Novels like Mystery in a Small Town
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Mystery in a Small Town, best match first.
- 101 Case Files: A Collection of Dark, Suspenseful, and Terrifying Short Stories 诡案录：暗夜悬疑惊悚短篇集 In the rearview mirror on a rainy night, his missing ex-wife’s reflection overlaps with a victim from a serial dismemberment case. Beside the stitches in the emergency room, a stranger’s tattoo bears the same blood-written code found on the wall when his sister disappeared. In a locked room at a rain-lashed manor, a photograph of his late father turns up in an enemy’s files. The massacre that wiped out an entire family twenty years ago was only the beginning of a deadly game… A series of bizarr 4Reads—Score—Shelves
- 102 The Shadow Serpent Mystery 影蛇谜局 The Shadow Serpent Mystery 10Reads—Score—Shelves
- 103 The Wall Is Four and a Half Meters High 高墙四米半 The author is a grassroots police officer who drew on personal experience to write this story. Using a detention center as its starting point and major cases once reported by CCTV as its basis, the novel recreates the reality of life inside a detention center and the process of investigating cases. Its greatest strength is its authenticity: this is a realistic novel that reads more like literary reportage. 137Reads6.8Score—Shelves
- 104 Thirteen Tales of the Strange 十三事诡录 Her mother-in-law works in obstetrics and gynecology and is always bringing home strange medicinal soups to drink. Little Lu saw someone dump a body by the river with her own eyes, but the body disappeared. All night long, lights and shadows move inside the psychiatric hospital... 27.9kReads8.8Score492Shelves
- 105 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—Shelves
- 106 The Dark River's Book of Crimes 暗河罪书 I write with care, creating stories readers feel were worth their time and cases they can talk about. Some characters and events in this novel are based on real cases, blending reality with fiction. Not AI-generated + no goody-two-shoes heroines + mind-blowing twists + explosive plot + every facet of life People can look up and see the Milky Way billions of light-years away, yet look down and fail to see the underground rivers just a few hundred meters beneath their feet. In those dark, turbulen 1.3kReads8.2Score214Shelves
- 107 Case Files of Crime: The Punisher 猎罪档案：惩罚主 [Detective and police procedural + pure deduction + no romance! + no female lead + standalone cases + criminal investigation + realistic crime-solving] “Zhou Qi, an obscure detective who quit his job to start a business, teams up with his police friend Li Wushang to crack one bizarre case after another.” P.S. This book has no romance. If you like stories about two male leads with a romantic subplot, try another book: Hunting Crime Files: Bloodied Angel (also known as Nameless Detective Agency) " 293Reads8.8Score—Shelves
- 108 What's Wrong with Being a Little Hotheaded on the Job? 我办案暴躁点怎么了 The rating has only just come out, so it’ll go up! [Hot-tempered, formidable policewoman vs. gentle, reserved male forensic doctor] Tang Guo has a terrible temper. The whole police force knows it, but she’s also exceptionally good at solving cases, so everyone can only stay angry in silence. But the forensic doctor from Beijing doesn’t seem afraid of her at all. Instead, he sees right through the truth hidden beneath her fiery exterior. As a criminal investigation captain, Tang Guo has to be tou 34.9kReads8.6Score5.4kShelves
- 109 The Years I Spent Finding Treasures 我捡宝的那些年 Antique appraisal, period setting, deduction Every trade has its own tricks. Every household has its own secrets. There have always been treasure hunters, hiding astonishing skills behind an unremarkable appearance. Each of them has connections reaching everywhere. They can identify treasures and appraise jade, restore damaged objects, and travel the land with boxes and packs in tow. The wealth and riches of the world were born in China, then scattered among the homes of ordinary people. So trea 478Reads8.9Score100Shelves
