Best Mysteries With a Historical Setting

List of the Month
mei 2024 (see all)
Beschrijving
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
De naam van de roos
door Umberto Eco
19,567 leden
313 besprekingen
4.2
32 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, Mnmwi7, fricksalad, hthacher, john654
Verklaringen
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.
4
Marcus Didius Falco en het geheim van de zilveren zeug
door Lindsey Davis
2,398 leden
80 besprekingen
3.8
16 Members
andyl, lorax, janoorani24, MajorRakal, charl08, lizzy50usa, Caesia, CarltonC, nessreader, RBeffa, DidIReallyReadThat, Maddz, MTCDBIBLIO, srsrhs, JoeB1934, Bookladycma
Verklaringen
Maddz: The 1st of the Falco series - a hard-boiled detective in Vespasian's Rome.
5
Moord in de Oriënt-Expres
door Agatha Christie
17,215 leden
422 besprekingen
4.1
16 Members
TeresaInTexas, jeshakespeare, njtrout, merrystar, birder4106, perennialreader, zmeischa, SF_fan_mae, Boand, RODNEYP, skid0612, Thelamon1, SaraElizabeth11, Mnmwi7, fricksalad, hthacher,andyl ,lilithcat ,Sarielle , , ,feanor451
Verklaringen
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
De onthechting
door C. J. Sansom
4,198 leden
196 besprekingen
3.9
13 Members
MajorRakal, BooksPlease, abbottthomas, raidergirl3, Caesia, CarltonC, Stewdar, RBeffa, Mweb, souloftherose, gypsysmom, al.vick, feanor451
7
Meesteres van de kunst des doods
door Ariana Franklin
4,014 leden
251 besprekingen
3.9
11 Members
ReshiBec, charl08, raidergirl3, claire.rivers, DidIReallyReadThat, gypsysmom, al.vick, ccreads247, Abcdarian, Boand, CatotheElder
Verklaringen
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.
8
Het geheim van de Nijl
door Elizabeth Peters
4,614 leden
227 besprekingen
3.9
12 Members
tardis, lizzy50usa, Caesia, Sarielle, DidIReallyReadThat, BonnieJune54, Maddz, noveltea, llarsson7, MyFathersDragon, Bookladycma, Kalira
Verklaringen
Maddz: The first Amelia Peabody.
9
Maisie Dobbs
door Jacqueline Winspear
4,848 leden
272 besprekingen
3.8
11 Members
jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, navelos, perennialreader, DidIReallyReadThat, Tanya-dogearedcopy, robenc, MBAdams, Carrieida, skid0612, CatotheElder,zmeischa
10
Cocaine Blues
door Kerry Greenwood
1,803 leden
130 besprekingen
½ 3.7
11 Members
tardis, Euryale, jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, lizzy50usa, Caesia, dallenbaugh, bookcookie1920, SF_fan_mae, JoeB1934, john654
Verklaringen
lizzy50usa: The book that introduced the inimitable Phryne Fisher.
11
De smaak van venijn
door Alan Bradley
7,799 leden
656 besprekingen
3.8
11 Members
lorax, ReshiBec, terran, nessreader, vancouverdeb, BonnieJune54, bookcookie1920, gypsysmom, robenc, llarsson7, CatotheElder
12
De leerling van de bijenhouder
door Laurie R. King
5,911 leden
293 besprekingen
4.1
10 Members
scriveling, Herenya, jeshakespeare, lizzy50usa, saskia17, DidIReallyReadThat, Tanya-dogearedcopy, llarsson7, RODNEYP, SuSu2
13
De vrouw in het wit
door Wilkie Collins
12,880 leden
338 besprekingen
4.1
9 Members
ReshiBec, perennialreader, Mweb, Tess_W, Onilyn, RODNEYP, Carrieida, SuSu2, SaraElizabeth11,Porua
Verklaringen
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
A Curious Beginning
door Deanna Raybourn
1,609 leden
119 besprekingen
3.8
9 Members
MajorRakal, navelos, Sarielle, perennialreader, bookcookie1920, janey9, llarsson7, JoeB1934, Ann_R
15
Het dertiende verhaal
door Diane Setterfield
17,252 leden
911 besprekingen
4
8 Members
janoorani24, raidergirl3, sturlington, perennialreader, vancouverdeb, msjudy, Lisa.Domke, Tosta
16
Vingervlug
door Sarah Waters
7,861 leden
287 besprekingen
4
8 Members
anglemark, rarm, Stevil2001, raidergirl3, zmeischa, Onilyn, RODNEYP, Paulasmithy
17
Het parfum
door Patrick Süskind
18,195 leden
451 besprekingen
3.9
8 Members
kleo, FAMeulstee, elenchus, nessreader, Stewdar, MTCDBIBLIO, Lisa.Domke, skid0612
18
Onrust in Oxford
door Dorothy L. Sayers
5,476 leden
150 besprekingen
½ 4.3
9 Members
Herenya, lizzy50usa, saskia17, Caesia, merrystar, robenc, slimikin, Paulasmithy, SuSu2,andyl ,feanor451
Verklaringen
merrystar: Set before 1950; list description says that books can be published contemporaneously and need only be set before or during the 1950s.
