10 Best High School Mystery Books Featuring High School Detectives in Action!
Hey there, fellow bookworms! Everyone remembers high school mysteries, right? Those were the days! Even if we didn't personally stumble upon any enigmatic mysteries or thrilling detective escapades in our school, we sure wished we did. Who wouldn't want to be the cool, clever, crime-solving kid every now and then - combing through clues, unwinding conspiracies, and finally unveiling the suspense? Pure adrenaline rush!
Well, that's why we've got your back with a comprehensive list of the '10 Best High School Mystery Books'. From charming amateur sleuths plunged into the mazes of deception, to bookish nerds turned private investigators - these books feature high school detectives that are far from ordinary. They’re sassy, smart, and fierce - navigating quintessential teenage drama while untangling mind-bending whodunit mysteries.
These novels aren't just about the thrill, they're about friendships, heartbreaks, struggles, and resilience. So buckle up, mystery lovers, for a fast-paced plunge into the exciting world of high school mysteries. Get ready to be entranced by these young detectives as they take on harrowing mysteries, slice through webs of lies, and bravely confront the shadows lurking in their high school corridors.
『A Good Girl's Guide to Murder』
THE MUST-READ MULTIMILLION BESTSELLING MYSTERY SERIES—NOW ON NETFLIX! • This is the story about an investigation turned obsession, full of twists and turns and with an ending you'll never expect. Everyone in Fairview knows the story. Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town. But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer? Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn't want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger. And don't miss the sequel, Good Girl, Bad Blood! "The perfect nail-biting mystery." —Natasha Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Author | Holly Jackson |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Ember |
Release Date | Jan 05, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『Truly Devious』
New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart. Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.” Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history. True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder. The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.
Author | Maureen Johnson |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Katherine Tegen Books |
Release Date | Jan 16, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
『Murder Most Unladylike』
When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up a secret detective agency at Deepdean School for Girls, they can't find a truly exciting mystery to investigate. (Unless you count The Case of Lavinia's Missing Tie. Which they don't.) Then Hazel discovers the body of the Science Mistress, Miss Bell - but when she and Daisy return five minutes later, the body has disappeared. Now the girls have to solve a murder, and prove a murder happened in the first place. But will they succeed? And can their friendship stand the test?
Author | Robin Stevens |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Puffin |
Release Date | Feb 18, 2016 |
Source | Google Books |
『Killing November』
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch comes a thriller set at a secretive boarding school where students are trained to carry on family legacies that have built--and toppled--empires. November is as good as dead. She just doesn't know it yet. At the Academy Absconditi, there's no electricity, no internet, and an archaic eye-for-an-eye punishment system. Classes range from knife throwing and poisons to the art of deception. And the students? Silver-spoon descendants of the world's most elite strategists--all training to become asassins, spies, and master imporsonators. One is a virtuoso of accents--and never to be trusted. Another is a vicious fighter determined to exploit November's weaknesses. And then there's the boy with the mesmerizing eyes and a secret agenda. November doesn't know how an ordinary girl like her fits into the school's complicated legacy. But when a student is murdered, she'll need to separate her enemies from her allies before the crime gets pinned or her...or she becomes the killer's next victim.
Author | Adriana Mather |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Ember |
Release Date | Feb 25, 2020 |
Source | Google Books |
『Ace of Spades』
Gossip Girl meets Get Out in Ace of Spades, a YA contemporary thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé about two students, Devon & Chiamaka, and their struggles against an anonymous bully. All you need to know is . . . I’m here to divide and conquer. Like all great tyrants do. —Aces When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, but it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian, too. Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures. As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly? With heart-pounding suspense and relevant social commentary comes a high-octane thriller from debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.
Author | Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Feiwel & Friends |
Release Date | Jun 01, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『Gideon Green in Black and White』
Truly Devious meets Turtles All the Way Down in critically acclaimed author Katie Henry’s YA contemporary comedic mystery, a hilarious send-up of the hardboiled detective genre that spotlights family, friendship, and love. Gideon’s short-lived run as a locally famous boy detective ended when middle school started, and everyone else—including his best friend, Lily—moved on while Gideon kept holding on to his trench coat, fedora, and his treasured film noir collection. Now he’s sixteen and officially retired. That is, until Lily shows up suddenly at Gideon’s door, needing his help. He might be mad at her for cutting him off with no explanation, but Gideon can’t turn down a case. As a cover, Gideon joins Lily on the school paper. Surprisingly, he finds himself warming up to the welcoming, close-knit staff . . . especially Tess, the cute, witty editor-in-chief. But as the case gets bigger than Gideon or Lily could have anticipated, Gideon must balance his black-and-white quest for the truth with the full colors of real life—or risk a permanent fade to black. * A Junior Library Guild Selection * * A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Top Ten Title *
Author | Katie Henry |
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Price | $7.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | May 17, 2022 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Agathas』
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Who killed Brooke Donovan? It’s the biggest mystery of the summer, and everyone in Castle Cove thinks they know what happened. But they're wrong. Two unlikely friends come together to solve the case in this fast-paced, fun, modern Agatha Christie inspired thriller. "Part Agatha Christie, part Veronica Mars, and completely entertaining." —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Of Us Is Lying A PEOPLE MAGAZINE BEST BOOK OF SUMMER Last summer, Alice Ogilvie’s basketball-star boyfriend Steve dumped her. Then she disappeared for five days. She's not talking, so where she went and what happened to her is the biggest mystery in Castle Cove. Or it was, at least. But now, another one of Steve’s girlfriends has vanished: Brooke Donovan, Alice’s ex–best friend. And it doesn’t look like Brooke will be coming back. . . Enter Iris Adams, Alice’s tutor. Iris has her own reasons for wanting to disappear, though unlike Alice, she doesn’t have the money or the means. That could be changed by the hefty reward Brooke’s grandmother is offering to anyone who can share information about her granddaughter’s whereabouts. The police are convinced Steve is the culprit, but Alice isn’t so sure, and with Iris on her side, she just might be able to prove her theory. In order to get the reward and prove Steve’s innocence, they need to figure out who killed Brooke Donovan. And luckily Alice has exactly what they need—the complete works of Agatha Christie. If there’s anyone that can teach the girls how to solve a mystery it’s the master herself. But the town of Castle Cove holds many secrets, and Alice and Iris have no idea how much danger they're about to walk into.