- 110 The Tales of Di Renjie 狄仁杰故事 [Mystery + Deduction + Crime Solving + Ancient China + Tang Dynasty] 1. Story Background During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, the young Di Renjie discovers a case involving a skeleton while on his way to take up the post of magistrate of Luoyang County. As he investigates its hidden secrets, a murder occurs in the Wang family. Everyone is a suspect, but who is the killer? In a secluded manor, the host dies before a banquet ends. No one present could have committed the crime, 751Reads6.5Score105Shelves
- 111 Nightwalker 夜行者 [Sweet and Adorable Yet Highly Skilled Fighter Ruan Chuxia VS Aloof Older Brother Leng Bing] [Cases First, Romance Second, A Powerful Team with Flawless Coordination!] When working cases, they are a perfectly synchronized pair: one excels at criminal investigations, while the other is an expert in autopsies and the art of divination. A case involving a corpse hidden in a scarecrow exposes the ugliness of human nature and the bond between people and animals. The Sister Drum case is one of torment 127Reads6.5Score—Shelves
- 112 Tracking the Unsolved Case 迷案追踪 Twenty years ago, a brutal murder took place in Jiangcheng. Song Xiaotian, captain of the city’s criminal investigation squad, was murdered at home. His pregnant wife, Yao Yao, was not only brutally killed but also had her abdomen cut open to take the baby. Their eldest son, Song Yunran, was five years old at the time. Traumatized by the ordeal, he lost his memory and could recall nothing about what had happened that night. Fearing the killer would come after him, Yao Yun, Song Yunran’s aunt, se 6.3kReads9.0Score754Shelves
- 113 Cold Case Detective Agency 冷案侦探事务所 As the name suggests, the Cold Case Detective Agency investigates cold cases: murder investigations shelved by the official authorities for various reasons. Gu Che, one of the agency’s owners, stands 187 centimeters tall, with long brows, phoenix-shaped eyes, and a slight upward curve to his lips. Beneath his right eye is a tiny vermilion mole. He wears his hair in a buzz cut and is obsessed with Chrome Hearts and Goro’s. A rebel from a family of doctors who have practiced medicine for generatio 250Reads8.4Score101Shelves
- 114 Reading Bones to Solve Cases 鉴骨断案 No golden finger, no System, no romance. A traditional criminal investigation novel, focused entirely on solving cases. He examines bones to solve crimes, uncovering long-buried truths from scattered fragments. Those broken, scattered bones tell tales of life’s joys and sorrows. 597Reads8.1Score—Shelves
- 115 Fog over Jinyang Town 雾锁金阳镇 247Reads—Score—Shelves
- 116 Newtown Homicide 新城追凶 In a lively new coastal city, all kinds of bizarre crimes occur amid seemingly ordinary lives. The officers of the Special Investigations Unit rely on their solid professional skills and their determination to solve every major case, sifting through clues until they identify the real culprit. Adapted from a popular, large-scale crime investigation radio drama of the same name, this novel features gripping plots and vivid prose, offering readers an immersive experience that makes them feel as if 497Reads7.7Score110Shelves
- 117 The Criminal's Code 罪犯密码 I’ve always believed that only works with real depth are worth readers’ time! I hope you can see the characters grow as you read this novel! Some people always think that little people don’t matter, until their retaliation exceeds all expectations. Only then do they realize, too late, how wrong they were! Gao Lei smiled faintly. After taking a few puffs, he asked Shen Che, “What is a police officer’s responsibility?” Shen Che replied, “Fight crime and maintain public order.” Gao Lei stubbed ou 647Reads—Score102Shelves
- 118 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 147Reads8.7Score—Shelves
- 119 The Corpse Whisperer: I Can See the Answers in Death 尸语者：我能看见死亡答案 [System] [Forensics] [Mystery] After thirty-six hours on duty, intern forensic doctor Lu Ming unexpectedly awakens an astonishing ability: he can see the true cause of death floating above every corpse. Drowned? No, strangled to death. Sudden cardiac arrest? No, poisoned with an organophosphate. Suicide by falling? No, pushed from the twenty-third floor. Everyone says he’s an inexperienced rookie, but his eyes never lie. When the truth is buried by those in power, killers walk freely in the sunl 6.7kReads8.0Score795Shelves
