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Classic Detectives
A focused group of public-domain works connected by subject, literary setting and recurring questions.
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Independent digital catalogue
EDAOY Classic Mystery Library: Free Public Domain Mystery and Crime Fiction
Welcome to the EDAOY Public Domain Literature Library, a free catalogue of 96 mystery and crime novels from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sourced from Project Gutenberg, these works range from classic detective puzzles to psychological suspense and relationship-driven plots. The collection is organized into four overlapping categories—Classic Detectives, Crime Investigation, Suspense, and Mystery Collections—to help you navigate by theme rather than rigid genre. Each listing provides full bibliographic details, subject keywords, and an editorial note offering context on narrative voice or structure. Whether you are interested in deductive reasoning, social dynamics, or romantic entanglements, this library offers a focused view into the evolution of mystery fiction.
96 public-domain works102 represented authorsSource-attributed catalogue records
Subject gateways
Explore by Theme
Browse the catalog by theme, era, or the nature of the source material.
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Crime Investigation
A focused group of public-domain works connected by subject, literary setting and recurring questions.
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Suspense
A focused group of public-domain works connected by subject, literary setting and recurring questions.
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Mystery Collections
A focused group of public-domain works connected by subject, literary setting and recurring questions.
Mystery — Editor’s Selection
A closer look
Collection Spotlight
One work and three nearby readings from the current catalogue.
Mystery Collections
A Broken Bond; Or, The Man Witho...
Authored by Authors: Carter, Nicholas (House n..., 'A Broken Bond; Or, The Man Witho...' stands as a notable and significant work within the Mystery Collections category. In this Nick Carter dime novel, the detective stalks a madman who attempts murder with a hypodermic syringe. The narrative hinges on a substituted poison, a fire escape stakeout, and a hypnotic spell, with Carter's methodical patience contrasted against the killer's erratic violence. This volume offers essential insights for researchers and enthusiasts alike.
View catalogue recordNewly Catalogued by EDAOY
The fifteen cells — A Reader’s G...
In Crime I...
Strong poison — Background and T...
In Crime I...
The double dagger — Background a...
In Mystery...
Murder by the clock — Story, Set...
In Crime I...
The Desert Moon mystery — Story,...
In Mystery...
Death in the dusk — A Closer Rea...
In Mystery...
Suspense — Edition Insights
In Suspense
Larry Dexter and the bank myster...
In Mystery...
Routes through the collection
Reading Paths
Four routes into the collection for readers approaching the catalogue with different questions.
Begin with Classic DetectivesOpen a focused route to works connected with Classic Detectives.Explore Crime InvestigationCompare authors, source types and recurring questions within Crime Investigation.Read through SuspenseMove from introductory records to related works in Suspense.Browse Mystery CollectionsUse this theme as a starting point for nearby catalogue records in Mystery Collections.
Record framework
How This Catalogue Works
Show how entries are arranged and linked without altering the texts they represent.
Source connection
Connect catalog entries with the currently accessible files and related references.
Metadata organization
Display the work's title, author, and edition details to simplify identification.
Collection grouping
Organize items according to recurring motifs, fictional settings, and the historical questions they address.
Context layer
Illustrate connections between entries while staying faithful to the original source language.
About these records
Frequently Asked Questions
How the collection is organized, presented and corrected.
It generally means that the represented source text is no longer protected by copyright in the applicable jurisdiction or has been released for public use. Status may vary by country and edition.
A record may include the title, author, category, cover, description, edition information, source references and available reading or download options.
A category reflects a work’s principal subjects, literary setting, source type and relationship to nearby records in the collection.
The catalogue adds navigation, metadata and editorial context. The represented source text retains its wording, edition information and rights status.
Use the contact page and include the work title, page address and the exact attribution, category, metadata or source detail requiring attention.
Catalogue stewardship
EDAOY Catalogue
Catalogue information
EDAOY Catalogue manages the overall structure of this digital library, which includes 96 books by 102 authors in 4 categories. They ensure the collections remain accurate and complete.
