My Guide To YA Thrillers & Mysteries: 25 Page-Turning Picks

I’ll Never Tell by Abigail Haas
(Formerly known as Dangerous Girls)

For fans of: ripped from the headlines true crime thrillers, Karen McManus books

When I read this book many years it was called Dangerous Girls but in recent years it got a whole new repackaging with a new title and cover — so don’t be confused if you see both titles around. It’s the same thrilling book I read and can’t stop recommending even many years later. (You can read my review for I’ll Never Tell/Dangerous girls here).

Inspired by the cases of Amanda Knox and Natalee Holloway, this is the story of a girl who gets caught up in a nightmare when Spring Break in Aruba turns deadly after her best friend is found murdered and she’s trapped in Aruba having to fight her case as the prime suspect.

Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

For fans of: Pretty Little Liars, psychological thrillers

If you read my list of books to read if you like Pretty Little Liars, but honestly this is just such a great thriller book for teens in general.

The new girl in town is accepted by a group of girls very quickly until they start acting distant and leave her out of the biggest party of the year — a party in which one of her new friends doesn’t make it home from.

I don’t want to give too much away but woo — obsession, gossip, friendships

I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick

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For fans of: Sadie style true crime podcast thrillers but psychologically creepier & suspenseful (it is in fact inspired by Rebecca)

This one is so hard to describe without giving anything away but here goes nothing!

A young girl gets entangled in the disappearance of a local teen in the new seaside town she has moved to over the summer — a girl who she happens to resembled and now has become quite interested in delving into the mystery.

The interesting part is that the book starts later on in Anna’s story with Anna confessing to the murder at the end of the summer after the body is found.

We get, in the present, the police interrogation of Anna as well as the investigation by a friend of Zoe’s sister on her podcast (as she doesn’t think Anna did it) as well as flashbacks to everything that led to her confession.

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson

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For fans of: true crime propelled books

A girl teen decides to take on, for her school project, re-examining the closed case of a local murdered high school student and the dangerous path she finds herself on when she unearths some secrets and signs leading her to believe the police got the case wrong.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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For fans of: Knives Out-esque mysteries and puzzles/riddles

I have been such a fan of Jennifer Lynn Barnes mystery thrillers since The Fixer and The Naturals (you’ll see them later on in this list) and I’m glad Tiktok exploded with love for this book — it’s definitely worth it and I don’t always say that about TikTok hyped books.

A down-on-her-luck teen is summoned to the reading of a billionaire’s will whom she doesn’t even know. At the reading, she finds out she’s been left the bulk of the his estate — the catch is, in order to inherit it, she has has to live in the mansion with his family and to figure out WHY she’s being left the inheritance: a quest full of hidden clues and hidden chambers left for her to figure out the riddle.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

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For fans of: serial killer crime thrillers that feel a bit like Dexter meets CSI/Criminal Minds

This is such an underrated and underhyped book and it’s criminal — I especially think it makes a perfect Fall/Halloween read for teens and YA lovers of all ages!

It’s hella dark and gritty (but also darkly humorous at times) as it follows a teen boy, the son of an notorious serial killer desperate to not turn out like his dad, who gets involved in the hunt for a new serial killer that seems to be on the loose and a fan of his father’s “work”.

Sadie by Courtney Summers

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For fans of: fans of Serial and other true crime mystery podcasts

If you have been around here long enough, you know I talk about this one constantly because I love it — one of my favorite audiobooks ever (the full cast audio experience is incredible) and it makes a great YA book club book.

It’s the story of Sadie — a girl whose sister was murdered and the investigation botched and now Sadie, hellbent on doing whatever she needs to find who did it and bring justice, had disappeared.

A radio host has heard Sadie’s story and starts recording a podcast that chronicles his journey following the trail Sadie did to track her down.

This book definitely set off a trend of books with similar interesting podcast/mixed media formats and it really is one of the best — you’ll ache for Sadie in her grief-filled journey for answers and justice and want to be hot on the trail for her as well to find her before it could be too late.

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

For fans of: juicy whodunnits set in high school

Karen McManus is definitely one of the more popular YA mystery & thriller authors and for good reason –this series is fantastic and this book had me screaming at all the twists and turns she had me dodging.

It was pitched as Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars and I find that to be a pretty apt quick description.

It’s about five students, from very different social circles, who are in detention together — but one of them doesn’t make it out and the death was no accident. Especially as it is revealed that the victim was planning to reveal some juicy things about his fellow detention-mates the next day.

All four become suspects but who did it? You’ll change your mind a million times reading this one!

The even better news is that there are two other books in this series that you will be just as addicted to!

