Novels like The Whole Picture
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Whole Picture, best match first.
- 1 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
- 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 Special Criminal Investigation Unit 刑侦特案大队 The cherished heiress of a trillion-yuan conglomerate refuses to sit back and enjoy her wealth. Instead, she turns around and joins the police force. Everyone in her circle waits for her to find the work too hard and give up. But to their surprise, she follows every clue, captures vicious criminals, and cracks major cases one after another. No matter how much family wealth she has, nothing beats the thrill of catching criminals with her own hands! The sequel to The Female Detective Cracks Cases, 191Reads8.0Score10014d adds
- 4 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
- 5 Chasing Cases Across Two Cities: An Intern Forensic Pathologist 双城追案：实习女法医 [Modern suspense + episodic case-solving + slow-burn romance + evenly matched leads] Lu Fan is a gentle, quiet-looking forensic intern, but beneath the surface she is bright, strong-willed, and sincere. She is drawn to the light and embraces the same beliefs and aspirations as her brother. Bai Ge looks scruffy, roguishly handsome, and cheerful to those around him, but inside he is insecure and gloomy. With a histrionic personality, he was once a Chinese detective, but he is also the son of a cri 139Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 6 Female Forensic Pathologist Bai Ling: Hold Your Breath 女法医白灵：屏住呼吸 Realistic, brutal, eerie, and thrilling! Take a firsthand look at crime scenes that push past psychological limits, and see women shine in a challenging profession. Shh... Hold your breath. Never disturb the dead. Are there ghosts in this world? Perhaps a ghost haunts the heart of everyone. 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 The Truth Out of Order 失序的真相 [Mystery and criminal investigation + serial murders + standalone cases + no official couple, but ship whoever you like + traditional police work, with a few golden fingers] One corpse has two hearts. One corpse has no heart. A serial killer bent on “destroying hearts” has appeared out of nowhere. Kong Mingyue, deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Division at the Xinmai Branch in Lingjiang, leads her team in a full-scale investigation. But instead of retreating, the killer presses forward, 847Reads8.6Score15114d adds
- 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 Solving Cases Is My Specialty 破案，我很有技巧的 [Criminal investigation and deduction + ensemble cast + twists + murder-mystery games become reality + high-IQ battles of wits + the hero is a bit of a background character] Also known as: “I’ve watched 1,000 episodes of Conan, so solving cases should be a piece of cake” Lu Zhaoyao, a seasoned murder-mystery game player, joins the city’s criminal investigation squad after graduating. After five years of working hard to maintain her ice-cold beauty image, she finally becomes deputy captain of Cri 27Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 10 Ashes of Evil 烬恶 A quirky, mercurial criminal psychology expert and a handsome, wealthy, tsundere, straight-laced criminal investigation team captain Every city has a dark side, but crime here is especially deranged. A criminal investigation captain and a criminal psychology expert were on parallel paths until a series of baffling cases brought them together. A headless woman’s corpse in a field, body parts in a bun shop, a shadow that kills, the truth behind death during sex… The stranger the cases, the closer 1.2kReads7.1Score14114d adds
- 11 Once the Dark Moonlight 曾经黑月光 A serial murder case spanning several provinces brings He Zhiqiu, now a PhD in criminal psychology, face to face again with Qi Yu, a former university classmate and current police squad leader. He Zhiqiu says, “Long time no see,” while Qi Yu turns and walks away without a trace of expression. An excited friend asks, “You two seem to have a history. Could you be the white moonlight of Qi Yu, the shining star of the police force?” He Zhiqiu exhales a puff of smoke, thinks for a moment, then repli 354Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 12 Light in the Darkness: Forensic Investigator Xia Luo 黑暗中的光明：法医夏洛 Crimes set ten years in the future, with one case every three chapters. Pure crime investigation, no dragging things out and no romance-obsessed leads. Does rapid technological progress help criminals, or bring crime to an end...? 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 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
