Best Mysteries With a Historical Setting
- List of the Month
- May 2024 (see all)
- Description
- May is Mystery Month, and in honor of the occasion our List of the Month this time around is devoted to the Best Mysteries With a Historical Setting. The books themselves can be published during any period, including contemporaneously. For the purpose of this list, "historical" is defined as anything set during or before the 1950s. Each participant may vote on ten titles. Please only downvote titles if they do not fit the theme, and are either not mysteries or not historical in setting.
1
by Umberto Eco
21,818 members
336 reviews
4.2
Score 156.64
Added 2024-05-06, 09:36 AM
- 42 Members
- Aquila, janoorani24, paradoxosalpha, EerierIdyllMeme, TedWitham, wolfepack, kleo, BooksPlease, abbottthomas, wdwilson3, Caesia, airgid, FAMeulstee, accessit, CarltonC, elenchus, birder4106, Stewdar, dallenbaugh, vwinsloe, Dorritt, zmeischa, Bookwomble, MTCDBIBLIO, Boand, RODNEYP, CeskaDiana, NitinKhanna, Thelamon1, Monty_Grover, feanor451, yeshis, MyFathersDragon, dkidwell, RHeli, WPC1947, Mnmwi7, fricksalad, stupidfresh, john654, ervisd, Nigellicus
- Explanations
- 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
6,700 members
251 reviews
3.9
Score 101.22
Added 2024-05-06, 09:59 AM
- 28 Members
- scriveling, lorax, Cecilturtle, janoorani24, TeresaInTexas, EerierIdyllMeme, BooksPlease, abbottthomas, wdwilson3, merrystar, nessreader, kleh, perennialreader, Mweb, DidIReallyReadThat, zmeischa, noveltea, awwolfe1, Dayclear, janey9, ManWithAnAgenda, RODNEYP, feanor451, yeshis, SaraElizabeth11, dkidwell, Bookladycma, RHeli
3
by Ellis Peters
4,412 members
117 reviews
3.8
Score 80.05
Added 2024-05-06, 08:48 AM
- 26 Members
- lorax, tardis, TeresaInTexas, MajorRakal, abbottthomas, raidergirl3, Caesia, FAMeulstee, CarltonC, sturlington, Stewdar, DidIReallyReadThat, JohnChic, BonnieJune54, eclbates, al.vick, Bookwomble, AbigailAdams26, awwolfe1, SF_fan_mae, Abcdarian, llarsson7, feanor451, yeshis, MyFathersDragon, RHeli, ,zmeischa
4
- 20 Members
- andyl, lorax, janoorani24, MajorRakal, charl08, lizzy50usa, Caesia, CarltonC, nessreader, Matke, RBeffa, DidIReallyReadThat, Maddz, eclbates, Dorritt, TerriLenhart, MTCDBIBLIO, srsrhs, JoeB1934, Bookladycma,CeskaDiana
- Explanations
- Maddz: The 1st of the Falco series - a hard-boiled detective in Vespasian's Rome.
5
6,513 members
304 reviews
4.1
Score 60.56
Added 2024-05-06, 04:03 PM
- 18 Members
- scriveling, karenb, Herenya, jeshakespeare, lizzy50usa, saskia17, DidIReallyReadThat, Tanya-dogearedcopy, DAPoalillo, nrmay, TerriLenhart, Dayclear, llarsson7, RODNEYP, yeshis, SuSu2, rmaniel, AranelST
6
20,783 members
474 reviews
4.1
Score 57.43
Added 2024-05-06, 09:35 AM
- 21 Members
- LadyUndomiel, TeresaInTexas, jeshakespeare, njtrout, merrystar, birder4106, perennialreader, Dorritt, zmeischa, SF_fan_mae, Dayclear, Andrew_Orange, Boand, RODNEYP, skid0612, Thelamon1, yeshis, SaraElizabeth11, Mnmwi7, fricksalad, stupidfresh,andyl ,lilithcat ,Sarielle , , ,feanor451
- Explanations
- 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 matterBoand: 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.
