As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
For as long as there have been YA novels, there have been YA murder mysteries. With themes of intrigue, revenge, and bloody redemption, the amount of young adult murder mystery books to consume out there is bountiful and even overwhelming. From the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew novels to Sara Shepard's "Pretty Little Liars" series, crime-solving teens never seem to go out of style.
It's hard to compete with classic page-turners like these, but in recent years, there has been a definite uptick in the quality of young adult mystery books and thrillers. With the genre booming, now is the perfect time to look back on the 25 best YA murder mysteries ever. It's difficult to narrow such an iconic genre to its 25 most salient, stand-out novels, but here are our best picks of mystery books for teens. We've included classics like "Pretty Little Liars" of course (with a villain as iconic as A, how could we not?), but also other suspenseful reads like the 2020 twisted thriller "The Inheritance Games."
From the ever-shifting stories that left us guessing until the final page to the ones that unforgivingly shattered our hearts, the mystery books for teens on this list are all unforgettable reads for you to enjoy.
— Additional reporting by Melissa Santoyo
A few years ago, I discovered YA mystery books and teenage thrillers. I loved reading about young amateur sleuths and the murder mysteries they solved so much that I devoured oodles of them. In case you’re as obsessed with young adult mystery books as I am, I created this reading list.
The great thing about YA mystery books is that the stories are more intense than you’ll find in middle grade mysteries, but not as dark as what you get in an adult novel. Since I prefer amateur detective stories anyway, high school mystery novels strike the right cord for me. And they probably will for you as well.
So if you’re looking for some teenage thriller books and YA mystery books to read this year, you’re in the right place.
Grab your favorite drink and a stack of these YA thrillers and find somewhere comfortable to read. Once you get started on these novels, you won’t want to stop!
*I’ve added content information to the books I’ve already read.
Want to save this post for later? Pin this image to your Pinterest board!
One of Us is Lying by Karen m. McManus
Fans of The Breakfast Club will love this darkly delightful YA mystery novel. When a group of teens gets tricked into going to detention, they never expect that one of them won’t come out alive. You’ll love this addictive, fast-paced mystery will keep you guessing until the last page!
And don’t miss the sequel, One of Us is Next!
Content: F-bombs, non-descriptive sex, and a small bit of violence.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
Obviously, I really like this author because as soon as Two Can Keep a Secret became available, I dove in. Ellery and her brother move to Echo Ridge, a small town where homecoming queens go missing, sinister messages abound, and mysteries are never solved. This book will keep you on your toes!
Content: Some language (including F-bombs), suspense, and kissing.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
Gilt Hollow by Lorie Langdon
After spending four years locked up for a murder he didn’t commit, Ashton returns to the town of Gilt Hollow. Things are tense between Ashton and his former best friend, Willow. And when threatening messages and mysterious crimes start popping up, all fingers point to Ashton. But Willow knows he’s innocent, and she isn’t going to let him go again. Suspense, romance, and a psychopath on the loose—this book has it all!
Content: Mild innuendo and suspense.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
Killing November by Adriana Mather
November can’t understand why her father would send her to a super-secret school for assassins and spies. But when a classmate is murdered, all fingers point to November. She has to figure out who the killer is, clear her name, and stay alive in a school filled with criminal masterminds. It’s not as easy as it sounds.
Content: Some language (no f-bombs), kissing, violence, and suspense.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
As the younger sister of one of the infamous cheerleaders that died five years ago, Monica has plenty of motivation for finding answers. But the more questions Monica asks, the more people clam up. Tight lips, old wounds, and terrible secrets abound in this smartly written whodunnit.
Content: Language (including f-bombs), violence, and kissing.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook
When Kim meets Nicki on a class trip to London, they immediately bond over jokes about murdering Kim’s ex-boyfriend. But when he winds up dead, Kim realizes Nicki was serious. Now, she’ll either have to commit a murder for Nicki or take the blame for one.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
The Hanging Girl by Eileen Cook
Desperate for money, Skye agrees to participate in an elaborate kidnapping scheme that will get her some cash. But she never expects things to turn deadly. This book will keep you on your toes and watching over your shoulder!
Content: Some cursing (including f-bombs), and suspense.
Amazon Book Depository
With Malice by Eileen Cook
A fatal car accident, a girl with amnesia, and suspense that slowly builds throughout the story will keep you tearing through the pages of this teenage mystery novel. With plenty of plot twists, you won’t be able to guess where the story is going next!
Content: Language (including f-bombs).
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
Holding Court by K.C. Held
This book is a little different than everything else on this list for one big reason: it’s hilarious. Like, gut-busting, laugh-so-hard-you-cry kind of funny. When Jules takes a summer job at a castle dinner theater, she hopes to make some money and maybe score a date with her crush. But when she accidentally finds a secret door, trips over a dead body, then promptly loses said dead body, things aren’t looking so good.
Content: Language (no f-bombs) and suspense.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
The Dead Girls Society by Michelle Krys
If you miss watching Pretty Little Liars (or you’re enjoying The Perfectionists), then you need this YA thriller in your hands! When Hope receives a mysterious invitation to play a dangerous game of dares, she doesn’t hesitate. But it doesn’t take long for Hope to realize that this game is far more deadly than she originally thought. In fact, she might not make it out alive.
Content: Cursing (no f-words), violence and scary situations, and kissing.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan by Gia Cribbs
Sloane has spent the last six years in witness protection and now she’s ready to get out. So when she bumps into someone from her past, she decides not to tell the agent in charge of protecting her. If you love YA mystery books that deliver one twist after another and keep you guessing until the very end, pick this one up!
Content: Small amount of language, perilous situations, and kissing.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
The founders of Ellingham Academy were murdered long ago, and now Stevie wants to solve the mystery. But when murder strikes the academy again, Stevie fears the founder’s killer has returned for more. This is the first novel in a YA murder mystery trilogy, so don’t miss out on the next two books in the series, The Vanishing Stair and The Hand on the Wall.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl
After a weird but uneventful night out, Beatrice and her friends wake up in a bizarre time loop where they repeat the same day over and over. As friends clash and secrets emerge, Beatrice confronts the truth about what happened on the night her high-school boyfriend died.
Content: Language (including f-bombs), innuendo, violence, and sexual situations (although no sex happens).
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett
Nine students. Three bloodsports. One deadly weekend.
When Greer gets invited to spend a weekend huntin’ shootin’ fishin’ with a group of teens at the home of the richest boy at her boarding school, she feels like she finally fits in. But the weekend quickly turns deadly as Greer realizes that she’s become the prey.
Content: Some language (no f-bombs) and perilous situations.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
People Like Us by Dana Mele
Another YA mystery for Pretty Little Liars fans. People Like Us is set in an upscale private school where Kay Donovan is one of the “it” girls. But when a classmate is found murdered, Kay’s flawless persona begins to crack. Soon, neither the police nor the reader is convinced of Kay’s innocence.
Content: Language, kissing, innuendo, and allusions to sex.
Amazon Book Depository Bookshop
This blog participates in affiliate programs. If you make a purchase using our link, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.