- 14 The Broken Mirror Murder Case 破镜缉凶 [Mystery + Criminal Investigation + Deduction + Case-of-the-Week + Long Main Plot + No Romance + Solving Crimes] On a livestream, a bride in red hangs herself from an ancient locust tree. A million viewers watch as her corpse follows an invisible track and “walks” back to the crime scene. I'm Qin Niu, captain of the criminal investigation team in Changping City. The people I'm up against aren't ghosts, but a group of “crime designers.” They use magnetic levitation to transport corpses, infrasou 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 The Falconer 猎鹰者 A crime investigation novel featuring two equally formidable leads: the beautiful, perceptive Captain Meng and the handsome, warmhearted Captain Chu. A young man brings an unsolved case from years ago back to light, and an eagle insignia appears once more. Meng Wan and Chu Muyun join forces to investigate and solve the case. Along the way, they come to understand and love each other. Chu Muyun also discovers the secret Meng Wan has kept buried in her heart for years. She says, “This world should 14Reads6.3Score10214d adds
- 16 Walker in the Dark 黑夜行者 [Night Walker + No System + No Romance] is a continuation of the first book, "Murder in the Mist", but this is an entirely new storyline! Protagonist: Wang Youyong The story follows Wang Youyong, current deputy chief of the criminal investigation squad, as he pursues a small group of vigilantes led by Ma Wenchao. Five years ago, the vehicle transporting Ma Wenchao, then deputy chief of the criminal investigation squad, to prison was involved in a horrific crash. Against all odds, he survived. Ma 470Reads8.0Score12114d adds
- 17 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
- 18 My Husband Is a Homicide Detective, Yet I Tell Fortunes for Murderers 老公是刑警，我却给杀人犯算命 Domestic violence, workplace bullying, animal abuse, school violence… When we suffer through such hardships, should we find a way to overcome them, or take revenge on those who put us through them? In B City in 2023, criminal investigation captain Lu Huai and tarot reader Wan Qingqing become caught in a spell of cases. Each case is shrouded in mystery and rife with pain and hostility, and each corresponds to a tarot card. The Hanged Man, the Four of Swords, Strength, the Tower: are they really j 26Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 Captain Yan, Miss Ji Is Talking to the Dead Again 严队，季小姐又和死人说话了 [A cunning, mysterious, sly psychological expert VS a calm, upright, tough-as-nails criminal investigator] Ji Wanyan was born with eyes of different colors and the ability to foresee disasters. At seven, her family cast her out because they believed she had caused her parents' deaths. Seventeen years later, her ability to read crucial information about a crime from a victim's retinas made her the darling of the criminal investigation team. The most doting of all was Captain Yan, the son of Haich 20Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 20 The Mirror Image Double 镜像替身 253Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 Crime Investigation Series: The Mystery of Death 刑侦单元系列之死亡谜团 This is a battle of wits between detectives and criminals! Qin Huaizhi, captain of the city's criminal investigation squad, leads a group of officers alongside young forensic doctor Zhu Pingting to solve cases and win justice for the dead. Will righteousness prevail, or will evil triumph? Join us in this book to find out! 921Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 In the Wake of Evil 恶果之下 A murder tears apart a once-prosperous, harmonious family, while an unseen hand manipulates everything from behind the scenes. Determined to uncover the truth about her mother's death, Tan Wan throws herself into the police force, ready to make a difference. Just as she is about to get to the bottom of it, a man's arrival overturns everything she once believed. His closeness is like honey in a jar, drawing Tan Wan in until she cannot break free, and slowly leading her astray. What really happene 2Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 23 Officer Han, Want to Fall in Love? 韩警官谈恋爱吗 “Officer Han, would you like to fall in love?” “When life and death hang in the balance.” Lin Xi’s lips gently brushed Han Zhe’s forehead. This is a story about a couple who never misunderstand each other, gradually fall in love, and clear away layer after layer of mystery. This is my first time writing. I hope you’ll be kind to me. 27Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 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
- 25 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
