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 B2MysteryAda, the Betrayed; Or, The Murder at the Old Smithy. A Romance of PassionA murder at the old smithy sets off a tangled web of passion, betrayal, and dark secrets spanning years.
Level C1MysteryAaron TrowIn the isolated convict colony of Bermuda, a notorious prisoner named Aaron Trow escapes solitary confinement and vanishes into the islands, sparking a tense manhunt where survival…
Level B2MysteryAaron Rodd, DivinerIn foggy London, a reclusive lawyer with a shadowed past encounters a mysterious young woman whose family has suffered great hardships, drawing him into a web of secrets and confid…
Level C1MysteryA woman's debtIn the glittering world of London high society, a trusted secretary navigates ambition, loyalty, and hidden tensions within the powerful Morrice household, where fortune and favor…
Level B2MysteryA tragedy of love and hateIn the serene Holme Woods, a chilling discovery shatters the summer calm: Lady Clarice Alden lies drowned in the river, her life cut short beneath the bright sun while the world ca…
Level C1MysteryA silent witnessOn a dark, rainy night along a solitary lane, a student’s reflective walk turns chilling when he stumbles upon a mysterious, lifeless body hidden in the shadows—an unexpected witne…
Level C1MysteryA servant of Satan: Romantic career of Prado the assassinAn enigmatic assassin known as Prado weaves a dark path across continents, his crimes rooted in a mysterious vendetta against society's elite.
Level C1MysteryA master handIn 1883 New York, a seasoned legal observer recounts a baffling crime that eluded authorities for decades, weaving a tale of friendship, fortune, and mystery among a circle of indu…
Level C1MysteryA man of markIn the struggling young Republic of Aureataland, a determined bank manager arrives amid political upheaval and economic stagnation.
Level B2MysteryA lady in blackIn a quiet parish where appearances dictate the social order, suspicion falls on a stylish widow whose mysterious past unsettles her neighbors.
Level C1MysteryA hat in the radio ringIn a tightly controlled political machine threatened by the rise of radio broadcasts, a tense dinner meeting unfolds where a favored speaker’s words could sway a pivotal state conv…
Level C1MysteryA Woman's Burden: A NovelIn the fog-shrouded streets of London, an elderly gentleman ventures into a world of shadows and despair, where poverty, mystery, and danger intertwine on the eerie Waterloo Bridge…
Level B2MysteryA Woman at Bay; Or, A Fiend in SkirtsInfiltrating the world of hoboes and yeggmen, a skilled detective and his team go undercover to uncover the elusive "Hobo Harry," the mysterious mastermind behind a wave of railroa…
Level C1MysteryA Warning to the Curious, and Other Ghost StoriesAn antiquarian’s rare doll’s house hides more than miniature treasures—unseen forces stir as its new owner unpacks, awakening a chilling mystery that blurs the line between curiosi…
Level B2MysteryA Vendetta of the HillsIn a sunlit California valley, a determined architect turned Westerner returns to a rugged frontier town, where legends of hidden gold, old rivalries, and mysterious figures like t…
Level B2MysteryA Traitor's WooingAt a glittering London ball, a mysterious Maharajah woos a charming Englishwoman under watchful eyes, setting the stage for a tangled web of intrigue and hidden motives where nothi…
Level C1MysteryA Traitor in LondonA young soldier’s dream of marriage is shattered by a controlling cousin who holds his inheritance hostage, demanding approval of his bride—while political tensions and mysterious…
Level B2MysteryA Thousand Francs Reward; and, Military SketchesWhen a respected merchant vanishes without a trace in the bustling Quartier du Marais, a determined detective follows subtle clues—from a watch-check to a final café visit—to unrav…
Level C1MysteryA Thin Ghost and OthersIn 1730, Dr.
Level C1MysteryA Thief in the Night: Further adventures of A. J. Raffles, Cricketer and CracksmanWhen a friend’s fiancée becomes entangled in scandal, a cricketer with a shadowy past plans a daring heist to right wrongs and navigate the dangerous line between loyalty and crime…
Level C1MysteryA Thief in the Night: A Book of Raffles' AdventuresA gentleman thief and his loyal companion navigate the shadowy world of high society, where temptation and crime intertwine, threatening to shatter bonds and expose dark secrets be…
Level C1MysteryA Texas RangerIn a fading Western frontier, a desperate young woman boldly commandeers a stranger's horses, setting off a tense encounter charged with danger, defiance, and unexpected vulnerabil…
Level C1MysteryA Successful Shadow; Or, A Detective's Successful QuestA determined detective takes on the haunting mystery of a missing child, whose mother, scarred by tragedy, seeks hope and justice amidst loss.
