Best Mysteries With a Historical Setting

1

Rosens navn : roman

af Umberto Eco

19,575 medlemmer

313 anmeldelser

4.2

33 Members: Aquila, janoorani24, paradoxosalpha, EerierIdyllMeme, TedWitham, kleo, BooksPlease, abbottthomas, wdwilson3, Caesia, FAMeulstee, accessit, CarltonC, elenchus, birder4106, Stewdar, dallenbaugh, vwinsloe, zmeischa, Michael.Rimmer, MTCDBIBLIO, Boand, RODNEYP, NitinKhanna, Thelamon1, Monty_Grover, feanor451, MyFathersDragon, lovelybookishthings, Mnmwi7, fricksalad, hthacher, john654
Forklaringer: Boand: Fascinating history and a very twisted tale that keeps you guessing right until the end. Life in a European monastery and the process of writing books is beautifully described.

2

Hvem wyrdede prinserne

af Josephine Tey

5,946 medlemmer

227 anmeldelser

3.9

3

Mord og mørnede knogler

af Ellis Peters

3,952 medlemmer

105 anmeldelser

3.8

4

Sølvgrisene

af Lindsey Davis

2,400 medlemmer

80 anmeldelser

3.8

16 Members: andyl, lorax, janoorani24, MajorRakal, charl08, lizzy50usa, Caesia, CarltonC, nessreader, RBeffa, DidIReallyReadThat, Maddz, MTCDBIBLIO, srsrhs, JoeB1934, Bookladycma
Forklaringer: Maddz: The 1st of the Falco series - a hard-boiled detective in Vespasian's Rome.

5

Mordet i Orient-ekspressen

af Agatha Christie

17,242 medlemmer

423 anmeldelser

4.1

18 Members: LadyUndomiel, TeresaInTexas, jeshakespeare, njtrout, merrystar, birder4106, perennialreader, zmeischa, SF_fan_mae, Andrew_Orange, Boand, RODNEYP, skid0612, Thelamon1, SaraElizabeth11, Mnmwi7, fricksalad, hthacher,andyl ,lilithcat ,Sarielle , , ,feanor451
Forklaringer: lilithcat : Not an historical mystery, as it was set during the era in which it was written.
merrystar: List description specifies that the story need only be set prior to the 1950s; publication date does not matter
: Not an historical mistery
Boand: Simply one of the best crime mysteries ever written with the most shocking denouement if you’re reading it for the first time. Set in 1934, the year it was written so qualifies for this list!
feanor451: Virtually no historical elements in the story. I think The Secret Adversary would have been a more fitting Agatha Christie novel for this list.

6

Biavlerens lærling eller Om dronningens udskilning

af Laurie R. King

5,915 medlemmer

295 anmeldelser

4.1

12 Members: scriveling, Herenya, jeshakespeare, lizzy50usa, saskia17, DidIReallyReadThat, Tanya-dogearedcopy, nrmay, llarsson7, RODNEYP, SuSu2, rmaniel

7

Djævelens værk

af C. J. Sansom

4,204 medlemmer

196 anmeldelser

3.9

13 Members: MajorRakal, BooksPlease, abbottthomas, raidergirl3, Caesia, CarltonC, Stewdar, RBeffa, Mweb, souloftherose, gypsysmom, al.vick, feanor451

8

Maisie Dobbs

af Jacqueline Winspear

4,854 medlemmer

272 anmeldelser

3.8

12 Members: jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, navelos, perennialreader, DidIReallyReadThat, Tanya-dogearedcopy, nrmay, robenc, MBAdams, Carrieida, skid0612, CatotheElder,zmeischa

9

Cocaine Blues

af Kerry Greenwood

1,805 medlemmer

130 anmeldelser

½ 3.7

12 Members: tardis, Euryale, jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, lizzy50usa, Caesia, dallenbaugh, bookcookie1920, SF_fan_mae, JoeB1934, lovelybookishthings, john654
Forklaringer: lizzy50usa: The book that introduced the inimitable Phryne Fisher.

10

Dødens herskerinde

af Ariana Franklin

4,017 medlemmer

251 anmeldelser

3.9

11 Members: ReshiBec, charl08, raidergirl3, claire.rivers, DidIReallyReadThat, gypsysmom, al.vick, ccreads247, Abcdarian, Boand, CatotheElder
Forklaringer: al.vick: love that this one has a woman as the detective when it is set so long ago.
ccreads247: Enjoyed reading a well written medieval mystery featuring a woman sleuth. No shrinking violets here!
Boand: My favourite from this wonderful series set in medieval Europe describing medical practices and herbal healing as well as a cracking murder mystery.