Author | Kathleen Glasgow/Liz Lawson |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Delacorte Press |
Release Date | May 03, 2022 |
Source | Google Books |
『Pride and Premeditation』
One of BuzzFeed's best YA books of 2021! Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries trilogy is a clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice that reimagines the iconic settings, characters, and romances in a thrilling and high-stakes whodunit. When a scandalous murder shocks London high society, seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seizes the opportunity to prove herself, despite the interference of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious firm Pemberley Associates. Convinced the authorities have imprisoned the wrong person, Lizzie vows to solve the murder on her own. But as the case—and her feelings for Darcy—become more complicated, Lizzie discovers that her dream job could make her happy, but it might also get her killed. Three of Jane Austen’s classic novels receive a murder mystery makeover in this romantic and thrilling three-book series that’s perfect for fans of The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy. Pride and Premeditation is followed by Sense and Second-Degree Murder, in which aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood and her sister Marianne, a budding detective, work together to solve the mystery of their father’s murder.
Author | Tirzah Price |
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Price | $13.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | Apr 06, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『They Wish They Were Us』
"ONE OF THIS SUMMER'S BUZZIEST YA READS"--Entertainment Weekly AN INSTANT INDIEBOUND BESTSELLER Gossip Girl meets One of Us Is Lying with a dash of The Secret History in this slick, taut murder mystery set against the backdrop of an exclusive prep school on Long Island. In Gold Coast, Long Island, everything from the expensive downtown shops to the manicured beaches, to the pressed uniforms of Jill Newman and her friends, looks perfect. But as Jill found out three years ago, nothing is as it seems. Freshman year Jill's best friend, the brilliant, dazzling Shaila Arnold, was killed by her boyfriend. After that dark night on the beach, Graham confessed, the case was closed, and Jill tried to move on. Now, it's Jill's senior year and she's determined to make it her best yet. After all, she's a senior and a Player--a member of Gold Coast Prep's exclusive, not-so-secret secret society. Senior Players have the best parties, highest grades and the admiration of the entire school. This is going to be Jill's year. She's sure of it. But when Jill starts getting texts proclaiming Graham's innocence, her dreams of the perfect senior year start to crumble. If Graham didn't kill Shaila, who did? Jill vows to find out, but digging deeper could mean putting her friendships, and her future, in jeopardy.
Author | Jessica Goodman |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | Jun 29, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Dead Girls Detective Agency』
Veronica Mars meets The Lying Game, The Dead Girls Detective Agency follows Charlotte Feldman, a teenage girl who must solve the mystery of how and why she was murdered if she wants to escape purgatory. The basis for the new Snapchat series! What would you do if you had to solve your own murder to get anywhere in death? Maybe if I hadn't slept through my alarm, slammed into Kristin—my high school's reigning mean girl—or stepped in a puddle, destroying my mom's new suede DVF boots (which I borrowed without asking), I wouldn't have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I wouldn't have been pushed in front of that arriving train. But I did, and I was. When I came to, I was informed by a group of girls that I'm dead. And that because I died under mysterious circumstances, I can't pass straight over to the Other Side. But at least I'm not alone. Meet the Dead Girls Detective Agency: Nancy, Lorna, and Tess—not to mention Edison, the really cute if slightly hostile dead boy. Apparently the only way out of this limbo is to figure out who killed me, or I'll have to spend eternity playing Nancy Drew. Considering I was fairly invisible in life, who could hate me enough to want me dead? And what if my murderer is someone I never would have suspected?
Author | Suzy Cox |
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Price | $4.99 |
Publisher | Harper Collins |
Release Date | Sep 18, 2012 |
Source | Google Books |
Wrapping up this rollercoaster of a list, I just want to say that if you're in the mood for suspense, teenage detectives, and a mysterious puzzle to solve, then these books have got you covered! Hearty recommendations for all you Sherlock-Holmes-wannabes out there, guaranteed to keep you guessing until the very end. Whether you're digging the vibe of conventional whodunits or you're into the adrenaline rush of an edge-of-your-seat thriller, there's something in this versatile list to satisfy your mystery-loving soul. Plus, who can resist a dose of high school drama mixed with crime-solving adventures? So go ahead, pick up a book from this line-up and prepare to transform your lunch breaks, recliner hours, or bedtime routine into an exciting escapade. It's about time we appreciated these high school detectives for the captivating heroes they truly are! Let me tell you, once you dive into these pages, there's no turning back. Happy reading, mystery mavens!
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