Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

What are you reading in other genres? Tell us about it.

To start the New Year I am going to be reading The Good Girl. Apparently I am behind everyone, since most have already read it.

I'm starting the year with Death in the Truffle Wood. It's opened a bit quirkily, so we'll see how it goes.

I'm starting the year with Anna Karenina. I keep chickening out of reading it, so I'm going to get it done early this year.

Reading Queen's Gambit, which is a historical novel, just not a mystery.

Finished The Chase. The cover really drew me in --- It was Ok. It was fun. You can read my review and I'll tell you why.

Historical action crime novel, not a mystery.

I've been all over the board lately. Read "The Pink Carnation" by Lauren Willig and absolutely loved it! Best read of 2015 for me. Also read "And Only To Decieve" by Tasha Alexander. Very good. What genre would you guys put these in? Also reading "The Proposal" by Mary Balogh. My first straight up Romance.

Michelle wrote: "I've been all over the board lately. Read "The Pink Carnation" by Lauren Willig and absolutely loved it! Best read of 2015 for me."

I really love Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series. I definitely plan to savor each one as I read them.

Michelle wrote: "I've been all over the board lately. Read "The Pink Carnation" by Lauren Willig and absolutely loved it! Best read of 2015 for me. Also read "And Only To Decieve" by Tasha Alexander. Very good. Wha..."

I just categorize as Historical Mystery and them by time period.

I started The Pillars of the Earth. I've owned the book for quite some time and so many people continue to tell me it's a book I "have" to read if I like historical fiction. It's find so far. I definitely don't find it earth-shattering by any means.

Gretchen wrote: "I started The Pillars of the Earth. I've owned the book for quite some time and so many people continue to tell me it's a book I "have" to read if I like historical fiction. It's find s..."

Ooh, I loved that book! It definitely took me awhile to really get into it, but it was definitely worth it.

Lauren wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I've been all over the board lately. Read "The Pink Carnation" by Lauren Willig and absolutely loved it! Best read of 2015 for me. Also read "And Only To Decieve" by Tasha Alexande..."

Lauren wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I've been all over the board lately. Read "The Pink Carnation" by Lauren Willig and absolutely loved it! Best read of 2015 for me. Also read "And Only To Decieve" by Tasha Alexande..."

Thanks, Lauren. That's what I would say, too, but some call them romantic suspense. Have you come across this?

Michelle wrote: "Thanks, Lauren. That's what I would say, too, but some call them romantic suspense. Have you come across this? "

Not really. For me, romantic suspense is a contemporary genre. I wouldn't classify historical mystery or romance as RS.

Yes, I suppose you're right. Didn't think of that.

I think there is getting to be too many genres out there. I mean, really. What's the difference between: literary fiction, women's fiction, contemporary fiction, book club fiction and chick lit? It's getting too crazy!

Michelle wrote: "What's the difference between: literary fiction, women's fiction, contemporary fiction, book club fiction and chick lit? It's getting too crazy! "

A lot of it is just personal/individual perceptions.

I hate the term "chick-lit" with a passion. It is derogatory. We don't call fiction written for men "Dick-Lit" - argh! LOL!

For me, women's fiction and chick-lit are the same - books written for women.

Literary fiction, Book Club Fiction, Contemporary Fiction are all very broad, and numerous books as well as sub-genres could feasibly fit into them.

I never understood the book club fiction label. If I run a book club, I'm reading whatever book my club wants.

Gretchen wrote: "I never understood the book club fiction label. If I run a book club, I'm reading whatever book my club wants."

Exactly. It doesn't make any sense. Book clubs read the members choice so any book could fit that definition.

I think book club fiction is supposed to indicate that the work has a strong likelihood of generating good discussion such as moral/ethical dilemmas, ambiguous motivations, etc. In other words, the work generates more questions than it answers.
"Experts" have often said that mysteries and romance novels for the most part do not make good discussion fodder but I know of one local romance group that lasted a few years with good participation and I attend a popular mystery f2f group where we seem to keep the talk going just fine.

"Experts" or perhaps "book snobs" is a more apt description.

Lauren wrote: "We don't call fiction written for men "Dick-Lit" - argh! LOL!"

Hahahaha!!

I'm going completely outside my comfort zone with The Martian. My husband wants to see the movie but I refuse to watch it until I have finished the book.

Mrs Happy and I went and saw the movie last Saturday - really, really good!

I now have to read the book :)

I liked The Martian and thought it would make a good movie.

Lauren wrote: "Michelle wrote: "What's the difference between: literary fiction, women's fiction, contemporary fiction, book club fiction and chick lit? It's getting too crazy! "

A lot of it is just personal/ind..."
Loved the "Dick-Lit" comment, Lauren. I actually laughed out loud!

Phair wrote: "I think book club fiction is supposed to indicate that the work has a strong likelihood of generating good discussion such as moral/ethical dilemmas, ambiguous motivations, etc. In other words, the..."

I agree with all of the above genre/bookclub comments. I still say this genre thing is way out of control.

Michelle wrote: "Loved the "Dick-Lit" comment, Lauren. I actually laughed out loud!"

;0)

I'm reading The Relic Master: A Novel by Chistopher Buckley - not a mystery but historic. It takes place in the early 1500's as Martin Luther is posting his thesis against the abuses of the Catholic church. It is an adventure story with humorous overtones. I'm enjoying it.

