Historical Mystery Lovers discussion
2023 - Settings Challenge
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Robin's 2023 Settings Challenge FINISHED
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Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: British Empire (any century, countries other than England)
The Lost Daughter: A Jean Brash Mystery 2Finished: 1/7/2023
2nd book in this spinoff from the James McLevy series. I love the McLevy books, and now I've read them all. The characters are great. I highly recommend these books by David Ashton.
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Georgian England
The Dead Shall Not RestFinished: 01/19/2023
2nd book in the Dr. Silkstone series. Very good plot, characters. Well written and researched.
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Early 20th Century
Wild NightFinished: 01/21/2023
From goodreads: "It’s the 1920's, and Lucas Hallam is something of a legend: a Texas Ranger turned Pinkerton agent turned Hollywood P.I."
Really enjoyed this one. Fast-paced, multiple plots, well-written. Characters are great. First in a series.
Rating: 4 stars
Robin wrote: "Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Early 20th Century
Wild NightFinished: 01/21/2023
From goodreads: "It’s the 1..."
Looks like a good one!
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Medieval Europe
The Pope's ButcherFinished: 01/29/2023
From Goodreads: Inspired by true historical figures and events in the 15th Century, The Pope’s Butcher is not only a hair-raising work of suspense and espionage, but an astonishing account of religion and the occult in the Middle Ages.
Quite interesting. Sebastian is a young seminarian sent on a mission to investigate witchcraft. Is the Inquisitor justified or committing murder?
Rating: 3.5 stars (numerous grammatical errors)
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Edwardian England
Against the Light: A Late Edwardian MysteryFinished: 02/05/2023
A murder, a kidnapping, and gun smuggling combine in this novel by Marjorie Eccles. Well written with engaging characters.
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Shogunate Japan
Tales of the Sunshine Samurai: Japan's Greatest Detective: Books One and TwoFinished: 02/12/2023
Found this on Amazon deals. Wasn't bad, but the typos and grammatical errors were distracting. Language too modern. Characters not developed. Writing so-so. I liked the samurai character though.
Rating: 2 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: American Civil War
John Brown's BodyFinished: 2/22/2023
First book in the Alphonso Clay series of Civil War mysteries. I was impressed with the history and characters. Most of the characters were real: Grant, Sherman, Bierce, Parker, Rawlins, and more. Writing style was excellent. Will continue with this one.
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Ancient Egypt
Murder in the Place of AnubisFinished: 2/25/2023
First in a series set during the reign of Tutankhamen. Not bad, but not very exciting. Historical insights in to Egyptian burial rituals. Good strong characters. Not sure if I will continue with the series.
Rating: 3 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Tudor / Stuart England
The Mapmaker's DaughterFinished: 03/01/2023
Fourth book in the Thomas the Falconer series. This is a great series with strong characters, intricate plots, and great twists. The language reflects the period, and the historical aspects are interesting. John Pilkington is becoming one of my favorite authors.
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Regency England
Murder at Queen's LandingFinished: 3/16/2023
Number 4 in a very enjoyable series. Love those Weasels! Won't give out any spoilers, but the ending was awesome!
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Victorian England
Bluegate FieldsFinished: 03/22/2023
When you need a good Victorian mystery, look no further than Anne Perry. This is #6 in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. Perry's characters are so engaging, they feel like old friends. She is one of my favorite authors.
Rating: 4 stars
Robin wrote: "Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Victorian England
Bluegate FieldsFinished: 03/22/2023
When you need a go..."
I completely agree but would add the caveat that, if read one after another, they are a bit too similar. Her Monk series is my favorite, but there hasn't been a new entry lately.
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: 18th-19th Century Europe
Fata MorganaFinished: 04/06/2023
Interesting. Haven't read anything quite like it. Set in 19th century Paris, Austria, Hungary. Creepy ending.
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Gilded Age America
Deception by GaslightFinished: 04/12/2023
From goodreads.com:
"Glittering Gilded-Age New York holds its lavish charms--and a litany of deadly sins--as intrepid reporter Genevieve Stewart uncovers a trail of corruption and murder."
First in a series. Good insight into the class structure of 1880's New York. I liked it and will read on in the series.
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Ancient Greece
Aristotle DetectiveFinished: 05/03/2023
From Goodreads:
"With her Aristotle Detective novels, Margaret Doody brings a Holmesian hero to the bloodied streets of ancient Greece, trading the pipe and deerstalker of Sherlock for the woolen chiton and sandals of Aristotle."
Not I period I read often. This is the first in a series, and it was OK, just not my cup of tea. Not even close to a Holmes story.
Rating: 3 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Antebellum America
The Pale Blue EyeFinished: 05/13/2023
From Goodreads:
'An ingenious tale of murder and revenge at West Point, featuring a retired detective and a young cadet named Edgar Allan Poe.'
OMG was this book good! Probably the best I've read so far this year. Set at the US Military Academy (West Point) in the 1830's. Sooo well written, awesome character development, places and events described with such detail, and the "didn't see that coming" ending combine to make this a must read for fans of historical fiction/mysteries.
Rating: 5 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Colonial America
Hour of the WitchFinished: 06/03/2023
From goodreads.com:
"A twisting, tightly-plotted thriller from one of our greatest storytellers,Hour of the Witch is a timely and terrifying novel of socially sanctioned brutality and the original American witch hunt."
Not what I expected, but good nonetheless.
The mystery revolves around the witch hunt.
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Roman Empire
Mars the AvengerFinished: 06/17/2023
From goodreads.com
"'Mars the Avenger' is an historical mystery set in the year 158 CE, during the reign of Antoninus Pius, a period often called the height of the Roman Empire. It is also a daily life in ancient Rome and a sojourn into the world of Roman life, criminal law, police and courts...The novel also introduces a perspicacious new detective in the person of Roman judge Marcus Flavius Severus."
I don't read a lot of books in this time period, but I really enjoyed this one. The characters have such great personalities, and the mystery was complex. I think I'll keep on with the series.
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: 16th-17th Century Europe
The Gallery of BeautiesFinished: 06/20/2023
First in a series set in 17th century Venice. Good storyline, well-defined characters, beautiful setting.
Rating: 4 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Pre 19th Century Asia (excluding the British Empire)
The Red PalaceFinished: 09/25/2023
A YA book set in 1758 Joseon (Korea). It was interesting, just not my cup of tea.
Rating: 2 stars
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categoriesCategory: Early Japan
Three Tales of Love and MurderFinished: 12/25/2023
Finally found one for Early Japan (11th century).
Now I'm FINISHED!
Happy New Year!
Congratulations Robin, and happy New Year to you too!
Historical Mystery Lovers
Books mentioned in this topic
Three Tales of Love and Murder (other topics)Three Tales of Love and Murder (other topics)
The Red Palace (other topics)
John Brown's Body (other topics)
The Red Palace (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Anne Perry (other topics)John Pilkington (other topics)
Marjorie Eccles (other topics)
David Ashton (other topics)
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CATEGORIES:
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Greece
- Roman Empire
- Early Japan
- Shogunate Japan
- Medieval England
- Medieval Europe
- Tudor / Stuart England
- 16th-17th Century Europe
- Georgian England
- Regency England
- Victorian England
- Edwardian England
- Colonial America
- Antebellum America
- American Civil War
- Gilded Age America
- British Empire (any century, countries other than England)
- Pre 19th Century Asia (excluding the British Empire)
- 18th-19th Century Europe
- Early 20th Century