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 C1MysteryRed MoneyA tense house party near Abbot's Wood is stirred when gypsies, suspected of local burglaries, become the focus of suspicion and a daring fortune-telling outing.
Level C1MysteryRed Masquerade: Being the Story of the Lone Wolf's DaughterAt a dreary auction, a youthful art collector with a sharp eye for hidden treasures uncovers more than just dusty relics, drawn into a world where secrets and scandal mingle with p…
Level C1MysteryRecollections of a PolicemanA detective in London’s police force is tasked with uncovering a cunning gang of swindlers and forgers, navigating high society and hidden dangers to bring justice to a young victi…
Level C1MysteryRecalled to LifeA young woman awakens from a mysterious amnesia, haunted by a vivid memory of her father's murder and a shadowy figure escaping through a window.
Level C1MysteryRavensdene CourtAn expert in ancient books is invited to a remote Northumbrian manor to catalog a chaotic collection amassed over centuries.
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 C1MysteryRamshackle HouseOn a crumbling Chesapeake estate, spirited Pen Broome battles neglect and decay while managing her father's failing homestead, confronting simmering tensions and the relentless dem…
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 A2MysteryRainbolt, the Ranger; or, The Aerial Demon of the MountainAs an emigrant train departs Omaha, two men conspire in secret, setting the stage for a thrilling mystery involving a shadowy figure known as the Aerial Demon of the Mountain.
Level C1MysteryRaffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur CracksmanA down-on-his-luck writer answers a mysterious ad for a male nurse to care for an elderly gentleman, stepping into a world of secrets and unexpected adventures that blur the line b…
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 C1MysteryR. Holmes & Co.: Being the Remarkable Adventures of Raffles Holmes, Esq., Detective and Amateur Cracksman by BirthOn a scorching August night, a mysterious figure stealthily climbs fire escapes, sparking curiosity and suspense.
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 C2MysteryPrince ZaleskiA troubled prince retreats to a shadowed palace filled with ancient relics and eerie mysteries, where a trusted friend visits to unravel a dark labyrinthine plot.
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 B1MysteryPoppy Ott's pedigreed picklesA clever boy convinces his skeptical friend to start a unique Pickle Parlor, betting that offering better pickles will win customers despite the odds.
Level B1MysteryPoppy Ott and the stuttering parrotWhen Jerry Todd and his friend Red encounter Poppy Ott, a scruffy boy living in a rickety wagon with a gruff old man claiming to be a detective, their summer adventure in the small…
Level B1MysteryPoppy Ott and the galloping snailTwo adventurous boys set out on a carefree hitchhiking trip through sun-baked highways and quiet countryside, only to find themselves mysteriously stranded on a deserted road with…
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 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 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 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 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 C2MysteryPaul Clifford — Volume 02Imprisoned and injured, Paul Clifford clings to hope amid grim surroundings, relying on unlikely allies and his own ideals of justice.
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 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 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 C1MysteryOther People's MoneyIn the quiet Rue St.
Level C2MysteryOswald Langdon: or, Pierre and Paul Lanier. A Romance of 1894-1898Two brothers, Pierre and Paul Lanier, become entangled in a web of mystery spanning continents—from London to India—where secrets, conspiracies, and shifting alliances threaten the…
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.