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\u00a0Encyclopedia Brown<\/em>, Nancy Drew<\/em>, and Hardy Boys<\/em> series. Adults have escaped with Agatha Christie\u2019s Miss Marple<\/em> and Her<\/em>c<\/em>ule Poirot<\/em> stories, Sherlock Holmes<\/em>, 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.<\/p>\n no no 9780593374207 The Reappearance of Rachel Price<\/i> by Holly Jackson <\/p>\n From the #1 New York Times<\/i> bestselling author of A Good Girl\u2019s Guide to Murder<\/a> series comes a new thriller that will send chills racing down your spine. Bel\u2019s mother vanished long ago, only to reappear when the family starts filming a documentary about her disappearance. However, Bel doesn\u2019t trust her mother and sets out to learn the truth behind her long absence.<\/p>\n 9780593485057 Such Charming Liars <\/i> by Karen M. McManus <\/p>\n A jewel heist, a billionaire\u2019s 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<\/i> bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying<\/i>, and it\u2019s every bit as fun. Whether you\u2019re an established McManus fan or new to her books, this one is a must-read!<\/p>\n RELATED: 9 Heart-Pounding YA Thrillers To Read Right Now<\/a><\/p>\n 9780593617540 Suddenly a Murder <\/i> by Lauren Mu\u00f1oz <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 9780593643440 Hatchet Girls <\/i> by Diana Rodriguez Wallach <\/p>\n Keep a light on when you read this speculative horror novel! When Mariella\u2019s parents get murdered, she accuses her boyfriend, Vik, of the crime. Everyone believes he is guilty, except for his sister, Tessa. Convinced of Vik\u2019s innocence, Tessa\u2019s search for proof leads her and Mariella into the woods, where something ancient and evil waits for them.<\/p>\n 9780823459087 A Starlet\u2019s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife <\/i> by Kendall Kulper <\/p>\n 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!<\/p>\n 9780593707760 Six of Sorrow<\/i> by Amanda Linsmeier <\/p>\n If you enjoyed Amanda Linsmeier\u2019s previous novel, Starlings<\/a><\/i>, you\u2019ll 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\u2019s up to her to stop it.<\/p>\n 9780593524220 The Counselors<\/i> by Jessica Goodman <\/p>\n 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\u2019s saying. <\/p>\n 9780593528730 Threads That Bind <\/i> by Kika Hatzopoulou <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n RELATED: YA Reads Trending on BookTok<\/a><\/p>\n 9780385741262 We Were Liars<\/i> by E. Lockhart <\/p>\n We Were Liars<\/i> 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.<\/p>\n 9780593431115 The Agathas<\/i> by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson <\/p>\n You won\u2019t be able to set down this New York Times<\/i> bestselling novel from the authors of Girl in Pieces<\/i><\/a> and The Lucky Ones<\/i><\/a>. Friendship, heartbreak, disappearances, Agatha Christie novels, and murder combine into a masterful teen mystery that will keep you reading well past bedtime. <\/p>\n 9781984896391 A Good Girl\u2019s Guide to Murder <\/i> by Holly Jackson <\/p>\n Find out why everyone obsesses over this New York Times<\/i> bestselling YA mystery series. High school senior Pip tackles cold cases, digs up small-town dirt, solves mysteries, and catches killers \u2014 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!<\/p>\n 9781984836038 I Must Betray You<\/i> by Ruta Sepetys <\/p>\n Take a step back in time to 1989 during Romania\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n RELATED: 9 YA Books That Guarantee a Good Cry<\/a><\/p>\n 9781524714680 One of Us Is Lying<\/i> by Karen M. McManus <\/p>\n If you remember Claire and Bender and their famous Saturday detention<\/a>, you\u2019re in for a treat with One of Us Is Lying<\/em>. The jock, the beauty, the criminal, the nerd, and the freak are back, but this time one of them doesn\u2019t make it out of detention alive. This is \u201cThe Breakfast Club\u201d with a murderous twist.<\/p>\n 9780593404515 Hotel Magnifique<\/i> by Emily J. Taylor <\/p>\n 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\u2019t hesitate to say yes. But they quickly learn that the hotel is a dangerous puzzle filled with dark secrets. They\u2019ll have to rely on their wits and sleuthing skills if they want to get out alive.<\/p>\n 9780525579113 Killing November<\/i> by Adriana Mather <\/p>\n 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\u2019t be easy.<\/p>\n 9781524718398 That Weekend<\/i> by Kara Thomas <\/p>\n 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\u2019t answer. This teen mystery from the author of The Cheerleaders<\/i><\/a> will keep you glued to the page!<\/p>\n RELATED: YA Survival Stories Worth Obsessing Over<\/a><\/p>\n 9780593403969 Dark and Shallow Lies <\/i> by Ginny Myers Sain <\/p>\n Head to the deep south where snakes and psychics abound, girls go missing, and secrets stay hidden. As she looks into her best friend\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 9780593124970 The Lake<\/i> by Natasha Preston <\/p>\n Natasha Preston consistently delivers addictive teen thrillers like The Twin<\/a><\/i> and The Fear<\/a><\/i>, and The Lake<\/i> 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. <\/p>\n 9780593304860 Never Coming Home<\/i> by Kate Williams <\/p>\n 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!<\/p>\n Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2024.<\/i><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These fantastic YA mysteries were written specifically for teens and fill the whodunit gap for young adult readers in unexpected and novel ways.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":85135,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[67,80,162,193],"coauthors":[26],"class_list":["post-8106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-mystery","tag-summer-reading","tag-ya","tag-thriller","ages_stages-teen"],"yoast_head":"\n