Mystery
Read Mystery Classics in English
629 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 C1MysteryQuintus Oakes: A Detective StoryOn a scorching summer evening, an unexpected hero saves a young girl from a burning building, only to vanish into the bustling streets of Broadway.
Level C1MysteryPriscilla's SpiesA celebrated schoolboy athlete and scholar embarks on a summer fishing trip in the wild west of Ireland, where his impeccable reputation and leadership may soon be tested beyond th…
Level C1MysteryPresent at a Hanging and Other Ghost StoriesWhen a mysterious peddler vanishes after visiting a suspicious old man’s isolated farm, a local minister encounters an eerie apparition that leads to a chilling discovery beneath a…
Level C1MysteryPolice!!!A man flees the New York police, his mind racing with thoughts on science, art, and society while pursued through the city.
Level C1MysteryPoison shadowsIn the glittering world of high society, a desperate countess schemes to secure a wealthy marriage for her stubborn ward, entangling love, money, and deception along the Belgian co…
Level C1MysteryPocket Island: A Story of Country Life in New EnglandTwo unlikely partners—a cunning Polish peddler and a roaming Micmac Indian—form a smuggling alliance, using a haunted, trap-laden island with a secret sea cave to hide their illici…
Level C1MysteryPhineas ReduxIn the heated aftermath of a turbulent general election, political rivalries ignite as parties vie for control amid shifting alliances and bitter battles over power.
Level C1MysteryPharos, The Egyptian: A RomanceA mysterious visitor arrives bearing an urgent message from Cyril Forrester, a man caught between sanity and supernatural experience tied to his late Egyptologist father's legacy.
Level C1MysteryPeter Ruff and the Double FourA seemingly ordinary supper party at Daisy Villa conceals the beginnings of a gripping tale where appearances deceive and hidden identities spark a mystery that will change lives f…
Level C1MysteryPerlycross: A Tale of the Western HillsIn the tranquil village of Perlycross, a devoted curate and a battle-hardened squire navigate the delicate balance of duty, faith, and friendship in a changing world.
Level C1MysteryPeachmonkA mysterious red lily and cryptic message thrust Lady Evelyn into a web of secrets and intrigue, prompting a daring investigation involving séances, secret rendezvous, and shadowy…
Level C1MysteryPaul Clifford — Volume 07Amidst the harsh judgments of the law and the looming shadow of disgrace, Lucy struggles to protect her love and her innocence while powerful forces conspire to control her fate th…
Level C1MysteryPaul Clifford — Volume 06In a world of cunning thieves and sharp wits, a group of rogues revel in their spoils, weaving loyalty and treachery into a dangerous game.
Level C1MysteryPaul Clifford — Volume 05A brooding outlaw navigates secret rendezvous and shadowy plans in a world where loyalty and danger intertwine.
Level C1MysteryPaul Clifford — Volume 03Under the pale moonlight near Warlock, masked horsemen prepare for a daring adventure, their secretive plans shadowed by tension and a mysterious new ally.
Level C1MysteryOut of RussiaA reclusive ocean physicist’s peaceful life is shattered when a mysterious visitor from Moscow arrives, invoking a secret brotherhood and stirring shadows from the professor’s hidd…
Level C1MysteryOther People's MoneyIn the quiet Rue St.
Level C1MysteryOscar the Detective; Or, Dudie Dunne, The Exquisite DetectiveIn the gritty streets of New York, a seemingly simple gentleman with exquisite airs becomes the target of a mischievous gang, but beneath his delicate exterior lies a detective rea…
Level C1MysteryOnly a clodAn elegant young ensign, stuck in a harsh Tasmanian convict settlement, battles frustration and isolation while managing a motley crew under a relentless sun.
Level C1MysteryOne of the Six Hundred: A NovelA young cavalry officer granted leave from his regiment embarks on a journey home amid rising tensions and looming foreign conflict.
Level C1MysteryNumber SeventeenAmid the bustling streets of London, an artist’s chance encounter with a strikingly beautiful young woman and her enigmatic father sparks curiosity and intrigue, setting the stage…
Level C1MysteryNumber 70, Berlin: A Story of Britain's PerilIn wartime London, two influential businessmen plot to quietly dismiss a potentially dangerous employee who may have overheard their secretive plans.
Level C1MysteryNobody's ManA political figure retreats to a mist-shrouded Devonshire manor, only to be confronted by a rival whose unexpected visit hints at deception and hidden motives.
Level C1MysteryNo ThoroughfareOn a foggy London night, a veiled woman pleads with a kind nurse at the Foundling Hospital, seeking answers about her abandoned baby.
Level C1MysteryNo HeroA letter from an old acquaintance draws a weary man back into a world of unresolved tensions and mysterious requests, stirring memories and promising unexpected intrigue as he step…
Level C1MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 155, August 28, 1915: The Gordon Elopement; or, Nick Carter's Three of a Kind.A distraught young woman begs a detective to uncover the truth behind her fiancé’s sudden disappearance and scandalous letter.
Level C1MysteryNick Baba's Last Drink and Other SketchesOn a snowy Christmas Eve, a struggling shoemaker's lonely workshop is visited by a mysterious goblin who offers a chance for redemption, challenging him to confront his vices and r…
Level C1MysteryNever-Fail BlakeAn unyielding deputy commissioner faces off with a mysterious, irresistibly dangerous woman entangled in high-stakes crimes and deception.
Level C1MysteryMystery of the inn by the shoreThree friends seek leisure and golf at a faded seaside town, but curiosity leads them to uncover secrets at a shabby inn and a mysterious colonel’s home, where mistaken identities…
Level C1MysteryMystery at Lynden SandsA family gathers at a troubled seaside hotel, where old estates, tangled inheritances, and simmering tensions hint at deeper mysteries.
Level C1MysteryMysteries of Paris — Volume 03In the labyrinthine heart of Paris, a cunning countess schemes to wed a grand duke, weaving deceit and ambition around a hidden child whose true identity could unravel her plans.
Level C1MysteryMy Strangest CaseIn the sultry heart of Singapore, a shadowy hotel becomes the crossroads of secrets and intrigue, where mysterious patrons whisper of danger and deception.
Level C1MysteryMy Lady's MoneyWhen a series of mysterious letters from a struggling artist threaten to unravel her late husband's legacy, Lady Lydiard must confront secrets tied to family, art, and unexpected d…
Level C1MysteryMurder in the mazeAmid the serene Whistlefield estate, twin brothers—one a formidable barrister entangled in a complex case, the other a mysterious fortune-holder—navigate family tensions and secret…
Level C1MysteryMuch Darker DaysA showman haunted by lost love and bitter betrayal navigates a world of ambition and dark secrets, where beauty masks danger and every encounter threatens to unravel his carefully…
Level C1MysteryMrs. Vanderstein's jewelsIn a luxurious Mayfair home buzzing with royal visitors, Mrs.
Level C1MysteryMrs. Raffles: Being the Adventures of an Amateur CrackswomanLeft penniless after the death of her notorious partner, a skilled but struggling thief discovers a mysterious advertisement seeking a "Bunny" butler—could it be a secret summons f…
Level C1MysteryMrs. Balfame: A NovelA poised woman, long simmering with resentment, resolves to commit murder to escape the stifling confines of her marriage and assert her independence.
Level C1MysteryMrs PeixadaA young lawyer is unexpectedly drawn into a chilling case when Mr.
Level C1MysteryMr. StandfastA decorated soldier is summoned from the front lines to undertake a secret, high-stakes mission under a new identity, navigating a shadowy world of espionage where loyalty and patr…
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 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 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…