- 120 Banxia and Qiao An 半夏和乔安 Jiang Banxia won her company a project to renovate a detached villa in the suburbs. She brought her assistant Qin Chao to survey the site. Though the villa was almost abandoned, traces of its former splendor and luxury remained. Jiang Banxia went up to the third floor alone. A room with a broken doorknob inexplicably piqued her curiosity. Just as she was about to push the door open, a cool, unfamiliar male voice sounded behind her: “Who are you?” 6Reads—Score—Shelves
- 121 The Hidden Wife 隐妻 [The comic adaptation is now available! Tap “Adaptation Theater” in the lower-right corner of any page of this book to watch instantly. The original novel and short drama each have their own appeal. Share it with your friends!] No rebirth, no transmigration, and no System golden finger, just the true golden years of an entire generation! Having fled an arranged marriage, he joins the tide of migrant workers heading south. In a southern metropolis brimming with both opportunity and challenges, he 805Reads6.2Score104Shelves
- 122 Together Beneath the Clock Flowers 时钟花的相伴 [No System, No Rebirth] + [Everyday Cohabitation] + [One Female Lead] + [Childhood Sweethearts] + [Multiple Perspectives, Ensemble Cast, and Romance] + [Grounded in Reality] Related by blood? Sure, we're a little close, but the Marriage Law allows it!!! Xiang Gu turned twenty-two, and the very next day, on Tong Mengmeng's twenty-second birthday, they got their marriage licenses. Love between childhood sweethearts isn't a matter of falling for each other over time. It's love at first sight, with 13Reads8.8Score—Shelves
- 123 Detective Peter 神探皮特 The protagonist, Pete Li, gets called Detective Pete by someone after a chance encounter, and then sets off on a remarkable journey through life. 89Reads8.8Score—Shelves
- 124 Zero Point Detective Agency 冰点侦探事务所 [Standalone Cases + Republican-Era Crime Investigation + Crime + Hard-Boiled Deduction + Stunning Twists] One head, two heads, three... Look at those heads, swaying precariously in the depths of a cold well, their dark blue hair spreading out. Deep in the memory, crimson blood blooms like flowers. ...There’s a famous detective agency in Shanghai. They say its owner is a young lady, yet everyone insists on calling her Second Young Master! There’s no case in this city she can’t solve! Six people h 465Reads—Score100Shelves
- 125 A Trap Within a Trap, a Lie Within a Lie 局中局，骗中骗 Greed grows in people’s hearts, and scams can find their way through any opening. No one is born lucky or immune to being deceived. The only reason you haven’t fallen into a trap is that you haven’t yet encountered one designed specifically for you. Desire is the bait, weakness is the opening. As long as greed remains, there will always be a scam waiting to draw you in. 2.3kReads8.3Score273Shelves
- 126 Malicious Growth [Crime Investigation] 恶意生长【刑侦】 Fifteen years ago, a car accident was officially classified as a traffic accident. By now, dust had long settled over the case file in the old archives of the Hequan Public Security Bureau. “Your father's death wasn't an accident.” An anonymous email brought Chi Sang back to her hometown. To tear open the truth sealed away for fifteen years, she returned alone to the small city she had left behind so long ago, posing as a forensic science intern. On her first day at a crime scene, she ran in 1.2kReads8.1Score209Shelves
- 127 Tales of Strange Things in the City of Demons 巷说魔都奇谭 [Mystery + criminal investigation + dark themes + human nature + crime + serial murders + episodic cases] Six people have died in Shanghai in the past three months. Since the beginning of the year, bodies have kept turning up by rivers, at the foot of mountains, and at the entrances to deserted villages. Cases include a woman whose liver was cut out, a child who mysteriously vanished, fingers found among minced meat at a market, and a series of beheadings... Join police inspector Ruan Xing, bril 20Reads8.6Score—Shelves
