Books About Murder

The Best Murder Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about murder? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

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The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Murder

Sale price

$1049

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2008

The Graveyard Book

By Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean (Illustrator)

A boy raised by ghosts must face dangers beyond the graveyard.

Newbery Medal (2009)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2009)Carnegie Medal for Writing (2010)Cybils Award (2008)

354 pages· 67,418 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

7.0/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 570,638 ratings

$10.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a graveyard, Bod, a boy raised by ghosts, learns ancient secrets and ghostly skills. But beyond the cemetery's safety, the man Jack, who killed his family, awaits. Can Bod navigate the living and the dead's worlds, facing both wonders and perils? As he grows, Bod must confront his past and the threats that lurk outside his spectral home. Will he find his place among the living, or will the graveyard's mysteries consume him? Discover Bod's journey in a tale where the boundaries between life and death blur.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2019

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

By Holly Jackson · Book #1 in the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series

A closed murder case reopens, revealing dark secrets and danger.

389 pages· 91,912 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,903,059 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: Pip, a high school senior, reopens a closed murder case for her final project, questioning the guilt of Sal Singh, who allegedly killed Andie Bell. As she uncovers hidden truths, Pip realizes someone wants the past to stay buried. With her own safety at risk, can she prove Sal's innocence before it's too late? Dive into a gripping mystery where the past and present collide, and nothing is as it seems.

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$958

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1843

The Tell-Tale Heart

By Edgar Allan Poe

Dive into chilling tales of murder, madness, and mystery.

224 pages· 2,188 words· Est. 13 min read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 245,537 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Enter a world of suspense with tales like 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' where guilt drives a man to madness, and 'The Cask of Amontillado,' a chilling story of revenge. Meet a detective who outsmarts all in 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue.' Each story, from haunted houses to sinister plots, promises to captivate and terrify. Discover the genius of Poe, the master of Gothic horror and suspense, through these timeless, mind-bending narratives.

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$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2017

One of Us Is Lying

By Karen M. McManus · Book #1 in the One of Us Is Lying series

Five enter detention, four leave alive. Who killed Simon?

416 pages· 91,054 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,104,732 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In Bayview High, five students enter detention, but only four emerge. Simon, the outcast with a notorious gossip app, dies mysteriously. Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, and Cooper become suspects, each hiding secrets Simon planned to expose. As investigators close in, the question looms: are they guilty or pawns in a larger game? Unravel the truth behind Simon's death and discover how far these teens will go to protect their secrets.

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$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2014

Space Case

By Stuart Gibbs · Book #1 in the Moon Base Alpha series

A young lunar resident uncovers a deadly secret on Moon Base Alpha.

337 pages· 69,927 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 15,890 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson is stuck on Moon Base Alpha, where boredom reigns until the base's top scientist is found dead. While others dismiss it as an accident, Dash suspects murder. With a groundbreaking discovery at stake, Dash must unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again. Can he uncover the truth in time, or will the secrets of the moon remain buried forever?

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Sale price

$2374

Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2021

The Twisted Ones (Graphic Novel)

By Scott Cawthon, Kira Breed-Wrisley, Claudia Aguirre (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the Five Nights at Freddy's: original trilogy graphic novels series

A series of familiar murders pulls Charlie back into a nightmare world of animatronic horrors.

192 pages· 8,346 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 3,818 ratings

$24.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Charlie thought she escaped the nightmare of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, but new murders near her school bear chilling similarities to her past. Haunted by memories and hunted by something sinister, Charlie must confront her father's terrifying creations once more. Can she unravel the mystery before it's too late, or will the twisted horrors claim her forever? Dive into this gripping graphic novel where every shadow hides a threat and every turn could be her last.

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$2522

Chapter Book · Ages 14–17 · 2013

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die

By April Henry

A woman wakes in a cabin, hunted by killers, with no memory. Can she survive?

240 pages· 51,265 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 14,202 ratings

$26.55Save 5%

Library Binding

Summary: Waking in a ransacked cabin with no memory, a woman overhears a deadly decision: her life must end. Desperate to survive, she flees, joined by Ty, an unexpected ally. Together, they unravel a web of murder, identity theft, and biological warfare. As they race against time, each step uncovers more danger. Will they uncover the truth before it's too late? "The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die" is a gripping thriller that keeps you guessing at every turn.

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$2374

Chapter Book · Ages 10–15 · 2011

Anya's Ghost

By Vera Brosgol

Anya's new friend is a century-old ghost with secrets.

Cybils Award (2011)

224 pages· 7,944 words· Est. 59 min read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 95,163 ratings

$24.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Anya's life is a mess—awkward at school, embarrassed by her family. When she falls into a well, she discovers a ghostly friend from the past. But is this spectral companion truly what she needs, or is there a darker side to this eternal friendship? As Anya navigates the challenges of fitting in, she must decide if her ghostly ally is a blessing or a curse. Dive into a tale of mystery and self-discovery where the past and present collide in unexpected ways.

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Sale price

$679

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 1623

Macbeth (Graphic Novel)

By William Shakespeare, Daniel Perez (Illustrator) · Shakespeare Graphics series

A prophecy ignites ambition, leading to a bloody quest for power.

88 pages· 2,257 words· Est. 21 min read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,050,325 ratings

$7.15Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Scottish general Macbeth encounters three witches who predict his rise to kingship. Driven by ambition and spurred by his wife's schemes, Macbeth embarks on a dark path, unleashing chaos across Scotland. Will his thirst for power be his undoing, or can he outmaneuver fate itself? Dive into this gripping graphic novel retelling of a classic tale of ambition and betrayal.

Sale price

$1520

Chapter Book · Ages 10–12 · 2009

Closed for the Season

By Mary Downing Hahn

Two boys unravel a murder mystery in a haunted house.

192 pages· 43,060 words· Est. 5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 7,675 ratings

$16.00Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In a small Maryland town, 13-year-olds Arthur and Logan delve into a chilling murder mystery tied to Logan's new home. Their investigation leads them through society's layers, culminating in a derelict amusement park. What secrets lie hidden, and can they uncover the truth before it's too late?

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