Crime Reads » YA

Death, Delivered with a Wink and a Nod

Death, Delivered with a Wink and a Nod

"Why does the worst case scenario create the best entertainment? And why, as an audience, do we keep coming back for more?"

By Rachel Peterson | August 3, 2026

Amanda West on the Joyful Challenge of Changing Thriller Genres

Amanda West on the Joyful Challenge of Changing Thriller Genres

The author of The Memory Foundation moves from psychological to speculative suspense

By Amanda West | May 25, 2026

Why Are All the Fictional Kids Doing Crimes?

Why Are All the Fictional Kids Doing Crimes?

"It’s not often talked about, but criminal activity is kind of a hallmark of YA as a whole"

By C. L. Montblanc | April 16, 2025

Crime on the Go: 6 YA Thrillers in Motion

Crime on the Go: 6 YA Thrillers in Motion

High speed chases, murder at 45,000 feet, and more "high-intensity titles on the go"

By Megan Lally | January 28, 2025

The Best YA Mystery, Crime, and Horror Fiction of 2024

The Best YA Mystery, Crime, and Horror Fiction of 2024

Slashers, gamers, zombies, and debutantes

By Molly Odintz | December 18, 2024

We Inherit Our Ghosts: On Gothic Fiction and the Need to Remember

We Inherit Our Ghosts: On Gothic Fiction and the Need to Remember

"The gothic as a genre is about the skeletons in the family’s closet."

By Wen-yi Lee | September 27, 2024

Best Reviewed
Books of the Week

Objectively Speaking: 6 Cursed Object Novels

By Lamar Giles | September 17, 2024

Templates, Not Fantasies: Complicated Final Girls and Why We Need Them

By Cheryl Isaacs | September 4, 2024

On Secret Societies, Dark Academia, and Blending the Real with the Unreal

By Derek Milman | July 3, 2024

A Host of New YA Mysteries, Thrillers, and Horror Fiction

A Host of New YA Mysteries, Thrillers, and Horror Fiction

Young adult takes on classic tropes continue to be some of the most creative avenues of exploration in genre fiction

By Molly Odintz | May 3, 2024

It's Always the Boyfriend: On Domestic Violence and Young Adult Fiction

It's Always the Boyfriend: On Domestic Violence and Young Adult Fiction

How YA thrillers help us understand the high stakes of toxic relationships

By Trish Lundy | April 23, 2024

5 YA Crime Fiction Reads With Magical Elements

5 YA Crime Fiction Reads With Magical Elements

Picks for readers who like their crime "with a speculative twist"

By Stacy Stokes | April 8, 2024

We Need Black Horror Now More Than Ever

We Need Black Horror Now More Than Ever

Desiree S. Evans on the past, present, and future of Black horror stories

By Desiree S. Evans | April 3, 2024

How Haunting is a Perfect Metaphor for PTSD

How Haunting is a Perfect Metaphor for PTSD

"When someone has PTSD, the ghosts follow them everywhere they go..."

By Tyffany D. Neiheiser | January 24, 2024

Fighting Toxic Masculinity Through Young Adult Fiction

Fighting Toxic Masculinity Through Young Adult Fiction

"It’s time to rebuild our world for the better, and young adult fiction can be part of that journey of progress."

By Jordyn Taylor | November 8, 2023

Safe Places: On Writing Books for Teens about Teen Issues

Safe Places: On Writing Books for Teens about Teen Issues

"These stories find continuing relevance by tackling issues and themes common to teens across generations."

By Kellie M. Parker | October 18, 2023

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