Mixing a gripping mystery into historical fiction, the best historical mystery books keep you intrigued as they bring history to life.
One of the beauties of artistic expression is when you take two different styles and merge them, creating an entirely new work.
In historical mystery books, authors take the atmosphere of a historical setting and then add a fun twist, incorporating a captivating mystery to keep you engaged. It’s basically the best of two worlds.
Far from one narrow category, historical mystery books run the gamut – from war novels full of spies and secrets to historical fantasy or historical romance that blend three genres together. No matter the setting, each historical mystery keeps you guessing whodunit as you explore an interesting time period.
Best Historical Mystery Books
Child 44
Tom Rob Smith
In 1950s Communist Russia, MGB officer Leo Demidov never wavers from the Party Line. Until his confidence is shaken when he investigates the brutal murder of a young boy. After watching an innocent neighbor tortured, Demidov is then asked the impossible: to arrest his own wife. Now he must choose where his loyalties lie as the child killings continue. A fun historical mystery that you won’t regret adding to your reading list.
The Frozen River
Ariel Lawhon
From the author of Code Name Hélène, comes a new novel based on the true story of a fearless midwife determined to find justice. In 1789, Martha Ballard is asked to determine the cause of death of a man found buried in the ice. As a local midwife, Martha knows all the town’s secrets, including that this man was one of the men accused of a heinous rape four months ago. As the trial nears, Martha believes the two cases are connected and her detailed diary ends up as pivotal evidence that might tear the whole town, and her family, apart.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Delia Owens
For years, Kya Clark has survived alone in the marshes of the North Carolina coast. Dubbed “The Marsh Girl” by the locals, she raised herself in nature after her family abandoned her. Now, as she comes of age, she begins to yearn for something more than her loneliness – maybe even a connection with the locals. A top-notch book club recommendation, Where the Crawdads Sing is one of those historical mystery books that stays with you long after you’ve read it.
The Secret Keeper
Kate Morton
It all starts when sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson witnesses her mother Dorothy stab a man to death on a calm summer day. If that doesn’t get your interest piqued, I don’t know what will. Kate Morton beautifully unfolds the backstory of Dorothy’s life during World War II. The more you learn about Dorothy, the more you’ll keep wanting more. If you love figuring out the twists and turns of novels, you’ll love this historical mystery. I, for one, did not guess the ending.
The Lost Apothecary
Sarah Penner
In 1791, Nella uses her London apothecary shop to sell poisons for women to use against abusive men. The only rules are that the poisons cannot be used against another woman and that you must leave a record in the apothecary’s register. When she befriends a 12-year-old girl, the consequences will last generations. With feminist themes throughout the book, this beautifully rich novel would be a historical mystery book for a book club discussion.
The River We Remember
William Kent Krueger
In 1958, Sheriff Brody Dern investigates the murder of a disliked wealthy landowner in a small Minnesota town. The rumor mill is quickly ablaze, accusing Noah Bluestone of the murder, a Native American WWII vet who just returned to town with his new Japanese bride. As Brody tries to find the truth, the physical and emotional wounds from World War II bring up old grievances in the community. Krueger makes the small town come alive while hitting on deeper themes and expertly painting human nature in all its flaws.
The Name of the Rose
Umberto Eco
In 1329, the Benedictines at a wealthy Italian abbey are suspected of heresy. Sent to investigate, Brother William of Baskerville suddenly finds himself dealing with much more than heresy when seven bizarre deaths occur. Using logic and theology, William must find the murderer and discover the hidden secrets of the abbey in one of the most classic historical mystery books.
Historical Fiction Books for Book Club Night
The Lake House
Kate Morton
During a big summer party in 1933, a baby boy from a wealthy family disappears from the country estate. Now, seventy years later, a police detective starts to uncover the truth of what happened at the lake house. A gorgeous mystery written with Morton’s characteristic flare, The Lake House is one of my favorite historical mystery books.
The Lions of Fifth Avenue
Fiona Davis
In 1913, Laura Lyons lives inside the famed New York Public Library where her husband is superintendent. Yet she struggles with her traditional role as a housewife and begins a degree in journalism. In 1993, Sadie, Laura’s granddaughter, becomes the curator of one of the library’s collections. When rare books begin to disappear, Sadie finds that history is repeating itself.
