Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Historical mystery readers are often fans of a particular time period, event or historical personage. Are you one of these? What is it about the theme that appeals to you so much that you read about it over and over? Do you ever get tired of it and need something new to cleanse the reading palate?

Lately I find myself reading a lot of mysteries set in the 12th-13th centuries. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the idea that people had to use their brains to figure things out instead of computers (Damn CSI). I don't have any mysteries going right now but the books I'm reading cover a fairly wide historical spectrum. I'm reading a book about Arbella Stuart, the Spanish Conquistadors and the fall of the Mayan Empire, and one that's a take on the Arthur legend set during the reign of Richard I.

While there aren't many mysteries set in my favorite period I try to read at least one book or more every year set during the French and Indian War. I was so happy when Pattison set his Bone Rattler the first of his Colonial America Mystery series in that period. Unfortunately the series has moved on to the post war period but I still enjoy them.

As to other historical mystery favorites I am most drawn to Egyptian/Classical era including Roman Britain, post-WWI era and late Victorian.

I jump around so much in my reading, almost never reading a series in one fell swoop that I don't really get tired of any period.

I especially love the Middle Ages. In addition, I love stories about the Black Death.

Phair wrote: "While there aren't many mysteries set in my favorite period I try to read at least one book or more every year set during the French and Indian War. I was so happy when Pattison set his Bone ..."</i>

Re French and Indian war mysteries-- [book:The Constable's Tale: A Novel of Colonial America by Donald Smith will be released on September 15th

My favorites are 19th century/early 20th century (up to and including WWI) set in Europe. I'll read other stuff, but for some reason, I keep coming back to that.

That being said, our monthly author reads have led me in more diverse directions, which has been a good thing!

Shomeret wrote: "Re French and Indian war mysteries-- [book:The Constable's Tale: A Novel of Colonial America by Donald Smith will be released on September 15th. "

I heard about this one and requested that my local library purchase it. They said yes so I hope to get my hands on it soon after street date. Can't wait.

I go back to Ancient Roman and Greek era mysteries as that ties in with my (amateur) expertise and the online book discussion group on subjects Roman and sometimes Greek that I run. There are excellent mystery writers about such as Steven Saylor, Lindsey Davis, Gary Corby (Ancient Athens), and many more.

I do have a weakness for Tudor mysteries, but I really might read one from any period, if it looks good.

I will read any Samurai Japan mystery which covers a long period of time. Unfortunately, my favorite Laura Joh Rowland has decided to stop writing them and I haven't found another samurai detective that I really love yet.

I really love anything from the Victorian to WW II, though I like some Regency, too! I love the fact that societ was so ordered and so much drama can arise simply from not following the correct rules of propriety. Marvelous!

I tend to be partial to the Victorian and Edwardian eras myself and up to just before WWII.

For romances I also love the Wild West and Highland Warrior stuff.

Would love to find a good murder mystery series with a wild west setting.

I guess my two era of preference are midieval/early modern England and late Republic/early Imperial Rome. I do read other eras and places, but I keep coming back to those two.

Georgian, Regency, Napoleonic and Victorian - I love them all.

I find that I tend to read Victorian and those around WWI and WWII but I like to mix it up if I can.

Just a quick reminder that I have a book coming out this coming April that is set between the world wars. Please check out more details in the promotions folder here on Goodreads!