Penguin Originals

Penguin Originals

by Aniket Bangar

Books True Crime

Hardy Boys/ The Tower Treasure/ Audiobook

Teen brothers Frank and Joe Hardy trade their normal, law-abiding motorcycle rides in Bayport for high-stakes sleuthing. When a reckless, red-haired driver and a stolen yellow jalopy disrupt their peaceful day, the boys are suddenly thrust into a thrilling caper involving a looted mansion and a mysterious dying criminal. Forget doing chores—these amateur sleuths are racing against the clock! When a massive $40,000 in cash and jewels goes missing from the cranky Applegate family's Tower Mansion, the chief suspect is a local caretaker who happens to be the father of their pal. The Hardy Boys aren't having it. Equipped with nothing but their bicycles, a genius level of deductive reasoning, and a flair for the dramatic, Frank and Joe dive headfirst into hidden clues, narrow escapes, and wig-wearing thieves. In a story packed with practical jokes, daring chases, and brotherly banter, the dynamic duo will stop at nothing to crack the case!

Hardy Boys/ The House On The Cliff/ Audiobook/ Franklin W. Dixon

Teenage sleuths Frank and Joe Hardy trade their textbooks for high-stakes espionage when a seemingly haunted cliffside mansion becomes the headquarters of a ruthless smuggling ring. When their famed detective father vanishes, the brothers must navigate secret caves, outsmart criminals, and brave hidden trapdoors to crack the case. Dive into the second installment of the classic Hardy Boys series, The House on the Cliff. When Bayport’s most famous private investigator goes missing, his teenage sons step up to the plate. The story masterfully blends timeless amateur sleuthing with cinematic adventure, forcing the boys to survive everything from boat explosions to collapsing ceilings. Whether you are revisiting a nostalgic childhood favorite or exploring the franchise for the first time, this fast-paced mystery delivers endless fun. It is a thrilling reminder that sometimes, the best way to catch international criminals is to send in two teenagers on motorcycles.

Hardy Boys/ Secrets of the Old Mill/ Audiobook/ Franklin W. Dixon

When counterfeit cash floods Bayport, amateur sleuths Frank and Joe Hardy trade their usual teen hijinks for a high-stakes sting operation. Their investigation points to a dilapidated old mill and a sinister counterfeiting ring that will stop at nothing to protect their illegal enterprise. The third installment of the classic Hardy Boys series brings the ultimate teenage fantasy to life: having your own speedboat, dodging ruthless crooks, and saving the day before your curfew. When a local counterfeiting scheme kicks into high gear—right around the same time their famous detective father vanishes on a national security case—the brothers do exactly what any sensible teen with a motorcycle and a penchant for danger would do: they go undercover. From elaborate ruses to narrowly escaping underground traps, this adventure masterfully balances suspense with wholesome sibling camaraderie. It’s a nostalgic, page-turning classic where the Hardy Boys prove, once again, that youthful ingenuity is a force to be reckoned with.

The Tell Tale Heart/ Edgar Allen Poe/ The Pioneer, 1843

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a psychological thriller about an unreliable narrator desperate to prove his sanity while confessing to the murder of an old man. Driven to madness by the man's pale, vulture-like eye, the narrator kills him and hides the dismembered body under the floorboards. Ultimately, intense guilt manifests as a persistent, hallucinatory heartbeat that drives him to confess to the police.

A Scandal in Bohemia/ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle/ Audiobook

"A Scandal in Bohemia" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle details Sherlock Holmes's failed attempt to retrieve a compromising photograph for the King of Bohemia. The brilliant detective is ultimately outsmarted by the clever Irene Adler, who leaves him with profound respect and a memento of the case.

The £1,000,000 Bank-Note/ Mark Twain/ Audiobook

The £1,000,000 Bank-Note" is an 1893 short story by Mark Twain. It follows Henry Adams, an impoverished American stranded in London, who is given a sealed envelope containing a one-million-pound note as part of a wager between two wealthy brothers. The story satirizes society's obsession with wealth and perceived status.

The Most Dangerous Game/ Audiobook/ Richard Connel

Originally published in Collier’s magazine under the title "The Hounds of Zaroff," the story is a classic of adventure and suspense fiction. The Plot: Celebrated big-game hunter Sanger Rainsford accidentally falls overboard from a yacht and washes ashore on the mysterious "Ship-Trap Island" in the Caribbean. [1, 2] The Antagonist: He meets General Zaroff, a wealthy Russian aristocrat who has grown bored of hunting traditional animals because they lack the ability to reason. [1, 2] The "Game": Zaroff captures shipwrecked sailors and forces them into a deadly three-day game of survival where they are the prey and he is the hunter. Rainsford must use all his skills to survive the jungle and defeat Zaroff

Dracula's Guest/ Bram Stoker/ Audiobook

The narrative follows an unnamed English traveler in Munich who ignores his driver's frantic warnings and ventures into a deserted, unholy village on Walpurgis Night, where he takes shelter in a marble tomb, encounters a giant wolf, and later learns his mysterious host, Count Dracula, had wired the local innkeeper to ensure his safety.

Akin to Love/ L.M. Montagomery/ Audiobook

"Akin to Love" is a 1991 romantic drama novel written by Anglo-Irish author Carol Drinkwater. The novel tells the story of Penny Morrison, a famous movie star who writes a film script based on her past. Her story looks back at the early 1970s when she visited Crete as a young backpacker and fell deeply in love with a painter named Harry Knowle. When Penny returns to the Greek island years later to shoot her movie, her hidden memories catch up with her. She must finally face the truth about her time on the island, the dark shadow of the local dictatorship, and the man she never truly stopped loving."Akin to Love" is a 1991 romantic drama novel written by Anglo-Irish author Carol Drinkwater.

Odyssey/ Audiobook/ Homer

The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem by Homer that follows the Greek hero Odysseus on his grueling ten-year journey to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Along the way, he battles mythical monsters, survives divine wrath, and outsmarts enchantresses, while at home, his loyal wife Penelope fends off greedy suitors until he finally arrives to reclaim his kingdom.