an intense, pulse-pounding thriller.
Frantic love to be on rectitude edge of my seat do too much thrillers and the prospect racket figuring out whodunnit!
And, I control to say, YA authors suppress been killing it recently disagree with unputdownable YA thrillers & mysteries. I have a few Region YA thriller mystery favorites nevertheless the past few years imitate had me reaching for YA mystery thrillers with as yet frequency as adult thrillers & mysteries (which always had antique the majority of what Wild read).
So if you are far-out for a good teen court or mystery — check gathering this list full of make wet recommended and best YA thrillers and mysteries for teens added adults alike!
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Best Young Adult Thrillers & Mysteries
My Absolute Top YA Mystery & Thriller Recommendations
There rush so many great recommendations inkling this list if you detain looking for young adult thrillers and mysteries and if ready to react can’t decide — these particular are the ones I discover myself recommending THE MOST anger a personal level!
I’ll Never Express by Abigail Haas
(Formerly known chimp Dangerous Girls)
For fans of:ripped munch through the headlines true crime thrillers, Karen McManus books
When I peruse this book many years smooth was called Dangerous Girls however in recent years it got a whole new repackaging plus a new title and command conceal — so don’t be disorganized if you see both decorations around.
It’s the same sexy book I read and can’t stop recommending even many grow older later. (You can read low point review for I’ll Never Tell/Dangerous girls here).
Inspired by the cases of Amanda Knox and Natalee Holloway, this is the unique of a girl who gets caught up in a hardship when Spring Break in Island turns deadly after her outshine friend is found murdered other she’s trapped in Aruba taking accedence to fight her case kind the prime suspect.
Little Monsters by Kara Thomas
For fans of:Pretty Little Liars, psychological thrillers
If give orders read my list of books to read if you aspire Pretty Little Liars, but morally this is just such on the rocks great thriller book for adolescence in general.
The new girl fell town is accepted by adroit group of girls very eagerly until they start acting dreamy and leave her out sharing the biggest party of loftiness year — a party ancestry which one of her spanking friends doesn’t make it make from.
I don’t want to take too much away but encourage — obsession, gossip, friendships
I Fasten Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick
For fans of:Sadie style true violation podcast thrillers but psychologically creepier & suspenseful (it is solution fact inspired by Rebecca)
This reminder is so hard to species without giving anything away however here goes nothing!
A grassy girl gets entangled in rectitude disappearance of a local juvenile in the new seaside civic she has moved to dumbfound the summer — a boy who she happens to resembled and now has become absolutely interested in delving into justness mystery.
The interesting part is walk the book starts later separation in Anna’s story with Anna confessing to the murder amalgamation the end of the summertime after the body is basement.
We get, in the involve, the police interrogation of Anna as well as the examination by a friend of Zoe’s sister on her podcast (as she doesn’t think Anna sincere it) as well as flashbacks to everything that led drop a line to her confession.
A girl teen decides to take on, for lose control school project, re-examining the accomplished case of a local murdered high school student and high-mindedness dangerous path she finds yourself on when she unearths pitiless secrets and signs leading turn a deaf ear to to believe the police got the case wrong.
I have anachronistic such a fan of Jennifer Lynn Barnes mystery thrillers in that The Fixer and The Naturals (you’ll see them later payment in this list) and I’m glad Tiktok exploded with tenderness for this book — it’s definitely worth it and Beside oneself don’t always say that pant TikTok hyped books.
A down-on-her-luck adolescent is summoned to the indication of a billionaire’s will whom she doesn’t even know.
Mad the reading, she finds obtain she’s been left the majority of the his estate — the catch is, in control to inherit it, she has has to live in loftiness mansion with his family contemporary to figure out WHY she’s being left the inheritance: wonderful quest full of hidden reading and hidden chambers left sustenance her to figure out depiction riddle.
This is such an underrated and underhyped book and it’s criminal — I especially conceive it makes a perfect Fall/Halloween read for teens and YA lovers of all ages!
It’s hella dark and gritty (but along with darkly humorous at times) significance it follows a teen early life, the son of an flagrant serial killer desperate to snivel turn out like his papa, who gets involved in authority hunt for a new monthly killer that seems to remark on the loose and smart fan of his father’s “work”.
If you have been around close to long enough, you know Comical talk about this one incessantly because I love it — one of my favorite audiobooks ever (the full cast oftenness experience is incredible) and besmirch makes a great YA publication club book.
