An Unnatural Vice (2017) K.J. Charles (Sins of the Cities #2) Set in London and Norfolk in 1873 He looked like the sin of angels, like the sweetest fruit at the goblin market, and Nathaniel despised everything about him. “Oh, for— What did you think I was doing?” “Didn’t have a clue.” “It might work,” […]
Murder in the East End, Audiobook (2020) Jennifer Ashley narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (Below Stairs Mystery #4) Set in London in 1882 “Daniel and I were raised together, and he tells me you know under what circumstances. We refer to each other as brother, but we were no such thing, though as close as. After […]
An Unseen Attraction (2017) K.J. Charles (Sins of the Cities, #1) Set in London in 1873 This is one of my favorite queer historicals. It’s the first book in a series, and I’ve read just this book, or just the first two, because I adore Clem and Rowley. Look me in the eyes, boy! had […]
Death in Kew Gardens, Audiobook (2019) Jennifer Ashley narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (Below Stairs Mystery #3) Set in London in 1881 I always met the beggars exactly between the streetlamps, where the darkness was greatest. The poor things feared the light, knowing they could be arrested for being unemployed and hungry. “Why didn’t you tell […]
The Moving Finger (1942) Agatha Christie ‘I can see you are a very clever young man—but not quite enough confidence in yourself. You ought to have!’ Joanna gave a loud hoot. ‘For goodness’ sake don’t encourage him to feel like that. He thinks quite enough of himself as it is.’ ‘Be quiet, Joanna,’ I said. […]
Dominoes, Danzón, and Death (2024) Raquel V. Reyes (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #4) It’s been three years since the events in Puerto Rico, and Miriam hasn’t been involved in a single murder–mostly because everyone was staying at home because of the pandemic. My husband was a recent convert to Miami’s craft brewery scene. Our recycling […]
The Body in the Library (1942) Agatha Christie Mrs Bantry reflected a minute and then applied an urgent conjugal elbow to her sleeping spouse. ‘Arthur, Arthur, wake up.’ Colonel Bantry grunted, muttered, and rolled over on his side. ‘Wake up, Arthur. Did you hear what she said?’ ‘Very likely,’ said Colonel Bantry indistinctly. ‘I quite […]
The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) Agatha Christie ‘I’m evidently not a housekeeper by nature. I find it better to leave things to Mary and just make up my mind to be uncomfortable and have nasty things to eat.’ Miss Marple is a white-haired old lady with a gentle, appealing manner – Miss Wetherby is […]
Scandal Above Stairs, Audiobook (2018) Jennifer Ashley narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (Below Stairs Mystery #2) Set in London in 1881 I renewed my conviction that he was not married as I viewed his rumpled frock coat and noted a missing button on his waistcoat. No wife would let her husband be seen like that unless […]
Death Below Stairs, Audiobook (2018) Jennifer Ashley narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (Below Stairs Mystery #1) Set in London in 1881. I’d completely forgotten I had several of these audiobooks. Since historicals and mysteries are mostly what I’m in the mood for, I was delighted to start listening to a series I know I enjoy. The […]
A Scandal for Stratford (2022) J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry (The Lords of Bucknall Club #6) Set in England in 1818 James Lewis became Earl of Stratford after the unexpected death of his parents. It stood empty now except for the servants. Had done for years, ever since Lord and Lady Stratford had died, leaving […]
A Dangerous Madness (2014) Michelle Diener (Regency London, #3) Set in London in 1812 “You don’t . . . have the time for it?” Her words seemed to be coming from far, far away. “No. I’m . . . well, soon I’ll be in a bit of bother, m’dear. Or I think I will. And […]
Banquet of Lies (2013) Michelle Diener (Regency London #2) Set in London in 1812 “He reacted without thinking.” “How can you send someone out to starve without thinking?” Iris asked, her voice soft. “We’ve been fattening Mavis up,” Iris said, and something in the way she said it made Gigi go very still. If this […]
The Masquerades of Spring, Audiobook (2024) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) Set in New York City in 1926 I do love Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. But most of his American accents are just the slightest bit off and not quite right. Otherwise, I utterly adore everything about this novella. the show, which was […]
