Supper Sleuths

Historical Mysteries

Historicals obviously take place in the past and are usually set in an era substantially prior to the date when the book was published. These novels often feature real historical figures or events and can vary widely in tone, style and theme. Known for their strong plots, the settings in these books play an integral role, rather than serving as a backdrop. Although, many Historical Mysteries are series with evocative settings and compelling characters, historical authenticity is not always the ultimate goal.

The following is a list of authors who fit into this category. The first title in each series is given.

Based on an article from The Armchair Detective, these mysteries have settings in different centuries and countries.

The Ancient World and the Dark Ages

Egypt

Christie, Agatha. Death Comes As the End, 1945 Era: c.2000 B.C.
Gill, Anton. City of the Horizon, 1991 Era: 1355 B.C., First in series. NOT in NOBLE.
Levin, Lee. King Tut's Private Eye, 1996 Era: 1356 B.C.
Robinson, Lynda. Murder in the Place of Anubis, 1994 Era: 1356 B.C., First in Lord Meren series.

Greece

Doody, Margaret. Aristotle Detective, 1978 Era: 332 B.C.

Roman Empire

Burns, Ron. Roman Nights, 1991, 180 A.D. First in series.
Davis, Lindsey. Silver Pigs, 1989 Era: 70 A.D., First in Marcus Didius Falco series.
Hambly, Barbara. The Quirinal Hill Affair, 1983 Era: 116 A.D.
Roberts, John Maddox. SPQR, 1990 Era: 70 B.C., First in Mettullus series.
Saylor, Steven. Roman Blood, 1991 Era: 80 B.C., First in Gordianus the Finder series.
Todd, Marilyn. I, Claudia: A Mystery, 1995 Era: 13 B.C. Not in NOBLE.
Wishart, David. Ovid, 1995 Era: 19 A.D. Not in NOBLE.

England

Tremayne, Peter. Absolution by Murder, 1994 Era: 664 A.D., First in Sister Fidelma series.

China

van Gulik, Robert. The Chinese Bell Murders, 1958 Era: 663 A.D., First in series.

Japan

Parker, I.J. Rashomon Gate: A Mystery of Ancient Japan, 2002 Era: 1100 A.D., First in series.

The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages From 1066 (The Norman Conquest of England) through the Norman, Plantagenet, Lancastrian, and Yorkist dynasties until 1485.

Doherty, P.C. An Ancient Evil, 1994, Era: late 1300s, First in series. NOBLE.
Doherty, P.C. Satan in St. Mary's, 1986 Era: 1284, First in series. NOBLE.
Doherty, P.C. The Fate of the Princes, 1990 Era: 1483-1485. NOBLE.
Eco, Umberto. The Name of the Rose, 1983 Era: Italy, early 1300s.
Frazer, Margaret. The Novice's Tale, 1991 Era: 1431, First in series. NOBLE.
Frye, Elizabeth. Death of a Duchess, 1991 Era: Italy, 1490s, First in series. Not in NOBLE. Extremely hard to locate.
Grace, C.L. A Shrine of Murders, 1993 Era: 1471, First in series. NOBLE.
Gregory, Susanna. An Unholy Alliance, 1996 Era: 1348. NOBLE.
Harding, Paul. The Nightingale Gallery, 1981 Era: 1376, First in series. NOBLE.
Highsmith, Domini. Keeper at the Shrine, 1994 Era: 1180, First in series.
Jecks, Michael. The Last Templar, 1995 Era: 1316, First in series. Not in NOBLE.
Marston, Edward. The Wolves of Savernake, 1993 Era: 1086, First in series.
Morson, Ian. Falconer's Crusade, 1994 Era: 1264, First in series.
Newman, Sharan. Death Comes as Epiphany, 1993 Era: France, 1139, First in series.
Peters, Ellis. A Morbid Taste for Bones, 1977 Era: 1137, First in Brother Cadfael series.
Robb, Candace. The Apothecary Rose, 1993 Era: 1365, First in series. NOBLE.
Sedley, Kate. Death and the Chapman, 1991 Era: 1471, First in Roget the Chapman series. NOBLE.
Tey, Josephine. The Daughter of Time, 1951 Era: 1483-1485.

Tudors 1485-1603

Beginning with Henry VI, the first Tudor ruler.

Buckley, Fiona. To Shield the Queen, 1997 Era: 1560, First in series.
Chisholm, P.E. A Famine of Horses, 1994 Era: 1592, First Sir Robert Cray Mystery series.
Clynes, Michael. The White Rose Murders, 1991 Era: 1517, First in series.
Dukthas, Ann. A Time for the Death of a King, 1994 Era: 1567, First in series.
Emerson, Kathy Lynn. Face Down Upon an Herbal, 1998 Era: 1570, First in series.
Harper, Karen. The Poyson Garden, 1999 Era: 1558, Bess Tudor. First in series.
Hawke, Simon. A Mystery of Errors, 2000 Era: 16th century. First in a series on Symongthon Smith and his friend, Will Shakespeare.
Kellerman, Faye. The Quality of Mercy, 1989 Era: 1593.
Marston, Edward. The Queen's Head, 1989 Era: 1588, First in series. NOBLE.
Tourney, Leonard. The Players' Boy is Dead, 1982 Era: 1601, First in series.

