Novels like Case Files of Crime: The Punisher
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Case Files of Crime: The Punisher, best match first.
- 1 Candlelight in the Night 黑夜里的烛光 An aspiring police officer fresh out of the police academy is assigned to a grassroots unit. A baffling murder case changes Shi Yi's life forever. The sun sets, and night falls. Beneath its cover, countless human desires slowly take root and bloom. One murder after another, corpse after corpse, evidence hidden in the smallest of details, and the helpless cries of victims' families: all of it drives this newly graduated officer to grow. If criminals' desires are the endless night, then the countl 18Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 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
- 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 Hunting Killers in the Dark 黑夜缉凶 Haisheng City, July 2015. A mysterious person calls the police, claiming to have found the brutally mutilated body of a woman in a residential complex. In just over two months, four cases of women being tortured and murdered in the exact same way have now come to light. What’s baffling is that the killer, usually meticulous and careful to leave no trace, has this time left a fingerprint on the victim. Was it a careless mistake, or is there more to it? Led by newly appointed Criminal Investigatio 143Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 What Happened That Night 那一个晚上的事 A former couple reunites ten years after they separated. That day, the man's wife has gone back to her hometown, and the woman's husband is away on a business trip in Beijing. The man takes the woman home, but just as the bedroom light goes out, her husband knocks on the door... The next day, the woman's husband is stabbed to death with the fruit knife he brought himself. The man turns himself in, but the woman claims she killed her husband. Xu Changsheng, a young criminal investigator, joins th 270Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 The Case of the Six-Petaled Snowflake 六角雪花迷案 A fire breaks out at a villa, and a dismembered corpse is discovered inside. Yet the scene where the body was cut apart is a hundred li away. How did the killer travel between the two places using an invisible thread? And why are the survivors of the fire dying one after another… As the investigation gradually deepens, more and more clues emerge, yet the case continues to move toward an impossible dead end… 133Reads—Score10214d adds
- 7 Echoes of Blood 血字残响 A plain silver band links a bloody, unsolved case spanning twenty-seven years. A family slaughtered on a rainy night, power that reaches the heavens, and a revenge plot that leaves him transformed from victim to prisoner. Fine scratches serve as evidence, skin flakes as proof. Every crime hidden in the darkness will eventually be exposed in the sunlight. The last echoes of blood-written words fade, and justice finally finds its way home. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 Psychic Variety Show 通灵综艺 [Mystery, deduction, twists, and a plot-driven story] “Zhou Ying! Zhou Ying! Zhou Ying!” Beneath a beam of light, the Muse slowly approaches. “Big sister…” Zhou Ying opens her eyes. It's Jiang Shiyue again. “Why is it you again?” The same setting, the same characters, a similar story. Is this a parallel universe, or the Truman Show, deliberately staged by someone? “Zhou Ying, not everyone can become Zhou Ying.” “Sisi, are you still there?” “Do you believe in communicating with spirits? Do y 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 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 466Reads8.0Score12114d adds
- 10 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. 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 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. 21Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 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. 105Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 Interrogating Corpses, Punishing the Guilty 刑尸问罪 He is assigned to solve a case, but it is so bizarre that he has no choice but to call in an expert. To crack it, he pulls exhausting all-nighters translating documents and even has to pretend to be married to a colleague. 97Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 14 You Were Supposed to Take the Arts Exam, So Why Did You End Up in Criminal Investigation? 让你艺考，你考到刑侦去了？ Li Guan has a secret: everyone looks like an old person to him. People say it’s hard to paint skin and harder still to capture the bones beneath. For him, it’s the other way around. The pretty campus belle looks like an old woman, and a strapping young man looks like an old man, making it remarkably easy for him to draw bones and muscles. He thought he would spend his life this way, different from others but otherwise uneventful. Then a young, handsome female classmate showed up, and with her ca 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 The Private Detective’s Case Files 私家侦探缉凶录 This is a story about a righteous man who's deeply calculating and an arrogant, utterly unhinged person. The two join forces to solve cases as they test each other at every turn, searching for the truth behind a conspiracy. Qin Zhong: “I don't like being lied to. But if it's you, that's all right. From the very beginning, I've decided that I'll accept you completely, no matter what kind of person you are.” Shi Bai: “All right. Being with you is fun.” 32Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 16 Forensic Examiner: Major Case Dispatch 法医： 重案速递 My name is Chen Dong. Because of my father, I inherited his legacy and became a forensic doctor. When he was alive, he often said, “With Buddha's Wrath Hand, punish the guilty; discern truth from lies, and know right from wrong.” I took his words to heart and used them as a reminder. In my career as a forensic doctor, I have encountered countless shocking murders. To uncover the truth about my father's death, I have no choice but to solve bizarre cases one after another and hunt down killers acr 130Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 17 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. 6.7kReads7.2Score36414d adds
