Novels like The Doomed Witness
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Doomed Witness, best match first.
- 1 The Great Case of Xijin 西金大案 In 1997, a dismemberment case at Xijin University caused a nationwide sensation. The case remained unsolved for 27 years. Against the backdrop of criminal investigation innovation at the Provincial Public Security Department, it has now resurfaced as a landmark case. The case forms the thread running through the whole novel, whose story weaves together suspense and deduction, archaeology, cutting-edge technology, love and family, and documentary realism... It paints a picture of the times from t 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 At Midnight, I Witnessed a Killer at Work 半夜，撞见杀手杀人 After accidentally stumbling onto a crime scene, he becomes a murder suspect. As he tries to clear his name, he realizes he never wandered into the scene by chance at all: someone had led him into a trap… No grand ambitions here, just a story that will uncover the truth. 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 The Distance of Sin 孽之距 This novel is part of a mystery series. After finishing the college entrance exam, protagonist Li Sihang visited his girlfriend’s home to meet her parents for the first time. A murder took place in the house. He was knocked unconscious by a blow to the head and suffered a mild concussion, while everyone in his girlfriend’s family was killed. Afterward, he applied to join the police and eventually became a criminal investigator. He hoped that his efforts would help his girlfriend rest in peace so —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 Find the Killer, Find the Killer 找呀找呀找凶手 [Mystery and Deduction]+ [No CP]+ [Anthology] A collection of short and medium-length mystery stories, with a focus on classic whodunits. Who can know for certain what the next moment of life will bring, or what fate has in store for you? The protagonist enters unsolved-case games firsthand, taking on various roles and drawing ever closer to death as they search for the truth about human nature hidden behind each case. 353Reads—Score10014d adds
- 5 Necromancer Game 死灵游戏 [A Suspense and Mystery Novella] Ten men and women in white hospital gowns wake one after another in a completely sealed white room. A chilling voice rings in their ears, laying out the rules of a murder game about to begin. At a banquet in an ancient castle, tension fills the air and everyone is terrified. Are the knocks at the door in the night someone's coded message, or a demon whispering? Outside the window, a boy weeps in the pouring rain. Beside him stands a girl who died long ago. Whose 143Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 Salvation in the Torrential Rain 暴雨救赎 [No System, no golden finger, no romance, mystery + deduction + main plot + standalone cases] Some people receive WeChat messages from their future selves. Some act in a feel-good web short drama and end up dead at the scene. Some think they can sit back and watch the drama unfold after mouthing off online, unaware that someone is watching them from the shadows... In this world, there are always people who use terrifying methods beyond ordinary understanding to murder their fellow human beings. 113Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 The Strange Corpse Case 奇尸案 Do you think there is such a thing as the perfect crime? If so, what would it look like? Would it make a body disappear completely? Make sure no one ever discovers it? Or leave no evidence behind? 1.9kReads8.1Score16514d adds
- 8 The Broken Mirror Murder Case 破镜缉凶 [Mystery + Criminal Investigation + Deduction + Case-of-the-Week + Long Main Plot + No Romance + Solving Crimes] On a livestream, a bride in red hangs herself from an ancient locust tree. A million viewers watch as her corpse follows an invisible track and “walks” back to the crime scene. I'm Qin Niu, captain of the criminal investigation team in Changping City. The people I'm up against aren't ghosts, but a group of “crime designers.” They use magnetic levitation to transport corpses, infrasou 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 Criminal Investigation: The Truth About Murder 刑侦：杀人真相 [Mystery + Deduction + Therapist + Case-of-the-Week Mysteries + Serial Killings + High-IQ Crimes + Forensics + Revenge Plot + Bizarre Tales + Light Horror + Suitable for the Easily Frightened] You can skip romance, but you have to read about a case every day. When in love, you take your clothes off one piece at a time. When it's over, you stab one knife at a time. When in love, you stay together forever. When it's over, you hide a corpse in a trunk. When in love, you're stuck together every day. 6.9kReads7.2Score36914d adds
