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.
- 1,736
- books
Level C1MysteryCaptain ShannonA shadowy figure known only as “Captain Shannon” orchestrates a chilling spree of brutal crimes across England and Ireland, leaving behind a trail of terror and unanswered question…
Level C1MysteryCaptain Rogers: The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 7.A worn stranger arrives at a riverside tavern, confronting the stern innkeeper with a chilling familiarity and a pistol drawn.
Level B2MysteryCad Metti, The Female Detective Strategist; Or, Dudie Dunne Again in the FieldTwo young detectives, including the fearless Cad Metti, dive into a deadly hunt to dismantle a cunning gang of counterfeiters and assassins operating across New York.
Level C1MysteryBy foul meansAt a Piccadilly restaurant, an artist reveals a haunting tale of love, betrayal, and murder involving Hermione Rodenberg, the richest and most tragic woman in England.
Level C1MysteryBy Wit of WomanA disgraced colonel, wrongly accused of murder and imprisoned for years, leaves a secret legacy to his daughter Christabel—challenging her to uncover the truth and restore their fa…
Level B2MysteryBy Advice of CounselWhen a boy is wrongly accused of vandalism by a corrupt officer eager to close a case, a tangled web of injustice and deception unfolds in a gritty neighborhood where loyalty and s…
Level B2MysteryBurton of the Flying CorpsA daring young pilot navigates treacherous missions behind enemy lines, from chasing spies in Ostend to uncovering secrets in French chateaus, all while testing groundbreaking expl…
Level C1MysteryBulldog CarneyIn the rough frontier town of Edmonton, a mysterious rider known as Bulldog Carney ignites tension and intrigue as he confronts lawmen and outlaws alike, setting the stage for a gr…
Level B2MysteryBull-dog Drummond: The Adventures of a Demobilised Officer Who Found Peace DullA demobilised officer finds peace dull and dives into intrigue when a mysterious dinner summons strangers with shadowy identities, setting the stage for a tense game of secrets and…
Level B2MysteryBuffalo Bill's spy trailerAmid the vast, treacherous beauty of the Grand Cañon, a determined horseman braves deadly cliffs and haunting legends to seek refuge in a land shunned by all.
Level C1MysteryBuffalo Bill's ruseIn a dusty frontier town, the fierce and relentless Pizen Kate storms in, hunting down the husband who fled her, stirring up trouble and drawing curious onlookers into a tale of wi…
Level B2MysteryBrazilian Gold Mine MysteryA teenage adventurer flies to the heart of the Amazon to deliver a secret letter to his father, unaware that dangerous rivals are racing to uncover a legendary gold mine.
Level B2MysteryBrandedA young bank bookkeeper faces a devastating moral dilemma when the daughter of his crooked employer asks him to take the blame for a financial scandal that could destroy her family…
Level B2MysteryBoy Scouts on the Great Divide; Or, The Ending of the TrailFour Boy Scouts on a wilderness mission await mysterious instructions deep in the Wyoming mountains when a stranger with a secretive past arrives at their campfire, setting the sta…
Level B2MysteryBoy Scouts in the Canal Zone; Or, The Plot Against Uncle SamA group of adventurous Boy Scouts join a Secret Service lieutenant on a covert mission to protect the Panama Canal from a mysterious plot threatening its massive dam.
Level B2MysteryBoy Scouts in Northern Wilds; Or, The Signal from the HillsFour Boy Scouts embark on a daring mission deep into the Canadian wilderness, facing biting insects, harsh weather, and untamed nature as they navigate Moose River and uncover myst…
Level B2MysteryBoy Scouts in Mexico; Or, On Guard with Uncle SamA group of resourceful Boy Scouts plans a daring expedition down the Rio Grande, building their own houseboat to navigate the river and stand guard with Uncle Sam amid border tensi…![Cover of Book of brief narratives by Frank [Editor] Pemmon](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da8ukplnmvfc73biicvg.webp)
Level B2MysteryBook of brief narrativesA determined young detective tackles the baffling theft of prized jewelry, driven as much by duty as by his growing affection for the victim’s daughter.![Cover of Book of Detective Stories by Frank [Editor] Pemmon](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafd1cta8p2c739ite40.webp)
Level B2MysteryBook of Detective StoriesA New York detective unravels baffling crimes where clues come from unexpected places — a loyal dog, a mysterious French note, and a locked-room murder.
Level B2MysteryBobby Blake on a Plantation; Or, Lost in the Great SwampAfter a thrilling football victory, Bobby Blake and his friends face more than just schoolyard rivalries when mysterious events unfold nearby, leading them into a tangled web of da…
Level B2MysteryBobby Blake in the Frozen North; Or, The Old Eskimo's Last MessageAmid schoolyard baseball rivalries and spirited friendships, a mysterious message from the frozen north beckons adventure beyond the familiar fields.
Level B1MysteryBob Dexter and the Storm Mountain Mystery; or, The Secret of the Log CabinWhen Bob Dexter is tasked by his strict uncle to await a mysterious visitor with important papers, his plans for a thrilling ball game are put on hold—leading him into the heart of…
Level B2MysteryBlue eyes and diamondsWhen Betty Danford loses a high-stakes gamble, she hatches a risky plan: enlist a detective to hire a thief to steal her pawned diamond necklace before her husband finds out.
