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
19,636 leden
316 besprekingen
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
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
2,404 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
17,291 leden
425 besprekingen
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
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 leerling van de bijenhouder
door Laurie R. King
5,933 leden
295 besprekingen
4.1
13 Members
scriveling, karenb, Herenya, jeshakespeare, lizzy50usa, saskia17, DidIReallyReadThat, Tanya-dogearedcopy, nrmay, llarsson7, RODNEYP, SuSu2, rmaniel
8
Cocaine Blues
door Kerry Greenwood
1,796 leden
130 besprekingen
½ 3.7
13 Members
tardis, Euryale, lahochstetler, jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, lizzy50usa, Caesia, dallenbaugh, bookcookie1920, SF_fan_mae, JoeB1934, lovelybookishthings, john654
Verklaringen
lizzy50usa: The book that introduced the inimitable Phryne Fisher.
9
De onthechting
door C. J. Sansom
4,222 leden
197 besprekingen
3.9
13 Members
MajorRakal, BooksPlease, abbottthomas, raidergirl3, Caesia, CarltonC, Stewdar, RBeffa, Mweb, souloftherose, gypsysmom, al.vick, feanor451
10
De smaak van venijn
door Alan Bradley
7,791 leden
657 besprekingen
3.8
12 Members
lorax, ReshiBec, lahochstetler, terran, nessreader, vancouverdeb, BonnieJune54, bookcookie1920, gypsysmom, robenc, llarsson7, CatotheElder
11
Meesteres van de kunst des doods
door Ariana Franklin
4,020 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.
12
Het geheim van de Nijl
door Elizabeth Peters
4,610 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.
13
De vrouw in het wit
door Wilkie Collins
12,888 leden
338 besprekingen
4.1
10 Members
ReshiBec, perennialreader, Mweb, Tess_W, Onilyn, RODNEYP, Carrieida, SuSu2, SaraElizabeth11, lovelybookishthings,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
Tien kleine negertjes
door Agatha Christie
21,460 leden
539 besprekingen
4.2
10 Members
LadyUndomiel, Euryale, lahochstetler, BooksPlease, Mweb, nrmay, SF_fan_mae, Andrew_Orange, Yuki-Onna, hthacher,feanor451
15
The Widows of Malabar Hill
door Sujata Massey
1,165 leden
70 besprekingen
3.8
9 Members
scriveling, karenb, Euryale, lahochstetler, crystal075, DidIReallyReadThat, zmeischa, MBAdams, Onilyn
16
Onrust in Oxford
door Dorothy L. Sayers
5,489 leden
150 besprekingen
½ 4.3
10 Members
Herenya, lizzy50usa, saskia17, Caesia, merrystar, robenc, Andrew_Orange, 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.
17
Vingervlug
door Sarah Waters
7,892 leden
287 besprekingen
4.1
9 Members
anglemark, rarm, Stevil2001, raidergirl3, zmeischa, Onilyn, ManWithAnAgenda, RODNEYP, Paulasmithy
18
Het dertiende verhaal
door Diane Setterfield
17,289 leden
911 besprekingen
4
9 Members
janoorani24, lahochstetler, raidergirl3, sturlington, perennialreader, vancouverdeb, msjudy, Lisa.Domke, Tosta
19
A Curious Beginning
door Deanna Raybourn
1,611 leden
120 besprekingen
3.8
9 Members
MajorRakal, navelos, Sarielle, perennialreader, bookcookie1920, janey9, llarsson7, JoeB1934, Ann_R
20
Rebecca
door Daphne Du Maurier
20,893 leden
617 besprekingen
4.2
8 Members
MajorRakal, BooksPlease, crystal075, BonnieJune54, nrmay, msemmag, SaraElizabeth11, CatotheElder
