R.L Stine - Fear Street: The Mind Reader

The Mind Reader is one of those Fear Street books that doesn’t just creep under your skin — it whispers to you while it’s there. R.L. Stine steps into psychological horror territory here, blending the thrill of a murder mystery with the eerie weight of unwanted power. What would you do if you could hear thoughts? And what if the thoughts you heard were full of blood, rage... and plans?

Ellie has a gift — or maybe it’s a curse. She hears people’s thoughts, whether she wants to or not. Most days, that means she drowns in the noise of teenage insecurities, crushes, and petty lies. But then one day, she hears something else. A thought about murder. A thought from someone she knows. And suddenly, she’s in too deep, stuck between staying silent or exposing a killer who could be anyone — and might already be watching her.

What makes The Mind Reader sing is how claustrophobic it feels. Ellie can’t turn the voices off. The walls close in. Her own mind starts to betray her. And Stine uses that mental chaos like a scalpel — slicing clean, then twisting. It’s not just about catching a killer. It’s about surviving your own thoughts. And by the time the final page turns, you might be wondering what your best friend is really thinking when they smile.