The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan (Brothers Sinister #1) Set in Leicester, England in 1863 “Your Grace,” Stevens finally said, “your concern does you justice.” The man’s toad-eating did him none. Robert met Stevens’s eyes. “No, it doesn’t. It’s called basic human decency, and I deserve no credit for doing what every man should.” “You […]
Secrets in the Mist (2016) Anna Lee Huber Set in East Anglia in 1812 It was balm for my bruised pride to hear him apologize, but it did not change what had happened. The hurt did not miraculously vanish, nor did the discomfort his presence caused me. I knew what was coming, like following a […]
A Sanctuary for Soulden (2021) J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry (The Lords of Bucknall Club #4) Set in alternate England during the Napoleanic Era he caught sight of Lord Christmas Gale, on his hands and knees, searching under a table in the near-empty Green Room. This was a bit unusual, even for Christmas. Soulden walked […]
Brother Cadfael’s Penance (1994) Ellis Peters (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #20) Set in England in 1145. This is the third time I have read this series through, but the first time I read Brother Cadfael’s Penance, the final book in the series (there is an anthology of short stories I still have to read). I […]
A Power Unbound (2023) Freya Marske (The Last Binding Book 3) Set in England in 1909 Spinet House was a young thing, built by a master carpenter-thaumoluthier and his energetically creative wife. It was a fortress. It was a musical, magical puzzle box. It was a fucking headache. When Alan had written up his fawning, […]
A Restless Truth (2022) Freya Marske (The Last Binding, #2) Set in England and across the Atlantic Ocean in 1909 There was a parlour game: one stared at a tray of objects before it was taken away, adjusted, and placed back in front of one’s eyes. Some things added. Some things removed. Robin was excellent […]
The Holy Thief (1992) Ellis Peters (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #19) Set in Shropshire, England in 1144 At first glance a lovely innocent, as open as his wide eyes, and with the silken pink and whiteness of a girl, but a more penetrating study revealed that this childlike colouring was imposed upon an oval face […]
A Marvellous Light (2021) Freya Marske (The Last Binding, #1) Set in London in 1908 They left Miss Morrissey in a halfway tidied office. At a certain point in the re-filing process, she’d given up all pretence that she wasn’t seizing the opportunity to impose order on what seemed to have previously been a rather […]
The Ruin of a Rake (2017) Cat Sebastian (The Turners #3) Set in London in 1817 Radnor’s secretary sent Courtenay an infuriatingly proper letter suggesting that Courtenay take himself as far away from Simon as humanly possible until the scandal died down. It was heavily implied that the scandal would die down at some point […]
The Lawrence Browne Affair (2017) Cat Sebastian (The Turners #2) Set in England in 1817 Georgie had too much practice deceiving others to be able to deceive himself. “I apologize,” he said in a normal tone of voice. “I had a valet, but he left.” “I daresay he did, if you insisted on dressing like […]
Think of England (2014) KJ Charles Set in England, 1904 It had been an extraordinarily modern creation at that time, equipped with the very latest innovations, with running water in all the bathrooms, heated by hot-water radiators and illuminated throughout by electricity from his own hydroelectric generator. This country is heading for a crash, mark […]
Proper English (2019) KJ Charles Shropshire, 1902 The table was inevitably unbalanced, due to the odd number and informal make-up of the party, with two sets of brothers and sisters to be separated plus the married couple. “I’m so sorry. That’s wholly inadequate but I don’t know if there’s anything else one can say.” “Not […]
Subtle Blood (2021) KJ Charles (Will Darling Adventures #3) Set in England in 1924 Lord Arthur recently became notorious for the killing of man-about-town Johnnie Cheveley in shocking events at Lord Waring’s ancestral home. No blame was attached to Lord Arthur by the Coroner’s jury. “They commended him, you shits,” Will growled at the paper. […]
The Sugared Game (2020) KJ Charles (The Will Darling Adventures, #2) Set in London in 1924 “Do you ever have the feeling the whole world changed while we were away and nobody bothered to mention it to us?” “I know you’ve thought about this,” Will said. “But there are men in the world who aren’t […]
Slippery Creatures (2020) KJ Charles (The Will Darling Adventures, #1) Set in London in 1923 “My grateful nation wasn’t grateful enough to give me a job. I pawned my medals to keep a roof over my head and food in my belly, and I’ll tell you what, the Military Cross doesn’t fetch a great deal, […]
The Summer of the Danes (1991) Ellis Peters (The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #18) Set in Wales in 1144 It is a blessed thing, on the whole, to live in slightly dull times, especially after disorder, siege and bitter contention. Have you ever seen the sea?” “No. How could I? Until I joined the bishop’s […]
A Case for Christmas (2021) J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry (The Lords of Bucknall Club #2) Set in alternate England during the Napoleanic Era Chant was well versed in the difference between rudeness for rudeness’s sake and rudeness born from an anxiety that was rapidly becoming unmanageable. “What do you need from me?” Gale hesitated. […]
