33 Books like Killer Instinct

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

Acceleration

by Graham McNamee • 2003

In the lost and found, a guilt-ridden teen uncovers a killer's diary and a countdown to murder.

3.74

5k+

🩸 Serial Killer Thriller 🔍 Teen Sleuths 💧 Survivor's Guilt 🛡️ Reluctant Hero 👥 Found Family

Acceleration 94%

In the lost and found, a guilt-ridden teen uncovers a killer's diary and a countdown to murder.

by Graham McNamee 2003

3.74

5k+ ratings

🩸 Serial Killer Thriller 🔍 Teen Sleuths 💧 Survivor's Guilt 🛡️ Reluctant Hero 👥 Found Family

Kill Joy

by Holly Jackson • 2021

At a 1920s murder mystery party, game secrets blur into real suspicions for a teen sleuth.

3.72

177k+

🎭 Meta Mystery ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy 🔍 Friends As Suspects 🕵️ Amateur Detective 💰 Rich Family Secrets

Kill Joy 94%

At a 1920s murder mystery party, game secrets blur into real suspicions for a teen sleuth.

by Holly Jackson 2021

3.72

177k+ ratings

🎭 Meta Mystery ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy 🔍 Friends As Suspects 🕵️ Amateur Detective 💰 Rich Family Secrets

Guess Again

by Charlie Donlea • 2025

An ex-detective reopens a cold case. The sole lead: the serial killer who murdered his father.

4.15

62k+

🕵️ Cold Case Investigation 🔪 Serial Killer Thriller 🖤 Dark Family Secrets 🎭 Copycat Crimes 🏘️ Small Town Secrets

Guess Again 92%

An ex-detective reopens a cold case. The sole lead: the serial killer who murdered his father.

by Charlie Donlea 2025

4.15

62k+ ratings

🕵️ Cold Case Investigation 🔪 Serial Killer Thriller 🖤 Dark Family Secrets 🎭 Copycat Crimes 🏘️ Small Town Secrets

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 92%

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

All We Lost Was Everything

by Sloan Harlow • 2025

After a fatal fire and an anonymous fortune, a teen learns everyone she trusts is lying.

3.78

4k+

🔍 Small Town Mystery 💔 Love Triangle 😢 Grieving Protagonist 🫂 Found Family 🖤 Bad Boy With Secrets

All We Lost Was Everything 93%

After a fatal fire and an anonymous fortune, a teen learns everyone she trusts is lying.

by Sloan Harlow 2025

3.78

4k+ ratings

🔍 Small Town Mystery 💔 Love Triangle 😢 Grieving Protagonist 🫂 Found Family 🖤 Bad Boy With Secrets

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

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

Love Letters to a Serial Killer

by Tasha Coryell • 2024

A woman corresponds with an accused serial killer and falls into an all-consuming dangerous romance.

3.27

40k+

🔍 True Crime Obsession 🖤 Women Who Love Killers 💻 Internet Sleuths 🌀 Unreliable Narrator ✉️ Prison Correspondence

Love Letters to a Serial Killer 92%

A woman corresponds with an accused serial killer and falls into an all-consuming dangerous romance.

by Tasha Coryell 2024

3.27

40k+ ratings

🔍 True Crime Obsession 🖤 Women Who Love Killers 💻 Internet Sleuths 🌀 Unreliable Narrator ✉️ Prison Correspondence

[We All Fall Down] (By

by Robert Cormier • 1991

A trashed home, a comatose girl, and the silent watcher who has already killed once.

3.80

3k+

🧠 Psychological Thriller ⚖️ Vigilante Justice 🏘️ Small Town Crime 🏚️ Home Invasion 😔 Teen Perpetrators

[We All Fall Down] (By 92%

A trashed home, a comatose girl, and the silent watcher who has already killed once.

by Robert Cormier 1991

3.80

3k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Thriller ⚖️ Vigilante Justice 🏘️ Small Town Crime 🏚️ Home Invasion 😔 Teen Perpetrators

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

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 93%

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

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 93%

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

Sadie

by Courtney Summers • 2018

When her thirteen-year-old sister is murdered, a girl with a stutter and a switchblade goes hunting.

4.03

132k+

🎙️ True Crime Fiction 🔪 Vigilante Justice 🛣️ Dark Road Trip 🌀 Unreliable Narrator 🏘️ Small Town Secrets

Sadie 92%

When her thirteen-year-old sister is murdered, a girl with a stutter and a switchblade goes hunting.

by Courtney Summers 2018

4.03

132k+ ratings

🎙️ True Crime Fiction 🔪 Vigilante Justice 🛣️ Dark Road Trip 🌀 Unreliable Narrator 🏘️ Small Town Secrets

Influence

by Sara Shepard • 2020

A newbie influencer wakes beside her dead rival with no memory and a million followers watching.

3.39

4k+

📱 Social Media Thriller ✨ Influencer Culture 🔍 Whodunit Mystery 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 🌈 Coming Out Journey

Influence 92%

A newbie influencer wakes beside her dead rival with no memory and a million followers watching.

by Sara Shepard 2020

3.39

4k+ ratings

📱 Social Media Thriller ✨ Influencer Culture 🔍 Whodunit Mystery 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 🌈 Coming Out Journey

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 93%

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

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 92%

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

The Scammer

by Tiffany D. Jackson

At an HBCU, four freshmen's sisterhood becomes a cult under a roommate's charming brother.

