Mystery
Read Mystery Classics in English
508 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 Pocket Island: A Story of Country Life in New England, Phineas Redux and Pharos, The Egyptian: A Romance. 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 C1MysteryMr. PetreA man returns to England after years abroad, burdened by financial troubles and a mysterious sense of detachment that clouds his memory and actions.
Level C1MysteryMr. Meeson's WillIn a ruthless publishing empire driven by profit, a fierce rivalry erupts between branches across the globe, threatening the vast Meeson’s establishment.
Level B2MysteryMr. Marx's SecretWhen the long-lost Squire Ravenor, presumed dead after a yacht disaster, is found alive on a remote Pacific island, a quiet Midland county stirs with excitement and secrets.
Level B2MysteryMr. Justice RafflesA vanished Raffles returns from the mysterious spa town of Carlsbad, gaunt and weary, prompting his old friend Bunny into a tale of deception, stolen emeralds, and a daring plan to…
Level C1MysteryMr. Justice MaxellIn the shadowy streets of Tangier, a restless King’s Counsel navigates the uncertain terrain of politics, finance, and a tantalizing gold mining venture.
Level B2MysteryMotor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret PlotIn a lively Western town, Motor Matt, a fearless and athletic lad, stumbles upon a chaotic clash involving a mischievous Dutch boy and eccentric locals—unraveling a secret plot tha…
Level B2MysteryMotor Matt's Mariner; or, Filling the Bill for BunceTwo friends, Motor Matt and cowboy Joe McGlory, stumble upon a mysterious moving-picture show depicting a sinister plot involving a priceless ruby known as the Eye of Buddha.
Level B2MysteryMotor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen BradyIn a Western town shadowed by crime, Motor Matt—a fearless young motorist—and his allies face a tangled mystery when Helen Brady, daughter of a convicted thief, vanishes without a…
Level C1MysteryMonsieur Lecoq, v. 2In a humble cottage overlooking a vast valley, a young woman wrestles with a painful secret that forces her to reject the man she loves, while those around her seek to uncover the…
Level C1MysteryMonsieur Lecoq, v. 1In the shadowed, dangerous streets of 19th-century Paris, a seasoned police inspector leads a squad into a notorious district where criminals lurk and danger is constant.
Level C1MysteryMonsieur Judas: A ParadoxIn the sleepy town of Jarlchester, a sudden murder shatters the quiet, drawing a keen London detective into a puzzling inquest at the Hungry Man Inn, where every detail from a myst…
Level C1MysteryMississippi Outlaws and the Detectives: Don Pedro and the Detectives; Poisoner and the DetectivesIn the lawless post-war South, daring express robberies and elusive outlaws challenge the wits and courage of detectives determined to bring justice.
Level C1MysteryMiss or Mrs.?Aboard a silent schooner yacht, tensions ripple beneath the calm sea as Richard Turlington oversees a holiday voyage with his medical attendant and the Graybrooke family, sparking…
Level C1MysteryMiss Mephistopheles: A Novel: (Sequel to Madame Midas.)On a gloomy Melbourne evening, two contrasting young men—an idealistic pianist-turned-journalist and a rugged sportsman-aspiring writer—find themselves drawn into a web of mystery…
Level C1MysteryMiss Maitland, Private SecretaryAmidst the unraveling of a wealthy family's troubled marriage, secrets and societal judgments collide at Grasslands estate, where loyalties are tested and a private secretary might…
Level C1MysteryMiss Hildreth: A Novel, Volume 3When Patricia Hildreth is suddenly arrested on a shocking criminal warrant, her friends race against time to uncover the truth and rescue her from the grim confines of prison, expo…
Level B2MysteryMiss Cayley's AdventuresA spirited young woman, newly independent and unwilling to teach, sets out to embrace the bustling city of London and seize any adventure or opportunity that fate might offer her.
Level B2MysteryMinkieWhen a mysterious guest named Schwartz arrives unexpectedly at Dale End on Christmas Eve, Minkie and her quirky gang—led by Bobby, the horse—set out to uncover his secrets, blendin…
Level C1MysteryMilly DarrellAt nineteen, a young governess leaves her loving home to face the bleak, lonely world of Albury Lodge, where cold halls and stern faces challenge her courage and resolve.
Level B2MysteryMidnight In Beauchamp Row: 1895On a stormy Christmas Eve, a young bride is left alone with a bag of cash her husband must protect at all costs, setting the stage for a night filled with tension and mystery in a…
Level C1MysteryMcAllister and His DoubleA solitary clubman’s Christmas takes a strange turn when a mysterious double appears, thrusting him into a night of unsettling events and shadowy confrontations.
Level C1MysteryMax CarradosA private inquiry agent seeks the truth behind a rare ancient coin whose authenticity could mean the difference between freedom and arrest.
