Girl Forgotten by April Henry
Piper Gray starts a true-crime podcast to investigate the unsolved murder of Layla Trello, who was killed seventeen years ago. As Piper and her mysterious partner, Jonas, delve deeper into the case, they receive anonymous threats warning them to stop, leading Piper to realize the killer is still out there—and will do anything to keep their secret.
The Red Palace by June Hur
In 1758 Joseon Korea, Hyeon, an illegitimate daughter, earns a position as a palace nurse and hopes to win her father’s approval. When four women are murdered and her mentor is accused, Hyeon launches a secret investigation, teaming up with police inspector Eojin. As they uncover dark secrets and point to the Crown Prince as the murderer, they must navigate the dangerous world of palace politics to find the truth.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Daunis Fontaine, a biracial, unenrolled Ojibwe tribal member, struggles to fit in both in her hometown and on the reservation. After witnessing a murder, she agrees to go undercover in a criminal investigation, but as secrets and deaths unfold, Daunis must decide how far she will go to protect her community, even if it means risking everything she knows.
The Companion by Katie Alender
Margot, an orphan who survived a tragic accident, is sent to live with the prestigious Sutton family at their remote estate. Initially relieved to escape her grim past, she soon discovers eerie secrets about the family and their silent daughter, Agatha, leading her to question her own sanity and the true nature of the Suttons’ intentions.
Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer
Steph, who has never stayed in one place for long due to her mom’s constant moving, finds solace in an online community called CatNet. When a dangerous threat from her past surfaces and the secret of the site’s A.I. admin, CheshireCat, is exposed, Steph and her friends must work together to protect it.
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Sadie has spent her life raising her sister Mattie in a small town, but after Mattie is found dead, Sadie embarks on a mission of vengeance, following meager clues to find her sister’s killer. When radio personality West McCray hears her story, he begins a podcast to track Sadie’s journey, desperate to uncover the truth before it’s too late. Sadie is a gripping and emotional tale of revenge, loss, and justice.
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Fifteen-year-old Will carries a gun, seeking revenge for his brother Shawn’s murder, following the rules of no crying, no snitching, and seeking retribution. However, as he rides an elevator, the people he encounters reveal shocking truths about his brother’s death, forcing Will to confront a much larger story than the one he set out to pursue. Long Way Down is a tense, gripping exploration of violence, revenge, and the choices that shape our lives.
Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
In Amsterdam, 1943, Hanneke navigates the dangerous world of the black market while mourning her boyfriend’s death in the war. Her life takes a turn when a client asks for help finding a missing Jewish teenager, leading her into the heart of the Dutch resistance and uncovering dark truths about the Nazi occupation. Girl in the Blue Coat is a gripping, beautifully crafted story of courage, betrayal, and the cost of resistance.
A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
Grace Mae, confined to a Boston insane asylum due to dark family secrets and an unspoken trauma, becomes the assistant to a doctor studying criminal psychology. As she escapes to a safer asylum in Ohio, Grace uncovers a string of murders and must confront both a brutal killer and the demons of her own past. A Madness So Discreet is a gripping historical thriller that explores the fragile boundaries between sanity, evil, and survival.
The Art of Secrets by James Klise
After a mysterious fire destroys Saba Khan’s apartment, possibly a hate crime, her life takes unexpected turns as her family is thrust into the spotlight. When an artwork donated for a fundraiser is revealed to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, questions of who deserves the money spark tension and accusations among students, teachers, and the community. The Art of Secrets unfolds through journal entries, interviews, and other documents, revealing the tangled web of greed, jealousy, and suspicion that follows the fire.
Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
Fifteen-year-old Zoe carries a dark secret she can’t share with anyone—until she begins writing letters to Stuart Harris, a man on death row in Texas. As she confesses her story of love, betrayal, and murder, Zoe finds an unlikely connection with Stuart, who, like her, is no stranger to secrets and lies. Full of heartache and humor, Zoe’s letters unfold a powerful tale of pain and redemption.
