The Best Mystery Books for Teens

This book is a near-dead ringer for A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder! True crime fan Piper Gray is a new kid in town. For a high school project, she decides to investigate the murder of another student who died 17 years ago and share the results of her investigations on her podcast. There are several differences between both stories, and I liked this one too. The audiobook is good but nowhere as exceptional as AGGGTM. I’d hand this to readers ages 13 and up.

This book is FANTASTIC — and the audiobook is even better (a top-class full cast audiobook that feels like a movie). When the principal of the Urban Promise Prep school is murdered in his office, three boys are high on the suspect list: J.B., Trey, and Ramon. They were either in the wrong place or have the wrong reputation or affiliation. Now they must join forces, along with their loved ones to find the real killer. I’d hand this to readers ages 14 and up, especially if they loved One of Us Is Lying.

Jay Murphy is just trying to do right by his grandmother, who’s been raising him and his older sister Nic since his father’s death and his mother’s imprisonment for a drug-related offense. But then Nic, who’s been hanging with the wrong crowd, goes missing. It’s up to Jay to follow the clues, question the right people, and find law enforcement officers who will listen to a kid like him — all to find Nic. I was hooked from the first word, and I loved Jay’s character, his friendship with Bowie, and the romance that blossoms between him and Alexis. Good for ages 13 and up.

Rich kid Alice Ogilvie and her new tutor Iris Adams are forced to work together when one of Alice’s former besties (who stole her boyfriend) is found murdered with Alice’s ex-boyfriend as the prime suspect. As the two girls collaborate in this funny, cozy mystery, they end up finding a warm friendship with each other — and the shocking culprit. Good for ages 13 and up.

This is one of the best mysteries I’ve read in a long time! When four kids walk into detention with the school’s gossip monger, the last thing they expect is to witness his murder. Soon, the police are on their heels, convinced that one or all of them murdered their classmate who had many enemies. All four teens must band together to find the real killer before one of them is sent to jail for the crime. This is such a propulsive read, and the audiobook has four narrators that bring the story to life. For ages 14 and up.

This story kinda blew my mind. When Claudia returns from summer break to realize that no one has seen her best friend Monday all summer, she starts to worry. Claudia is sure that Monday couldn’t have just abandoned her without a word, so she basically conducts her own investigation. She begins to discover chilling truths about her best friend that she never knew. For a nearly 500-page novel, this story is incredibly fast-paced and had me racing through until its shocking finish. Good for ages 15 and up (lots of strong language).

Published February 4, 2020

British teen Pippa Fitz-Amobi has decided to do her senior capstone project on a local murder case that was closed 5 years ago. Five years ago, high schooler Andie Bell went missing, and her boyfriend Sal Singh sent his father a text admitting to the crime, after which he was found in what seemed like an apparent suicide. But Pip doesn’t buy it. With the help of Sal’s younger brother, Ravi, she investigates the events surrounding Andie’s disappearance and Sal’s murder. This is a thrilling teen murder mystery free of language and sexual content, with a clever, likable protagonist. I’d feel comfortable handing this to readers 13 and up.

Published October 17, 2023

Emily Walters and 11 other contestants have been selected to compete abroad in a contest that could earn them a full college scholarship. But once they’re aboard the private jet taking them to Europe, it’s clear that Emily and the other contestants all have deep, dark secrets, and one of them is willing to do anything just to win — even killing. Before the flight lands, they must find the culprit before someone else dies. This is the perfect escape room mystery thriller with flawed characters that feel like real teens. Good for ages 14 and up.

Avery is a high schooler living in her car when she discovers she’s been named heiress to the fortune of Tobias Hawthorne, a man she never knew. There’s only one condition: She has to live in the family home with Hawthorne’s kids and grandsons (one of whom was heir apparent) for a year — while solving some intriguing riddles along the way. I didn’t love this one as much as many teens do, but it is a huge favorite, and I like that there’s barely any strong language. It’s also a traditional mystery with little to no gritty elements.

After popular teen DJ, Paris Secord is murdered, two of her friends (who are not on speaking terms) come under public suspicion. Both girls are forced to band together against a group of darkly fanatic supporters, uncooperative police staff, and other hindrances to their efforts. This novel is captivating, and I finished the 10-hour audiobook in two days. It addresses the use of social media, music fandom, and police response to Black homicide. No language at all — good for kids ages 13and up.

Aphra Connolly’s father moved with her without explanation to a remote island where they now run a resort, leaving her mother behind. When Seth Mouly and his parents arrive at the resort (reportedly sent by her mother), weird things start happening. First, one of the resort’s workers is murdered, and strange visitors begin to arrive. I enjoyed this more than I expected, and it manages to not be too dated despite being published over 10 years ago. The content is also pretty tame, even as the mystery is engaging. Good for ages 13 and up.

Cadence Sinclair Easton is back on her family’s island after a traumatic incident some years before. The only problem is that she can’t remember what happened, and no one seems to want to tell her. As readers follow Cadence, we’ll see her piece together the shocking events of that summer when class, youthful impulse, and family disagreements changed four lives forever. I found this mystery intriguing and poignant. I think teens will eat it up. Good for ages 14 and up.

Najwa Bakri is returning to her first Scrabble tournament world since her best friend Trina Low died, hoping to finally get a chance to win since Trina was always the Queen of the Tiles. But suddenly, someone starts posting on Trina’s Instagram account and Najwa has to piece together clues to her friend’s murder, all while trying to take the trophy at the contest. This is such an engaging mystery, perfect for fans of word games, and also good for younger teens ages 13 and up.

After her friend is murdered, thanks to a new drug ring in her Ojibwe community, Daunis Fontaine becomes an informant for the police to help catch the perpetrators. But as the investigation continues, she discovers new secrets and new reservations about her involvement with the police. This is a very mature teen thriller that tackles many important topics and showcases much-needed Native American representation. It also features drug abuse, sexual assault, and a lot of strong language — best for readers ages 16 and up.

Ross Quest and her family are known for their stealing prowess. But when her mom is kidnapped on one of their missions, Ross is forced to enter the Thieves’ Gambit, a stealing contest, to pay the ransom. There, she encounters old frenemies, new first loves, and shocking revelations. This is a propulsive story that feels more like a thriller with just a touch of mystery but is enjoyable regardless. Good for ages 15 and up for some gun violence and mature content.