7
4,978 members
246 reviews
3.9
Score 45.33
Added 2024-05-06, 04:18 PM
- 15 Members
- tardis, lizzy50usa, Caesia, Sarielle, DidIReallyReadThat, BonnieJune54, Maddz, eclbates, noveltea, llarsson7, MyFathersDragon, Bookladycma, WPC1947, Kalira, AranelST
- Explanations
- Maddz: The first Amelia Peabody.
8
9
- 15 Members
- Herenya, lizzy50usa, saskia17, Caesia, merrystar, Dorritt, TerriLenhart, robenc, Andrew_Orange, lamplightweaver, slimikin, Paulasmithy, yeshis, SuSu2, ervisd,andyl ,feanor451
- Explanations
10
by Alan Bradley
8,512 members
688 reviews
3.8
Score 44.08
Added 2024-05-07, 04:42 PM
- 14 Members
- lorax, ReshiBec, lahochstetler, terran, airgid, nessreader, Matke, vancouverdeb, BonnieJune54, bookcookie1920, gypsysmom, robenc, llarsson7, CatotheElder
- Explanations
- airgid: Got in just under the wire and this is just hilarious and lovely.
11
25,658 members
619 reviews
4.2
Score 42.72
Added 2024-05-07, 10:40 AM
- 15 Members
- LadyUndomiel, Euryale, lahochstetler, BooksPlease, Mweb, DAPoalillo, nrmay, TerriLenhart, SF_fan_mae, Dayclear, Andrew_Orange, Yuki-Onna, yeshis, Red-Hawk, stupidfresh,feanor451
12
- 14 Members
- MajorRakal, BooksPlease, abbottthomas, raidergirl3, Caesia, CarltonC, Stewdar, RBeffa, Mweb, souloftherose, Dorritt, gypsysmom, al.vick, feanor451
13
- 13 Members
- tardis, Euryale, lahochstetler, jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, lizzy50usa, Caesia, dallenbaugh, bookcookie1920, SF_fan_mae, Dayclear, JoeB1934, john654
- Explanations
- lizzy50usa: The book that introduced the inimitable Phryne Fisher.
14
18,396 members
932 reviews
4
Score 39.08
Added 2024-05-06, 09:53 PM
- 13 Members
- janoorani24, lahochstetler, raidergirl3, Matke, sturlington, perennialreader, vancouverdeb, TerriLenhart, msjudy, Dayclear, Lisa.Domke, Tosta, lamplightweaver
15
- 13 Members
- MajorRakal, BooksPlease, crystal075, Matke, BonnieJune54, Dorritt, nrmay, TerriLenhart, awwolfe1, msemmag, yeshis, SaraElizabeth11, CatotheElder
16
4,296 members
256 reviews
3.9
Score 36.63
Added 2024-05-06, 09:39 AM
- 11 Members
- ReshiBec, charl08, raidergirl3, claire.rivers, DidIReallyReadThat, gypsysmom, al.vick, ccreads247, Abcdarian, Boand, CatotheElder
- Explanations
- 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.
17
- 11 Members
- anglemark, rarm, Stevil2001, raidergirl3, zmeischa, TerriLenhart, Onilyn, ManWithAnAgenda, RODNEYP, Paulasmithy, yeshis
18
- 11 Members
- ReshiBec, perennialreader, Mweb, Tess_W, TerriLenhart, Onilyn, RODNEYP, Carrieida, yeshis, SuSu2, SaraElizabeth11,Porua
- Explanations
- 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.
