The Game Is Afoot: 19 Masterful Teen Mysteries
A well-written mystery is a thing of beauty, filled with intriguing characters, impenetrable puzzles, secrets, lies, red herrings, confusion, misdirection, cliffhangers, clever detectives, wily villains, and shocking surprise endings. Younger readers have long had the Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, and Hardy Boys series. Adults have escaped with Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot stories, Sherlock Holmes, and anything by James Patterson. But teens? We did a little digging and found some fantastic mysteries, both old and new, written specifically for teens that fill the whodunit gap for young adult readers in unexpected and novel ways.
This list originally appeared on ReadBrightly.com.
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1
Add to BookshelfThe Reappearance of Rachel Price
by Holly Jackson
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series comes a new thriller that will send chills racing down your spine. Bel’s mother vanished long ago, only to reappear when the family starts filming a documentary about her disappearance. However, Bel doesn’t trust her mother and sets out to learn the truth behind her long absence.
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2
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Such Charming Liars
by Karen M. McManus
A jewel heist, a billionaire’s birthday party, and murder combine into an unputdownable teen mystery that YA readers will love. This is the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying, and it’s every bit as fun. Whether you’re an established McManus fan or new to her books, this one is a must-read!
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3
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Suddenly a Murder
by Lauren Muñoz
A 1920s-themed post-graduation party takes a deadly turn when one of the guests ends up dead. While locked in the glamorous estate where they partied, Izzy and her friends must prove their innocence to the cops. As the interrogations continue, more of the story comes to light, and they learn that everyone at the party is hiding something.
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4
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Hatchet Girls
by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Keep a light on when you read this speculative horror novel! When Mariella’s parents get murdered, she accuses her boyfriend, Vik, of the crime. Everyone believes he is guilty, except for his sister, Tessa. Convinced of Vik’s innocence, Tessa’s search for proof leads her and Mariella into the woods, where something ancient and evil waits for them.
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5
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A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife
by Kendall Kulper
A budding starlet, her moody co-star, and murder make up the ingredients of this historical YA murder mystery. When a young actress goes missing, Henrietta and Declan team up to find out what happened. The young actors each have a supernatural ability that helps them in their quest for answers. This book is a must-read if you love historical fiction, thrillers, and 1930s Hollywood vibes!
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6
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Six of Sorrow
by Amanda Linsmeier
If you enjoyed Amanda Linsmeier’s previous novel, Starlings, you’ll want to read this eerie and atmospheric mystery. Isabeau and her five best friends share a birthday, and one of them vanishes the day they turn 16. As her friends start disappearing one by one, Isabeau realizes something sinister is going on, and it’s up to her to stop it.
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7
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The Counselors
by Jessica Goodman
Head to summer camp with this bestselling book from popular YA thriller author Jessica Goodman. Goldie and her friends are spending the summer as counselors at a local summer camp for rich kids. But when someone gets murdered, Goldie suspects one of her friends knows more than she’s saying.
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8
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Threads That Bind
by Kika Hatzopoulou
Dive into a world filled with magic, romance, and murder in this YA mystery about the three Fates. Io and her sisters descended from the Greek gods of fate and inherited their powers. When Io discovers someone is turning women into wraiths and setting them loose in the city, she harnesses her magical powers and sleuthing skills to stop them.
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9
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We Were Liars: Deluxe Edition
by E. Lockhart
We Were Liars is 240 pages of unanswered questions and suspense. Summer friendships forged on a private island erode when secrets fill the days of a group of young, beautiful, and prominent teenagers. Unraveling the mystery of their shared history will keep readers engaged until the very last page.
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10
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The Agathas
by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
You won’t be able to set down this New York Times bestselling novel from the authors of Girl in Pieces and The Lucky Ones. Friendship, heartbreak, disappearances, Agatha Christie novels, and murder combine into a masterful teen mystery that will keep you reading well past bedtime.
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11
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A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder: Deluxe Edition
by Holly Jackson
Find out why everyone obsesses over this New York Times bestselling YA mystery series. High school senior Pip tackles cold cases, digs up small-town dirt, solves mysteries, and catches killers — all while growing her viral true-crime podcast. The best part? The series is complete, so you can binge-read all three books at once!
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12
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I Must Betray You
by Ruta Sepetys
Take a step back in time to 1989 during Romania’s revolution. When the secret police blackmail Cristian Florescu into becoming an informer, he risks everything to dig up dirt on the communist government and expose their corruption. This breathtaking historical mystery is a must-read!
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13
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One of Us Is Lying
by Karen M. McManus
If you remember Claire and Bender and their famous Saturday detention, you’re in for a treat with One of Us Is Lying. The jock, the beauty, the criminal, the nerd, and the freak are back, but this time one of them doesn’t make it out of detention alive. This is The Breakfast Club with a murderous twist.
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14
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Hotel Magnifique
by Emily J. Taylor
Mystery and magic meld perfectly in this glittering YA fantasy novel that takes place in a moving hotel. Each day, the hotel appears in a new location. When Jani and her sister Zosa get the chance to work at the hotel, they don’t hesitate to say yes. But they quickly learn that the hotel is a dangerous puzzle filled with dark secrets. They’ll have to rely on their wits and sleuthing skills if they want to get out alive.
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15
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Killing November
by Adriana Mather
Get ready for a fast-paced mystery novel set at a secluded private school for assassins and spies. When a classmate gets murdered, all fingers point to the new girl, November. Even though she got a late start with her education in espionage, she must rely on her wits, courage, and a few friends to hunt down the killer and clear her name. But in a school filled with trained assassins, it won’t be easy.
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16
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That Weekend
by Kara Thomas
What was supposed to be an epic weekend for Claire and her besties turns into a terrifying mystery when she wakes up alone and covered in blood in the woods, with no memory of what happened. Her friends are missing, and now the police are asking questions she can’t answer. This teen mystery from the author of The Cheerleaders will keep you glued to the page!
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17
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Dark and Shallow Lies
by Ginny Myers Sain
Head to the deep south where snakes and psychics abound, girls go missing, and secrets stay hidden. As she looks into her best friend’s disappearance, Grey digs up more questions than answers about her small town. Local folklore, a murky bayou, and mysterious strangers combine into an unforgettable novel that will keep you reading well past your bedtime.
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18
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The Lake
by Natasha Preston
Natasha Preston consistently delivers addictive teen thrillers like The Twin and The Fear, and The Lake does not disappoint. Loyal fans and new readers alike will shiver in delight as they devour this mystery novel about two girls with a sinister secret returning to their childhood summer camp.
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19
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Never Coming Home
by Kate M. Williams
The world of teenage influencers turns deadly when ten teens get invited to the launch party of an exclusive island resort. But their glamorous vacation becomes a nightmare when the influencers start getting murdered and the bodies pile up. Keep a flashlight nearby as you read this one!
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