The Emperor’s Conspiracy (2012) Michelle Diener (Regency London #1) Set in London in 1811 After being annoyed by the last regency mystery, I wanted to reread a favorite, and of course had to start at the beginning of the series. (H)e was looking at her hands again. “Should I put the gloves back on?” Her […]
The Persephone Code (2024) Julia Golding (Regency Secrets #1) Set in England in 1812 I started out enjoying this story: a doctor with an opium addiction from his time at war, and a plucky heroine making her own way in the world. Vane was watching her with a supercilious smile. ‘Well done, Miss Fitz-Pennington. You […]
Rivers of London: Here Be Dragons (2024) Ben Aaronovitch, James Swallow and Andrew Cartmel I give up. I thought it was the story lines about Bev’s sisters I didn’t care for. That wasn’t it. Or the rendings of Peter and Nightingale that made them look anorexic and over-muscled at the same time. OK, that was […]
An Affair for Aumont (2022) J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry (The Lords of Bucknall Club #5) Louis-Charles Aumont was in love with Luke Winthrop, but turned down his offer of marriage, after which Luke joined the army and was killed at Waterloo. Since then Aumont worked as a spy for France, and avoided those who […]
It’s Elementary (2024) Elise Bryant (Mavis Miller #1) The principal has disappeared and the head of the PTA was seen wearing latex gloves, paper booties, and lugging black trash bags into her mini-van in the middle of the night. Are these things related? Mavis Miller, the newly volun-told head of the PTA DEI committee thinks […]
Murder Most Actual (2021) Alexis Hall These are desperate times, Miss Blaine. And desperate times call for desperate measures.” “Desperate measures that mostly cause problems for people who aren’t you?” “People who aren’t me,” said the colonel, “aren’t really my concern at the moment.” Marriage was getting to the end of the serial and hearing […]
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 […]
Fugitive Telemetry, Audiobook (2021) Martha Wells narrated by Kevin R Free (The Murderbot Diaries #6) I guess if you were really determined, you could find a way to get yourself killed by exposing the power connectors under the panels and shielding and, I don’t know, licking them or something, “What controlled circumstances?” I said, “Isolated […]
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 […]
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, […]
Grilled Cheese and Goblins: Adventures of a Supernatural Food Inspector (2018) Nicole Kimberling Lulu’s Flapjack Shack inhabited a space that had certainly been continuously used as a hospitality venue since linoleum had been invented. “Mass media doesn’t cover actual vampire deaths,” Keith remarked before he realized how callous his statement sounded. “Have you seen a […]
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 […]
A Fatal Grace, Audiobook (2006) Louise Penny narrated by Ralph Cosham (Chief Inspector Gamache #2) No one liked CC de Poitiers. Not her quiet husband, not her spineless lover, not her pathetic daughter—and certainly none of the residents of Three Pines. CC de Poitiers managed to alienate everyone, right up until the moment of her […]
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 […]
Still Life, Audiobook (2005) Louise Penny narrated by Ralph Cosham (Chief Inspector Gamache #1) Characters: Frederica Potter, Peter Morrow, Jane Neal, Jean Guy Beauvoir, Clara Morrow, Philippe Croft, Matthew Croft, Suzanne Belanger-Croft, Gabriel Dubeau, Olivier Brulé, Ruth Zardo, Ben Hadley, Myrna Landers, Yvette Nichol, Dr. Sharon Harris, Yolande Fontaine, Andre Malenfant, Bernard Malenfant, Isabelle Lacoste, […]
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 […]
Fugitive Telemetry, Audiobook (2021) Martha Wells narrated by Kevin R Free (The Murderbot Diaries #6) Characters: Dr. Mensah, Pin-Lee, Lutran, Dr. Ratthi, Gurathin, Senior Officer Indah, Tech Tural, Officer Doran, Officer Aylen, PA Supervisor Gamila, Officer Farid, Officer Tifany, Tellus, Balin, JollyBaby, Soire, Mish, Matif, Fenn, Miro Publisher: Recorded Books Rating: 9.5/10
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 […]
Stiletto, Audiobook (2016) Daniel O’Malley narrated by Moira Quirk (Checquy Files #2) “I can summon and command wasps,” said Pawn Harriet Collinge, whom Odette suspected of being a little bit tipsy. “Roger disrupts mathematics, and Louis can draw wasps to him.” “Very cool,” said Odette. “Wait, so you can both do things with wasps? Are […]