Our Favourite School Mysteries & Dark Academia Books for Teens

by Holly Jackson

€9.49

The New York Times No.1 bestselling and multi award-winning YA crime thriller and TikTok sensation that everyone is talking about. Now a major BBC series! 'A taut, compulsively readable, elegantly plotted thriller', GUARDIAN The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the crime, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth? 'Prepare to be murdered by this book. Dark, dangerous - my heart literally pounded', LAURA STEVEN, author of bestselling Infinite Fates Ideal for readers who: Enjoy smart YA crime thrillers with twists and small-town secrets Are curious about a school project that reopens a supposedly solved murder case Would enjoy stories set in a close-knit town where everyone thinks they know the truth Want a read that feels pacey, clue-filled and compulsively readable

by Harriet Parsons

€10.99

It’s 1991; at a Russian ballet school, ballet is everything – beauty, perfection, endurance, sacrifice ... When Dublin girls Hope and Emily are chosen to study at the famous Pavlovgrad Ballet School, they think all their dreams have come true, but the challenges they face will be harder than they could ever imagine. Daily life in the Soviet Union is like stepping into another world – freezing winters, sugar shortages, boarding at school with the Russian ballet students – but the chance to learn from the best, and the chance to become the best, makes all the sacrifice worthwhile. Or does it? For Hope, adopted from Russia as a baby, returning to the country of her birth to fulfil her dream of becoming a ballerina uncovers secrets buried deep… Ideal for readers who: Are drawn to atmospheric coming-of-age stories where ambition asks a heavy emotional price. Love rich ballet fiction shaped by strict discipline, deep friendship and fierce competition. Are intrigued by the premise of Dublin teenagers navigating the realities of 1991 Soviet Russia. Value gripping historical fiction full of psychological pressure, resilience and buried family secrets.

by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

€11.99

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The utterly addictive new YA murder mystery thriller from Faridah �b�k�-�y�m�d�, the award-winning and bestselling author of ACE OF SPADES and WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE. MEET THE HEIRS Octavius the Maestro. Fola the Brain. Bilal the Olympian. Perdita the Artist. Romeo the Failure. FIVE PRODIGIES Everyone has heard of the Button heirs: the five genius children of infamous billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and trained under the "Button Method", they've had no choice but to be brilliant. ONE DEAD FATHER But brilliance comes at a deadly price. Because at their father's tenth annual Prodigy Ball, Leontes Button is murdered. A MANSION FULL OF SUSPECTS As long-buried secrets come to light, one thing is clear: everyone at the ball had reason to want him dead. After all, their father was especially good at making enemies... A rollercoaster of twists and turns with secrets, lies, murder and money, The Heirs is The Inheritance Games meets Knives Out.

by Jennifer Niven

€10.99

The compulsive new thriller from multimillion-copy bestselling author Jennifer Niven. Eight students walk into an exclusive writers' retreat, but only one will walk out with a life-changing opportunity to realize their creative dreams. Effy is piecing together a story about the tragic betrayal that led to her mother's death. Arlo hopes to publish a novel - but he's also trying to start a new chapter with Effy after he broke her heart and ghosted her three years earlier. Their mentor is Meredith Graffam, enigmatic writer, director and actress, whose compelling accounts of her own near-death experience on the same retreat decades before continue to spark controversy. But this celebrated teacher is not all she seems, and her students gradually realize they are fighting for something much more primal than academic advantage. As Graffam's unorthodox teaching methods push them past breaking point, they reveal their darkest secrets, take unthinkable risks and slowly start to turn on one another. But Graffam never expected they would turn on her . . . The Secret History meets One of Us is Lying in the most gripping thriller of the year. Ideal for readers who: Like thrillers built around secrets, rivalry and ambition Are drawn to a writers' retreat where creative dreams turn dangerous Enjoy enclosed settings charged with tension and shifting loyalties Want a compulsive, twisty read with a dark academic feel

