The spy and mystery genres are awash with secret rendezvous, high-stakes operations, and complicated conspiracies. It’s not all dark and brooding, however. Many authors of young adult and children’s books add a comic twist to the suspense.
You’ll find our top page-turners below. All are suitable for young readers but that doesn’t mean adults won’t find them equally engaging!
SPY BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Rebel Spy by Veronica Rossi Frannie knows little about the 1776 war between England and its 13 colonies until a shipwreck leaves the body of a young woman floating in the sea. The tragedy gives Frannie the opportunity to escape her stepfather but is she brave enough to take it?
Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf This murder mystery is set at an annual Scrabble championship with clues revealed in word puzzles. A teenage girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé An anonymous adversary targets two students. Devon wants to bury himself in music rehearsals until his private photos go public. Meanwhile, Chiamaka does what it takes to get ahead but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power.
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys Christian, 17, is blackmailed by the secret police into becoming an informer. He must choose between informing on his family or risking the lives of those he loves. The New York Times’ bestseller is based on real events, from a prizewinning author.
The Red Palace by June Hur Hyeon, a young nurse, becomes a detective to investigate 18th-century murders in centered around Korea’s royal court. She is an illegitimate daughter trying to win her estranged father’s approval but will her obsession serve to drive him further away?
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The spy and mystery genres are awash with secret rendezvous, high-stakes operations, and complicated conspiracies. It’s not all dark and brooding, however. Many authors of young adult and children’s books add a comic twist to the suspense.
You’ll find our top page-turners below. All are suitable for young readers but that doesn’t mean adults won’t find them equally engaging!
SPY BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Rebel Spy by Veronica Rossi Frannie knows little about the 1776 war between England and its 13 colonies until a shipwreck leaves the body of a young woman floating in the sea. The tragedy gives Frannie the opportunity to escape her stepfather but is she brave enough to take it?
Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf This murder mystery is set at an annual Scrabble championship with clues revealed in word puzzles. A teenage girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé An anonymous adversary targets two students. Devon wants to bury himself in music rehearsals until his private photos go public. Meanwhile, Chiamaka does what it takes to get ahead but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power.
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys Christian, 17, is blackmailed by the secret police into becoming an informer. He must choose between informing on his family or risking the lives of those he loves. The New York Times’ bestseller is based on real events, from a prizewinning author.
The Red Palace by June Hur Hyeon, a young nurse, becomes a detective to investigate 18th-century murders in centered around Korea’s royal court. She is an illegitimate daughter trying to win her estranged father’s approval but will her obsession serve to drive him further away?
SPYSCAPE NYC HQ has the world’s best collection of spy books! Many of our titles are also online
CONTEMPORARY SPY AND MYSTERY BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Fake ID by Lamar Giles This Witness Protection thriller sees Nick Pearson hiding in plain sight. His friend Eli was uncovering a major conspiracy when Eli died. Now Nick must choose between solving Eli's murder or staying ‘low-key’ and following the Program’s instructions.
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson This is the start of a series about a sharp young detective, Stevie Bell. She finds herself entangled in a murder mystery at Ellingham Academy boarding school involving the kidnapping of two people and a mocking riddle left as a clue.
Warcross by Marie Lu Warcross is a way of life for millions of gamers who log on each day to escape reality or make a profit. Teen hacker Emika Chen is a bounty hunter tracking down players who place illegal bets when she’s offered a job spying on players. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Avery has a plan for her future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery his fortune. The problem? Avery has no idea who Tobias Hawthorne is or why.
Daughters of a Dead Empire by Carolyn Tara O’Neil The year is 1918 and two girls from separate worlds flee across the countryside at the height of the Russian Civil War. Anna offers a peasant girl a diamond to take her as far south as possible, not realizing she may be putting herself in grave danger.
SPY BOOK SERIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS
The Agent 21 Series by Chris Ryan Zac Dark is an amateur detective and secret agent involved in a series of adrenaline-fuelled mysteries after his parents die in a mass murder. In Book 3, he must break a cipher before a bomber strikes again but even that may not be enough to save him.
The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz British author Anthony Horowitz writes the books he wishes he was reading at age 14 (as well as finding time to write the latest 007 books!), including the daring tales of teenage spy Alex Rider who is recruited under pressure by MI6 - Britain’s equivalent of the CIA.
The Young Bond series by Charlie Higson Young Bond is a series of young adult spy novels featuring Ian Fleming's secret agent James Bond as a young teenage boy attending school at Eton College in the 1930s.
The CHERUB series by Robert Muchamore The series focuses on CHERUB, a fictional division of the British Security Services, which employs children 17 or younger as agents. They are based at a secret base known only to its employees, police, and high-level British government ministers.
The Ryan Jacobs Series by Paul Orton Aimed at boys aged 11-15, the series follows Ryan Jacobs, a teen who hacks into a top-secret computer system and faces his worst fears as a sinister organization tries to use his skills for its own evil ends.
SPYSCAPE NYC HQ has the latest spy book releases with many of our titles also online
SPY, SUSPENSE & PUZZLE BOOKS SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS
Escape Room by Christopher Edge (Suitable for ages 9+) When 12-year-old Ami arrives at The Escape, she thinks it's just a game - the ultimate escape room with puzzles and challenges. She soon learns that Ami and her teammates have been chosen to save the world while locked inside the room.
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs (Suitable for ages 8-12) Can an undercover nerd become a superstar agent? Ben Ripley hopes so! He may be in school, but Ben’s already decided on his dream job as a CIA officer, so imagine his surprise to discover his school is actually a front for a junior CIA Academy.
One Dead Spy, Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales(Suitable for ages 8-12) “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country” - the last words of Nathan Hale, a spy for the American rebels in the Revolutionary War. But who was Hale? And how did the rebels defeat a much bigger army? One Dead Spy has the answers.
Brain Boggling Puzzles for Smart Kids by Beaky and Starlight (Suitable for 8+) Budding code-breakers will love these brain challenges. There are more than 101 puzzles including logic puzzles, crosswords, word search, Sudoku, math puzzles, and number games. Ideal for rainy days and screen breaks.
Olivia the Spy by Ian Falconer (Suitable for ages 4-8) Everyone’s favorite pig is about to have a birthday but will Olivia’s penchant for eavesdropping lead to more than presents? When she not-so-accidentally overhears her mom talking about her behavior, Olivia fears she’s headed to military school.
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