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

For fans of: murder mysteries with dark academia vibes

Truly a must-read YA mystery series about a girl trying to solve a cold case that happened at the school she just started going to, you know in addition to trying to settle into her new school, and it appears that the perpetrator of the crime is back!

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

For fans of: more dark and emotional mystery thrillers dealing with social and racial themes

This book was a doozy and honestly it felt like it was more than just a mystery or thriller. Lots to talk about, reflect upon and unpack with this one. I can’t recommend this one enough! Tiffany D. Jackson’s books always make me emote in some way and this one had me sobbing.

It’s about a Black teen who comes home from a summer spent with her grandmother, before starting 8th grade, and finds that her best friend Monday is gone after not answering her letters all summer.

The answers people around her give her just don’t make sense to her (and the adults seem not concerned) and she’s really worried for her best friend so she starts trying to figure out what happened to her friend.

I’m warning you of two things with this glowing recommendation —

1) it is dark and heavy (so tread lightly if you don’t do so well with what) and

2) it takes some attention to get the hang of the different timelines you get brought into. I initially started this on audiobook but had to switch to the physical copy for that reason. It’s not just a straightforward “before” and “after” and it works well eventually but took me some time to get the hang of it.

I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Allegedly and Grown by this author which each also have some mystery and suspense to them. Both 5 star reads for me.

The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu

For fans of: dark psychological mystery thrillers; toxic/dysfunctional friendships

Remy’s boyfriend has been shot and killed by her best friend and Remy can’t remember why and has no idea, in the police interrogation, who to try to protect. Was it self defense? Something else?

In alternating POVs in the past and present, as Remy tries to put together the pieces, we learn about their friendship and everything that unfolded leading up to Remy’s boyfriend being killed.

I was constantly spinning theories in my head as 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 LOVED Tess Sharpe’s debut Far From You (has a good thread of mystery in it too) and this one was such a fast paced ride and also is an upcoming book to movie adaptation starring Millie Bobbie Brown!!

It’s about a girl who grew up being part of her con artist mom’s schemes until she and her sister have finally escaped. But the past few years of living a “normal” life has been difficult.

But she gets to put her skills and knowledge to good use when she gets caught up in a bank robbery turned hostage situation with her current girlfriend and her ex.

The storytelling is fun because it’s in a non-linear way and so we get to see some of her old “identities” and cons intermixed with her coming up with the plan (thanks to all these lessons she’s learned) to save them from this situation.

They’ll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman

For fans of: Karen McManus and Holly Jackson

If you love fast-paced, bingeable thrillers — this one is a great one!

It’s about two sisters — totally opposites but both with secrets — who are vying for a top spot on their school’s cross-country team and their world blows up after the newest member (and competition) goes missing.

Eyes are on the two sisters for ~past reasons~ but also the fact that the town, many years ago, had 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 & dark academia with a pinch of Pretty Little Liars

Two Black students have recently been selected to be senior class prefects at their elite school and find themselves the target of anonymous person who is sending out school-wide text messages exposing secrets about both of them that could damage their future.

But when the texts from Aces, the name the person is calling themselves, become more sinister the two students must work together to figure out the identity of their harasser and why the two of them are being targeted.

Was one of my favorite books of 2022 for good reason!

Damage Done by Amanda Panitch

For fans of: psychological thrillers that might make you scream WTF loudly

An older pick and under the radar for sure — this one still left an impact on me in the YA thriller department!

It’s about a girl whose life changed forever after an unspeakable crime (that she can’t remember everything about but was present for) and now she and her family are living in a new city with new names. Things are improving until someone from her past finds her and she’s forced to confront the secrets she left behind.

It’s vague, I know. But just go with it!

How To Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine

For fans of: 90’s slasher thrillers ~with a twist~

Ooooh this one is so good and definitely made me feel nostalgic for all the teen slasher movies and books I loved in the 90’s. A fantastic Halloween read and super fun!

It’s about a girl who is the sole witness of her sister’s murder on Halloween night and she is ready to testify against the guy who planned this murder spree.

But when she gets knocked out on the first day of the trial, she wakes up and realizes she has somehow traveled back in time to the day of her sister’s murder and has a chance to save her sister while learning that not everything was as it seemed on the day her sister died.

The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas

For fans of: dark YA psychological thrillers that are a little more character driven

It’s hard to find YA psychological thrillers that really wow me and this one did! Lots of secrets and family stuff as the mystery unravels with thrills as danger creeps close.

It’s about two former childhood best friends who are still haunted by and have not spoken about that one dark night that happened when they were kids since the trial — that night when a family member was killed by a serial killer and they helped testify to put the killer away.

