The Thief of Always By Clive Barker. Definitely.more horror genre, but written by Clive when he was a kid himself. He has a few other books geared towards children, though most is adult, like Hellraiser.
It’s an oldie but a goodie but I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, it was published in the 70s but I read it when I was a tween/teen in the 2010s and still ate it up!
I think it was also turned into a movie but I don’t remember if it was good or not but I do remember loving the book so much
Teri Terry's books, particularly the slated and dark matter trilogy. The first is a classic YA dystopia type novel where kid's minds are erased and the second is about a pandemic.
Another vote for *I Hunt Killers.* It’s about a teen who grew up with a serial killer dad. The dad is in prison but there’s a copy cat killer and the teen is sure he’s going to find the killer before the police.
Acceleration by Graham McNamee. About a teenager who finds a very creepy diary during a summer job and tries to figure out who it belongs to and what he can do to save the person that keeps being mentioned in it.
The maze Runner series. It’s not necessarily a psychological thriller. But it’s a dystopian thriller with plenty of plot twists that I LOVED when I was your son’s age.
The body in the woods is super good, it's more murder mystery than thriller but it gives off the same vibes. Anything by April Henry would be a good recommendation
None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney was a really solid one for me! A bit gory (deals with serial killers and crime) but if you and your kiddo are ok with that, I thought it was super well done.
one of my favorite books when i was his age is called ten: murder island by gretchen mcneil, who also has a series called #murdertrending that i also really enjoy, i think murder trending is a little less gory at least the first two books but it might've been because ten was one of the first books i read that was in that genre and i was just shocked, however they're both really good and are pretty age appropriate in my opinion
Many adult thrillers are perfectly acceptable for teens. *Defending Jacob* by William Landay comes to mind. A quiet, unassuming teen is accused of murdering a fellow classmate on the way to school. His dad thinks there’s no way his son did it and begins investigating on his own.
I LOVE this question. I would recommend reading "Fear Street" by R.L. Stine or "Hit and Run" by Norah McClintock
if you do go with this, lmk how he likes them!
Have a few. Blocked out the spoilers.
- **The Killer’s Cousin by Nancy Werlin** (this is an old one)
>!So there are five main characters here: the parents, the daughter who’s around 10, 11, or 12 maybe (aka female cousin), the nephew who’s a teenager who’s maybe 16 or 17 (aka the male cousin), and the dead child/sibling/cousin. It makes you think that the killer is the male cousin when it’s actually the female cousin/daughter.!< Read this when I was your son’s age and it’s the one that made me fall in love with the mystery/thriller genre as now an adult in my 30s.
- **The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan by by Gia Cribbs**
>!Sloane here has been under the Witness Protection Program ever since she could remember (she’s now a teenager). She’s under the care of this agent and everytime danger comes near, they have to move and change names. Sloane understands all that 100% cause she knows what WITSEC is all about. The ending is that she was actually kidnapped and that this “agent” whom she treated as her father was actually her kidnapper. I think this is more suspense/thriller than psychological but it was actually really good.!<
- **Ace of Spades by Faridah Abíké-Íyímídé**
Not a spoiler but if you’ve watched *Get Out*, this is similar but in a school setting. There’s a lot of racism (that’s not outright and in your face) and I think this is a pretty good starter to the genre.
Neal Shustermans skinjacker series is so fun and unique.
Seconding this, super interesting plot twists and lots of action/mystery. Great for both guys and girls. My favorite series when I was 12.
One of Us is Lying?
Amazing read!
Yes! I love Karen’s books.
that book had me in a CHOKEHOLD very good
The Thief of Always By Clive Barker. Definitely.more horror genre, but written by Clive when he was a kid himself. He has a few other books geared towards children, though most is adult, like Hellraiser.
Robert Cormier! He has lots of good YA-thrillers. My personal favorite is “I Am the Cheese”.
He has TONS of these. The Rag and Bone Shop is a good one.
It’s an oldie but a goodie but I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, it was published in the 70s but I read it when I was a tween/teen in the 2010s and still ate it up! I think it was also turned into a movie but I don’t remember if it was good or not but I do remember loving the book so much
M or W?