- 10 The Campus Cloud of Mystery 校园迷云 Do you ever really believe what your eyes show you??? After the college entrance exams, everyone should have been celebrating. Instead, a series of bizarre “suicides” took place at the school. But as the truth was painstakingly pieced together, it became clear that the cause was far from simple. 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 The Talking Dead 会讲话的死者 The Talking Dead is a collection of stories including The Viliton Murder Company, The Killer in the Gray Raincoat, The Black-and-White Teahouse, The Yunwu Mountain Hotel Serial Murders, Reborn with a New Life, The Talking Dead, Who Will Put You in Your Grave, I’ll Be Waiting for You Below, and more. 58Reads9.4Score—14d adds
- 12 Crime Scene 罪恶现场 The story recreates crime scenes and explores the weaknesses of human nature. Behind every case lies a battle between the police and evil! Each case is adapted from a real incident. Any resemblance is purely coincidental! 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 The Truth Out of Order 失序的真相 [Mystery and criminal investigation + serial murders + standalone cases + no official couple, but ship whoever you like + traditional police work, with a few golden fingers] One corpse has two hearts. One corpse has no heart. A serial killer bent on “destroying hearts” has appeared out of nowhere. Kong Mingyue, deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Division at the Xinmai Branch in Lingjiang, leads her team in a full-scale investigation. But instead of retreating, the killer presses forward, 847Reads8.6Score15114d adds
- 14 Walker in the Dark 黑夜行者 [Night Walker + No System + No Romance] is a continuation of the first book, "Murder in the Mist", but this is an entirely new storyline! Protagonist: Wang Youyong The story follows Wang Youyong, current deputy chief of the criminal investigation squad, as he pursues a small group of vigilantes led by Ma Wenchao. Five years ago, the vehicle transporting Ma Wenchao, then deputy chief of the criminal investigation squad, to prison was involved in a horrific crash. Against all odds, he survived. Ma 470Reads8.0Score12114d adds
- 15 Detective Jia 贾案侦探 [Mystery + detective + case-solving + deduction + no System + mind-bending cases + steadily unfolding plot] A locked-room murder leads to an antiques donation case from years ago. A ruthless killer lurking in the shadows carefully assassinates the people who know what the police have discovered, cutting off every lead. But evidence of a crime never disappears, and the law's net may be wide, but no criminal can slip through forever. 26Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 A Con Artist? I'm the Grandmaster of Con Artists 骗子？我才是骗子祖师爷 Qin Xiao was one of the leaders of a scam ring. After learning that his girlfriend was pregnant, he decided to quit for good, only for his sworn brother to cruelly murder her. After his death, Qin Xiao’s soul transmigrates into another person’s body, setting him on a path of revenge... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 Strange Tales from the Folk 民间吊诡故事 [An ensemble cast] [Multiple protagonists and storylines] [A wild imagination] [Mystery] [Conspiracies] [Open schemes] [Political machinations] Pangu split the earth with his axe. Fuxi and Nuwa established marriage customs. Chiyou and the Yellow Emperor fought for the throne of the gods, only for the battle to end in defeat at Mount Buzhou. After a century of war between gods and demons, the Yellow Emperor abdicated, taking the blame. Humanity gained gods, then lost them, and so a new tale of cr 20Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 The Encryption Mystery 加密疑案 A master detective from the Republic of China era; a detective’s notebook whose records begin in 1931; a special cipher tailored for detectives of the future; and an intellectual duel that forcibly draws in the Queen of Crime… A conspiracy passed down through generations, inherited schemes, an endless cycle of revenge, and a detective who cannot rest in peace. Only by cracking the double cipher hidden in the notebook can one reach the truth buried in the distant past. The detectives’ wordplay be 52Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 19 Urban Legend: Rewinding Time 都市传说：时光回溯 [The earlier chapters lay the groundwork. If that is not to your taste, you can start from Chapter 9, where the first case begins. Thanks for reading!] At the turn of the millennium, three boys make a vow: they will transmigrate through time, return to the past, and change themselves. Twenty years later, several strange cases all point to an organization called Sù. Turning back time and defying fate: is it a blessing or a curse? A string of bizarre murders begins with an urban legend. The met —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 That Day, I Got a Call from a Classmate Who Had Died 那天，我接到了死去同学的电话 Months after a female classmate died in an accident, Su Mu unexpectedly received a phone call from her. In the midst of his terror, he had no idea this was the beginning of a series of bizarre and horrifying events. 