Books like Under Suspicion — picked by fans

This is an oldie but a goodie, first published in 2007.

It is a standalone mystery narrated by Ted, a neurodiverse boy who thinks differently from other children. Ted's unique skills include noticing patterns, paying close attention to detail, and seeing what others overlook. All qualities that make him the perfect detective.

Ted and his sister, Kat, watch their cousin Salim board the London Eye. But when the ride ends, Salim does not get off. So begins the mystery: What has happened to Salim?

I would recommend this great page turner for readers aged 11 to 14.

I have recently discovered this series and are thoroughly enjoying Plum and Woo and the Suspicious Scarf. It’s a middle-grade mystery series featuring two memorable protagonists: Hannah Plum and Patti Woo, who spend holidays together because their parents are “dating.”

Plum and Woo are an unlikely pair with very different personalities, and those contrasting traits make them both relatable. At the same time, their shared age and experiences help their friendship feel genuine as the story unfolds.

Set largely in a chalet surrounded by a snowy forest, the girls follow clues, face moments of danger, and work through the ups and downs of their friendship while also navigating the complexities of their parents’ relationship.

I recommend this series for readers aged 9 to 12. There are three books in the series, written by an Australian author.

This is a fast-paced and entertaining spy thriller.

It forms part of a series featuring Ruby, a thirteen-year-old genius code-cracker who is confident, brave, and sassy. When Ruby is recruited by a secret spy organisation, she is drawn into an adventure full of cryptic codes, puzzles, and unexpected twists.

Although the story is told in the third person, Lauren Child uses italics to capture Ruby’s inner thoughts and observations. Ruby’s inner monologue is funny, sharp, and highly relatable for the intended age group. Lauren Child does an excellent job of getting into the mind of a thirteen-year-old.

This is a substantial, thick book, and at times the plot becomes complex, with lots of turns. I recommend it for readers aged 10 to 14.

This book is part of the Scarlet and Ivy series, centred on twins Scarlet and Ivy as they attend the gloomy Rookwood boarding school.

The setting has a foreboding, haunted atmosphere that heightens the mystery from the outset. Against this backdrop, Scarlet and Ivy face secrets and tensions among students, alongside teachers whose behaviour becomes increasingly sinister. When a theft occurs in the dormitory one night, the suspense escalates. There are late-night footsteps, strange noises, and the unsettling sense that someone is watching.

The narration alternates between Ivy and Scarlet from chapter to chapter. This shifting point of view helps the reader understand both girls as individuals, while also exploring their sisterly tension and loyalty (adding another layer of suspense!). 

I recommend this series for readers aged 9 to 12.

Waylon has lots of ideas for making life more awesome through science, like attracting cupcakes by controlling gravity. But it's impossible for him to concentrate on his inventions when Arlo Brody is dividing the fourth grade boys into two groups. His attempts to navigate fourth grade and be friends with everyone (except for one very scary new kid) are hilarious.

Provocative questions about redemption and second chances are at the heart of this story, and they made me dive deeper into my own ideas about these issues. The book shows that truth is never straightforward, and the burden of guilt and shame can complicate the lives of everyone involved.

I loved Macmillan’s story-telling style. Despite the novel unfolding gently—it’s a slow burn—I read it in 3 days. That’s a record for me. It’s a testament to how attached I became to the character’s plight and the suspense and tension created by the writer. It’s a profound and engrossing story.

It’s both plot and character-focused, and I was hooked from the beginning. It starts with a simple premise, then turns it on its head and introduces doubt and mystery. The author kept me guessing; just when I thought I knew what was happening, the ground shifted under my feet. There was… show more.

Willow Chance is an adopted twelve-year-old genius who can diagnose an inordinate number of medical conditions.

To ease her anxiety, she counts by sevens. After her adoptive parents die in a car accident, Willow’s neurodivergence doesn’t allow her to deal with the trauma in typical ways which surprise people around her. As other characters in this multiple-point-of-view story emerge and get to know Willow, they find her entirely endearing and would do anything for her. I found it satisfying to see how Willow processes through her grief in her own way.

This story is beautifully written, and I wanted to swoop in and protect Willow.

Despite cerebral palsy preventing her from speaking, Melody Brooks, the main character of this novel, loves language and aptly describes the teachers who have taught her in both her special needs and general education classrooms – the good, the bad, and ugly.

But the character who really spoke to me was her educational aide. So I’m bending the rules of my list a bit to give a shout out for the aide, Catherine, who quietly advocated for respect and inclusion for all students through her example.

As a parent of a child with special needs I’m grateful for all the Catherines that come into my child’s life.

This is a great example of what I enjoy about books about Tolkien. Roberts focuses on a tiny element of one of Tolkien’s works (the riddles that Gollum and Bilbo trade in The Hobbit) and uses it as a lens not only to investigate Tolkien’s own love and appreciation of riddles, but to prompt a wider exploration as to the nature and importance of riddles in wider literature, culture, and society. It’s well-written, intriguing, and like all great books on Tolkien, leaves you astonished.       

I wish I could add the trilogy of Austin Kleon books; with Steal Like an Artist and Keep Going completing the trilogy. Show Your Work was the first book that I read that spoke to me about letting your supporters in on the creating. The sharing of exclusive content has become a staple for independent and major-label artists, Instagram, Tik Tok, and social platforms all rely on the need to share. For me this book was the progenitor of this line of thinking, encouraging the creative to share and disperse with the secrecy of process and move toward converting investors in one's product to investing in the person.