29 Books like Kill Joy

Seconds Away

by Harlan Coben

A Nazi photo of his father's paramedic pulls a teen athlete into a classmate's mother's murder.

4.06

20k+

🕵️ Teen Sleuth 🫂 Found Family 💔 Grief-Driven Investigation 🖤 Dark Family Secrets 🤐 Protective Lies

Seconds Away 94%

A Nazi photo of his father's paramedic pulls a teen athlete into a classmate's mother's murder.

by Harlan Coben 2012

4.06

20k+ ratings

🕵️ Teen Sleuth 🫂 Found Family 💔 Grief-Driven Investigation 🖤 Dark Family Secrets 🤐 Protective Lies

Truly, Devious

by Maureen Johnson • 2018

A secluded academy. A 1930s kidnapping. A true-crime-obsessed teen. Then murder returns to campus.

3.88

184k+

🔍 Teen Detective 🕰️ Cold Case Mystery 📜 Dual Timeline Mystery 🏫 Boarding School Secrets 💛 Found Family

Truly, Devious 94%

A secluded academy. A 1930s kidnapping. A true-crime-obsessed teen. Then murder returns to campus.

by Maureen Johnson 2018

3.88

184k+ ratings

🔍 Teen Detective 🕰️ Cold Case Mystery 📜 Dual Timeline Mystery 🏫 Boarding School Secrets 💛 Found Family

This Book Kills

by Ravena Guron • 2023

Her short story kills a classmate. A scholarship student must find the real murderer.

3.90

13k+

🏫 Boarding School Mystery 📖 Murder Mirrors Fiction 🎭 Secret Society 🕵️ Framed Protagonist 💔 Best Friend Betrayal

This Book Kills 94%

Her short story kills a classmate. A scholarship student must find the real murderer.

by Ravena Guron 2023

3.90

13k+ ratings

🏫 Boarding School Mystery 📖 Murder Mirrors Fiction 🎭 Secret Society 🕵️ Framed Protagonist 💔 Best Friend Betrayal

Night School

by C.J. Daugherty • 2012

A teen exiled to an isolated academy uncovers a clandestine program and a murder nobody explains.

4.07

29k+

🏫 Boarding School Mystery 🤫 Secret Society ❤️‍🔥 Love Triangle 🐠 Fish Out Of Water 🕯️ Gothic Atmosphere

Night School 92%

A teen exiled to an isolated academy uncovers a clandestine program and a murder nobody explains.

by C.J. Daugherty 2012

4.07

29k+ ratings

🏫 Boarding School Mystery 🤫 Secret Society ❤️‍🔥 Love Triangle 🐠 Fish Out Of Water 🕯️ Gothic Atmosphere

You're Next

by Kylie Schachte • 2020

Her ex-girlfriend's murder sends a teen sleuth into a secret fight club where power kills.

3.77

2k+

🔍 Teen Sleuth 🔒 Secret Society 🏛️ Political Conspiracy 🏳️‍🌈 Queer Protagonist ❄️ Cold Case

You're Next 92%

Her ex-girlfriend's murder sends a teen sleuth into a secret fight club where power kills.

by Kylie Schachte 2020

3.77

2k+ ratings

🔍 Teen Sleuth 🔒 Secret Society 🏛️ Political Conspiracy 🏳️‍🌈 Queer Protagonist ❄️ Cold Case

Nothing More to Tell

by Karen M. McManus • 2022

To land a true crime internship, she reopens the murder her oldest friends swore to forget.

3.88

75k+

🎙️ True Crime Journalism 🤫 Pact Of Silence 🏫 Private School 🕵️ Amateur Sleuth 🌲 Small Town Secrets

Nothing More to Tell 93%

To land a true crime internship, she reopens the murder her oldest friends swore to forget.

by Karen M. McManus 2022

3.88

75k+ ratings

🎙️ True Crime Journalism 🤫 Pact Of Silence 🏫 Private School 🕵️ Amateur Sleuth 🌲 Small Town Secrets

The Westing Game

by Ellen Raskin • 1978

Sixteen tenants learn a dead man's will named them suspects. To inherit, they must find the killer.

3.99

237k+

🧩 Puzzle Mystery 🎭 Hidden Identities 🕵️ Child Detective 🔒 Closed Circle Mystery 👥 Eccentric Ensemble Cast

The Westing Game 93%

Sixteen tenants learn a dead man's will named them suspects. To inherit, they must find the killer.

by Ellen Raskin 1978

3.99

237k+ ratings

🧩 Puzzle Mystery 🎭 Hidden Identities 🕵️ Child Detective 🔒 Closed Circle Mystery 👥 Eccentric Ensemble Cast

Two Can Keep a Secret

by Karen M. McManus

Ellery moves to Echo Ridge hunting answers about her missing aunt. Then the bodies start dropping.

