The Ultimate Guide to YA Mysteries – Part 1
Over the last few years I have seen mystery books go from being few and far between in the YA world, to being everywhere! I grew up on mystery books like Nancy Drew and Point Crime, as well as being indoctrinated into adult crime books by my Mum and Grandma. I adore a good mystery, and was very excited about this development!
Obviously, not all YA mysteries are created equal, and some are definitely hopping on the success train. But there really are some cracking reads out there. These are the YA mysteries I’ve tried! Let me know if you agree with my thoughts.
Check back tomorrow to see my anticipated YA mystery reads – both pre orders and ones that are already out.
I have tried to limit this list to contemporary mysteries (as there are a good number of great SFF reads with mystery or thriller elements), but the line between a mystery and a book that is more thriller or horror can be quite blurred, so they may sneak in!
My Favourite YA Mysteries
Karen McManus’ books were the ones that made me realise it was time for YA mystery to make a comeback, and luckily the publishing industry seemed to agree. Following the release One of Us is Lying, we saw the launch of most of the titles below! A lot would have been picked up long before release, but for me it was definitely the herald of new times ahead.
One of Us is Lying is deemed as The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars – what happens when Simon, gossip app creator and blackmailer, dies while they’re all in detention? How far would you go to protect your secrets?
One of Us is Next follows a new app out to plague the students of Bayview High. Truth or Dare goes viral while three new characters race to find out who’s behind it. This features our original four, for those who loved them in the first book.
Two Can Keep A Secret is set in a town with a History – a missing aunt, a dead homecoming queen and lots of suspicions. Ellery and Malcolm have their own problems, but when another girl disappears, there could be more to worry about.
The Cousins focuses on the Story family, who were suddenly disinherited by their mother. Years later, their children are mysteriously invited to spend the summer at their grandmother’s resort. Determined to find out what happened all those years ago, the cousins start to look for the truth.
My favourite YA mysteries by far are Holly Jackson’s – I’m sure I’ve raved on here enough about my love for A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, but if you somehow missed it – AGGGTM and Good Girl, Bad Blood are amazing!
Five years after Andie Bell was murdered in her small town, Pip Fitz-Amobi decides to look into the mystery herself. Working with the supposed killers brother, Pip comes closer to the truth, but how far will the real killer go to keep their secrets?
Good Girl, Bad Blood picks up where AGGGTM leaves off, featuring Pip in the aftermath. She’s not a detective anymore, just a podcaster. But when a friend’s brother goes missing, and no one else will look for him, what else is Pip to do?
The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe is a new addition to my favourites list, but with great bi and chronic pain rep, as well as a twisty tale, it definitely deserves to be featured on this list.
Nora O’Malley is the daughter of a conwoman who managed to escape her mother five years ago. But now she’s trapped, with her ex-boyfriend and current girlfriend, in a bank that’s being robbed.
The bank robbers may be trouble, but Nora’s something else entirely. They have no idea who they’re really holding hostage…
The final books I want to talk about in my favourites section are the Truly Devious books, by Maureen Johnson, comprising Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair and The Hand on the Wall.
This series focusses on Stevie Bell, a true-crime lover who is about to start at Ellingham Academy, a school with a famous history – the founders wife and daughter were kidnapped shortly after the school was opened. Stevie is determined to solve this years old case.
Other YA Mysteries I Really Rate
Obviously, not all the YA mysteries can be my favourites, but these are the others that are right at the top of my list!
The books pictured are:
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Are You Watching by Vincent Ralph, Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin, The Treatment by C.L. Taylor, 13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough, The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas, Even if we Break by Marieke Nijkamp, Before I Let Go by Marieke Mijkamp, The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake by Sif Sigmarsdottir, and Killer Game by Kirsty McKay. Also not pictured is the excellent Unauthorised Fan Treatise by Lauren James, which is not technically a book (but it will be!) but still worth looking out.
YA Mysteries You May Enjoy
These are the books on my list that I enjoyed, but wouldn’t necessarily shout about – however, they may be just what you are looking for!
The books pictured are:
The Truth About Keeping Secrets by Savannah Brown, Perfectly Preventable Deaths by Deirdre Sullivan, #murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil, All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban, Good Girls Die First by Kathryn Foxfield, Lies Like Poison by Chelsea Pitcher, The Obsession by Jesse Q Surtanto, Five Total Strangers by Natalie D Richards, Eight Pieces of Silva by Patrice Lawrence, Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand, and You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook.
YA Mysteries I Would Avoid
So sadly not all YA mysteries are fantastic. These are the ones I enjoyed the least and really don’t recommend!
The books pictured are:
Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau, This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher, and Five Little Liars by Amanda K Morgan.
I hope you find this ultimate guide helpful – let me know if you’ve read any!
3 Comments
LiteraryLeisha
Definitely going to check these out! I really enjoyed The Girls I’ve Been, I need more thriller/mysteries in my life!
Ellie
Great idea for a post!! YA isn’t my cup of tea but I’d be super interested if you ever decided to do something like this for adult books!
Booksandlemonsquash
Ooh shall have a think 😂