Corey L. Johnson

Premonitions & Intuition: Solving Disappearances in YA Thrillers

What if your instincts could lead you to the truth? Many young adult thrillers lean on classic detective work—magnifying glasses, hidden clues and suspects with shaky alibis. But a growing subgenre blends mystery with a touch of the supernatural, giving protagonists abilities that border on premonition. These stories don’t just entertain; they explore how gut feelings and uncanny gifts can become tools of survival, especially when the missing are girls of color.

Intuition isn’t merely a mystical plot device. Research into human cognition shows that “gut feelings” often stem from subconscious pattern recognition. In fiction, heightened intuition provides a metaphor for the ways marginalized communities sense danger before others do. For Black teens, hyper‑awareness is a survival skill—one that becomes life‑saving in thrillers where institutions fall short.

One upcoming YA thriller, Needy Little Things, follows Sariyah, a Black teen with a “need‑sensing” ability. When her best friend goes missing, Sariyah’s strange gift becomes her only lead. She feels the urgency of people’s needs and uses that pull to follow the trail. The premise resonates because it literalizes the intuition many Black women and girls develop in order to protect themselves and their communities. Though the book adds speculative flair, the underlying message is grounded in truth: sometimes you have to trust your instincts when systems ignore you.

Gut feelings in real life and fiction

Everyone experiences moments when a voice whispers, “Something isn’t right.” Psychologists suggest that intuition is our brain’s way of quickly processing cues that don’t reach conscious awareness—body language, patterns and past experiences. In communities where missing persons cases are often dismissed, this intuition becomes critical. Parents, siblings and friends often sense that something is wrong long before authorities take them seriously. In fiction, authors amplify this idea through supernatural twists, giving characters abilities like dream visions, empathic connections or, in Sariyah’s case, the capacity to feel needs.

In Corey L. Johnson’s They Never Came Home, intuition isn’t supernatural—it’s rooted in experience. Jaylen knows that when three girls vanish, the town’s uneasy calm hides secrets. He senses the biases shaping the investigation and trusts his gut enough to keep digging. His determination echoes how real communities mobilize around missing girls. Whether it’s a hunch or a mystical tug, trusting your instincts is often the first step toward justice.

Books blending mystery and the supernatural

If you enjoy thrillers with a dash of the otherworldly, here are a few titles to add to your list:

These novels show that supernatural elements can heighten suspense without relying on violence. They allow characters to access hidden truths and challenge readers to question how they interpret reality. In stories centering Black teens, psychic gifts can also symbolize the burden of anticipating harm and the resilience required to confront it.

Trusting your intuition: lessons for readers

Thrillers with premonitions encourage readers to listen to their own instincts. If something feels off, speak up. This applies to both personal safety and advocating for others—especially when you sense that a loved one’s disappearance isn’t being taken seriously. In many real cases, families have pushed past skepticism to keep searching, refusing to let the story fade. Fictional characters like Sariyah and Jaylen model this persistence.

These stories also remind us that intuition is complemented by community. Sariyah doesn’t just follow her feelings; she enlists help and shares what she learns. Jaylen draws strength from friends and mentors. The message: trust your gut, but don’t go it alone. Collective action amplifies individual insight.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are premonitions and supernatural abilities common in YA thrillers?

While many YA mysteries stick to realism, there’s a vibrant subgenre that blends suspense with fantasy. Authors use dreams, psychic connections and magical abilities to explore themes like trauma, intuition and identity. These elements can intensify the mystery and add layers of meaning.

2. What is a “need‑sensing” ability?

In Needy Little Things, Sariyah can feel the needs of people around her—physical or emotional. It’s a fictional manifestation of empathy turned into a navigational tool. Her power pulls her toward those who require help and becomes central to solving her friend’s disappearance.

3. Do these books still address real‑world issues?

Absolutely. Even with supernatural twists, these thrillers tackle topics like missing girls of color, media bias, generational trauma and community solidarity. The speculative elements often serve as metaphors for real feelings of anxiety, vigilance and hope.

4. Why combine mystery with fantasy?

Adding fantasy can make a thriller more accessible to readers who enjoy magical realism and can also symbolize the invisible forces at play in real life—intuition, faith and resilience. It widens the scope of the genre and allows for creative storytelling.

5. How does They Never Came Home fit into this theme?

While Johnson’s novel remains grounded in reality, Jaylen’s sharpened instincts drive the plot. He senses that something is wrong beyond the official explanations and trusts his gut to keep searching. His determination mirrors the intuitive leaps found in more fantastical mysteries.

6. What should I read next?

If you like supernatural mysteries, try Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, where a Black teen is thrust into a secret society of magic and ancient legends while investigating her mother’s death. For more realistic missing‑person thrillers, revisit Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson.

Calls to action

Image suggestions

1. Girl standing in a forest with eyes closed, as if sensing something unseen. Alt text: “Teen girl in a forest concentrating with eyes closed.”

2. Mysterious glowing thread winding through a dark corridor to symbolize intuition guiding the way. Alt text: “Glowing thread leading down a dark hallway.”

3. Reader with headphones immersed in an audiobook. Alt text: “Teen listening to a mystery audiobook on headphones.”

4. A community search party with flashlights looking for a missing person. Alt text: “Group of volunteers searching with flashlights at night.”

What to read next

For more on intuition and justice, browse our Books page and discover stories that blend mystery with social insight. Every time you choose a diverse title, you help ensure the future of inclusive YA fiction.

Note: This article is for informational and promotional purposes. Some links may be affiliate links.