Do you love piecing together clues, solving complex puzzles, and the nail-biting thrill of racing against time to escape danger? If so, YA mystery and thriller books will keep you turning the pages until the very end. While there is a lot of overlap between the two genres, and many books will be labeled a mystery-thriller, there are some distinct differences between the two.

Mysteries focus on the problem, question, or puzzle at hand. They ask questions like what happened? Who did it? How and why did this happen? Mysteries invite readers to solve the crime while they read, and they keep readers guessing until the very end. The protagonist is distinct in this genre because they act as an amateur detective, tracking down numerous clues, following red herrings that divert attention away from crucial points, and ultimately uncovering the truth behind whatever puzzle, secret, or crime they are trying to solve. While mysteries often turn suspenseful at the end as the antagonist races to cover up their misdeeds by any means necessary, the primary focus of the story is on the investigation itself, and the climax of most mysteries is uncovering the truth.

Thrillers on the other hand, are designed to keep readers on the edge of their seat. Featuring imminent danger, protagonists aren’t just trying to solve a crime, they’re trying to escape life-or-death situations that leave them stranded or trapped, trying to prevent something catastrophic from happening, or trying to escape from someone who wants to cause them harm. The heart racing exhilaration of getting away, the ticking clock/ticking time bomb feeling of suspense is what truly defines this genre. Thrillers allow readers to safely explore dark subjects like crime and morality, toxic relationships and abuse, vulnerability, and psychological themes like paranoia and manipulation. YA thriller plotlines are high stakes, including stories of devastating betrayals, stalkers, deadly secrets, and gripping psychological suspense. While it can ask questions about who and why, it often focuses more on the rush of danger than on the journey of figuring out the answers — sometimes this means that truth is used as a tool to create more tension, and the ending may be left ambiguous.

There is obvious overlap between the two, and several of these books on the included booklists could technically fit both categories. Mysteries evolve into thrilling high stakes situations when the sleuth uncovers too much, making them the next target. Thrillers include a mystery plot driving the tension and action. That said, the books have been divided by their primary genre, so if the point is the mystery at hand or the point is the thrill of the stakes, that is reflected in its categorization. Both mysteries and thrillers can also cross into other genres beyond the overlap with each other, including fantasy, historical fiction, contemporary, and a recent focus on the thriller-horror blend. Ultimately, whether you’re looking to gather clues or racing to escape escalating threats, these books will keep you engaged as you try to figure out what happens next.