This book list features novels full of atmospheric settings, complicated friendships, and, well, murder. You will not be able these books down until you know who did it! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Outer Banks, and Knives Out.
TRULY DEVIOUS | MAUREEN JOHNSON
“Fate came for Dottie Epstein a year earlier, in the form of a call to the principal's office. It was not her first time there. Dolores Epstein wasn't sent for any of the normal reasons--fighting, cheating, failing, absence. Dottie would get called down for more complicated matters.”
SUMMARY:
FROM THE PUBLISHER: Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.”
Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.
True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester.
But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.
The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 14+
Reading Level: Accessible to mature readers
Choice Books for All Note: Make sure you have all three books in the trilogy at your fingertips because you will not be able to put them down until you know whodunit. The atmospheric setting adds to the intensity and brilliance of the storytelling.
REVIEWS:
PURCHASE:
Remember! Your local library should have all of the books in physical or ebook format for free!
A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE | BRITTANY CAVALLARO
“The first time I met her was at the tail end of one of those endless weekday nights you could only have a school like Sherringford. It was midnight, or just after, maybe, and I'd spent the last few hours icing my sprained shoulder in my room, the result of a rugby scrimmage gone horribly wrong just minutes after it'd started.”
SUMMARY:
FROM THE PUBLISHER: Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes; after all, their great-great-great-grandfathers are one of the most infamous pairs in history. But the Holmes family has always been odd, and Charlotte is no exception. She’s inherited Sherlock’s volatility and some of his vices—and when Jamie and Charlotte end up at the same Connecticut boarding school, Charlotte makes it clear she’s not looking for friends.
But when a student they both have a history with dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Recommended Age: 13+ (mature content)
Reading Level: A bit of a challenge for some students (Lexile: 750)
Choice Books for All Note: An imaginative retelling of Sherlock Holmes will capture your imagination as Jamie and Charlotte attempt to solve a murder mystery. With lots of nods (and direct references) to Sherlock Holmes stories and witty humor, this first book in the series will leave you wanting more (as of November 2021, there are four books in the series).
REVIEWS:
PURCHASE:
Remember! Your local library should have all of the books in physical or ebook format for free!
ONE OF US IS LYING | KAREN M. MCMANUS
"In 1979, a revolution took place. It was later called 'The Islamic Revolution.' Then came 1980: the year it became obligatory to wear the veil at school. We didn't really like to wear the veil, especially since we didn't understand why we had to."
SUMMARY:
FROM THE PUBLISHER: Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.
Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose?
Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Recommended Age: 14+
Reading Level: Mature content but accessible to most students (Lexile: 730)
Choice Books for All Note: This novel is not set at a boarding school like the previous two recommendations, but the academic setting and tense tone makes it the perfect third in the trio. Just like the other books on this books list, it is impossible to stop reading until you reach the end. You will love this book!
REVIEWS:
PURCHASE:
Remember! Your local library should have all of the books in physical or ebook format for free!
CLASSICS CORNER -- MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS BY AGATHA CHRISTIE
CONNECTION:
Truly Devious, A Study in Charlotte, and One of Us Is Lying feature gruesome murders, intrepid detectives, and atmospheric settings. The result are captivating, high interest novels that are un-put-downable. If you enjoyed any of these novels, you would love anything by Agatha Christie. We recommend starting with Murder on the Orient Express. Don't look up spoilers! You won't believe the twists and turns.
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