21
Het parfum
door Patrick Süskind
18,254 leden
454 besprekingen
3.9
8 Members
kleo, FAMeulstee, elenchus, nessreader, Stewdar, MTCDBIBLIO, Lisa.Domke, skid0612
22
Slippery Creatures
door KJ Charles
410 leden
21 besprekingen
4.1
8 Members
LadyUndomiel, gsc55, Sarielle, souloftherose, Onilyn, ManWithAnAgenda, slimikin, Bookladycma
23
A Free Man of Color
door Barbara Hambly
921 leden
38 besprekingen
3.9
8 Members
scriveling, tardis, Euryale, rarm, nessreader, BonnieJune54, RODNEYP, JoeB1934
24
Het geheim van de zusters
door Kate Morton
5,457 leden
250 besprekingen
3.8
7 Members
dara85, raidergirl3, perennialreader, Hope_H, srsrhs, lsnrtn, CatotheElder
25
De schaduw van de wind
door Carlos Ruiz Zafón
28,074 leden
1,044 besprekingen
4.1
7 Members
terran, Rommert, MTCDBIBLIO, Andrew_Orange, llarsson7, ManWithAnAgenda, jnsp13
26
De blauwe duivelin
door Walter Mosley
2,612 leden
99 besprekingen
3.8
8 Members
karenb, LadyUndomiel, 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
27
Alias Grace
door Margaret Atwood
11,948 leden
260 besprekingen
3.9
7 Members
rarm, lahochstetler, BooksPlease, sturlington, Estramir, Hope_H, msjudy
28
De ontmaskering
door Caleb Carr
9,547 leden
250 besprekingen
4
6 Members
elenchus, Sarielle, llarsson7, Tosta, skid0612, hthacher
29
De kille maagd
door Ellis Peters
2,080 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.
30
The Cater Street Hangman
door Anne Perry
1,794 leden
67 besprekingen
½ 3.7
6 Members
jeshakespeare, RBeffa, DidIReallyReadThat, nrmay, mrswebster, llarsson7
31
De negen slagen
door Dorothy L. Sayers
4,425 leden
116 besprekingen
4
7 Members
scriveling, janoorani24, Caesia, CarltonC, Andrew_Orange, 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.
32
The Unquiet Bones
door Mel Starr
533 leden
38 besprekingen
3.8
6 Members
MajorRakal, jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, lizzy50usa, DidIReallyReadThat, JoeB1934
33
De hond van de Baskervilles
door Arthur Conan Doyle
15,476 leden
303 besprekingen
3.9
5 Members
LadyUndomiel, TedWitham, njtrout, Rommert, Andrew_Orange
34
Ceders in de sneeuw
door David Guterson
12,976 leden
190 besprekingen
3.8
5 Members
LadyUndomiel, EerierIdyllMeme, sturlington, BonnieJune54, vwinsloe
35
Girl Waits With Gun
door Amy Stewart
1,746 leden
148 besprekingen
3.8
5 Members
scriveling, charl08, raidergirl3, robenc, Carrieida
36
Lavender House
door Lev AC Rosen
343 leden
23 besprekingen
3.9
4 Members
LadyUndomiel, noveltea, Onilyn, KeithChaffee
37
The Bottoms
door Joe R. Lansdale
1,119 leden
42 besprekingen
4.1
4 Members
yoyogod, mrswebster, srsrhs, SuSu2
38
A Peculiar Combination
door Ashley Weaver
226 leden
14 besprekingen
3.8
5 Members
bookcookie1920, robenc, MBAdams, Carrieida, Paulasmithy
39
The Queen's Man
door Sharon Kay Penman
1,298 leden
32 besprekingen
3.8
5 Members
scriveling, Mweb, al.vick, SF_fan_mae, JoeB1934
40
Er was eens een rivier
door Diane Setterfield
2,518 leden
166 besprekingen
4
4 Members
lahochstetler, RBeffa, vancouverdeb, msjudy
41
Het monster van Essex
door Sarah Perry
3,205 leden
175 besprekingen
½ 3.6
4 Members
libraryfan, Lisa.Domke, ManWithAnAgenda, Boand
Verklaringen
Boand: Wonderful mystery set in Victorian England, full of mists, magic, myths and murder.
