7 Young Adult Mystery and Thriller Books

Now made into an acclaimed TV series, The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is the perfect YA mystery thriller to kick things off with—especially if you’re just dipping your toes into the genre. The narrative follows Pip as she tries to uncover the mystery that has haunted the town of Fairview for the last five years—popular school girl Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend who then killed himself. 

Riveting and entertaining, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is perfect for anyone looking for a quick read that’s also a whole lot of fun.

Those who have a soft spot for true crime will certainly be engaged by Kit Frick’s I Killed Zoe Spanos. The story follows two teens—Anna and Martina. Anna has just moved to a new town, hoping for a fresh start but her efforts are marred, as she bears an uncanny resemblance to Zoe Spanos, who went missing on New Year’s Eve. Soon after, Zoe’s body is found, and Anna seemingly confesses to the crime. 

But Anna’s confession has discrepancies, and Martina is determined to uncover the truth on her “Missing Zoe” podcast. Twisty and exciting, I Killed Zoe Spanos is definitely a page turner.

If you enjoy the whole dark academia vibe, you will certainly like Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé that follows two kids, Chiamaka Adebayo and Devon Richards attending a (mostly) white elite private school—they both face severe harassment when an anonymous texter shares their secrets with the whole school. 

Someone is clearly targeting them both and may have even more sinister plans in line. Timely, thought-provokin,g and extremely gripping, Ace of Spades has been pitched as Gossip Girl meets Get Out and doesn’t disappoint on any count. 

As a kid, my first foray into the mystery/thriller genre was via the adventures of Nancy Drew. I’d borrow the books from the local library and within a couple of years, I’d finished the whole collection. 

Years later, I still have a certain fondness for the series, and The Case of the Artful Crime was one of the first Nancy Drew mysteries I’d read. In this book, Nancy is working undercover at a restaurant that someone’s clearly trying to sabotage. 

Clever, suspense-ridden, and immensely enjoyable, The Case of the Artful Crime is a great read with an excellent pun hidden in the title. 

If you can’t get enough of murder mysteries set in elite schools, you should try Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series that follows new student Stevie Bell who is determined to solve the cold case that has haunted the foundation of Ellingham Academy—only for the school to be rocked again by a sudden and mysterious death. 

Blending a boarding school narrative with an unsolved murder mystery and a quirky protagonist who loves everything true crime, Truly Devious is truly a compelling read.

Unlike some other genres, mystery novels often demand astute attention from readers, encouraging them to spot the clues and solve the case themselves, and The Inheritance Games, filled with puzzles, cryptic riddles, and secret codes, is an invitation to do just that. The story follows Avery who suddenly inherits the fortune of a deceased billionaire—and she has no clue why. 

And to get her inheritance, she must move to the Hawthorne mansio,n where every room is a mystery, and currently inhabited by the Hawthorne family who naturally, are not happy with the situation. If you’re in dire need of an addictive binge-read, gift yourself the boxed set of The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and thank us later.

While Paper Towns is usually billed as a YA romance or a coming-of-age adventure, a huge chunk of the narrative deals with the mysterious disappearance of one Margo Roth Spiegelman, whom Q, our high-school narrator is madly in love with, and desperately searches for. He follows a breadcrumb trail of clues and even embarks on an unforgettable road trip with his friends to find her. 

Poignant and enticing, Paper Towns remains a one-of-a-kind read, with mystery, thriller, and romantic elements.