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France, and two best friends, Verity and Maddie, are caught in the aftermath. When Verity is arrested by the Gestapo, she faces torture and execution unless she reveals her mission. As she writes her confession, Verity recounts her friendship with Maddie and the difficult choices that led to their separation, exploring themes of courage, survival, and the lengths true friends will go to save one another.
The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall
Seventeen-year-old Hope Long’s life is turned upside down when her brother, Jeremy, is accused of murdering the town’s baseball coach. Unable to speak for nine years, Jeremy can’t defend himself, and Hope must convince the jury of his insanity. As she investigates the truth, Hope uncovers disturbing secrets about the murder, the town, and her own family, while grappling with the terrifying possibility of who the real killer might be.
The Interrogation of Gabriel James by Charlie Price
In Eyewitness, fourteen-year-old Gabriel James recounts the shocking story of two murders during a police interrogation, interspersed with flashbacks. As he unravels the connection between a troubled classmate’s home life and a series of local crimes, Gabriel becomes increasingly conflicted about his own role in the tragic events that have unfolded.
Reality Check by Peter Abrahams
Cody’s life seems perfect—he’s the star quarterback, has good grades, and dates the smartest girl at school. But when a torn ACL ends his football career and his ex-girlfriend Clea goes missing, Cody sets out to uncover the truth behind her disappearance. Guided by a letter Clea sent him, Cody travels to Vermont, where he uncovers dark secrets and discovers he has skills beyond the football field.
Paper Towns by John Green
Quentin Jacobsen has always admired the adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. When she recruits him for a night of elaborate revenge, he follows eagerly. But the next day, Margo disappears, leaving behind a series of clues meant to lead Q on a journey, unraveling the mystery of who she truly is and what happened to her.
Rat Life by Tedd Arnold
Todd is content with his quiet life, working at his family’s motel and writing stories, until he meets Rat, a troubled Vietnam veteran. When Rat offers him a job at the drive-in theater, Todd becomes entangled in a series of strange events that lead him to question Rat’s involvement with a murder discovered in the Chemanga River. As the mystery deepens, Todd finds himself drawn into a complex puzzle where Rat’s secrets may hold the key.
Buried by Robin Merrow MacCready
When her alcoholic mother vanishes, Claudine, who has sacrificed her own dreams to care for her, is forced to face a buried secret hidden in a shallow grave behind their family trailer. This psychological thriller delves into the dangers of codependency.
Last Shot by John Feinstein
New York Times bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein takes readers behind the scenes of the Final Four basketball tournament. When Stevie wins a writing contest, he attends the Final Four in New Orleans, where he overhears a plot to throw the championship game. With the help of fellow winner Susan Carol, Stevie races against time to uncover who is blackmailing a star player.
In Darkness, Death by Dorothy Hoobler & Thomas Hoobler
Samurai Lord Inaba is murdered in his sleep, under the Shogun’s protection, and Judge Ooka, Japan’s real-life Sherlock Holmes, is called to solve the case. Along with his 14-year-old apprentice, Seikei, they follow a bloodstained origami butterfly through a web of ninjas, vengeful peasants, and a deadly killer. Seikei must survive the dangerous journey to uncover the truth.
Acceleration by Graham McNamee
Seventeen-year-old Duncan works at the Toronto Transit Authority’s Lost and Found, bored by the endless boxes of unclaimed items. But when he discovers a diary detailing the twisted mind of a serial killer stalking the subway, he can’t stop reading. As Duncan becomes consumed by the book, he must decide how far he’s willing to go to stop the killer before time runs out.
The Wessex Papers, Vols. 1-3 by Daniel Parker
Summary of Vol. 1, aka Trust Falls: At Wessex Academy, Fred Bushmill uncovers a sinister conspiracy involving blackmail and corruption after discovering that someone planted chewing tobacco in a student’s bag to expel him. Along with alumni prankster Sunday Winthrop, Fred digs deeper into the mystery, uncovering a dangerous plot that threatens to ruin one of their friends.
The Boy in the Burning House by Tim Wynne-Jones
Two years after his father’s disappearance, Jim Hawkins is struggling with grief and uncertainty. His life is shaken when he meets Ruth Rose, the rebellious stepdaughter of Father Fisher, who claims her stepfather is a murderer. As Jim is drawn into Ruth’s shocking revelations, he begins to question the truth about his father’s disappearance and the dark secrets surrounding Father Fisher.