3.91

174k+

🏘️ Small Town Mystery 🔍 Teen Detective Duo 🎧 True Crime Obsession ⚖️ Framed For Murder 🔒 Family Secrets

Two Can Keep a Secret 93%

Ellery moves to Echo Ridge hunting answers about her missing aunt. Then the bodies start dropping.

by Karen M. McManus 2019

3.91

174k+ ratings

🏘️ Small Town Mystery 🔍 Teen Detective Duo 🎧 True Crime Obsession ⚖️ Framed For Murder 🔒 Family Secrets

Where Sleeping Girls Lie

by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé • 2024

Her first night at a gothic boarding school, her roommate vanishes. A secret society knows why.

3.96

23k+

🏫 Boarding School Mystery 🕯️ Secret Society 💕 Sapphic Undertones 🖤 Toxic Friendship 🌫️ Gothic Atmosphere

Where Sleeping Girls Lie 92%

Her first night at a gothic boarding school, her roommate vanishes. A secret society knows why.

by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé 2024

3.96

23k+ ratings

🏫 Boarding School Mystery 🕯️ Secret Society 💕 Sapphic Undertones 🖤 Toxic Friendship 🌫️ Gothic Atmosphere

The Cabin

by Natasha Preston • 2016

A weekend at a remote cabin ends in murder, and the killer is among the survivors.

3.62

45k+

🚪 Locked Room Mystery 🏚️ Remote Cabin 🔪 Killer Among Friends 🏃‍♀️ Final Girl 🕯️ Past Tragedy

The Cabin 92%

A weekend at a remote cabin ends in murder, and the killer is among the survivors.

by Natasha Preston 2016

3.62

45k+ ratings

🚪 Locked Room Mystery 🏚️ Remote Cabin 🔪 Killer Among Friends 🏃‍♀️ Final Girl 🕯️ Past Tragedy

The Cheerleaders

by Kara Thomas

Five cheerleaders died. Five years later, a sister digs up their secrets and awakens a killer.

3.74

57k+

🏚️ Small Town Secrets 🕵️‍♀️ Amateur Detective 📁 Cold Case 🤝 Unlikely Allies ⚠️ Predatory Adult

The Cheerleaders 93%

Five cheerleaders died. Five years later, a sister digs up their secrets and awakens a killer.

by Kara Thomas 2018

3.74

57k+ ratings

🏚️ Small Town Secrets 🕵️‍♀️ Amateur Detective 📁 Cold Case 🤝 Unlikely Allies ⚠️ Predatory Adult

The Perfectionists

by Sara Shepard • 2014

At a high-pressure high school, five girls prank a golden boy and become murder suspects.

3.78

15k+

🔪 High School Murder 😈 Deadly Prank 🗂️ Blackmail 🤐 Friend Group Suspicion 😰 Paranoid Atmosphere

The Perfectionists 93%

At a high-pressure high school, five girls prank a golden boy and become murder suspects.

by Sara Shepard 2014

3.78

15k+ ratings

🔪 High School Murder 😈 Deadly Prank 🗂️ Blackmail 🤐 Friend Group Suspicion 😰 Paranoid Atmosphere

You'll Be the Death of Me

by Karen M. McManus • 2021

Three ex-friends play hooky, find a classmate's corpse, and become prime suspects in his murder.

3.73

85k+

🕵️ Teen Sleuth Trio 🤝 Estranged Friends Reunion 🚫 Teacher-Student Affair ⚖️ Wrongful Accusation 💊 School Drug Ring

You'll Be the Death of Me 93%

Three ex-friends play hooky, find a classmate's corpse, and become prime suspects in his murder.

by Karen M. McManus 2021

3.73

85k+ ratings

🕵️ Teen Sleuth Trio 🤝 Estranged Friends Reunion 🚫 Teacher-Student Affair ⚖️ Wrongful Accusation 💊 School Drug Ring

I'm the Girl

by Courtney Summers • 2022

Georgia finds a murdered girl near Aspera, where beauty buys protection and silence costs lives.

3.38

5k+

🖤 Dark Ya Thriller 🏘️ Small Town Mystery 👩‍❤️‍👩 Sapphic Romance 💰 Class Divide 🌀 Unreliable Narrator

I'm the Girl 92%

Georgia finds a murdered girl near Aspera, where beauty buys protection and silence costs lives.

by Courtney Summers 2022

3.38

5k+ ratings

🖤 Dark Ya Thriller 🏘️ Small Town Mystery 👩‍❤️‍👩 Sapphic Romance 💰 Class Divide 🌀 Unreliable Narrator

How to Find a Missing Girl

by Victoria Wlosok • 2023

A missing sister. A vanished ex. A podcast of secrets someone is killing to keep quiet.

