31 YA Mystery Books that are Absolute Must-Reads

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For as long as there have been YA novels, there have been 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 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 30 of the best YA mysteries ever. It's difficult to narrow such an iconic genre to 30 of its most salient, stand-out novels, but here are our top picks when it comes to 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 teen mystery books on this list are all unforgettable reads for you or someone you know to enjoy.

Additional reporting by Melissa Santoyo

01
YA Mystery Books: "Broken Things" by Lauren Oliver
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YA Mystery Books: "Broken Things" by Lauren Oliver

Set five years after the shocking murder of a young woman named Summer, "Broken Things" ($11) by Lauren Oliver 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.

02
YA Mystery Books: "The Cheerleaders" by Kara Thomas
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YA Mystery Books: "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 in "The Cheerleaders" ($14). The YA mystery 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.

03
YA Mystery Books: "City of Saints and Thieves" by Natalie C. Anderson
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YA Mystery Books: "City of Saints and Thieves" by Natalie C. Anderson

"City of Saints and Thieves" ($11) by Natalie C. Anderson is a compelling, propulsive read about a young woman in Kenya whose mother is murdered by a powerful man. 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.

04
YA Mystery Books: "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" by Holly Jackson
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YA Mystery Books: "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" by Holly Jackson

A stand-out read among mystery books for teens, "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" ($18) by Holly Jackson 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.

05
YA Mystery Books: "Grown" by Tiffany D. Jackson
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YA Mystery Books: "Grown" by Tiffany D. Jackson

No one is better than Tiffany D. Jackson at weaving together hard-hitting topics and engrossing mysteries, as evidenced by "Grown" ($13). 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.

06
YA Mystery Books: "I Killed Zoe Spanos" by Kit Frick
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YA Mystery Books: "I Killed Zoe Spanos" by Kit Frick

Inspired by Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca," "I Killed Zoe Spanos" ($11) by Kit Frick is a psychological masterpiece of a young adult thriller. The book 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.

07
YA Mystery Books: "I Know What You Did Last Summer" by Lois Duncan
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YA Mystery Books: "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 in "I Know What You Did Last Summer" ($10). Her story of four teens whose hit-and-run accident comes back to haunt them remains a nail-biting read from start to finish.

08
YA Mystery Books: "Ink and Ashes" by Valynne E. Maetani
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YA Mystery Books: "Ink and Ashes" by Valynne E. Maetani

Valynne E. Maetani's debut novel "Ink and Ashes" ($18) is unique for the way it grounds the murder mystery aspect of the story in a daughter's search for answers about her father. 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.

09
YA Mystery Books: "Jackaby" by William Ritter
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YA Mystery Books: "Jackaby" by William Ritter

"Jackaby" ($8) by William Ritter is a not-so-typical rendition of the traditional young adult mystery books. 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.

10
YA Mystery Books: "Keep This to Yourself" by Tom Ryan
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YA Mystery Books: "Keep This to Yourself" by Tom Ryan

"Keep This to Yourself" ($16) by Tom Ryan features a young gay teen grappling with the loss of his best friend. 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.

11
YA Mystery Books: "The Missing Season" by Gillian French
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YA Mystery Books: "The Missing Season" by Gillian French

If you're looking for an atmospheric mystery, you simply can't do better than "The Missing Season" ($12) 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.

12
YA Mystery Books: "Monday's Not Coming" by Tiffany D. Jackson
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YA Mystery Books: "Monday's Not Coming" by Tiffany D. Jackson

It's hard to talk about "Monday's Not Coming" ($16) by Tiffany D. Jackson 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.

13
YA Mystery Books: "One of Us Is Lying" by Karen M. McManus
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YA Mystery Books: "One of Us Is Lying" by Karen M. McManus

What if "The Breakfast Club" ended with a murder? That's the general idea behind Karen M. McManus's twisty "One of Us Is Lying" ($11). 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.

14
YA Mystery Books: "Patron Saints of Nothing" by Randy Ribay
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YA Mystery Books: "Patron Saints of Nothing" by Randy Ribay

"Patron Saints of Nothing" ($12) by Randy Ribay 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.

15
YA Mystery Books: "Pretty Little Liars" by Sara Shepard
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YA Mystery Books: "Pretty Little Liars" by Sara Shepard

Before it became a hit TV series, "Pretty Little Liars" ($8) by Sara Shepard 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.

