Novels like The Secret Iron Box
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Secret Iron Box, best match first.
- 1 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
- 2 Homicide 他杀Homicide [The sharp-tongued, calculating psychological expert Xia Linyuan X the funny, adorable forensic assistant Cheng Xue] (Don’t read this if you’re looking for a sweet romance!) Every bizarre murder case here raises questions about human nature that deserve deep reflection. Is the truth really what we imagine it to be? Through silent testimony and traces left in the heart, the main cast gradually lifts the veil on each mystery, exploring the secrets of human nature and the boundaries between love an 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 Disappeared on July 5 消失在7月5日 Disappeared on July 5 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 W Is Guilty W有罪 An exploration of criminal psychology from the criminals’ point of view. Watch as they step by step descend into the abyss. There are no puzzles, because the one setting them is me. Follow the criminal protagonist as they explore the dark depths of the abyss. Coercion, desperation, fear, or self-preservation: any of these can be the beginning of a crime. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 The Impossible Murder 不可能的谋杀 [Mystery + Deduction + Crime Solving] A foul-smelling female corpse turns up at an abandoned school. A famous singer, a daughter who fled abroad, a husband who turned himself in, and a wastrel who suddenly struck it rich: who is the killer? 64Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 6 Singularity Annihilation 奇点湮灭 [Sci-fi + criminal investigation + no System] The story begins with a major missing-persons case in City B, where an inexplicable supernatural phenomenon appears: black flames. High school student Xi Miao accidentally discovers that he has gained the ability to experience other people’s senses, and that this ability is connected to the nature of the black flames. He unexpectedly gets caught up in a murder case sparked by a fight over an inheritance. But just as the truth is about to be reveal 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Detective Luo 罗探 By a bizarre twist of fate, Luo Yi stumbled into a forbidden zone. To return to the real world, he must complete a special task assigned by the local leader. Thus began a long journey of exploration~ 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 Perfect Coexistence 完美共存 What happens when a character with two personalities faces someone with multiple personalities? Who will win, and who will lose? In the battle between police and criminals, in the clash between justice and evil, which side will prevail? One is a gentle, captivating wife, the other a beautiful, icy forensic examiner. Between their tender bond and heart-pounding attraction, who will stay and who will leave? One is bold and decisive, the other meticulous and cautious. Which one is the original pers —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 The Tea Business Goes On 荼事仍在 [One-on-one romance + she pursues him, then regrets it too late] Half of Wen Tu’s blood carries the genes of a villain, while the other half flows with the genes of a truly good person. Yet before she knew right from wrong, her father trained her to be cold-blooded. Before her wings had fully grown, she buried her true self deep within. But a “stranger” who had grown up with her saw through her. And so, one troublesome affair after another began to unfold between them. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 The Divine Doctor Son-in-Law Is a Max-Level Powerhouse 神医赘婿是满级大佬 On the surface: Yun Wuya, the greatest physician in the martial world, is a sharp-tongued, money-loving troublemaker with zero combat ability. Ye Zhiqiu, a top bodyguard, spends every day either fighting on his behalf or being driven up the wall by him. Her ledger is full of records of his reckless antics, and all she wants is to finish this thankless bodyguard assignment as soon as possible. The truth: Yun Wuya was once the ace of an assassin organization, and his martial prowess is the greates —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 Deep Tracking 深度追踪 A dismemberment case brings old secrets to light, and as the killer goes on a spree, the city’s residents are gripped by fear. You Hemei, a forensic science student, is caught up in the case. Are the markings at the crime scene a coincidence, or is this nightmare happening all over again? Though she has her doubts, she joins the investigation in pursuit of the truth. For a forensic pathologist, a corpse is the most honest witness of all! Tangled romances, one case after another… What truth lies 5Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 12 The Silent Flaw 无声的破绽 A Silent Flaw —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 Bitter Fruit 恶果 Police officer Wu Zheng is caught up in a locked-room murder case and is killed to cover it up. His father, Wu Ming, sets out to uncover the truth for his son. A bathroom concealing hidden secrets, a mysterious rain village, an eerie research institute: following a trail of clues, he draws closer to the evil that was set in motion twenty years ago... 66Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 14 Strange Cases of a Forensic Investigator 法医异闻录 I never imagined I would become a forensic examiner, but by a twist of fate, I found myself on this path. Along the way, I witnessed too much of humanity's dark and ugly side. With the approval of the relevant authorities, I have written up some of these cases. Evil is all around us. This is The Forensic Examiner's Strange Cases! 5Reads7.4Score—14d adds
