What Are The Best Mystery Horror Books for Teens?

“I don’t enjoy a good mystery novel.” – said no person ever!

In this list of the finest mysteries for teens, you will discover a variety of crimes, including murders, of course, but also supernatural suspense stories, kidnapping, espionage, ciphers, and even disappearances. In other words, you’ve come to just the right place if you were searching for a list of the best mystery horror books for teens.

The Best Mystery, Horror Books for Teens

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

This terrifying tale is one of the best mystery books for teens. Three years ago, in retaliation for the murder of her sister, Alex resorted to violence. But Alex’s crime never came to light. Now she wonders whether she will be able to control her urges to harm those around her. The Female of the Species presents important problems regarding female wrath and the morality of gruesome retribution.

The Diviners by Libba Bray

This atmospheric supernatural historical mystery is set in New York City during the 1920s. Evangeline O’Neill abandons her mundane existence in order to relocate to the City That Never Sleeps. There, Evangeline stays with her uncle Will, whose fascination with the supernatural should help Evie develop her hidden magical abilities. However, Evangeline and Will are compelled to investigate a gruesome murder amid the decade’s frenetic excitements. Can Evie utilize her skills to solve the murder? Read it now to find out.

The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas

Five cheerleaders from Sunnybrook died tragically five years ago, including Monica’s sister, who committed suicide herself. Now, in the future, Monica is attempting to piece together what seems like a fresh piece of evidence. The evidence comprises an intriguing new companion, a previously misplaced cell phone, and a bundle of letters discovered in her stepfather’s office. This gritty and delectably dark story is one of the best teen mysteries.

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban

If you are a fan of Agatha Christie, you are bound to fall in love with this super gripping tale. When a diverse group of six teenagers, including a queen bee, a recluse, and a band nerd, are invited to a dinner, they find themselves confined in a room with a syringe filled with poison, a bomb, and a note instructing them to choose a victim within one hour. Otherwise, everyone will perish. Brace yourselves for a mind-boggling conclusion.

The 3 Best Horror Books of All Time

Warning: Do not make the mistake of reading these horror novels before going to bed!

What Are The Top Horror Novels?

From bestselling true-crime books, vampire books, classic books, fantasy books, mystery books, and fiction books, there are countless gripping novels that can keep you on the edge of your seat.

Is there anything more riveting than a nightmare-inducing novel that prevents you from turning off the lights? Some individuals enjoy reading horror novels for the adrenaline rush. Others enjoy the mental release of experiencing all emotions, including fear, disgust, and rage.

In either case, the best horror stories are captivating and terrifying roller coasters. Some are grounded in reality and familiar enough to make the reader ponder, “What if…?”

Whether you are a horror aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, we have the perfect books for you. By scouring the library and bestseller lists for horror books adored by critics and readers, we’ve compiled a list of some of the greatest books of all time, as well as new releases. There are a few Stephen King novels here, as well as other novels that have been adapted into our favorite horror films.

But be forewarned: You’ll be thinking about these terrifying tales long after you’ve finished reading them, and you’ll likely be glancing over your shoulder.

  1. The Exorcistby William Peter Blatty (1971)

The Exorcist was adapted into one of the most popular horror films because it was one of the most terrifying books ever written. It follows the demonic possession of Regan, an eleven-year-old girl. As the child’s mother anxiously searches for an exorcist, descriptions of the child’s abnormal conduct, including spitting and yelling profanities, reach a climax. If you’ve seen the classic film adaptation, you can imagine how terrifying this situation becomes. However, the book is arguably even more frightening.

  1. Those Across the Riverby Christopher Buehlman (2011)

In 1935, a professor and his wife moved to a family property in Georgia near the remains of a plantation held by his ancestors. Every month, as part of a peculiar sacrificial ceremony, the locals dress two pigs with floral wreaths and send them across the river. Animals do not return. Exactly what is consuming them? What will occur when residents cease sending pigs? This supernaturally-tinged Southern Gothic perfectly illustrates the price we pay for our wrongdoings and is one of the best books to read during Halloween and beyond.

