Back-to-school season is nearly upon us, and while some of us can’t wait to go shopping for brand new school supplies (and new books!), others are absolutely terrified of starting a new school year. No matter what your new school year has in store, we bet that it’s going to be a lot better than it will be for the characters in these dark academia thrillers for back-to-school season!
While we wouldn’t say any of these books is a comfort read, you might take comfort in reading these thrillers knowing that going back to school can’t be nearly as bad as it is in these books . . . or can it?
Two best friends set out to find a missing socialite in the hopes of claiming a hefty reward–but what happens when their investigation forces them to question both their morals and their friendship in this twisty mystery?
For fans of the sports backdrop and queer cast of Heated Rivalry comes a fresh and darkly funny 90s murder mystery about one high school’s net of lies that begin to unravel when a star lacrosse player winds up dead.
In this thrilling dark academia mystery that begins a year after the sudden disappearance of a student at an elite boarding school, his brother finds clues that can help him and his friends solve their school’s most elusive puzzle—and find his brother, dead or alive.
An explosive dark academia thriller set in the world of the BookTok sensation Win Lose Kill Die, where secret societies and lethal ambition run the show.
“A thriller author to watch!”—Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying
A simmering psychological thriller about a dead teacher at an elite boarding school, the students who had every reason to want her gone, and the tangled web of rivalry and romance concealing the truth—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places.
A thoughtful and gripping exposé of the troubled teen industry, this supernatural thriller explores how a haunted past collides with a traumatized present to reveal truths that were meant to stay hidden.
Discover More Academia Thrillers for Back-to-School Season
Did you enjoy these dark academia thrillers for back-to-school season? If you need help selecting one to read, take this dark academia book quiz. Then, get social with us at @getunderlined!