- 15 Veronica’s Room 维罗尼卡的房间 Veronica's Room 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 Web Novels Have Arrived: You Call This a Heartwarming Story? 网文降临：你管这叫温情故事？ [A heartwarming sweet romance] [Everyone is unhinged] [Daily life, unconventional quick transmigration, not a power fantasy, very, very slow-paced] [If you like watching people go off the rails, come on in. If that bothers you, stay away] The room is dim. Leftover bones are scattered across the dining table, and a headless corpse lies on the floor. Outside the bathroom, a large suitcase sits with dark red liquid seeping from its bottom. In the master bedroom, the father is busy dismembering the 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 My Clan Was Wiped Out From the Start, Yet Here I Am Roasting Free-Range Chicken 开局被灭族，我却在烤走地鸡 My Clan Was Wiped Out from the Start, Yet I’m Roasting Free-Range Chicken 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 The Esper Girl Takes on the World 异能少女闯世界 Cai Cai is a girl with extraordinary strength in her arms. At nineteen, she travels to the southern country to study dessert-making. There, she meets the owner's daughter, who can teleport, as well as David, who has the same supernatural strength. The mystery-solving begins after Chapter 31. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 The Deadly Marks of Love 致命的爱痕 Fatal Love Marks —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 After Going to Prison, I Completed the Final Hunt 入狱后，我完成了最终猎杀 After Going to Prison, I Completed the Final Hunt —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 The Case of Love 爱情旳案情 A new work is out! You’re welcome to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 Detective: The Perfect Partners 侦探：最佳拍档 She had dreamed of becoming a police officer since childhood. After earning her master’s degree, she joined the criminal investigation squad as she had always hoped. From the Qing-dressed beauty case to a serial murder case and, later, countless other mysteries, Chen Bailu quickly grew into her role, working side by side with Captain Zhang Tao and getting along well with her colleagues. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 The Huazhuang River Mystery 花庄河迷案 (No romance) (No angst) (No sweetness). Read with caution if that bothers you. A father and son reunite after years apart. A carefully plotted murder, over two decades of hatred: it all unfolds at a school with more than a century of history. As the saying goes, “No one knows a century-old school until a case breaks, then the whole world hears of it.” In this story, you’ll find yourself and me, along with human nature that is impossible to see through or explain. 38Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 A Young Man's Journey in the Flourishing Tang Dynasty 盛唐少年行 In the first year of the Zhenguan era, five young men were brought together by a twist of fate. From that moment on, their destinies became tightly bound together. From the case of oppressive taxes in Youzhou, to the dark imperial examinations in Chang'an, to the murder of a Chen family's daughter in Yingzhou, the floods in Yangzhou, and the appearance of “gods” in the mortal realm... Through one ordeal after another, the five were like fireflies in the darkness, doing their best to light the wa —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 Cavities 1 龋齿1 In short, tooth decay means cavities: the progressive destruction of the hard tissues of a tooth, an irreversible form of damage. The human heart is much the same. When it is hurt, the wound takes deep root and cannot be erased, slowly eating away at it... 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 Tales of the Tang Mysteries: Forensic Doctor Di Wanli 唐诡录：法医狄万里 Di Wanli is a top modern forensic science student and a direct descendant of Di Renjie, with a natural talent for solving cases. After an accidental laboratory incident, he carries all his modern forensic knowledge with him, including DNA testing, bloodstain analysis, toxicology, and facial reconstruction, as his soul travels back to the Wu Zhou era in 690 AD. He becomes a marginalized branch member of the Di clan. At the time, ruthless officials like Lai Junchen and Zhou Xing are running rampan 56Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 The Nightmare Returns 梦靥如故 [Love and hate intertwined + strong female lead + trapped in danger + hunting a killer on a stormy night] A beautiful woman dies on the operating table during childbirth, leaving Shangguan Yu an orphan overnight. Was it murder or a medical accident? Are the countless midnight visions nightmares, or glimpses of a truth left just barely concealed? Nineteen years ago, on a night of thunder and lightning, a butcher appeared in the rain. Was someone spreading rumors, or trying to cover something up? —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 Testimony of a Burning Lie 谎焰证词 There is no truth in the ashes, only deeper lies. When your best friend dies for you twice, only then do you understand: being alive is the ultimate revenge. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 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