42
Het goud van de waarheid
door Iain Pears
5,264 leden
139 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.
43
Arthur & George
door Julian Barnes
4,919 leden
176 besprekingen
½ 3.7
4 Members
Stevil2001, TedWitham, kleo, zmeischa
44
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor
door Stephanie Barron
1,328 leden
47 besprekingen
½ 3.6
4 Members
scriveling, jeshakespeare, lizzy50usa, MBAdams
45
Een Berlijnse kwestie
door Philip Kerr
1,205 leden
54 besprekingen
½ 3.6
4 Members
EerierIdyllMeme, charl08, FAMeulstee, elenchus
46
Farthing
door Jo Walton
1,590 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.
47
Ik heet Karmozijn
door Orhan Pamuk
7,058 leden
173 besprekingen
3.8
4 Members
rarm, kleo, FAMeulstee, msjudy
48
Advocaat van kwade zaken
door C. J. Sansom
2,433 leden
91 besprekingen
4.1
4 Members
BooksPlease, CarltonC, cbl_tn, SuSu2
49
Al wat schittert
door Eleanor Catton
5,072 leden
250 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.
50
The Hangman's Daughter
door Oliver Pötzsch
2,881 leden
175 besprekingen
½ 3.6
3 Members
Euryale, ijustgetbored, al.vick
Verklaringen
al.vick: an excellent series, not sure which is my favorite.
51
The Moonstone
door Wilkie Collins
10,878 leden
251 besprekingen
4
4 Members
TeresaInTexas, CarltonC, Andrew_Orange, SuSu2
52
De eenzame bruid
door Ellis Peters
1,974 leden
48 besprekingen
3.9
3 Members
cbl_tn, feanor451, AndreaLP
53
A Body in the Bath House
door Lindsey Davis
951 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!
54
Some Danger Involved
door Will Thomas
855 leden
45 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
MajorRakal, lizzy50usa, llarsson7
55
Death Below Stairs
door Jennifer Ashley
271 leden
21 besprekingen
½ 3.6
3 Members
navelos, bookcookie1920, lsnrtn
56
The Corset
door Laura Purcell
424 leden
20 besprekingen
4
3 Members
sturlington, Ann_R, SuSu2
57
Het masker van Dimitrios
door Eric Ambler
1,850 leden
50 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
janoorani24, Michael.Rimmer, feanor451
58
De vergiftigde bruid
door Robert Van Gulik
786 leden
17 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
FAMeulstee, Michael.Rimmer, SF_fan_mae
59
Absolutie voor moord
door Peter Tremayne
932 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.
60
Romeins bloed
door Steven Saylor
1,537 leden
42 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
janoorani24, Stewdar, slimikin
61
Search the Seven Hills
door Barbara Hambly
166 leden
½ 3.4
3 Members
tardis, Maddz, Bookladycma
Verklaringen
Maddz: A kidnapping in 2nd century Rome.
62
The Samurai's Wife
door Laura Joh Rowland
509 leden
6 besprekingen
½ 3.6
3 Members
Euryale, SF_fan_mae, AndreaLP
63
Silent in the Grave
door Deanna Raybourn
2,260 leden
137 besprekingen
4
3 Members
navelos, perennialreader, MBAdams
64
Fortune Favors the Dead
door Stephen Spotswood
371 leden
20 besprekingen
3.9
3 Members
karenb, rarm, bookcookie1920
65
The White Lady
door Jacqueline Winspear
441 leden
24 besprekingen
3.9
3 Members
robenc, msjudy, CatotheElder
66
Medicus
door Ruth Downie
1,273 leden
70 besprekingen
½ 3.6
3 Members
MajorRakal, feanor451, AndreaLP
67
De kwade knecht
door Ellis Peters
2,068 leden
48 besprekingen
3.8
3 Members
Caesia, cbl_tn, Mweb
68
Een mooie plek om te sterven
door Malla Nunn
557 leden
39 besprekingen
4
3 Members
charl08, sturlington, SuSu2
69
The Murder of Mr. Ma
door S. J. Rozan
68 leden
4 besprekingen
½ 3.3
3 Members
tardis, karenb, slimikin
70
Dodelijke nalatenschap
door Laurie R. King
3,133 leden
101 besprekingen
4
3 Members
wdwilson3, Tosta, SuSu2
71
Moord in Toscane
door Hélène Nolthenius
89 leden
3 besprekingen
½ 3.5
2 Members
EMS_24, Rommert
72
De brand van Istanbul
door Jason Goodwin
1,565 leden
66 besprekingen
½ 3.4
3 Members
charl08, FAMeulstee, zmeischa
73
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.