Publication Date: 4 August 2020
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The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Stuart Turton
On the 19th anniversary of their son’s murder, Lord and Lady Hardcastle throw a party with the same guests as that fateful day long ago. At 11 pm, Evelyn Hardcastle is murdered. In a Groundhog Day-esque fashion, Aidan Bishop must relive this day 8 times, but from the perspective of eight different witnesses. His task: identify Evelyn’s murderer, or do it all over again. Evelyn Hardcastle will throw you into a brilliant game of Clue as you see the same events from multiple perspectives. Just ignore the why this happening and jump right into the mystery come to life, with plenty of fun twists and turns along the way.
Code Name Verity
Elizabeth Wein
Code Name Verity immerses you in a world of intrigue with the story of a British spy, Agent “Verity.” Captured when her plane crashes in occupied France, Verity is interrogated by the Gestapo in an attempt to learn of her mission. As she confesses under torture, you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat wondering what secrets she is willing to exchange for her life. How far is she willing to go for her mission? A brilliant and emotional read that makes for a great historical mystery book.
The Thirteenth Tale
Diane Setterfield
Reclusive author Vida Winter has spent decades writing outlandish original stories for herself, always hiding the truth of her dark past. Now Vida wants to come clean with the actual truth, working with biographer Margaret Lea. Vida’s gothic tale mesmerizes Margaret and shows striking parallels to her own childhood. Is Vida yet again making up an origin story and what can Margaret do to find the actual truth? Full of stories within stories, The Thirteen Tale is an excellent historical mystery for book lovers.
Historical Romance Books
Outlander
Diana Gabaldon
Gabaldon’s Outlander series creates a sweeping love triangle that made waves for its well-researched historical fantasy romance. Recently returned from serving as a WWII nurse, Claire Randall decides to take a second honeymoon with her husband. When she steps through standing stones in the British Isles, she finds herself transported back to 1743 in war-torn Scotland. As Claire allies with the great warrior James Fraser, she must decide between the love of two completely different men in two completely different times.
The Giver of Stars
Jojo Moyes
Set during the Great Depression, Englishwoman Alice Wright marries a handsome American and finds herself transplanted to rural Kentucky. To escape her unhappy home life with her withdrawn husband and overbearing father-in-law, Alice agrees to become a traveling librarian, riding around the countryside bringing books to local residents. In her new job, she meets other fierce women and gains lasting friendships. Add in plenty of drama, love stories, corrupt businessmen, and even murder, and you have the perfect light historical fiction mystery to read.
Out of the easy
Ruta Sepetys
Known as one of the best young adult historical fiction writers, Ruta Sepetys makes YA historical fiction come alive again and again with her top-notch novels. In 1950, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is desperate to escape New Orleans. The daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie dreams of moving away to attend an elite college. But Josie becomes caught in the investigation of a mysterious death in the French Quarter and must decide where her allegiances lie.
The Mayor of Maxwell Street
Avery Cunningham
In 1921, Nelly Sawyer is the daughter of the “wealthiest Negro in America.” Not content with life as a debutante, Nelly has secretly been working as an investigative journalist, reporting on the shadow of Jim Crow on the everyday lives of Black people. Wanting to expose the city’s top vice lord, Nelly teams up with the manager of a speakeasy and discovers a whole new side of Prohibition-era Chicago.
Atomic Love
Jennie Fields
At the height of World War II, Rosalind Porter was an eminent physicist working on the Manhattan Project caught in a passionate affair with a colleague. Five years later, she’s living an obscure and heartbroken life in Chicago. When the FBI asks her to help investigate the sale of nuclear secrets and her old flame suddenly wants to reconnect, Rosalind gets caught in a sexy Cold War spy game.
Blind Tiger
Sandra Brown
On the day that war-weary Thatcher Hutton arrives in Foley, Texas, a local woman goes missing and Thatcher finds himself the prime suspect. To prove his innocence, Thatcher must take on a corrupt mayor and a crooked sheriff, all while finding himself on the opposite side of a moonshine war from a cutthroat businesswoman.
Intriguing Historical Mystery Books
The Shadow of the Wind
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
In post-World War II Spain, Daniel receives a copy of the only surviving copy of the book, The Shadow of the Wind by Julián Carax. When Daniel embarks on a quest to discover more of Carax’s history, he encounters a man determined to conceal everything about Carax. Books like this one remind me why I never want to write fiction; I could never come close to his exquisite use of the written word.
