Mystery
Read Mystery Classics in English
885 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.
- 885
- books
Level C1MysteryJ. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 1In a dimly lit chamber, a young painter obsessed with his craft falls deeply in love with his master's niece, only to face a mysterious interruption that blurs the line between pas…
Level C1MysteryIt Might Have Happened OtherwiseTrapped in a dull job as a remote station agent, Parsly’s restless mind fixates on the temptation of stealing the money he handles daily.
Level C1MysteryIsrael RankIn the bleak streets of Ursula Grove, a chilling mystery unfolds as a family’s modest life is shadowed by secrets and the unsettling question: does murder truly always come to ligh…
Level C1MysteryInto the Highways and HedgesCaught between a stern guardian and her devoted father, young Margaret Deane navigates a world of wealth, family secrets, and conflicting ideals.
Level B2MysteryInside the LinesA spirited traveler’s lost luggage sparks a tense encounter at a busy train station, leading to an unexpected alliance with a mysterious stranger.
Level C1MysteryInitials OnlyOn a snowy Broadway night, a mysterious man’s strange behavior sparks curiosity just before a sudden alarm at the Clermont Hotel reveals a shocking event involving a wealthy woman.
Level B2MysteryIn the camp of the Black RiderTwo friends, Ted and Buck, balance summer work and football dreams while planning an adventurous camping trip.
Level C1MysteryIn the Onyx LobbyIn the elegant Campanile apartment, a fierce family feud between two women unfolds amid the ambitions of Sir Herbert Binney, who hopes to launch the famed Binney’s Buns in America,…
Level C1MysteryIn the Mayor's ParlourIn a timeless English market town, the ancient Moot Hall stands as a fortress of history and secrets.
Level B2MysteryIn the Library: The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 6.In a tense confrontation over betrayal and honor, Trayton Burleigh faces a desperate choice when his partner confronts him with ruin and exile.
Level C1MysteryIn the FogIn the exclusive Grill Club, where tradition demands camaraderie among strangers, four men gather on the night after the great London fog of 1897, sparking a mysterious conversatio…
Level C1MysteryIn the Dead of Night: A Novel. Volume 2 (of 3)Tensions rise as Edward Cope reluctantly prepares to leave for New York under his father's watchful eye, while a delicate romance with Jane Culpepper hangs in the balance amid soci…
Level C1MysteryIn the Dead of NightA man returns to New York after ten years, navigating the dazzling, relentless pulse of Broadway while haunted by past struggles and the tantalizing promise of a mysterious fortune…
Level B2MysteryIn the Bishop's CarriageA quick-witted young woman, caught with a stolen watch, escapes an eager pursuer by slipping into the luxurious carriage of a bishop, setting off a daring game of cat and mouse thr…
Level C1MysteryIn a Glass Darkly, v. 3/3A sinister count and a cold-hearted countess conspire in a shadowy room, unfolding a tense drama of hidden treasures and dark intentions.
Level C1MysteryIn a Glass Darkly, v. 2/3A young Englishman traveling through post-Napoleonic Europe encounters a mysterious noblewoman veiled in black, whose gratitude and gaze hint at secrets beneath her elegant exterio…
Level C1MysteryIn a Glass Darkly, v. 1/3A mysterious clergyman suffers sudden, inexplicable collapses during his sacred duties, prompting a curious physician to unravel the strange affliction haunting him between his Lon…
Level C1MysteryIn White RaimentA respected London doctor hides a secret as he unravels a series of strange, startling events amid the city's stark contrasts of wealth and poverty.
Level C1MysteryIn SecretAmid the silent tension of a secretive decoding office, a young woman uncovers a mysterious coded letter that could unravel hidden dangers and shift the fate of war.
Level C1MysteryIn Queer StreetIn a boarding-house named The Home of the Muses, a prim landlady upholds old-fashioned ideals while a flamboyant new boarder disrupts the staid atmosphere, setting the stage for my…
Level B2MysteryIn JeopardyA distant cousin’s sudden death draws a Philadelphia lawyer to a secluded Maryland estate, where old family wounds and unexpected inheritances stir secrets and suspicions.
Level C1MysteryIn Her Own RightA devastating financial collapse shatters fortunes and reveals ruthless betrayals among high society’s elite, where friendship is a facade and survival demands sharp wits.
Level B2MysteryIn Friendship's GuiseIn the vibrant streets of 1892 Paris, artist Jack Clare's promise of a joyful day unravels with the sudden disappearance of a wealthy collector, leaving behind a mysterious duplica…
Level C1MysteryIf Sinners Entice TheeIn a quiet English village, Captain Erle Brooker returns from a life of high stakes and shady deals, determined to protect his daughter Liane’s happiness amid gossip and suspicion.