  1. Salem’s Lotby Stephen King (1975)

If you’re searching for a novel you won’t be able to put down, pick out one of Stephen King’s earlier works, Salem’s Lot. This tale of a tiny village invaded by vampires is chillingly delightful. As residents experience a growing number of strange occurrences and begin to put the pieces together, you will anticipate the final reveal and confrontation with heightened tension. Sometimes slow-burning horror novels are the best!

The Boom In Mystery, Thriller, Horror Novels Sales Is No Mystery

People enjoy reading. As a result of bookshops returning steadily after a temporary pause during COVID, individuals are eager to experience some of the best mystery, thriller, and horror books in the literary world.

This is evident in book sales data, which have drastically climbed, according to the Guardian. In late June and early July, book sales topped 3,8 million and generated over £32 million.

Despite the fact that all genres have sold well, some have experienced greater success. In the last two weeks of June, crime, thriller, and horror books outsold general and children’s fiction by an additional 120,000 copies compared to the same period in 2018.

In early May, adults spent an additional 2.7 hours a week reading. All bibliophiles should embrace this. People desire to spend more time reading mystery and horror novels, perhaps due to leisure, and this should be embraced.

But why have horror authors and thriller fiction, in general, been so successful? The answer is: Readers desire to be intrigued and astonished. Mystery/Thriller is popular because a lot of time goes into shaping its characters. Over the years, readers have liked scary stories to tell in the dark.

It needs to be kept in mind that certain nonfiction genres necessitate in-depth, intense reading. Similarly, literary fiction is defined not by a formula but by the language and creative techniques employed.

Thriller fiction, however, is distinctive. Although careful attention to language is required, the formula is more familiar and usual. There must be a death. A detective investigates the incident. A criminal must be identified. Clever plotting must be done. Amazing crime and horror authors are formed by their ability to work within these constraints to create the best horror books for teens.

Clever plotting includes clever clues, red herrings, and eventual justice, although this appears unattainable at times.

People frequently utilize fiction as an escape from the harsh reality of their own lives, yet horror novels and mystery fiction contradict this notion. It examines the harsh life humans can lead as a result of murder and suffering but does it in a manner that is representative to readers. It forces readers to confront hard and unpleasant themes, from which they can escape by closing the book.

Various novelists argue that scary books and mystery writing sell well because they prioritized ‘pleasure and amusement’ for readers and ensured a ‘compelling plot.’ Readers appreciate piecing together disparate concepts and deciphering cryptic clues to identify murderers, which is usually the case in horror books for teens.

One of the aspects of horror novels is that if heinous crimes had been perpetrated, the perpetrators might be brought to justice through revenge and punishment.

As with the best literature, it allows readers to temporarily forget about their daily troubles. There may be an element of Schadenfreude within the genre, in which readers take pleasure in the misfortune of others. This results in something very brilliant.

Clever scheming in horror novels includes crafty clues, red herrings, and final justice, even if this seems unattainable at times. And implicitly concealed within these tales is the fact that, for a large number of people, these occurrences are true. What appears to the uninformed reader to be fantastical fiction may soon become a reality? Why are mystery and horror novels so popular? That is not at all mysterious.

Why Are Horror Novels Are So Popular?

All of us are captivated by thriller, mystery, horror novels due to our compulsion to analyze deviant behavior patterns and experience an adrenaline rush through the genre’s twists and turns.

Psychological thrillers and horror novels have become the most popular genres for both books and films.

The NYT Bestsellers list often has a high proportion of thrillers, and a significant portion of Netflix and Amazon’s TV and film offerings are likewise in the crime and thriller category, often based on some of the best horror books.

For some of us, nothing compares to the anticipation of reading scary books

or watching an excellent psychological thriller.