Counterfeit Son by Elaine Marie Alphin
Cameron Miller, the son of a murderer, has grown up in fear and abuse. After his father’s death in a police shootout, Cameron seizes the opportunity to escape by assuming the identity of Neil Lacey, a boy his father had abducted. Living a new life with a loving family, Cameron is haunted by the threat of someone who knows his dark secret and could ruin everything.
Never Trust a Dead Man by Vivian Vande Velde
Selwyn is devastated when Anora, the woman he loves, marries the cruel but wealthy Farold. After being brutally beaten by Farold in front of the villagers, Selwyn is shocked when Farold is found murdered, and all suspicion falls on him. He is then sealed in a burial cave with Farold’s body, facing the grim consequences of the accusation.
The Killer’s Cousin by Nancy Werlin
Seventeen-year-old David, recently acquitted of murder, has relocated to Massachusetts to finish his senior year of high school. His aunt and uncle have provided him with a refuge, shielding him from the relentless media attention and the uneasy stares of his former friends and neighbors.
Ghost Canoe by Will Hobbs
After a shipwreck off Cape Flattery, fourteen-year-old Nathan McAllister refuses to believe there were no survivors, suspecting someone is hiding in the remote sea caves. Joined by Lighthouse George, a fisherman from the Makah whaling tribe, Nathan embarks on a search through the harsh Pacific waters. Along the way, he uncovers a ghostly canoe and a skeleton, revealing a mystery of ancient treasure, betrayal, and murder.
Twisted Summer by Willo Davis Roberts
Each summer, Cici and her family gather with friends at Crystal Lake. This year, she learns that Brody, the older brother of her friend Jack, has been convicted of murder. Convinced of Brody’s innocence, Cici sets out to find the true killer, only to uncover a tangled web of lies and cover-ups that puts her own safety at risk.
Prophecy Rock by Rob MacGregor
Will Lansa, spending the summer with his father on the Hopi Reservation, becomes involved in the investigation of a murder near a sacred site, Prophecy Rock. As he uncovers ancient prophecies and mystical visions, Will gains insight into Hopi culture, but his search for the truth puts his life in danger.
Toughing It by Nancy Springer
After his brother Dillon is killed, Tuff is left with nothing but a picture of him and the revelation of their father’s identity. Determined to seek justice, Tuff embarks on a journey that evolves into a search for the family he and Dillon had always dreamed of.
The Name of the Game Was Murder by Joan Lowery Nixon
Novelist Augustus Trevor has written a manuscript that exposes the deepest secrets of his guests. The first person to solve his clues can have their story removed from the book. But when Trevor is bludgeoned to death, the remaining guests—and the reader—must unravel the mystery to find both the manuscript and the killer.
A Little Bit Dead by Chap Reaver
In 1876, eighteen-year-old Reece intervenes in the attempted lynching of a young Yahi Indian named Shanti, putting his own life at risk and becoming deeply entangled in the future of Shanti’s people.
The Weirdo by Theodore Taylor
Chip Clewt, known as the “weirdo,” lives alone in the Powhatan Swamp, a National Wildlife Refuge caught in a heated debate between hunters and environmentalists. As the hunting ban nears expiration, Chip unexpectedly steps forward to lead the conservation effort, surprising everyone.
Mote by Chap Reaver
Chris Miller and his best friend Billy look to Mote, a mysterious Vietnam veteran and father figure, for guidance as they confront a cruel teacher and a white supremacist group.
Show Me the Evidence by Alane Ferguson
After a strange series of events, Lauren’s best friend is accused of murdering her baby brother and two other infants. Believing in her friend’s innocence, Lauren joins her to uncover the truth and find evidence to clear her name.
Incident at Loring Groves by Sonia Levitin
Cassidy Keaton has a perfect life, but after spending two weeks at summer camp, she feels a bit restless as she starts her junior year. When she and her camp crush, Ken Farquar, stumble upon a dead body during a party, their lives take a dramatic turn, forcing them to make a life-changing decision.
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