Level B2MysteryBlindfoldedArriving in fog-shrouded San Francisco, two nearly identical cousins embark on a risky, secretive mission that skirts the law.
Level C1MysteryBlind LoveIn 1881 Ireland, a secretive banker sends his head clerk on a mysterious errand involving a cryptic object at a milestone, setting off a tense tale of intrigue, secrecy, and unexpe…
Level C1MysteryBlair of BalaclavaAmid the chaos and heroism of the Crimean War, brave soldiers confront mismanagement and harsh conditions to prove their valor in battles like Balaclava and Inkermann, revealing th…
Level B2MysteryBlack hound of deathIn a shadowy Southern wilderness, a desperate man flees a monstrous killer whose savage attacks defy explanation, while a mysterious recluse hides secrets that may hold the key to…
Level C1MysteryBlack Caesar's Clan : A Florida Mystery StoryIn the sun-drenched Florida Keys, a hidden world of coral reefs and mangrove swamps hides mysteries and romance beneath its lush veneer.
Level B1MysteryBillie Bradley on Lighthouse Island; Or, The Mystery of the WreckLost and caught in an unexpected rainstorm, three schoolgirls navigate eerie woods while fearing the escape of a notorious criminal known as the Codfish.
Level B1MysteryBillie Bradley and the School Mystery; Or, The Girl From OklahomaAt the picturesque Three Towers Hall, Billie Bradley returns for a new term with her friends, ready to face school challenges and unravel the mystery lurking among the new girls.
Level B2MysteryBillie Bradley and Her Classmates; Or, The Secret of the Locked TowerThree friends at a boarding school embrace the thrill of skating on a newly frozen lake, but beneath the winter fun lies a mysterious secret locked within the school's tower—one th…
Level B2MysteryBeyond the wallTwo convicts plot a daring escape from Rockglen prison amid stormy weather and watchful guards, risking everything to break free beyond the prison walls.
Level C1MysteryBetween two thievesIn a tranquil Alpine village, an old invalid envisions a future where daring aviators use their machines not for war's destruction but to rescue the wounded—an invention that promi…
Level B1MysteryBetty Gordon at Mountain Camp; Or, The Mystery of Ida BellethorneAt a quaint mountain camp, Betty Gordon stumbles upon a mysterious shop and an enigmatic girl deeply absorbed in knitting exquisite blouses.
Level C1MysteryBessy Rane: A NovelOn a dark, misty night, Dr.
Level B2MysteryBernard Treves's Boots: A Novel of the Secret ServiceA mysterious recruit named John Manton arrives at a secret service recruiting office, but Captain Gilbert insists he is really Bernard Treves, a man with a hidden past.
Level C1MysteryBereniceIn a gloomy, failing theatre, a reluctant critic faces the challenge of reviewing an enigmatic new play that divides opinion—its star, a beautiful yet unpredictable actress whose s…
Level B2MysteryBen Hardy's flying machine; or, Making a record for himselfAmid a mechanical disaster at the Saxton Automobile Works, resourceful Ben Hardy races against time to stop a runaway engine and uncover the mystery behind the missing engineer, ri…
Level B2MysteryBeaumaroy Home from the WarsA young woman grapples with heartbreak and scandal when her fiancé is exposed as a bigamist just before their wedding, forcing her to seek refuge with a steadfast doctor who offers…
Level B2MysteryBats in the Wall; or, The Mystery of Trinity Church-yardA young man, rejected by his wealthy father-in-law-to-be due to his tarnished reputation and financial woes, faces a harsh ultimatum: prove his worth or lose the woman he loves.
Level B2MysteryBart Keene's Hunting Days; or, The Darewell Chums in a Winter CampThree schoolboys embark on a secret midnight mission to prank their friend, only to encounter a mysterious stranger sneaking into their school.
Level C1MysteryBaron Trigault's VengeanceA man crushed by a vicious conspiracy wrestles with despair and the burning desire for vengeance, while new, suspicious faces enter his life, threatening to complicate his desperat…
Level C1MysteryBarnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'EightyAmid the chaos of the 1780s Gordon Riots, a sharp-eyed raven and a cast of vivid characters reveal a gripping tale of religious intolerance, social unrest, and the human cost of fa…
Level C1MysteryBack homeA Texas Ranger returns from secret business in Mexico, encountering a mysterious white stranger with a scarred face aboard the train.
Level B2MysteryBaboe Dalima; or, The Opium FiendAmid a raging storm on Java's treacherous coast, two men await a mysterious ship rumored to carry a secret cargo.
Level C1MysteryAurora Floyd, Vol. 3A mysterious murder rocks a quiet village, as a seafaring fugitive vanishes and suspicion falls on many.
Level C1MysteryAurora Floyd, Vol. 2In a grand Yorkshire estate, tangled emotions and past rivalries surface as Aurora's happiness challenges the hearts of those around her, revealing secrets and testing loyalties in…
Level C1MysteryAuriol; or, The Elixir of LifeOn the cusp of a new century, a mysterious figure steals grisly trophies from London’s battlements, drawing the attention of Doctor Lamb, an enigmatic alchemist whose dark secrets…