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Top 10 YA Mysteries on Goodreads
If we have learned anything from investigating young adult mysteries, it's that adults can really get in the way of the real sleuths. Step aside, bumbling detectives and ignorant authority figures—the teens have got this covered.
Besides featuring a precocious lead, the most popular Young Adult mysteries on Goodreads are full of grim crimes, deranged bad guys, and a lot of issues with memory loss. Thousands of our members have added each of these books to their shelves. Will you?
by Sara Shepard
Dirty little secrets and a missing person case overtake a gossip-hungry school in this suspenseful series starter that has since been adapted into a hit television show.
by E. Lockhart
Two years after a summer shrouded in secrecy, Cadence returns to her wealthy family's island retreat to untangle a mystery…and her own unreliable memories.
by Markus Zusak
From the author of The Book Thief, this is the story of Ed, an underage cabbie who accidentally becomes the messenger of a cryptic and anonymous entity.
by Ellen Raskin
When millionaire Samuel W. Westing dies, he leaves behind a strange, crafty game for sixteen unlikely people. The prize? Westing's entire fortune.
by Maureen Johnson
Rory arrives at her London boarding school right before a horrific killing spree in this harrowing tale that blends mystery with paranormal fantasy.
by Lauren Oliver
When Dara disappears, Nick assumes she's playing around—until another girl goes missing in this gripping mystery from the author of Delirium.
by Barry Lyga
Most teenagers aren't allowed to join police manhunts, but most teens aren't like Jazz, the charming, observant son of the world's most infamous serial killer.
by Brittany Cavallaro
Charlotte Holmes, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Sherlock, didn't just inherit the famous detective's genius; she also has his volatile temper and knack for finding trouble.
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Two teen girls disappear one night, and only one comes back. With no recollection of what happened, Sam fights to reclaim her memories to save the other girl's life.
by James Patterson
Tandy Angel was the last person to see her parents alive. Unable to trust the police or her siblings, she conducts her own investigation to find the truth.
What's your favorite YA mystery? Share it with us in the comments. And be sure to check out more of our Mystery & Thriller Week coverage here.
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This Kooky Wildflower Loves a Little Tea and Books
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Apr 30, 2017 06:52PM
What about The Amateurs?
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lol Either I've read them or they are on my to read list. I didn't realize how interested I was in mysteries until now.
I've only read We Were Liars but wow did I enjoy that one!
Surprised there were no Nancy Drew kudos, but readers may have only voted for more modern fiction.
The Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano duology is really great, too!
What about the Every series by Ellie Marney? I'm still waiting until Tundra Books publishes the final book in North America
I think readers would get a kick out of Robin Stevens Murder Most Unladylike and First Class Murder even though they are middle grade books, they are written much in the style of Agatha Christie.
I thought The Perfectionists/Good Girls series by Sara Shepard was equally, if not better, than the Pretty Little Liars series that she also wrote. The Good Girls will go down as the most shocking plot twist I've ever read.
I really enjoyed
Running Girl
by Simon Mason. The mystery itself is interesting, although not revolutionary by any means, but what really drew me in was Mason's gift when it came to character design, so I highly recommend it~
Skip We Were Liars and replace it with Prep School Confidential.
The correct answer is The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot by Robert Arthur - part of the legendary The Three Investigators series
You missed The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd.
Ugh, I see more books to add to my pile!!!
I loved "confessions of a murder suspect!" :) & I really want to read "I hunt killers."
Sam wrote: "Lemony Snicket's All The Wrong Questions series is my pick for YA sleuthing."Oh my gosh me too!!!
I've read too many YA mysteries to name all the ones I became in love with, but two books I definitely recommend would be "The Third Twin" and "Vanishing Girls."
Safa wrote: "I've read too many YA mysteries to name all the ones I became in love with, but two books I definitely recommend would be "The Third Twin" and "Vanishing Girls.""I really enjoyed The Third Twin. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. And I've read Vanishing Girls a bunch :)
Connie (hoot reads books) wrote: "What about the Every series by Ellie Marney? I'm still waiting until Tundra Books publishes the final book in North America"I was looking for a new series and I just loved your suggestion (i can't put the book down) ,so thank you very much! ;)
The description for We Were Liars calls the main character "Candace". Her name is Cadence. Just FYI for whoever monitors this post.
Theri wrote: "I think readers would get a kick out of Robin Stevens Murder Most Unladylike and First Class Murder even though they are middle grade books, they are written much in the style of Agatha Christie."Thanks for the recommendation. I've added Murder Most Unladylike.
Andrew wrote: "The correct answer is The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot by Robert Arthur - part of the legendary The Three Investigators series"YES!!!
Trouble is a Friend of Mine
The Rook
When You Reach MeAnd technically not YA, but certainly YA in spirit, the fabulous Rivers of London series, beginning with
Rivers of London
The Westing Game is still one of my all-time favorite mysteries!
The Westing Game is good. There's also Blackthorn Winter and its sequel Murder at Heatherstone Hall, both of which do an excellent job of depicting life in England and British vocabulary. In fact, reading Blackthorn Winter is what made me decide I really wanted to go to England.
I didn't read read most of this list (though many are on my "to read" list) but I did We Were Liars and that book SSSUUUUUCCCKKKKEEEEEEDDDDDDD. I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy!I hope the other books in this list aren't as bad as that one.
What about Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys or Famous Five or Secret Seven or Detective Conan?
Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Surprised there were no Nancy Drew kudos, but readers may have only voted for more modern fiction."Original Nancy Drew are considered juvenile. Ages 9-12; Grades 4-6
Lorin wrote: "Kind of sad there is no Nancy Drew on this list"Original Nancy Drew are considered juvenile. Ages 9-12; Grades 4-6
Surprised that there's no Nancy Drew on the list.
My favorite teen detective books as a child were the Trixie Belden series. But, those don't seem popular nowadays.
Holly wrote: "Surprised that there's no Nancy Drew on the list. 
on the list. [bookcover:..."Sending you a friend request because you've read Trixie Belden. :D
Isabella wrote: "I didn't read read most of this list (though many are on my "to read" list) but I did We Were Liars and that book SSSUUUUUCCCKKKKEEEEEEDDDDDDD. I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy!I hope th..."
Agree. Insufferable.
Some good ones, but I Am the Messenger is not YA if I'm remembering correctly. Its adult, but its a great read!
Jenny wrote: "Some good ones, but I Am the Messenger is not YA if I'm remembering correctly. Its adult, but its a great read!"YA these days is so risqué that, other than signaling that the main character is younger than 20, I don't know why the bother with the designation.
Mrslabraden wrote: "Christine wrote: "Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Surprised there were no Nancy Drew kudos, but readers may have only voted for more modern fiction."I run a Little Free Library and I literall..."
There are actually two revamped series; Nancy Drew Notebooks, set with eight year olds in third grade and Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew which are early chapters and are more upbeat. The Clue Crew series also comes as a graphic novel series.