by S. F. Williamson

€10.99

The most exciting debut of 2025 - an incredible fantasy Dark Academia, perfect for fans of Babel, Fourth Wing, and the Scholomance trilogy EVERY FIRE STARTS WITH A SINGLE SPARK. Welcome to Bletchley Park. with dragons. London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies and protests erupt on the streets, but Vivien Featherswallow isn't worried. She's going to follow the rules, get an internship studying dragon languages, and make sure her little sister never has to risk growing up Third Class. By midnight, Viv has started a civil war. With her parents arrested and her sister missing, all the safety Viv has worked for is collapsing around her. So when a lifeline is offered in the form of a mysterious 'job', she grabs it. Arriving at Bletchley Park, Viv discovers that she has been recruited as a codebreaker helping the war effort - if she succeeds, she and her family can all go home again. If she doesn't, they'll all die. At first Viv believes that her challenge, of discovering the secrets of a hidden dragon language, is doable. But the more she learns, the more she realises that the bubble she's grown up in isn't as safe as she thought, and eventually Viv must decide: what war is she really fighting? An epic, sweeping fantasy with an incredible Dark Academia setting, a clandestine, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and an unputdownable story, filled with twists and turns, betrayals and secret identities, A Language of Dragons is the unmissable debut of 2025, from an extraordinary new voice. A Language of Dragons was Children's #1 bestseller in the TCM chart on 07 January 2025.

by S. F. Williamson

€10.99

REBELLION HAPPENS IN THE SHADOWS Vivien Featherswallow has uncovered the secret language of dragons. Now can she use it to end a war? The extraordinary sequel to the instant #1 Sunday Times Bestseller, A Language of Dragons "A delicious mix of rebellion, romance and complex female characters, both human and dragon." The Observer Vivien Featherswallow has translated a secret language of dragons - sparking an all-out civil war, with dragons and humans fighting on both sides, in the process. And after defeating Prime Minister Wyvernmire and escaping Bletchley Park, Vivien has become the reluctant face of the rebellion - and been labelled the most wanted criminal in Britain. But what good is a rebel who must remain in hiding, powerless to help her friends? Unsure of her purpose, and torn with doubt about the life she thought she was meant to lead, Vivien travels to the remote Scottish Isles to find a mysterious, long-forgotten species of dragon - one which might hold the key to ending the war… forever. An epic, sweeping, unputdownable fantasy, A War of Wyverns is the unmissable sequel to the instant #1 Sunday Times Bestseller, A Language of Dragons.

by Maggie Stiefvater

€10.79

  The first electrifying book in Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Cycle series. "There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve... Either you're his true love... or you killed him." Part of a clairvoyant family, Blue has spent sixteen years being told that if she kisses her true love, he will die. So when she meets Gansey's spirit on the corpse road, Blue knows that either he is her true love - or she has killed him. The boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and he is a student at Aglionby, a wealthy local private school. With three other mysterious and privileged boys, he is on a quest to find the grave of Glendower - a Welsh king buried somewhere on a Virginia ley line. Whoever finds him will be granted a supernatural favour. Never before has Blue felt such magic around her. But is Gansey really her true love - the one she is destined to kill? Blue never fully believed in the prophecy. But as she is caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore. Absolutely addictive writing for teen girls... and grown-up girls... Magic, mystery and adventure at every turn From the bestselling author of Shiver, Linger and Forever which all debuted at #1 on the UK book bestseller charts Film rights to The Raven Cycle have been acquired   PRAISE FOR MAGGIE STIEFVATER BOOKS The Raven Boys: A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year 2012 "Stiefvater is a master storyteller." - USA Today "A dizzying paranormal romance tinged with murder and Welsh mythology." - The Los Angeles Times "Simultaneously complex and simple, compulsively readable, marvelously wrought." - Kirkus Reviews "A tour de force... such a memorable read." - Publishers Weekly  "One unexpected and wonderful surprise after another... a marvel of imagination." - Booklist "The Raven Boys is an incredibly rich and unique tale, a supernatural thriller of a different flavor... Fans have been salivating for Stiefvater's next release and The Raven Boys delivers." - School Library Journal  "Equal parts thriller and mystery, with a measured dash of romance sprinkled on top... Maggie has woven such a unique, intriguing narrative that I struggled for comparisons." - MTV.com   Blue Lily, Lily Blue: "Blue Lily, Lily Blue is, simply, a triumph." - Booklist  "Expect this truly one-of-a-kind series to come to a thundering close." - Kirkus Reviews  "We have not yet finished loving these characters and exploring their world." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books  "Stiefvater's razor-sharp characterizations, drily witty dialogue, and knack for unexpected metaphors and turns of phrase make for sumptuous, thrilling reading... Readers will snap up the final installment the second it's available." - Publishers Weekly  "The prose is crisp and dazzling and the dialogue positively crackles." - School Library Journal    The Scorpio Races: "Masterful. Like nothing else out there now." - Kirkus Reviews "An utterly compelling read." - Publishers Weekly "Filling it with loving descriptions of wet, wind-tossed Thisby as well as exciting equine action, Stiefvater has created a thrilling backdrop for the love story that blooms...A book appealing to lovers of fantasy, horse stories, romance, and actionadventure alike, this seems to have a shot at being a YA blockbuster." - School Library Journal   #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver trilogy: "A lyrical tale of alienated werewolves and first love....Stiefvater skillfully increases the tension throughout; her take on werewolves is interesting and original while her characters are refreshingly willing to use their brains to deal with the challenges they face." - Publishers Weekly "Readers will be able to enjoy Stiefvater's fast-paced storytelling and dedication to the old-fashioned art of creating a believable and enduring romance. Shiver is beautifully written, even poetic at times, and a perfect indulgence for readers of all ages." - Bookpage.com "This riveting narrative, impossible to put down, is not only an excellent addition to the current fangs and fur craze, but is also a beautifully written romance that, along with Shiver, will have teens clamoring for the third and final entry." - VOYA