11

Crocodile on the Sandbank

af Elizabeth Peters

4,618 medlemmer

227 anmeldelser

3.9

12 Members: tardis, lizzy50usa, Caesia, Sarielle, DidIReallyReadThat, BonnieJune54, Maddz, noveltea, llarsson7, MyFathersDragon, Bookladycma, Kalira
Forklaringer: Maddz: The first Amelia Peabody.

12

Flavia de Luce og hævneren fra Ulster

af Alan Bradley

7,774 medlemmer

656 anmeldelser

3.8

11 Members: lorax, ReshiBec, terran, nessreader, vancouverdeb, BonnieJune54, bookcookie1920, gypsysmom, robenc, llarsson7, CatotheElder

13

Kvinden i hvidt : roman

af Wilkie Collins

12,890 medlemmer

338 anmeldelser

4.1

10 Members: ReshiBec, perennialreader, Mweb, Tess_W, Onilyn, RODNEYP, Carrieida, SuSu2, SaraElizabeth11, lovelybookishthings,Porua
Forklaringer: Porua: In my opinion, "The Woman in White" cannot be categorized as a "mystery" per se. Collins' "The Moonstone" fits more into this category but not this book.

14

Peter Wimsey i Oxford

af Dorothy L. Sayers

5,471 medlemmer

150 anmeldelser

½ 4.3

10 Members: Herenya, lizzy50usa, saskia17, Caesia, merrystar, robenc, Andrew_Orange, slimikin, Paulasmithy, SuSu2,andyl ,feanor451
Forklaringer: merrystar: Set before 1950; list description says that books can be published contemporaneously and need only be set before or during the 1950s.

15

Rænkespil

af Sarah Waters

7,870 medlemmer

287 anmeldelser

4.1

9 Members: anglemark, rarm, Stevil2001, raidergirl3, zmeischa, Onilyn, ManWithAnAgenda, RODNEYP, Paulasmithy

16

A Curious Beginning

af Deanna Raybourn

1,602 medlemmer

119 anmeldelser

3.8

9 Members: MajorRakal, navelos, Sarielle, perennialreader, bookcookie1920, janey9, llarsson7, JoeB1934, Ann_R

17

Rebecca

af Daphne Du Maurier

20,819 medlemmer

615 anmeldelser

4.2

8 Members: MajorRakal, BooksPlease, crystal075, BonnieJune54, nrmay, msemmag, SaraElizabeth11, CatotheElder

18

Den trettende fortælling

af Diane Setterfield

17,255 medlemmer

911 anmeldelser

4

8 Members: janoorani24, raidergirl3, sturlington, perennialreader, vancouverdeb, msjudy, Lisa.Domke, Tosta

19

Parfumen : historien om en morder

af Patrick Süskind

18,208 medlemmer

451 anmeldelser

3.9

8 Members: kleo, FAMeulstee, elenchus, nessreader, Stewdar, MTCDBIBLIO, Lisa.Domke, skid0612

20

Slippery Creatures

af KJ Charles

406 medlemmer

20 anmeldelser

4.1

8 Members: LadyUndomiel, gsc55, Sarielle, souloftherose, Onilyn, ManWithAnAgenda, slimikin, Bookladycma

21

En af os er morderen

af Agatha Christie

21,381 medlemmer

539 anmeldelser

4.2

9 Members: LadyUndomiel, Euryale, BooksPlease, Mweb, nrmay, SF_fan_mae, Andrew_Orange, Yuki-Onna, hthacher,feanor451

22

A Free Man of Color

af Barbara Hambly

922 medlemmer

38 anmeldelser

3.9

8 Members: scriveling, tardis, Euryale, rarm, nessreader, BonnieJune54, RODNEYP, JoeB1934

23

Huset ved Riverton

af Kate Morton

5,449 medlemmer

249 anmeldelser

3.8

7 Members: dara85, raidergirl3, perennialreader, Hope_H, srsrhs, lsnrtn, CatotheElder

24

Vindens skygge

af Carlos Ruiz Zafón

27,998 medlemmer

1,042 anmeldelser

4.1

7 Members: terran, Rommert, MTCDBIBLIO, Andrew_Orange, llarsson7, ManWithAnAgenda, jnsp13

25

The Widows of Malabar Hill

af Sujata Massey

1,167 medlemmer

70 anmeldelser

3.8

7 Members: scriveling, Euryale, crystal075, DidIReallyReadThat, zmeischa, MBAdams, Onilyn

26

Djævel i blåt

af Walter Mosley

2,596 medlemmer

99 anmeldelser

3.8

7 Members: LadyUndomiel, Euryale, wdwilson3, sturlington, Onilyn, JoeB1934, skid0612
Forklaringer: skid0612: The first novel in the marvelous Easy Rawlins series starts with a bang in late 40s Los Angeles

