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Medieval to Modern: An Anthology of Historical Mystery Stories
Join amateur sleuths, private detectives, and feisty female protagonists in a journey through time with this anthology of historical mysteries spanning nearly a thousand years, from Medieval Wales to 1940s Ohio. This collection of eight novellas and short stories is the perfect introduction to five award-winning series in settings ranging from the back streets of Elizabethan and Regency London to the steep slopes of Victorian San Francisco.
-- Libi Astaire, the Jewish Regency mystery series.
-- Anna Castle, the Francis Bacon mystery series and the Professor & Mrs. Moriarty mystery series.
-- M. Louisa Locke, the Victorian San Francisco mystery series.
-- M. Ruth Myers, the Maggie Sullivan mystery series set in Depression-era Ohio.
-- Sarah Woodbury, the Gareth & Gwen Medieval Mysteries.
-- Libi Astaire, the Jewish Regency mystery series.
-- Anna Castle, the Francis Bacon mystery series and the Professor & Mrs. Moriarty mystery series.
-- M. Louisa Locke, the Victorian San Francisco mystery series.
-- M. Ruth Myers, the Maggie Sullivan mystery series set in Depression-era Ohio.
-- Sarah Woodbury, the Gareth & Gwen Medieval Mysteries.
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2018
66 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Woodbury
165 books749 followersWith over a million books sold to date, Sarah Woodbury is the author of more than forty novels, all set in medieval Wales. Although an anthropologist by training, and then a full-time homeschooling mom for twenty years, she began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded that she let them out. While her ancestry is Welsh, she only visited Wales for the first time at university. She has been in love with the country, language, and people ever since. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.
Sarah is a member of the Historical Authors Fiction Cooperative (HFAC), the Historical Novel Society, and Novelists, Inc. (NINC).
She makes her home in Oregon.
Sarah is a member of the Historical Authors Fiction Cooperative (HFAC), the Historical Novel Society, and Novelists, Inc. (NINC).
She makes her home in Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 22, 2018
A Mixed Bag - 3 stars
This anthology contains seven stories by five authors. Six are short stories that vary slightly in length, while the seventh is a novella. These stories range from mediaeval Wales, through Elizabethan London, Regency London, Victorian London, Victorian San Francisco, to mid-20th century Ohio, United States of America.
“The Bard’s Daughter”, set in Wales in 1141 is a murder-mystery. It is written simply and in a straightforward manner, with no attempt to replicate the cadence or patterns of speech of the time. Apart from a bit of stage setting, the story could have been set in any era. We also have the ubiquitous and anachronistic “I’m sorry for your loss”.
“In Walked a Lady” is set in the Elizabethan era and is another murder-mystery with an ingenious plot and an unexpected twist. Very short and again, simply written. An almost perfect short story. But again we have the anachronism, “I’m sorry for your loss”.
“General Well’ngone in Love” is set in the Regency period and features a Jewish community in London. This story I am ambivalent about. It shows the seedy side of Regency London but is non-graphic, and I really liked General Well’ngone, but on the whole this didn’t work for me as a short story.
“Mr Wong Rights a Wrong” is set in 1880s San Francisco and is an intriguing little story that captured my attention. (I love the title).
“The Stockbroker’s Wife”, set in Victorian London is a take-off of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Stockbroker’s Clerk’, and didn’t really appeal to me. “Kathleen Catches a Killer”, set in Victorian San Francisco also didn’t appeal to me (and I think Kathleen needs to get herself a new love interest by the way).
I did enjoy the two short stories set in Ohio, U.S.A., in 1938, “The Barefooted Stiff” and “A Concrete Garter Belt”, the latter one getting into noir territory.
On the whole, this book is only an okay read for me. Most of the period stories could have been in any era, apart from a bit of window dressing in the mediaeval Welsh story, and the fact that I know Francis Bacon lived in the late Elizabethan/early Stuart eras. When I was reading the others, I had to go back and check the contents page to see what era I was supposed to be in. The only two stories that reflect their era properly are the modern ones set in 1938.
This anthology contains seven stories by five authors. Six are short stories that vary slightly in length, while the seventh is a novella. These stories range from mediaeval Wales, through Elizabethan London, Regency London, Victorian London, Victorian San Francisco, to mid-20th century Ohio, United States of America.
“The Bard’s Daughter”, set in Wales in 1141 is a murder-mystery. It is written simply and in a straightforward manner, with no attempt to replicate the cadence or patterns of speech of the time. Apart from a bit of stage setting, the story could have been set in any era. We also have the ubiquitous and anachronistic “I’m sorry for your loss”.
