As long as there have been YA novels, there have been YA murder mysteries. From The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew novels to Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars [1] series, crime-solving teens never seem to go out of style, but there has been a definite uptick in the quality of young adult mysteries and thrillers [2] in recent years. With the genre booming, now is the perfect time to look back on the 25 best YA murder mysteries ever. From the books that left us guessing until the final page to the ones that broke our hearts, the YA mysteries on this list are all unforgettable reads.
Broken Things by Lauren Oliver
Set five years after the shocking murder of a young woman named Summer, Broken Things [3] by Lauren Oliver focuses on 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.
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 [4]. The 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 realises.
City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson
City of Saints and Thieves [5] 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.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder [6] 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.
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 [7]. 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.
I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick
Inspired by Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, I Killed Zoe Spanos [8] by Kit Frick is a psychological masterpiece of a thriller. The book follows Anna Cicconi, whose dream nanny gig in the Hamptons turns into a nightmare when she realises 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.
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 [9]. Her story of four teens whose hit-and-run accident comes back to haunt them remains a nail-biting read from start to finish.
Ink and Ashes by Valynne E. Maetani
Valynne E. Maetani's debut novel Ink and Ashes [10] 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 organised crime syndicate. Soon, Claire finds herself going down a dangerous path in search of answers about her father's past.
Jackaby by William Ritter
Jackaby [11] by William Ritter isn't your typical murder mystery. Set in 1892, the story centres 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.
Keep This to Yourself by Tom Ryan
Keep This to Yourself [12] 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 Catalogueue 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.
The Missing Season by Gillian French
If you're looking for an atmospheric mystery, you simply can't do better than The Missing Season [13] 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.
Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
It's hard to talk about Monday's Not Coming [14] 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 realises her best friend Monday is missing, and her quest to keep the teen's memory alive.
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 [15]. 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.
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
Patron Saints of Nothing [16] 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 realise that he didn't know his cousin quite as well as he thought.
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Before it became a hit TV series, Pretty Little Liars [17] by Sara Shepard was a stylish murder mystery novel 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.
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Sadie [18] 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.
The Silence of Bones by June Hur
Jane Hur's debut The Silence of Bones [19] 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.
Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass
Surrender Your Sons [20] 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.
Ten by Gretchen McNeil
Inspired by Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, Ten [21] 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.
They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman
Being a cool kid is a deadly in They Wish They Were Us [22] 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.
There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
Stephanie Perkins's first thriller There's Someone Inside Your House [23] 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.
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious [24] 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.
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 [25], 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.
White Rabbit by Caleb Roehrig
White Rabbit [26] by Caleb Roehrig is an adrenaline-fuelled 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.
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 [27]. 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.