3.59

6k+

🕵️ Amateur Sleuths 🏘️ Small Town Mystery 🎙️ True Crime Podcast 🔍 Missing Sister 📚 High School Secrets

How to Find a Missing Girl 92%

A missing sister. A vanished ex. A podcast of secrets someone is killing to keep quiet.

by Victoria Wlosok 2023

3.59

6k+ ratings

🕵️ Amateur Sleuths 🏘️ Small Town Mystery 🎙️ True Crime Podcast 🔍 Missing Sister 📚 High School Secrets

All That’s Left to Say

by Emery Lord • 2023

A girl goes undercover at her dead cousin's prep school to find who supplied the pills.

3.67

2k+

🏫 Prep School Mystery 🖤 Enemies To Lovers 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🎭 Hidden Identity 😔 Survivor's Guilt

All That’s Left to Say 93%

A girl goes undercover at her dead cousin's prep school to find who supplied the pills.

by Emery Lord 2023

3.67

2k+ ratings

🏫 Prep School Mystery 🖤 Enemies To Lovers 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🎭 Hidden Identity 😔 Survivor's Guilt

Such Charming Liars

by Karen M. McManus • 2024

A jewel heist at a billionaire's birthday party becomes a murder trap for a teenage grifter.

3.72

24k+

🎭 Heist Gone Wrong 🃏 Con Artist Family 🫂 Found Family 🎉 Murder At A Party 🗝️ Dark Family Secrets

Such Charming Liars 93%

A jewel heist at a billionaire's birthday party becomes a murder trap for a teenage grifter.

by Karen M. McManus 2024

3.72

24k+ ratings

🎭 Heist Gone Wrong 🃏 Con Artist Family 🫂 Found Family 🎉 Murder At A Party 🗝️ Dark Family Secrets

One of Us Is Lying

by Karen M. McManus

When a gossip app creator dies in detention, four classmates with secrets are accused of murder.

3.91

1.1M+

📚 Prep School Mystery 👁️ Multi Pov Mystery 🔪 Framed For Murder 👥 Forced Proximity 🫂 Found Family

One of Us Is Lying 93%

When a gossip app creator dies in detention, four classmates with secrets are accused of murder.

by Karen M. McManus 2017

3.91

1.1M+ ratings

📚 Prep School Mystery 👁️ Multi Pov Mystery 🔪 Framed For Murder 👥 Forced Proximity 🫂 Found Family

Mother-Daughter Murder Night

by Nina Simon • 2023

When her granddaughter is accused of murder, a mogul with cancer investigates in a coastal town.

3.55

117k+

🕵️ Amateur Sleuthing 🏘️ Small Town Murder 🔒 Family Secrets ⚖️ Wrongly Accused 📖 Character-Driven Mystery

Mother-Daughter Murder Night 92%

When her granddaughter is accused of murder, a mogul with cancer investigates in a coastal town.

by Nina Simon 2023

3.55

117k+ ratings

🕵️ Amateur Sleuthing 🏘️ Small Town Murder 🔒 Family Secrets ⚖️ Wrongly Accused 📖 Character-Driven Mystery

One for Sorrow

by Zoe Sugg • 2020

After their school is accused of murder, a new student and her reluctant roommate hunt a killer.

3.70

11k+

🏫 Boarding School Mystery 🔍 Secret Society 🤝 Reluctant Allies 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 English Boarding School 🎙️ Podcast Framing

One for Sorrow 92%

After their school is accused of murder, a new student and her reluctant roommate hunt a killer.

by Zoe Sugg 2020

3.70

11k+ ratings

🏫 Boarding School Mystery 🔍 Secret Society 🤝 Reluctant Allies 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 English Boarding School 🎙️ Podcast Framing

The Inheritance Games

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

A broke teen inherits stranger's fortune and must survive four grandsons in a puzzle-filled mansion.

4.12

1.1M+

🧩 Puzzle Mystery 💔 Love Triangle 💰 Wealthy Family Secrets 🏚️ Gothic Mansion 🐟 Fish Out Of Water

The Inheritance Games 93%

A broke teen inherits stranger's fortune and must survive four grandsons in a puzzle-filled mansion.

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 2020

4.12

1.1M+ ratings

🧩 Puzzle Mystery 💔 Love Triangle 💰 Wealthy Family Secrets 🏚️ Gothic Mansion 🐟 Fish Out Of Water

Legacy

by Kate Brian • 2008

A student haunted by a death chases a party invitation that exposes a clique's lethal secrets.

