List
Book Worms Presents: Murder
Every summer, our Book Worms teen group comes together to make the library more awesome! This year, they focused on putting together a display and list of their favorite young adult crime, thriller, and mystery books.
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Stalking Jack the Ripper
2016 by Maniscalco, KerriGet this itemIn this intriguing (and somewhat gruesome) mystery, Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, but all she wants to do is study forensic medicine. When she's dragged into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers circles back to the sheltered world she left behind.
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Threads That Bind
2023 by Hatzopoulou, KikaGet this itemEnter a magical, criminal underworld where the children of the gods inherit their powers. In this stunning urban fantasy, a descendant of the Greek Fates must solve a series of murders to save her sisters, her one true love, and her city.
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The Face on the Milk Carton
1996 by Cooney, Caroline B.Get this itemJane is shocked when at breakfast one morning she sees her face staring back at her on the milk carton. A little girl was stolen from a mall in New Jersey nearly 12-years ago, but it couldn't be her, or else her parents are kidnappers. One of the original YA thrillers stands the test of time in this riveting, heart-wrenching story.
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Don't Want to Be Your Monster
2023 by Moulton, DekeGet this itemComing-of-age meets vampires meets murder mystery in this middle grade novel in which two vampire brothers must set aside their differences to solve a series of killings in their town.
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The Red Palace
2022 by Hur, JuneGet this itemSet in 1758 at the royal Korean palace, nurse Hyeon is investigating a series of grisly murders when she becomes entangled in political intrigue--and with a young police inspector. This mystery explores a lush and dangerous time in history that deserves more attention on our bookshelves.
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It's Only a Game
2024 by Yu, KelseaGet this itemMarina Chan is on the run from her haunted past, but she cannot miss the chance to tour the headquarters of her favorite online video game. When someone ends up dead, her tour group can only escape implication by completing--and winning--a twisted game. Equal parts Agatha Christie and "Squid Games," this book is both lots of fun and complex in the real issues it tackles.
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The One That Got Away with Murder
2024 by Lundy, TrishGet this itemFor fans of Kate McManus, this fresh thriller blends romance with bloody murder as a young girl investigates whether her boyfriend is a serial killer. Someone is killing girls in the town of Happy Valley, and Lauren knows enough about dark secrets to spot one a mile off. She might even have a few of her own.
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Killing November
2019 by Mather, AdrianaGet this itemNovember's life is turned upside down when she enters a secret academy for assassins. And that's not even the weirdest part: when one of them turns up dead, she's pulled into the middle of a murder investigation. Who can she trust when her classmates are literally schooled at stabbing people in the back?
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This Lie Will Kill You
2018 by Pitcher, ChelseaGet this itemFive teens are called together for a Murder Mystery Night, but it becomes evident that whoever called them knows all their dirty little secrets--and is out for revenge. With echoes of Agatha's Christie's And Then There Were None; and the movie classic I Know What You Did Last Summer, this claustrophobic, character-driven thriller delivers a tangled web of lies that is extraordinary to unravel.
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One of Us Is Lying
2017 by McManus, Karen M.Get this itemFive students enter detention, but only four walk out alive. In a book that defined the young adult thriller genre, a slain teen's high-profile classmates--the brain, the deadbeat, the beauty, and the athlete--are all under investigation for murder as they reveal the shady secrets they all shared with the deceased.
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Truly Devious
2018 by Johnson, MaureenGet this itemThe first in an addictive, cliff-hanger heavy series, true-crime aficionado Stevie Bell enrolled in Ellington Academy to solve an infamous cold case. However, her new classmates seem to have secrets of their own, and it seems her investigation isn't as cold as she thought it was; in fact, it's getting hotter by the minute.
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A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
2020 by Jackson, HollyGet this itemFive years ago, Andie Bell was murdered and everyone in town knows who did it. But Pippa (Pip) isn't so sure. In a thriller novel that echoes the podcast revolution of cold crimes, Pip soon finds there are secrets someone is desperate to keep hidden, and if Sal didn't do it, the murderer is still out there.
