For many readers, their first exposure to Agatha Christie comes in the tale of And Then There Were None. First published in 1939 under a more problematic title, None has become one of the best-selling books in history, estimated to be among the top ten titles ever published by sheer . . .

Looking for a summer read that won’t break the bank? Try one of these public domain mysteries below. Each exists outside of copyright and can be downloaded and read for free. On a side note, should you always seek out authorized copies when purchasing books that have fallen out of . . .

In retrospect, the earliest days of mystery fiction feel much like the Wild West — anything is fair game. Victorian-era authors relied on unbelievable coincidences, absurd jumps in logic, and outright chicanery to wrap up their stories. Some 30 years later, a sheriff brought order this lawless land. Anglican priest . . .