Stuarts 1603-1714

Including the English Civil War of the 1640s until the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

Begiebing, Robert J. The Strange Death of Mistress Coffin, 1991 Era: Colonial New England, 1640s
Brown, Molly. Invitation to a Funeral, 1995 Era: 1676
Carr, John Dickson. The Devil in Velvet, 1951 Era: 1675
Meyers, Maan. The Dutchman, 1992 Era: New Amsterdam, 1664, First in series.
Rowland, Laura Joh. Shinju, 1994 Era: Japan, 1689, First in series.

Hanoverians

Kings George I, II, III, IV, and William IV

Alexander, Bruce. Blind Justice, 1994 Era: 1768, First in series.
Barron, Stephanie. Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor, 1996 Era: 1802, First in Jane Austen series.
Bastable, Bernard. Dead, Mr. Mozart, 1995 Era: 1820, First in series.
Carr, John Dickson. Captain Cut-Throat, 1955 Era: France, 1802. Not in NOBLE.
Carr, John Dickson. Fire, Burn!, 1957 Era: 1820
Carr, John Dickson. The Demoniacs, 1962 Era: 1757, First in series.
de la Torre, Lillian. Dr. Sam: Johnson Detector, 1944 Era: 1763-1784, First in series. NOT in NOBLE.
Falkirk, Richard. Blackstone, 1872 Era: 1820, First in series. (AKA Derek Lambert)
Fawcett, Quinn. Napoleon Must Die, 1993 Era: Egypt, 1799, Not in NOBLE.
Hall, Robert Lee. Benjamin Franklin Takes the Case, 1990 Era: 1757, First in series.
Jeffries, J.G. The Thieftaker, 1772 Era: 1798, First in series.
Lake, Deryn. Dealth in the Dark Walk, 1994 Era: 1754, First in series. Not in NOBLE.
Paul, Raymond. The Tragedy at Tiverton, 1984 Era: U.S., 1832, First in series.
Ross, Kate. Cut to the Quick, 1995 Era: 1820s, First in series.
Wheatley, Dennis. The Launching of Roger Brook, 1947 Era: Europe, 1783, First in series. Not in NOBLE.

Victorian and Edwardian, Great Britian and Empire

Mainly London

Ackroyd, Peter. Dan Leno and The Limehouse Golem (U.S. title: The Trial of Elizabeth Cree), 1994 Era: 1880
Bastable, Bernard. To Die Like A Gentleman, 1993 Era: 1842
Brightwell, Emily. The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries, 1993 Era: Victorian, First in series.
Carr, John Dickson. The Hungry Goblin, 1972 Era: 1869
Carr, John Dickson. Scandal at High Chimneys, 1959 Era: Victorian
Crowleigh, Ann. Dead as Dead Can Be, 1993 Era: 1875, First in series. Not in NOBLE.
Goddard, Robert. Painting the Darkness, 1989 Era: 1882
Groom, Carola. The Good Doctor, 1995 Era: 1870, Not in NOBLE.
Harrison, Ray. French Ordinary Murder, 1983 Era: 1891, First in series, Not in NOBLE.
Hervey, Evelyn. The Governess, 1984 Era: 1870
Keating, H. R. F. A Remarkable Case of Burglary, 1975 Era: Victorian
King, Laurie R. The Beekeeper's Apprentice, or The Segregation of the Queen, 1994. First in series on Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell in 1900 England.
Lovesey, Peter. Wobble to Death, 1970 Era: 1878, First in Cribb series.
Lovesey, Peter. Bertie and the Tinman, 1987 Era: 1886, First in series, Not in NOBLE.
Palmer, W.J. The Detective and Mr. Dickens, 1990 Era: 1852
Perowne, Barry. The Return of Raffles, 1933 Era: 1890s, First in series, Not in NOBLE.
Perry, Anne. The Face of A Stranger, 1990 Era: 1855, First in Monk series.
Perry, Anne. The Cater Street Hangman, 1979 Era: 1881, First in Pitt series.
Player, Robert. Oh! Where Are Bloody Mary's Earrings?, 1972 Era: 1887
Selwyn, Frances. Cracksman on Velvet, 1974 Era: Early Victorian, First in series.
Stubbs, Jean. Dear Laura, 1973 Era: 1880s, First in series.
Symons, Julian. The Blackheath Poisonings, 1978 Era: 1890s, First in series.

Kent

Jenkins, Elizabeth. Harriet, 1934 Era: 1875, Not in NOBLE.
Myers, Amy. Murder in Pug's Parlour, 1986 Era: Victorian First in series, but other settings. Not in NOBLE.