“In Walked a Lady” is set in the Elizabethan era and is another murder-mystery with an ingenious plot and an unexpected twist. Very short and again, simply written. An almost perfect short story. But again we have the anachronism, “I’m sorry for your loss”.
“General Well’ngone in Love” is set in the Regency period and features a Jewish community in London. This story I am ambivalent about. It shows the seedy side of Regency London but is non-graphic, and I really liked General Well’ngone, but on the whole this didn’t work for me as a short story.
“Mr Wong Rights a Wrong” is set in 1880s San Francisco and is an intriguing little story that captured my attention. (I love the title).
“The Stockbroker’s Wife”, set in Victorian London is a take-off of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Stockbroker’s Clerk’, and didn’t really appeal to me. “Kathleen Catches a Killer”, set in Victorian San Francisco also didn’t appeal to me (and I think Kathleen needs to get herself a new love interest by the way).
I did enjoy the two short stories set in Ohio, U.S.A., in 1938, “The Barefooted Stiff” and “A Concrete Garter Belt”, the latter one getting into noir territory.
On the whole, this book is only an okay read for me. Most of the period stories could have been in any era, apart from a bit of window dressing in the mediaeval Welsh story, and the fact that I know Francis Bacon lived in the late Elizabethan/early Stuart eras. When I was reading the others, I had to go back and check the contents page to see what era I was supposed to be in. The only two stories that reflect their era properly are the modern ones set in 1938.
June 12, 2019
Mixed bag...book?
Locke is a 5 star story collection, in my opinion. I liked the stories about Wales and would give them a 4. The other three were okay. Interesting plots, a couple great characters, okay plotting. I would place them with two or three stars. Sooo. Woolworth looking at and free copies of books online will be an incentive to give the novels a chance to change my mind about 4 of the 5 authors...or not!
Locke is a 5 star story collection, in my opinion. I liked the stories about Wales and would give them a 4. The other three were okay. Interesting plots, a couple great characters, okay plotting. I would place them with two or three stars. Sooo. Woolworth looking at and free copies of books online will be an incentive to give the novels a chance to change my mind about 4 of the 5 authors...or not!
November 18, 2018
I was a little hesitant about this one when I realized that is a marketing tool to hook you on each of the authors' series. Yet they were all well written, and I will probably read more of them, esp the ones which are free on Kindle! Historical mystery seems to be my favorite genre these days. It's always fun to find new characters to follow.
February 2, 2019
Short stories and novellas set in specific time periods, i.e. Francis Bacon as the sleuth in 15th century London, a kinda bard in medieval Wales, a maid in 19th century San Francisco, and so on.
Since I like my mysteries with a bit of historical underpinning, I have actually run into some of these authors and characters before and it was fun to find them in shorter worx.
Since I like my mysteries with a bit of historical underpinning, I have actually run into some of these authors and characters before and it was fun to find them in shorter worx.
December 7, 2018
Entertaining short story historical mysteries
These short stories star atypical historical female characters out to solve mysteries. Straightforward writing and fast paced. Enjoyable, fairly light reading.
These short stories star atypical historical female characters out to solve mysteries. Straightforward writing and fast paced. Enjoyable, fairly light reading.
October 13, 2020
This is a good collection of short stories. I especially liked the Maggie Sullivan stories by M. Ruth Myers and the Annie Fuller stories by M. Louisa Locke. I want to read more by both of these writers.
August 28, 2018
Most stories were short enough to give me a hint of what the series might be. Nice way to discover authors that I might not read otherwise.
October 10, 2018
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"A perfect taster of each author’s work"
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"A perfect taster of each author’s work"
January 3, 2019
I loved learning of new writers
March 26, 2019
Entertaining
Mildly entertaining w/ historical authenticity. Enjoyed it. The Moriarty stories were especially intriguing from a reverse perspective, becomes an antihero.
Mildly entertaining w/ historical authenticity. Enjoyed it. The Moriarty stories were especially intriguing from a reverse perspective, becomes an antihero.
December 28, 2018
A varied collection of ‘cozy’ mysteries from a number of time periods, nearly all with female lead characters. Easy reading, with some stories more engaging than others. I wasn’t familiar with the majority of these authors before reading this book, so it was worthwhile reading from that perspective. Would recommend to those with an interest in this genre.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews