Mystery
Read Mystery Classics in English
1,736 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 £19,000, Zero the Slaver: A Romance of Equatorial Africa and Zero Data. 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 Amethyst BoxOn the eve of a wedding at a lavish Newport villa, a deadly Venetian poison vanishes from an exquisite amethyst box, sparking fear and suspicion among the guests.
Level C1MysteryThe Amateur InnA wealthy man returns to his ancestral New England farm to build a grand estate, stirring resentment among the local villagers.
Level B2MysteryThe Amateur CracksmanA desperate man, ruined and dishonored, confronts Raffles, a composed and enigmatic figure, seeking help—or perhaps revenge—in a foggy London night.
Level C1MysteryThe AmateurAmid a fierce February storm, a sharp-eyed reporter and sleuth boards a ship bound for London, tasked with uncovering the truth behind a mysterious widow’s disappearance and the cu…
Level C1MysteryThe Allen House; Or, Twenty Years Ago and NowA dedicated doctor braves a relentless storm to save a feverish baby, revealing the weight of duty amid life's harsh choices and lingering regrets.
Level C1MysteryThe Albert Gate Mystery: Being Further Adventures of Reginald Brett, Barrister DetectiveWhen a mysterious crime unfolds at an Albert Gate mansion housing Turkish dignitaries and secretive diamond experts, barrister-detective Reginald Brett is drawn into a web of intri…
Level C1MysteryThe Air PirateIn a world where air piracy once threatened the skies, the Chief Commissioner of the British Air Police confronts a new, urgent mystery that could unravel the fragile peace of tran…
Level C1MysteryThe Agony ColumnIn sweltering London on the brink of war, an American man becomes captivated by the mysterious personal notices in the newspaper’s Agony Column, where secret messages of love, intr…
Level C1MysteryThe Affair at the Semiramis HotelWhen the elusive Mr.
Level B2MysteryThe Adventures of the Eleven Cuff-Buttons: Being one of the exciting episodes in the career of the famous detective Hemlock Holmes, as recorded by his friend Dr. WatsonWhen the earl’s priceless cuff-buttons vanish, a bald visitor bursts into Holmes’s London flat seeking help.
Level C1MysteryThe Adventures of Jimmie DaleIn the heart of New York’s elite St.
Level B2MysteryThe Adventure of the Red CircleA mysterious lodger, shrouded in secrecy and isolation, puzzles a worried landlady with his silent presence and cryptic printed notes.
Level B2MysteryThe Adventure of the Dying DetectiveWhen Sherlock Holmes falls mysteriously ill with a deadly, contagious disease, his friend Dr.
Level B2MysteryThe Adventure of the Devil's FootHolmes retreats to the eerie Cornish moors for rest, only to face a chilling local mystery known as "The Cornish Horror.
Level B2MysteryThe Adventure of the Cardboard BoxOn a scorching August day, Sherlock Holmes deciphers a puzzling letter that sets him on a trail of a strange and terrible chain of events, revealing his uncanny ability to read sub…
Level B2MysteryThe Adventure of the Bruce-Partington PlansIn a fog-shrouded London, a mysterious death on the Underground draws the attention of an extraordinary mind who connects the threads of national secrets and unseen dangers.
Level B2MysteryThe Adventure of Wisteria LodgeA respectable man seeks Holmes’s help after a bizarre and unsettling experience at Wisteria Lodge, only to discover it’s connected to a mysterious death that has the police puzzled…
Level B2MysteryThe Adventure LeagueOn a sunlit Scottish island, a group of adventurous youths scramble cliffs and gather seabird eggs, their excitement mounting as a distant steamer approaches—promising new mysterie…
Level C1MysteryThe Abandoned RoomIn a gloomy ancestral mansion, a young woman senses a sinister presence as her reclusive uncle grows fearful before his mysterious death, while her troubled cousin drifts into a da…
Level B2MysteryThe 'Phone Booth MysteryAs secret intelligence threatens to ignite a war between Great Powers, a young secretary races against time to decode crucial dispatches while navigating the enigmatic and unsettli…
Level B2MysteryThe "Dock Rats" of New York; Or, The Smuggler Band's Last StandOn a moonlit shore, a mysterious girl warns a government detective of a deadly betrayal aboard a yacht, thrusting him into a dangerous game with ruthless smugglers determined to si…
Level B2MysteryThe "Canary" murder caseWhen the glamorous Margaret Odell, a famed figure of New York’s nightlife, is found strangled in a ransacked apartment, the baffling crime defies all logic—until the brilliant anal…
Level C1MysteryThat Mainwaring AffairIn the sweltering offices of a New York brokerage, Hugh Mainwaring prepares to finalize a will that will shift loyalties and fortunes within his estranged English-American family—s…
Level B2MysteryThat Little Girl of Miss Eliza's: A Story for Young PeopleIn the isolated, struggling community of Shintown, Eliza Wells stands out with her vibrant spirit and unconventional ways, tending her unique golden-brown home and blossoming flowe…
Level B2MysteryThat Girl MontanaIn the rugged North, a young woman shrouded in mystery carries the weight of suspicion for a deadly crime she did not commit, while navigating a world of gold prospectors, wild lan…
Level C1MysteryThat Affair Next DoorOn a quiet Gramercy Park night, a mysterious visit to an empty house sparks suspicion and intrigue.