- 30 Plagued by Nightmares, I Contracted a Romance with the Icy Male God 恶梦不断，我和高冷男神契约恋爱 [Suspense + Contract Romance + Time-Line Hopping to Solve a Case + Entertainment Industry] Thirty years ago, a guest dropped dead at a banquet hosted by acclaimed actress Wen Di. After that, it seemed the Grim Reaper had taken a special interest in those around her. Wen Di's secretary and housekeeper both met untimely deaths. A note appeared on her dressing table: You're next. A few days later, the world-famous actress went to sleep and never woke up. Thirty years later, a girl named Zheng Ke ac 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 The Sleuthing Scumbag 渣探 (Mystery + thriller + mind-bending) When a former scumbag boss gets out of prison and doesn’t plan to make a comeback or reclaim his territory, but instead becomes a detective, you’d better watch out. What happens when ruthlessness, cunning, scheming, and viciousness are all turned toward solving crimes? Every crime and conspiracy will be crushed completely! As the saying goes, only a villain can deal with another villain. For the sake of justice in his heart, he doesn’t mind playing the devil f 84Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 City Detective: Zhao Wuwei Tracks Down Bizarre Cases 都市神探：刑警赵无畏的奇案追踪 In a nutshell, it’s a passionate story about a brilliant detective and an insightful psychologist teaming up to solve baffling urban cases, unravel one mystery after another, and protect the city’s peace and justice. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 The Diviner Bride and the Republic-Era Detective: A Baffling Case 卦师娇娘与民国神探之迷离奇案 Aaaaah! I’m a total beginner, and I really love this kind of story, so this is my first time writing one. There are lots of things I could do better, so I hope you’ll be patient with me! [Mystery-solving and deduction take center stage, with romance as a secondary focus] Hu Sitao, a modern-day fortune-teller, accidentally touches a mysterious artifact while telling someone’s fortune and transmigrates to the Republican era (in an alternate setting). There, she meets Shen Juanyi, the era’s greates —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 A Record of Solved Murder Cases 凶案破解实录 It’s late, my sweethearts. I’m here... Who’s the real culprit? Uncover the truth behind criminal investigations, follow the trail for thousands of miles, and find the only eyewitness. Crack the case as the criminal closes in, piece together the hidden details, and navigate an investigation full of baffling twists! The major crimes squad works another miracle... 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 Miss Detective, Who Are You Really? 侦探小姐，你到底是什么人？ [Detective System + Genius Senior + Case-by-Case Mysteries + Showdowns with a Phantom Thief + Slightly Yandere + Everyday Bickering] After transmigrating eighteen years ago, Lu Guan finally activated the Legendary Detective Training System. The System can measure data, compare traces, and issue missions, but it never tells him who the culprit is. To claim his rewards, he must turn every clue into evidence the police can independently verify. To earn money for living expenses, Lu Guan joins a 1kReads—Score15714d adds
- 36 Reborn After Death: I Became a Time-and-Space Detective 死后重生：我成为时空侦探 [Big Ideas + Crime Solving + Strong Female Lead + Golden Finger + Supernatural Horror] Ye Ling never imagined that after dying of late-stage cancer, she would be forced into the Time-Space Detective Corps and become its 99th detective. She has to earn enough points to get home! In the blink of an eye, she’s faced with some bloodthirsty body-stitching murder case! Then a dismemberment case. Then cases involving feeding people to pigs and dogs. And even a haunted house case... Best of all, there’s —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 Deduction: Murder Game 推理：杀人游戏 Have you ever witnessed a murder with your own eyes? Do you know how the killer escaped after a crime unfolded right in front of you? Do you want to know who was really pulling the strings? You saw the crime scene, but not the layers of seemingly simple riddles behind the case. With her meticulous mind, she will take you on a journey to uncover the astonishing twists and turns hidden behind each case... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 Reborn as a Coroner in the Modern World 重生之我在现代当仵作 [Mystery + Crime Solving + Transmigration + Growth] Shen Qingwu, the Tang Dynasty's foremost female coroner + Xiao Yan, a brilliant criminal investigator and forensic expert Shen Qingwu, the Tang Dynasty's foremost coroner, made a name for herself in Jingzhao Prefecture with her remarkable skills at reading bones to divine a person's fate and examining corpses to solve cases. But while inspecting a case, she was caught in a sudden blaze. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a mod 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 I Was Just Fishing by the Roadside, So How Did I Become the Godfather of Criminal Investigation? 