YA mysteries

 

With themes of intrigue, labyrinthine crimes, revenge, and bloody redemption, the array of young adult mystery books out there is bountiful and even overwhelming. From The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew novels to Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series, mystery books for teens never seem to go out of style. It's hard to compete with classic page-turners, but in the last 30 years, there has been a definite uptick in the quality of young adult mystery books and thrillers, resulting in a boom for not only teen readers, but also most mystery-reading adults as well! From the ever-shifting stories that leave you guessing until the final page to the ones that will unforgivingly shatter your hearts, the mystery books on this list are all unforgettable reads.

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver

Set five years after the shocking murder of a young woman named Summer, Broken Things focuses on the teen's two best friends — Mia and Brynn — who everyone believes killed her due to their obsession with a book called "The Way into Lovelorn." But Mia and Brynn know the truth: Neither of them murdered their best friend, and as the anniversary of Summer's death approaches, they discover a clue that could exonerate them once and for all.

The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas

Kara Thomas weaves an eerie tale of a high school plagued by the suspicious deaths of several members of its cheerleading squad. The book picks up five years after Sunnybrook High eliminated cheerleading in the wake of the deaths of five students, but Monica, the sister of one of the cheerleaders, knows there's more to the story than anyone realizes.

City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

Tina and her mother fled the Congo in search of a better life, and for a while, it seems as if they have found one. But when Tina's mother is shot to death in her powerful employer's home, she thinks she knows exactly who is responsible.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

This stand-out read plays off of our collective true crime obsession brilliantly. For her senior project, Pip decides to delve into her town's most notorious crime: the murder of Andie Bell, and the suicide of her alleged killer. But the deeper Pip digs, the more apparent it becomes the case isn't nearly as open and shut as everyone believes.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

Up-and-coming singer Enchanted Jones seems to be on track to becoming a star until she wakes up with blood on her hands. With no memory of what happened the previous night, Enchanted becomes the prime suspect in the murder of the famed Korey Fields, a man whose abuse of power ran rampant throughout his career.

I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick

This book, inspired by Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca,” follows Anna Cicconi, whose dream nanny gig in the Hamptons turns into a nightmare when she realizes she looks just like Zoe Spanos, a local teen who has been missing for months. When Zoe's body is found, suspicion falls on Anna, who must rely on a young podcaster to clear her name.

I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan

It's hard to imagine the YA mystery genre being what it is today without the novels of Lois Duncan. The bestselling author is a master of suspense, and nowhere is that more evident than here. Her story of four teens whose hit-and-run accident comes back to haunt them remains a nail-biting read from start to finish and was the basis of the hit 1997 film starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sarah Michelle Gellar.  Word on the street is that a reboot may be in the works!  

Ink and Ashes by Valynne E. Maetani

On the 10th anniversary of her father's death, Claire Takata finds a letter from her father to her stepfather which leads to the revelation that her dad was part of a Japanese organized crime syndicate. Soon, Claire finds herself going down a dangerous path in search of answers about her father's past.

Jackaby by William Ritter

Set in 1892, the story centers on R. F. Jackaby, a supernatural Sherlock Holmes, and his new assistant Abigail Rook as they investigate a serial killer who may not be human at all. The wonderfully creepy tale not only dazzles with its world-building, it will also keep you up at night thanks to its clever plot twists.

Keep This to Yourself by Tom Ryan

Mac Bell wants nothing more than to forget about the summer when the Catalog Killer stalked the streets of Camera Cove, but since his friend Connor was the murderer's final victim, he simply can't let it go. Unfortunately, the more he looks into the case, the more apparent it becomes someone out there doesn't want him to know the truth.

The Missing Season by Gillian French

Every October, a kid goes missing in the town of Pender, and the locals claim a monster known as the Mumbler is responsible. But newcomer Clara suspects there's a far more human culprit behind the town's monstrous legend.

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

It's hard to talk about this book without giving away the book's astonishing, heartbreaking twist. But in a nutshell, the story follows Claudia, who seems to be the only person who realizes her best friend Monday is missing, and her quest to keep the teen's memory alive.

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

What if "The Breakfast Club" ended with a murder? When five students go into detention and only four come out, the remaining teens become the primary suspects in the apparent murder in this unpredictable thriller.

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay

This novel delves into the immigrant experience through the eyes of Jay Reguero, who spends his last summer before college trying to uncover the truth about his cousin's murder in the Philippines. However, the more Jay learns about the truth, the more he comes to realize that he didn't know his cousin quite as well as he thought.

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Before it became a hit TV series, Pretty Little Liars was one of the most stylish young adult mystery books of its time, that had everyone theorizing about who "A" was. Even if you've already seen the show, this mid-'00s tale is a must-read thanks to the ongoing impact it has had on the genre as a whole.

Sadie by Courtney Summers

When podcast host West McCray gets a call from someone begging him to find 19-year-old Sadie, he has no idea just how dark her story is. Meanwhile, Sadie is on a journey to track down the man who killed her little sister, and she won't stop until she makes him pay.

