Age appropriate books for advanced reader 13yr old boy

[Frozentoo]

Son is (almost) 13 and an advanced reader. Struggling to find books that are interesting for him that are age appropriate and don't contain sex/go on about relationships/too graphic in violent scenes as lots of young adult books seem to.
He loves crime, spy, thriller types that are more realistic, though did really enjoy the northern lights series and power of 5.
As an idea has recently read all the Theodore Boone series by John Grisham and enjoyed it but read it so quickly - over Easter hols he read at least a book a day! Any ideas?

Stephen King may have some very occasional sex stuff in it in a very small way. But a lot would go over his head, as it did mine at that age. He is just a very good writer. It's not Jackie Collins.

There’s rape scenes in some of his books, there’s anal sex, really disturbing threesomes-maybe the more popular ones have less/ no sex?! I can’t remember, but I remember flinching at some of his sex stuff

I’d agree Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie, or at his age I lived for Terry Pratchett

If he’s anything like mine then the OP is likely after suggestions to help him find engaging books, rather than actively policing his reading materials. My kid’s school librarian is good for that - he often turns up with new books from the school library that he wouldn’t have come across otherwise and really enjoys.

I started reading the Dan Brown books when I was 11 & he's still my favourite author now :)

Hopsalong - I have my father's Just William books from the 1940s. The writing is amazing, so different to the updated versions that have been dumbed down/simplified.

At your son's age OP I was reading Agatha Christie, Stephen King, and the odd James Herbert, Alistair Maclean, Ken Follett. Anything that I found on the bookshelves at home, at friends' houses or the library in the crime/thriller section. I can't remember any sex in any of them. I can't really remember the sex in the Jackie Collins books I read either. I read the classics from about age 16. At 12-15 I just wanted adventure, travel, a good storyline that moved at a pace, page turners, basically.

I recall reading the William books (which my brother loved as a 10yo) aloud to my DC when they were about 11/9yo and I had to skip lots of words that were way too hard for them! So that's a good shout actually. They are deeply satisfying, like the one where William makes a room full of food appear :)

Has he tried Agatha Christie books or Arthur Conan Doyle it is the basics but they are all a good read. My DD loved the Eragon books at that age but that is more fantasy style. Terry Pratchett's books are amazing, but try and read them in the correct order. The first books can be slow but stick with it, it is worth it.

As a 13/14 year old I read John Grisham, Sidney Sheldon, Jeffery Archer and Danielle Steele. I would say of all the authors, Steele was the most age inappropriate one for 14 year old me as I cried a lot at the heart wrenching stories. The archer books are great and are a bit of a series like The prodigal daughter, shall we tell the president, etc. I miss those days of just sitting down and immersing myself in a book 🥰

Clary, I did the same with my son - the writing was so much more sophisticated in the originals compared with the later editions. I loved them though. I also had my dad's Enid Blyton Adventure series books. I know a lot don't like Enid but those books actually gave me a love of reading.

I read classics at that age. Dickens, War and Peace (yes, I know....).
To be honest I was probably too young for them.

How about A Wizard of Earthsea and sequels?

Also the Skulduggery Pleasant books by Derek Landy. Theres alot of books in the series but DD was desperate to get the next book before she completed the last, after each book! (it made brilliant presents).