I am an unabashed fan of crime fiction set in the past. It is fascinating to consider how crimes might have been solved in the days before police departments, forensic scientists, and loads of technology. Often these books hark back to the puzzle side of crime fiction allowing the reader to solve the crime along with the fictional detective. Here are some of my favorite historical crime novels, arranged in chronological order.
- Lynda S. Robinson – Lord Meren mysteries, beginning with Murder in the Place of Anubis (Egypt, 1330s BCE)
- Steven Saylor – Gordianus the Finder mysteries, beginning with Roman Blood (Rome, 80-50 BCE)
- Peter Tremayne – Sister Fidelma mysteries, beginning with Absolution by Murder (Ireland, 660s)
- Ariana Franklin – Mistress of the Art of Death series, beginning with Mistress of the Art of Death (England, 1170s)
- Caroline Roe – Chronicles of Isaac of Girona, beginning with Remedy for Treason (Girona, Spain, 1350s)
- Kate Sedley – Roger the Chapman mysteries, beginning with Death and the Chapman (England 1470s)
- Edward Marston – Nicholas Bracewell series, beginning with The Queen’s Head (England, 1580s)
- Laura Joh Rowland – Sano Ichiro mysteries, beginning with Shinju (Edo, Japan, 1680s)
- Bruce Alexander – Sir John Fielding series, beginning with Blind Justice (England, 1770s)
- Jason Goodwin – Investigator Yashim series, beginning with The Janissary Tree (Istanbul, Turkey, 1830s)
- Michael Pearce – Mamur Zapt series, beginning with The Mamur Zapt and the Return of the Carpet (Egypt, 1908-18)
Other favorites? Add them in the comments.
Some of my favorite historical mysteries include:
The Charles Lenox series by Charles Finch, which is set in Victorian England.
The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear, which is set in the inter-war years in England
The Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters, which is set during a medieval civil war in the 1100s in England.
I also enjoy:
The Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters, which is set in the early twentieth century in England and Egypt
Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry (who has written some other historical mystery series as well.), which is set in Victorian England.
The Phryne Fisher mysteries by Kerry Greenwood, set in Australia in the 1920’s. These are very fun and a little racy!
Thanks, Jennifer. These are all great suggestions.
There’s also the Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King, starting with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, about the cases that Sherlock Holmes takes on after his retirement with the help of Mary (an independent-minded younger woman) and, of course, his brother Mycroft. I have gotten at least two people hooked on this series, that I know of.
These are great titles, Laurie. Thanks for suggesting them.