8 Teen Mystery Shows like Pretty Little Liars from 2020 to 2025

Pretty Little Liars was one of those series with questions and teenagers. Here are eight mystery shows like Pretty Little Liars.

Pretty Little Liars was one of those series with plenty of unanswered questions, teenagers, and a sprinkle of deaths.

It was so good that it left its viewers with an insatiable desire to find productions with a similar premise. One special thing about this search is that these shows give off a similar vibe.

Here are eight teen mystery shows like Pretty Little Liars from 2020 and 2025.

1. Cruel Summer

Cruel Summer is an American teen drama mystery-thriller anthology series.

Each season follows different characters as they navigate traumatic events and their consequences across different timelines.

The first season follows two teenage girls in the mid-1990s: one disappears, and the other takes her place.

The second season is about the rise and fall of a teenage friendship between two girls in 1999 and 2000.

The show premiered on Freeform in April 2021 and had a strong debut, becoming Freeform’s most-watched series premiere and attracting an average of 3.81 million viewers in its first week.

2. One of Us Is Lying

The teen drama mystery series, One of Us Is Lying, follows five high school students in detention.

Unfortunately, one of these students dies under suspicious circumstances.

The deceased student, Simon, was about to reveal secrets about his classmates, which adds layers of intrigue and suspicion among the survivors.

Each character has their own motives, and the narrative explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and the pressures of high school life.

The series premiered on Peacock on October 7, 2021, and ran for two seasons before Peacock canceled it in January 2023.

Critics have compared it to shows like Pretty Little Liars because of its mix of suspense and interpersonal drama.

3. Blood & Water

This South African teen crime drama premiered on Netflix in May 2020.

The show is set in Cape Town and follows the story of Puleng Khumalo, a teenager who transfers to an elite school to investigate whether a fellow student is her sister, whom someone abducted at birth.

As she navigates the complexities of high school life, she faces challenges and encounters allies and adversaries.

It has 4 seasons and 25 episodes. Blood & Water and Pretty Little Liars are similar because both follow young characters dealing with dark secrets and mysteries.

In both shows, the protagonists face threats from anonymous figures as they try to uncover the truth about their pasts and relationships.

4. Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets follows a girls’ high school soccer team that survives a plane crash in 1996 and explores their lives 25 years later.

Critics have praised the series for its unique blend of psychological horror and survival drama, making it a standout in contemporary television.

Since its 2021 debut, the show has earned critical acclaim and numerous award nominations. The series’ premise draws on the Andes flight disaster and the Donner Party.

It has three seasons, and the fourth and final season will air on 20 November 2026.

3. I Know What You Did Last Summer

I Know What You Did Last Summer is an American slasher TV series released on Amazon Prime Video from October 15, 2021, to November 12, 2021.

It is a modern adaptation of Lois Duncan’s classic horror novel, focusing on the impact of hidden truths and the terror that follows.

The series revolves around a group of teenagers whom a mysterious killer stalks one year after a fatal accident on their graduation night.

The narrative explores themes of secrets and the consequences of past actions. Despite its intriguing premise, it faced criticism for its execution and storytelling.

6. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a British mystery-thriller television series based on Holly Jackson’s 2019 novel.

The show centers around Pip, a determined teenager who seeks to uncover the truth behind the murder of Andie Bell, a girl who was killed five years earlier.

Authorities closed the case when Andie’s boyfriend, Sal Singh, confessed and subsequently died by suicide. However, Pip believes there is more to the story and embarks on a quest for justice.

It premiered in 2024 and has two seasons, with the third coming out in 2027.

Viewers have praised the series for its storyline and character development, especially in season 2.

7. Control Z

Control Z is a Mexican series that debuted on Netflix on May 22, 2020.

The show centers on Sofía, a socially isolated girl who becomes a detective to uncover the identity of a hacker exposing her classmates’ secrets.

The entire series explores themes of privacy, social media, and the consequences of secrets among teenagers. Critics describe it as a modern whodunit that blends mystery with high school dynamics.

It is engaging and appealing because it shows the challenges of the digital world.

8. We Were Liars

We Were Liars is a psychological thriller television series based on E. Lockhart’s novel. The story centers around Cadence Sinclair, a wealthy girl from an elite family.

After a mysterious accident, she suffers from memory loss, which leads her to uncover dark secrets about her family and friends.

The narrative unfolds on a private island, where Cadence spends her summers with her cousins, known as “The Liars.” It premiered on Amazon Prime Video on June 18, 2025.

The series explores themes of family secrets, memory loss, and betrayal.

Conclusion

The beauty of shows like Pretty Little Liars lies not merely in their shocking plot twists or jaw-dropping revelations, but in their exploration of deeper themes including friendship, betrayal, trauma, and the consequences of actions.

They challenge viewers to piece together clues, form theories, and remain perpetually guessing until the final episode.

Exploring these thrilling series is the perfect time to start a new binge-watch journey and discover why millions of viewers worldwide are captivated by these mystery shows.