Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Helen's Settings Challenge

- Roman Empire
- Ancient Greece
- Medieval England
- Tudor / Stuart England
- Georgian England
- Regency England
- Victorian England
- Edwardian England
- Early 20th Century

I'm going for Master of History

I'm doing well in my Regency and Early 20th Century categories -- have already hit the minimums for that. Time to branch out and get going on some of the others. To that end, looking forward to A Bitter Remedy, a new Victorian era series by Alis Hawkins (who writes the excellent Teifi Valley Coroner series), publishing in March.

Going to add Roman Empire to my "list," because I've come across this series:

The Vellum Scribe by Zara Altair
Finished on January 19
Quick, easy read, about a time period (Christian Era Italy), that I don't know a whole lot about. Somehow started in the middle, so I've got to go back and begin with the earlier books.

My books for January:

ROMAN:
The Peach Widow and The Vellum Scribe by Zara Altair

TUDOR:
Of Blood Descended by Steven Veerapen
Courting Dragons by Jeri Westerson

MEDIEVAL:
The Honorable Traitor by Sarah Woodbury

RESTORATION:
The Plague Letters by V.L. Valentine

REGENCY:
An Extravagant Duplicity by Lynn Messina
The Burglar's Ball by Julia Goldiing

VICTORIAN
Death Among Fitful Shadows by Blythe Baker

20th CENTURY
A Fashionable Fatality by Alyssa Maxwell
The Mitford Secret by Jessica Fellowes
A Wreath of Red Roses: Heathcliff Lennox Investigates by Karen Baugh Menuhin
Death at the Savoy by Ron Base
Murder at Aldwych Station by Jim Eldridge
Blackstone Fell by Martin Edwards
The Killing of Cristobel Tranter: A Whitecross Yard Murder by Dennis Talbot

My books for February:


MEDIEVAL ENGLAND
Dark Queen Wary by Paul Doherty
A Monk's Greed: A Sir Guy de Hughe Mystery by Robert Wilkinson

EDWARDIAN ENGLAND
The Killing at Crowswood Castle by Fran Smith

VICTORIAN ENGLAND
Something in the Heir by Jane Hedwig
No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby

EARLY 20th CENTURY
Murder Most English: A 1920s Lady Jane and Mrs Forbes Mystery by B.D. Churston
Death at a Christmas Party: A 1920's Cozy Mystery by Ann Sutton
Brilliant Chang Returns: A Clara Fitzgerald Mystery by Evelyn James
The Camden Murder by Mike Hollow
The Brighton Murders: The Camille Divine Murder Mysteries A 1920s cozy mystery by Andrea Hicks
Death by a Cornish Cove by Fliss Chester

My books for March:


ROMAN
The Wages of Sedition: A Judge Marcus Flavius Severus Mystery in Ancient Rome by Alan Scribner
The Grain Merchant by Zara Altair

MEDIEVAL ENGLAND
Dark Hunter: A town under seige. A killer within by F.J. Watson

GEORGIAN
The Dead Will Rise by Chris Nickson

REGENCY
A Gift of Poison by Bella Ellis
Jane Austen Investigates: The Convict's Canal by Julia Golding

VICTORIAN
A Bitter Remedy by Allis Hawkins
Sabrina's Teardrop by Leslie Scase
Murder in the Mews by Irina Shapiro
Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings

20th CENTURY
A Murder in Mayfair by Celina Grace
Murder on the Night Train to Paris: A totally addictive cozy murder mystery by L.B. Hathaway
The Murder Club Murders by David Stuart Davies
Death at Mistram Manor: A 1940s DCI Bryce story by Peter Zander-Howell
A Mansion for Murder by Frances Brody
Murder at Waldenmere Lake: A BRAND NEW page-turning cozy historical murder mystery from Michelle Salter for 2023 by Michelle Salter
One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly
The Cliff's Edge by Charles Todd
Winter Downs by Jan Edwards
A Perfect Time to Murder by N.R. Daws

My books for April and May:


