Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

This will be my first challenge and I'm a little late to the party but here it goes! My Level is Doctor of History.

LEVELS:

Level #1: Bachelor of History - 3 to 10 books in at least 3 categories
Level #2: Master of History - 10 to 15 books in at least 5 categories
Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories
Level #4: History with Honors - 20+ books in all categories

CATEGORIES:

1. Ancient Egypt (4300 BC- 642 AD)
2. Ancient Greece (700-480 BC)
3. Roman Empire (625 BC-476 AD)

4. Early Japan
5. Shogunate Japan (1192-1868)
6. Medieval England (476-1485)
7. Medieval Europe (476-1450)
8. Tudor / Stuart England (1485-1603/1603-1714)
9. 16th-17th Century Europe (1500-1700)
10. Georgian England (1714-1837)

11. Regency England (1811-1820)

12. Victorian England (1837-1901)


13. Edwardian England (1901-1910)
14. Colonial America (1492-1763)
15. Antebellum America (1815-1861)
16. American Civil War (1861-1865)
17. Gilded Age America (1870-1900)

18. British Empire (any century, countries other than England)
19. Pre 19th Century Asia (excluding the British Empire)
20. 19th Century Europe (1801-1900)
21. Early 20th Century (1901-1973)

Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 1: Gilded Age America (1870-1900)
A. Setting: Rhode Island, 1895
B. Book read: Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell
C. Date read: 1/20/23
D. Comments: First historical mystery of the year and I really enjoyed it. I love this period of history and it was fun to have a protagonist who is close to the "400" but outside that world enough to be much more interesting. A good read.

Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 2: Early 20th Century (1901-1973)
A. Setting: England, 1916
B. Book read: A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd
C. Date read: 1/28/23
D. Comments: I really liked this book - the first in a series that I haven't read before. I enjoyed learning more about this period in history and I appreciated the story and characters a lot; loved Bess!

Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 3: Early 20th Century (1901-1973)
A. Setting: Pennsylvania, 1942
B. Book read: Front Page Murder by Joyce St. Anthony
C. Date read: 1/30/23
D. Comments: This was the first in a series by an author I haven't read before and I decided to listen to the story via an audiobook. Overall, I thought the story was a good one although the writing didn't draw me in as much as I like. I never felt the "can't put this down" feeling. It did a nice job of bringing to life some of the day-to-day details of the change in a small town at the beginning of the U.S. entrance into WWII. Falls into the cozy category for sure. The narrator was a little distracting. There wasn't a lot of voice variation between characters or much in the way of emotion so it tainted my review a bit.

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Molly wrote: "Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 3: Early 20th Century (1901-1973)
A. Setting: Pennsylvania, 1942
B. Book read: Front Page Murder by Joyce St. Anth..."

Molly; Thanks for posting your review! This is at Libby as Kindle & Audio. Still deciding if will read for the Settings challenge.

Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 4: Gilded Age America (1870-1900)
A. Setting: New York, 1888
B. Book read: What the Dead Leave Behind by Rosemary Simpson
C. Date read: 2/4/23
D. Comments: This was the first in a series by an author I haven't read before and I really enjoyed it! I love this period of history and there were great details. In particular, I appreciated the added dimension of the effects still happening as the country continued to recover from the end of the Civil War just a few decades before. The story was a compelling and suspenseful one and there was great character development. Really looking forward to the other books in the series!

Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 5: Victorian England (1837-1901)
A. Setting: Egypt, 1884-85
B. Book read: Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
C. Date read: 2/7/23
D. Comments: I read a few books from this series some 25+ years ago and I had forgotten how wonderful they are! Super archeological details, wonderful language, great story, and fabulous characters - can't ask for more! I'm definitely continuing on reading the rest of this series.

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Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 6: Gilded Age America (1870-1900)
A. Setting: New York, 1888
B. Book read: Lies That Comfort and Betray by Rosemary Simpson
C. Date read: 2/10/23
D. Comments: Honestly, I couldn't wait to read the second book in this series and it met my expectations. This story was a little grittier but just as compelling and I'm really enjoying the character development. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

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Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 7: Georgian England (1714-1837)
A. Setting: 1830
B. Book read: The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber
C. Date read: 2/16/23
D. Comments: I really liked this book -- the first in a series and period of time in which I haven't read many mysteries. Definitely had a Victorian mystery feeling even though it's set a few years before the beginning of that era. I liked the evolution of Kiera. I found the story to be a good one and will definitely be reading the next book in the series.

Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 8: Early 20th Century (1901-1973)
A. Setting: England, 1914
B. Book read: The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes by Leonard Goldberg
C. Date read: 2/18/23
D. Comments: I've had this book on my "Want to Read" list for a looooong time so I was excited to read it. Overall, I thought the story was good and it definitely felt like it slipped into the style of the Sherlock Holmes books which has its pros and cons for me. I wished for more character development and emotional connections to the characters. I did appreciate how the author kept some of Sherlock's characteristics for Joanna while also adding some uniquely feminine aspects to the Holmes personality.

Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 9: Georgian England (1714-1837)
A. Setting: 1830
B. Book read: Mortal Arts by Anna Lee Huber
C. Date read: 2/20/23
D. Comments: I thought that I could wait a little longer to read the second book in this series but it came up quickly on my Libby Hold list and I was happy to dive back into Lady Darby's world! I liked this book as much as the first in the series and I'm really enjoying the development of the main characters. The story was another good one, blending history, mystery, and some of the contemporary issues of the time which still pose questions for us today. I'll be putting the third book in this series on my Hold list soon!

Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 10: Roman Empire (625 BC-476 AD)
A. Setting: 1st Century AD
B. Book read: The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis
C. Date read: 2/24/23
D. Comments: I loved this book! Really enjoyed the characters, the quick verbal byplay, and the story. Will definitely read the next book in this series.

Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 11: Regency England (1811-1820)
A. Setting: London
B. Book read: Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose
C. Date read: 2/25/23
D. Comments: Great entrance into a new series. Another book with great verbal byplay which I really enjoy. Really enjoyed the scientific aspect and learning more about a time in history that set the stage for so many modern changes.

Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 12: Victorian England (1837-1901)
A. Setting: London
B. Book read: Callander Square by Anne Perry
C. Date read: 3/5/2023
D. Comments: 2nd in the series. I started this series about 10 years ago but had only read the first book. This one was an enjoyable as I remember the first book being. Will definitely read more - glad this challenge brought me back to this author.

Molly wrote: "Goal: Level #3: Doctor of History - 15 to 20 books in at least 10 categories

Book 12: Victorian England (1837-1901)
A. Setting: London
B. Book read: Callander Square by Anne Perry
C. Date read: 3..."

I also had a long gap between books one and two, though I used the time to read her Monk series. Since then I've picked the Pitts back up, inspired by yet another of her series that has a "baby" Pitt investigating.