Level B2MysteryA Study in ScarletA wounded army doctor returns to London to rebuild his life and unexpectedly meets a brilliant, eccentric scientist with unparalleled knowledge.
Level C1MysteryA Strange DisappearanceA housekeeper turns to a sharp young detective when a girl who sewed for the household mysteriously vanishes overnight, with whispers and secret movements hinting at a chilling abd…
Level B2MysteryA Stolen Name; Or, The Man Who Defied Nick CarterA master criminal adopts a stolen identity tied to a dilapidated Virginia estate, setting the stage for a daring adventure in debt, deception, and defiance.
Level C1MysteryA Stable for Nightmares; or, Weird TalesA journey to the remote and neglected Barwyke Hall reveals eerie landscapes and unsettling local tales long forgotten by time.
Level B2MysteryA Son of Ishmael: A NovelIn a remote old house shadowed by mystery, Nancy Follett lives a secluded life under her father's strict watch, until the enigmatic Adrian Rowton breaks through their isolation.
Level C1MysteryA SirenAs Carnival’s last night ignites the ancient city of Ravenna, masked nobles and mysterious guests gather for a final, dazzling ball where secrets simmer beneath the gaiety, and a f…
Level B2MysteryA Sharper's Downfall; Or, Into the NetA daring burglary unfolds in a Wall Street speculator’s home, with thieves escaping under cover of night.
Level C1MysteryA Secret Inheritance (Volume 3 of 3)A murder shrouded in mystery pits brother against brother as secrets, jealousy, and hidden motives surface in a tense investigation.
Level C1MysteryA Secret Inheritance (Volume 2 of 3)A man haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his beloved friend embarks on a solitary quest across distant lands, only to uncover unexpected connections and secrets that intert…
Level C1MysteryA Secret Inheritance (Volume 1 of 3)A young boy grows up in a gloomy London attic, surrounded by poverty and silence, haunted by fleeting memories of a lost, grander past.
Level C1MysteryA Search For A Secret: A Novel. Vol. 3Years after a failed search for a hidden will, the narrator grapples with loss, hope, and distant love as letters from India keep alive dreams of reunion.
Level B2MysteryA Search For A Secret: A Novel. Vol. 2A family's future is thrown into turmoil when a crucial will disappears, sparking fierce rivalries and secret alliances.
Level C1MysteryA Search For A Secret: A Novel. Vol. 1In a timeless cathedral town where change is scarce, a young man reflects on his childhood and the secrets woven into his peaceful surroundings, setting the stage for a mystery roo…
Level C1MysteryA Republic Without a President, and Other StoriesWhen the President and his wife vanish mysteriously from the White House, with servants found gagged and a powerful politician implicated, the nation plunges into chaos and conspir…
Level B2MysteryA Queen's ErrorIn a neglected, long-shuttered house, a mysterious elderly woman invites a stranger into her dimly lit basement boudoir filled with art and secrets.
Level C1MysteryA Prince to OrderAwakening in a lavish Paris hotel room with a strange beard and blond hair, Carey Grey grapples with lost memories and an unrecognizable identity.
Level C1MysteryA Prince of SwindlersAmid the dazzling festivities of a historic London season, a man unwittingly introduces a master swindler into high society, setting off a chain of cunning crimes.
Level B2MysteryA Point of TestimonyA witty and unconventional detective is summoned to a wealthy estate where a prominent man has been strangled, and suspicion falls on those closest to him.
Level C1MysteryA Perilous SecretA determined father, broken by loss and poverty, sets out on a desperate journey with his young daughter, discovering a hidden treasure beneath a neglected field that could change…
Level C1MysteryA People's ManIn the shadowed streets of Soho, a desperate messenger brings news of Maraton, a mysterious figure poised to ignite a revolution.
Level C1MysteryA Night on the Borders of the Black ForestA chance meeting on a dusty road in Würtemberg leads an English traveler into conversation with a genial German brewer bound for Frankfort and his beloved.
Level C1MysteryA Mysterious DisappearanceIn a fog-shrouded London, Lady Dyke defies uncertainty and societal expectations to investigate a troubling family secret, enlisting the reluctant help of a sharp-witted barrister…
Level C1MysteryA Monk of CrutaIn a storm-shrouded chamber, a dying man clings to the hope of a distant light piercing the darkness, while a priest and servant grapple with the mysteries surrounding his final ho…
Level B2MysteryA Modern WizardTwo young lawyers await their first big case when a mysterious poisoning rocks their city, involving a beautiful musician's suspicious death and her missing physician sweetheart—ca…
Level C1MysteryA Millionaire of YesterdayTwo unlikely companions endure filth and danger in a remote, hostile land, driven by a desperate mission that tests their courage and resolve.