They grew apart, especially since one of them moved, and are reunited when Tessa comes home to face her demons and look for answers to some questions had since that night and in the years after.

And when a body is found in the same manner as the one from all those years before, they question if they put the wrong person away for the murder.

Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen McManus

For fans of: mystery thrillers set in small towns with big secrets

It’s about two twins who have been sent to live with their estranged grandmother in the small town their mother grew up in — the small town where their mother’s twin was murdered on homecoming and another homecoming queen was found murdered many years later.

When our main character Ellery is nominated for homecoming court, the threats begin towards her and some of the other nominees. But, when one of the girls goes missing, Ellery puts her true crime aficionado hat on and tries to find her which puts her (and those she loves) in danger.

The secrets of this small town unraveling was such a fun ride! For me, this one is definitely a mix of murder mystery AND thriller with elements of both.

None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney

For fans of: serial killer mystery thrillers; more mature feeling YA

I loved Every Breath many years ago from this author but this one was so unexpected for me! Definitely under-hyped!

It’s set in the 1980’s and follows Emma and Travis — both in their late teens who have each been greatly affected by a serial killer — as they help the FBI interview juvenile serial killers and help use this info to help crack cold cases.

But when they are roped in to helping hunt down an active serial killer, things take a turn when one of the most notorious young convicted murderers is brought in to try to get information from and he has his eyes set on Emily.

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson

For Fans Of: Agatha Christie-esque mysteries with Nancy Drew/Veronica Mars vibes; amateur sleuthing

The small town of Castle Cove was in a frenzy after a teen girl named Alice (who is a huge Agatha Christie fan) disappeared for five days after her boyfriend dumped her.

Even more strange for everyone, when she returned, she refused to talk about what happened to her.

But now another girlfriend of Steve’s — once Alice’s best friend until she got with Steve — has gone missing after a fight with Steve and it now there is a big reward for whoever can find her.

Iris Adams, Alice’s tutor, really could use the money so — armed with Agatha Christie books — she and Alice team up to find out what happened to Brooke and prove that their theory that Steve is innocent.

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

For Fans Of: Gilded Age historical mystery/thrillers

A little bit of an older title but I am often recommending this historical mystery thriller!

Set in the early 1900’s in New York City, it’s about a socialite who doesn’t quite have the aspirations of being married off like the rest in her social circle. She’d rather be a newspaper reporter like her hero Nellie Bly.

Her life is turned upside down when her father dies. It’s ruled as an accident but she is certain this is untrue and decides to uncover what really happened leading her down a tangled web of secrets that could destroy her.

There’s also a thread of romance involving somebody from a different social class than her!

The Killing Code by Ellie Marney

For Fans Of: historical mysteries set during WW2

This book centers around a group of female codebreakers in D.C. during WW2. This is one of the reasons I picked this one up — I always love historicals that focus on some of the cool things women were doing during the War.

Our main character, Kit, and some of the other girls end up taking matters into their own hands using their skills on the hunt for a serial killer when other government girls start winding up dead and it doesn’t seem like it’s being taken seriously.

I really enjoyed watching the group of women become friends and use their skills together just as much as I enjoyed unraveling the mystery.

The Secrets of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer

For Fans Of: Pretty Little Liars

A girl finds herself to be in hot water when she becomes a suspect in the murder of a girl at her school — a girl whose ex-boyfriend she was quite close with and a girl she had gotten in an altercation right before her murder. Now she has to find out what REALLY happened and clear her name.

A quick solid teen murder mystery!

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

For Fans Of: shows like Criminal Minds, The Mentalist and other crime thrillers in that vein

When this came out back in 2013, I wasn’t at first interested in it because I knew I struggle with books where I have to suspend my disbelief when it comes to teens doing adult-like jobs like working for the FBI. I don’t know what it is but I really struggle with it. However, after some trusted reviews from friends, I’m glad I gave it a chance.

It’s about a group of teens who are tapped for their special abilities (not of the magic superhero kind or anything like that) and brought into the FBI to really nurture and train their skills of natural profiling further for the future.

While doing that, they also have them working on some serial killer-related cold cases. When a new killer strikes, the team is going to have to use their skills to survive as danger is breathing down their neck — especially our main character Cassie who has her own unsolved murder she wants answers to and just might be related.

It’s fun and fast paced (short chapters too!) and there’s plenty of teen drama in addition to crime solving and dangerous.

Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig

For Fans Of: YA mysteries that are equal parts mystery and coming of age story

Unravel the mystery of the disappearance of Flynn’s girlfriend -well, ex girlfriend but he’s not telling — while sleuthing right along side of him as he learns the secrets she kept while also learning some things about his self along the way.

Super compelling and page-turning!