In fiction, serial killers add a real satisfying tension to a story. There’s the looming sense of danger, the unknown entity lurking right in front of the characters’ faces, and the pause between kills that heightens every tiny little sound into something far more sinister. Whether it’s a summer camp slasher or a procedural with a roughened detective trying to prevent the next kill, it’s all a bloody, bloody thrill.
This list of YA serial killer books includes thrillers and horror, and some fun twists on the trope, too! You’ll find your typical slashers, of course, but also teenagers teaming up with the FBI, a character playing the part of a girl who escapes a serial killer when it seemingly becomes a reality, and even a fantasy thriller about a group of magic students hunting down a child killer.
 None Shall Sleep by Ellie MarneyEmma, the sole survivor of a serial killer, and Travis Bell, an aspiring U.S. Marshall who lost his father to a murderer, are recruited to work with the FBI, interviewing juvenile killers in the hopes they’ll open up more to people their own age. When they’re asked to interview a notorious killer, Simon, for insight on an active case, Emma winds up in a room alone with the boy who killed Travis’s father. Simon, though, turns out to be far more charming and manipulative than she expected, and they begin a cat-and-mouse dynamic that she must navigate while lives hang in the balance. |
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn BayronCharity is playing the part of a final girl, escaping the serial killer night after night at a full-contact horror game at Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the screams, the better for the guests, right? But when her co-workers begin to go missing, she starts to question whether the role she’s playing is about to become more than just an act. |
 Your Lonely Nights are Over by Adam SassDearie and Cole have been best friends forever, a united front against the rest of the school and the rest of the world. When a long-dormant serial killer named Mr. Sandman returns with his sights set on Stone Grove High School’s queer club, Dearie and Cole are framed as suspects. To clear their names, they’re determined to find out the identity of the killer and save the rest of their beloved club from impending demise. |
 The Blonde Dies First by Joelle WellingtonTwins Devon and Drew, along with their friend group, turn to a Ouija board for a harmless summer night scare. They’re off to college soon, so they’re making the most of their freedom. But the board seemingly puts them in the crosshairs of a demon, one that is picking off their friends one by one. Weirdly, the demon seems to be operating in the classic horror-movie kill order, which means Devon, the blonde, is next. Will the twins and their friends make it to college after all? |
 Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri ManiscalcoAudrey Rose Wadsworth isn’t exactly satisfied with her expected role in society. On the surface, she’s perfectly proper, but secretly the seventeen-year-old sneaks into her uncle’s lab to study forensics. When her snooping puts her onto the trail of a series of brutal murders, including that of one of the servants at her home, Audrey Rose finds herself tracking notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper. |
 Akata Witch by Nnedi OkoraforA serial killer with the name Black Hat is on the loose, and he’s targeting children. Sunny, a young girl who just discovered her magic powers, and a few of her classmates set their sights on taking Black Hat down. But he proves to be more powerful than they thought, playing with an evil kind of magic they may not be equipped to handle. |
I hope one of these YA serial killer books caught your eye! If you’re in the mood for more slashing fun, check out these eight slasher books or these must-read serial killer thrillers!
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