74
Wings of Fire
door Charles Todd
873 leden
36 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
terran, saskia17
75
De 39 treden
door John Buchan
5,426 leden
191 besprekingen
½ 3.5
4 Members
CarltonC, Stewdar, perennialreader, AndreaLP,Porua ,themulhern
Verklaringen
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.
76
Zinnespel
door Barry Unsworth
1,306 leden
42 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
Stevil2001, CarltonC
77
The Paris Daughter
door Kristin Harmel
295 leden
25 besprekingen
4.2
2 Members
dara85, Carrieida
78
The Dante Club
door Matthew Pearl
7,561 leden
171 besprekingen
½ 3.4
2 Members
Euryale, knerd.knitter
79
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
door James McBride
1,831 leden
95 besprekingen
4.1
2 Members
msjudy, mrswebster
80
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.
81
Curious Toys
door Elizabeth Hand
240 leden
16 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
anglemark, sturlington
82
The Gods of Gotham
door Lyndsay Faye
1,340 leden
121 besprekingen
4
2 Members
sturlington, msjudy
83
Fires of London
door Janice Law
40 leden
4 besprekingen
4
2 Members
claire.rivers, gsc55
84
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.
85
Een hard gelag
door Ellis Peters
1,716 leden
36 besprekingen
3.9
2 Members
SF_fan_mae, msjudy
86
Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide
door Rupert Holmes
885 leden
31 besprekingen
3.9
2 Members
Tosta, lsnrtn
87
And Only to Deceive
door Tasha Alexander
1,775 leden
82 besprekingen
½ 3.6
2 Members
perennialreader, MBAdams
88
Het raadsel van de robijn
door Philip Pullman
4,148 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".
89
Shrines of Gaiety
door Kate Atkinson
1,024 leden
49 besprekingen
3.9
2 Members
CarltonC, Tosta
90
Murder Most Unladylike
door Robin Stevens
812 leden
38 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
Sarielle, bookcookie1920
91
Dood van een nationalist
door Rebecca Pawel
267 leden
8 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
zmeischa, skid0612
92
Death in the Spires
door KJ Charles
64 leden
8 besprekingen
½ 4.4
2 Members
souloftherose, Bookladycma
93
Kind 44
door Tom Rob Smith
4,782 leden
293 besprekingen
3.9
2 Members
vancouverdeb, skid0612
94
Even Though I Knew the End
door C. L. Polk
406 leden
20 besprekingen
4.1
2 Members
LadyUndomiel, ReshiBec
95
Lady Audley's Secret
door Mary Elizabeth Braddon
2,719 leden
83 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
lahochstetler, BonnieJune54
96
A Study in Scarlet Women
door Sherry Thomas
1,281 leden
84 besprekingen
3.8
2 Members
nrmay, MBAdams
97
Poirot speelt bridge
door Agatha Christie
4,391 leden
95 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.
98
Murder on Astor Place
door Victoria Thompson
1,052 leden
55 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
navelos, Carrieida
99
The Frangipani Tree Mystery
door Ovidia Yu
173 leden
13 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
tardis, karenb
Verklaringen
tardis: Set in Singapore before WW2. The series continues on through WW2.
100
A Duty to the Dead
door Charles Todd
1,305 leden
94 besprekingen
½ 3.7
2 Members
BonnieJune54, Carrieida