16
YA Mystery Books: "Sadie" by Courtney Summers
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YA Mystery Books: "Sadie" by Courtney Summers

"Sadie" ($10) by Courtney Summers is an utterly unique thriller told through podcast transcripts and the voice of the book's titular character as she searches for her sister's killer. 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.

17
YA Mystery Books: "The Silence of Bones" by June Hur
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YA Mystery Books: "The Silence of Bones" by June Hur

Jane Hur's debut "The Silence of Bones" ($24) is a total knockout. 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.

18
YA Mystery Books: "Surrender Your Sons" by Adam Sass
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YA Mystery Books: "Surrender Your Sons" by Adam Sass

"Surrender Your Sons" ($13) by Adam Sass flew under the radar when it was released in late 2020, but this is one book mystery and thriller fans shouldn't sleep on. 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.

19
YA Mystery Books: "Ten" by Gretchen McNeil
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YA Mystery Books: "Ten" by Gretchen McNeil

Inspired by Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," "Ten" ($10) by Gretchen McNeil is an action-packed old school murder mystery that will keep 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.

20
YA Mystery Books: "They Wish They Were Us" by Jessica Goodman
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YA Mystery Books: "They Wish They Were Us" by Jessica Goodman

Being a cool kid is deadly in "They Wish They Were Us" ($11) 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.

21
YA Mystery Books: "There's Someone Inside Your House" by Stephanie Perkins
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YA Mystery Books: "There's Someone Inside Your House" by Stephanie Perkins

Stephanie Perkins's first thriller "There's Someone Inside Your House" ($13) is every bit as nerve-wracking as a Hollywood slasher film. 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.

22
YA Mystery Books: "Truly Devious" by Maureen Johnson
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YA Mystery Books: "Truly Devious" by Maureen Johnson

Maureen Johnson's "Truly Devious" ($14) is a full course meal of book. 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.

23
YA Mystery Books: "Undead Girl Gang" by Lily Anderson
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YA Mystery Books: "Undead Girl Gang" by Lily Anderson

Who says the murder victims have to stay dead for a murder mystery to be compelling? In Lily Anderson's "Undead Girl Gang" ($21), 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.

24
YA Mystery Books: "White Rabbit" by Caleb Roehrig
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YA Mystery Books: "White Rabbit" by Caleb Roehrig

"White Rabbit" ($15) by Caleb Roehrig is an adrenaline-fueled mystery novel about a boy who has one night to clear his sister's name before she's arrested for murder. 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.

25
YA Mystery Books: "You Owe Me a Murder" by Eileen Cook
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YA Mystery Books: "You Owe Me a Murder" by Eileen Cook

Eileen Cook puts a YA twist on the classic "Strangers on a Train" novel in "You Owe Me a Murder" ($14). The 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.

26
YA Mystery Books: "The Inheritance Games" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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YA Mystery Books: "The Inheritance Games" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

If you're looking for a gripping story that doesn't end after the last page, Jennifer Lynn Barnes novel "The Inheritance Games" ($12) is a great place to start. 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.

27
YA Mystery Books: "All Your Twisted Secrets" by Diana Urban
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YA Mystery Books: "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? In Diana Urban's debut young adult mystery thriller, "All Your Twisted Secrets" ($16) 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.

28
YA Mystery Books: "The Obsession" by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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YA Mystery Books: "The Obsession" by Jesse Q. Sutanto

In a fun twist on this genre, Jesse Q. Sutanto's young adult thriller "The Obsession" ($7) doesn't leave the question of who did it shrouded in mystery — in fact, 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.

29
YA Mystery Books: "Summer's Edge" by Dana Mele
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YA Mystery Books: "Summer's Edge" by Dana Mele

"Summer's Edge" ($11) follows a group of best friends who 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.

30
YA Mystery Books: "The Red Palace" by June Hur
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YA Mystery Books: "The Red Palace" by June Hur

Set in Korea in 1758, June Hur's "The Red Palace" ($11) 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.

31
YA Mystery Books: "Teen Killers Club" by Lily Sparks
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YA Mystery Books: "Teen Killers Club" by Lily Sparks

"Teen Killers Club" ($12) follows a young girl who is framed for her best friend's murder. In order to escape a lifetime jail sentence, she joins a secret society of young assassins, which changes her life forever.