Mystery
Read Mystery Classics in English
404 mystery books at CEFR A2 to C2 — learn English by reading the stories worth reading. Select any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration read the page aloud, and save the vocabulary you meet. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
What are the best mystery classics to read in English as a learner?
The best mystery classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with The Chink in the Armour, The Childerbridge Mystery and The Chief Legatee. Each one is labelled with a CEFR level, any word you do not know is one selection away from a translation, and the narration reads the page aloud while it highlights the words.
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Level C1MysteryThe Coil of CarneAmid the shifting sands and deadly tides of a remote western coast stands the grim gray house of Carne, built as a sanctuary in turbulent times.
Level C1MysteryThe Clue of the Twisted CandleA determined writer journeys through rain to his secluded Elizabethan home, where a mysterious visitor named Kara awaits.
Level C1MysteryThe Club of Queer TradesIn the labyrinthine streets of London, a secret society admits only those who have invented entirely new trades to earn their living.
Level C1MysteryThe Closed Book: Concerning the Secret of the BorgiasIn the sun-drenched streets of Florence, a passionate antiquary uncovers a mysterious medieval manuscript linked to a secret past.
Level C1MysteryThe Clock Struck OneA fearless young woman and a devoted doctor uncover unsettling connections between a mysterious Lady Burville and a reclusive guardian whose sudden illness follows a chilling churc…
Level C1MysteryThe Clique of GoldIn a meticulously kept Parisian house with a dubious reputation, strange cries echo from the fifth floor, hinting at a mysterious accident involving a young tenant.
Level C1MysteryThe Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American LifeAt the picturesque Lake George, political ambition, family ties, and summer festivities intertwine as Belle Hamblin navigates love and loyalty amid a web of local power and mystery…
Level C1MysteryThe City of ComradesIn the shadowed corners of 1913 New York, a hesitant newcomer is drawn into a dangerous plot by a seasoned petty thief, promising an initiation into a world where trust is scarce a…
Level C1MysteryThe Circular StudyAn aging detective's dull routine is shattered when a frightened boy delivers a mysterious message about a strange crime in an old mansion.
Level C1MysteryThe Cinema MurderA young man returns to a bleak industrial town, drawn into a puzzling mystery linked to a photograph and a haunting presence in a refined yet unsettling home.
Level C1MysteryThe Childerbridge MysteryA self-made Australian millionaire prepares to return to his English roots with his grown children, but as they say farewell to their beloved station, an unexpected encounter by th…
Level C1MysteryThe Chestermarke InstinctA restless bank clerk trapped in monotonous routine longs for freedom and adventure, but when he contemplates his dull life, a mysterious instinct stirs—hinting at secrets lurking…
Level C1MysteryThe Chase of the RubyAfter receiving a mysterious letter about his uncle's death, Guy Holland returns from Africa to London, only to find himself entangled in a strange and unsettling inheritance that…
Level C1MysteryThe Charing Cross MysteryA keen young barrister on a late-night train observes two mysterious men discussing a portrait that sparks a decade-old secret.
Level C1MysteryThe Champdoce MysteryTravel through the French countryside reveals the imposing ruins of the Champdoce estate and its eccentric duke, whose pride and past cast a shadow of mystery and tension over his…
Level C1MysteryThe Castle Of The ShadowsA young woman’s desire to own an idyllic olive grove leads her into a remote, shadowed valley where silence and mystery hang heavy, and an ominous old château watches from the dusk…
Level C1MysteryThe Cask of AmontilladoBeneath the carnival's revelry, a wine connoisseur is lured into the eerie Montresor catacombs by a friend whose chilling promise of rare Amontillado hides a deadly secret.
Level C1MysteryThe Case of SummerfieldIn 1871 San Francisco buzzes with a chilling tale of secret power—could a man wield potassium to set water aflame and threaten the world’s destruction?
Level C1MysteryThe Cardinal MothIn a lavish London orchid-house, Sir Clement Frobisher, a wealthy and audacious man with a shadowy past, awaits a mysterious visitor whose arrival could unravel secrets beneath the…
Level C1MysteryThe Camera FiendA conscientious schoolboy, Pocket Upton, escapes his strict routine for a London visit that promises new friends and unexpected adventures.
Level C1MysteryThe Cab of the Sleeping HorseA tale of intrigue unfolds around a beautiful, cunning woman with a shadowy past and multiple identities, entangled in espionage and high-stakes deception.
