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 C1MysteryGolden Stories: A Selection of the Best Fiction by the Foremost WritersA tense night express hurtles through a storm, carrying a bank cashier, a coffin, and a locked carriage filled with valuable specie.
Level B2MysteryGold of the GodsWhen a priceless ancient Peruvian dagger is stolen from a university museum, a determined explorer and a keen investigator uncover hidden clues, including mysterious shoeprints and…
Level B2MysteryGodfrey Morgan: A Californian MysteryAn auction in bustling San Francisco offers an uninhabited Pacific island for sale—pristine, vast, and full of mystery.
Level C1MysteryGilead Balm, knight errantA young government clerk with sharp wit and a kind heart becomes fascinated by the mysterious appeals in a newspaper’s Agony Column, sparking a romantic quest that promises intrigu…
Level C1MysteryGhost Stories of an Antiquary Part 2: More Ghost StoriesIn a sprawling old school near London, a new master with mysterious charm stirs unease among students as strange, ghostly happenings begin to unfold, challenging their notions of r…
Level C1MysteryGeoffrey Hampstead: A NovelIn the bustling Victoria Bank of Toronto, young clerks balance numbers and social ambitions while harboring secrets beneath their polished exteriors.
Level B2MysteryGallegher and Other StoriesA streetwise office boy with sharp instincts and a knack for uncovering crime, Gallegher navigates the gritty underbelly of Philadelphia's streets and newsrooms.
Level C1MysteryFrom the RanksA mysterious nighttime shooting at an old fort sparks intrigue as the officer of the day refuses to explain, while the garrison buzzes with rumors and the colonel hides a troubling…
Level B2MysteryFrom out the Vasty DeepIn a remote, eerie manor known for ghostly tales, a loyal maid confesses to unsettling encounters that shake her usually sensible mistress’s disbelief.
Level B2MysteryFrom Whose BourneAs William Brenton retreats to his room feeling unwell, he experiences a haunting vision of his own lifeless body, unable to wake or communicate with his living wife downstairs.
Level B2MysteryFrom Sand Hill to PineA coach carrying diverse passengers is suddenly halted by a fallen tree near the site of a notorious robbery, sparking tension and suspicion as they navigate the dark, rainy night.
Level C1MysteryFrom Now OnAmid the roaring chaos of a racetrack, a desperate man tasks Dave Henderson with retrieving a staggering sum of cash—one hundred thousand dollars—setting off a high-stakes race aga…
Level C1MysteryFrom Headquarters: Odd Tales Picked up in the Volunteer ServiceIn a hidden urban courtyard overshadowed by a towering warehouse, volunteer soldiers uncover strange and compelling tales that challenge common misconceptions about militia service…
Level B2MysteryFritz to the Front, or, the Ventriloquist Scamp-HunterOn a bustling summer excursion to Atlantic City, a young woman named Madge finds unexpected protection from a mysterious young man named Fritz as they navigate a crowd full of roug…
Level B2MysteryFrank Reade, Jr., with his new steam horse in the great American desert: or, The sandy trail of deathIn the wild West, a brilliant inventor sets out on a daring journey aboard his revolutionary Steam Horse, a mechanical marvel built to brave the harsh desert.
Level B2MysteryFrank Merriwell, Junior's, Golden Trail; Or, The Fugitive ProfessorAmid football practice and fierce rivalry, Frank Merriwell faces the daunting challenge of transforming a defeated team into champions before Thanksgiving.
Level B2MysteryFrank Merriwell's BraveryA daring young traveler encounters a cunning stranger while tracking the notorious outlaw Black Harry, whose violent train robbery has left a community on edge and a reward on his…
Level B1MysteryFrank Merriwell on the Road; Or, The All-Star CombinationAmid the chaos of a wild parade and runaway donkey, a quick-witted young man steps in to restore order, setting the stage for thrilling adventures with a fearless, determined hero…
Level B2MysteryFour square JaneA beguiling and enigmatic female crook, known only as Four Square Jane, outwits detectives with her daring and clever crimes.
Level C1MysteryFour Max Carrados Detective StoriesIn a rain-soaked London, a private inquiry agent seeks an expert who can authenticate a rare ancient coin crucial to a pending arrest, leading him to the mysterious and brilliant M…
Level B2MysteryFour Ghost StoriesA woman recounts a chilling encounter with a ghost in a quiet Irish village, where health concerns and unexplained supernatural presence intertwine.
Level C1MysteryForty-one Thieves: A Tale of CaliforniaIn the rugged gold fields of 1879 California, a stagecoach journey turns deadly as robbers lie in wait along a dusty mountain road.
Level C1MysteryFor the DefenceA devoted retired major raises two orphaned boys from troubled backgrounds, shaping their futures with hope and care at his Surrey estate.
Level B2MysteryFor a Night of LoveIn a quiet town shadowed by an imposing mansion, shy clerk Julien Michon leads a solitary life filled with routine and secret flute melodies.