What’s this fascination with thrillers and scary stories to tell in the dark? Why do we have an insatiable desire to become familiar with cold-blooded murderers, such as mothers who murder their children, men who live double lives, and abused youngsters who grow up to be emotionless serial killers?

There’s skepticism among those who confess to being fans of scary books or the thriller genre. Their preoccupation with the genre frightens them, and they worry if something is amiss with them.

But that is not the case.

Psychiatrists believe that the majority of people who read good horror books or about crime have a strong empathy factor and are not tempted to commit crimes.

Violence and disaster have always held a sick attraction and curiosity for humans. We are all accustomed to certain rhythms of life and human behavior and become distressed when these patterns are disrupted.

This drives our need to comprehend what lurks beneath broken minds and morally ambiguous individuals, who have no hesitation about breaching the boundaries we define, the ones we read about in horror novels.

While reading horror novels or viewing mystery/thriller fiction, we invariably and unconsciously affiliate ourselves with one side or the other.

In most cases, we identify with both the victim and the perpetrator. It relies entirely on how the author chooses to tell the story. If the story is recounted from the murderer’s perspective and we can comprehend and empathize with the factors and tragedies in his or her life that led to the crimes, we may sympathize with the murderer as a victim of circumstance. Such a view can be endlessly fascinating and brings up new insights in the realm of human studies.

Scary books and thrillers also involve the intellect. Horror authors lay the foundation for the murder, introduce the characters, and build the plot to a climax. Then, they begin plotting hints that we discover as the story progresses. We all enjoy playing detective, and as a story progresses, we play a guessing game based on accumulating clues and gaining a sense of accomplishment if we correctly deduce.

Apart from a deeper understanding of what makes the human mind function, soar, click, or break, the allure of scariest books of all time and crime thrillers stems from the pleasure of the vicarious entertainment and the cerebral rush of partaking in a mystery that you almost feel you have helped unravel.

How to Market Your Best Horror Novels?

“Horror novels do not help you lose 10 pounds, run faster, or earn more money; therefore, how can I promote them online?”

This question has been posed by dozens of fiction writers, particularly horror authors.

It can be difficult to come up with innovative ways to sell your book, even the best horror books at times, besides repeatedly encouraging people to “purchase it.”

In light of this, here are the top five pieces of effective advice recommended for horror authors to help them promote their thrillers creatively.

  1. Make sure to introduce a cliffhanger. Whether it’s a Kindle sample or a downloaded PDF, provide the first chapter of your mystery or scary stories book for free, but make sure it finishes on a cliffhanger. You want them to buy on impulse to find out what happens next. Hook the reader immediately at the start of the novel, if probable.
  2. Take your readers along for the ride. Max Barry authored his book page by page and distributed it to an email group. He used the input he received from readers as the first draught of his novel Machine Man. This point stresses the importance of involving your supporters throughout. All good horror books do that.
  3. Craft short scary stories. A lot of publishers have collaborated with horror authors to publish short scary stories to tell in the dark. Brent Weeks has published a 96-page E-book based on one of the protagonists from his renowned Night Angel trilogy. What if you wrote and released a handful of short stories at incredibly low prices to generate interest in your lengthier works? This is how you get the reader hit the “BUY NOW” button.
  4. Keep writing. J.A. Konrath and Frank Behr are two highly successful self-published authors who consistently offer the same piece of advice and write more novels. And in the case of the thriller/horror genre, write more horror novels. In a world where Amazon.com accounts for more than 90 percent of online book sales, you must ensure that there are many books accessible for purchase. Think about a one-time buyer can be converted into a repeat customer.
  5. Build an email list. Invite your readers to join your email list so that you may stay in touch with them and inform them of new releases as they become available. This is the number one approach to constructing a foundation that will carry you far into the future.

To Sum It Up

When you distribute a PDF sample of your best horror books of all time, ensure that the last page includes your bio, book blurbs, and links to purchase the book immediately.

Use these techniques to get creative with your web marketing for your thrillers and horror novels, and your sales will witness a massive rise in the charts.