Best Mystery Books for Young Women (2026): 5 Compared

The best mystery books for young women are the ones with a heroine to root for and a twist you do not see coming. We compared five mysteries by page count, publication date, series status and what each description says is inside.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Last One to Die by Murphy	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Murder Is Bad Manners	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Where the Crawdads Sing	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
4	In the Dark by White	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Secret, Book and Scone Society	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Last One to Die by Murphy

Cynthia Murphy·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 288-page supernatural thriller about a 16-year-old in London, for young women who like plot twists; skip it if you want a grown-up cast.

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Pros

• 288 pages with a 16-year-old protagonist
• Reading age 12 - 17 years and grade level 7 - 9
• Supernatural thriller with plot twists per the description

Cons

• Young adult, not adult fiction
• Supernatural elements may not suit every mystery fan
• Published March 5, 2024, a newer edition

2

Murder Is Bad Manners

Robin Stevens·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 336-page 1930s boarding-school mystery for young women who like classic whodunits; note it is written for ages 10 and up.

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Pros

• 336 pages, book 1 of 10 in a series
• Reading age 10 years and up and grade level 5 - 6
• 1930s boarding school setting with two girl detectives

Cons

• Middle-grade level may feel young for adult readers
• First published as Murder Most Unladylike in the UK
• School setting limits the scope

3

Where the Crawdads Sing

Delia Owens·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 400-page murder mystery and coming-of-age story set in a North Carolina marsh; for literary mystery lovers, not for fast-paced thriller fans.

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Pros

• 400 pages, murder mystery and coming-of-age in one
• Reese's Book Club pick is stated
• North Carolina marsh setting with a young female lead

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• Literary pace may feel slow for thriller fans
• Published March 30, 2021, an older edition

4

In the Dark by White

Loreth Anne White·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 411-page thriller set at a remote mountain lodge; for suspense lovers, not for cozy mystery fans.

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Pros

• 411 pages, the longest here
• Remote mountain lodge setup with a ticking clock
• Dual investigator leads per the description

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• Dark thriller tone throughout
• Published December 1, 2019, the oldest edition here

5

Secret, Book and Scone Society

Ellery Adams·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 320-page cozy mystery and the first of 9 books, set in a North Carolina bookstore; for cozy fans, not for dark thriller seekers.

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Pros

• 320 pages, book 1 of 9 in a series
• Cozy bookstore setting in small-town North Carolina
• Reprint edition from Kensington Cozies

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• Cozy pace may feel slow for thriller fans
• Published July 31, 2018, an older edition

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More picks to compare

• Lost at the School Swimming Pool227 pages, mystery for ages 9 to 12Check on Amazon
• The Dead Can Be Stubborn232 pages, 2024 YA award winnerCheck on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 21 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level. Two of the five listings state a reading age and grade level; the other three state none. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best mystery books for young women

Match the age level

Two listings state a reading age: Last One to Die at 12 – 17 years and Murder Is Bad Manners at 10 years and up. The other three state no age, so read the description: Where the Crawdads Sing and In the Dark are adult mysteries, while the Scone Society is a cozy adult series. For more at this level see our thriller and mystery books.

Standalone or series

Two are series starters: Murder Is Bad Manners, book 1 of 10, and the Scone Society, book 1 of 9. The other three are standalone. A series starter is a gift that keeps giving; a standalone ends cleanly. The Reese’s Book Club pick, Where the Crawdads Sing, is the standalone with the most literary weight here.

Before you buy

• Check the page count against her reading habit: 288 to 411 pages across these five.
• Note the tone: Last One to Die is supernatural, In the Dark is a dark thriller, the Scone Society is cozy.
• Two listings state a reading age; the other three do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these books is the longest?

In the Dark at 411 pages, then Where the Crawdads Sing at 400 pages.

Which books start a series?

Murder Is Bad Manners, book 1 of 10, and Secret, Book and Scone Society, book 1 of 9.

Which books state a reading age?

Last One to Die at 12 – 17 years and Murder Is Bad Manners at 10 years and up. The others state none.

Still deciding? Our top pickLast One to Die by Murphy

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Related lists

See every thriller and mystery book list and all fiction lists.

More lists: book club books, fantasy books, fiction books.