A reading guide
Classic mystery novels
These classic mystery novels and detective stories offer sleuths, concealed motives and puzzles for readers who enjoy following clues. Start with The Hound of the Baskervilles for Sherlock Holmes investigating a death blamed on a family curse.
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Where to start
Start hereThe Hound of the BaskervillesArthur Conan DoyleChoose this for an ominous family legend, the Devon moors and Holmes investigating whether a death can be blamed on a hound.
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Another way inThe Mystery of the Yellow RoomGaston LerouxStart here for a concrete puzzle: an attacker has vanished from a room whose door was locked and windows barred.
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Or tryThe Innocence of Father BrownG. K. ChestertonTry these tales for a quiet priest who looks past appearances and explains crimes through human fears, habits and desires.
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The books
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Great detectives
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1901 | The Hound of the BaskervillesArthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes investigates a death on the Devon moors, where a monstrous hound is said to threaten one family. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | 1907 | The Mystery of the Yellow RoomGaston Leroux A teenage reporter investigates a vanished attacker whose victim was found inside a room with locked doors and barred windows. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | 1887 | A Study in ScarletArthur Conan Doyle A death in an empty London house draws Holmes and Watson into a mystery involving strange evidence and revenge. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 4 | 1911 | The Innocence of Father BrownG. K. Chesterton An overlooked priest explains thefts, murders and apparently impossible events by considering the fears and desires behind human behaviour. | Stories | Free to startRead free |
| 5 | 1892 | The Adventures of Sherlock HolmesArthur Conan Doyle Holmes examines missing people, stolen jewels and deceptive appearances while Watson records how observation and logic reveal the truth. | Stories | Free to startRead free |
| 6 | 1890 | The Sign of the FourArthur Conan Doyle A missing father and unexplained gifts of pearls lead Holmes and Watson toward stolen treasure, murder and an old pact. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 7 | 1929 | The Bishop Murder CaseS. S. Van Dine Philo Vance investigates New York murders patterned on nursery rhymes, with a killer using a name drawn from chess. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 8 | 1915 | The Valley of FearArthur Conan Doyle A coded warning brings Holmes and Watson to a country house killing involving a moat, a drawbridge and concealed secrets. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 9 | 1926 | The Benson Murder CaseS. S. Van Dine Philo Vance studies character as well as physical evidence while investigating the murder of a wealthy Wall Street broker. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 10 | 1928 | The Greene Murder CaseS. S. Van Dine Philo Vance investigates repeated shootings inside a New York mansion shared by a wealthy family divided by quarrels. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 11 | 1927 | The "Canary" Murder CaseS. S. Van Dine The strangling of a Broadway star draws Philo Vance into an investigation of the men connected with her. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 12 | 1909 | The Old Man in the CornerBaroness Orczy An old man in a London tea shop explains baffling crimes to a journalist by reasoning through the evidence. | Stories | Free to startRead free |
Mysteries, crime and suspense
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1868 | The MoonstoneWilkie Collins A diamond disappears from an English country house, spreading suspicion through the household and straining relationships built on trust. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | 1859 | The Woman in WhiteWilkie Collins A drawing teacher's nighttime encounter with a frightened stranger leads him toward a plot against a young heiress. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | 1862 | Lady Audley's SecretMary Elizabeth Braddon A disappearance casts suspicion on a wealthy woman's concealed past, unsettling the trust inspired by her beauty and gentle manners. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 4 | 1875 | The Law and the LadyWilkie Collins A newly married woman investigates her husband's concealed identity after discovering that he was tried for his first wife's murder. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 5 | 1870 | The Mystery of Edwin DroodCharles Dickens A young man's disappearance brings a cathedral town's tensions into focus amid an arranged engagement and his uncle's double life. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 6 | 1920 | The Great ImpersonationE. Phillips Oppenheim An Englishman's encounter with a German lookalike casts doubt on the identity and loyalties of the man returning home. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
Questions
What are the best classic mystery novels?
Start with The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Moonstone and The Mystery of the Yellow Room. They offer different kinds of mystery: a death blamed on a family curse, a diamond stolen from a country house and an attack inside a locked room. For murders patterned on nursery rhymes, choose The Bishop Murder Case.
Which classic detective should I start with?
Start with Sherlock Holmes for investigations built around observation and logic. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes follows cases involving a missing bridegroom, a stolen jewel and a strange job offer. For a different approach, try The Innocence of Father Brown, whose priest investigates crimes by understanding human motives and looking beyond appearances.
Who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories?
Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories. The cases run from A Study in Scarlet (1887) through The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892) to The Hound of the Baskervilles (1901), offering investigations centred on Holmes.
Which classic mysteries are short?
The Great Impersonation is a brief choice for a complete novel about uncertain identity and divided loyalties. For individual cases rather than one continuous investigation, choose The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes or The Innocence of Father Brown. These collections offer separate mysteries centred on observation, deception and human motives.
What is a golden age mystery?
A golden age mystery usually means a puzzle-centred detective story associated with the period between the two world wars. Such stories often invite readers to weigh clues, consider suspects and work toward a solution alongside the detective. This selection also reaches back to earlier mysteries, with Holmes, country-house theft and locked-room investigation.
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