- 18 Love and Sin 情与罪 This book tells the story of a crime born from love. To make her his, the culprit kills everyone close to her, leaving no survivors. His methods are ingenious, and every move is meticulously planned. 43Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 19 Major Crimes: The Mystery Behind Massacres and Torture 重案组：灭门、虐杀背后之谜 A campus romance sparks a bloody massacre. What did the killer mean by leaving seven blood-red characters on the wall? A refined psychiatrist repeatedly violates his beautiful patients, while a ruthless serial killer hides profound affection behind his brutal murders. When legal punishment and psychological desire cannot be brought into balance, must human lives be sacrificed to bridge the gap? This world is nothing like a yin-yang fish: things are never simply black and white. 1Reads9.2Score—14d adds
- 20 The Court of Causality: Fatal Percentage 因果律庭：致命百分比 I’m Alan Wexler, a former causality investigator and now a down-at-the-heels detective. My daily routine is watching people at the “Court of Causality” argue themselves hoarse over trivial nonsense. For example, when a piece of cheese goes missing, they’ll blame the boss, a robot, a dog, even the constants of the universe! Then I get dragged into Alex’s death case, and all five unlucky nodes insist they’re innocent. Fine, looks like I’ll have to step in again and find the one truly guilty “cause 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 Parallel Lines 2 平行线2 The night before her wedding, the bride vanishes without a trace. She is later found at a neighbor’s house, with a man’s corpse lying beside her. Shu Qingyang and Fu Baiyun, who came to attend the wedding, immediately join the investigation, but the key clue lies with a rabbit... A viral singer is found dead by the roadside. Before his death, he had suddenly begun studying theology. The eerie crime scene bears no trace of evidence, while the Qiao family, now squarely in the crosshairs, sends out —Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 22 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
- 23 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. 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 I'm Not a Bandit, but You're Welcome to Come Catch Me 我不是山匪，但你可以来抓我 [Two male leads, equally matched, 1v1, mutual affection] [Scheming, gentle, emotionally steady beauty of a seme × upright, looks-loving, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted constable uke] Originally titled A Clear Distinction Is Worth a Thousand Gold, but I worried the name sounded too serious and no one would read it. An original historical setting with light mystery, solving puzzles, and a plot focused on growth. Ji Yi (also known as Jimo Yi) admires Xie Guannan's straightforward integrity and his 48Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 Detective: You're a Forensic Doctor, How Do You Know Everything? 神探：你个法医，怎么啥都懂？ “Shen Ting, you’re a forensic examiner. How do you even know about bloodstain patterns?” “Wait, Shen Ting, aren’t you a forensic examiner? How do you know about trace evidence, too?” “Shen Ting, you’re a rookie forensic examiner. How do you even know how to investigate cases using plants?” … Newly hired forensic examiner Shen Ting looked at everyone’s puzzled faces and smiled faintly. “I know just a tiny bit!” “I only took a few electives!” “I taught myself. I only know a little!” … 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 When the Fog Lifts: The Mystery of the 307 Ghost Ship’s Appearance 迷雾散尽时，307幽灵船现身之谜 When the fog clears, the mystery of Ghost Ship 307’s appearance —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 Terror at the Girls’ School: The Mystery of the 307 Fall 女校惊魂之307跳楼之谜 Terror at the Girls’ School: The Mystery of the 307 Jump —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 The Hidden Corner 隐匿的角落 “...As the groom and bride placed rings on each other's fingers, the wedding hall's power switch clicked, plunging the entire venue into darkness. A moment later, the lights came back on, and someone's head fell to the floor...” The ghost story was only halfway through when the wedding hall lights suddenly flickered out for a moment, just as they had in the story. At the newlyweds' table, one of them was dead. Yang Ling, a storyteller, recounted a ghost story he'd written at his friend's wedding 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 The Chaser 追赶者 “Solving a case is like putting together a puzzle. The hardest and most crucial part is often finding the last one or two pieces.” [Standalone cases + criminal investigation + rigorous deduction + no romance] A massive meteor shower is on its way, and a group of enthusiasts gather at a campsite on the outskirts of the city to watch the stars. In the dead of night, a scream rings out. A man has been stabbed to death. The caller tells the police that they may have killed him. But his habit of usin 95Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 30 The Gray Border 灰色边界 A: Adjudication R: Revenge L: Law Enforcer There are no perfectly just verdicts in this world. Only by walking the line at the edge of the law can one execute true demons. No one wants to walk a tightrope, especially when the abyss below is deep enough to swallow everything. A and L should never move along the same straight line, but only where their paths cross can the sins of the heart be cleansed. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 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 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 Wrong Body: A Deadly Game of Two Faces 错躯：双面死局 [Mystery + mind-bending + body swap] It seemed like an ordinary kidnapping spree, but it dragged him into an endless abyss... When he woke up, police detective Chen Yuan had switched bodies, and with none other than the kidnapper he was hunting... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 Allen's Story: Hyperthymesia 艾伦的故事—超忆症 Alan’s Story: Hyperthymesia 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 Detective Chen Meng: Twelve Secrets from Major Cases, Complete in 3 Volumes 刑警陈猛：重案秘闻十二宗（共3册） I’m a special crimes detective. Just one of the countless ordinary detectives out there. This is both a collection of criminal cases and a record of memories. In this novel, there’s me, my mentor, and my best friend. Like me, they’re each one of a kind, yet utterly ordinary. We once strode forward with bold ambition and high spirits. We once unraveled tangled clues, cutting through the fog to hunt down the truth. We also faced twelve major cases that left us grief-stricken, hesitant, and lost. M 215Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 35 Phantom in the Night Rain 夜雨魅影 A charming little city in the south. A sudden shower of rain. Hidden in the rain-soaked city are secrets no one knows. A lonely soul is often jolted awake by bloody, terrifying nightmares. Now, he is waiting for someone. A shocking murder case has continued for years. When the truth finally comes to light, no one can believe that the killer had been plotting for a full twenty years… 24Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 36 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, 876Reads8.6Score15014d adds
- 37 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. 337Reads—Score10014d adds
- 38 Ma Long Investigates: The Three O'Clock Mystery 马龙探案之三点的迷案 Revision in progress, The format will be changed to one translation per sentence, with one Chinese sentence followed by one English sentence. Extensive English reading material, suitable for readers with a vocabulary of 3,000 words, and written according to the logic of how to say things in English. Contents Volume One: The Three O'Clock Mystery @ Chapter 1 Volume Two: The Missing Corpse @ Chapter 34 Volume Three: The Wrong Murder Case @ Chapter 68 Volume Four: The Right Murder Case A suspens —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 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
- 40 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
- 41 Mystery Detective Li Jin 悬疑侦探李金 The mystery of the Ghostface Reef treasure The “perfect locked-room” suicide The “ghost” serial cases The mystery of the blood curse at the old mansion The mystery of the Mount Wuyin murders Li Jin, captain of the city criminal investigation team, is a name that strikes fear into the hearts of criminals. To his friends, he is a “master detective”; to his subordinates, he is their “rock”; to criminals, he is a “nightmare.” 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 Double Shadows 双重阴影 Twin Shadows 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 The Conservation of Crime 犯罪守恒 [Case-of-the-week crime solving] + [No romance in the main plot] + [Forensic doctor] + [Based on real cases] Why were skeletal remains unearthed at a construction site? Why was a female body in an advanced state of decomposition found beneath a long-shuttered elevated highway? Why were multiple decomposing corpses found in a long-abandoned septic tank behind a farmstay? Why was blood dripping through the ceiling into an old person’s bedroom in the middle of the night? Who killed several sex work 229Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 44 National Security Bureau: Rapid Response Unit 国安局：快速反应小组 A hard-hitting crime novel with every kind of case you could want, one case per volume. Ensemble cast + no romance + no emotional subplots + standalone investigations + no idiotic characters. Cases involve murder, smuggling, drugs, undercover operations, counterterrorism, and more. The cases are intricately connected and full of twists. Until the very end, no one knows how the killer committed the crimes. See how the members of the rapid response team match wits with the criminals and ultimately 15Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 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
- 46 The Case of the Eroding Color 色蚀谜案 A Case of Sensual Corruption 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 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
- 48 Funeral Affairs Master: I Can Solve Cases Too 白事先生：我也会破案 My childhood friend got caught soliciting sex. There’s no problem with me bailing him out, right? But what’s the deal with making a funeral director like me the head of a special investigation team? All I want is to focus on making money, but the appearance of a confession letter completely changed my life, and nearly got me killed (Chapter 164). For personal and professional reasons alike, Chou Wan, I’m going to catch you... This is a traditional detective novel, not a power fantasy. The pacing 36Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 The Lost Truth 失落的真相 In response to the Ministry of Public Security’s decision that every murder case must be solved, Tianfeng City establishes a special task force to crack cold cases. In an unprecedented move, it appoints Zhang Yunqing, a Chinese-born criminal psychology expert who studied overseas, as the team leader. On Zhang Yunqing’s first day on the job, something strange happens in Tianfeng City: a phone belonging to the evidence from an unsolved case involving a headless female corpse, eight years ago, sudd 216Reads8.5Score10014d adds
- 50 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. 128Reads—Score—14d adds