- 128 The Whole Picture 全局 The Longjing City Public Security Bureau has an undefeated warrior on its force. According to officers from every precinct, there isn't a case he can't crack. Longjing Police College is a small school affiliated with Longjing People's Police University. And yet, somehow, it produced a young woman who dares to challenge anyone. Even our undefeated warrior doesn't dare talk back to her. One strange case after another unfolds: the Man in Black case, the Human-Skin Mask case, the Marionette case.. 50Reads8.2Score—Shelves
- 129 The Cases of Judge Shi 施公案 The novel tells the story of the honest official Shi Shilun during the Kangxi era, who, aided by Huang Tianba and other heroes of the martial world, roots out corrupt officials, solves cases, and captures bandits. 3Reads8.4Score—Shelves
- 130 Crime Scene 凶案现场 Take a close look at every crime scene. With unconventional investigative methods and a uniquely compelling perspective, you'll feel as if you're right there experiencing each murder. Keep some fast-acting heart medication nearby, just in case. Case one: A 19-year-old high school student is found dumped in a park, with his mouth full of feces. What did the victim do before he died? Case two: A top domestic actress is brutally murdered in her home. The scene is horrifying, and her body has been m 90Reads8.2Score—Shelves
- 131 Detective: The System Taught Me Skills, Then Left 神探：系统教会我技能后，就走了 Qin Yu was an ordinary person who, by a twist of fate, landed in another parallel world. The Detective System that suddenly appeared in his mind made him realize at once how different he was from before. Following the System's instructions, he completed one mission after another. He enrolled in police academy, then joined the criminal investigation squad. Once his skills reached max level, the System had fulfilled its purpose and withdrew. System: “Host, please enjoy your life at the police stat 745Reads8.4Score101Shelves
- 132 The First-Rank Female Detective 一品女神捕 Ye Zhiqiu was the sole survivor of the great fire at Forbidden Mountain, an orphan who lost everything in the disaster. The friends and fellow villagers who perished in the flames became an obsession that would never leave her. She swore to find the real culprit and avenge the dead. Eight years later, the chance for revenge finally came. She resolutely entered the fray, only to be saddled with a useless, makeshift team. From then on, she never once looked favorably at Xiao Jingzhen. Xiao Jingzh 23Reads6.7Score—Shelves
- 133 An Investigation into the Three Great Unsolved Cases of the Early Qing 清初三大疑案考实 A Critical Examination of the Three Great Mysteries of the Early Qing is composed of three parts: A Critical Examination of the Empress Dowager's Alleged Marriage, A Critical Examination of Emperor Shunzhi's Alleged Monastic Vows, and A Critical Examination of Emperor Yongzheng's Accession to the Throne. With a historian's rigor, Mr. Meng Sen carefully investigates the three long-circulating mysteries of the empress dowager's alleged marriage, Shunzhi's alleged decision to become a monk, and Yon 2Reads8.7Score—Shelves
- 134 A Suffocating Fog of Mystery 窒息迷云 While investigating an illegal gambling ring operating in an abandoned mansion, police officer Chu Xiaonian accidentally discovers a secret passage beneath the building. Searching inside, he finds a skeleton and eventually confirms that it belongs to his sister, Chu Yang, who disappeared twenty years ago. The discovery reopens a notorious cold case and makes headlines once more. Meanwhile, the victim’s only son, Chu Ming, is a successful urban professional who has spent years convinced that his 338Reads—Score102Shelves
- 135 A Different Kind of Youth 不一样的青春味道 Everything came so suddenly, as brief as dew... But she had to learn to accept the unexpected losses life brings: spilled milk, a lost wallet, a friendship broken, a lover gone astray... Overnight, her stable career was swept into a tangled struggle of competing interests, and she nearly lost her job... In a single day, the boyfriend she had loved for years turned and walked away, with a reason that sounded so noble... In an instant, one look seemed to last a lifetime. You suddenly appeared befo 2Reads—Score—Shelves