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 Dandelion House 蒲公英之家 Daughters Who Disappeared: Huang Ziqing, who died in a fire twenty years ago; Song Wanli, who never got to feel her mother's embrace thirty years ago; “A Li,” taken from the hospital at birth, without even knowing her real name; and Ji Mei, who died after treatment for her high fever was delayed... These disappeared daughters, and the people and events surrounding them, set in motion a story of love and hate, fury, resentment, and revenge. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 The Forensic Pathologist's Return 法医归途 (Mostly adapted from real cases. Each case stands alone. No dragging things out, no formulaic plots, no System, no mindless characters, and not a power fantasy. Readers who may be bothered by this, please proceed with caution.) My name is Tang Bei, and I’m a forensic pathologist. Every case is etched in my memory. The Dissolved Body in the Unfinished Building... The Poisoning for Revenge... The Murderous Love Affair and Dismemberment... I don’t know how much longer these stories will continue. B 1.5kReads—Score16814d adds
- 23 Eyes of the Deep Abyss 1: Evil Like a Hook 凝渊之眸1：恶如钩 I'm a special-case criminal investigator. I'm also the most ordinary one among thousands upon thousands of criminal investigators. This is a collection of criminal cases, and a record of memories. In this novel, you'll find me, my mentor, and my best friends. Like me, they are all unique, yet utterly ordinary. We once blazed with ambition and confidence. We once pieced together clues and chased criminals through the fog. We also knew sorrow and hesitation. My mentor once told me: We walk the lin 591Reads9.3Score10314d adds
- 24 The Long Night Dawns: Silent Testimony 长夜将明：无声的证词 [Mind-bending mystery | Case-by-case investigations | Hard-core criminal investigations | High-stakes twists | A tender-hearted police team] The long night looms like a mountain, and mist engulfs the city. When every clue points to the person who seems least likely to be guilty, Leng Hanzhou is forced to make the hardest choice, on the fine line between justice and the law. Because some silent testimony has always been hidden in the darkest depths of human nature. Ningzhou, a prosperous economic 851Reads—Score10514d adds
- 25 A Survival Guide to the Blind-Box Life Under Seattle's Bridges 西雅图桥洞盲盒生存指南 Seattle, a steel jungle folded beneath the weight of capital. In hillside mansions, the plutocrats party through the night. Beneath the bridges, nameless bodies are tossed into the dark every day like industrial waste. Desperate for money, North American student Lu Di takes a low-level night-shift gig collecting bodies for the King County Medical Examiner's Office, just to stay alive. While everyone else avoids crime scenes, he sees them as untapped gold mines beyond the reach of the law. With 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 The Clash of Black and White 黑与白的冲击 Jiang He, a criminal investigation squad captain, has solved all kinds of major cases in his ten years on the force, maintaining a perfect record. Then one day, a body appears: it belongs to someone who died twelve years ago. The strange clues lead to a mysterious organization, behind which lies a shocking conspiracy. Just how many people are involved? 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 The Criminal Psychologist 罪案心理师 Genius profiler vs. tough homicide squad captain A hand inside a wall, a charred corpse in a cave, human limb fragments in a pigsty... Antisocial personalities... High-IQ crimes... Serial murders... Homicide squad captain Song Qingshan and genius profiler Chu Yanran take you to crime scenes, where they peel back layer after layer of mystery, explore the darkness of human nature, and catch the real culprits! Suspense + deduction + bizarre and unsolved cases + high-IQ crimes + serial murders + psy 3.7kReads6.9Score36014d adds
- 28 The Kidnapping Game 绑架游戏 A proposal that business executive Sakuma had prepared for Nissei Motors was rejected, leaving him frustrated and resentful. That night, he went to the home of Nissei Motors’ vice president, only to run into a young woman climbing over the wall. She was Juri, the vice president’s illegitimate daughter, who had run away from home because of family problems. Sharing a desire for revenge, Sakuma and Juri staged a kidnapping and demanded a ransom of 300 million yen... But what Sakuma never expected —Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 29 A Ghost's Greeting 幽灵的问候 A threatening letter from a mysterious ghost. An opening line that foretells murder. A man who came back from the dead seven years ago. A string of killings in the city center, full of baffling locked-room mysteries. What is the truth? Join the great detective Xia Luoke as he investigates! