History & Mystery discussion

Well right now I am reading historic fiction Cornwell's Saxon series) but not really mystery. Before that I was reading mystery but not historic. However I would love to hear about any you are reading since I would like to get back to reading some more in this genre.

I have a whole shelf of historical mysteries I read, and and an even bigger shelf of stuff still to read...

I am about to embark on Steven Saylors latest Gordianus novel (Wrath of the Furies). I really liked that series. Also in ancient Rome is Lindsey Davis Falco series (now finished, as she moved to his daughter - Flavia Alba).

I have about a series per following century on my to-read shelf, but one that I really do heartily recommend is Boris Akunin's Fandorin series. It's set in late 19th / early 20th century Russia. Each novel is written as a different sub-genre. Can't recommend it enough.


Also (if you'll excuse me :), I've just finished reading my own historical mystery... It's actually a bit more of a fantasy mystery within a semi-historical Roman setting. Had to read it several times during editing, so it's good that I wrote the book I wanted to read :)

Great recommendations. Thanks you. Exciting to have finished a novel. I haven't read too much fantasy but definitely sounds like an interesting time and setting.

Keri wrote: "Great recommendations. Thanks you. Exciting to have finished a novel. I haven't read too much fantasy but definitely sounds like an interesting time and setting."

Thanks!

BTW, do you have a favourite time period? I can recommend that above as I read them, but you can find a lot more here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histori...

Not a favorite time period but I think a favorite setting is historical England and Scotland. Great link. I added Sharon Kay Penman's Justin de Quincy series into it. Not sure all of our groups books are in there.

Keri wrote: "Not a favorite time period but I think a favorite setting is historical England and Scotland. Great link. I added Sharon Kay Penman's Justin de Quincy series into it. Not sure all of our groups boo..."

I've heard a lot of good reviews about Ellis Peter's Brother Cadfael - but that's probably very well known :)
It's on my to-read list, as well as re-reading The Name of The Rose.
Would love to hear your recommendations about other books.


And if you see anything notable missing from the Wikipedia article, you can always add to it! That's the wonderful nature of the wiki :)

Search the DarkI am back to reading a historical mystery book. I started the Charles Todd Series but stopped to read some books I wanted to check out. So I am back to it again. The detective is Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard who has returned with shell shock from WWI. My sister is reading the series as well.

I am on Watchers of Time of the Ian Rutledge Series, Charles Todd

I completed all of the Ian Rutledge Series, Charles Todd and have started their Bess Crawford Series. It is set during WWI. An Unmarked Grave

Let us know what Historic Mysteries you are reading.

I'm part way into the Crowner John series by Bernard Knight.
These are interesting books based on a returned crusader who becomes a "crowner", or one of the first coroners, investigating deaths in Medieval England.
Great reading.

Julian wrote: "I'm part way into the Crowner John series by Bernard Knight.
These are interesting books based on a returned crusader who becomes a "crowner", or one of the first coroners, investigating deaths in..."


That does sound like a great read. I read a series about a Laotian coroner. It was good. I will definitely check the series out. Thanks for sharing it.

Could you give me the authors name please?
I lived in the Lao PDR for a while and am still interested in things Lao.

Julian wrote: "Could you give me the authors name please?
I lived in the Lao PDR for a while and am still interested in things Lao."

Julian wrote: "Could you give me the authors name please?
I lived in the Lao PDR for a while and am still interested in things Lao."
The Coroner's Lunch There is the link for you. I put it in the Bookshelf after posting my reply. So the 1st of the series is the Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill It is called the Dr Siri Paiboun series. It has a lot of humor. I hope you like it. Either way let me know.

Well into "The Coroners Lunch", loving every page of it, thanks a lot.

Julian wrote: "Well into "The Coroners Lunch", loving every page of it, thanks a lot."
Cool! So fun to share books.

A great read, will look for the rest of the series.
Just starting "The Pistoleer" by James Carlos Blake.

The Name of the RoseI am reading the Name of the Rose now since it is one of this groups books and I hadn't read it. It is going slower than usual but it is good. I guess I have trouble with books that don't have any women in them. They don't seem as related to my life. Yes I know it is set in a monastery so not really surprising and during this historic period these were important places. It isn't like I am not interested just not really fast paced.

I like films but I mostly read for entertainment and forget to turn on the TV. So I will be glad to be back to a book that is just a bit more fun as well as interesting.

