Novels like Shadows All Around
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Shadows All Around, best match first.
- 1 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 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 The Secret Iron Box 秘密铁盒 [Mystery • Deduction • Romance • Dark • Human Nature • Two Male Leads] The owner of a villa suddenly dies. Was it suicide, an accident, or murder? A single murder case dredges up the young men’s and women’s painful, secret pasts. Their love and hate, tangled relationships, and memories of youth stir beneath the surface. A girl’s secret adolescence, hidden in an iron box, and the crimes behind a charity aid program have remained unknown to all. There are more cases behind this one. Who has been w 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 The Case of the Eroding Color 色蚀谜案 A Case of Sensual Corruption 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 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
- 5 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
- 6 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
- 7 Allen's Story: Hyperthymesia 艾伦的故事—超忆症 Alan’s Story: Hyperthymesia 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 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
- 9 From Surviving in the Shadows to Seeking the Truth in the Light 从灰色地带的谋生到阳光下的探寻 Introduction: >I make a living designing perfect alibis for criminals, until a murder takes place in the building across the street. >When the police storm my home, the surveillance footage shows “me” coming and going from the victim’s room repeatedly around the time of the murder. >I recognize the killer’s method as an exact copy of the plan I designed for a client, except the timing has been carefully altered. >During the investigation, a rookie policewoman suddenly points her gun at me. “The —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 A Forensics Prodigy: Jiangcheng Police Stories 刑侦天才之江城警事 My name is Chen Ning. I graduated from the Criminal Investigation College of the Huaguo Police University, then joined a police station in the city. I encountered many difficult cases in the course of my daily work, but my policewoman senior and I cracked them one by one. Later, I joined the city police squad. This is a suspenseful, mind-bending novel with a tense plot and professional forensic knowledge, along with a love story woven throughout. All in all, I personally think it's well worth re 298Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 No Escape from the End of Sin 2 罪终难逃2 Cheng Yi, the male lead of this novel, is twenty-six years old and heads Criminal Investigation Team A in the Major Crimes Unit of the U City Police Department. Most of the time, he looks half-asleep and utterly listless. You’d never take him for a police officer just by looking at him. But whenever a case comes up, he becomes a completely different person. He investigates with utmost care and rigor, his mind racing even faster than a computer’s CPU fan. He’s handsome and charming, too, but what 24Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 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
- 13 The Cold Case Reopens 迷案重启 [Criminal Investigation and Deduction] [Unraveling the Clues to Dispel Layer Upon Layer of Mystery] The Rainy-Night Predator Case The Flower Shop Owner’s Lover The Death of a Streamer A Captive in the Cellar… Murder after murder… Deputy Captain Lin Yi leads his team in solving one bizarre case after another. Who could have guessed that in the end, he would uncover the mystery of his own origins! 86Reads7.3Score10814d adds
- 14 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
- 15 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
- 16 The Hidden Killer 隐匿的凶手 Fifteen years ago, a devastating explosion destroyed five once-happy families. Fifteen years later, a graceful, confident young woman walks into the police station, and a long-sealed string of numbers is brought back into use. A deadly struggle of love and hate, gratitude and grievance, life and death, good and evil is about to begin... 455Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 17 The Knockout: Major Crimes Squad 狂飙：重案中队 [Criminal investigations, case-solving, manhunts, and the daily life of detectives, with no supernatural elements] An Zhen, a detective with the Criminal Investigation Corps, is parachuted in as an instructor for the Major Crimes Squad. He has a superhuman memory possessed by only a handful of people in the entire world. In the squad's daily work, he cracks drug cases, hunts down criminals, and takes on criminal gangs, solving one case after another while doggedly uncovering the truth behind mys 595Reads—Score11014d adds
- 18 The Strange Bones Speak 诡骨尸语 The story follows forensic investigator Gu Fei and policewoman Chen Yao, whose lives are changed by an accident. Together, they seek truth and justice through a series of baffling cases! (This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental!) 164Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 The Root of Sin 心罪源 Greed, desire, hatred, loathing, envy, jealousy... These are all the roots of human crime. The human heart is unfathomable; people can commit crimes over the smallest things. Yi Kai studied criminal psychology, but ended up making a living as a detective. An accidental car crash gave him astonishing powers of observation and perception. A chance encounter led Police Captain Xiang Tiange to recognize his abilities and put him to work. From then on, he embarked on a battle of wits against criminal 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 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
- 21 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 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 Pufferfish 河豚 [No brainless plot] + [No protagonist plot armor] + [No ghosts] + [Three male leads] A tightly paced, plot-driven crime-solving story. It all begins with a bizarre murder in the small town of Menghai... A dead man checking into a hotel, an unknown toxin, a mole in the police force, execution-style killings, a secret buried for years... In this case, criminal investigation captain Si Jiannan, case consultant Cheng Tian, and rookie officer Duan Luo untangle the clues and find redemption... Love ha 14Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 23 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 209Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 24 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
- 25 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
- 26 The Cold Case Club 悬案俱乐部 A pure mystery and crime-solving novel On the Edge of Truth: Huangfu Cheng's Mystery Cases... Huangfu Cheng is both a detective consultant and the moderator, under the name “Withered Leaf,” of the popular video account “Unsolved Case Club.” He has attracted a large following by sharing analyses of unsolved cases and criminal psychology, while also using the power of the internet to gather case leads. But his life is thrown into turmoil when his older brother disappears. He suspects his brothe 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 Night Watch Detective 守夜刑警 Everyone on the Criminal Investigation Team says I'm cursed. Someone died in a case my father investigated, my mother died in front of a mirror, and even my partner nearly lost their life. Then I took on the dismemberment case. The victim had been cut into seven pieces, each incision dusted with sandalwood powder. The forensic pathologist said it was the work of a deranged killer. I said it wasn't. Because in the second-floor window at the crime scene, I saw a woman in a red dress. Rain passed s 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 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
- 29 Lone Cop 孤警 He is meticulous when solving cases, but has terribly poor social skills in everyday life. He was once called a “pervert” for following a single woman. A procedural crime series in which every protagonist and supporting character is intelligent and capable. The pacing is brisk, with roughly one case every ten chapters. The twists are unexpected, and behind each case are the joys and sorrows of human life and the darkness of human nature. The male lead was born with a disability. He became a poli 795Reads8.4Score10214d adds
- 30 The Letter 字母 A university campus should be full of youthful energy and an inviting place to be, but its peace was shattered that day. A body in the restroom marked the beginning of this deadly contest. A ghost armed with a blade leaves one student after another as a restless spirit. Every crime scene is shrouded in an unspeakable eeriness... What happened on that rainy night? The past does not fade with the wind. It stays buried in people's hearts forever. Human nature is evil from the start... Dark currents 147Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 31 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
- 32 After I Was Fired, I Became a Police Consultant 被开除后，我成了警局顾问 This book is also known as [The Criminal Investigation Prodigy: Murder Case Consultant for the Nancheng Criminal Police] My name is Chen Ning. I used to be a major-crimes investigator with the Jiangcheng Criminal Police, but I was forced to leave the force because of certain circumstances. One rainy night, a murder took place next to my rented apartment, and traces of me were left at the scene. While I was still asleep, a team of police officers broke down my door. “Are you Chen Ning?” I was 60Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 The Journey Through Fuchuan 府川行 (A historical mystery with no special abilities and no transmigration. Every case is solved through logical deduction, and the schemes and power struggles are grounded in real insight.) Lin Wuwei looked at the corpse before him and said, “If this were the only corpse, it would be far too simple!” 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 The Long, Long Night 长夜长夜 Long Night, Long Night is an engrossing criminal investigation novel. It opens with the suicide of a veteran detective, drawing readers into a world of suspense and danger. The story then leads to the suicide of a female student more than a decade earlier, which in turn brings to light the accidental death of a police officer and a series of related cases. The plot is tightly paced, packed with suspense and twist after twist, making it impossible to stop reading. Every chapter leaves behind clu 198Reads8.2Score10414d adds
- 35 The Silent Killer 沉默的凶手 Psychologist Xu Feifei thinks the Voldemort she sees is a hallucination. Then Voldemort writes a line on the mirror: “I have always been right behind you.” After that, Voldemort follows her everywhere, like a shadow. The human bones inside a sculpture, the rabbit-head mask in the maze, the invisible man in a single office worker’s home, the woman bricked into a wall, the novelist’s second personality, the remains in the basement: the murder cases encountered by the police captain and the psychol 149Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 36 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