Lady Ambition’s Dilemma, Audiobook (2022) Jane Steen and Elizabeth Klett narrator (Scott-De Quincy Mysteries #3) Set in Sussex in 1883 “In any case, we’re not discussing me. Are you trying to tell me Dederick . . .” I searched for the right words, “prefers the company of other men?” “A little in love with him […]
The Missing Page (2022) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers #2) Set in Cornwall in 1947 “James has gone to Cornwall.” She said this as if announcing that James had taken up a life of crime and perversion. The more Leo thought about it, the less he liked it. Leo had read this detective story and […]
Hither, Page (2019) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers #1) Set in England in 1946 What I love best about this book is she makes the time period (and much everything else) exactly like it does in the Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple series. Only with some boinking. You can’t hold it against him. He had a […]
The Potter’s Field (1989) Ellis Peters (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #17) Set in Shrewsbury in 1143. “Earth is innocent. Only the use we make of it can mar it.” It takes a very short time for earth to seal over the traces of humankind. …he could have his freedom to go and become a monk, […]
Lady Odelia’s Secret, Audiobook (2022) Jane Steen and Elizabeth Klett narrator (Scott-De Quincy Mysteries #2) Set in Sussex in 1882 I felt Michael—who hated to touch, or be touched by, other people—flinch as I rested my fingertips as lightly as possible on his arm. “I enjoy reading about people who are real to me for […]
Lady Helena Investigates, Audiobook (2018) Jane Steen and Elizabeth Klett narrator (Scott-De Quincy Mysteries #1) Set in Sussex in 1881 “I can’t have you back, so I’m forced to move forward with my life. I let Daniel’s death reduce me to some kind of paralysis, but you rescued me from it in the end. Perhaps […]
A Scandal in Mayfair, Audiobook (2024) Katharine Schellman narrated by Henrietta Meire (Lily Adler Mystery #5) Set in London in 1817 Fanny hesitated, then added in a serious whisper, “My Aunt Judith would not approve of my saying saliva.” “Well, I promise not to tell,” Lily replied, not knowing what else to say. As Lily […]
Murder at Midnight, Audiobook (2023) Katharine Schellman narrated by Henrietta Meire (Lily Adler Mysteries #4) Set in Hertfordshire in 1816 “Mrs. Adler, how many of the rumors about you are true?” “That depends on the rumors,” Lily replied “There’s a door past the kitchen, between the servants’ quarters and the rest of the house. Anytime […]
Death at the Manor, Audiobook (2022) Katharine Schellman narrated by Henrietta Meire (Lily Adler Mystery #3) Set in Portsmouth, England 1816 “Begging your pardons,” Mr. Mears said, speaking up when it became clear that Miss Wright was too occupied with wiping her eyes and catching her breath to say anymore. “She means Isaiah, who you […]
Silence in the Library, Audiobook (2020) Katharine Schellman narrated by Henrietta Meire (Lily Adler Mystery #2) Set in London in 1815 “How horrid!” Lily said, gazing at them with rapt—and encouraging—attention. “He’s not like other boys,” the maid said at last. “He never has been. The family says he’s feebleminded, but I don’t think that’s […]
The Heretic’s Apprentice (1989) Ellis Peters (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #16) Set in Shrewsbury, England in 1143 ‘There is no sin unless through a man’s own will, and hence the reward when we do right things also of our own will.’ Let Elave commit that to memory, and he could quote it in his own […]
The Murder of Mr. Ma (2024) John Shen Yen Nee & S.J. Rozan (A Dee and Lao Mystery #1) Set in London in 1924 Lao She is living in London, teaching English to aspiring businessmen and politicians when he is told Judge Dee was swept up during a Chinese protest and needs to get out […]
The Body in the Garden, Audiobook (2020) Katharine Schellman narrated by Henrietta Meire (Lily Adler Mystery) Set in London in 1815 I enjoyed listening to the story, although the narrator wasn’t as strong as others I’ve recently been listening to. But this is a first book in a series by a first-time author. “Plenty of […]
Nearly a Lady (2011) Alissa Johnson (Haverston Family #1) Set in England during the Napoleonic wars She pushed forward again, into the noise and smell and great wall of people. She’d never seen so many people. She felt as if she were on the verge of being trampled. Panic began to slither along her skin […]
The Siren of Sussex (2022) Mimi Matthews (Belles of London #1) Set in London in 1862 Ahmad Malik and his cousin Mira came to England after her mother died, and after her father died, Ahmad took whatever work he could to care for her. Now he is a tailor, hoping to make his marking designing […]
Death by Silver (2023) Melissa Scott & Amy Griswold (Lynes & Mathey #1) Mr Edward Mathey is a metaphysician hoping to get his new practice established. Mr Julian Lynes is his friend from school and a private detective. When Ned is consulted by an old school mate, he asks Julian to assist–despite the fact the […]