I've just started the fourth Ava Lee book, The Red Pole of Macau by Ian Hamilton.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I'm really enjoying this series.

I checked that series out. It does look very interesting. I have been in Macau. Well I started a not historical mystery series and then couldn't get the 2nd book on Nook so luckily one of my very favorite authors (Jaqueline Winspear) of a favorite historical mystery series Maisie Dobbs just released the next book recently. So I am back to reading historical mystery.

Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton, this is a really good book and I'll be looking for more of her work.

Anyone that likes good crime thrillers in unusual surroundings (The Falkland Islands) will enjoy this.

Look for Baxter Clare's LA Franco series, good, hard hitting police detective novels set in Los Angeles.

I tried to get The Professor but wasn't available as an Ebook or at Barnes & Noble. Thanks for good recommendations.

Reading Hades (Archer & Bennett #1) by Candice Fox.

This is first rate crime fiction by an Australian writer, I'd recommend it to any lover of this genre.

I am reading a series by Peter Bowen not really historic just mystery but history does come into play. The main character is Gabriel du Pre. He is Metis. The e's in Pre and Metis have accent aigu's I can't put in here. The history of this ethnic group is interesting and I sort of like the characters but think this one I am reading will be my last since I suspect these characters might not like me. I am too urban and too liberal. I work to protect the environment. They may like that I work for a Tribe and my work place is more rural. Anyway this book Wolf no Wolf is a bit violent and angry and so I will finish it but will go on to another series.

Oh well. I may try Peter May out that you are reading a series of, Julian. I like books in Scotland so I will try his trilogy mysteries set there, I think.

You will not be sorry Keri, I'm reading his Enzo Files mysteries, set in France, at the moment.
A former forensic scientist takes a challenge to solve seven cold cases, each book goes to a different part of France and the background work is superb.
I just finished Blowback, involving the death of a Michelin rated chef.
The new book (6) is out next month, really looking forward to that as well as Ian Hamilton's new Ava Lee series book.

Well into Ian Hamilton's new Ava Lee book, things are going too well for Ava, you just know it will all go bad before she comes back and rescues the situation.

The Couturier of Milan (Ava Lee #9)
by Ian Hamilton
4.13 · Rating Details · 62 Ratings · 11 Reviews
Ava’s life continues to change and expand. The focus will be on the fashion industry, specifically the luxury brand segment (PÖ), but it will involve Xu and his Triads, and the Italian mafia group, the Camorra. Ava’s love life is also explored in more detail.

I just finished Entry Island by Peter May. It fits within the historical mystery genre since the main character's life seems to be connected to his ancestor's life via remembered stories and rereading from a series of diaries, dreams and meeting someone related to these stories from his family's past.

I am reading a mystery from the Benjamin January series by Barbara Hambly set in New Orleans in the 1800s. I thought I had read the whole series but see there are a few more of these to read now.

I have been reading mostly Courtroom mysteries lately so they weren't related to this group. What are the rest of the group reading?

Funny thing about courtroom mysteries, I've been in the mood for them myself.
Currently reading John Ellsworth's Michael Gresham series.
I got about three books into his Thaddeus Murfee series as well but like the Gresham ones better.

I like historical crime fiction so will take a look at the Barbara Hambly books.

Julian wrote: "Funny thing about courtroom mysteries, I've been in the mood for them myself.
Currently reading John Ellsworth's Michael Gresham series.
I got about three books into his Thaddeus Murfee series as w..."
Thanks Julian I wanted more recommendations of other Courtroom series.

Watch out for The Professor by Robert Bailey as well, going to become a really good series.

I had tagged that book as to read but couldn’t get it on the Nook. Now I have a Kindle too and am reading The Professor.

Just started Hawke's Prey (Sonny Hawke Thriller #1)
by Reavis Z. Wortham.

I really enjoyed his Red River Mysteries but I'm not sure about this series.
Only a hundred pages in so we'll see how it goes.

I am reading the latest in a favorite detective series. The Number 1 Ladies’ Detective Series. It is All the Colors of the Cattle. It seems timeless but not really historic I think. This is Number 19 so yes I like this series.

Recently I have been reading the latest Anne Perry books in the Daniel Pitt series and the Elena Standish series. Haven't posted much here since I have been reading a lot of mysteries set in current times just because I haven't found historical mystery series recently.