This electrifying dark academia list will have you rushing to your local bookstore, so be cautious. These books are an excellent way for any student to experience some newfound danger in their lives. See the list below to get a taste of some occult, classic whodunit, and riddling reads set on school campuses. Do you have what it takes to solve these dark mysteries?
An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson
Gibson’s story immediately places the reader in an ancient, isolated college where secrecy and strange ceremonies are expected. Our protagonist, Laura, finds herself in an academic rivalry with Carmilla, and together the two girls are drawn to their poetry professor, De Lafontaine. But before any interest can blossom, Laura must confront her own mysteries in this bloodthirsty game for knowledge.
Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander
Known as the “Scarlet Christmas,” Charlie Colbert fled the scene after witnessing a horrid event at her elite graduate school the night before Christmas. Now changing her life under disguise by acting as the golden child in the publishing industry and editor-in-chief of a magazine, Charlie is adamant about escaping her history. Only she wasn’t expecting her former classmates to show up and threaten everything she’s worked to hide.
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Can you solve this YA murder mystery? Pay close attention as these five students walk into detention, only… one of them never makes it out of that classroom. Before the final minute of their detention, Simon is found dead. The timing of his death is also highly peculiar when it’s revealed that he had planned to release juicy, secret information about all four students who were with him in detention. Our four suspects include the typical athlete, the notorious criminal, the beautiful homecoming princess, and the brainy straight ‘A’ student; the only question now is… who did it?
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Now an adaptation on Netflix, this YA mystery is about a murder investigation turned into obsession. Five years ago, popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal, who killed himself afterwards, thus putting a solid end to the case. But Pip can’t let go of the feeling that there has to be something more to what happened; she knew Sal her entire life, and the kind boy she knew couldn’t have done this to someone. Now a senior, Pip makes the decision to use her final project to open this case once again, and she may uncover a dark trail of secrets that could actually prove Sal was innocent…
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
This story takes place at the end; Oliver Marks has just been released from jail, and he’s ready to reveal the true story of what took place ten years ago at Dellecher Classical Conservatory. Oliver was one of seven Shakespearean actors: a group of friends who would play the same roles onstage and off. However, in their fourth year, an occurrence on opening night inspires violence that is no longer an act. Facing this, the students must now put on their greatest performance yet by convincing the doctors and themselves that they are innocent.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
A Goodreads Winner for Best Fantasy of 2019, Bardugo is one of the leading fantasy writers today. This paranormal adult horror urban fantasy defines “dark academic” as a category, and who better than Leigh Bardugo to write it? When Galaxy “Alex” Stern survives an unresolved multiple homicide, she is suddenly offered a place at Yale University for one purpose: to monitor Yale’s secret societies. It is then up to Alex to decipher Yale’s elite social structure and the eight “tombs” she finds there. This is a great read for those who love celebrity gossip and secret societies.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Secret History is Tartt’s first novel. Based on her own elite and tiny campus, Tartt relives her years at Bennington in this fictional mystery. Not your typical “whodunit,” this book is about a group of oddballs who find themselves demoralizing everything they once knew. This modern classic is another book that has redefined “dark academia” and the corruption behind academia. Want a retro read? Pick this one up!
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
This is a psychological thriller centered on Jessica Miller, who has memory loss and cannot quite recall one of the most important incidents during her undergraduate years. When Jessica goes to a college reunion on her campus, she learns that the murder that happened so long ago is not forgotten. If anything, everyone is still suspicious of each other. Tossing back and forth between her time at college and the reunion, Winstead makes this a compelling read for anyone who has a soft spot for flashbacks.
Truly Devious: A Mystery by Maureen Johnson
Truly Devious: A Mystery focuses on another prestigious private school in Vermont. Entangling the past with the present, Stevie Bell knows the history of Ellingham Academy: that the founder’s wife and child were kidnapped and never found. Stevie feels convinced — no — obligated to reopen this cold case and solve the murder once and for all. With the help of her friends, this crime-obsessed protagonist goes on the hunt to figure out what really happened to her wife and child. This one is for those who are cold-case fanatics!
Who Killed Jane Stanford?: A Gilded Age Tale of Murder, Deceit, Spirits, and the Birth of a University by Richard White
This book is a true-crime story that is literally steeped in Stanford University’s foundation. Once upon a time, today’s prestigious Ivy League school was seen as eccentric and controversial, which is where the first and last mistakes lie. After more than a decade’s worth of bad reputation, the founder, Jane Stanford, was murdered while away. Although murder was not committed on campus, the mystery of how it led up to a murder lies within Stanford’s walls.
Now that the list is unveiled, what do you think? Let us know on our socials if you’ve already read one or two of these mysteries!
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