19
A Free Man of Color
door Barbara Hambly
921 leden
38 besprekingen
3.9
8 Members
scriveling, tardis, Euryale, rarm, nessreader, BonnieJune54, RODNEYP, JoeB1934
20
Het geheim van de zusters
door Kate Morton
5,445 leden
249 besprekingen
3.8
7 Members
dara85, raidergirl3, perennialreader, Hope_H, srsrhs, lsnrtn, CatotheElder
21
Rebecca
door Daphne Du Maurier
20,834 leden
614 besprekingen
4.2
7 Members
MajorRakal, BooksPlease, crystal075, BonnieJune54, msemmag, SaraElizabeth11, CatotheElder
22
The Widows of Malabar Hill
door Sujata Massey
1,162 leden
70 besprekingen
3.8
7 Members
scriveling, Euryale, crystal075, DidIReallyReadThat, zmeischa, MBAdams, Onilyn
23
De ontmaskering
door Caleb Carr
9,518 leden
250 besprekingen
4
6 Members
elenchus, Sarielle, llarsson7, Tosta, skid0612, hthacher
24
De kille maagd
door Ellis Peters
2,076 leden
48 besprekingen
4
7 Members
scriveling, TeresaInTexas, Caesia, gypsysmom, SF_fan_mae, Boand, JoeB1934
Verklaringen
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
Slippery Creatures
door KJ Charles
405 leden
20 besprekingen
4.1
6 Members
gsc55, Sarielle, souloftherose, Onilyn, slimikin, Bookladycma
26
Alias Grace
door Margaret Atwood
11,903 leden
259 besprekingen
3.9
6 Members
rarm, BooksPlease, sturlington, Estramir, Hope_H, msjudy
27
De blauwe duivelin
door Walter Mosley
2,594 leden
99 besprekingen
3.8
6 Members
Euryale, wdwilson3, sturlington, Onilyn, JoeB1934, skid0612
Verklaringen
skid0612: The first novel in the marvelous Easy Rawlins series starts with a bang in late 40s Los Angeles
28
De schaduw van de wind
door Carlos Ruiz Zafón
27,986 leden
1,042 besprekingen
4.1
5 Members
terran, Rommert, MTCDBIBLIO, llarsson7, jnsp13
29
Tien kleine negertjes
door Agatha Christie
21,353 leden
538 besprekingen
4.2
6 Members
Euryale, BooksPlease, Mweb, SF_fan_mae, Yuki-Onna, hthacher,feanor451
30
The Unquiet Bones
door Mel Starr
532 leden
38 besprekingen
3.8
6 Members
MajorRakal, jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, lizzy50usa, DidIReallyReadThat, JoeB1934
31
Girl Waits With Gun
door Amy Stewart
1,735 leden
148 besprekingen
3.8
5 Members
scriveling, charl08, raidergirl3, robenc, Carrieida
32
The Cater Street Hangman
door Anne Perry
1,794 leden
67 besprekingen
½ 3.7
5 Members
jeshakespeare, RBeffa, DidIReallyReadThat, mrswebster, llarsson7
33
De negen slagen
door Dorothy L. Sayers
4,408 leden
116 besprekingen
4
6 Members
scriveling, janoorani24, Caesia, CarltonC, llarsson7, SuSu2,feanor451
Verklaringen
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.
34
The Bottoms
door Joe R. Lansdale
1,113 leden
42 besprekingen
4.1
4 Members
yoyogod, mrswebster, srsrhs, SuSu2
35
The Queen's Man
door Sharon Kay Penman
1,295 leden
32 besprekingen
3.8
5 Members
scriveling, Mweb, al.vick, SF_fan_mae, JoeB1934
36
Het goud van de waarheid
door Iain Pears
5,251 leden
138 besprekingen
3.9
4 Members
Imprinted, libraryfan, cbl_tn, Paulasmithy
Verklaringen
Imprinted: An elegantly constructed mystery novel about a murder in 17th century Oxford, England, told from conflicting points of view.