by Cassidy Ellis Salter

€11.99

In a rotten and bloody world, four magical rivals are forced to work together to avoid certain death in a deadly competition. Gothic, visceral and utterly compelling, These Shattered Spires is the first book in the Wyrdos trilogy. Beneath a tooth-filled sky, the world rots. At the heart of the decaying world is Fourspires Castle, home to arcanists from across the four magical disciplines: bone, blood, botany and stone. When the king is assassinated, chaos erupts. To seize the crown, arcanists and their human familiars are dragged into the Slaughter - a deadly competition, where survival means killing and death is the only escape. Amidst the bloodshed, four rival familiars must work together … Taro, a bone witch still obsessed with her ex. Nixie, a botanical familiar with a ghost living in her bedroom. Elliot, a cursed and vengeful blood familiar and Alix, banished from the stone arcania tower and shrouded in secrets. Together, the four Wyrdos are not just fighting to survive, but to lift the curse upon their world. There must be more to the sky than a dome of teeth and spittle; there must be something beyond the decay of Fourspires...

by Faridah +bíké-+yímídé

€10.79

A SUMMER SPECIAL EDITION OF THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, WITH EXCLUSIVE COVER AND EXTRA CONTENT WINNER OF THE 2021 BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS' AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT FICTION NOMINATED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL 2022 "This summer's hottest YA debut." Entertainment Weekly ACE OF SPADES is Gossip Girl meets Get Out, with a shocking twist. Buried secrets come to light when two students are targeted by an anonymous bully with an explosive agenda. Hello, Niveus High. It's me. Who am I? That's not important. All you need to know is...I'm here to divide and conquer. - Aces Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is revealing the darkest secrets of two students. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can't escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn't afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power. Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they're planning much more than a high-school game... Unputdownable and utterly compulsive, this high-octane thriller takes a powerful look at institutionalized racism. As seen in Vogue, The Guardian, Marie Claire, The New York Times, Elle, Buzzfeed, Cosmo and Entertainment Weekly, and on BBC Front Row, perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson and Angie Thomas. *This summer special features an exclusive cover from award-winning Kingsley Nebechi, and exciting extra content: an exclusive never-seen-before chapter and brand-new author letter.* "ACE OF SPADES is the thought-provoking thriller we ALL need." Nic Stone, #1 NYT bestselling author "A heart-racing and twisty thriller." Alice Oseman "Strong Gossip Girl vibes and a whole lot of mystery." Buzzfeed "Thunderous and terrifying. There's no way you're putting this down until you get to the last page." Maureen Johnson, NYT bestselling author

by Ravena Guron

€10.00

From the bestselling author of This Book Kills comes a deadly new YA thriller of murder, mystery and mind-blowing twists. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus. "A fiendishly twisty thriller for summer reading and beyond." The Observer When the most popular girl at Myra's new school is found frozen to death in a walk-in chiller, wannabe journalist Myra is sure of two things: 1. Scarlett was murdered. 2. One of Scarlett's friends is to blame. So she infiltrates the popular clique's world of envy and backstabbing to prove it. But then a strange boy holds her up at gunpoint in the woods, claiming he's killed the killer. Who is he, who did he kill...and who will die next? Praise for Ravena Guron: "For fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M McManus." The Observer "A treat for crime fiction fans." Sunday Express "A crisp, Christie-esque detective story told in lively multiple voices, perfect for Holly Jackson fans." The Guardian

by Kara Thomas

€10.79

The Cheerleaders is Kara Thomas' edge-of-your-seat thriller about an eerie sequence of seemingly unrelated events that leaves five cheerleaders dead. 'Sharp, brilliantly plotted, and totally engrossing' - Karen McManus, author of One of Us Is Lying There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook. First there was the car accident - two girls dead after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Then the murders happened - two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know why he did it. Monica's sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they'd lost. That was five years ago. Now the faculty and students at Sunnybrook High want to remember the lost cheerleaders. But for Monica, it's not that easy. After she discovers the letters in her stepdad's desk, unearths an ancient phone, and meets a strange new friend at school, Monica can't just move on. There are no more cheerleaders in Sunnybrook, but that doesn't mean anyone else is safe.