19
1,416 members
82 reviews
3.8
Score 30.86
Added 2024-05-06, 09:58 AM
- 10 Members
- scriveling, karenb, Euryale, lahochstetler, crystal075, DidIReallyReadThat, zmeischa, MBAdams, Onilyn, lamplightweaver
20
- 10 Members
- LadyUndomiel, gsc55, Sarielle, souloftherose, eclbates, TerriLenhart, Onilyn, ManWithAnAgenda, slimikin, Bookladycma
21
30,911 members
1,107 reviews
4.1
Score 28.66
Added 2024-05-14, 07:05 AM
- 9 Members
- terran, dancesports, Rommert, TerriLenhart, MTCDBIBLIO, Andrew_Orange, llarsson7, ManWithAnAgenda, jnsp13
22
2,048 members
134 reviews
3.8
Score 27.71
Added 2024-05-07, 03:56 PM
- 9 Members
- MajorRakal, navelos, Sarielle, perennialreader, bookcookie1920, janey9, llarsson7, JoeB1934, dkidwell
23
20,373 members
498 reviews
3.9
Score 26.89
Added 2024-05-07, 05:51 AM
- 9 Members
- kleo, FAMeulstee, elenchus, nessreader, Stewdar, TheLOFT, MTCDBIBLIO, Lisa.Domke, skid0612,Matke
24
- 9 Members
- scriveling, TeresaInTexas, Caesia, gypsysmom, awwolfe1, SF_fan_mae, Boand, JoeB1934, AranelST
- Explanations
- 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.
25
1,006 members
41 reviews
3.9
Score 23.71
Added 2024-05-09, 10:39 AM
- 8 Members
- scriveling, tardis, Euryale, rarm, nessreader, BonnieJune54, RODNEYP, JoeB1934
27
by Kate Morton
5,911 members
264 reviews
3.8
Score 23.18
Added 2024-05-06, 11:47 AM
- 7 Members
- dara85, raidergirl3, perennialreader, Hope_H, srsrhs, lsnrtn, CatotheElder
28
1,367 members
49 reviews
3.8
Score 22.17
Added 2024-05-06, 07:55 PM
- 8 Members
- karenb, LadyUndomiel, Euryale, wdwilson3, sturlington, Onilyn, JoeB1934, skid0612
- Explanations
- skid0612: The first novel in the marvelous Easy Rawlins series starts with a bang in late 40s Los Angeles
29
30
17,976 members
342 reviews
3.9
Score 20.48
Added 2024-05-14, 07:03 AM
- 7 Members
- LadyUndomiel, TedWitham, njtrout, Rommert, Andrew_Orange, RHeli, AranelST
31
18,552 members
277 reviews
4.1
Score 19.5
Added 2024-05-19, 09:34 PM
- 7 Members
- dancesports, Porua, Dorritt, nrmay, treegardner, Andrew_Orange, AranelST
33
by Anne Perry
1,921 members
71 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 16.31
Added 2024-05-06, 10:13 AM
- 6 Members
- jeshakespeare, RBeffa, DidIReallyReadThat, nrmay, mrswebster, llarsson7
34
- 7 Members
- scriveling, janoorani24, Caesia, CarltonC, Andrew_Orange, llarsson7, SuSu2,feanor451
- Explanations
- 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.
37
- 5 Members
- libraryfan, eclbates, Lisa.Domke, ManWithAnAgenda, Boand
- Explanations
- Boand: Wonderful mystery set in Victorian England, full of mists, magic, myths and murder.
38
by Iain Pears
5,661 members
142 reviews
3.9
Score 14.89
Added 2024-05-12, 11:34 PM
- 5 Members
- Imprinted, libraryfan, cbl_tn, eclbates, Paulasmithy
- Explanations
- Imprinted: An elegantly constructed mystery novel about a murder in 17th century Oxford, England, told from conflicting points of view.