EGYPTIAN:
Death of an Eye, Disappearance of a Scribe and Theft of an Idol by Dana Stabenow
The Pharaoh's Dark Garden: An Ancient Egyptian Mystery by Harlie Sponaugle
Murder in Pharaoh's Palace: An Ancient Egyptian Mystery, Murder At Pharaoh's Wedding: An Ancient Egyptian Mystery, and Death Beneath the Sphinx: An Ancient Egyptian Mystery by William G. Collins

ROMAN:
The Rewards of Treachery by Rosemary Rowe
The Ring that Caesar Wore by Ashley Gardner
The Mammoth Book of Roman Whodunnits by Mike Ashley
The Mystery of Healing: a doctor to the gladiators confronts a murderous riddle by A.P. McGrath
The Case of Vulcan: A Murder Mystery of Ancient Rome and The Case of Liber: A murder mystery of Ancient Rome by Francis M. Mulern

MEDIEVAL ENGLAND:
Herald by Sarah Woodbury
Betrayal: A Gavin Rownt Medieval Mystery by Joyce Lionarons
The Novice's Tale, The Huntsman's Tale and The Bookseller's Tale by Ann Swinfen

TUDOR:
The Kindness of Witches by Leonard Tourney
The Hidden Dead by David Penny
The Cargo From Neira by Alys Clare
Shadow of Treason by Peter Tonkin
Of Judgement Fallen: An Anthony Blanke Tudor Mystery by Steven Veerapen

GEORGIAN:
A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen
Who Cries for the Lost by C,S, Harris

REGENCY:
The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray
Fall From Lace by Emily Clare
Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price
Death of a Lady by Laura Martin

VICTORIAN:
A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas
A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn
The Spendthrift and the Swallow by Ambrose Parry
Masquerade in London by Emily L. Finch
Murder on Ice: A Colonel Bainbridge Mystery by Evelyn James

EDWARDIAN:
Death Below a Restless Moon by Blythe Baker
The Fourth Enemy by Anne Perry

My final, fifth category (Egyptian) for Master of History was completed this month. I'm going to try for Doctor of History - I’ve finished 20th Century and Victorian, in pursuit of that.

Here are the books in my remaining categories in June:

EGYPTIAN:
Murder by the Gods: An Ancient Egyptian Mystery, Murder At Pharaoh's Wedding: An Ancient Egyptian Mystery, Murder at Abu Simbel, The Hunt for Pharaoh's Body: An Ancient Egyptian Mystery, all by William G. Collins
The Horus Killings and The Mask of Ra by Paul Doherty

ROMAN:
The Case of Liber: A murder mystery of Ancient Rome and The case of Fama; A murder mystery of Ancient Rome by Francis M. Mulhern
The King's Gambit by John Maddox Roberts
Cursed to Die by Alex Wagner

MEDIEVAL EUROPE:
The Alewives: A plague-era tale of murder, friendship, and fine ale by Elizabeth R. Andersen
Omens of Death by Richard Kurti

MEDIEVAL ENGLAND
Too Good to Hang: The intriguing medieval mystery series by Sarah Hawkswood
The Harlot's Riddle by Maureen Ash
The Colour of Gold and The Colour of Poison by Toni Mount
The Sockburn Worm: A Sir Guy de Haghe Mystery by Robert Wilkinson
The Night of the Wolf by Cassandra Clark

TUDOR/STUART:
Courting Dragons by Jeri Westerson
Death in Rheims: A thrilling espionage adventure in Elizabethan Europe by C.P. Giulani
Death Among the Ruins by Susanna Calkins
Rivers of Treason by K.J. Maitland

16th/17th CENTURY EUROPE:
Death of a Soprano: A Joseph Haydn Mystery by Nupur Tustin

REGENCY:
A Murder Unleashed by Emily Claire
The Reluctant Constable by Sara Fraser
A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales

EDWARDIAN:
The Treacherous Dead by Paula Harmon

My books this month for my quest to make the Doctor of History challenge. The other historical settings needed are completed:

GEORGIAN:
Dr. Sam Johnson, Detector, The Return of Dr. Sam Johnson, Detector, The Exploits of Dr. Sam Johnson, Detector, The Detections of Dr. Sam Johnson by Lillian de la Torre
The Resurrection Men by Sara Fraser
The Hand of Truth by David Paton

EDWARDIAN
Do not Disturb and Room with a Clue by Kate Kingsbury

BRIT EMPIRE
Mystery in the Highlands by Lydia Travers
A Day for Death by Lexie Conyngham

REGENCY
Needled to Death: A Spinsters' Sewing Circle Regency Cozy Mystery by Emily Clare

MEDIEVAL EUROPE
Death Comes As Epiphany and The Devil's Door by Sharan Newman

My books in August for my quest to complete the Doctor of History challenge. Completed the Regency and Georgian eras this month.