路边摸个鱼，咋成刑侦祖师爷了 [Out-of-the-box crime investigation] [Unexpectedly flashy protagonist] [System-powered] [Lighthearted everyday life] [High-IQ mind games] [A laid-back traffic cop who just wants to clock out on time vs. a major-crimes unit at its wits’ end] The protagonist is a grassroots traffic cop who absolutely hates trouble. Every day, all he wants is to hand out parking tickets, hit his quota, and clock out on time. But one day, while ticketing a van parked illegally by the roadside, the nervous owner tri 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 My Wife Drowned in Knee-Deep Water 妻子溺亡在膝盖深的水里 A wife drowned in water only knee-deep. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 From the Start, I Had 100,000 Detective Skills, and No Crime Could Stay Hidden 开局十万破案技，罪恶无处可藏匿 [Criminal investigations + brisk pacing + System stays in the background + no romance] Twenty years ago, a bloody murder on a rainy night left Qin Feng an orphan. After watching his parents die before his eyes, Qin Feng came to loathe evil and vowed to become a detective so he could catch the real killer with his own hands! In 2012, on his first day in the criminal investigation unit after graduating with honors from the police academy, Qin Feng unexpectedly awakened the People’s Detective Syste 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 Thirteen Minutes of Nothing 十三分钟空白 When memories can be edited, does the truth cease to exist? Gu Xing, a top memory editor, is faced with a wealthy man's murder case backed by conclusive evidence. The suspect, Shen Jun, has confessed outright, and the crime memory extracted through the Memory Mirror is flawless, with every detail fitting together perfectly. But a memory that is too perfect is itself the deepest lie. Amid the cold streams of data, Gu Xing catches a thirteen-minute blank and a strange flash of blue light. This tin —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 Code of False Accusation 冤罪代码 He can touch death, yet finds himself entangled in bizarre unsolved cases. His origins and their futures turn out to be part of a shocking conspiracy... 21Reads8.3Score314d adds
- 44 Dark Hospital: The Missing Patients 暗黑医院：消失的病患 An armed robber takes refuge in a hospital and demands that the doctors treat a woman he shot. Shugo Hayami, a doctor filling in for someone at the last minute, is unexpectedly caught up in the ordeal. Trapped on an isolated island in a locked-down hospital, with death just around the corner, he finds himself in an extreme battle of wits. While trying to escape, Shugo discovers the hospital’s terrible secret and becomes the target of both the director and the robber. Attacked from both sides, he —Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 45 The Big Shot Only Wants to Enjoy Retirement 大佬她只想过退休生活 [Sweet Romance | Mystery | Powerful Leads | Mutual Devotion] Mo Can was kidnapped at the age of three and adopted from an orphanage at ten by Yang Weiguo, a border anti-drug police officer. After her adoptive father died in the line of duty and her grandparents passed away one after another, she became the Yang family’s sole heir. After graduating from police academy, she made a decision that left everyone stunned: she returned to Yuhuang Mountain to run a country inn. Feeding chickens and ducks —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 Doodles on the Medical Records 病例上的涂鸦 My name is Su Wanqing. I’m a clerk in the medical records department at Municipal Third Hospital. For the past six years, my greatest skill has been dealing with moldy medical files. Then one day, while sorting through old records, I found a doodled diary tucked between the patient files. Its owner was Chen Zhiming, an intern who died in a hospital fire twelve years ago. He wrote, “If you’re reading this diary, it means I’m already dead.” The pages were covered in strange coded symbols: a heart —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 When an Honest Man Picks Up a Knife, You Won't Have Time to Kneel 当老实人拿起刀，你来不及跪下 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 11Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 48 The Dark Path of a Genius Playboy 天才狂少的黑化之路 [Genius + mystery + beauty + business battles + revenge + corruption] To avenge his father, the brilliant young Li Jingzhou meets Ding Ruoyu, who outshines all nine of his ex-girlfriends. Convinced his genius will let him achieve great things, he nevertheless falls step by step into a schemer's trap... After enduring one hard lesson after another, he finally meets his perfect match, Chen Botao. With the help of his exceptional girlfriend Ding Ruoyu, the three launch a series of revenge operation —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 The Lampbearer's Chronicle 执灯记 The original novel Lantern Keeper is a mystery and science fiction story. "In this world, sin and love weep together, but I will sweep it clean, leaving nothing standing." Come and discover their story with us as we explore human nature. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 Half the City Beneath the Dark Rain 暗雨半城 In a small city, a mystery surrounding a beautiful young teacher sets off a series of bizarre murders. The brutal truth is beyond anyone's expectations, and reflections on human nature and society plunge people into an endless abyss... 83Reads—Score—14d adds