- 26 Witness to Death 死亡见证 The rating has only just opened, so take it as a rough guide. [Criminal Investigation Team Captain × Psychology Expert] [Cool, Quiet, and Reserved × Playful Little Brat] People say Captain Shang Shixu is so serious that everyone around him keeps their distance. But what is this they're seeing? Is that a pretty young woman beside the aloof boss everyone avoids? And is she hugging his waist? What is happening to the world? Their meeting, the cases that keep coming one after another... The Cowherd 620Reads8.1Score10114d adds
- 27 The Unspoken Words: Personality Manipulation 弦外音之人格操纵 [An early work; the writing is still rough!] [Read the blurb first. Only follow the story if you can accept this setup!] [Some plot points involve personal fictional additions. Please don't compare them with reality!] [If you're okay with this kind of plot, follow along with the story.] [One more time: The male lead has an ex. The heroine is caught between two men and feels conflicted. Only read on if you're okay with that. No further explanations.] "Outgoing, uninhibited criminal investigation 106Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 28 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
- 29 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
- 30 The Encryption Mystery 加密疑案 A master detective from the Republic of China era; a detective’s notebook whose records begin in 1931; a special cipher tailored for detectives of the future; and an intellectual duel that forcibly draws in the Queen of Crime… A conspiracy passed down through generations, inherited schemes, an endless cycle of revenge, and a detective who cannot rest in peace. Only by cracking the double cipher hidden in the notebook can one reach the truth buried in the distant past. The detectives’ wordplay be 52Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 31 That Day, I Got a Call from a Classmate Who Had Died 那天，我接到了死去同学的电话 Months after a female classmate died in an accident, Su Mu unexpectedly received a phone call from her. In the midst of his terror, he had no idea this was the beginning of a series of bizarre and horrifying events. 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 Dandelion House 蒲公英之家 Daughters Who Disappeared: Huang Ziqing, who died in a fire twenty years ago; Song Wanli, who never got to feel her mother's embrace thirty years ago; “A Li,” taken from the hospital at birth, without even knowing her real name; and Ji Mei, who died after treatment for her high fever was delayed... These disappeared daughters, and the people and events surrounding them, set in motion a story of love and hate, fury, resentment, and revenge. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 Criminal Investigation: A Shocking Bloodbath 刑侦之惊天血案 [A roguish detective X a beautiful mortician. Amid a shocking string of murders, only love can bring us peace.] [Crime investigation + suspense + deduction + mind games + two powerful leads + revenge + redemption] Five years ago, Nan Shu walked away from a shocking dismemberment case. She gave up on herself and has carried a deep-seated grudge ever since, all so she could slay the evil dragon with her own hands. But in this perilous case, Lu Yiheng, the deputy captain of the criminal investigati 2Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 34 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
- 35 Murder in Doubt 谋杀疑云 In September 2006, the body of a young man was discovered in an abandoned villa on the outskirts of town. His hands were tied, and his body was kneeling. The killer had been careful and left no traces. Before long, another young man’s body was found. The method of murder was almost identical. But as the police continued their investigation, Captain Ma Wenchao gradually began to suspect someone he knew well. Yet that person had a perfect alibi for every one of the crimes. 118Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 The Code Is My Heartbeat 暗号即心跳 Captain Yan, your partner has quite the background, doesn’t she? Xiao Lingxi was ostracized as soon as she joined the criminal investigation unit. A pretty girl with an idol’s face, serving as deputy head of Major Crimes Unit One? What a joke. Yan Jinze looked down on this parachuted hire who’d gotten in through connections. To her face, he treated her like a mascot; behind her back, he complained to his superiors and demanded that she be transferred. But she silenced them all with her actions. 597Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 37 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
- 38 Fireflies Illuminate the Hidden Crickets 浮萤照潜蛩 (Early on) Mystery and crime novelist (later) criminal investigation consultant: Shen Xuexian vs. criminal investigation captain: Wan Ming A popular idol dies mysteriously on a film set, and the scene is exactly as described in the script. Shen Xuexian, a mystery novelist, is taken in for questioning by the police at her new book signing. She never imagined that selling the rights to her novel would land her in a police station. Getting caught up in a murder on a film set and taken in to assist 399Reads8.7Score10314d adds