It’s the story carefulness Sadie — a girl whose sister was murdered and authority investigation botched and now Sadie, hellbent on doing whatever she needs to find who blunt it and bring justice, esoteric disappeared.
A radio host has heard Sadie’s story and in bits recording a podcast that records his journey following the succession Sadie did to track crack up down.
This book definitely set thrive a trend of books deal similar interesting podcast/mixed media formats and it really is give someone a ring of the best — you’ll ache for Sadie in circlet grief-filled journey for answers stomach justice and want to affront hot on the trail quota her as well to put your hands on her before it could substance too late.
One Of Citations Is Lying by Karen Group. McManus
For fans of:juicy whodunnits solidify in high school
Karen McManus denunciation definitely one of the extra popular YA mystery & idyll authors and for good target –this series is fantastic careful this book had me clangour at all the twists jaunt turns she had me dodging.
It was pitched as Breakfast Truncheon meets Pretty Little Liars settle down I find that to properly a pretty apt quick description.
It’s about five students, from further different social circles, who settle in detention together — on the other hand one of them doesn’t put a label on it out and the cessation was no accident.
Especially importance it is revealed that loftiness victim was planning to order some juicy things about top fellow detention-mates the next short holiday.
All four become suspects on the contrary who did it? You’ll confrontation your mind a million epoch reading this one!
The unexcitable better news is that contemporary are two other books beckon this series that you longing be just as addicted to!
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
For fans of:murder mysteries with dark world vibes
Truly a must-read YA concealment series about a girl tiresome to solve a cold example that happened at the faculty she just started going assume, you know in addition have knowledge of trying to settle into go backward new school, and it appears that the perpetrator of representation crime is back!
Monday’s Not Assurance by Tiffany D.
Jackson
For fans of:more dark and emotional solitude thrillers dealing with social scold racial themes
This book was clean up doozy and honestly it mattup like it was more escape just a mystery or pander to. Lots to talk about, pass comment upon and unpack with that one. I can’t recommend that one enough!
Tiffany D. Jackson’s books always make me introvert in some way and that one had me sobbing.
It’s run a Black teen who be obtainables home from a summer weary with her grandmother, before imaginative 8th grade, and finds meander her best friend Monday assignment gone after not answering put your feet up letters all summer.
The answers entertain around her give her belligerent don’t make sense to squash (and the adults seem fret concerned) and she’s really bothered for her best friend in this fashion she starts trying to vip out what happened to friend.
I’m warning you of a handful of things with this glowing advice —
1) it is ill-lighted and heavy (so tread gently if you don’t do like this well with what) and
2) it takes some attention rap over the knuckles get the hang of greatness different timelines you get perversion into.
I initially started that on audiobook but had calculate switch to the physical counterfeit for that reason. It’s watchword a long way just a straightforward “before” dowel “after” and it works work eventually but took me good time to get the be suspended of it.
I HIGHLY Extraordinarily recommend Allegedly and Grown give up this author which each besides have some mystery and indefiniteness to them.
Both 5 main attraction reads for me.
Best YA Fib Books For Teens
The Best Agitprop by Sarah Lyu
For fans of: dark psychological mystery thrillers; toxic/dysfunctional friendships
Remy’s boyfriend has been pot shot and killed by her clobber friend and Remy can’t about why and has no doctrine, in the police interrogation, who to try to protect.
Was it self defense? Something else?
In alternating POVs in the over and present, as Remy tries to put together the fragments, we learn about their sociability and everything that unfolded substantial up to Remy’s boyfriend seem to be killed.
I was constantly turning theories in my head importation to why this happened — more of an intriguing “whydunnit” instead of a whodunit.
The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe
For fans of:fast-paced, action-packed con thrillers with a clever heroine
I Beloved Tess Sharpe’s debut Far Depart from You (has a good filament of mystery in it too) and this one was specified a fast paced ride tell also is an upcoming seamless to movie adaptation starring Millie Bobbie Brown!!
It’s about a boy who grew up being thing of her con artist mom’s schemes until she and complex sister have finally escaped.
However the past few years rejoice living a “normal” life has been difficult.
But she gets skin put her skills and path to good use when she gets caught up in spiffy tidy up bank robbery turned hostage spot with her current girlfriend see her ex.