40
13,930 members
198 reviews
3.8
Score 14.16
Added 2024-05-07, 03:47 PM
- 5 Members
- LadyUndomiel, EerierIdyllMeme, sturlington, BonnieJune54, vwinsloe
43
- 6 Members
- Stewdar, dancesports, BonnieJune54, Dorritt, slimikin, RHeli,andyl
- Explanations
- Dorritt: great mystery + window on culture of early Los Angeles
46
by Eric Ambler
2,160 members
61 reviews
3.8
Score 12.65
Added 2024-05-19, 08:16 PM
- 4 Members
- janoorani24, Bookwomble, feanor451, Nigellicus
51
1,443 members
48 reviews
½ 3.6
Score 11.81
Added 2024-05-06, 09:57 AM
- 4 Members
- scriveling, jeshakespeare, lizzy50usa, MBAdams
53
54
908 members
26 reviews
3.8
Score 11.21
Added 2024-05-08, 01:56 PM
- 4 Members
- FAMeulstee, Bookwomble, SF_fan_mae, RHeli
57
58
3,339 members
102 reviews
4
Score 9.9
Added 2024-05-10, 09:16 AM
60
by John Buchan
6,011 members
203 reviews
½ 3.5
Score 9.79
Added 2024-05-06, 01:00 PM
- 5 Members
- CarltonC, Stewdar, perennialreader, dancesports, AndreaLP,Porua ,themulhern
- Explanations
- CarltonC: Although certainly a great adventure yarn, I have always thought of it as a mystery as well, and although only slightly historical when written (1915) about pre-WW1 Britain, it is now historical, as allowed in the description for the list.Porua: In my opinion, "The Thirty-Nine Steps" cannot be categorized as a mystery. It's more of an adventure/spy novel.themulhern : I'm pretty sure this is contemporary with the time it was written.
62
63
3,142 members
181 reviews
½ 3.6
Score 9.67
Added 2024-05-07, 01:31 PM
- 3 Members
- Euryale, ijustgetbored, al.vick
- Explanations
- al.vick: an excellent series, not sure which is my favorite.
64
1,027 members
26 reviews
3.8
Score 9.5
Added 2024-05-06, 09:30 AM
- 3 Members
- Stewdar, Boand, Paulasmithy
- Explanations
- 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!
67
1,011 members
33 reviews
½ 3.5
Score 8.59
Added 2024-05-06, 08:48 AM
- 3 Members
- andyl, AbigailAdams26, SF_fan_mae
- Explanations
- 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.
71
541 members
33 reviews
3.9
Score 7.96
Added 2024-05-07, 04:45 PM
- 3 Members
- karenb, rarm, bookcookie1920
72
3,032 members
93 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 7.76
Added 2024-05-14, 02:44 PM
- 3 Members
- lahochstetler, BonnieJune54, Dorritt
74
5,088 members
120 reviews
3.8
Score 7.54
Added 2024-05-19, 12:08 PM
- 3 Members
- Porua, DAPoalillo, stupidfresh
- Explanations
- stupidfresh: Set at the time of publication in the thirties, which is clearly in accordance with the rules.
76
94 members
4 reviews
½ 3.5
Score 7.36
Added 2024-05-14, 06:46 AM
79
662 members
24 reviews
½ 3.6
Score 6.83
Added 2024-05-08, 05:15 AM
- 2 Members
- andyl, MajorRakal
- Explanations
- andyl: First in the Matthew Bartholomew series set (mostly) in Cambridge University in the 14th century.
80
82
83
85
86
- 2 Members
- BooksPlease, Dave_Perry
- Explanations
- 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.
91
283 members
8 reviews
½ 3.5
Score 6.04
Added 2024-05-08, 05:16 AM
- 2 Members
- andyl, MajorRakal
- Explanations
- andyl: Thomas Chaloner series set just after the restoration of Charles II.
93
2,200 members
50 reviews
3.9
Score 5.87
Added 2024-05-10, 09:15 AM
94
95
- 2 Members
- Maddz, Nigellicus
- Explanations
- Maddz: First of the Sir Robert Carey series, set in Elizabethan England. Sir Robert Carey was a courtier and cousin to Elizabeth I.Nigellicus: The first in a witty, clever, sharply written series, the Border is a fantastic setting, and Carey is a great character with a fantastic supporting cast of untrustworthy Bordermen and clever women.
96
1,919 members
90 reviews
½ 3.6
Score 5.74
Added 2024-05-06, 09:56 AM
- 2 Members
- perennialreader, MBAdams
97
4,438 members
102 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 5.71
Added 2024-05-07, 09:07 PM
- 2 Members
- TeresaInTexas, themulhern
- Explanations
- themulhern: A mystery set in Victorian England, clearly inspired by "The Sign of Four".
98
100