Level B2MysteryI SpyAmid the looming threat of German espionage during World War I, a young British officer grapples with loyalty, love, and the shadows of secret plots that could topple England from…
Level C1MysteryHushed Up! A Mystery of LondonA man lives quietly in a quaint English village, shielding dark secrets tied to a mysterious death masked as natural causes.
Level B1MysteryHunting for hidden goldTwo brothers dream of joining their detective father on a thrilling case involving stolen gold hidden deep in a Montana mining camp.
Level C1MysteryHunted Down: The Detective Stories of Charles DickensIn a life assurance office where faces reveal hidden truths, a shrewd manager observes a mysterious, impeccably dressed stranger whose polished manners mask something sinister.
Level C1MysteryHow Jack Mackenzie won his epaulettesIn the quiet snowfall of a Glasgow Yuletide, young Jack Mackenzie embarks on a journey from peaceful naval life to the brutal realities of war, where courage and skill will earn hi…
Level C1MysteryHis darling sinA young widow inherits a vast fortune and grand estates but finds herself isolated in a world of silent luxury and empty splendor.
Level B2MysteryHis Great AdventureA down-and-out young man wandering Fifth Avenue stumbles upon a mysterious stranger suffering violent seizures in the street.
Level C1MysteryHilda Wade, a Woman with Tenacity of PurposeIn a revolutionary hospital led by the brilliant Professor Sebastian, Hilda Wade pursues nursing not only for science but driven by a deeper purpose.
Level B2MysteryHidden Foes; Or, A Fatal MiscalculationA man is found mysteriously dead in a quiet corridor, with no sign of violence or struggle.
Level B2MysteryHeritage of the seaIn the treacherous fog of Long Island Sound, a rum-runner captain navigates a maze of vessels, racing against danger and suspicion to deliver a secret cargo.
Level C1MysteryHer Royal Highness: A Romance of the Chancelleries of EuropeAmid the exotic splendor of the Nile’s timeless desert, a merry group of English travelers revels in the mysteries of ancient Egypt.
Level C1MysteryHer Majesty's MinisterIn the shadowy world of diplomacy, a British embassy in Paris grapples with a mysterious betrayal that threatens to ignite a devastating European war.
Level C1MysteryHelen Vardon's confessionA woman recalls the moment her peaceful life shattered when she overhears a conversation revealing her father's potential criminal liability, setting her on a path through secrets…
Level C1MysteryHearts and MasksAt a mysterious charity masquerade dance with whimsical playing-card invitations, an impulsive visitor finds himself drawn into an enchanting adventure behind the masks, where wit…
Level B2MysteryHeart to heartOn a perfect spring day, a grand wedding stirs whispers of hidden truths and complicated hearts among Lakeview's social elite.
Level B2MysteryHawaiian Sea Hunt MysteryIn the lush setting of a Hawaiian hotel, a mysterious man silently intrudes, while distant phone calls hint at hidden dangers and secretive plots involving the Brewster family.
Level C1MysteryHavocAs crowned heads convene in a palace shrouded with secrets, a journalist and a spy grapple with ominous whispers of war and political intrigue threatening to engulf Europe.
Level B2MysteryHarry Blount, the Detective; Or, The Martin Mystery SolvedOn a bright May morning in Lancashire, an unexpected letter reveals a long-forgotten childhood engagement between Kate and a mysterious American suitor arriving to claim her.
Level C2MysteryHarryA chance smile at a passion-flower sparks an unexpected love between a strong, handsome soldier and a carefree young woman, setting their lives on an enchanting path of romance and…
Level C1MysteryHand and RingA mysterious murder in a bustling Harlem shop baffles detectives, as suspicion falls on a rough tramp amid a maze of alibis and hidden motives.
Level B2MysteryHal Kenyon DisappearsIn the rugged beauty of Mummy Cañon, a group of spirited Boy Scouts and their eccentric headmaster return from a mountain outing, ready to build a campfire and share stories.
Level B2MysteryGuy GarrickA stolen luxury car leads to a murder mystery that challenges cutting-edge crime science.
Level C1MysteryGuy Deverell, v. 2 of 2A mysterious green chamber haunts the Marlowe estate, its builder shrouded in disapproval and secrets.
Level C1MysteryGuy Deverell, v. 1 of 2At a quaint country inn, a distinguished baronet’s peaceful evening is shattered by the sudden appearance of a striking young stranger, stirring memories and secrets long buried—se…