A third option could be 'The Woman in White' by Wilkie Collins. It was one of the first mystery novels in the English language. It has an engaging story with elements of mystery, secrecy, and a bit of romance. The characters are well - drawn, and it gives a good sense of the Victorian era in which it was written, which adds to the overall mystery of the story.
For beginners, 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' is great. The short stories are easy to follow and introduce you to the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Watson. They show how Holmes uses his powers of observation and deduction to solve various mysteries.
For beginners, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' by Arthur Conan Doyle is a great start. It's a Sherlock Holmes story with a spooky mystery involving a cursed family and a terrifying hound. The writing is accessible and Holmes' deductive reasoning is fascinating to follow.
For beginners, I'd suggest 'The Man in the Brown Suit' by Agatha Christie. It has an engaging plot that is not too complex. 'The Valley of Fear' by Arthur Conan Doyle is also a good choice. It combines mystery with elements of the underworld. 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson, while not a typical mystery in the detective sense, has a great sense of mystery and moral exploration that can be a good introduction to the genre.
For beginners, 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie is perfect. It has a simple yet engaging premise. Another good one is 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It's well - known and easy to follow. 'The 39 Steps' by John Buchan is also a great start. It has a fast - paced plot.
Definitely 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle. The short stories introduce the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. Watson. The mysteries are diverse, and Doyle's writing style is accessible. You can quickly get into the world of Holmes' deductive reasoning.
For beginners, 'The Westing Game' by Ellen Raskin is a great start. It has an engaging mystery about a will and a group of people trying to figure out the puzzles within it. It's not too complex but still very interesting. Another good one is 'Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock'. It's a simple yet fun mystery with the young detective Nancy Drew solving puzzles.
A good choice for beginners is 'The Invisible Library' by Genevieve Cogman. It combines a steampunk - like fantasy world with mystery as the librarians try to retrieve dangerous books. It's easy to follow and has an interesting concept.
For a different kind of mystery, 'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins is a good choice. It's often considered one of the first detective novels in the English language. It has a lot of interesting characters and a mystery that slowly unfolds, making it a great read for those new to British mystery novels.
For beginners, 'Pride and Prejudice' is a great start. It has a simple yet engaging plot and the language, while of its time, is not overly difficult to understand. Another good one is 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. The story is full of fun and the use of language is accessible. 'The Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame is also suitable. It's a charming story about animal friends.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is relatively accessible. It explores themes of beauty, youth, and morality. Wilde's writing style is engaging and the story is quite unique, following Dorian Gray's journey as his portrait ages instead of him.
One of the best for beginners is 'Persuasion'. The story of second - chance love is easy to understand. The characters are well - developed and the love story is very touching. Also, 'Far from the Madding Crowd' is a great option. The love triangle is a classic plot device that is easy to follow. And Hardy's writing, while having some depth, is not too difficult for new readers to get into.