The Best Murder Investigation Books for Kids

Summary: Emma Carstairs, a determined Shadowhunter, seeks to avenge her parents' mysterious deaths. With her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, she delves into a demonic conspiracy in Los Angeles. As they navigate treacherous alliances, Julian's brother Mark returns from the faerie realm, unchanged and unrecognizable. Can Emma balance her quest for justice with the tangled emotions of her heart? And will Mark find his place in a world that moved on without him? The stakes are high as the Shadowhunters race against time to stop a killer targeting faeries, risking everything in a city where magic and danger collide.

Summary: When her little sister Mattie is found dead, nineteen-year-old Sadie disappears, set on finding the man she believes killed her. Months later, radio host West McCray takes up her story in a true-crime podcast and follows her trail through small towns. Told in alternating chapters of Sadie's journey and the podcast's episodes, this dark, award-winning YA thriller deals with abuse and grief.

Summary: Jude's best friend is dead, found lifeless in a California pool. While others whisper accident or suicide, Jude is convinced it's murder. As she delves into the murky depths of her friend's life, everyone becomes a suspect—family, friends, even herself. Secrets unravel, and Jude must confront her own hidden past. In this gripping noir, the sunlit streets of Pasadena hide shadows of betrayal and truth. Can Jude uncover the real story before it's too late?