Detective stories continue to attract readers of fiction. These historical mysteries, listed alphabetically by author, are set in a variety of time periods. If you enjoy mysteries and are fascinated by historical detail you are likely to find something appealing on this list.
The Dead of Winter,* Rennie Airth
London during World War II
The Tale of Oat Cake Crag: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter,*
Susan Wittig Albert
England’s Lake District early 20th century
Dangerous To Know,* Tasha Alexander
Late 19th century
City of Silver: A Mystery, Annamaria Alfieri
17th century South America
Palace of Justice,* Susanne Alleyn
18th century France
The Scorpion’s Bite: A Lily Sampson Mystery,* Aileen G. Baron
World War II, Europe and Africa
Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron: Being a Jane Austen Mystery,*
Stephanie Barron, Regency period England, early 19th century
The Intrigue at Highbury, or, Emma’s Match,* Carrie Bebris
19th century England
A Fierce Radiance, Lauren Belfer
United States during World War II
Rag and Bone: A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery,* James R. Benn
London, World War II
Nemesis: The Final Case of Eliot Ness, William Bernhardt
1930s Cleveland, Ohio
Without Fear: A Martha Beale Novel,* Cordelia Frances Biddle
19th century Philadelphia
In a Gilded Cage,* Rhys Bowen
Early 20th century, New York City
The Bohemian Girl, Kenneth Cameron
Early 20th century, London
A Night of Long Knives,* Rebecca Cantrell
1930s Nazi Germany
A Murder of Crows: A Sir Robert Carey Mystery,* P.F. Chisholm
16th century England
The Law of Angels,* Cassandra Clark
14th century England
Strange Images of Death,* Barbara Cleverly
20th century, various locations
The Pericles Commission, Gary Corby
Ancient Athens
Alexandria,* Lindsey Davis
Rome & Egypt, 1st century
Death in a Scarlet Coat,* David Dickinson
Victorian England
A Haunt of Murder,* P.C. Doherty
14th century England
Nightshade: A Hugh Corbett Medieval Mystery,* P.C. Doherty
14th century England
The Spies of Sobeck,* P.C. Doherty
Ancient Egypt
Caveat Emptor: A Novel of the Roman Empire,* Ruth Downie
2nd century Great Britains
Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows, Nick Drake
18th Dynasty, Egypt
Anthem for Doomed Youth: A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery,* Carola Dunn
1920s England
Shadow Pass: A Novel of Suspense,* Sam Eastland
20th century Russia
The Daughter of Siena, Marina Fiorato
18th century Italy
A Murderous Procession,* Ariana Franklin
12th century England
A Play of Piety,* Margaret Frazer
15th century England
Lost River,* David Fulmer
New Orleans, early 20th century
An Evil Eye,* Jason Goodwin
19th century Turkey
The Tudor Secret, C.W. Gortner
16th century England
Unholy Awakening,* Michael Gregorio
19th century Prussia
The Killer of Pilgrims: The Sixteenth Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew,*
Susanna Gregory, 14th century England
The Sleepwalkers, Paul Grossman
1930s Berlin
When Winter Returns,* Kathryn Miller Haines
New York City, World War II
Dead and Buried,* Barbara Hambly
New Orleans, 19th century
A Marked Man,* Barbara Hamilton
Colonial Massachusetts
Where Shadows Dance: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery,* C.S. Harris
19th century London
Conspirata: A Novel of Ancient Rome,* Robert Harris
Ancient Rome
The Beloved Dead,* Tony Hays
5th century (Arthurian) England
Her Highness’ First Murder: A Simon & Elizabeth Mystery, Peg Herring
Elizabethan England, 16th century
Requiem in Vienna: A Viennese Mystery,* J. Sydney Jones
Late 19th century Vienna
Field Gray: A Bernie Gunther Novel,* Philip Kerr
20th century Germany
The God of the Hive: A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes,* Laurie R. King
Early 20th century England
Decked with Folly,* Kate Kingsbury
Pre-World War I England
A Lily of the Field,* John Lawton
Mid-20th century London
Railway to the Grave,* Edward Marston
19th century England
The Illusion of Murder,* Carol McCleary
19th century
A Pig of Cold Poison,* Pat McIntosh
15th century Scotland
Death at Pullman,* Frances McNamara
19th century Chicago
The Information Officer, Mark Mills
World War II, Malta
Her Deadly Mischief: A Tito Amato Mystery,* Beverle Graves Myers
Venice, mid-18th century
The Chef’s Apprentice, Elle Newmark
15th century Venice
The Informer, Craig Nova
Berlin, Nazi Germany
The Fires of the Gods: a Sugawara Akitada Mystery,* I.J. Parker
11th century Japan
The Last Dickens, Matthew Pearl
19th century, various locations
Stone’s Fall, Iain Pears
Pre-World War II Europe
Kill-Devil and Water, Andrew Pepper
19th century London and Jamaica
Defend and Betray: A William Monk Novel,* Anne Perry
19th century London
Treason at Lisson Grove: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel,* Anne Perry
Victorian England
A River in the Sky,* Elizabeth Peters
Early 20th century
A Curtain Falls,* Stefanie Pintoff
New York City, early 20th century
The Second Son,* Jonathan Rabb
1930s Germany
Dark Road to Darjeeling,* Deanna Raybourn
19th century England & India
No More Dying,* David Roberts
1930s England
The Year of Confusion_ [SPQR XIII],* John Maddox Roberts
Ancient Rome
Bedlam: The Further Secret Adventures of Charlotte Brontë,* Laura Joh Rowland
19th century England
The Cloud Pavilion,* Laura Joh Rowland
18th century Japan
Valley of Dry Bones: A Medieval Mystery,* Priscilla Royal
Medieval England
The Insane Train,* Sheldon Russell
20th century U.S.A.
The Holy Thief, William Ryan
Stalinist Moscow
Heartstone,* C.J. Sansom
16th century England
A Murder on the Appian Way,* Steven Saylor
Ancient Rome
Drood, Dan Simmons
19th century England
Murder on Lexington Avenue: A Gaslight Mystery,* Victoria Thompson
New York City, early 20th century
A Lonely Death,* Charles Todd
England post-World War I
The Dove of Death: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland,* Peter Tremayne
7th century Ireland
Angel With Two Faces: A Mystery Featuring Josephine Tey,* Nicola Upson
20th century England
The Demon’s Parchment: A Crispin Guest Medieval Noir,* Jeri Westerson
14th century Great Britain
The Winter Thief,* Jenny White
Turkey, 19th century
A Lesson in Secrets: A Maisie Dobbs Novel,* Jacqueline Winspear
London between the World Wars
*part of a series with similar historical setting
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