27

Sindssygelægen

af Caleb Carr

9,521 medlemmer

250 anmeldelser

4

6 Members: elenchus, Sarielle, llarsson7, Tosta, skid0612, hthacher

28

Jomfruen i isen

af Ellis Peters

2,077 medlemmer

48 anmeldelser

4

7 Members: scriveling, TeresaInTexas, Caesia, gypsysmom, SF_fan_mae, Boand, JoeB1934
Forklaringer: Boand: Very hard to choose just one of Ellis Peters’ books, but this is a favourite set in a little known period of English history.

29

Alias Grace

af Margaret Atwood

11,910 medlemmer

259 anmeldelser

3.9

6 Members: rarm, BooksPlease, sturlington, Estramir, Hope_H, msjudy

30

The Cater Street Hangman

af Anne Perry

1,794 medlemmer

67 anmeldelser

½ 3.7

6 Members: jeshakespeare, RBeffa, DidIReallyReadThat, nrmay, mrswebster, llarsson7

31

De ni klokkeslag

af Dorothy L. Sayers

4,412 medlemmer

116 anmeldelser

4

7 Members: scriveling, janoorani24, Caesia, CarltonC, Andrew_Orange, llarsson7, SuSu2,feanor451
Forklaringer: CarltonC: I keep saving Gaudy Night, so may change my opinion once I have read, but love Lord Peter Wimsey’s characterisation and the setting of winter in the fens.

32

The Unquiet Bones

af Mel Starr

531 medlemmer

38 anmeldelser

3.8

6 Members: MajorRakal, jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, lizzy50usa, DidIReallyReadThat, JoeB1934

33

Baskervilles hund

af Arthur Conan Doyle

15,413 medlemmer

303 anmeldelser

3.9

5 Members: LadyUndomiel, TedWitham, njtrout, Rommert, Andrew_Orange

34

Sneen på cedertræerne : roman

af David Guterson

12,970 medlemmer

190 anmeldelser

3.8

5 Members: LadyUndomiel, EerierIdyllMeme, sturlington, BonnieJune54, vwinsloe

35

Girl Waits With Gun

af Amy Stewart

1,742 medlemmer

148 anmeldelser

3.8

5 Members: scriveling, charl08, raidergirl3, robenc, Carrieida

36

Lavender House

af Lev AC Rosen

335 medlemmer

23 anmeldelser

3.9

4 Members: LadyUndomiel, noveltea, Onilyn, KeithChaffee

37

The Bottoms

af Joe R. Lansdale

1,114 medlemmer

42 anmeldelser

4.1

4 Members: yoyogod, mrswebster, srsrhs, SuSu2

38

A Peculiar Combination

af Ashley Weaver

224 medlemmer

14 anmeldelser

3.8

5 Members: bookcookie1920, robenc, MBAdams, Carrieida, Paulasmithy

39

The Queen's Man

af Sharon Kay Penman

1,296 medlemmer

32 anmeldelser

3.8

5 Members: scriveling, Mweb, al.vick, SF_fan_mae, JoeB1934

40

The Essex Serpent

af Sarah Perry

3,175 medlemmer

175 anmeldelser

½ 3.6

4 Members: libraryfan, Lisa.Domke, ManWithAnAgenda, Boand
Forklaringer: Boand: Wonderful mystery set in Victorian England, full of mists, magic, myths and murder.

41

Vejskiltets modbevis

af Iain Pears

5,253 medlemmer

138 anmeldelser

3.9

4 Members: Imprinted, libraryfan, cbl_tn, Paulasmithy
Forklaringer: Imprinted: An elegantly constructed mystery novel about a murder in 17th century Oxford, England, told from conflicting points of view.

