BooksMart
Historical Mysteries
I just found a website that lists historical mysteries and their authors. Here is the
Historical Mystery
Homepage.
If you like historical mysteries with a Civil war setting, you might want to try this series
featuring Major Abel Jones, agent for Abraham Lincoln.
A new book, coming in June, may not be a mystery, but it's a historical I will want to read:
GETTYSBURG: A NOVEL OF THE CIVIL WAR, by Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen.
What happens when the plague runs loose in the town? Try this 1666 historical,
YEAR OF WONDERS, by Geraldine Brooks.
Some old favorites:
THE COURSE OF HONOR, by Lindsey Davis, takes place in ancient Rome. Lindsey Davis has received well-deserved acclaim from critics and
fans for her Falco ancient Rome mysteries. This novel is more historical
romance, but keeps the level of excellence readers expect from Ms. Davis.
The richly detailed story line is based on one of the great love affairs ever
recorded and the political events are all documented in the history texts.
The characters, especially the lead protagonists, seem genuine and their romance
feels so real, almost as if Ms. Davis was an eyewitness. Fans of historical
fiction and historical romance will make THE COURSE OF HONOR a best selling keeper.
If you like the Arthurian legends, you will love the Camulod Chronicles, now
including seven novels by Jack Whyte. We all know the story--how Arthur pulled the sword from the
stone, how Camelot came to be, and the power struggles that ultimately destroyed Arthur's dreams.
But what of the time before Arthur? What were the forces that helped create him?
- The first book in the series,
THE SKYSTONE, tells that part of the story.
- The second one,
THE SINGING SWORD, tells the story of two Roman men who are great-grandfathers to the man known as Arthur,
King of the Britons, and whose actions will help shape a nation...and forge the sword known as Excalibur.
- Number three in the series is
THE EAGLES BROOD.
-
THE SAXON SHORE is the fourth. All of these take
place in pre-King Arthur times.
-
THE FORT AT RIVER'S BEND, number five, tells
more of Merlin and the life of the young man who will become King Arthur.
-
SORCERER: METAMORPHOSIS is next in the Camulod Chronicles.
- The latest, number seven, is
UTHER. It is a parallel
novel to THE EAGLE'S BROOD, the third in the series. It fills in some gaps about another major
character in the Arthurian legend, Uther Pendragon, who is Merlyn's cousin and King Arthur's
father.
Karen Harper writes a series of Elizabeth I mysteries, where Elizabeth herself
solves the mystery! The series starts with
Another writer of mysteries in Queen Elizabeth I's time is Fiona Buckley.
Her character, Ursula Blanchard, is a lady-in-waiting to the queen. Her books,
in the order written are
TO SHIELD THE QUEEN,
THE DOUBLET AFFAIR,
QUEEN'S RANSOM,
TO RUIN A QUEEN, and
QUEEN OF AMBITION
ONE FOR SORROW by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer takes place in
Constantinople, capital of the 6th century Roman Empire, and simmers a rich stew of
creeds, cultures, and citizens with a sprinkling of cutthroats and crimes. John the Eunuch, Emperor
Justinian's Lord Chamberlain, orders a Christian court while himself observing the rites of Mithra.
Thomas, a knight from Britain, Ahasuerus, a soothsayer, and two ladies from Crete stir up events and
old memories for John, who must ask how the visitors link to the death of Leukos, Keeper of the Plate.
An Egyptian brothel keeper and a Christian stylite know more than they are telling. In due course,
John gets his man - and a love scene....
Second in this series is
TWO FOR JOY.
QUALITY OF MERCY by Faye Kellerman is an old favorite of mine. Takes place in
Shakespear's time. Here's what a reader from Tennessee has to say about it:
"An excellent read! Kellerman's detective novels are good, but I think perhaps she has found
her true calling in historical fiction. The Quality of Mercy is a fast-paced, enthralling, and diverse novel,
switching easily from adventure to intrigue to romance and back again. The characters are absorbing; likable
yet very human. By the time the reader has finished following Shakespeare, Rebecca, and co. through their
myriad adventures, which follow such timeless themes as fighting, gambling, crossdressing, and
prostitution, he will wonder where the six hundred pages have gone. Nothing, though, will prepare him for
the cold shock of the ending, which is excellent, but will bring all but the most stoic individuals to
tears. This book is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Faye Kellerman, Shakespeare, Judaism,
or historical fiction."
Kate Sedley writes about 15th century England in her Roger the Chapman series.
The newest in the series is
THE GOLDSMITH'S DAUGHTER.
