Books About Thrillers And Suspense · 247 titles considered

The Best Thrillers And Suspense Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about thrillers and suspense? 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.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Thrillers And Suspense

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

City Spies

By James Ponti · Book #1 in the City Spies series

A young hacker joins a secret spy team to stop a villain and save the world.

378 pages· 64,521 words· Est. 9 hour read

6.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 18,657 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: Sara Martinez, a skilled hacker, faces juvenile detention until a British spy offers her a new life with a secret MI6 team. Now, part of the City Spies, Sara must navigate espionage, teamwork, and danger. As she heads to Paris, she must prevent a rival from winning a fortune and stop a looming threat. Can Sara and her diverse team of young spies outsmart the villains and save the day?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2018

The Nebula Secret

By Trudi Trueit · Book #1 in the Explorer Academy series

A young explorer uncovers a family secret that threatens his future at an elite academy.

216 pages· 52,975 words· Est. 6 hour read

5.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 3,160 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Summary: Twelve-year-old Cruz Coronado leaves Hawaii for the prestigious Explorer Academy, joining kids from around the world to train as future explorers. But Cruz's journey takes a perilous turn when he discovers his family's mysterious ties to the academy, putting his future at risk. Amidst thrilling classes and augmented-reality adventures, Cruz must unravel the enigma of who is targeting him and why. With puzzles and codes to solve, Cruz's quest for answers becomes a race against time. Can he uncover the truth before it's too late?

Sale price

$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 · 245,475 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

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.

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2021

The Girls I've Been

A con artist's daughter becomes a hostage in a bank heist, but the robbers don't know who they're dealing with.

356 pages

4.0/5 Goodreads · 56,056 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Summary: Nora O'Malley, daughter of a con artist, has been living a reformed life. But when a bank heist traps her, her ex, and her secret girlfriend, her past skills become crucial. As tensions rise, Nora must navigate the chaos and secrets that threaten to unravel everything. Can she outsmart the robbers and protect those she cares about, or will her past catch up with her? In a high-stakes game of deception and survival, Nora's true nature is put to the ultimate test. Who will come out on top in this deadly showdown?

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2006

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

By Ally Carter · Book #1 in the Gallagher Girls series

A young spy faces her toughest mission yet: navigating love while keeping her true identity hidden.

304 pages· 68,097 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

3.8/5 Goodreads · 194,626 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Summary: Cammie Morgan, a spy-in-training at the secretive Gallagher Academy, excels in espionage but is baffled by romance. Fluent in fourteen languages and skilled in covert operations, she meets a boy who believes she's just an ordinary girl. As she juggles her double life, Cammie must decide if she can maintain a relationship without revealing her true identity. With her heart on the line, Cammie embarks on her most perilous mission yet—falling in love. Can she balance the demands of her secret world with the complexities of teenage romance?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

Seekers of the Fox

By Kevin Sands · Book #2 in the Thieves of Shadow series

A deadly bargain forces a quest for magical swords to save a friend's soul.

400 pages· 90,022 words· Est. 12.5 hour read

7.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.4/5 Goodreads · 796 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Summary: Callan and his crew face a perilous choice: save Lachlan by striking a deal with a sinister artifact. But the cost is high—a soul-staining curse. To break it, they must find the Dragon's Teeth, legendary swords with untold power. As they dive into an underwater quest, old alliances are tested and new betrayals loom. Can they unravel the artifact's mystery before it's too late, or will their daring heist end in disaster? The stakes are life and death, and the clock is ticking.

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2021

The Crown Heist

By Deron R. Hicks · Book #3 in the The Lost Art Mysteries series

A heist in London ties two friends to a mystery of a long-dead monarch.

303 pages

5.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 447 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: Art and Camille travel to London to find Camille's missing father, a history professor with deep ties to British legends. Their search leads them into a thrilling heist involving a long-dead monarch. As they navigate iconic sites like the Tower of London and the National Portrait Gallery, they must unravel historical secrets to uncover the truth. Can they solve the mystery before it's too late?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

The Rembrandt Conspiracy

By Deron R. Hicks · The Lost Art Mysteries series

A young duo races against time to stop a billion-dollar art heist.

272 pages· 51,164 words· Est. 7 hour read

5.5/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 742 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Summary: Twelve-year-old Art senses something amiss at the National Portrait Gallery. Armed with only an iced mocha, forty-two steps, and sightings of a mysterious woman, he persuades his friend Camille to join him in unraveling a plot that could rival history's greatest art thefts. As they dash through Washington, D.C., Art and Camille must outsmart a cunning villain to prevent a billion-dollar heist. Can they solve the mystery before it's too late?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2017

Hostage

By Chris Bradford · Book #2 in the Bodyguard series

A bodyguard must protect the president's daughter from a deadly kidnapping plot.