42

Arthur and George

af Julian Barnes

4,911 medlemmer

176 anmeldelser

½ 3.7

4 Members: Stevil2001, TedWitham, kleo, zmeischa

43

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor

af Stephanie Barron

1,326 medlemmer

47 anmeldelser

½ 3.6

4 Members: scriveling, jeshakespeare, lizzy50usa, MBAdams

44

Martsvioler

af Philip Kerr

1,200 medlemmer

54 anmeldelser

½ 3.6

4 Members: EerierIdyllMeme, charl08, FAMeulstee, elenchus

45

Farthing

af Jo Walton

1,588 medlemmer

114 anmeldelser

3.9

5 Members: andyl, Aquila, anglemark, sturlington, JoeB1934,lorax
Forklaringer: lorax : This is an alternate history, not set in the actual historical past.

46

Mit navn er Rød

af Orhan Pamuk

7,050 medlemmer

173 anmeldelser

3.8

4 Members: rarm, kleo, FAMeulstee, msjudy

47

Sovereign

af C. J. Sansom

2,425 medlemmer

91 anmeldelser

4.1

4 Members: BooksPlease, CarltonC, cbl_tn, SuSu2

48

Once Upon a River

af Diane Setterfield

2,501 medlemmer

165 anmeldelser

4

3 Members: RBeffa, vancouverdeb, msjudy

49

The Luminaries

af Eleanor Catton

5,056 medlemmer

248 anmeldelser

3.8

3 Members: Aquila, charl08, EMS_24
Forklaringer: EMS_24: During the goldrush in New Zealand. Each chapter from another protagonist's point of view, in each chapter a changing view on current days and the days around the crime; roles and what happened.

50

The Hangman's Daughter

af Oliver Pötzsch

2,874 medlemmer

174 anmeldelser

½ 3.6

3 Members: Euryale, ijustgetbored, al.vick
Forklaringer: al.vick: an excellent series, not sure which is my favorite.

51

Månestenen

af Wilkie Collins

10,841 medlemmer

251 anmeldelser

4

4 Members: TeresaInTexas, CarltonC, Andrew_Orange, SuSu2

52

A Body in the Bath House

af Lindsey Davis

949 medlemmer

23 anmeldelser

3.8

3 Members: Stewdar, Boand, Paulasmithy
Forklaringer: Boand: SO hard to choose just one of Lindsey’s books but this one also makes me laugh and reminds me that the art of plumbers hasn’t changed in 2000 years!

53

Some Danger Involved

af Will Thomas

854 medlemmer

45 anmeldelser

3.8

3 Members: MajorRakal, lizzy50usa, llarsson7

54

Death Below Stairs

af Jennifer Ashley

273 medlemmer

21 anmeldelser

½ 3.6

3 Members: navelos, bookcookie1920, lsnrtn

55

The Corset

af Laura Purcell

424 medlemmer

20 anmeldelser

4

3 Members: sturlington, Ann_R, SuSu2

56

En kiste til Dimitrios

af Eric Ambler

1,845 medlemmer

50 anmeldelser

3.8

3 Members: janoorani24, Michael.Rimmer, feanor451

57

Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee

af Robert Van Gulik

784 medlemmer

17 anmeldelser

3.8

3 Members: FAMeulstee, Michael.Rimmer, SF_fan_mae

58

Absolution by Murder

af Peter Tremayne

930 medlemmer

32 anmeldelser

½ 3.5

3 Members: andyl, AbigailAdams26, SF_fan_mae
Forklaringer: andyl: First in the Sister Fidelma series. Future books in the series are probably better than this one, but listed because it is the first.

59

Romersk blod

af Steven Saylor

1,533 medlemmer

42 anmeldelser

3.8

3 Members: janoorani24, Stewdar, slimikin

60

Search the Seven Hills

af Barbara Hambly

167 medlemmer

½ 3.4

3 Members: tardis, Maddz, Bookladycma
Forklaringer: Maddz: A kidnapping in 2nd century Rome.

61

Silent in the Grave

af Deanna Raybourn

2,272 medlemmer

137 anmeldelser

4

3 Members: navelos, perennialreader, MBAdams

62

The White Lady

af Jacqueline Winspear

439 medlemmer

23 anmeldelser

3.9

3 Members: robenc, msjudy, CatotheElder

63

Sankt Peters marked

af Ellis Peters

2,065 medlemmer

48 anmeldelser

3.8

3 Members: Caesia, cbl_tn, Mweb

64

A Beautiful Place to Die

af Malla Nunn

555 medlemmer

39 anmeldelser

4

3 Members: charl08, sturlington, SuSu2

65

Et monstrøst kvinderegimente

af Laurie R. King

3,129 medlemmer

101 anmeldelser

4

3 Members: wdwilson3, Tosta, SuSu2

66

Moord in Toscane : een monnik als speurder in de Middeleeuwen

af Hélène Nolthenius

89 medlemmer

3 anmeldelser

½ 3.5

2 Members: EMS_24, Rommert

67

Janitshartræet

af Jason Goodwin

1,562 medlemmer

66 anmeldelser

½ 3.4

3 Members: charl08, FAMeulstee, zmeischa

68

A Plague on Both Your Houses

af Susanna Gregory

600 medlemmer

25 anmeldelser

½ 3.5

2 Members: andyl, MajorRakal
Forklaringer: andyl: First in the Matthew Bartholomew series set (mostly) in Cambridge University in the 14th century.

