Best Mystery Books Project Gutenberg (2026): 5 Classic Picks

When a mystery lover asks for the best mystery books Project Gutenberg editions make available, the answer starts with the reader: a book club member wanting a shared classic, or a solo reader working through the great whodunits. We compared five Kindle editions by listed page count, publication date, series position and what each description says, so you can match the book to the reader.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Red House Mystery by Milne	9.7/10	Buy
2	Lincoln's Inn by Machray	9.7/10	Buy
3	The Hidden Room by Harvey	9.6/10	Buy
4	Boule Cabinet by Stevenson	9.6/10	Buy
5	Library of Best Mystery Stories	9.5/10	Buy

1

The Red House Mystery by Milne

A. A. (Alan Alexander) Milne·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A country-house whodunit from the Winnie-the-Pooh author, suited to readers who want a fair-play puzzle from a familiar name.

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Pros

• The listing marks it as Book 1 of 5, so a reader who enjoys it can continue the series
• Publication date of May 12, 2012 and a 229-page print length are both stated
• A self-contained whodunit suits readers who like a puzzle that resolves in one book

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• The description gives almost no plot detail, so the premise comes mostly from the title
• 229 pages is mid-range on this list; shorter options exist

2

Lincoln's Inn by Machray

Robert Machray·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A London legal-district mystery with the longest stated page count on this list, suited to readers who like slow, atmospheric detection.

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Pros

• 362 pages, the longest stated print length among the picks
• Publication date of December 18, 2012 is stated
• A single volume holds one complete mystery, with no series to track

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• The description gives almost no plot detail beyond the title
• 362 pages may feel slow for a reader who wants a quick mystery

3

The Hidden Room by Harvey

Marion Harvey·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A hidden-room mystery from a lesser-known author, suited to readers who enjoy classic sleuthing off the beaten path.

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Pros

• 341 pages gives a long read in a single edition
• Publication date of December 18, 2012 is stated
• A standalone story, so no series to follow

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• The author may be unfamiliar to many readers
• The description gives almost no plot detail

4

Boule Cabinet by Stevenson

Burton Egbert Stevenson·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A short detective story at a stated 198 pages, suited to readers who want a classic mystery that finishes quickly.

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Pros

• 198 pages, the shortest stated print length among the picks
• Publication date of May 17, 2012 is stated
• The subtitle names it a detective story, so the genre is clear

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• The description gives almost no plot detail
• The short length means less time with the characters than the longer picks

5

Library of Best Mystery Stories

N/A·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An anthology of mystery and detective stories with no stated author, suited to readers who prefer sampling many voices over one novel.

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Pros

• Many stories in one volume suit a reader who likes variety
• The title names both mystery and detective stories, so the scope is broad
• A single edition gathers many authors' work in one place

Cons

• The listing states no author, no page count and no publication date
• No reading age or grade level is stated
• An anthology may disappoint a reader who wants one sustained novel

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More picks to compare

• The Loudwater Mystery by JepsonFor fans of English detective fiction.Check on Amazon
• Poe's Gutenberg CollectionFor readers curious about Poe's early tales.Check on Amazon
• The Ashiel Mystery by BryceFor a short 218-page detective story.Check on Amazon
• The Mystery of a Hansom CabFor readers who like period Melbourne crime.Check on Amazon
• The Bartlett Mystery by TracyFor a short 114-page classic mystery.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the classic-mystery reader, contents and edition, and value. None of these five listings states a reading age or grade level, so that part of the score is zero across the board. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best mystery books project gutenberg

Match the length to your reading plan

The listings run from 198 pages for The Mystery of the Boule Cabinet to 362 pages for The Mystery of Lincoln’s Inn, so check the stated print length against the time you have. A reader who wants a quick classic can also browse mystery books to start with for shorter entry points.

Series or standalone?

Only The Red House Mystery is marked as part of a series, Book 1 of 5, so it is the natural pick for a reader who wants more of the same afterward. If you prefer one-and-done novels, the other four listings stand alone. Readers who like classic-era stories may also enjoy our classic mystery novels list.

Check the edition details

Each listing was converted from its physical edition by volunteers, and the publication date shown is the Kindle release date, not the year the story was written. Confirm the print length and the format on the listing before you buy, since these classics exist in many editions.

Before you buy

• Check the print length on the listing: these editions run from 198 to 362 pages.
• Only one listing states a series position: The Red House Mystery as Book 1 of 5.
• The Library of the World’s Best Mystery and Detective Stories listing names no author and no page count, so read its description carefully before buying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should a new reader start with Project Gutenberg mystery books?

The Red House Mystery is the most approachable first pick: a classic house-party mystery marked Book 1 of 5, with 229 pages. If you want something shorter, The Mystery of the Boule Cabinet states 198 pages.

What do these listings say about each edition?

Each listing states the book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format, and most state a print length from 198 to 362 pages. Check the listing description for anything extra the edition may include.

Which of these suits a book club?

The Red House Mystery suits a group discussion: it is a fair-play mystery with a recognizable author and a series to continue. For a longer group read, The Mystery of Lincoln’s Inn states 362 pages.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Red House Mystery by Milne

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Related lists

See every Thrillers and Mystery list and all Fiction lists.

More lists: clean mystery books, classic mystery novels, mysteries with a twist and mysteries to start with.