MEDIEVAL EUROPE:
The Wandering Arm by Sharan Newman
Palette of Blood by Richard Kurti

GEORGIAN:
Island of Bones and Anatomy of Murder by Imogene Robertson
A Thief’s Justice by Douglas Skelton
Death in the West Wind, Death in Hellfire, and Death and the Cornish Fiddler by Deryn Lake
A Gentleman Fallen on Hard Times by Grace Burrowes

REGENCY:
The Drowned Ones, Suffer the Children, and The Devil's Monk by Sara Fraser
Miss Morton And The Spirits Of The Underworld by Catherine Lloyd

EDWARDIAN:
Service for Two, Eat, Drink, and Be Buried, and Check-Out Time by Kate Kingsbury
The Secrets of Wycliffe Manor by Patricia Rice

BRITISH EMPIRE
The Bones of Santorini by Joni Swift

My books for September:


MEDIEVAL EUROPE:
Remedy For Treason by Caroline Roe
The Medici Conspiracy by C.J. Watson
Strong as Death by Sharan Newman

BRITISH EMPIRE:
A Mass for the Dead by Susan McDuffie
Murder in the Devil's Half Acre by Rose Pascoe

EDWARDIAN:
Grounds for Murder by Kate Kingsbury

Here are my books in the Challenge for October. If all goes well, I should finish my "Doctorate" 8-) this month:

MEDIEVAL EUROPE:
Solace for a Sinner by Caroline Roe
Demon of Truth by Richard Kurti
An Antidote for Avarice by Caroline Roe
Cure For A Charlatan by Caroline Roe

BRITISH EMPIRE:
Died in the Wool by Ngaio Marsh
Terror in Topaz by A.M. Stuart
Saddled with Death by Irene Sauman
THE FAERIE HILLS by Susan McDuffie
An Independent Woman by Sarah F. Noel

EDWARDIAN:
Chivalry is Dead by Kate Kingsbury
Pay the Piper by Kate Kingsbury

Here are my books in the Challenge for November. Didn't quite finish this month, just have a couple books to go, and will have the Doctorate of History completed in December:

MEDIEVAL EUROPE:
Consolation for an Exile, A Draught For A Dead Man and A Potion for a Widow by Caroline Roe

BRITISH EMPIRE:
The Death of a Falcon: A Muirteach MacPhee Mystery and The Watergate by Susan McDuffie

EDWARDIAN:
Slay Bells, Dying Room Only, and Ring for Tomb Service by Kate Kingsbury

WOW! Awesome job with your challenge. It's great to see everyone meeting theirs. I love your titles you posted and will absolutely use your list as a reading guide.

Happy Holidays. :)

Thanks, Breezy. Yep, lots of great books in this year's Challenge. Historical mysteries is an amazing genre -- a little something for everyone.

Hooray, read the final two books that I needed for my "final" challenge category:

EDWARDIAN:
Decked with Folly and Mistletoe and Mayhem by Kate Kingsbury

So, my Doctor of History was achieved in the following categories:

VICTORIAN ENGLAND (1840-1901)
EARLY 20TH CENTURY
MEDIEVAL ENGLAND
TUDOR/STUART ENGLAND
ROMAN EMPIRE
ANCIENT EGYPT
REGENCY ENGLAND
GEORGIAN ENGLAND (1714-1811)
BRITISH EMPIRE
MEDIEVAL EUROPE
EDWARDIAN ENGLAND (1901-1920)

That was fun. Looking forward to trying for the next one.

And congratulations to all who have accomplished their goals this year.

Well done!