Recently, I’ve read several historical mysteries that I’ve enjoyed. I like this genre because these stories immerse you in another era. The police are limited to solving a case with the means available to them at the time. Meanwhile, the heroine utilizes her intuition and deductive skills to root out the killer while struggling to maintain her place in society. It’s a learning experience as well to read these books that may mention historical figures and issues of the times. So grab yourself a copy and settle in to travel to another place where you can relish the blend of history and mystery.
Murder at Vinland by Alyssa Maxwell
The Gilded Newport Mysteries, Book Twelve
A series of mysterious poisonings afflicts society women in Newport during the Gilded Age. Reporter Emma Cross Andrews, a distant relation of the Vanderbilts, is dismayed by the case, especially when one woman she knows is arrested and might be innocent. Vinland is the seaside home of Emma’s relative, Florence Vanderbilt Twombly. It’s after a charity luncheon there benefiting the Audubon Society that the first guest falls ill. Others soon follow, and Emma gets on the case before more ladies are targeted. Murder at Vinland is an easy read that will keep you guessing. I had no idea whodunit and was surprised by the finale. The setting details will have you feeling you’re in Newport among the elite, although Emma is just as friendly with her staff as with the upper crust Four Hundred. This historical mystery offers another winner by the talented Alyssa Maxwell.
(Book One is Murder at the Breakers, also a Hallmark TV Movie Mystery)
Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen
A Royal Spyness Mystery, Book Sixteen
Lady Georgiana Rannoch, related to the King of England, is invited to Paris to stay with her friend, Belinda. Her husband Darcy accompanies her but takes up residence at a hotel so he can conduct his clandestine business. Belinda is working for Coco Chanel prior to the debut show of her fall collection. When Darcy asks Georgie to retrieve an item from one of the patrons, she’s happy to comply until things go terribly wrong and a woman is murdered. With a child on the way, Georgie can’t afford to spend time in prison which is where the French inspector would like to put her. She must muster her sleuthing skills to unmask the culprit before she becomes the next victim. A clever plot, a charming heroine, and a romantic setting conspire to turn this story into a twisty tale of lies and spies.
(Book One is Her Royal Spyness)
Uneasy Spirits by M. Louisa Locke
A Victorian San Francisco Mystery, Book Two
Boarding house owner and widow Annie Fuller disguises herself as a clairvoyant to offer financial advice to her clients. She’d like to explore her budding relationship with lawyer Nate Dawson, but a plea from a boarder gets in the way. The woman’s sister has been suckered in by a trickster who holds seances and preys on grieving customers. But is he a fraud? He and his colleagues seem to know too much about a secret from Annie’s past. As she attempts to discern the truth from lies, someone means to stop her from digging further unless it’s her own grave. With a cast of intriguing characters, detailed settings, and a likeable heroine, this suspenseful story is a page-turner!
(Book One is Maids of Misfortune)
The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur
June Hur’s books that take place during the Joseon dynasty are on my must-read list. Since I’m a fan of Korean period dramas, I’ve enjoyed her standalone mysteries that immerse you in this era. When Hwani’s detective father goes missing, she runs away from her aunt’s home to search for him. It’s the Joseon Dynasty in Korea, where women are expected to be obedient. But Hwani is determined to find out what happened to him. She remembers the skills her father taught her and starts on his trail. He’d been investigating a town where a number of girls have disappeared and one might have been murdered. As she gets to know the villagers, several suspects emerge. So does her estranged sister, Maewol, who lives there with the town shaman. Can Hwani protect her sibling while finding out who had stolen the missing girls and why? And how did it relate to her own past, when she and Maewol were found lost in the forest years ago? This gripping story immerses you in a frightening world with a heroine who is persistent and clever.
Killing Time in Georgia by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
Savannah Time Travel Mysteries, Book One
Police dispatcher Georgia Belle travels back in time from 2023 to 1923 in Savannah, when racial bigotry was rampant along with a lack of women’s rights. Confused about how she got there, Georgia is taken in by the kindly Mary, a single woman living independently. Those were dangerous times considering a serial killer was on the loose, and current crime fighting methods didn’t exist. When an innocent man ends up in jail, Georgia vows to clear his name. But first she must put herself in danger to find the real killer. Detailed descriptions lend an aura of authenticity to this time travel tale that quickly becomes a page turner as Georgia narrows the suspects. Can she solve the crime before she returns back to the future? Mystery, history and romance mingle in this delightful series debut. I’ll definitely be looking for the sequel.
Murder on the Flying Scotsman by Jessica Baker
Lady Thea Mysteries, Book One
Lady Thea is on a train to Scotland to visit her cousins when she finds a dead body in her compartment. The man turns out to be the secret husband of her maid, Molly. When Molly is arrested for the murder, Lady Thea determines to find the real killer. She meets a quirky assortment of fellow passengers as well as a handsome inspector from Scotland Yard and a mysterious reporter. The suspects keep you guessing until the culprit is revealed in the final, suspense-filled scene. Even without the murder, the setting and sleuth are fun to follow. I’ll look forward to reading more in this delightful series.
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