Mysteries With A History
Crime set in another place and time

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

More information about historical mysteries may be found in the online database NoveList Plus. Access is free for St. Charles library cardholders. For help using NoveList Plus or finding these or other materials, Ask Us!

St. Charles Public Library

JHL Rev. 5/11