- 136 100 True-to-Life Crime Stories 100个超真实罪案故事 Re-create the scenes of real-life crimes. Bizarre and unfathomable cases, with stories that are painfully true! The Suyuan case, the death of Jang Ja-yeon, the suicide of Hwang Hana’s boyfriend, the Oceanic Building massacre, the 300-million-yen robbery, the missing couple, the violent robber Zhang Jun, the Northeast China Wang brothers case… This collection brings together major, serious, and unsolved crimes from around the world, adapted from real cases. Uncover the truth behind the cases and 10Reads9.1Score—Shelves
- 137 The Female Coroner of Zhenhe Pass 镇河关的女仵作 [Set in ancient times] [Mystery and crime solving] [Episodic] [Focused on investigating strange cases] [Clever characters] [No System, no golden finger] Song Nianci was born into a family of forensic examiners. The trade had been passed down from father to son since ancient times, never to daughters. But misfortune never comes singly: hers was a generation with only one daughter. To keep the family business from dying out, her grandfather came up with a plan: find a husband to marry into the fa 8.4kReads—Score1kShelves
- 138 The Dragon Map’s Divine Detective Cases 龙图神断公案 A high-energy cut of Bao Zheng solving cases. The mastermind behind the civet-cat-for-the-crown-prince plot, a terrifying scene as a black basin cries out for justice, impostors trading identities as the top scholar… A Northern Song version of Medical Examiner Qin Ming meets Today's Legal Report. When the executioner's blade falls, demons flee! The Kaifeng F4 squad is ready for action! 4Reads8.0Score—Shelves
- 139 Late Night 阑夜 “I've never had the sun, so I have nothing to fear losing. A hard-boiled detective novel combining criminal psychology and criminal investigation. At its heart are two protagonists: the resilient police officer Xu Zhaoyang and the controversial psychologist Jiang Huai. Together, they tackle one harrowing case after another, delving into human nature and seeking redemption. Xu Zhaoyang is an elite officer, renowned for his keen insight and exceptional investigative abilities. He was once one of 887Reads8.9Score122Shelves
- 140 Cotton Lover 棉花爱人 [Suspense romance at the forefront · criminal investigation in a supporting role] #Hot-tempered, messy police captain vs. easygoing, book-loving forensic science PhD #Suspense romance #Reunion after a long separation #Mending a broken relationship #One-on-one romance #Happy ending [Not an episodic crime-solving story] [Long novel, both leads are devoted to each other] [Reading guide: For their sweet school-days romance, read Volumes Three and Six; their devastating breakup is in Volume Seven; t 303Reads8.5Score102Shelves
- 141 Six Fan Gate: The Beloved Female Constable 六扇门之团宠女捕 Her family was slaughtered, but she was lucky enough to survive. The Six Fan Gate rescued a mute little girl. What? The little mute is a girl? So now a bunch of rough-and-tumble men have no choice but to dote on this soft, rosy-cheeked little dumpling. Before long, she grows into an imposing female constable who cracks one baffling case after another! She excels at catching criminals, examining corpses, and everything else the job requires! 220Reads6.6Score—Shelves
- 142 The Doomed Witness 绝命证人 What is evil? Anything born of weakness is evil! Fang Ya survived a massacre that wiped out his entire family. Nourished by the flowers that bloomed from the seeds of evil, he resolved to become a police officer. Ahead of him lay countless baffling cases: A murder in a locked room at a wealthy family’s estate, a deranged artist who kills, a deadly game of love, a killer who hovers at the boundary between life and death to carry out euthanasia, the vicious crimes of a social group whose members a 32Reads—Score—Shelves