The Silence of Bones by June Hur

Set in Korea in 1800, the novel follows Seol, a 16-year-old who is indentured to the police. When a noblewoman is murdered, Seol becomes invaluable to the investigation, but when the inspector on the case becomes a suspect, she may be the only one who can clear his name.

Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass

When he comes out to his mother, Connor is sent away to an isolated conversion therapy camp, which is nightmarish enough without the added trauma of the camp's murdery secrets.

Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Inspired by Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, this action-packed old school murder mystery keeps you guessing until the final page. The story takes place entirely on an isolated island where teens are picked off one by one by a mysterious killer over the course of three days.

They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman

This smart thriller is set at an elite school where the murder of the popular Shaila Arnold by her boyfriend turns everything upside down for the students left behind. But despite a confession from the alleged killer, the mystery surrounding Shaila's death is far from over.

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

When a series of horrifying murders rocks her grandmother's small Nebraska town, newcomer Makani Young becomes a target too — and since she's trying to keep certain secrets from her own past quiet, the last thing she needs is a serial killer stalking her.

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Set at the elite boarding school Ellingham Academy, the story follows Stevie Bell a new student whose one and only goal is to solve a cold case dating back to the school's founding. But as she's digging into the school's past, the present suddenly becomes all too dangerous.

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

Who says the murder victims have to stay dead for a murder mystery to be compelling?  Wiccan Mila Flores's investigation into the deaths of three of her classmates leads to her inadvertently bringing them back from the dead to help her solve the case.

White Rabbit by Caleb Roehrig

Rufus's night is already off to a bad start when his ex-boyfriend suddenly reappears, but things only get worse when he finds his sister covered in blood and holding a knife next to the dead body of her boyfriend. Now he'll have to work with his ex if he has any hope of keeping his sister out of prison.

You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook

A twist on Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train, this deliciously twisted story kicks off with 17-year-old Kim joking with a stranger on a plane about murdering her boyfriend, but things get real fast when he turns up dead and Kim is labeled the prime suspect.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The first novel of three in this series, the book follows Avery Grambs and her unexpected inheritance of the Hawthorne fortune after the passing of the family patriarch, Tobias. But Avery has no clue who Tobias is — or her relation to the family. Now Avery now has to survive the remaining, recently disinherited Hawthorne grandsons to claim the fortune left for her.

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban

When six teens from the same high school are all invited to a scholarship dinner, what's the worst that could happen? The answer is death, as that dinner turns out to be a trap of Jigsaw-like proportions. Now locked in a room with an active bomb, the six kids are prompted to decide which one of them will die before the hour is up or they all are killed. This book is a serious thriller that will keep you hooked.

The Obsession by Jesse Q. Sutanto

This riveting read is told from the perspective of the murderer. When Delilah kills her mother's abusive boyfriend, she assumes that'll put an end to the manipulative men in her life. But Delilah's got a stalker: her classmate Logan and witness to her murder. Now, it's up to Delilah to take control of the narrative and get Logan off her back for good.

Summer's Edge by Dana Mele

A group of best friends return to the lake house where one of their friends died in a fire the summer before. They're there to honor their friend, but soon enough, main character Chelsea finds herself haunted by ghostly visions that ultimately lead her to realize the fire was set on purpose — and she has to find out who did it before it's too late.

The Red Palace by June Hur

This novel, set in Korea in 1758, follows 18-year-old Hyeon, who manages to secure a coveted position as a palace nurse. But when four women are found murdered within the palace's walls and Hyeon's friend is accused of the crime, she suddenly finds herself diving deeper and deeper into the labyrinthine worlds of the law, court politics, and mysterious motives.

I (Holley) have to throw in a strong vote for one listed above, Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson.  The whole series is unputdownable!! To those, I'll also add these thrilling reads from the last couple of years I've kept a record.  

She’s Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard

The summer is winding down in San Diego. Veronica is bored, caustically charismatic, and uninspired in her photography. Nico is insatiable, subversive, and obsessed with chaotic performance art. They're artists first, best friends second. But that was before Mick. Delicate, lonely, magnetic Mick: the perfect subject, and Veronica's dream girl. The days are long and hot-full of adventure-and soon they are falling in love. Falling so hard, they never imagine what comes next. One fire. Two murders. Three drowning bodies. One suspect...one stalker. This is a summer they won't survive.Inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, this sexy psychological thriller explores the intersections of love, art, danger, and power.

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

In 1943 Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, teenage Hanneke--a 'finder' of black market goods--is tasked with finding a Jewish girl a customer had been hiding, who has seemingly vanished into thin air, and is pulled into a web of resistance activities and secrets as she attempts to solve the mystery and save the missing girl.

The Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick

With the help of his servant and an orphan girl, a magician named Valerian searches graveyards, churches, and underground waterways for a book he hopes will save him from a pact he has made with evil.

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf

Fifteen-year-old Najwa Bakri is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend and Scrabble Queen, Trina, a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school's senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, but it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian, too. Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures. As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly?