Ok so I took quite a long break, but exams are now finished and I have a bit more time for reading and writing now, which I’m happy about! I do really enjoy writing this blog and sharing my passion for reading with others.
For this reason I decided to start a mini series across my blog and tiktok (@/rosiereadsx for that shameless promo) in which I ask people what their favourite book genre is and write up a post recommending books within that genre they may like, and the first genre mentioned was murder mysteries!!! I’m pretty happy about this one because I love gritty and dark books sometimes and murder mysteries are super addictive, so this felt like a good place to start.
Before I get into this though I just want to say that I do mostly read Young Adult fiction so this list will be mostly comprised of murder mysteries within that category, they are all still brilliant books though so I really recommend giving them a chance!!
1. The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke
“SHE WAS LOST… When six-year-old Laurel Logan was abducted, the only witness was her younger sister, Faith. Faith’s childhood was dominated by Laurel’s disappearance – from her parents’ broken marriage and the constant media attention to dealing with so-called friends who only ever wanted to talk about her sister.
NOW SHE IS FOUND… Thirteen years later, a young woman is found in the garden of the Logans’ old house, disorientated and clutching the teddy bear Laurel was last seen with. Laurel is home at last, safe and sound. Faith always dreamed of getting her sister back, without ever truly believing it would happen. But a disturbing series of events leaves Faith increasingly isolated and paranoid, and before long she begins to wonder if everything that’s lost can be found again…” – description from Goodreads
Back in 2017 I went through a Cat Clarke reading spree and read the majority of her books since they were just so addictive, but damn they really are dark too. I actually had to take a break from heavy books for a little while after finishing them. The Lost and the Found is one of the books I remember well still, because it had me in shock at certain points of the book. I really won’t say more than that though because I really want you to go into it knowing nothing.
If you enjoy it though a lot of Cat Clarke books focus on situations like kidnappings and murder mysteries and are quite gritty so I would definitely recommend them all. But for this compilation I chose The Lost and the Found.
2. The Things We Don’t See by Savannah Brown
“The year is 1987 and the sleepy village of Sandown Bay is waking up . . .” To its residents, Sandown is home – a tiny village holiday resort in the western United States.
To everyone else, it’s a minuscule island, that brings tourists in summer and not a lot else the rest of the time.
To Mona Perry, it’s a mystery.
Thirty-four years ago, promising singer and Sandown resident Roxy Raines went missing, and was never found. The people of the island are still reluctant to talk about it, claiming Roxy was simply a runaway, but the evidence doesn’t quite add up.
Mona is convinced something else is going on. Armed only with a suitcase and a microphone – to record her findings for the general public – this runaway teenager is determined to get to the bottom of the disappearance.
But as Mona gets drawn deeper and deeper into the strange goings on of this isolated community, it is clear that nothing is as it seems – not even Mona’s own past.
Some things are meant to disappear . . .” – description from Goodreads
If you’re a regular reader of my blog then you may have noticed that my last post was actually a review of The Things We Don’t See as I recieved an e-arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which I was super happy about as I loved Savannah’s first book ‘The Truth About Keeping Secrets’, both books are amazing mysteries, but since The Things We Don’t See is released this week, I just had to add it to this post! But I loved the amount of turns this book had and Savannah’s characters are so complex, I just adored it! So definitely give this a go if you’re looking for a good mystery to get into, but don’t forget to check out The Truth About Keeping Secrets if you enjoy it!
3. 13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough
“I don’t remember how I ended up in the icy water but I do know this: it wasn’t an accident.
They say you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but sometimes it’s hard to tell them apart. My friends love me. I know they do.
But that doesn’t mean they didn’t try to kill me.
13 Minutes is a gripping murder mystery about people, fears, manipulation and the power of the truth. A stunning read, it questions our relationships – and what we really know about the people closest to us…” – description from Goodreads
13 minutes was full of twists and turns, just as you think you know whats going on, you realise you actually have no idea. I started reading the book expecting the usual structured mystery but was pleasantly surprised! Although I don’t remember exactly what happened, my review from 2019 said the ending was so crazy I had to sit and ponder for a minute, so if you like a good mystery and to sit and ponder then go read it!!
4. A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
“The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.
But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?” – description from Goodreads
Now who would I be if I didn’t include A Good Girls Guide to Murder in a compilation of murder mysteries? Im sure many of you have read this book but it still has to be included because it’s just. so. good. I actually just went to look at the book on Goodreads and it has a 4.34 star rating which is pretty high for a book on Goodreads so you know its gonna be good! But if you haven’t read this then definitely do so! It follows the main character as she decides to investigate the murder in her EPQ (just uk things!) and is just amazingly thought out.
5. The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
“Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each other, and they’ve never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they’re surprised… and curious.
Their parents are all clear on one point—not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother’s good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it’s immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious—and dark—their family’s past is.
The entire Story family has secrets. Whatever pulled them apart years ago isn’t over—and this summer, the cousins will learn everything.” – description from Goodreads
Now Karen M. McManus is pretty well known for mysteries (see One of Us Is Lying) but I actually really enjoyed the cousins! I was skeptical since I’ve found her books have been pretty hit or miss but I genuinely enjoyed this concept! Although some parts are predictable it is still a pretty good mystery!!
I won’t bore you any longer so i’ll keep this at 5 recommendations for now, but I definitely have more if anyone wants a part 2! Please also suggest your favourite murder mysteries / crime books in the comments because its one of my favourite genres!!
Happy reading!!
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