The Best YA Thriller & Suspense Novels of All Time
by Dena McMurdie
I love getting sucked into young adult suspense novels filled with secrets and intrigue. They offer creepy settings, unreliable narrators, and more twists and turns than a high-speed roller coaster. Whether you enjoy chills running up your spine or piecing together the clues in a murder investigation, these suspenseful, fast-paced thrillers will satisfy your hunger for something on the darker side.
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The Counselors
Available from:Summer camp takes a sinister turn in this bestselling thriller. Goldie and her friends are excited to be counselors at their summer camp this year, and they do everything they can to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome. But when Goldie’s ex-boyfriend turns up dead and one of her friends lies about being at the crime scene, Goldie suddenly doesn’t know who she can trust. She must figure out what happened the night of the murder before her entire world falls apart.
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One of Us Is Lying
Available from:Five teens walk into detention, but only four make it out alive. Simon, an outcast, planned to go public with the other teens’ secrets, but he dies before he can put his plan into action. Now, the cops think it was murder, and they’re looking at the four remaining students. This twisty thriller has captivated millions of readers, became a bestseller, and was adapted into a television series.
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13 Reasons Why
Available from:This hard-hitting novel is about a teen boy named Clay dealing with the aftermath of a friend’s suicide. Hannah left him several cassette tapes in which she chronicled the events of the weeks leading up to her death. As Clay follows the tapes and investigates Hannah’s claims, he uncovers several shocking truths about the town, his friends, and his school. This heartbreaking yet riveting novel was also adapted into a Netflix series.
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This Is My America
Available from:Tracy’s father is on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. So, when the police arrest her brother for murder, even though he is innocent, Tracy refuses to lose another family member. She launches her own investigation into the night of the murder and tries to piece together what happened. In the process, she discovers several unsettling secrets about her town’s history.
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I Was Here
Available from:When her best friend Meg dies by suicide, Cody goes to her dorm room to collect her things. What starts as a grief-filled task turns into a deeper investigation as Cody realizes she didn’t know her friend as well as she thought. And when she finds the laptop Meg left behind, Cody realizes her death may not have been suicide after all.
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A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Available from:When you need a book jam-packed with thrills and chills, dive into the multi-million bestselling series about a teenage true crime podcaster and the cold case she heats up. This highly suspenseful three-book series will keep you turning pages into the wee hours of the night. Keep a flashlight close by because you’ll need it!
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The Island
Available from:When several teenage influencers get invited to an all-expenses paid weekend at an island amusement park, they don’t hesitate to accept. The island has everything a young influencer could hope for — exciting rides, gorgeous scenery, gram-worthy resort rooms, and… murder? It’s the perfect summer thriller for long-time fans of Natasha Preston’s books and new readers alike!
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The Cheerleaders
Available from:After the deaths of five cheerleaders, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. Now five years later, Monica wants to find out what happened. But the more questions she asks, the more people clam up. With secrets, suspense, and a possible murderer on the loose, The Cheerleaders is a thrilling whodunit you’ll want to binge-read all at once.
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Legend
Available from:This thrilling science fiction novel has dazzled millions of readers worldwide. When a wealthy boy gets murdered, his sister June teams up with the prime suspect to find out who was really behind the crime. When the unlikely pair stumble across the truth, they work together to expose the corruption, crime, and secrets their government wants to keep quiet.
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City of Saints & Thieves
Available from:When Tina’s mother is murdered, Tina vows to get revenge on her killer and takes a job at the estate where her mother died. Now, she must outwit the corrupt businessman who owns the estate, pull off a theft, and find the truth behind her mother’s murder. This pulse-pounding thriller is a multi-award-winning novel that young adult readers can’t get enough of.
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We Were Liars: Deluxe Edition
Available from:This mind-bending thriller became a worldwide phenomenon that readers of all ages have come to obsess over. With more twists and turns than a roller coaster, this story about a teenage girl spending the summer with her family on a private island has captivated millions of readers. After you read the book, stream the original television show!
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The Face on the Milk Carton
Available from:Mystery and suspense collide in this psychological thriller about a girl who sees herself in a missing person ad on a milk carton. Suddenly, her ordinary life gets turned upside down as she searches for answers. Originally published in 1990, this novel has enthralled generations of readers.
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I Must Betray You
Available from:If you love historical thrillers, this book is a must-read. It has been translated into 14 languages and devoured by hundreds of thousands of readers. It’s about a boy named Cristian living in communist Romania. When the secret police blackmail him into becoming an informant, he uses the opportunity to aid the growing civilian resistance. Well-researched, emotional, and gripping, it is impossible to put down.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2025.