37
Arthur & George
door Julian Barnes
4,907 leden
176 besprekingen
½ 3.7
4 Members
Stevil2001, TedWitham, kleo, zmeischa
38
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor
door Stephanie Barron
1,326 leden
47 besprekingen
½ 3.6
4 Members
scriveling, jeshakespeare, lizzy50usa, MBAdams
39
Een Berlijnse kwestie
door Philip Kerr
1,200 leden
54 besprekingen
½ 3.6
4 Members
EerierIdyllMeme, charl08, FAMeulstee, elenchus
40
Farthing
door Jo Walton
1,585 leden
114 besprekingen
3.9
5 Members
andyl, Aquila, anglemark, sturlington, JoeB1934,lorax
Verklaringen
lorax : This is an alternate history, not set in the actual historical past.
41
Ik heet Karmozijn
door Orhan Pamuk
7,046 leden
172 besprekingen
3.8
4 Members
rarm, kleo, FAMeulstee, msjudy
42
Ceders in de sneeuw
door David Guterson
12,958 leden
190 besprekingen
3.8
4 Members
EerierIdyllMeme, sturlington, BonnieJune54, vwinsloe
43
A Peculiar Combination
door Ashley Weaver
223 leden
14 besprekingen
3.8
4 Members
bookcookie1920, robenc, MBAdams, Paulasmithy
44
Advocaat van kwade zaken
door C. J. Sansom
2,423 leden
91 besprekingen
4.1
4 Members
BooksPlease, CarltonC, cbl_tn, SuSu2
45
Er was eens een rivier
door Diane Setterfield
2,498 leden
165 besprekingen
4
3 Members
RBeffa, vancouverdeb, msjudy
46
Al wat schittert
door Eleanor Catton
5,050 leden
248 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
Aquila, charl08, EMS_24
Verklaringen
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.
47
The Hangman's Daughter
door Oliver Pötzsch
2,871 leden
174 besprekingen
½ 3.6
3 Members
Euryale, ijustgetbored, al.vick
Verklaringen
al.vick: an excellent series, not sure which is my favorite.
48
Lavender House
door Lev AC Rosen
334 leden
23 besprekingen
3.9
3 Members
noveltea, Onilyn, KeithChaffee
49
A Body in the Bath House
door Lindsey Davis
947 leden
23 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
Stewdar, Boand, Paulasmithy
Verklaringen
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!
50
Some Danger Involved
door Will Thomas
853 leden
45 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
MajorRakal, lizzy50usa, llarsson7
51
De hond van de Baskervilles
door Arthur Conan Doyle
15,398 leden
303 besprekingen
3.9
3 Members
TedWitham, njtrout, Rommert
52
Death Below Stairs
door Jennifer Ashley
270 leden
21 besprekingen
½ 3.6
3 Members
navelos, bookcookie1920, lsnrtn
53
Het monster van Essex
door Sarah Perry
3,172 leden
175 besprekingen
½ 3.6
3 Members
libraryfan, Lisa.Domke, Boand
Verklaringen
Boand: Wonderful mystery set in Victorian England, full of mists, magic, myths and murder.
54
The Corset
door Laura Purcell
424 leden
20 besprekingen
4
3 Members
sturlington, Ann_R, SuSu2
55
Absolutie voor moord
door Peter Tremayne
928 leden
32 besprekingen
½ 3.5
3 Members
andyl, AbigailAdams26, SF_fan_mae
Verklaringen
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.
56
Romeins bloed
door Steven Saylor
1,532 leden
42 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
janoorani24, Stewdar, slimikin
57
De vergiftigde bruid
door Robert Van Gulik
782 leden
17 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
FAMeulstee, Michael.Rimmer, SF_fan_mae
58
Search the Seven Hills
door Barbara Hambly
167 leden
½ 3.4
3 Members
tardis, Maddz, Bookladycma
Verklaringen
Maddz: A kidnapping in 2nd century Rome.
59
Silent in the Grave
door Deanna Raybourn
2,271 leden
137 besprekingen
4
3 Members
navelos, perennialreader, MBAdams
60
The White Lady
door Jacqueline Winspear
435 leden
23 besprekingen
3.9
3 Members
robenc, msjudy, CatotheElder
61
De kwade knecht
door Ellis Peters
2,064 leden
48 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
Caesia, cbl_tn, Mweb
62
Een mooie plek om te sterven
door Malla Nunn
555 leden
39 besprekingen
4
3 Members
charl08, sturlington, SuSu2
63
Dodelijke nalatenschap
door Laurie R. King
3,128 leden
101 besprekingen
4
3 Members
wdwilson3, Tosta, SuSu2
64
Moord in Toscane
door Hélène Nolthenius
89 leden
3 besprekingen
½ 3.5
2 Members
EMS_24, Rommert
65
De brand van Istanbul
door Jason Goodwin
1,560 leden
66 besprekingen
½ 3.4
3 Members
charl08, FAMeulstee, zmeischa
66
The Moonstone
door Wilkie Collins
10,837 leden
251 besprekingen
4
3 Members
TeresaInTexas, CarltonC, SuSu2
67
A Plague on Both Your Houses
door Susanna Gregory
599 leden
25 besprekingen
½ 3.5
2 Members
andyl, MajorRakal
Verklaringen
andyl: First in the Matthew Bartholomew series set (mostly) in Cambridge University in the 14th century.