Level C1MysteryThe Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve ChroniclesAmidst financial ruin and a loaded revolver, a desperate merchant encounters a charming burglar who disrupts his solitary vigil with unexpected wit and intrigue—unveiling a tale wh…
Level C1MysteryThe Burglar's Fate, and The DetectivesIn a thriving frontier town, four young men commit a crime that leads to their downfall, while a determined detective unravels the truth in a gripping account of real-life justice…
Level C1MysteryThe Bungalow Boys in the Great NorthwestTwo adventurous brothers return to their serene Maine valley, now transformed and strangely tame after past dangers, but old mysteries and new visitors hint that excitement—and per…
Level C1MysteryThe Bronze Hand: 1897In a tense Baltimore on the brink of civil war, a mysterious woman seeks help from a curious lodger after a frightening encounter, drawing him into a web of danger, loyalty, and se…
Level C1MysteryThe Broken ThreadA strikingly graceful girl in black captures the attention of two Cambridge undergraduates during a lively seaside stroll, but when her cherished dog is attacked, an unexpected con…
Level C1MysteryThe Bride of the Tomb, and Queenie's Terrible SecretOn the eve of her wedding, the radiant Lily Lawrence is found dead in her bridal gown, clutching a jeweled dagger—an apparent suicide that shatters a wealthy family and ignites a w…
Level C1MysteryThe Brass BowlUnder the guise of an idle adventure, Daniel Maitland—a wealthy bachelor known as "Mad Maitland"—navigates the restless nightlife and exclusive bachelor apartments of the city, whe…
Level C1MysteryThe Box with Broken SealsTwo secret agents arrive in Chicago to investigate a mysterious box with broken seals, suspecting a cunning bluff hides crucial documents.
Level C1MysteryThe Borough TreasurerIn a quiet town filled with ancient buildings and bustling businesses, a new invention and a mysterious visitor set the stage for a tense game of secrets and blackmail.
Level C1MysteryThe Bond of BlackIn the heart of London’s glittering nightlife, a man recounts a hidden, sinister world of love, sacrifice, and secret malice that defies belief—revealing a mysterious society lurki…
Level C1MysteryThe Bomb-Makers: Being Some Curious Records Concerning the Craft and Cunning of Theodore Drost, an Enemy Alien in London, Together with Certain Revelations Regarding His Daughter EllaIn wartime London, the daughter of a cunning German agent moves through the vibrant world of theatre and espionage, her friendships threatening to unravel dangerous secrets.
Level C1MysteryThe Blotting BookIn a perfectly appointed Sussex Square home, Mrs.
Level C1MysteryThe Black Police: A Story of Modern AustraliaIn the bustling streets of Auckland, a young pioneer is drawn into the mysterious death of an explorer in Queensland, setting him on a path through Australia's shadowy frontier whe…
Level C1MysteryThe Black ParrotA mysterious stranger arrives at a remote tropical hotel, carrying a striking cockatoo and secrets as deep as the surrounding jungle.
Level C1MysteryThe Black BagAlone and financially strained in rainy London, artist Philip Kirkwood faces the shadow of despair but resolves to prove his worth.
Level C1MysteryThe Black AbbotAt Fossaway Manor, a noble lord fiercely denies the haunting of the Black Abbot, yet whispers of a ghost stir fear among the servants, while secrets and mysterious visitors hint at…
Level C1MysteryThe Bishop's SecretIn the exclusive ecclesiastical society of a small English cathedral city, a determined spinster and a domineering social bully stir intrigue and power plays.
Level C1MysteryThe Bishop murder caseWhen a chilling series of murders grips New York, brilliant amateur detective Philo Vance abandons scholarly pursuits to unravel the eerie "Bishop" case, uncovering a dark mystery…
Level C1MysteryThe Big Bow MysteryA baffling murder occurs in a locked room with no apparent way in or out, challenging both detective and reader to unravel a puzzle filled with humor, vivid characters, and an inge…
Level C1MysteryThe BetrayalA fierce storm batters a remote coastal village as a reluctant lecturer battles loneliness, hunger, and unsettling hospitality.
Level C1MysteryThe Best Ghost StoriesExplore the eerie allure of ghost stories that tap into our deepest superstitions and mysteries beyond science, where every creak in the dark hints at the unknown and the afterlife…
Level C1MysteryThe Benson murder caseWhen a shocking murder rattles New York’s elite, the enigmatic Philo Vance steps in, using his unique analytic mind to unravel the baffling clues behind the Benson case, marking hi…
Level C1MysteryThe Bells of San JuanIn the dusty town of San Juan, ancient bells carry secrets of conquest, passion, and intrigue through the desert air.
Level C1MysteryThe Bellamy trialA red-headed writer takes her first assignment inside a packed courtroom buzzing with reporters and curiosity.
Level C1MysteryThe Beetle: A MysteryA desperate man, denied shelter in a cold world, confronts harsh rejection and hidden cruelty as he seeks refuge in London's grim casual wards—uncovering a mystery where appearance…
Level C1MysteryThe Beckoning Hand, and Other StoriesAt the Ambiguities Theatre, a casual meeting sparks a mysterious tale filled with intrigue and unexpected connections.
Level C1MysteryThe BandboxAn American writer in London longs for home but finds himself drawn into a mysterious adventure when he crosses paths with a shadowy figure at a crowded steamship booking office.