Level C1MysteryMasterpieces of Mystery in Four Volumes: Mystic-Humorous StoriesA skeptic visits an isolated folk-lorist to challenge his mystical beliefs, only to encounter eerie, uncanny moments amid the serene moorlands.
Level B2MysteryMaster tales of mystery, Volume 2 (of 3)A brilliant logician known as The Thinking Machine boldly claims he can escape any prison cell using only his intellect.
Level C1MysteryMaster tales of mystery, Volume 1 (of 3)Step into a world where every locked door hides a secret and every shadow may conceal a clue.
Level C1MysteryMaster of His FateIn a vibrant London club where art, science, and literature mingle, Julius Courtney captivates with his restless curiosity and enigmatic presence.
Level B2MysteryMaster Tales of Mystery, Volume 3In a quiet Connecticut town shaken by the mysterious poisoning of a rising actress, two determined men rush to unravel a tangled web of secrets, suspicious notes, and hidden motive…
Level C1MysteryMary ReganIn a dazzling New York restaurant where society's elite and shadowy figures collide, Clifford waits for Mary Regan, grappling with six months of silence and the blurred lines betwe…
Level B2MysteryMary Louise at DorfieldIn a town struggling to regain its prewar calm, Mary Louise and her friends confront the restlessness and shifting roles of young women eager to find purpose beyond old expectation…
Level B2MysteryMary Louise and the Liberty GirlsIn a small town struggling to meet its Liberty Bond quota during wartime, Mary Louise and her friends step up to prove that even the humblest girls can make a vital difference thro…
Level B2MysteryMary Louise and Josie O'GormanWhen a young widow faces sudden poverty, she teams up with her friend Josie, a skilled detective and laundress, to rebuild their lives through a quaint shop and a bold charitable p…
Level B2MysteryMary Louise Stands the TestAmid whispers of fortune and fading health, Mary Louise faces the challenge of her grandfather’s growing suspicion toward Danny, the scarred war hero she loves.
Level B2MysteryMary Louise Solves a MysteryAn eleven-year-old girl anxiously awaits news about her critically ill mother, whose days may be numbered.
Level B2MysteryMary Louise Adopts a SoldierAs the Dorfield Regiment returns from war, Mary Louise and her grandfather prepare to welcome the soldiers home, eager to help any displaced men find their place in a community sti…
Level B2MysteryMary LouiseAt Miss Stearne's strict boarding school, Mary Louise navigates teenage tensions and a controversial curfew that sparks a student rebellion.
Level B2MysteryMartin of old LondonIn the smoky streets of 1666 London, fourteen-year-old Martin Leake navigates the bustling riverbank and a mysterious rendezvous that hints at hidden dangers.
Level C1MysteryMartin Hewitt, InvestigatorA sharp young investigator breaks away from a prestigious law firm to start his own detective agency, tackling perplexing cases with keen observation and unorthodox methods.
Level C1MysteryManaliveA fierce wind sweeps through Beacon House, stirring dormant spirits and igniting a mysterious drama among its discontented residents.
Level C1MysteryMan and MaidA sudden inheritance forces a reluctant man to return from a carefree holiday to an eerie family estate where he must confront an enigmatic cousin and a bizarre will that threatens…
Level B2MysteryMalcolm Sage, DetectiveAn unassuming accountant-turned-detective with a bald head and restless hands must navigate post-war intrigue and hidden corruption, while the noble family that trusts him plots to…
Level C1MysteryMajor BarbaraIn a grand London home, a determined matriarch confronts her reluctant son about their complicated family and the surprising choices of her daughter Barbara, who has joined the Sal…
Level C1MysteryMademoiselle of Monte CarloAt Monte Carlo's infamous "Suicide’s Table," a striking woman known as Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo captivates gamblers with her extraordinary luck, while a young Englishman seeks h…
Level C1MysteryMadeline Payne, the Detective's DaughterRaised in loneliness and shadowed by cruelty, a young woman yearns for freedom and true happiness beyond her oppressive home.
Level C1MysteryM. or N. "Similia similibus curantur."Amid a stormy Channel night, a haunted Englishman wanders Calais sands, burdened by grief and desperate memories of love, loss, and reckless devotion.
Level C1MysteryLucretia — CompleteIn a dark tale of family secrets and moral struggle, a woman named Lucretia confronts the haunting influence of wealth and impatience on human character, revealing how early circum…
Level C1MysteryLucius Davoren; or, Publicans and sinners, vol. 3Amidst the lush gardens and genteel society of an English fête, a restless man wrestles with jealousy and discontent, haunted by love lost and a dark past.
Level C1MysteryLove and hatredIn a tangled web of friendship and unspoken desires, a sudden confession of love shatters the delicate balance between Laura, her husband Godfrey, and his enigmatic friend Oliver,…
Level B1MysteryLost over GreenlandA daring aviator enters a high-stakes endurance flight competition, backed by the legendary ace Dave Boyd, aiming to outfly seasoned rivals and set a new world record in the thrill…