68
Wings of Fire
door Charles Todd
871 leden
36 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
terran, saskia17
69
Zinnespel
door Barry Unsworth
1,306 leden
42 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
Stevil2001, CarltonC
70
The Dante Club
door Matthew Pearl
7,547 leden
171 besprekingen
½ 3.4
2 Members
Euryale, knerd.knitter
71
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
door James McBride
1,720 leden
89 besprekingen
4.1
2 Members
msjudy, mrswebster
72
The Ashes of London
door Andrew Taylor
571 leden
29 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
BooksPlease, Dave_Perry
Verklaringen
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.
73
Curious Toys
door Elizabeth Hand
239 leden
16 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
anglemark, sturlington
74
The Gods of Gotham
door Lyndsay Faye
1,340 leden
121 besprekingen
4
2 Members
sturlington, msjudy
75
Fires of London
door Janice Law
40 leden
4 besprekingen
4
2 Members
claire.rivers, gsc55
76
A Conspiracy of Violence
door Susanna Gregory
259 leden
9 besprekingen
½ 3.5
2 Members
andyl, MajorRakal
Verklaringen
andyl: Thomas Chaloner series set just after the restoration of Charles II.
77
Een hard gelag
door Ellis Peters
1,714 leden
36 besprekingen
3.9
2 Members
SF_fan_mae, msjudy
78
Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide
door Rupert Holmes
812 leden
31 besprekingen
3.9
2 Members
Tosta, lsnrtn
79
Het masker van Dimitrios
door Eric Ambler
1,848 leden
50 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
janoorani24, feanor451
80
And Only to Deceive
door Tasha Alexander
1,771 leden
81 besprekingen
½ 3.6
2 Members
perennialreader, MBAdams
81
Het raadsel van de robijn
door Philip Pullman
4,135 leden
101 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
TeresaInTexas, themulhern
Verklaringen
themulhern: A mystery set in Victorian England, clearly inspired by "The Sign of Four".
82
Shrines of Gaiety
door Kate Atkinson
1,010 leden
49 besprekingen
3.9
2 Members
CarltonC, Tosta
83
Murder Most Unladylike
door Robin Stevens
808 leden
37 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
Sarielle, bookcookie1920
84
Dood van een nationalist
door Rebecca Pawel
268 leden
8 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
zmeischa, skid0612
85
Death in the Spires
door KJ Charles
57 leden
8 besprekingen
½ 4.4
2 Members
souloftherose, Bookladycma
86
Kind 44
door Tom Rob Smith
4,793 leden
292 besprekingen
3.9
2 Members
vancouverdeb, skid0612
87
De eenzame bruid
door Ellis Peters
1,968 leden
48 besprekingen
3.9
2 Members
cbl_tn, feanor451
88
Poirot speelt bridge
door Agatha Christie
4,368 leden
94 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
Porua, hthacher
Verklaringen
hthacher: Set at the time of publication in the thirties, which is clearly in accordance with the rules.
89
Murder on Astor Place
door Victoria Thompson
1,049 leden
54 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
navelos, Carrieida
90
A Duty to the Dead
door Charles Todd
1,310 leden
94 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
BonnieJune54, Carrieida
91
O Jerusalem
door Laurie R. King
2,270 leden
66 besprekingen
4.1
2 Members
wdwilson3, msjudy
92
Murder on Black Swan Lane
door Andrea Penrose
437 leden
30 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
navelos, bookcookie1920
93
De duivel en de duistere diepte
door Stuart Turton
1,357 leden
50 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
Sarielle, slimikin,feanor451
94
Leviathan
door Boris Akunin
1,244 leden
30 besprekingen
½ 3.6
2 Members
charl08, cbl_tn
95
De vrouw in het meer
door Raymond Chandler
3,327 leden
66 besprekingen
4
2 Members
SaraElizabeth11, hthacher
96
Fandorin
door Boris Akunin
2,322 leden
80 besprekingen
½ 3.6
2 Members
charl08, FAMeulstee
97
Fortune Favors the Dead
door Stephen Spotswood
367 leden
18 besprekingen
3.9
2 Members
rarm, bookcookie1920
98
Mr. Churchill's Secretary
door Susan Elia MacNeal
1,524 leden
140 besprekingen
½ 3.5
2 Members
jeshakespeare, CatotheElder
99
The Samurai's Wife
door Laura Joh Rowland
507 leden
6 besprekingen
½ 3.6
2 Members
Euryale, SF_fan_mae
100
The Murder of Mr Wickham
door Claudia Gray
500 leden
39 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
scriveling, MBAdams