Oxford

Butler, Gwendoline. A Coffin for Pandora, 1973 (U.S. title: Olivia, 1974) Era: 1880s
Thomas, Donald S. Belladonna, (U.S title: Mad Hatter Summer) 1983 Era: 1880

South East Coast

Kingsbury, Kate. Room with a Clue, 1993 Era: Edwardian First in series. Not in NOBLE.
Paige, Robin. Death at Bishop's Keep, 1994 Era: 1890s First in series.

Derbyshire

Hilton, John B. Gamekeepers Gallows, 1976 Era: 1877 First in series.

Edinburgh

Knight, Alanna. Enter Second Murderer, 1988 Era: 1870 First in series.
McGregor, Iona. Death Wore a Diadem, 1989 Era: 1860

Egypt

Pearce, Michael. The Mamur Zapt and the Return of the Carpet, 1988 Era: 1908 First in series.
Peters, Elizabeth. Crocodile on the Sandbank, 1975 Era: 1880 First in Amelia Peabody series.

South Africa

Drummond, June. Slowly the Poison, 1975 Era: 1911, Not in NOBLE.

France

Grayson, Richard. The Murders at Impasse Louvain, 1979 Era: c.1890s First in series.
Linscott, Gillian. Sister Beneath the Sheet, 1992. Era: 1900. First in Nell Bray, Suffragette series, with other settings (London, etc.)
Zencey, Eric. Panama, 1995 Era: 1892

USA

Bowen, Rhys. Murphy's Law, 2001. Era: Tammany Hall-era New York. First in the Molly Murphy series.
Carr, Caleb. The Alienist, 1994 1896 First in series.
Day, Dianne. The Strange Files of Fremont Jones, 1995 Era: 1905 First in Fremont Jones series.
DeAndrea, William. The Lunatic Fringe, 1985 Era: 1895
Finney, Jack. Time and Again, 1970, Era: 1882 First in series.
Heck, Peter J. Death on the Mississippi, 1995 Era: 1890s First in series.
Kruger, Mary. Death on the Cliff Walk, 1994 Era: 1895 First in series.
Lawrence, Margaret. Hearts and Bones, 1996 Era: U.S., 1786, First in Hannah Trevor series.
Monfredo, Miriam Grace. Seneca Falls Inheritance, 1992 Era: 1857 First in Glynis Tryon series.
Paul, Barbara. A Cadenza for Caruso, 1984 Era: 1984 First in series.
Peale, Cynthia. Death of Colonel Mann:A BEacon Hill Mystery, 1918(U.S.) Era: 1850s
Post, Melville Davisson. Uncle Abner,Master of Mysteries: Collection of Classic Detective Stories, 2000, Era: Late 1800s
Sherburne, James. Death's Pale Horse, 1980 Era: 1880's First in series.
Tone, Teona. Lady on the Line, 1985 Era: 1899 First in series, Not in NOBLE.

First World War Onwards

1914-1918 Plus

Anderson, James. The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy, 1975 Era: Late 1930s. First in series.
Baxt, George. The Dorothy Parker Murder Case, 1984 Era: U.S., 1920s First in series.
Beck, K.K. Death in a Deck Chair, 1984 Era: 1927 First in series.
Carr, John Disckson. The Ghosts' High Noon, 1969 Era: U.S. 1911
Dallas, Sandra. The Persian Pickle Club, 1995 Era: U.S., 1935
Dickinson, Peter. A Summer in ther Twenties, 1981 Era: 1926
Dunn, Carola. The Winter Garden Mystery, 1994, Era: 1923 First in series.
Fleming, Thomas. Loyalties, 1994 Era: U.S./Europe, 1941
Goddard, Robert. Closed Circle, 1993 Era: 1931
Greenwood, Kerry. Death by Misadventure, 1989 Era: Australia, 1920s First in series, Not in NOBLE.
Harris, Robert. Enigma, 1995 Era: 1943
Hawkes, Eileen and Peter Manso. The Shadow of the Moth, 1983 Era: 1917, Not in NOBLE.
Hjortsberg, William. Nevermore, 1994 Era: U.S. 1923
Kaminsky, Stuart. Bullet for a Star, 1977 Era: U.S., 1940 First in series.
Keating,H.R.F. The Murder of the Maharajah, 1980 Era: India, 1930
Lawton, John. Black Out, 1995 Era: 1944
Lovesey, Peter. The False Inspector Dew, 1982 Era: 1921
Peeples, Samuel. The Man Who Died Twice, 1976, Era: U.S. 1922
Roosevelt, Elliot. Murder and the First Lady, 1984 Era: U.S. 1930s.
Thomas, Leslie. Omerod's Landing, 1978 Era: Mainly France, 1941. Not in NOBLE.
Todd, Charles. A Test of Wills, 1996 Era: 1914

Adapted from lists provided in The Armchair Detective, Palmer, Jennifer S., "Mysteries of the Ages: Four Millennia of Murder and Mayhem in Historical Mysteries," (Spring 1997): 156-164.

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