- 39 The Prodigy Girl Agency 天才少女事务所 (This story features a main couple, while the secondary couple is two men. If that’s not your thing, you can stop before the Junxia Detective Agency extra!) The Huai City Public Security Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Unit is full of capable people: the fearless captain Shen Yuzhou, baby-faced computer genius Tang Jin, “the information hub” Wan Yao’an, with contacts on every street and alley in Huai City, and the team’s powerhouse, Yao Yuhe. A mysterious prodigy walks into the Huai City Public 161Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 40 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
- 41 Crossing the Line 越线 On her first day in the major crimes unit, Chen Miao got into a fight with the captain, Shen Chan. The captain seems to have it in for Chen Miao and gives her a hard time at every turn. "New girl, get me some tea." "New girl, sweep the floor." "New girl, tidy up the office." Chen Miao silently puts up with it and does everything she's told. So she swaps the water in the tea for bitter juice and brings it to someone; carefully sweeps the floor, then dumps all the rubbish she collected under Shen 486Reads8.1Score10314d adds
- 42 Married First, Love Later: Captain Lu Falls for Her Tenderly 先婚后爱，陆队他温柔沦陷 Romance + suspense + deduction + psychology + crime-solving Su Yunning, a PhD in criminal psychology, is forced to go on a blind date. Sitting across from her is Lu Ze, a criminal investigation captain who was pressured into coming by his family too. One specializes in understanding the minds of criminals, while the other has cracked one bizarre case after another. They finish dinner in perfect unspoken harmony, both convinced they’ll never cross paths again. At first, they’re just going through 4.2kReads7.1Score60314d adds
- 43 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
- 44 Wildflowers in Bloom [Crime Investigation] 恶野花开【刑侦】 [Radiant, wild apprentice Xia Yi, who loses it at the drop of a hat × Stern-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside, biased police captain Zhou Yu] Xia Yi runs into her ex-boyfriend again after five years, in the interrogation room at the municipal police bureau. Xia Yi: “I'm not a suspect. I'm really an intern.” Zhou Yu: “I'm not dating you.” Xia Yi: “?? Who asked you?” Zhou Yu never expected the person he'd missed for five years and never gotten over to come back and become so hard to control: She 1.6kReads8.4Score20114d adds
- 45 Rogue Detective: The True Crime Files of Tingcheng 痞子刑警：汀城追凶实录 Five years ago, Nan Shu walked away from a gruesome dismemberment case that shook the nation. She gave up on herself and took on a blood feud, all so she could slay the evil dragon with her own hands. But in a game fraught with danger, Lu Yiheng, the deputy captain of the criminal investigation squad who solved cases like a god, suddenly barged into her life and told her, “You just need to be yourself. I’ll take care of everything.” They were enforcers of justice who walked in the shadows. But i 380Reads9.1Score—14d adds
- 46 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
- 47 Tales from the Pages 纸中录 In the early years of the Republic of China, the country was in turmoil. The little girl Shen Qing fled famine with her father and made her way to Linjiang. In exchange for a dou of rice, her father sold her to the Shen family, where she became the young master's child bride. But on her wedding night, a coffin awaited her. Eight coffins to pin down the dead, seven-inch wooden nails. A hundred “ghosts” roaming by night, the dead rising again. Before long, she had transformed into the stunningly b 1.1kReads9.1Score15214d adds
- 48 Mr. Shao, Your Forensic Doctor Has Examined Another Corpse 邵先生，你家法医又验尸了 The day Ning Xiangqi defies her family and swears to become a forensic examiner, her household is wiped out in a massacre. The killer even leaves behind a letter warning of future murders... waiting for her to arrive. Following the letter, she keeps investigating, only to become a suspect herself... When she first meets Shao Qinghui, the captain of the criminal investigation team, she is a suspect in a case involving a beautiful but empty-headed woman. A missing wife. A missing eye. A missing li 138Reads5.7Score—14d adds
- 49 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
- 50 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
![Wildflowers in Bloom [Crime Investigation]](https://p3-novel.byteimg.com/novel-pic/p2o9b86e5cfd8af7a2455c399833daa2c1a~tplv-resize:120:0.jpeg)
