Mystery
Read Mystery Classics in English
577 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 Plunderers: A Novel, The Plot That Failed; or, When Men Conspire and The Place of Dragons: A Mystery. 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 B2MysteryRevenge!In a bitter marriage marked by relentless hatred, John Bodman plots a chilling scheme to murder his wife during their Alpine retreat, concealing deadly intent beneath the serene mo…
Level B2MysteryRaspberry JamAunt Abby defies social conventions to witness a mind-reading spectacle in Newark, sparking a clash with her cautious niece Eunice.
Level B2MysteryRancho Del Muerto, and Other Stories of Adventure: by Various Authors, from "Outing"A paymaster and his cautious clerk arrive at a sinister Arizona ranch haunted by past murder and shadowed by a ruthless proprietor.
Level B2MysteryRalph, the Train Dispatcher; Or, The Mystery of the Pay CarRalph, a sharp young train dispatcher, teams with veteran fireman Fogg to unravel the suspicious activities of three mysterious men targeting the Overland Express.
Level B2MysteryRalph Raymond's HeirA mysterious man buys a rare poison from a small drugstore, sparking a tense pursuit by a street-smart boy hired to uncover the stranger’s identity and motives.
Level B2MysteryRadio Boys Loyalty; Or, Bill Brown Listens InTwo ingenious friends enter a prestigious technical school where their skills and loyalty are tested against hazing and rivalry.
Level B2MysteryPhantom of the ForestTrapped in a relentless snowstorm, a group stumbles upon a mysterious, brutally maimed body on a remote mountain road—one that defies explanation and hints at a deadly legend haunt…
Level B2MysteryPeggy Parsons at Prep SchoolAt a strict finishing school, Peggy Parsons navigates new rules and unexpected adventures when a midnight serenade leads to a delightful mishap involving a rose tree and the school…
Level B2MysteryPatty's FriendsAmidst the vibrant social whirl of London’s season, young Patty juggles invitations and explores new friendships while navigating the charm and quirks of English society.
Level B2MysteryPatty and AzaleaA young family settles into their grand new home, Wistaria Porch, where spacious rooms and charming surroundings promise comfort—but mysterious callers and hidden secrets hint that…
Level B2MysteryPam and the CountessIn the enchanting Bell Bay, thirteen-year-old Pamela finds herself caught between family dynamics and mysterious happenings that stir her curiosity and courage.
Level B2MysteryOwen Clancy's Happy Trail; Or, The Motor Wizard in CaliforniaIn bustling Los Angeles, a chaotic Chinese festival turns into pandemonium when Hiram Hill spots a man resembling his long-missing father in a car and disrupts the procession to re…
Level B2MysteryOver the WireIn a fierce mountain blizzard, telegraph operators Big Ben and Jim face a tense night as a gold-laden express train battles the storm, while mysterious troubles and threats loom on…
Level B2MysteryOut of a LabyrinthA skilled detective, wounded and weary, returns from a failed mission in a close-knit farming community shaken by the mysterious disappearance of a bright young woman.
Level B2MysteryOut of Death's Shadow; Or, A Case Without a PrecedentA brilliant detective races against time to secure a conviction in a murder case shrouded in secrecy, while navigating complex friendships and hidden truths in early 20th-century S…
Level B2MysteryOne-Way Ticket to NowhereA space traveler returns to Earth to find his twin brother entangled in a dangerous web of family conflict and business intrigue.
Level B2MysteryOne of My SonsA chance encounter with a sick, elderly man and his urgent granddaughter pulls a stranger into a mysterious, life-or-death secret hidden in a cryptic message—one that could change…
Level B2MysteryOne jump aheadA recently paroled rustler returns to a town shaken by mysterious midnight activities beneath a bridge, where two shadowy figures unearth a hidden secret.
Level B2MysteryOn the Sweeny wireOn a shared party telephone line, Belle Sweeny eavesdrops on her neighbors' conversations, uncovering secrets and brewing trouble linked to gambling, rivalries, and mysterious char…
Level B2MysteryOn the Edge of the Arctic; Or, An Aeroplane in SnowlandTwo Canadian boys debut their innovative aeroplane, the "Spirit of the Wind," at Calgary's Stampede, hoping to prove its worth in the harsh Arctic wilderness.
Level B2MysteryOn Secret Service: Detective-Mystery Stories Based on Real Cases Solved by Government AgentsAmidst the shadows of wartime Washington, a Secret Service agent races to uncover the insider leaking crucial troop movements to German submarines, using subtle clues like the tick…
Level B2MysteryOliver Bright's Search; or, The Mystery of a MineA determined young man embarks on a daring journey west to uncover the truth behind a mysterious mine tied to his ailing father's future.
Level B2MysteryOld Broadbrim Into the Heart of Australia: or, A Strange Bargain and Its ConsequencesA wealthy man hires a famed Quaker detective to protect him from a shadowy enemy bent on his death, plunging the detective into a year-long battle against unseen foes and a hauntin…
Level B2MysteryOkewood of the Secret ServiceA struggling music-hall artist faces a sudden, unexpected opportunity just as his daughter rises through the ranks at the War Office, weaving a tale of ambition, hardship, and secr…
Level B2MysteryNo. 13 ToroniIn a secluded Stockholm studio, a reclusive photographer harbors a haunting secret linked to a long-unsolved mystery.
