|
A witty French Revolution romp called The Scarlet Pimpernel, written at the turn of the century by an exiled Hungarian baroness, was perhaps where it all started. Since then, "historical mystery" has been synonymous with fascinating times and places, picturesque characters and good old-fashioned plots in which brains count more than brawn...
Ancient Egypt
PC Doherty Amerotke, Judge of Thebes during 18th dynasty
Lauren Haney Lieutenant Bak, in the service of Queen Hatshepsut
Lynda Robinson Lord Meren series, set at the court of Tutankhamun
Ancient Rome
Lindsey Davis Marcus Didius Falco, hardboiled loner PI in 1st century Rome
Steven Saylor Roma Sub Rosa series, 80 BC, with sleuth Gordianus the Finder
Marilyn Todd Claudia Seferius, feisty exotic dancer, 13 BC
David Wishart Corvinus, wisecracking Marlowesque sleuth under Tiberius
Roman Britain
Rosemary Rowe Libertus, freedman/mosaicist in Roman Gloucester
Medieval and Early Renaissance
Alys Clare Hawkenlye Abbey mysteries
PC Doherty Canterbury tales of mystery and murder with Hugh
Corbett, spymaster to Edward I
Margaret Frazer Sister Frevisse, hosteler of St. Frideswide's priory
Roberta Gellis Sir Bellamy of Itchen, Knight
Alan Gordon Feste the Fool from Shakepeare's Twelfth Night
CL Grace Kathryn Swinbrooke, Physician and Chemist
Susanna Gregory Matthew Bartholomew, Physician and Brother Michael
Paul Harding Brother Athelstan, Dominican friar, coroner's clerk
Michael Jecks West Country mysteries
Edward Marston The Domesday books
Ian Morson William Falconer, Regent Master at Oxford University
Sharan Newman Catherine Le Vendeur, young scholar at Heloise's Abbey
Sharon Penman Justin de Quincy, investigator for Eleanor of Aquitaine
Ellis Peters Brother Cadfael, Benedictine monk and gardener at Shrewsbury
Candace Robb Owen Archer, captain of the Archbishop of York's retainers
Kate Sedley Roger the Chapman, novice monk turned travelling peddler
Peter Tremayne Sister Fidelma, 7th century religieuse of the Celtic Church
17th century Japan
Laura Joh Rowland Samurai-detective Sano Ichiro
Italian Renaissance
Elizabeth Eyre Sigismondo, soldier of fortune and Benno, his servant
Tudor and Elizabethan
Michael Clynes Sir Roger Shallot, Henry VIII's court
PF Chisholm Sir Robert Carey, courtier to Queen Elizabeth
Philip Gooden Shakespearean Murder Mystery series, Nick Revill
Karen Harper Elizabeth I Mysteries
Simon Hawke William Shakespeare Mysteries
Edward Marston Elizabethan Theatre Mysteries, featuring actor sleuth Bracewell
Restoration
Fidelis Morgan Countess Ashby de la Zouche
18th Century
Beverie Graves Myers Painted Veil, 1730's Venice
Bruce Alexander Sir John Fielding, blind London magistrate
Robert Lee Hall The Benjamin Franklin mysteries
Janet Laurence Canaletto, Italian painter living in London
Hannah March Robert Fairfax, private tutor
Wilder Perkins Captain Bartholomew Hoare of the Royal Navy
Regency England (1820s)
Stephanie Barron Jane Austen series, society murders
Kate Ross Julian Kestrel, dandy and amateur sleuth
Rosemary Stevens The Beau Brummel mysteries
Victorian
Barbara Hambly Benjamin January series, set in New Orleans
Ray Harrison Sgt Bragg and Constable Morton series, set in London
Laurie R. King Mary Russell, disciple and then wife of Sherlock Holmes
Alanna Knight Inspector Faro series, set in Edinburgh
Peter Lovesey Comic mysteries solved by Bertie, Prince of Wales
Amy Myers Auguste Didier, Master Chef in London
Anne Perry William Monk and Thomas Pitt series
Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody, Egyptologist
Gerard Williams Dr. Mortimer from The Hound of the Baskervilles
 Back to top
| 
