Lauren Willig

If You Like….

Last week, during the Q&A section of a book event with Tasha Alexander and Deanna Raybourn, someone asked us what our favorite historical mysteries were. And we all looked at each other and said, “Uh….” Because, of course, you never remember these things when put on the spot.

So, to make up for that, if you like historical mystery series, you’ll probably like….

– Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily books, starting with And Only to Deceive (Victorian);

– Deanna Raybourn’s Lady Julia books, starting with Silent in the Grave (Victorian);

– Carole Nelson Douglas’ Irene Adler series, starting with Good Night, Mr. Holmes;

– Kate Ross’ Julian Kestrel books, starting with Cut to the Quick (Regency);

– C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr books, starting with What Angels Fear (Regency);

– Stephanie Barron’s Jane Austen mysteries, starting with Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor (Regency);

– Tracy Grant’s Charles & Melanie mysteries, starting with Secrets of a Lady (Regency);

– Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody novels, starting with Crocodile on the Sandbank (Victorian and onward);

– Laurie King’s Mary Russell novels, starting with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice (Edwardian and on);

– Rhys Bowen’s Lady Georgiana series, starting with Her Royal Spyness (1930s);

– Bruce Alexander’s Sir John Fielding mysteries, starting with Blind Justice (Georgian);

– Patricia Wynn’s Blue Satan books, starting with The Birth of Blue Satan (Georgian);

– Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael books, starting with A Morbid Taste for Bones (medieval);

– Susanna Gregory’s Matthew Bartholomew books, starting with A Plague on Both Your Houses (medieval).

What are your favorite historical mystery series?

16 Responses to “If You Like….”

I love the Brother Cadfael books! I also like Lindsey Davis’ Marcus Didius Falco books (starts with Silver Pigs, Roman), Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey (starts with Whose Body? 1920s), and Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma (Absolution by Murder, Ancient Ireland). Most of those, my dad got me started on <3

by Tricia on November 7th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Lauren, you listed many of my favorites! To the list I would add:

Jacqueline Windspear’s Maisie Dobbs series (starts with Maisie Dobbs).

Patrician Ryan’s Nell Sweeney Mysteries (starts with Still Life with Murder).

Judith Rock’s Charles du Luc series (starts with The Rhetoric of Death).

Rose Melikan’s Mary Finch and Cpt. Robert Holland mysteries (starts with The Mistaken Wife).

by JoAnn on November 7th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
I also like:

Charles Finch’s Charles Lenox series

Carol K. Carr’s India Black series

Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series

by Ashley on November 7th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Kathy Lynn Emerson’s series Face Down, with Lady Appleton

Suzanne Arruda’s Jade Del Cameron series, esp if you like Maisie Dobbd, start with Mark of the Lion

by Sheila on November 7th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Marion Chesney’s Edwardian series starting with “Snobbery with Violence”
Amanda Quick’s Tobias March and Lavinia Lake trilogy is fun. I think 1st book is “A Shady Lady”.

by Leslie on November 7th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
I love the Lady Julia series!! I also like The Mistress of the Art of Death series. Not in the same time period, but still good!

by Valerie on November 7th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Flavia de Luce!

Also I too love Amelia Peabody Emerson!

by Elizabeth (aka Miss Eliza) on November 7th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Absolutely love Patricia Ryan’s Nell Sweeney mysteries!!!!

by Melanie on November 7th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Mysteries are my first love and I grew up reading Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy Sayers and all the other classic mystery writers who, by now, could be considered historical. In addition to the ones already noted (many of which I also love), I could probably list 10 pages of my “favorites.” But here’s a “small” start.

Ashley Gardner—Capt. Lacey
Victoria Thompson—Sarah Brandt
Charles Todd—Ian Rutledge
Catriona McPherson—Dandy Gilver
Anne Perry—Pitt, Monk, and WWI series
Barbara Hambly—Benjamin January, Abigail Adams
Rhys Bowen—Molly Murphy
Michael Kilian—Harrison Raines
Jack Martin—Alphonso Clay
Owen Parry—Abel Jones
Laura Joh Rowland—Sana Ichiro
Lynda S. Robinson—Lord Meren
Lauren Haney—Lt. Bak
Barbara Cleverly—Joe Sandilands
James Benn—Billy Boyle
Margaret Frazer—Sister Frevisse
Priscilla Royal—Prioress Eleanor
Margaret Ashe—Templar Knight/Sir Bascot
Kate Sedley—Roger the Chapman
Joan Wolf (love her Regencies)—Hugh de Leon
Sharon Kay Penman—Justin de Quincy
Edward Marston—Nicholas Bracewell
Candice Robb—Owen Archer

by SusanN on November 8th, 2011 at 12:56 am
Scusi–had a slight aneurysm when typing the above. The amazing Barbara Hambly (who also wrote terrific scifi/fantasy books) authored the Benjamin January novels, but not the Abigail Adams novels–that was Barbara Hamilton.

by SusanN on November 8th, 2011 at 1:12 am
Steven Saylor’s Roma Sub Rosa series, Susanne Alleyn’s Aristide Ravel series (scattered before, during, and just after the French Revolution, not written in chronological order), and Barbara Hamilton’s Abigail Adams mysteries.

by Kristen A. on November 8th, 2011 at 9:33 am
So many of my favorites have already been mentioned! I will add the mysteries of Anne Perry, particularly the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series and the William Monk series. I got my mother hooked on these as well.

by Farin on November 8th, 2011 at 11:28 am
I, too, enjoy Candace Robb’s Owen Archer series as well as Laura Joh Rowland’s Sano Ichiro series and Karen Harper’s Elizabeth the 1st series. Oh! and Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. I would really like to find the historical mystery featuring Galileo — holdover idea from Math Club days while on layoff.

by AmyN on November 9th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Alys Clare – medieval
Georgette Heyer

by Meg on November 10th, 2011 at 11:26 am
I am particularly fond of all things Georgian, so have to put in my two cents and add the Hannah March books. Sadly, there are few. Oh, and the Ashley Gardner mysteries. I, too, recommend the Bruce Alexanders. Not as light, but they have such a strong presence and style. Superb.

by Kellie Morris on November 10th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Sorry I’m rather late to the game. I’ve been looking for historical mysteries, so this is a pretty amazing list to find! I would add:

Arianna Franklin — The Mistress of the Art of Death

by Samantha on December 1st, 2011 at 1:25 pm

If You Like….

16 Responses to “If You Like….”

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