A Measure of Menace (2024) Jennifer Ashley (Kat Holloway #7.5) Set in London in 1883. Kat Holloway is once again asked to assist in a mystery–this time by Lady Cynthia’s father, Lord Clifford, who is more than a bit of a cad. Couldn’t you have used that to pay back the moneylender?” Lord Clifford regarded […]
Confounding Oaths (2024) Alexis Hall (Mortal Follies #2) Set in England in 1815. Mr. John Caesar wants his sisters’ coming outs to go well, so they can make good matches and be taken care of. But it won’t be easy, because they aren’t quite like the rest of society. Alexis Hall comes out the gate […]
The Masquerades of Spring (2024) Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London) Set in New York City in 1926 This novella is everything. It’s NYC during the jazz age. Prohibition, that bizarre aberration of the American spirit, could be dashed confusing to someone raised in the free and easy metrop of old London. And Nightingale has come […]
The Rose Rent (1986) Ellis Peters (The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #13) Set in Shrewsbury in 1142 He had been in the cloister since he was three years old, and knew nothing outside it. Unacquainted with sin, he was all the more haunted by it, as by some unknown monster, and assiduous in confession, he […]
The Raven in the Foregate (1986) Ellis Peters (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #12) Set in Shrewsbury in 1141 “Domine, ne in furore—O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy displeasure … Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak.” The vast inverted bowl of sky, dark blue almost […]
An Excellent Mystery (1985) Ellis Peters (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #11) Set in Shrewsbury in 1141 As a brother of the Order I would wish to keep my hands from violence against any, but for all that, I hope I would not turn my back if I saw innocence or helplessness being abused. He looked […]
The Pilgrim of Hate (1984) Ellis Peters (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #10) Set in Shrewsbury in 1141. “Then your only resort is confession and penance,” said Hugh lightly. “Not until Brother Mark is full-fledged a priest!” Young Mark was gone from his mother-house and from his flock at Saint Giles, gone to the household of […]
Murder on a Mystery Tour (1987) Marian Babson I had a lot of trouble getting into this story, because I could not figure out when it was set. Part of the setting is an old English manor turned into a hotel that hosts weekend murder mysteries set in the 1930s. That part I got. But […]
Turning Darkness Into Light (2019) Marie Brennan narrated by Barrie Kreinik and Raphael Corkhill Not my family, of course; if I decided I wanted to retire to a country cottage and spend my life growing roses—not even award-winning roses; mediocre, aphid-chewed ones—they would hug me and wish me well. I don’t mean that he’s ugly. […]
The Last Note of Warning (2024) Katharine Schellman (Nightingale Mysteries #3) Set in New York in 1925 Vivian is in trouble. When she discovers the body of a man, the police decide she must be the killer, and Leo Green’s connection can only get them so far. I had a very hard time getting into […]
Murder on Hunter’s Eve (2024) Morgan Stang (The Lamplight Murder Mysteries #3) There is a werewolf in Lamplight. But Isabeau isn’t going after it. Instead, she’s assisting Evie in a murder investigation. One tied to an important secret social club. “A social club,” said Evie. “What are a minister, a magician and a police chief […]
Dead Man’s Ransom (1984) Ellis Peters (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #9) Set in Shropshire, England and Wales in 1141 “If none of us ever fell short, or put a foot astray,” said Cadfael sadly, “everything would be good in this great world, but we stumble and fall, every one. We must deal with what we […]
A Scandal in Mayfair (2024) Katharine Schellman (Lily Adler #5) Set in London in 1817 After receiving a letter begging “A Lady of Quality” to help her discover if her uncle is stealing her inheritance, Lily is blackmailed by the girl’s beau to seek out the will that supposedly left the inheritance to the uncle […]
The Devil’s Novice (1983) Ellis Peters (The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #8) Set in Shropshire England in 1140 The other two, infant oblates given to God by their parents, are already twelve and ten years old, and are settled and happy among us, it would be ill-done to disturb their tranquillity. But I am not […]
Who Cries for the Lost, Audiobook (2023) C.S. Harris narrated by Jenny Sterlin (Sebastian St. Cyr #18) Set in London in 1815. Returned from France, but not yet fully recovered from injuries his received there, Sebastian balks at having to remain safe in England while those with whom he fought before are fighting Napoleon. But […]
When Blood Lies, Audiobook (2022) C.S. Harris narrated by Jenny Sterlin (Sebastian St. Cyr #17) Set in Paris in 1815 Sebastian and Hero have traveled to Paris in the hopes of finally finding Sebastian’s mother. Unfortunately, she is murdered before Sebastian can ask her her about his father, and so Sebastian and Hero search for […]
What the Devil Knows, Audiobook (2021) C.S. Harris narrated by Davina Porter (Sebastian St. Cyr 16) Set in London in 1814. In 1811 two families were savagely murdered in what came to be known as the Ratcliffe Highway murders. When the corrupt magistrate who was in charge of that case is found dead in an […]