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 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 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 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 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 C2MysteryNote Book of an English Opium-EaterDive into a darkly playful exploration where murder is dissected as a twisted art form, blurring the lines between horror and extravagance in a provocative reflection on human fasc…
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 B2MysteryNo. 13 ToroniIn a secluded Stockholm studio, a reclusive photographer harbors a haunting secret linked to a long-unsolved mystery.
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 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 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 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 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 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.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 135. April 10, 1915; Straight to the Goal; Or, Nick Carter's Queer ChallengeA daring detective and his companions receive a chilling message: a spear bearing a captive’s necktie and an invitation to a mysterious city ruled by a cunning high priest.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 134, April 3, 1915; The Secret of Shangore; Or, Nick Carter Among the SpearmenA determined millionaire and a world-renowned detective venture into the treacherous Himalayas to capture a notorious crook and unravel the secrets of a mysterious race worshipping…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 133, March 27, 1915: Won by Magic; or, Nick Carter's Mysterious Ear.A cryptic telegram summons detective Nick Carter to Nepal, sparking a tense search for a missing man linked to a powerful shipping magnate.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 131, March 13, 1915: A fatal message; or, Nick Carter's slender clewNick Carter eavesdrops on a cryptic telegram and a mysterious visitor, sparking a tense investigation into a secret message that could unravel a deadly conspiracy.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 124, January 23, 1915: The girl kidnaper; or, Nick Carter's up-to-date clew.A wealthy woman vanishes from her locked hotel room on a cliffside, leaving behind only a trail of mystery and missing jewelry.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 123, January 16, 1915: Half a million ransom; or, Nick Carter and the needy nine.When a woman suddenly faints in Central Park, detective Nick Carter suspects more than a simple medical episode—especially as a child under the nurse’s care mysteriously disappears…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 122, January 9, 1915: The suicide; or, Nick Carter and the lost headA devoted wife seeks help when her husband's strange behavior and sudden despair hint at a hidden crisis.