Level B2MysteryNo Man's IslandThree eighteen-year-old friends navigate a wild, overgrown river island steeped in painful family memories, setting the stage for a mysterious adventure where past grudges and unta…
Level B2MysteryNimble Ike, the Trick Ventriloquist: A Rousing Tale of Fun and FrolicA gifted young ventriloquist, Nimble Ike, faces betrayal and mystery when his mentor leaves him penniless but armed with extraordinary talents and a mysterious box that may hold hi…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 160, October 2, 1915: The Yellow Label; or, Nick Carter and the Society Looters.In the exclusive Marmawell Club, a mysterious cardroom waiter with a knack for secrets unlocks a private rendezvous that hints at a deeper conspiracy among high society’s elite.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 159, September 25, 1915: Driven from cover; or, Nick Carter's double ruse.A cryptic, chilling phone call from a wealthy Riverside Drive residence draws detective Nick Carter into a web of mystery and potential danger.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 158, September 18, 1915: The blue veil; or, Nick Carter's torn trail.A master of disguise and deception, a cunning crook exploits a secret passage and a shocking resemblance to evade capture—until a brilliant detective unravels the impossible tricke…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 157, September 11, 1915: A human counterfeit; or, Nick Carter and the crook's double.A respected hotel manager is mysteriously abducted by well-dressed men in disguise, who threaten his life to keep their motives secret.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 156, September 4, 1915: Blood Will Tell; or, Nick Carter's Play in PoliticsA prominent political candidate is arrested for the murder of a notorious socialite just days before a crucial election, thrusting a sharp detective into a high-stakes investigatio…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 154, August 21, 1915: The mask of death; or, Nick Carter's curious case.When priceless art and a legendary Stradivarius violin vanish from a reclusive collector's New York mansion, a determined detective steps in to unravel the tangled mystery and reco…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 152, August 7, 1915: The Forced Crime; or, Nick Carter's Brazen Clew.A renowned detective investigates mysterious midnight intrusions into a professor’s locked bedroom, where the intruder never steals but seems to wield a hypnotic power.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 151, July 31, 1915: The Mystery of the Crossed Needles; or Nick Carter and the Yellow TongA millionaire Oriental scholar is found dead with crossed needles plunged into his heart, a chilling sign of murder.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 150, July 24, 1915: The House of Fear; or, Nick Carter's Counterstroke.A disguised detective finds himself trapped and threatened by a relentless enemy who blames him for a ruined life and promises deadly revenge.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 149, July 17, 1915: A Network of Crime; or, Nick Carter's Tangled Skein.When a double murder shocks a quiet Manhattanville neighborhood, a top detective and his assistant race against time to unravel a sinister web of crime tied to a rented house and m…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 148, July 10, 1915; The Mark of Cain; or, Nick Carter's Air-line CaseA striking switchboard operator collapses after overhearing a mysterious call, drawing detective Nick Carter into a web of intrigue and danger.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 147, July 3, 1915: On Death's Trail; or, Nick Carter's Strangest CaseAt three a.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 146, June 26, 1915: Paying the Price; or, Nick Carter's Perilous VentureWhen a revered priest is found murdered in his Washington rectory, a sharp detective is summoned to unravel secrets lurking in the shadows of a newly built church and a city rife w…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 145, June 19, 1915: An Unsolved Mystery; Or, Nick Carter's Goverment CaseIn Washington, a secret summons from the president draws famed detective Nick Carter into a shadowy government case, where a covert meeting at Union Station hints at a mystery that…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 143, June 5, 1915: The sultan's pearls; or, Nick Carter's Porto Rico trailA daring detective and his assistants infiltrate a tramp steamer in Puerto Rico to recover stolen jewels, but when a dangerous prisoner mysteriously disappears overboard, suspicion…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 141, May 22, 1915: The duplicate nightAt a lavish masked ball in a millionaire's mansion, a detective spots two identical women dressed as "Night," sparking a mystery that threatens to unravel amid dazzling guests and…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 140, May 15, 1915: The Melting-PotA relentless detective confronts a cunning crook who escaped justice and now threatens a vengeful reckoning.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 139, May 8, 1915: The Pressing PerilWhen a distressed English gentleman seeks out New York’s sharpest detective, Nick Carter plunges into a tangled mystery of vanished women and shadowy threats, where danger lurks be…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 138 May 1, 1915; The Traitors of the Tropics; or, Nick Carter's Royal FlushIn the shadow of an assassination attempt, a wounded prince insists on traveling against medical advice to save his Caribbean kingdom, while a sharp detective races to uncover dead…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 137, April 24, 1915: The Seal of Gijon; Or, Nick Carter's Ice-House FightA daring detective navigates a fierce river chase, confronting ruthless gangsters determined to silence two mysterious prisoners.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 136, April 17, 1915: The Man They Held BackA clever detective dons a Mexican disguise to infiltrate a masked ball, hunting a cunning gang of counterfeiters.