Level C1MysteryFootprintsIn a misty hotel lobby, Judith Quilter Whitefield, a wealthy widow from a famed Oregon ranching family, arrives with a secretive purpose—to confront her charming and elusive brothe…
Level B2MysteryFollowing a Chance Clew; Or, Nick Carter's Lucky FindA mysterious robbery and an unconscious woman draw detective Nick Carter into a shadowy world of clever criminals and secretive strangers.
Level C1MysteryFlying the Coast Skyways; Or, Jack Ralston's Swift PatrolTwo daring pilots, flying under aliases, embark on a secret mission from San Diego to the East Coast, navigating smoky skies and coded conversations to meet with Secret Service con…
Level C1MysteryFlower of the GorseIn a quaint Breton village, three young women navigate local traditions and hidden tensions as a mysterious bell tolls, promising fortune and stirring secrets among artists and vil…
Level B2MysteryFive Thousand Dollars RewardA desperate tramp with a dark past threatens a young woman living alone in a secluded cottage, but a mysterious hunter arrives just in time to protect her.
Level B2MysteryFirst Person ParamountA gifted mimicry artist escapes a harsh upbringing to pursue the stage, but his talent soon entangles him in a web of intrigue and danger.
Level B2MysteryFinding the Lost TreasureTwo siblings discover a cryptic family memorandum hinting at a lost treasure that might save their struggling family from foreclosure.
Level B2MysteryFinal Proof; Or, The Value of EvidenceA sharp detective and a clever amateur unite to unravel a baffling murder mystery that shocks the city and challenges the very value of evidence.
Level C1MysteryFile No. 113A daring robbery targets a supposedly impregnable bank safe, but the truth behind the heist is far more intricate than the headlines reveal.
Level B1MysteryFighting for fortuneA thrilling collection of clean, adventurous tales follows young heroes as they strive for success and fortune, embodying the spirit of fair play and determination in the great out…
Level B2MysteryFighting Byng: A Novel of Mystery, Intrigue and AdventureIn the wild Georgia turpentine woods, the fiery Howard Byng and his runaway mule collide with a surveying crew, sparking tensions and revealing a fierce spirit ready to face any ch…
Level B1MysteryFenn Masterson's Discovery; or, The Darewell Chums on a CruiseTwo schoolboys, Fenn and Bart, bond over a shared love of collecting—this time minerals—and a clever scheme to skip a tough algebra exam.
Level B2MysteryFeathers left aroundAt a Westchester estate, a sharp-witted group of friends debate the allure of locked-room mysteries, while the vivacious Anna stirs tensions and secrets beneath the surface.
Level C1MysteryFaulkner's FollyIn an elegant Georgian mansion, a mysterious cry for help shatters the night, revealing a lifeless artist in his studio and two women caught in a tense, fearful standoff—unraveling…
Level B2MysteryFatal fingersA renowned man presumed dead for eighteen years lives in obscurity, guarding a painful secret while resisting a tempting offer to return and reclaim his past.
Level B2MysteryFast as the Wind: A NovelA wealthy sportsman navigates a tangled web of loyalty, rivalry, and love amid the scenic beauty of Torquay and the looming shadows of family secrets.
Level B2MysteryFalse faceIn a dusty frontier town, an old storekeeper reluctantly accepts a deputy’s badge amid a sudden influx of hopeful settlers chasing rumors of new irrigation projects.
Level B2MysteryFalse EvidenceAmidst the brutal aftermath of a colonial battle, Lieutenant Herbert Devereux faces a court-martial for cowardice, but he insists his retreat hid a greater act of bravery—one that…
Level B1MysteryFairview Boys at Lighthouse Cove; or, Carried out to SeaThree adventurous boys celebrate the last day of school and dream of summer fun, but when one heads to a mysterious lighthouse cove, unexpected challenges and secrets await by the…
Level B1MysteryFairview Boys at Camp Mystery; or, the Old Hermit and His SecretWhen the notorious bully Jed Burr returns to school promising to behave, three friends face the challenge of his reputation while uncovering secrets at their camp—and an old hermit…
Level B1MysteryFairview Boys and Their Rivals; or, Bob Bouncer's SchooldaysThree schoolboys face rivalry, mischief, and unexpected adventure when a runaway automobile threatens to crash near their school.
Level C1MysteryEveline MandevilleA young woman defies her father's wishes, suspecting a wealthy suitor's fortune is tied to a secret gang of horse thieves.
Level C1MysteryEugene Aram — CompleteA scholar with a dark secret, Eugene Aram’s story unfolds through a blend of tragedy and mystery, exploring the fine line between genius and guilt as buried truths threaten to surf…
Level B2MysteryEmerson's Wife and Other Western StoriesIn the rugged West, Nick Ellhorn wakes drunk in a Santa Fe hotel room, drawn into a deadly mystery as the Dysert gang strikes again—murders, secrets, and danger threaten the lawles…