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Little White Lies
2018 by Barnes, JenniferGet this itemFrom the author of The Inheritance Games, this novel introduces Sawyer Taft, a scrappy young girl who knows the meaning of hard work. So, when her estranged and extremely wealthy grandmother bribes her into becoming a debutante for a year, Sawyer sees it as an opportunity: earn money and learn about a hidden side of her family. But some things are hidden for a reason.
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Only the Stars Know Her Name: Salem's Lost Story of Tituba's Daughter
2019 by Marrone, AmandaGet this itemIn this dark and magical fictional take on what could have happened in the aftermath of the Salem Witch Trials, Tituba's 13-year-old daughter Violet is seeking revenge. The town wrongfully killed her mother, and so many other women, and it's time for them to pay. She joins forces with a local coven--but soon finds herself in over her head.
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Five Broken Blades
2024 by Corland, MaiGet this itemFive of the most dangerous people in the kingdom have been brought together for a very important murder: the royal assassination of King Joon. This adult fantasy is perfect crossover for young adults who love world-building, high-stakes action, and heists.
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Pretty Little Liars
2010 by Shepard, SaraGet this itemFour high-school girls are grieving the death of their friend when a mysterious stalker begins to taunt them. The messages imply that their past and present secrets tie into their friend's death--and that everyone is hiding something. For readers who love the drama of Gossip Girl and Riverdale, this book series will hook them in immediately!
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The Counselors
2022 by Goodman, JessicaGet this itemIf thriller authors were deemed royalty, Jessica Goodman is definitely a queen, and this book is a crown jewel. Goldie Easton has had an awful year, but she is excited to reunite with her two best friends at Camp Alpine Lake--and finally she's a counselor! But when a local boy is found dead on the grounds, they must all reveal their dark secrets if they have any chance of finding the murderer.
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The Ivies
2021 by Donne, AlexaGet this itemHow far would you go to get into your dream college? In this bloody prep-school thriller, ruthless students will do anything for admission--even murder. This young adult thriller is fun and campy, but also plays upon the very real pressures high-school students feel to be "perfect."
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I'll Never Tell
2019 by Haas, AbigailGet this itemAnna's Spring break trip to Aruba is going absolutely perfectly--until her best friend is found brutally murdered. The police are determined to pin the blame on Anna, and it's a race against time for her to prove her innocence. This thriller pulls inspiration from real-life cases like Amanda Knox and Natalee Holloway.
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Someone Is Always Watching
2023 by Armstrong, KelleyGet this itemThe principal is dead. Gabrielle is covered in blood. And she has no idea what happened. Four teens must prove their friend's innocence, but soon find themselves questioning everything when they discover their lives are built on a lie--and their memories cannot be trusted. This mystery is perfect for fans of Black Mirror or The Getaway.
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Dead End Girls
2022 by Heard, WendyGet this itemThis scary and empowering LGBTQ+ thriller throws Maude in the front seat of a getaway car, faking her own death, and escaping her awful, homophobic family. But it's a race against time when they find out and follow, and she learns there are some things you can never run away from.
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The Headmaster's List
2023 by De la Cruz, MelissaGet this itemIs there any genre Melissa De la Cruz doesn't do well? Spencer Sandoval's plans are shattered into a million pieces after a car crash that kills ultra-popular boy Christopher Moore. But when she hears rumors the crash could have been premeditated murder, she decides to investigate herself and is forced to relive that night--the party, the drama, and the car ride that ended in tragedy.
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The Reunion
2023 by Frick, KitGet this itemIf the flavor of The White Lotus mixed with Kate McManus's The Cousins sounds like a good time, get your travel bag ready! There's nothing more fraught than family, but sometimes it takes murder to really make people talk to one another. When the death of a local teen shatters the façade of their idyllic family holiday, four teens must reckon with their shared pasts and new futures.
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Their Vicious Games
2023 by Wellington, JoelleGet this itemAfter being blamed for a fight she didn't start, Adina is blacklisted from her top choice Ivy League college. Luckily, she gets invited to the Finish, a high-stakes competition whose prize of wealth and power can open any door. But the price could mean death, and Adina knows that often the sharpest weapon is hidden beneath the softest smile. This sharp-edged, action-packed novel is perfect for fans of Ace of Spadesand I'm Not Supposed to Die Tonight.
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