69

Wings of Fire

af Charles Todd

872 medlemmer

36 anmeldelser

3.8

2 Members: terran, saskia17

70

Morality Play

af Barry Unsworth

1,307 medlemmer

42 anmeldelser

3.8

2 Members: Stevil2001, CarltonC

71

The Paris Daughter

af Kristin Harmel

287 medlemmer

25 anmeldelser

4.2

2 Members: dara85, Carrieida

72

Danteklubben : roman

af Matthew Pearl

7,550 medlemmer

171 anmeldelser

½ 3.4

2 Members: Euryale, knerd.knitter

73

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

af James McBride

1,743 medlemmer

90 anmeldelser

4.1

2 Members: msjudy, mrswebster

74

The Ashes of London

af Andrew Taylor

570 medlemmer

29 anmeldelser

½ 3.7

2 Members: BooksPlease, Dave_Perry
Forklaringer: Dave_Perry: Remarkable account of the aftermath of the fire of London. Mystery solved by pair with exquisite detail of living conditions at the time.

75

Curious Toys

af Elizabeth Hand

240 medlemmer

16 anmeldelser

3.8

2 Members: anglemark, sturlington

76

The Gods of Gotham

af Lyndsay Faye

1,340 medlemmer

121 anmeldelser

4

2 Members: sturlington, msjudy

77

Fires of London

af Janice Law

40 medlemmer

4 anmeldelser

4

2 Members: claire.rivers, gsc55

78

A Conspiracy of Violence

af Susanna Gregory

259 medlemmer

9 anmeldelser

½ 3.5

2 Members: andyl, MajorRakal
Forklaringer: andyl: Thomas Chaloner series set just after the restoration of Charles II.

79

An Excellent Mystery

af Ellis Peters

1,715 medlemmer

36 anmeldelser

3.9

2 Members: SF_fan_mae, msjudy

80

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide

af Rupert Holmes

836 medlemmer

31 anmeldelser

3.9

2 Members: Tosta, lsnrtn

81

And Only to Deceive

af Tasha Alexander

1,774 medlemmer

82 anmeldelser

½ 3.6

2 Members: perennialreader, MBAdams

82

The Ruby in the Smoke

af Philip Pullman

4,137 medlemmer

101 anmeldelser

½ 3.7

2 Members: TeresaInTexas, themulhern
Forklaringer: themulhern: A mystery set in Victorian England, clearly inspired by "The Sign of Four".

83

Shrines of Gaiety

af Kate Atkinson

1,011 medlemmer

49 anmeldelser

3.9

2 Members: CarltonC, Tosta

84

Murder Most Unladylike

af Robin Stevens

808 medlemmer

38 anmeldelser

½ 3.7

2 Members: Sarielle, bookcookie1920

85

Death of a Nationalist

af Rebecca Pawel

268 medlemmer

8 anmeldelser

3.8

2 Members: zmeischa, skid0612

86

Death in the Spires

af KJ Charles

57 medlemmer

8 anmeldelser

½ 4.5

2 Members: souloftherose, Bookladycma

87

Barn nr. 44

af Tom Rob Smith

4,795 medlemmer

292 anmeldelser

3.9

2 Members: vancouverdeb, skid0612

88

The Leper of Saint Giles

af Ellis Peters

1,968 medlemmer

48 anmeldelser

3.9

2 Members: cbl_tn, feanor451

89

Even Though I Knew the End

af C. L. Polk

396 medlemmer

20 anmeldelser

4.1

2 Members: LadyUndomiel, ReshiBec

90

A Study in Scarlet Women

af Sherry Thomas

1,278 medlemmer

84 anmeldelser

3.8

2 Members: nrmay, MBAdams

91

Kortene p ̄bordet

af Agatha Christie

4,376 medlemmer

95 anmeldelser

3.8

2 Members: Porua, hthacher
Forklaringer: hthacher: Set at the time of publication in the thirties, which is clearly in accordance with the rules.

92