Mystery and detective fiction has one of the richest public domain archives of any genre. The form was invented in the 19th century, developed its golden age in the early 20th, and many of the best-loved authors wrote their most important work before copyright extended to protect it indefinitely. Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot (early cases), Father Brown, Lord Peter Wimsey, Arsene Lupin — the great detectives of classic fiction are free to read online right now.
Edgar Allan Poe — The Inventor of Detective Fiction
Poe published the first true detective story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," in 1841, introducing the character of C. Auguste Dupin and establishing every convention of the genre that followed: the brilliant eccentric detective, the loyal narrator, the methodical elimination of suspects, the dramatic revelation of the solution. All of Poe's stories and poems are freely available. His horror stories — "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Fall of the House of Usher" — are equally essential. Browse free books →
Sherlock Holmes
Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories are the most famous detective fiction ever written. All four novels and all five short story collections are in the public domain and freely available to read in full. The Holmes stories are also among the most recorded audiobooks available — dozens of different readers have tackled the full canon, and many of those recordings are freely available at the Internet Archive. Browse free mystery books →
The Golden Age of Detective Fiction
The period between the World Wars — roughly 1920 to 1940 — is considered the golden age of detective fiction. Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, John Dickson Carr, Ngaio Marsh, and dozens of others were producing mystery novels at a remarkable pace. Some of their earliest works have entered the public domain. Christie's first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920), introducing Hercule Poirot, is freely available. Browse mystery books →
How to Read Them Free
Browse the Internet Archive's text collection and search by author name or title. Most major mystery classics are available in multiple formats — read in your browser, download as PDF or EPUB, or find an audiobook recording. No account required. Browse all free books →