- 37 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
- 38 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
- 39 Mysteries of the Republic Era 民国谜案 A horrific case rocks Xiaocheng during the Republican era. Detective Qiao Yunxiu teams up with Duan Shi, a psychiatrist who has returned from studying abroad. As a series of cases come to light, the truth is revealed, and Qiao Yunxiu learns the secret Duan Shi has been hiding... One day, Duan Shi suddenly asks the person beside her, “When did you first fall for me?” Detective Qiao takes a sip of hot porridge. “The first time I saw you. Your legs were beautiful, your hands were beautiful, and eve 54Reads7.5Score—14d adds
- 40 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… 25Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 41 The Nineteenth Act of Domestic Violence 第十九次家暴 The Nineteenth Beating 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 The Fated Cycle: The One Who Disappeared 宿命轮回之消失的Ta My wife’s sudden death plunged my world into darkness. I thought I would spend the rest of my life barely existing, like a walking corpse, but a phone call from my wife’s older sister disrupted my once-peaceful life... I’m getting closer and closer to the truth behind my wife’s death, but I’m also gradually walking down a road of no return... Only death is the end!!! 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 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
- 44 Evil Buried Deep 深埋下的罪恶 My new novel, The Silent Boy, is a sequel series to this book. If you’re interested, you can find it on my profile. Many thanks! ♥♥♥ (Mystery + criminal investigation + coming of age + human nature. The male and female leads are drawn into the case because of the people they each love. The investigation takes center stage, with romance as a supporting element.) A scandal-hit actress is found brutally murdered at home, setting off a storm of rumors and a chain of events. The culprit seems to be r 288Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 45 Master Crime-Solving, and Get Away With Murder 掌握破案技巧，犯罪无罪 [Completed] A young woman is murdered on a mountain. Her body is intact and her face clearly visible, yet investigators cannot identify her. A week later, a couple who passed by the scene on the night of the murder are arrested. The murder weapon is found in their home, they have a solid alibi, and the chain of evidence leaves no way to escape the law. A series of meticulously planned, seemingly perfect crimes begins to spread from this starting point. Yet the true culprit behind them leaves no 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 The Missing Detective 消失的刑警 [Criminal investigation + solving cases + strong partners + mind-bending + suspense] The “dead” return, all for one deadly truth. While everyone is attending Zhong Yue’s memorial, he opens his eyes in a small hospital room. The criminal investigation squad captain Zhong Yue has “died.” He is now Zhao Yanqin, Zhong Yue’s cousin. Zhao Yanqin is a police officer too, so the supposedly “dead” Zhong Yue naturally returns to the force. With danger all around and lies everywhere, can he escape the trap 8Reads7.0Score—14d adds
- 47 Real Case Files from a Homicide Detective, Forensic Doctor, Trace Evidence Analyst, and Profiler 刑警、法医、痕检师、侧写师的真实破案手记 A string of bizarre disappearances involving young women: who is watching lost souls from the darkness? Everyone has secrets they don't want known. The line between darkness and light is crossed in a single thought. Step into the crime scene and see it through a professional's eyes as the truth and lies of human nature are exposed. This collection includes 18 books, featuring the Qin Ming forensic pathologist series, The Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Criminal Profilers, The Punisher, and True —Reads8.5Score—14d adds
- 48 Scenting the Killer 闻见凶手的味道 After an accident, Shen Xi’s sense of smell becomes extraordinary. The air smells like nothing to us, unless someone has deliberately released “poison gas,” of course. But to her, it smells of blood. If the smell of blood in the air grows so strong that she can hardly breathe, there must be a murderer nearby. This ability has helped criminal investigation captain Qiu Han quickly identify suspects time and again. For some reason, she can’t smell the blood in the air whenever she’s beside Qiu Han. 44Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 The Realism of Falling 沉沦的写实性 Song Zheng is a clever, independent detective. Solving a case is like putting together a puzzle: evidence is the pieces. Assembling them is easy, but finding them is a thorny road. Female lead: Xu Sui. Her name means “to follow.” Teetering on the edge of a cliff, she can follow the light or the darkness. Whether someone pulls her up or pushes her down, she can handle it. She believes that sinking into darkness is a kind of liberation. Supporting characters: Zhou Guyu, Song Zheng’s assistant an 109Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 50 Prophecy Is No Crime 预言无罪 [Criminal investigations] + [No System, no brainless characters] Ten years ago, a psychopathic killer called Blackface escaped capture. Ten years later, Blackface is back. If I tell you who the killer is, can you figure out how the crimes were committed? Who deserves to die, and who doesn’t? The White Witch’s daughter awakens from the darkness. Faced with the trials of human nature and the law, what will she choose? A series of major cases, each intricately connected. Just how powerful can Black 3kReads8.8Score33014d adds