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 The Silent Truth: The Language of Corpses 沉默的真相：尸语 On a stormy night, a woman in white lay curled up at the bottom of an elevator shaft in an unfinished building. There were no fatal injuries on her body, but strange honeycomb-shaped bruises marked her ankles. The faintest curve lingered at the corner of her mouth, as if she were waiting for someone, waiting for an answer. An unjust case buried for twenty-eight years. Three recent deaths. A “ghost” hiding inside the forensic center. As Long Yusheng edges closer to the truth, a threatening call c 129Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 Never-Ending Plum Blossoms 梅完梅了 Years ago, the powerful businesswoman Dong Zhenzhu was brutally murdered in her home. Mei Changqing, who had only just joined the police force, accidentally caught a glimpse of the culprit's back during an emergency assignment, but an unexpected mishap let the killer slip away. In the end, the police closed the case as a suicide. Years later, after weathering all kinds of hardships, Mei Changqing is no longer the inexperienced young officer he once was. He has become a middle-aged man with a bee 2Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 32 Murder in the Golden House: My Opponent Is a Bit of a Letdown 金屋藏凶：我的对手不太行 [Alternate Republic of China setting + episodic mystery-solving + happy ending] During the Republic of China era, the body of socialite Xu Ruolan is discovered in a suburban villa. The police station hastily closes the case as an accidental fall. Officer Jiang Shuyi suspects foul play and continues investigating, only to be dismissed without explanation. Just as the truth is about to be buried, a year later, dancer Dong Yujiao moves into the villa to track down a missing treasure. There, she cro 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 Reborn: Ten Days Before My Execution 重生：回到死刑前十天 [I rid the world of evil spirits. I kill, I do not save.] [No System, not a power fantasy, and not mindless. Read at your own discretion.] [A fresh take on Southern-style supernatural fiction, violent crime, and a dark tone.] [Stick with it. This book is even better than you think.] The stone-faced coroner painted a bullseye on Ye Zhen's back. Five shots rang out. The bullets pierced his lungs with pinpoint accuracy, shattered his beating heart, and took with them all his rage, resentment, humil 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 China's Strange Cases 中国奇案录 25Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 35 Murdering Eric 谋杀Eric On Monday morning, a murder took place in a bustling CBD. A partner at a globally renowned accounting firm was bludgeoned to death with a heavy object. The police questioned everyone connected to the case, only to uncover a suicide from many years ago... 52Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 Revenge Rises Again 复仇卷土重来 [Plot-driven + no System + brain-teasing + suspense + two equally formidable leads + immersive atmosphere + ruthless and decisive] Lawyer Caitlin discovers that she has become a pawn in someone else’s game and is now being hunted. Thinking that all she needs to do to escape is uncover the truth, she soon realizes she has stepped into an even deeper trap. A sharp blade points at her throat: Who are you? Who am I? And who is he? Just when she thinks true love has finally arrived, everything begins 1Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 37 Behind the Murder 命案背后 Mystery, investigation, and case after case unraveled thread by thread. It takes multiple twists before the truth finally comes to light, letting readers share in the thrill of solving each crime. The cases grow more complex as the story goes on, making it even more compelling. 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 Fengcheng Crime Files 风城罪案录 Synopsis of The Windy City Crime Files At the turn of the century, the industrial hub of Luo City was known as the "Windy City." There, a criminal investigation squad moved between the ruins of steel mills and newly opened internet cafés, solving more than forty bizarre cases. The crimes spanned two eras: an old engineer died in a sealed-off workshop, while a programmer vanished into a virtual trading network. Each case was a snapshot of its time. Investigations ranged from fingerprint tracking 58Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 The Half-Cigarette Detective 半支烟神探 He never smokes a cigarette down to the end; the cases he solves are never settled.?? At forty, Chen Mu is a legend who doesn't fit in with the police force. Sloppy in appearance and a little obsessive, he solves cases through a fixation on details and his odd habit of snuffing out a cigarette halfway through. From bizarre accidents to perfect murders, no trick can escape his notice. But Chen Mu has never been after the killer right in front of him. Ten years ago, his father, Chen Guodong, was d 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 Crime Scene Puzzle: The Unseen Truth 罪案拼图：看不见的真相 In the modern city, the streets are bustling and the lights are bright, and people hurry along their own paths through life. Yet in the city’s shadowy corners, evil quietly takes root like a ghost concealed by night. Countless secrets hidden from view and thrilling crimes intertwine into an invisible web, waiting to be unraveled. 22Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 Murder in Doubt 谋杀疑云 In September 2006, the body of a young man was discovered in an abandoned villa on the outskirts of town. His hands were tied, and his body was kneeling. The killer had been careful and left no traces. Before long, another young man’s body was found. The method of murder was almost identical. But as the police continued their investigation, Captain Ma Wenchao gradually began to suspect someone he knew well. Yet that person had a perfect alibi for every one of the crimes. 118Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 The Ultimate Manhunt 绝地追凶 A contemporary criminal investigation mystery, full of unexpected twists and deductive case-solving. Feel free to dive in. The story will never go on hiatus. Entirely original, with a deliberate pace. Take your time and follow the investigation. Pay attention to the casual remarks and gestures of certain people. 15Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 Daisies and a Scalpel 小雏菊与手术刀 Late autumn: why did the conjoined twins suffocate inside the wall? A snowy night: who took the lives of the elderly couple who fell from a building together? On New Year's Eve, as lights glow in homes across the city and families gather, someone lies on the freezing street, their body growing cold... This winter, Hunjiang seems colder than ever. As investigative reporter Fang Jin looks into these cases in pursuit of the truth for the public, she stumbles upon a mysterious organization operating 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 A Dream You Never Wake From 永睡不醒的梦 (I wrote this novel in a notebook when I was in middle school a couple of years ago. I’m posting it on Fanqie as a keepsake.) I can no longer endure nights like this. The desolate old days, their mottled traces reflecting the weight of time. Again and again, I return to this empty old house, covered in dust and spiderwebs. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 True Criminal Investigation Cases 真实刑侦案件 For more than 30 years, Zhou Xianliang, head of the Major Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of Yuezhou Public Security Bureau, has remained on the front lines of the fight against crime. He has solved more than 3,000 major, serious, and difficult cases, quietly living by a criminal investigator’s creed: “Speak for the dead and defend the rights of the living.” More than 70 notebooks sit neatly arranged on the shelves in his office. Hand-drawn crime-scene sketches, accounts —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 As Night Gives Way to Dawn: The Perfect Case 长夜将明：刑侦之完美破案 [Mind-Bending Mystery · Case-by-Case Crimes · Hard-Hitting Criminal Investigation · Shocking Twists · Warmth Within the Police Force] The setting in this novel is entirely fictional and does not depict any real people or organizations! The night is long, and crime is shrouded in mystery. In Ningzhou, an economic powerhouse, beneath the dazzling splendor woven by neon lights, unknown cruelty and malice lie in wait in the darkness before dawn, growing wildly at the end of the long night. One bizar 141Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 Case Files of a Homicide Detective 缉凶笔记 I’m a college student, and fate has entangled me in one bizarre murder case after another! A woman’s corpse sealed in concrete, an unidentified charred body missing its genitals, a deranged killer who feeds on human brains… One brutal, bloody murder after another, and one appalling mastermind after another! Driven by the fire of justice in my heart, I’m caught up in a series of dangerous, thrilling hunts for the killers… 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 A Mountain of Sin: My Memoir 罪恶滔天：我的备忘录 (Written entirely by hand, not AI, and adapted from real events.) If you can't sleep, why not read a short story based on a real case? I pushed open the bedroom in our newlywed home, expecting to hear my wife laughing as she played with our month-old son. But the laughter never came. Instead... instead... No romance, no idiot characters, and no female lead. Solving the case is the whole point. The book is divided into sections. The first volume is told in first person, while the second is simila 19Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 The Mist Finally Clears 迷雾终散去 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 The Secret on the Hospital Rooftop 医院顶楼的秘密 The city hospital was bustling with people, seemingly ordinary. But hidden on its top floor was a dark secret capable of dragging the world into an abyss. A merciless “Eternal Life Project” was being conducted in secret, part of a mad plot by a mysterious organization to awaken an ancient evil slumbering at Earth’s core. By a twist of fate, Lin Qian, Chen Feng, and David ventured into the forbidden top floor of the hospital, becoming embroiled in a thrilling global adventure. From ruins radiati —Reads—Score—14d adds
