Criminally Good Reads - Crime and mystery books for young people
Could you be a great crime writer? 15 year old Nicole Hendry from Mere Green in Birmingham entered the 2010 Young Crime Writers Competition and won the regional round with her story The Demolition of Lives, beating off competition from across the West Midlands.
Detective stories, creepy psychological thrillers, historical whodunits, spies, terrorist plots… from cops and robbers to vigilantes and robots, the crime genre covers an exciting range of subjects. Find your inspiration in some of these recommended stories and true crime books....
Crime Stories
Echo Falls Trilogy (Down the Rabbit Hole, Behind the Curtain and Into the Dark by Peter Abrahams
Modern books with thirteen year old teen detective, loved by Stephen King.
Gilda Joyce: Investigator by Jennifer Allison
Feisty and fun female detective investigates crimes.
No Way to Go by Bernard Ashley
Gritty urban drama follows a girl who doesn’t believe it was an accident when her brother fell from a tower block and died.
The Printer’s Devil by Paul Bajoria
Two young teens get caught up in murder and drug crime in 19th century London.
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Intriguing and strange mystery about two young people and a missing Vermeer painting.
Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Dylan plans to steal a priceless painting…
Gideon the Cutpurse by Linda Buckley-Archer
Features time travel and highwaymen!
Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer
Fletcher Moon is obsessed with being a private detective and soon gets a real crime to investigate.
The Big Splash by Jack D Ferraiolo
12 year old Matt investigates a High School mafia style gang.
Two Good Thieves by Daniel Finn
South American street children get drawn into a deeper world of crime when they steal a valuable ring from the wrong person.
Diamond Geezers by Echo Freer
Humorous crime caper about a girl trying to save a cemetery from developers
Beast by Ally Kennan
Stephen who is having a hard time in care is keeping a strange creature in a cage by the reservoir…
Grass by Cathy MacPhail
Urban thriller about teen Leo who has witnessed the murder of a local gang leader.
Deathwatch by Nicola Morgan
Cat is being followed but she doesn’t know who it is.
Whodunnit? Detective Stories chosen by Philip Pullman
Traditional detective stories including Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot.
The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle by Catherine Webb
First of a trilogy about a Victorian detective that was written by Catherine Webb whilst still in her teens. Described as ‘Sherlock Holmes crossed with Thomas Edison as written by Terry Pratchett!’
True Crime
True Stories of Gangsters – Henry Brook
Cruel Crime and Painful Punishment – Terry Deary
Forensic Science – Alex Frith
Crimebusters: How Science Fights Crime – Clive Gifford
Forensic Investigator – Susan Glass
Crime and Detection – Gill Harvey
Crime Scene Investigation – Lorraine Jean Hopping
Crime Doesn’t Pay – Beverley MacDonald
Cyber Crime – John Townsend
Who’s Who of Horrors – Tracey Turner
Borrow all these books from your local library
All of these books can be ordered online from our library catalogue and picked up from your local library. You just need your library card and PIN. If you don't know your PIN, contact your local library to find out. If you're not already a library member, join online now! It's quick, easy and FREE!