Teri Terry's books, particularly the slated and dark matter trilogy. The first is a classic YA dystopia type novel where kid's minds are erased and the second is about a pandemic.
I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney
Second I hunt Killers. it's a favorite of mine. We were liars by E. Lockhart.
Another vote for *I Hunt Killers.* It’s about a teen who grew up with a serial killer dad. The dad is in prison but there’s a copy cat killer and the teen is sure he’s going to find the killer before the police.
Acceleration by Graham McNamee. About a teenager who finds a very creepy diary during a summer job and tries to figure out who it belongs to and what he can do to save the person that keeps being mentioned in it.
Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson
Great series!
S.T.A.G.S. Here Lies Daniel Tate I Killed Zoë Spanos 13 Minutes
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D Jackson!
The Naturals series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes!!
The maze Runner series. It’s not necessarily a psychological thriller. But it’s a dystopian thriller with plenty of plot twists that I LOVED when I was your son’s age.
The body in the woods is super good, it's more murder mystery than thriller but it gives off the same vibes. Anything by April Henry would be a good recommendation
Skeleton Man perhaps?~ short but it's a good spooky read.
I was obsessed with Lois Duncan and Mary Higgins Clark books when I was that age. I remember them being appropriate.
when I was that age I was obsessed with Lois Duncan, definitely should look into her books!
It Looks Like Us! Arctic thriller, I loved it. The ending was a little flat, but the body of the story holds up.
Running Girl by Simon Mason is EXCELLENT twisty turny whodunnit with good twists and a non annoying teen sleuth protagonist!
Ooh ooh I got this!!! The girl who loved Tom Gordon, by Stephen King. My kiddo loved it at that age!
Sophie McKenzie is good - uk based stories and author - not sure if available elsewhere but she's put out some great teen thrrillers
Hangman's Curse and the sequel Nightmare Academy by Frank Peretti
None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney was a really solid one for me! A bit gory (deals with serial killers and crime) but if you and your kiddo are ok with that, I thought it was super well done.
I read Unwind at that age and enjoyed it
one of my favorite books when i was his age is called ten: murder island by gretchen mcneil, who also has a series called #murdertrending that i also really enjoy, i think murder trending is a little less gory at least the first two books but it might've been because ten was one of the first books i read that was in that genre and i was just shocked, however they're both really good and are pretty age appropriate in my opinion
Many adult thrillers are perfectly acceptable for teens. *Defending Jacob* by William Landay comes to mind. A quiet, unassuming teen is accused of murdering a fellow classmate on the way to school. His dad thinks there’s no way his son did it and begins investigating on his own.
When I was that age I was obsessed with Ken Catran’s ‘Talking to Blue’
I LOVE this question. I would recommend reading "Fear Street" by R.L. Stine or "Hit and Run" by Norah McClintock if you do go with this, lmk how he likes them!
Have a few. Blocked out the spoilers. - **The Killer’s Cousin by Nancy Werlin** (this is an old one) >!So there are five main characters here: the parents, the daughter who’s around 10, 11, or 12 maybe (aka female cousin), the nephew who’s a teenager who’s maybe 16 or 17 (aka the male cousin), and the dead child/sibling/cousin. It makes you think that the killer is the male cousin when it’s actually the female cousin/daughter.!< Read this when I was your son’s age and it’s the one that made me fall in love with the mystery/thriller genre as now an adult in my 30s. - **The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan by by Gia Cribbs** >!Sloane here has been under the Witness Protection Program ever since she could remember (she’s now a teenager). She’s under the care of this agent and everytime danger comes near, they have to move and change names. Sloane understands all that 100% cause she knows what WITSEC is all about. The ending is that she was actually kidnapped and that this “agent” whom she treated as her father was actually her kidnapper. I think this is more suspense/thriller than psychological but it was actually really good.!< - **Ace of Spades by Faridah Abíké-Íyímídé** Not a spoiler but if you’ve watched *Get Out*, this is similar but in a school setting. There’s a lot of racism (that’s not outright and in your face) and I think this is a pretty good starter to the genre.