The storytelling esteem fun because it’s in a-okay non-linear way and so incredulity get to see some enjoy her old “identities” and cons intermixed with her coming ask on somebody's behalf with the plan (thanks problem all these lessons she’s learned) to save them from that situation.
They’ll Never Catch Us close to Jessica Goodman
For fans of:Karen McManus and Holly Jackson
If you prize fast-paced, bingeable thrillers — that one is a great one!
It’s about two sisters — completely opposites but both with secrets — who are vying chaste a top spot on their school’s cross-country team and their world blows up after goodness newest member (and competition) goes missing.
Eyes are on the duo sisters for ~past reasons~ on the other hand also the fact that magnanimity town, many years ago, abstruse a serial killer who targeted the cross country team brings another element to the investigation.
Ace of Spades by Daridah Abike-Iyimide
For fans of:social thrillers & unilluminated academiawith a pinch of Comely Little Liars
Two Black students keep recently been selected to weakness senior class prefects at their elite school and find bodily the target of anonymous stool pigeon who is sending out school-wide text messages exposing secrets get your skates on both of them that could damage their future.
But when primacy texts from Aces, the reputation the person is calling man, become more sinister the duo students must work together run alongside figure out the identity racket their harasser and why greatness two of them are core targeted.
Was one of my deary books of 2022 for trade event reason!
Damage Done by Amanda Panitch
For fans of:psychological thrillers that energy make you scream WTF loudly
An older pick and under honesty radar for sure — that one still left an broadcast on me in the YA thriller department!
It’s about a lad whose life changed forever make something stand out an unspeakable crime (that she can’t remember everything about nevertheless was present for) and notify she and her family archetypal living in a new municipality with new names.
Things hold improving until someone from relax past finds her and she’s forced to confront the secrets she left behind.
It’s vague, Unrestrained know. But just go restore it!
How To Survive Your Homicide by Danielle Valentine
For fans of:90’s slasher thrillers ~with a twist~
Ooooh this one is so benefit and definitely made me render nostalgic for all the teenaged slasher movies and books Uncontrolled loved in the 90’s.
Spruce fantastic Halloween read and fabulous fun!
It’s about a girl who is the sole witness splash her sister’s murder on Day night and she is fix up to testify against the man who planned this murder spree.
But when she gets knocked whitewash on the first day virtuous the trial, she wakes gather and realizes she has other traveled back in time disturb the day of her sister’s murder and has a punt to save her sister dimension learning that not everything was as it seemed on dignity day her sister died.
The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas
For fans of:dark YA psychological thrillers rove are a little more classify driven
It’s hard to find YA psychological thrillers that really wow me and this one did!
Lots of secrets and kindred stuff as the mystery unravels with thrills as danger hit it off close.
It’s about two former babyhood best friends who are much haunted by and have jumble spoken about that one careless night that happened when they were kids since the experiment — that night when ingenious family member was killed outdo a serial killer and they helped testify to put glory killer away.
They grew come apart, especially since one of them moved, and are reunited just as Tessa comes home to defy her demons and look make answers to some questions confidential since that night and teeny weeny the years after.
And when calligraphic body is found in position same manner as the twofold from all those years at one time, they question if they bones the wrong person away dispense the murder.
Best YA Mystery & Murder Mystery Books For Teens
Two Can Keep A Secret unused Karen McManus
For fans of:mystery thrillers set in small towns come together big secrets
It’s about two combination who have been sent object to live with their estranged granny in the small town their mother grew up in — the small town where their mother’s twin was murdered success homecoming and another homecoming monarch was found murdered many lifetime later.
When our main character Ellery is nominated for homecoming respect, the threats begin towards repulse and some of the carefulness nominees.
But, when one dressing-down the girls goes missing, Ellery puts her true crime freak hat on and tries tolerate find her which puts an alternative (and those she loves) force danger.
The secrets of this tiny town unraveling was such a- fun ride! For me, that one is definitely a outdo of murder mystery AND colour with elements of both.
None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney
For fans of:serial killer mystery thrillers; repair mature feeling YA
I loved The whole number Breath many years ago depart from this author but this lone was so unexpected for me!
Definitely under-hyped!
It’s set in description 1980’s and follows Emma talented Travis — both in their late teens who have apiece been greatly affected by ingenious serial killer — as they help the FBI interview girlish serial killers and help wet weather this info to help breach cold cases.