by Louise O'Neill

€11.99

'Utterly magnificent . . . gripping, accomplished and dark' Marian Keyes WINNER: Newcomer of the Year at the IBAs WINNER: Bookseller YA Prize WINNER: CBI Eilis Dillon Award Buzzfeed's Best Books Written by Women in 2014 The bestselling novel about beauty, body image and betrayal eves are designed, not made. The School trains them to be pretty The School trains them to be good. The School trains them to Always be Willing. All their lives, the eves have been waiting. Now, they are ready for the outside world. companion . . . concubine . . . or chastity Only the best will be chosen. And only the Men decide.

by Karen M. McManus

€9.49

The international bestselling YA thriller by acclaimed author Karen M. McManus - now available in a bold new cover look complete with a blood red background and matching sprayed edges. Five students walk into detention. Only four come out alive. Yale hopeful Bronwyn has never publicly broken a rule. Sports star Cooper only knows what he's doing in the baseball diamond. Bad boy Nate is one misstep away from a life of crime. Prom queen Addy is holding together the cracks in her perfect life. And outsider Simon, creator of the notorious gossip app at Bayview High, won't ever talk about any of them again. He dies 24 hours before he could post their deepest secrets online. Investigators conclude it's no accident. All of them are suspects. Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you'll go to protect them. 'Tightly plotted and brilliantly written, with sharp, believable characters, this whodunit is utterly irresistible' - HEAT 'Twisty plotting, breakneck pacing and intriguing characterisation add up to an exciting single-sitting thrillerish treat' -THE GUARDIAN 'A fantastic murder mystery, packed with cryptic clues and countless plot twists. I could not put this book down' - THE SUN 'Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club' - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY But the story doesn't end here, it continues with One of Us Is Next. . .

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

€9.49

She came from nothing. Avery has a plan: keep her head down, work hard for a better future. Then an eccentric billionaire dies, leaving her almost his entire fortune. And no one, least of all Avery, knows why. They had everything. Now she must move into the mansion she's inherited. It's filled with secrets and codes, and the old man's surviving relatives - a family hell-bent on discovering why Avery got 'their' money. Now there's only one rule: winner takes all. Soon she is caught in a deadly game that everyone in this strange family is playing.But just how far will they go to keep their fortune?

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

€10.99

This mystery thriller by the Number One bestselling author of The Inheritance Games is a gripping story of high stakes, betrayal, and unpredictable twists. Perfect for fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder. Knowledge is power, but secrets can kill . . . For Tess Kendrick, a student at the elite Hardwicke School, making problems disappear runs in the family. But Tess has another legacy, too, one that involves power and the making of political dynasties. When Tess is asked to run a classmate's campaign for student council, she agrees. But when the candidates are the children of Washington D.C. elite, even a high school election can have life-shattering consequences. What starts out as a friendly competition soon turns into a deadly struggle for control. Tess knows better than most that power is currency, but she's about to discover firsthand that power always comes with a price and no one can be trusted . . . Previously published as The Long Game.

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

€10.99

This mystery thriller by the Number One bestselling author of The Inheritance Games is a gripping story of high stakes, betrayal, and unpredictable twists. Perfect for fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder. Any problem can be fixed for a price . . . When Tess Kendrick is sent to stay with her older sister in Washington D.C., she has no idea that Ivy is the capitol's go-to "fixer," a person who can make powerful people's scandals disappear with a snap of her fingers. Tess never thought she and Ivy had much in common, but when she enrolls at the exclusive Hardwicke School, she soon finds herself thrust into the role of high school fixer, solving problems for the children of the D.C. elite. But secrets pile up as each sister lives a double life, and their worlds come crashing together when a scandal from the halls of Hardwicke reaches Capitol Hill. As the stakes turn deadly, Tess must uncover who's behind the power play before she becomes a target herself. Don't miss the sequel, Lessons in Power! Previously published as The Fixer.

by E. Lockhart

€9.49

THE TIKTOK PHENOMENON AND #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. ** NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES ON AMAZON PRIME! ** Don't miss FAMILY OF LIARS and WE FELL APART - all in the world of WE WERE LIARS! A beautiful and distinguished family. A private island. A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy. A group of four friends-the Liars-whose friendship turns destructive. A revolution. An accident. A secret. Lies upon lies. True love. The truth. Read it. And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE. We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honouree E. Lockhart.