The Magnolia Palace
Fiona Davis
After her mother’s death, Lillian Carter finds herself without a purpose. Previously one of New York City’s most requested artist models, Lillian decides to take a job as a private secretary to the socialite Helen Frick. As Lillian gets caught up in the family’s drama in the 1920s, a present-day English model finds clues to the notorious murder in the former Frick mansion.
The Phoenix Crown
Kate Quinn and Janie Chang
In 1906 San Francisco, Gemma arrives in San Francisco to sing in the opera chorus. When she meets Henry Thornton, a rich tycoon willing to be her patron, her dreams of becoming an opera star seem within reach. Meanwhile, Suling lives in San Francisco’s Chinatown, desperate to escape an impending arranged marriage. When she picks up embroidery work for Thornton, she finds she has a connection with Gemma. After an earthquake tears the town apart, Henry disappears and the women eventually track him to Paris to finally find justice.
The Fox Wife
Yangsze Choo
Fox spirits are known to be cunning and clever creatures who lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful humans. In 1908, Snow leaves her den in the grasslands to seeking vengeance for her lost child, a trail that will lead her from China to Japan. Meanwhile Bao, a detective, investigates the death of an unknown courtesan found frozen in the snow. As Bao follows Snow’s trail, they both meet friends and foes and navigate the truths and myths about fox spirits.
Publication Date: 13 February 2024
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The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
Marie Benedict
In December 1926, the mystery novelist Agatha Christie disappeared. After an 11 day manhunt, the infamous author suddenly reappears, claiming no memory of what happened. A historical mystery book based on a true story, Marie Benedict’s novel imagines Christie’s disappearance as a mind game against her cheating husband. Chapters alternate between Mrs. Christie recounting her life and marriage leading up to that fateful day and Mr. Christie dealing with the fallout of her disappearance, in which he is the prime suspect.
Fun Historical Mysteries
Dream Town
David Baldacci
In the third Archer Book, private investigator Aloysius Archer has his celebrations with actress Liberty Callahan interrupted on New Year’s Eve in 1953. Screenwriter Eleanor Lamb wants to hire Archer to investigate the suspicious happenings in her life; a series of phone calls, a suspicious car, and then a bloody knife left in her house. When Eleanor disappears and a body is found in her house, Archer must unravel the dark secrets in Hollywood.
The Spectacular
Fiona Davis
In 1956, Marion learns that being a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall is much more demanding than she imagined. When a bomb explodes in the theater, Marion urges the police to try a new technique: psychological profiling. As she gets caught up in the investigation, Marion realizes that she might be putting herself and those she loves at terrifying risk in this lighthearted historical mystery.
Things in Jars
Jess Kidd
In Victorian London, female detective Bridie Devine faces her hardest case yet – the kidnapping of a young girl. The hidden daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, Christabel is rumored to have supernatural powers. Along the way, Bridie teams up with a giantess housemaid and a tattooed ghost to solve the mystery.
The Beach at Summerly
Beatriz Williams
In 1946, Emilia Winthrop, the daughter of the caretaker, becomes enchanted with Summerly’s new hostess, Olive Rainsford, and the surviving Peabody heirs. When an FBI agent turns up hunting a spy, Emilia’s decisions blow everything apart. Eight years later, the CIA is set to do a prisoner exchange, and Emilia finds once again caught up in the events. The Beach at Summerly is one of those fun historical mystery books read that would be perfect for your summer reading list.
The Cutthroat
Clive Cussler and Justin Scott
In 1911, experienced investigator Isaac Bell doesn’t think he’ll have much difficulty tracking down Anna Pape who ran away from home to become an actress. But when Anna is found murdered, Bell vows to bring the killer to justice. The further he digs, the more Bell suspects he might be on the track of a serial killer preying on young women across America.
Queen of Thieves
Beezy Marsh
In 1946, London is still struggling to recover from the ravages of World War II. In the devastation, Alice Diamond rules as The Queen of Thieves, running a gang of female thieves who steal and fence high-end luxury goods. Alice chooses young pregnant Nell as her protege in her ongoing war against crime boss Billy Sullivan. But Nell has her own agenda and just might decide to crown herself the Queen of Thieves.
What Are Your Thoughts on Historical Mystery Books?
Do you prefer mystery mixed with historical fiction or would you rather keep the genres separate? What historical mystery books are missing from my list? As always, let me know in the comments!
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