If you’re in the mood for a new YA thriller, you’ve come to the right place! These new reads from the last few years will have you hooked, bringing the book with you just to fill up your water bottle or cross the room. In one, a young girl who can hear what people need must use her power to find her missing best friend. In another, a high school clique goes awry in deadly, deadly ways. Or, if teenage private investigator vibes are more your thing, you’re sure to love the tarot-reading teenager on the case of a missing girl. Really, you can’t go wrong with any of these four new and recent YA thrillers!
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The Thrashers by Julie Soto
At New Helvetia High, a clique of five of the school’s social elite, known as the Thrashers, reigns supreme. They cut people out of their circle without flinching and are less than kind to those who want to be part of their inner circle. When one of their classmates, Emily, dies by suicide the night of prom, everyone blames the Thrashers and their bullying. Social dynamics, strange messages, and buried secrets come to a head in this tense debut novel.
Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala
High school junior Danika is determined to join her mother’s private investigation agency, but her mom insists she must go to college and get an education first. She harnesses her skills into tarot readings for her classmates in the meantime. But when one of her clients disappears, Danika teams up with the girl’s little sister, and, with a little help from her mom, the pair set out to find her.
Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours
Seventeen-year-old Sariyah can telepathically hear what people need in the moment. It’s mostly little things, like a piece of gum or a hair tie. Then, at a music festival, she senses that her friend Deja needs pepper spray, an ominous need that becomes more ominous when Deja disappears. Using her skills and social media, Sariyah is determined to find out what happened to Deja.
Wander in the Dark by Jumata Emill
It’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans when Amir is arrested for the murder of a girl after his half-brother, Marcel’s, birthday party. But Amir was asleep on the couch the entire time. He didn’t kill her. So, who did? Now, in the face of a murder accusation, the half-brothers start looking for who really killed her and why, uncovering privilege, prejudice, and secrets that some are willing to kill to keep from coming out.
If you’re in the mood for more thrillers, check out these best twisty police procedurals or these best mystery, thriller, and true crime books of 2025!
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