My mystery novels are just a subset of the great umbrella that is Historical Fiction.

Generally speaking, Historical Fiction, or HistFic, is any story that takes place more than 50 years ago. Unfortunately for us old people, that means, now, anything that takes place in or before 1973.

Sorry, Gen X.

The world of historical fiction is deep and varied, and I’ve pulled together a list of things I think you simply must read if you want to read more stories set in the days of the past.

Allison Epstein, who graciously blurbed my first book wrote a phenomenal novel set in Elizabethan England: A TIP FOR THE HANGMAN. It was even a clue on Jeopardy!. The main character is Christopher Marlowe, the playwright, who is sent by Queen Elizabeth to spy on Mary, Queen of Scots. It’s a dynamite thriller that is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and Audiobook wherever you prefer to buy. And you should buy it, ASAP.

Allison’s next book, LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD is an alternative history of Imperial Russia, which will be just as brilliant and well-researched, I’m sure!

Buy A TIP FOR THE HANGMAN: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/654111/a-tip-for-the-hangman-by-allison-epstein/9780385546720

Pre-order LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710533/let-the-dead-bury-the-dead-by-allison-epstein/

SERVANT OF DEATH by Sarah Hawkswood is an excellent first-in-the-series novel if you’ve taken my advice and read the BROTHER CADFAEL series by Ellis Peters. I appreciate mysteries set in eras with absolutely no modern Crime-Scene-Investigating science (even if CSI itself is nearly 100% fiction).

Set in the mid-1100s, the series follows two men of the law, Serjeant Catchpoll, and his boss, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, as they try to solve a murder at a very prestigious Abbey. I know little to nothing about Dark Ages England, so I don’t get hung up on whether or not everything is entirely historically accurate, but who honestly really cares? These series set nearly 1000 years ago are all about escapism, and dreaming of living in a time when life really was simpler, because they didn’t have running water or iPhones.

Buy SERVANT OF DEATH: http://a.co/d/imIqFDT

If you’re looking for something extremely similar to VIVIANA VALENTINE, I’d have to suggest SMOKE AND CRACKED MIRRORS, the first in the York Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Karen Charleton. I love how the series doesn’t take place in London, but rather the more working-class city of York, towards the northern part of England.

Jemma and Bobbie our our two main private investigators, and make no mistake: they are proper, working P.I.s, which is something that is somewhat rare to find in the “female sleuth“ section of Amazon, which has a tendency to be more “cozy.” This is taking place just as World War II is starting to impact life in England, so it’s a totally different world than Viv’s post-War America, but so much of the morality and misogyny is the same.

Pick it up on Kindle or Paperback: http://a.co/d/eXGdEwO

Are you interested in learning more about Historical Mysteries? I’d love to share the ones I read with you!

And please don’t forget: next year, we’re traveling to Lisbon with TrovaTrip!

This awesome travel company reached out and asked if I’d like to host a wine + literature tour in the capital of Portugal.

Of course, I said yes! Now I need 7 more signups (as of publishing) to make sure the trip is a GO!

You can learn more about the trip and itinerary here, and claim your place!

http://www.trovatrip.com/trip/europe/portugal/portugal-with-emily-edwards-may-2024