4.04

7k+

📚 Prep School Mystery 🎭 Boarding School Drama 💅 Mean Girls Clique 💔 Love Triangle 🥂 High Society Party

Legacy 93%

A student haunted by a death chases a party invitation that exposes a clique's lethal secrets.

by Kate Brian 2008

4.04

7k+ ratings

📚 Prep School Mystery 🎭 Boarding School Drama 💅 Mean Girls Clique 💔 Love Triangle 🥂 High Society Party

This Is Not a Game

by Kelly Mullen • 2025

Blackmailed into a mansion party, a grandmother and her granddaughter are snowed in with a killer.

3.41

6k+

🔒 Locked Room Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuths 🤫 Family Secrets ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy ❄️ Snowbound Mansion

This Is Not a Game 93%

Blackmailed into a mansion party, a grandmother and her granddaughter are snowed in with a killer.

by Kelly Mullen 2025

3.41

6k+ ratings

🔒 Locked Room Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuths 🤫 Family Secrets ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy ❄️ Snowbound Mansion

Pretty Little Liars

by Sara Shepard • 2006

Four friends bury their secrets alongside a vanished queen bee. Then the stalker's texts begin.

3.84

214k+

🏘️ Small Town Mystery 👑 Queen Bee 👁️ Anonymous Stalker 💔 Forbidden Romance ✨ Glossy Suspense

Pretty Little Liars 93%

Four friends bury their secrets alongside a vanished queen bee. Then the stalker's texts begin.

by Sara Shepard 2006

3.84

214k+ ratings

🏘️ Small Town Mystery 👑 Queen Bee 👁️ Anonymous Stalker 💔 Forbidden Romance ✨ Glossy Suspense

Death in the Cards

by Mia P. Manansala • 2025

Blamed for a classmate's disappearance, a teen tarot reader joins the family detective agency.

3.70

2k+

🕵️ Teen Detective 🃏 Tarot Readings 🫂 Found Family 🤝 Unlikely Allies 🔍 Missing Person Case

Death in the Cards 93%

Blamed for a classmate's disappearance, a teen tarot reader joins the family detective agency.

by Mia P. Manansala 2025

3.70

2k+ ratings

🕵️ Teen Detective 🃏 Tarot Readings 🫂 Found Family 🤝 Unlikely Allies 🔍 Missing Person Case

The Naturals

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

A teen profiler joins an FBI cold case squad, and a serial killer starts leaving her messages.

4.22

358k+

🕵️ Teen Investigators 🔍 Criminal Profiling 📁 Cold Case Mystery 🔪 Serial Killer Hunt 🏠 Found Family

The Naturals 93%

A teen profiler joins an FBI cold case squad, and a serial killer starts leaving her messages.

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 2013

4.22

358k+ ratings

🕵️ Teen Investigators 🔍 Criminal Profiling 📁 Cold Case Mystery 🔪 Serial Killer Hunt 🏠 Found Family

Shelter

by Harlan Coben

A dead father, a missing girl, and a stranger who swears the grave is empty.

3.95

35k+

🕵️ Amateur Teen Sleuth 🔍 Missing Girl 🏘️ Suburban Secrets 🎭 Hidden Identities 💛 Found Family

Shelter 93%

A dead father, a missing girl, and a stranger who swears the grave is empty.

by Harlan Coben 2011

3.95

35k+ ratings

🕵️ Amateur Teen Sleuth 🔍 Missing Girl 🏘️ Suburban Secrets 🎭 Hidden Identities 💛 Found Family

Lessons in Power

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes • 2016

She fixes D.C.'s teenage elite. Then murder hits her school, and the killers are already inside.

4.31

13k+

🏫 Elite School Intrigue 🏛️ Political Conspiracy 🫂 Found Family 🎭 Morally Gray Heroine 💔 Betrayal By Loved One

Lessons in Power 93%

She fixes D.C.'s teenage elite. Then murder hits her school, and the killers are already inside.

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 2016

4.31

13k+ ratings

🏫 Elite School Intrigue 🏛️ Political Conspiracy 🫂 Found Family 🎭 Morally Gray Heroine 💔 Betrayal By Loved One

The Maid

by Nita Prose • 2022

A hotel maid discovers a dead guest, and her social awkwardness makes her the prime suspect.

3.75

719k+

🧠 Neurodivergent Protagonist 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🫂 Found Family 🚪 Locked Room Mystery 🎭 Quirky Narrator

The Maid 92%

A hotel maid discovers a dead guest, and her social awkwardness makes her the prime suspect.

by Nita Prose 2022

3.75

719k+ ratings

🧠 Neurodivergent Protagonist 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🫂 Found Family 🚪 Locked Room Mystery 🎭 Quirky Narrator

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