224 pages· 36,689 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.5/5 Goodreads · 363 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Summary: Connor Reeves, a martial arts expert and secret bodyguard, faces his toughest mission yet: protecting the US president's daughter, Alicia, from a looming terrorist threat. As danger closes in, Connor must navigate a web of intrigue and deception, risking everything to keep Alicia safe. With enemies lurking in the shadows and a plot already in motion, can Connor outsmart the kidnappers and save the First Daughter? Dive into a world of high-stakes action and suspense where every move could be Connor's last. Perfect for fans of Alex Rider and Jason Bourne.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2011

The Hunt for the Yeti Skull

By Elizabeth Singer Hunt · Book #13 in the Secret Agent Jack Stalwart series

A missing plane, a Yeti skull, and a daring mountain rescue.

128 pages· 10,341 words· Est. 2 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 199 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Summary: Jack, a secret agent and ordinary kid, faces his toughest mission yet. A plane vanishes over Everest, carrying a legendary Yeti skull. With a greedy collector and an old nemesis in pursuit, Jack must scale the world's highest peak to retrieve the priceless artifact. Can he and his team outwit their foes and uncover the truth behind the myth?

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Thrillers And Suspense Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about thrillers and suspense for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Sale price

$899

The Boy Who Held Back the Sea

Ages 3–5 · 1987

A boy discovers a leak in the dike, threatening his village's survival. Can he save them in time?

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher

Sale price

$999

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher

Ages 5–8 · 1980

A silent chase for strawberries leads to an unexpected discovery in a mysterious forest.

Sale price

$1699

The Frightful Ride of Michael McMichael

Ages 4–8 · 2018

A boy boards a mysterious bus with a creepy driver. What secrets await?

Sale price

$1799

A Midnight's Tail

Ages 3–7 · 2024

Alone at night, a boy hears a growl outside his door. What lurks in the shadows?

Sale price

$2265

School Spirit

Ages 5–7 · 2021

Bullied into being a mascot, Dawson discovers the suit is haunted.

Sale price

$2265

Tail of Terror

Ages 5–7 · 2021

Brave kids explore a haunted aquarium. What will they find?

Sale price

$2265

Library Alive!

Ages 5–7 · 2021

An old library hides secrets. Can she escape its grasp?

Sale price

$599

Scaredy Cat!

Ages 4–8 · 2024

Pete faces his fears when a monster story comes to life.

View all thrillers and suspense picture books

Browse by age

Thrillers And Suspense Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about thrillers and suspense for developing and independent readers.

Sale price

$799

The Theft of the Samurai Sword: Japan

Ages 6–9 · 2009

A secret agent races to recover stolen treasures from ninja thieves.

Sale price

$1499

The Raven

Ages 8–12 · 2011

Uncover hidden secrets in Skeleton Creek, where danger lurks and mysteries deepen.

Sale price

$1499

The Crossbones

Ages 8–12 · 2010

A dark secret haunts Skeleton Creek. Can two teens uncover the truth before it's too late?

Sale price

$1499

Ghost in the Machine

Ages 8–12 · 2009

Uncover the eerie secrets of Skeleton Creek through cryptic journals and videos.

Sale price

$599

The Mission to Find Max

Ages 6–9 · 2011

A brother's disappearance, a cursed crown, and a race against time in Egypt.

Sale price

$999

A Murder for Her Majesty

Ages 10–12 · 1986

A girl witnesses her father's murder and hides as a choirboy to escape danger.

Sale price

$999

Overworld in Flames

Ages 8–12 · 2016

Mysterious fires threaten Minecraft's Overworld. Can Gameknight999 uncover the source before it's too late?

Sale price

$999

Last Stand on the Ocean Shore

Ages 9–12 · 2015

Gameknight999 faces Herobrine's monster army in a final battle to save Minecraft.

Sale price

$699

Out of Sight

Ages 8–12 · 2020

Twins race against time to solve a mystery in the City of Lights.

Sale price

$699

Freefall

Ages 8–12 · 2022

Twins on vacation uncover a criminal plot in New York City.

Sale price

$799

The Lights Under the Lake

Ages 9–13 · 2017

A school trip turns eerie as secrets and spirits emerge from a haunted lake.

Sale price

$699

Undercover: Volume 3

Ages 8–12 · 2020

Young spies face a mission in Sydney that could save their parents.

View all thrillers and suspense chapter books

Keep exploring

Books about spies Books about codes, ciphers and puzzles Books about coding and programming Books about dating and courtship Books about explorers Books about family problems Books about fitting in Books about guilt and shame

Our 10 Favorite Books About Thrillers And Suspense

Great books, picked for their age.

Thrillers And Suspense Picture Books

Thrillers And Suspense Chapter Books & Middle Grade

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