I just finished Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois. It was the best book I have read all year. I realize it's only February but it's going to take something epic to knock this novel from it's top spot.
I'm waiting on some mysteries from the library so for now I'm moving to Duchess of Aquitaine: A Novel of Eleanor.

Gretchen wrote: "I just finished Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois. It was the best book I have read all year. I realize it's only February but it's going to take something epic to k..."

Thanks for the recommend, Gretchen! I've been wanting to try this one!

Currently reading London's Glory: The Lost Cases of Bryant & May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit, which centers around the contemporary older duo of Bryant & May. However, with this collection of short stories, some of them have been set in the 1950s, '60s, and now I've run into one set in the 1970s. It's been interesting. This is my first Bryant & May book, and I don't know if I'm going to jump straight in to the series now, but I'll certainly enjoy finishing this one.

I'm on a French mistress kick. I read Enchantress of Paris: A Novel of the Sun King’s Court yesterday and thought it was fantastic. Today I want to start Mistress of the Sun.

I recently just finished Madame de Villeneuve's "Beauty and the Beast" and since Beauty and the Beast is my all time favorite movie I was happy to read the story that inspired it. While quite different form the movie, I did enjoy the many different themes that were in it, I definitely was not expecting fairies to be in this book. Even though it was a bit all over the place, I did enjoy it. I have also been continuing my re-read of Nancy Drew and will be continuing the Shardlake series. Hope everyone is enjoying what they are reading!

I just finished the fourth in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories series, Sword Song .

Veronica wrote: "I just finished the fourth in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories series, Sword Song ."

I loved this series!

Currently reading Amanda Quick's A Garden of Lies . Loving it! If any of you have read this, would you say it was a romance or a mystery or both? What genre would you list it under? Thanks!

Amanda Quick's books are wonderful. I would classify them as Historical Romance with a tinge of mystery in them.

Michelle wrote: "Veronica wrote: "I just finished the fourth in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories series, Sword Song ."

I loved this series!"

I'm definitely enjoying it, Michelle. Did you watch the new tv series adaptation? I liked it but it was the first two books condensed into eight episodes and the actor who plays Uhtred, while good, seems awfully small to me to play the part.

Lauren wrote: "Amanda Quick's books are wonderful. I would classify them as Historical Romance with a tinge of mystery in them."

I feel the same, Lauren. One of the categories that Amazon lists it as is Romantic Suspense, which I feel is also accurate.

Veronica wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Veronica wrote: "I just finished the fourth in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories series, Sword Song ."

I loved this series!"

I'm defin..."
Yes, I've been watching the TV series. I hope they make more. I agree with your assessment of Uthred. It isn't at all how I pictured him.

Michelle wrote: "I feel the same, Lauren. One of the categories that Amazon lists it as is Romantic Suspense, which I feel is also accurate. ."

I tend to view the romantic suspense genre as more contemporary than historical.

Hmmm...good point. Thanks!

Veronica wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Veronica wrote: "I just finished the fourth in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories series, Sword Song ."

I loved this series!"

I'm defin..."

I watched one episode and it just sits on my DVR waiting for me to make a decision. The actor they cast is not Uhtred. He looks nothing like Uhtred. I just don't know if I can dedicate myself to a show that miscast my literary boyfriend so terribly.

Ha! I know, right? Also, Alfred isn't what I pictured him to be...Not that it matters.

Just finished Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon and currently reading Bitter River by Julia Keller

Finished The Summer Before the War a couple days ago and absolutely loved it! I haven't read Major Pettigrew's Last Stand yet but Helen Simonson has now gone on my must-read list.

I've been eyeing The Summer Before the War myself. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it, Meghan.

Gretchen wrote: "I watched one episode and it just sits on my DVR waiting for me to make a decision. The actor they cast is not Uhtred. He looks nothing like Uhtred. I just don't know if I can dedicate myself to a show that miscast my literary boyfriend so terribly. "

LOL, book Uhtred usually annoys me too much to be a book boyfriend though I've now read through book four and he seems to be getting better. He was too immature and reactionary in the early books IMO but he seems to be growing up now.

I watched the whole eight episode season and I guess I got used to the actor (though I still think the actor who plays Ragnar would have been a better fit). I don't know if I would've been able to follow the story and keep all the characters straight if I hadn't first read the books.

Keeping to the mystery genre, I just finished a non-historical mystery, Crime and Poetry. This is not a book I would normally reach for, but surprisingly I happened to enjoy it. I'm not really one for "cozy mysteries" as I think they are called, but I can see the appeal now. Just a nice simple read where I did not have to think too much. Hopefully everyone is enjoying what they are reading :)

I'm reading Precious Blood the second in the series. The first book is Christmas orientated and I read it when looking for holiday reads. This is a (almost) 30 book series that started in the 1990's and I just discovered that the older ones are available via Hoopla thru the library. So, no longer stymied by my compulsion to read in order, I got the Hoopla app and downloaded the book. This one is occurs over Easter so I'm a few months late. Excellent read so far.

Rebecca wrote: "Keeping to the mystery genre, I just finished a non-historical mystery, Crime and Poetry. This is not a book I would normally reach for, but surprisingly I happened to enjoy it. I'm..."

I like cozy mysteries when I am in the mood for something lighter.