by Kate Francis

€14.50

The utterly addictive new YA thriller from the queen of twists, Kate Francis. For fans of The Traitors, Karen M. McManus and E. Lockhart. In the middle of the night, Liv Walker is kidnapped from her bedroom by two masked figures. As she's dragged into an unmarked van, she's met with an even more horrifying sight: her family are waving goodbye. Camp Smiling Skies is a wilderness therapy camp for "troubled teens". At least, that's what it says in the brochure. In truth, it's filled with dark secrets, cruel counsellors and no chance of escape. Things seem as bad as they can get...until, one by one, people start to die. Liv has already been betrayed by her family, but it seems like they're not the only traitors in her life. There's a murderer in the camp, and everyone's a suspect. Praise for CIRCLE OF LIARS: "Incredibly tense and beyond gripping." Ravena Guron, bestselling author of THIS BOOK KILLS "Fast paced, gripping and very, very twisty... This book is guaranteed to give you sleepless nights until you finish it." Sarah Wishart, author of FOUR GOOD LIARS

by Ravena Guron

€10.44

From the bestselling author of This Book Kills comes a deadly new YA thriller of murder, mystery and mind-blowing twists. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus. "Clever, witty and so much fun...I was on the edge of my seat. At this point, if Ravena Guron writes it, I'm first in line to read it." Bea Fitzgerald, bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen Seventeen-year-old Kay left her sleepy hometown after the devastating death of her friend, Ivy. But when Kay is forced to come back, she receives an anonymous letter that turns her life upside down. The letter tells her that there will be a thrill on Tuesday, a wreckage on Wednesday, treachery on Thursday, a fire on Friday, sabotage on Saturday, a stabbing on Sunday - and her murder on Monday. And if Kay can't figure out who is behind the threats, the worst day of the week is about to get deadly... Praise for Ravena Guron: "For fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M McManus." The Observer "A treat for crime fiction fans." Sunday Express "A crisp, Christie-esque detective story told in lively multiple voices, perfect for Holly Jackson fans." The Guardian

by Faridah +bíké-+yímídé

€10.79

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES bestseller. Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a haunting and compulsive new Dark Academia mystery of secrets, lies and revenge, from the award-winning, bestselling author of Ace of Spades, Faridah �b�k�-�y�m�d�. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Maureen Johnson. "Dark academia fans, this novel is for you." Cosmopolitan "The slow-burn mystery, imbued with a terrible sense of menace, is worth every page." The Observer "�b�k�-�y�m�d� is an incisive force - and a total vibe." Olivie Blake, NYT bestselling author of THE ATLAS SIX This was a mistake, the voice in her head whispered. You should never have come... Sade Hussein is the new girl at the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy. She has no idea what to expect of her mysterious new boarding school - an institution steeped in tradition and secrets. But she certainly didn't imagine her roommate, Elizabeth, to go missing on her first night. Or for people to think Sade had something to do with it. Suddenly everyone is talking about Sade, including the Unholy Trinity: the three most popular girls at school. Swept up in their circle, Sade can't shake the sense that there's more to Elizabeth's disappearance - especially as the teachers don't seem to care. And then a student is found dead. It's clear there's more to Alfred Nobel Academy and its students than Sade could have imagined - and she must race to uncover the truth. But secrets lurk around every corner and beneath every surface...secrets that rival even her own. "With a shock slow-burning reveal at its core, it's also an uplifting story of survival and hope." Stylist Praise for Ace of Spades "A heart-racing and twisty thriller." Alice Oseman "Heart-pounding suspense." Marie Claire "Strong Gossip Girl vibes and a whole lot of mystery." Buzzfeed

by Ravena Guron

€11.60

"For fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M McManus." The Observer "An awesome book, full of mystery, friendship and sass. ***** " The Sun "Fun, twisty and insightful...will keep you on the edge of your seat." Adiba Jaigirdar, YA Book Prize winning author of Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating "I'll make it clear from the start: I did not kill Hugh Henry Van Boren. I didn't even help. Well, not intentionally." When Hugh Henry Van Boren, one of the most popular and richest kids in Jess Choudhary's school, is found dead, the student body is left reeling and wondering who the murderer could be... Jess, a student under strict instructions to keep her record clean or risk losing her scholarship, finds herself at the centre of the investigation when it's revealed that Hugh died in the exact same way as a character in a short story she wrote. And then Jess receives an anonymous text thanking her for the inspiration. With time running out, Jess knows if she doesn't solve this mystery she'll finally have something in common with Hugh Henry. She'll be dead too.