3.91

17k+

🕯️ Cult Recruitment 🏛️ HBCU Campus 🗡️ Revenge Quest 💕 Fake Dating To Real 🎭 Charismatic Predator

The Scammer 93%

At an HBCU, four freshmen's sisterhood becomes a cult under a roommate's charming brother.

by Tiffany D. Jackson 2025

3.91

17k+ ratings

🕯️ Cult Recruitment 🏛️ HBCU Campus 🗡️ Revenge Quest 💕 Fake Dating To Real 🎭 Charismatic Predator

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 92%

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

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart

by Emma Simmerman • 2026

Her ex-boyfriends are dying, and pages from her private breakup journal appear at every crime scene.

3.78

3k+

🖤 Dark Academia 🎓 Campus Thriller 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 💋 Fake Dating 🌀 Unreliable Narrator

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart Summary

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart 92%

Her ex-boyfriends are dying, and pages from her private breakup journal appear at every crime scene.

by Emma Simmerman 2026

3.78

3k+ ratings

🖤 Dark Academia 🎓 Campus Thriller 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 💋 Fake Dating 🌀 Unreliable Narrator

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 92%

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

Murder by the Book

by Amie Schaumberg • 2025

A professor deciphers a killer's staged literary deaths before she becomes his final masterpiece.

3.41

816

🖤 Dark Academia 🔍 Academic Mystery 🕵️ Amateur Sleuth 🎭 Staged Crime Scenes 📖 Literary References

Murder by the Book 92%

A professor deciphers a killer's staged literary deaths before she becomes his final masterpiece.

by Amie Schaumberg 2025

3.41

816 ratings

🖤 Dark Academia 🔍 Academic Mystery 🕵️ Amateur Sleuth 🎭 Staged Crime Scenes 📖 Literary References

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 92%

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

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 92%

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

Society of Lies

by Lauren Ling Brown

Her sister drowns at Princeton reunions. A decade ago, the same secret society killed their friend.

3.52

101k+

📚 Dark Academia 🏛️ Secret Society 🔒 Family Secrets ⏳ Dual Timelines 🖤 Grieving Sister

Society of Lies 92%

Her sister drowns at Princeton reunions. A decade ago, the same secret society killed their friend.

by Lauren Ling Brown 2024

3.52

101k+ ratings

📚 Dark Academia 🏛️ Secret Society 🔒 Family Secrets ⏳ Dual Timelines 🖤 Grieving Sister

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 92%

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

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 92%

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

The New Girl

by R.L. Stine • 1989

Everyone on Fear Street says the new girl is dead, but Cory has kissed her.

3.57

10k+

🔪 High School Horror 🧠 Psychological Horror 🖤 Obsessive Love 🔍 Dead Girl Mystery 👯 Sister Rivalry

The New Girl 92%

Everyone on Fear Street says the new girl is dead, but Cory has kissed her.

by R.L. Stine 1989

3.57

10k+ ratings

🔪 High School Horror 🧠 Psychological Horror 🖤 Obsessive Love 🔍 Dead Girl Mystery 👯 Sister Rivalry

Here Lies Daniel Tate

by Cristin Terrill • 2017

A teenage con artist steals a missing boy's identity and joins a family hiding a crime.

4.05

6k+

🧠 Psychological Thriller 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 🖤 Dark Family Secrets 🃏 Con Artist Protagonist 🏚️ Atmospheric Mystery

Here Lies Daniel Tate 92%

A teenage con artist steals a missing boy's identity and joins a family hiding a crime.

by Cristin Terrill 2017

4.05

6k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Thriller 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 🖤 Dark Family Secrets 🃏 Con Artist Protagonist 🏚️ Atmospheric Mystery

The Night Shift

by Alex Finlay

After a massacre echoes her own, a therapist hears her attacker's words on a new victim.

3.90

86k+

🕵️ Cold Case Thriller ⏳ Dual Timeline Mystery 🔪 Serial Killer Thriller ⚖️ Wrongly Accused 🧬 Hidden Parentage

The Night Shift 92%

After a massacre echoes her own, a therapist hears her attacker's words on a new victim.

by Alex Finlay 2022

3.90

86k+ ratings

🕵️ Cold Case Thriller ⏳ Dual Timeline Mystery 🔪 Serial Killer Thriller ⚖️ Wrongly Accused 🧬 Hidden Parentage

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 92%

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

I Killed Zoe Spanos

by Kit Frick • 2020

A summer nanny is a missing girl's lookalike. When memories surface, she becomes the suspect.

3.76

13k+

🎙️ True Crime Podcast 👥 DoppelgäNger Mystery 🔒 False Confession 🌀 Unreliable Narrator 👭 Secret Siblings

I Killed Zoe Spanos 92%

A summer nanny is a missing girl's lookalike. When memories surface, she becomes the suspect.

by Kit Frick 2020

3.76

13k+ ratings

🎙️ True Crime Podcast 👥 DoppelgäNger Mystery 🔒 False Confession 🌀 Unreliable Narrator 👭 Secret Siblings

Parents Weekend

by Alex Finlay • 2025

A classmate drowned. Five students know the truth. On Parents Weekend, they vanish.

3.53

41k+

🔪 Campus Thriller 🤝 Secret Pact 🔒 Family Secrets 📱 Social Media Suspense 🔍 Missing Person

Parents Weekend 92%

A classmate drowned. Five students know the truth. On Parents Weekend, they vanish.

by Alex Finlay 2025

3.53

41k+ ratings

🔪 Campus Thriller 🤝 Secret Pact 🔒 Family Secrets 📱 Social Media Suspense 🔍 Missing Person

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