Finn Longman
The Hummingbird Killer
A solid, fast-paced YA thriller that keeps the tension high without relying on graphic content or romance.
Read this next
All picks after this →
The Spook's Apprentice
by Joseph Delaney
Young adult · ages 10–14 · 820L · 2007
A genuinely spooky page-turner that doesn't talk down to its reader — Tom's apprenticeship earns weight through real menace and a protagonist who has to actively choose bravery.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
by Holly Jackson
Young adult · age 13+ · 780L · 2023
Smart teen mystery that respects the reader's intelligence; Pip's forensic approach to a cold case teaches evidence-gathering without preaching, though the darker turns in the final act will test younger teens' tolerance for real peril.
Map of Flames
by Lisa McMann
Young adult · ages 12–16 · 850L · 2022
A solid entry in the 'Magic for Normal People' series that balances mystery and magic without getting bogged down in romance or heavy angst.