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I’ll be honest – I don’t usually read thrillers because, well, I get scared way too easily.
Give me a slightly spooky plot, and I’m up half the night imagining things that go bump in the night.
But here’s the funny thing: the very first full-length novel I ever read was Tell Me Your Dreams by Sidney Sheldon, which is about as intense as thrillers get.
That one book was – and still is the best psychological thriller I have ever read – and though it’s not exactly YA, it set the stage for the thrillers I’d cautiously pick up in the years that followed.
Over the past few years, I’ve tried out a few young adult mysteries that everyone seems to rave about, and some of them totally won me over.
The books I’m sharing with you today are ones I truly think you’ll love.
Each has its own unique twist, and they’re all so full of surprises, tension, and great storytelling.
So, if you’re on the lookout for your next great YA mystery, keep reading—you might just find a new favorite!
1. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Pip, a high school senior, reopens a closed murder case in her town for a school project.
She doubts that Sal, the accused, was guilty of killing his girlfriend Andie before taking his own life.
As Pip uncovers dark secrets, she realizes someone doesn’t want her to find the truth, putting her own life at risk.
2. Broken Things by Lauren Oliver
Mia and Brynn were accused of killing their friend Summer five years ago, inspired by a novel they were obsessed with.
They didn’t do it, but a new clue on the anniversary of Summer’s death forces them to confront the real truth about what happened in the woods.
3. Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody
Sorina, a girl with the power to create lifelike illusions, lives in a traveling circus.
When one of her illusions is murdered, Sorina must find the killer to protect her family of illusions.
Her search uncovers dark secrets and hidden dangers within the circus.
4. The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
Ambrose wakes up on a spaceship with no memory and a strange mission: to rescue his sister.
He must work with his mysterious, hostile shipmate, Kodiak, to survive the ship’s secrets.
As they grow closer, they discover that love might be the key to their survival.
Also See: 16 Chilling Domestic Thriller Books That Will Keep You Up All Night
5. All of This Is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor
Three teens befriend their favorite author, only to realize later that she used their lives for her next novel.
As they look back, they struggle with feelings of betrayal and the blurred lines between truth and fiction.
6. People Like Us by Dana Mele
Kay, a popular soccer player at an elite school, becomes embroiled in a murder mystery when a dead girl leaves her a scavenger hunt.
As she follows the clues, Kay realizes she’s the prime suspect and must uncover the real killer to survive.
7. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
Ellery moves to Echo Ridge, a small town with a dark history of missing and murdered girls.
As she digs into the town’s secrets, another girl disappears, which makes it clear that Echo Ridge is far from safe.
8. The Diviners by Libba Bray
In 1920s New York, Evie, a girl with secret supernatural powers, helps her uncle investigate a series of occult murders.
As she delves deeper, she discovers that a dark force is awakening, threatening everyone in the city.
You May Also Like: 12 Must-Read Small Town Mysteries & Thrillers To Check Out
9. The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
After her ex-best friend goes missing, Alice teams up with her tutor Iris to solve the mystery, inspired by Agatha Christie novels.
They uncover dangerous secrets in their town and soon realise they might be in over their heads.
10. I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
In 1989 Romania, Cristian, a teenager under a communist dictatorship, is forced to become an informer.
He risks everything to expose the truth and fight for freedom during a revolution, but the cost of his choices is high.
11. That Weekend by Kara Thomas
Claire wakes up with no memory of what happened during a weekend trip with her two best friends, who are now missing.
As she tries to piece together the events, she realizes that everyone, including herself, has dangerous secrets.
12. Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain
Grey returns to her small, mystical town in Louisiana after her best friend Elora disappears.
As she searches for answers, Grey discovers that everyone is hiding something, and the truth might be more terrifying than she imagined.
Related: 16 Classy Novels Set In High Society That Are Simply Stunning
13. The Lake by Natasha Preston
Esme and Kayla return to a summer camp where they did something terrible as kids.
When they receive a threatening note, their dark secret begins to resurface, and they must confront their past.
14. The Counselors by Jessica Goodman
Goldie returns to her beloved summer camp as a counselor, but when a teen is found dead, she suspects it wasn’t an accident.
With her own secrets to protect, Goldie must uncover the truth, even if it means betraying her closest friends.
15. Killing November by Adriana Mather
November finds herself at an elite, secretive school for young spies and assassins.
When a student is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect and must navigate the dangerous environment to clear her name before she becomes the next target.
16. A Lesson In Vengeance by Victoria Lee
Felicity returns to her haunted boarding school after her girlfriend’s death.
When a new girl, Ellis, asks for help researching the school’s dark history, Felicity gets drawn back into the world of witchcraft, leading to deadly consequences.
17. I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick
Anna, a summer nanny, becomes obsessed with the disappearance of Zoe, a girl who looks eerily like her.
And when Zoe’s body is found, Anna confesses to the crime, but a podcaster named Martina believes there’s more to the story and seeks to uncover the truth.
I hope this list gives you plenty of YA mystery ideas to dive into.
Whether you’re looking for a book with serious twists, a slow-burn suspense, or a surprising plot, these stories are bound to keep you guessing.
If you’re interested in more book recommendations or themed lists, check out the related posts below for more reading inspiration.
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