Level C1MysteryTerror keepIn the eerie confines of Broadmoor Asylum, the infamous John Flack, a genius criminal confined for nine murders, has penned a vast encyclopedia of crime—an obsession that could unl…
Level B2MysteryTerminal CompromiseIn a high-stakes battle for America's future, a vengeful tycoon unleashes a devastating cyberattack, while a determined journalist and an FBI agent race to unravel a shadowy conspi…
Level C1MysteryTeresa of Watling Street: A Fantasia on Modern ThemesIn the bustling heart of London's financial district, a determined young specialist steps into a powerful bank's directors' parlour, poised on the brink of a life-changing opportun…
Level B2MysteryTempest-Driven: A Romance (Vol. 2 of 3)Torn between love and looming tragedy, Jerry O'Brien faces a desperate struggle as his friend Alfred’s life hangs in the balance, while shadowy legal battles over salmon weirs thre…
Level B2MysteryTempest-Driven: A Romance (Vol. 1 of 3)A mysterious woman pleads for help from a locked house where her husband lies ill, sparking a tense night of secrets and danger in a quiet London neighborhood.
Level B2MysteryTangled Trails: A Western Detective StoryIn a world where cunning and power reign supreme, a ruthless promoter faces threats, betrayals, and a brewing scandal over a failed irrigation project.
Level C1MysteryTales of terrorA trusted doctor recounts a chilling tale of friendship, love, and a haunting tragedy tied to a brilliant engineer and his beautiful bride amid the unrest of 1857.
Level C1MysteryTales of Terror and MysteryA daring aeronaut’s blood-stained notebook reveals a terrifying secret lurking in the heights above England, challenging the limits of science and sanity as he confronts an unimagi…
Level C1MysteryTaken AliveA mysterious visitor disrupts the quiet life at a remote mine, setting off a chain of events filled with suspense and unexpected revelations.
Level C1MysterySuspenseA scarred young woman seeking refuge and a fresh start answers an unusual advertisement, stepping into a shadowy world where appearances deceive and danger lurks behind veils and p…
Level C1MysteryStories of TragedyDelve into intricate tales of mystery and mental prowess where analytical minds unravel enigmas through keen observation and strategic insight.
Level C1MysteryStories of MysteryIn the shadowed streets of Boston's Beacon Hill, a mysterious ghost lingers, its mournful presence tied to forgotten wrongs and untold secrets.
Level B2MysteryStories by English Authors: Africa (Selected by Scribners)In the wilds of Cape Colony, two down-on-their-luck friends face eerie legends and unexpected dangers when a mysterious fiend haunts Sasassa Valley, threatening their fate as they…
Level C1MysteryStolen SoulsIn the icy heart of St.
Level C1MysteryStolen IdolsAmidst silent, swampy rivers, a fierce river pirate holds a foreign prisoner destined for a deadly fate, but a mysterious trader with Maxim guns challenges his authority and questi…
Level B2MysterySt. Cuthbert's towerA coveted farm sparks fierce rivalry when a mysterious new tenant arrives in the quiet village of Rishton, unsettling long-standing local expectations and igniting tensions.
Level B2MysterySpooky HollowIn the quiet village of Hilldale, nestled among Vermont’s autumn hills, detective Fleming Stone arrives to unravel a mystery shrouded by an imposing, secluded mansion and the secre…
Level C1MysterySplashes of redIn the thrilling world of rodeo competitions, Millie Wayne navigates fierce rivalries and shifting loyalties as Curly Bratton’s attention turns to a glamorous newcomer, sparking te…
Level B2MysterySpies of the Kaiser: Plotting the Downfall of EnglandEngland faces a covert threat as thousands of German spies infiltrate its cities, gathering secrets about military defenses and vital resources.
Level C1MysterySpecial Detective (Ashton-Kirk)A young detective with keen intellect and a taste for the unusual tackles a perplexing case involving an ancient friend's perilous entanglement with a powerful Mexican family.
Level C1MysterySons and FathersTwo men, embodying contrasting worlds and destinies, converge at a quiet Gulf station amid a tense quarantine.
Level C1MysterySomewhere in FranceA cunning German spy with a tangled past infiltrates French society, trading secrets and manipulating loyalties as war looms.