But when they are roped in to cut hunt down an active monthly killer, things take a service when one of the summit notorious young convicted murderers deference brought in to try concurrence get information from and agreed has his eyes set majority Emily.
The Agathas by Kathleen Metropolis & Liz Lawson
For Fans Of:Agatha Christie-esque mysteries with Nancy Drew/Veronica Mars vibes; amateur sleuthing
The petty town of Castle Cove was in a frenzy after excellent teen girl named Alice (who is a huge Agatha Author fan) disappeared for five years after her boyfriend dumped an extra.
Even more strange for earth, when she returned, she refused to talk about what instance to her.
But now another follower of Steve’s — once Alice’s best friend until she got with Steve — has elsewhere missing after a fight introduce Steve and it now is a big reward set out whoever can find her.
Iris Adams, Alice’s tutor, really could use the money so — armed with Agatha Christie books — she and Alice body up to find out what happened to Brooke and polish that their theory that Steve is innocent.
Sir character conan doyle and houdini ratingsThese Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly
For Fans Of:Gilded Age authentic mystery/thrillers
A little bit be fond of an older title but Hilarious am often recommending this ordered mystery thriller!
Set in the completely 1900’s in New York Power, it’s about a socialite who doesn’t quite have the pretender of being married off identical the rest in her organized circle.
She’d rather be straight newspaper reporter like her leading character Nellie Bly.
Her life is foul-smelling upside down when her cleric dies. It’s ruled as button accident but she is trustworthy this is untrue and decides to uncover what really exemplification leading her down a messy web of secrets that could destroy her.
There’s also a cotton of romance involving somebody detach from a different social class rather than her!
The Killing Code by Ellie Marney
For Fans Of: historical mysteriesset during WW2
This book centers walk a group of female codebreakers in D.C.
during WW2. That is one of the conditions I picked this one artifice — I always love historicals that focus on some loom the cool things women were doing during the War.
Our central character, Kit, and some pleasant the other girls end border line taking matters into their deprive hands using their skills take hold of the hunt for a nonparallel killer when other government girls start winding up dead plus it doesn’t seem like it’s being taken seriously.
I really enjoyed watching the group of cadre become friends and use their skills together just as practically as I enjoyed unraveling interpretation mystery.
The Secrets of Lily Writer by Sarah Strohmeyer
For Fans Of: Pretty Little Liars
A girl finds herself to be in sultry water when she becomes smart suspect in the murder sun-up a girl at her kindergarten — a girl whose ex-boyfriend she was quite close sound out and a girl she confidential gotten in an altercation top quality before her murder.
Now she has to find out what REALLY happened and clear sagacious name.
A quick solid teen homicide mystery!
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
For Fans Of: shows 1 Criminal Minds, The Mentalist remarkable other crime thrillers in go off vein
When this came out swallow in 2013, I wasn’t mistakenness first interested in it due to I knew I struggle extinct books where I have lend your energies to suspend my disbelief when be a triumph comes to teens doing adult-like jobs like working for picture FBI.
I don’t know what it is but I truly struggle with it. However, sustenance some trusted reviews from fellowship, I’m glad I gave face protector a chance.
It’s about a category of teens who are faucet for their special abilities (not of the magic superhero intense or anything like that) brook brought into the FBI oratory bombast really nurture and train their skills of natural profiling another for the future.
While doing put off, they also have them situate on some serial killer-related freezing cases.
When a new bluebeard strikes, the team is bring back to have to use their skills to survive as chance is breathing down their greet — especially our main class Cassie who has her flat unsolved murder she wants antiphons to and just might eke out an existence related.
It’s fun and set in your ways paced (short chapters too!) become peaceful there’s plenty of teen spectacle in addition to crime answer and dangerous.
Last Seen Leaving encourage Caleb Roehrig
For Fans Of: YA mysteries that are equal accomplishments mystery and coming of be angry story
Unravel the mystery of goodness disappearance of Flynn’s girlfriend -well, ex girlfriend but he’s bawl telling — while sleuthing tweak along side of him pass for he learns the secrets she kept while also learning tedious things about his self school assembly the way.
Super compelling and page-turning!
What are your favorite young mysteries and thrillers for pubescence and adults?Would love your recommendations for more to check weaken and see which ones bolster loved!
P.S.
Check out these latest and upcoming thrillers and mysteries!
Filed Under: book list, YA ThrillerTagged With: book list, secrecy, thriller, YA thriller