The Best YA Thriller & Mystery Books That Even Adults Can Enjoy

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There's nothing like getting caught up in a heart-racing suspense or haunting mystery that keeps you flipping through pages. Authors like Stephen King and Gillian Flynn have dominated the adult-geared sections of bookstores for years, but if you're skipping the Young Adult shelves, you're missing out on some awesome reads. While YA books typically center around teens, many storylines and challenges the protagonists face are still relatable to those 30 and up. And, when it comes to thrillers, those who love fantasy can find many books with spirits, hauntings, and other supernatural elements.

If you're looking for a quick beach read or simply want to immerse yourself in a book that's not overly complicated, YA books are perfect for you, as they tend to be shorter and easier to read. They also offer a little less spice if you're into closed-door romance. So, if you want to be taken for a riveting ride that's fast-paced and low on steamy love scenes, check out our picks for the best YA thriller and mystery books that'll have you on the edge of your seat.

"One of Us Is Lying" by Karen M. McManus is a captivating whodunnit that follows four high school seniors accused of killing their classmate, Simon Kelleher. Addy Prentiss, Bronwyn Rojas, Nate Macauley, and Cooper Clay all have secrets to hide, which threaten to be exposed after Kelleher dies from a mysterious allergic attack while all five students are in detention together. The remaining four become suspects and team up to figure out how they're being framed and why.

McManus's thriller isn't just about catching the culprit and solving a mystery. Real-life subplots, such as Clay hiding his queer identity and Prentiss becoming an outcast after cheating on her boyfriend, make the book more dimensional. "One of Us Is Lying" was a hit with readers of all ages, and one wrote on Goodreads, "What a marvelous, delectable read! There was something so addictive about this book; it felt at times distinctly young adult while also having moments that felt so well done it was beyond the stereotype of what a teenage thriller tends to be." Another shared, "If 'One of Us Is Lying' was a television series, I would binge-watch it wholeheartedly." Good thing for fans, Peacock made a series adaptation of the thriller, with two seasons available to stream. We suggest reading the book first, along with its sequel, "One of Us Is Next," and then cozying up on your sofa to devour the show, along with your favorite snack.

Revenge tales never get old, especially if you can relate to being an outcast or bullied by your peers. While exacting vengeance is never a good idea in real life, "Burn for Burn" by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian is the perfect thriller book that proves women are a force to be reckoned with. Teens Lillia, Kat, and Mary have all been wronged by their classmates, and hatch a plan to get back at their enemies. Of course, with revenge comes unexpected consequences that put a dangerous twist on their plans, and in a shocking reveal, one of the three girls discovers a painful secret about herself that fuels her anger even more.

If the name Han sounds familiar, it's because she's the author of the hit series, "The Summer I Turned Pretty." Fans know that she's a master at drawing readers in with the characters' angst and complicated relationships. "Burn For Burn" is no different, except it possesses a supernatural angle and is not wholly centered around love. However, there is some romance in the book, so readers will get a bit of everything. Once you finish the first of the trilogy, you'll be itching to read "Fire with Fire" and "Ashes to Ashes," so be sure to have them on hand for your next thrilling adventure.

If you love popular thriller books, "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart is a nail-biting psychological suspense novel that'll leave you guessing until the very end. The story is told by Cadence, who suffers from migraines and memory loss after a mysterious accident a few years ago, which also fractured her relationship with her two cousins and a boy named Gat. The foursome, called the Liars, was super tight and always vacationed together in Cadence's large family estate on an island. When the family reunites during the summer, the Liars attempt to mend their relationship as Cadence tries to piece together what caused her memory loss, only to be horrified when she rediscovers just what happened when their plan years back went awry.

"We Were Liars" focuses on Cadence and her attempt to uncover the truth surrounding the accident, but readers will also enjoy the complex relationship between the adults themselves, who are flawed and messy. Her grandfather is crotchety and holds the estate over their heads, while his daughters are rich but can't seem to get their lives together. Overall, the book is a lesson in how greed destroys families, with a heartbreaking twist at the end that will leave readers haunted.

Fans of "Only Murders in the Building" will love the show's high-school version, "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" by Holly Jackson. The heroine of the story, Pip, tries to solve the apparent murder-suicide of two students, Andie Bell and Sal Singh, that took place years ago. As Pip continues to dig, she places her life in danger as someone doesn't want the already-closed case to be investigated. Even after receiving threatening notes, Pip doesn't give up, and she uncovers sordid details surrounding the mysterious deaths that change the whole town.

Although "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" is told through a teenaged lens, the chilling page-turner will be sure to have adults everywhere rooting for Pip to solve the murder. One reviewer on Amazon wrote, "This was a deeply complex story with many difficult hard hitting topics. Yet the author traversed them each gracefully. Masterfully weaved with subtle nuance it is absolutely a must read!" Another shared, "The twists and turns in this book had me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't put it down. Pippa's cleverness and determination make her such a relatable and inspiring character. The blend of mystery, suspense, and high school drama is perfect, keeping you guessing until the very end." Jackson's debut novel did so well that she followed it up with four sequels, so fans can get in some binge-reading with Pip and her crime-solving journey for quite some time.

Many adults may not be interested in YA books, as they're mainly teen-centric and tend to have simpler, more youthful plotlines. However, the ones we chose seemed to be well-liked by a broad age range, according to reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Reddit. We also took into consideration the complex characters and their emotional growth throughout the story, which we think adults would appreciate and connect with. All of our picks received at least four out of five stars from readers, so we're confident that they'll be a hit with you as well.