- 143 The Spirit-Speaking Coroner Wakes Up as a Top Forensic Scientist 通灵小仵作醒来穿成了顶尖女法医 (From Coroner to Forensic Pathologist: I Use Spirit Mediumship to Blow Every Case Wide Open) (Just launched, rating will rise later!) [Two equally matched leads + spirit mediumship + transmigration + solving cases + love that grows over time + a match made in heaven] [Brilliant female forensic pathologist who can communicate with spirits × genius captain of the major crimes unit] Qin Shutong transmigrates from Dahua and finds herself inhabiting the body of a female forensic pathologist who share 32Reads8.0Score—Shelves
- 144 City of Sinful Love 罪爱之城 He was a rich kid who grew up in the slums, with impressive martial arts skills and an untamed spirit. He was suddenly assigned to Songzhao City as captain of the criminal investigation squad. She was the team’s top student and tech geek, always drinking goji berry tea. She seemed quiet, but hid tremendous strength within. At the start of the new year, these two oddballs were forced to become partners. Together, they solved one bizarre case after another, going from clashing at every turn to spa 166Reads9.1Score—Shelves
- 145 Endless Pursuit of the Killer 无限追凶 The ruthless “Lancer” and the devious “criminal mastermind” lead to a mysterious “human observer” lurking behind them. Four young people defend Long'an and take on supercriminals lurking in the dark web! (The bonus chapters for The Homicide Detective have been posted on the official WeChat account.) 174Reads8.9Score—Shelves
- 146 Special Case Task Force 318 318特案行动 In this world, some yearn for the light, while others sink into darkness. No matter how long darkness lasts, the light will eventually shine upon the world. A bizarre arson case from thirty years ago leads to several murders. One strange and eerie case after another, each story gripping and moving. Policewoman Xiao Nan is here to solve the cases, uncover the truth about her own origins, and deliver justice that is thirty years overdue! 7.7kReads9.1Score737Shelves
- 147 Nameless Detective Agency 无名侦探事务所 [Two male leads + true couple + both pure + no angst + secret crush + lots of romance from the middle onward!!] [Mystery and deduction. Police officer He Wei x Bai Jian'an, a morally ambiguous, two-faced “detective.” Working together to solve cases, no System, high intelligence, and all kinds of unhinged characters gathered in one place] Two years ago, an “ordinary” murder took place in Yue'an City. The killer’s method was nothing unusual, but the strange thing was that no clues were found at th 2.8kReads8.8Score487Shelves
- 148 Psychological Crime: Ten Bizarre Cold Cases 心理罪：十大诡异悬案 A novelist’s bizarre suicide conceals the filthy ugliness of human nature, hidden from the world! A haunted murder house reopens a cold case buried for fifteen years. Is it the work of vengeful spirits, or a descent into an abyss of evil? On a remote island overseas, a terrifying priso 8.1kReads8.9Score863Shelves
- 149 Police Station Cases: Public Order and Criminal Investigations 派出所警事【治安和刑事侦查】 Wang Zhiyong graduated from the Criminal Police Academy in 2005 and was assigned to work at a local police station. His duties mainly involved handling public security and criminal cases. Through his work, he encountered a great many calls for police assistance and gained a deeper understanding of the joys and sorrows of human life. He solved numerous criminal and public security cases. As he continued handling cases, Wang Yong gradually grew into an outstanding police officer. 468Reads—Score108Shelves
- 150 Hunting Killers in the Dead of Night: Major Cases, True Stories 2 暗夜追凶，大案纪实2 Two male leads, older man/younger man, criminal investigations, two strong leads, both devoted to each other, secret crush, healing story. You don't need to have read the first book to enjoy the second. Episodic cases, a team solving crimes, inspired by real cases! Xu Zhaoyang and Jiang Huai continue working together to solve cases. When delving into criminals' childhoods, personal growth, family environments, social relationships, and personal traumas, we are not surrendering to the complex dar 648Reads6.5Score101Shelves
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