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 C1MysteryKastle Krags: A Story of MysteryIn the shadowed, moss-draped forests along the slow-moving Ochakee River, a mysterious gloom lingers over the wildlife and ancient lands.
Level C1MysteryKarl GrierA man with a mysterious sixth sense, Karl Grier navigates a world where his extraordinary mental powers clash with skeptical science and societal norms.
Level B2MysteryJust a bit too fastA notorious bank robber known as Thought-and-a-half Morgan disguises himself as a harmless old woman to outwit the police in a daring heist.
Level B2MysteryJudith LeeA young teacher with a remarkable talent for lip-reading overhears a sinister conversation about a valuable silver collection at Myrtle Cottage, pulling her into a dangerous myster…
Level B2MysteryJosie O'Gorman and the Meddlesome MajorJosie O’Gorman starts her new job at a bustling department store where thefts are on the rise, including a missing box of expensive lace.
Level B2MysteryJosie O'GormanA clever girl detective with a famously unremarkable face discovers a surprising talent for disguises, using her unusual nose to outwit villains and hide her identity.
Level C1MysteryJonah's LuckA weary traveler, burdened by unseen troubles, stumbles upon a remote inn shrouded in fog and mystery.
Level C1MysteryJohnny Ludlow, Sixth SeriesA determined group sets off to surprise a friend by renting her seaside drawing-room, only to find themselves lost in a mysterious place called Montpellier-by-Sea—an agricultural e…
Level C1MysteryJohnny Ludlow, Second SeriesWhen a fifty-pound cheque vanishes during a tense market-day negotiation, Johnny Ludlow finds himself entangled in a perplexing mystery involving family ties, rivalries, and hidden…
Level C1MysteryJohn Silence, Physician ExtraordinaryA physician with extraordinary psychic abilities tackles baffling cases that defy ordinary medicine, exploring the mysterious forces behind unseen afflictions and the fragile bound…
Level B2MysteryJoe Leslie's Wife; or, a Skeleton in the ClosetA young wife seeks the help of a New York detective to uncover the dark secret her beloved husband, Joe Leslie, hides—a secret that threatens to unravel their perfect marriage and…
Level B2MysteryJim Waring of Sonora-Town; Or, Tang of LifeIn the shadowed expanse of Agua Fria Cañon, a lone rider stakes his vigil, tracking elusive men through the desert's maze.
Level B2MysteryJim Cummings; Or, The Great Adams Express RobberyThree conspirators meticulously forge letters to execute a daring robbery on the Adams Express train, weaving a tense plan filled with deception, danger, and the threat of violence…
Level C1MysteryJewel Mysteries, from a Dealer's Note BookOn a gloomy day in Piccadilly, a mysterious man arrives at a jeweler’s shop, unveiling an extraordinary opal of dazzling beauty and intrigue.
Level B2MysteryJessica, the HeiressAmid California’s blooming ranchlands, Jessica faces whispers of betrayal and family secrets threatening her inheritance.
Level C1MysteryJessica Trent: Her Life on a RanchA spirited horseback chase through narrow canyon trails leads a stranger to the remote Sobrante ranch, where he meets Jessica Trent, a fearless rider who shares her unique life amo…
Level C1MysteryJesse James' Desperate Game; Or, The Robbery of the Ste. Genevieve BankIn a lively Missouri spring town where danger lurks beneath carefree revelry, three sharply dressed outlaws led by Jesse James blend into the crowd, plotting a daring $10,000 bank…
Level B1MysteryJerry Todd and the rose-colored catWhen a mysterious letter promises the arrival of a rare rose-colored cat, Jerry Todd and his friends set out to uncover the truth behind the curious feline—and the surprising secre…
Level B1MysteryJerry Todd and the Talking FrogA ghost haunts the old brick house where a puzzle maker met a strange death, and Jerry Todd and his friends must unravel the eerie mystery involving a talking frog and a secret cal…
Level B2MysteryJerry Todd and the Oak Island TreasureJoin Jerry Todd and his friends as they turn an old canal boat into a thrilling stage show while unraveling the mystery of a ghostly presence, a hidden treasure on a lonely island,…
Level C1MysteryJennie Baxter, JournalistA determined young journalist uses her charm and wit to secure a coveted position at a bustling metropolitan newspaper, navigating the cutthroat world of journalism and ambition.
Level B2MysteryJeanne of the MarshesIn a world of whispered suspicions and social exile, Major Forrest seeks refuge from an unseen threat among scarce allies and uncertain loyalties.
Level C1MysteryJean of the Lazy AAt the Lazy A ranch, sixteen-year-old Jean’s cheerful morning routines mask an imminent disaster that will shatter the peace of her home and those she loves.
Level C1MysteryJason: A RomanceIn the fragrant dusk of Paris, Ste.
Level B1MysteryJanet Hardy in Radio CityJanet Hardy wakes before dawn to chase her Hollywood dreams, navigating early calls, rival sabotage, and thrilling adventures on a movie set.
Level B2MysteryJanet Hardy in HollywoodAs winter snows linger, Janet Hardy rushes to school where the senior class eagerly awaits the announcement of parts for their play, "The Chinese Image.
Level C1MysteryJacob's LadderA once-cheerful man faces the crushing humiliation of bankruptcy and social exile, struggling to maintain dignity amid cold glances and silent creditors.
Level B1MysteryJack the runaway; or, On the road with a circusA determined farm boy defies his strict guardian to experience the excitement of a traveling vaudeville show, setting off on an adventurous journey with a circus.
Level C1MysteryJack Sheppard: A RomanceIn the grim streets of early 18th-century London, a destitute widow and her infant son struggle to survive after the execution of her notorious husband.
Level B2MysteryJack O' JudgmentA mysterious murder marked only by a Jack of Clubs card sets off a tense game between a cunning, wealthy colonel and a relentless police chief determined to uncover the truth behin…
Level B2MysteryJack Haydon's QuestA school captain on the cusp of adulthood faces a mysterious stranger demanding a secret letter, thrusting him from the familiar fields of sport into a shadowy world of danger and…
Level B2MysteryJack Archer: A Tale of the CrimeaA young schoolboy’s dull routine is shattered when a sudden summons from home hints at an urgent family matter, thrusting him toward an unexpected destiny beyond Latin verses and s…
Level C1MysteryJ. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 5In the wild moorlands of Northumbria, an eerie encounter with a mysterious stranger sets in motion a tale of dark magic, lost love, and superstition.
Level C1MysteryJ. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 3: The Haunted Baronet (1871)In the mist-shrouded town of Golden Friars, old legends and uneasy whispers surround the return of the haunted baronet to his ancestral home by the lake.
Level C1MysteryJ. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 2A family moves into a modern seaside house only to encounter eerie, unexplained phenomena that unsettle both them and their servants.
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…