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Woman's World
11 Historical Mystery Books That Will Transport You to a Bygone Era Full of Intrigue and Suspense!
By Melissa D'Agnese,
6 hours ago
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Which season is the ideal reading season? It’s a question that’s debated often among readers. Whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall, every season has something special to offer book lovers (hello, beach reads!), but there’s something about the crisp fall air, golden foliage and cozy nights spent at home that set a perfect backdrop for getting lost in a good book. And historical mysteries—with their slow-burning intrigue and puzzling plots—provide top-tier entertainment while transporting readers back in time.
Blending two of the most popular literary genres (historical fiction and mystery), these reads deliver a uniquely immersive experience. If you’re looking for a historical mystery to round out your fall reading list, we have you covered! Here, we gathered up 11 of the best historical mystery books from bestselling authors like Fiona Davis, Susan Meissner, Kate Quinn, Trisha R. Thomas and more.
Keep scrolling to discover all our historical mystery recommendations. Happy reading!
Travel back to 1913 New York City in this dazzling historical mystery. After feeling bored with her life as the wife of the superintendent of the New York Public Library, Laura Lyons decides to apply to Columbia Journalism and soon discovers the feminist group Heterodoxy Club, which opens her eyes to a life she never thought possible. Flash forward to 1993, when Sadie Donovan struggles to live up to her grandmother Laura’s legacy. But, when books start disappearing from the library—just like they did when Laura was there—Sadie begins to realize she and grandmother might have more in common than she initially thought. A page-turning family saga filled with vivid details and a hard-to-forget storyline.
What readers are saying: “ Once again, Fiona Davis manages to create compelling characters with a mystery steeped in the history of New York City. As I read back and forth from the past to the present, the stories met in the middle, and as the story unraveled, I couldn't put it down.”
Readers are taken back to 1968 London in this complex and intriguing mystery. Liz Houghton is an obit writer at a London newspaper when a girl’s disappearance shakes up the city. Liz knows if she can break this story, it will do wonders for her career—and her best friend Marisa is a police officer on the case. When Liz follows Marisa to Dorset, they make an eerie discovery that decades earlier three other girls disappeared while evacuating London—and one was found murdered. The other two were never seen again. As Liz continues to unearth startling truths, she finds herself in the tiny village of Tydeham. Does this place have any connection to the missing girls? And why does Liz find this unknown place so oddly familiar?
What listeners are saying: “ This is a fantastic historical mystery! Rhys Bowen never disappoints! This book has multiple mysteries covering decades. The way the author puts it all together works quite well. The main character is well developed.
The combination of the horror of destruction of entire villages, the loss of families, the missing children, and secrets creates a book that is a pleasure to read, even with the sadness. There is hope, and found answers in the book that covers 1943 and 1968.”
In 1924 Chicago, 4-year-old Cecily Larson is reluctantly dropped off at an orphanage by her mother. Then, a few years later, Cecily is sold to a traveling circus to perform as the “little sister” to bareback rider Isabelle DuMonde. In 2015, Cecily is now 94 and an at-home DNA test reveals old secrets that she kept hidden for decades. An immersive, entertaining story about family ties, drama, history and one remarkable woman.
What readers are saying: ” There's so much to love about this book! The words, the world, the warmth. This book might make you cry, it might make you sigh with nostalgia, it might even make you rush out to buy circus tickets - but one thing it'll definitely make you do is think deeply about the world as it was in the 1930s and as it is today.”
Inspired by real-life Revolution-era diarist and midwife Martha Ballard, this novel is set in the winter of 1789. When the body of one of the most respected men in Hallowell, Maine, is found in a frozen river, Martha is called in to investigate. Relying on her medical knowledge as a healer and the diaries she keeps about the goings-on in her village, she begins to unearth the truth behind an unspeakable crime. Now, Martha must overcome secrets and lies to solve the case. A tense yet tender story about a remarkable woman meant to be remembered.
What readers are saying: "When starting this book, the reader immediately feels part of the community and is invested in Martha’s life and the lives of the vulnerable women she assists. This well-researched novel is a five-star read for me and one of my favorites so far this year. The action never stops. Make sure you read the author’s extensive notes at the end of the book. You will miss out on the real story if you don’t!"
Award-winning author Trisha R. Thomas delivers readers a mystery-laced page-turner in The Secret Keeper of Main Street. The story is told from multiple points of view, including Bailey Dowery, a dressmaker who has premonitions about her clients and their love lives; Elsa Grimes, the daughter of a rich oil baron who’s hiding secrets; and Charlene, Bailey’s aunt who can’t escape her past. Bailey soon gets caught in the middle of the drama — especially when she crosses paths with Elsa.
What readers are saying: “I love stories that sweep me away to past time periods,” says Courtney Shapiro, Woman’s World Digital Associate Editor. “And this book, set in 1950s oil-rich Oklahoma, stayed with me for a while. All the heart-racing drama of past and present secrets colliding kept me hooked. I couldn’t put this one down.”
From best-selling author Maggie Shipstead comes another enchanting tale filled with searing twists and turns. After being rescued off a sinking ship as infants in 1914, Marian and Jamie Graves are sent to Montana to live with their uncle. While there, Marian meets a pilot and falls in love with flying. At 14 years old, she sets off to follow her dream of circumnavigating the globe. A century later, actress Hadley Baxter is cast to play Marian in a film about her life. Told in a dual timeline, Hadley and Marian face troubles, all in the hopes of achieving their dreams.
What readers are saying: “When a friend recommended this book to me, she said the story was riveting,” says Sienna Sullivan , Woman's World Editorial Assistant. “And it exceeded my expectations! It’s an inspiring tale of women charting their own course in life.”
The Christie Affair by Nina Gramont was named a ‘Reese’s Book Club Pick’ that “sizzles from its first sentence.” The story, inspired by true events, takes place in 1925 and follows Miss Nan O’Dea who infiltrated her way into the world of iconic author Agatha Christie—who famously went missing for 11 days—and her husband, Archie. What follows is a story of betrayal and revenge that asks the question: How far will someone go in the name of love?
What listeners are saying: “I absolutely loved this book. It was beautifully written and honestly surprising! I, like nearly everyone else, know very little about the time during which Agatha Christie went missing. So anything related to that storyline I just eat up. Weaving fact with fiction can be a tall task, and de Gramont did it with ease. I found her version to be utterly believable. And the characters. Wow! What an artful job she did with each of them.”
Lyrical prose and mesmerizing moments meld in this story based on famous escape artist, Harry Houdini’s passionate marriage. Before he died, Harry Houdini vowed he would find a way to communicate with his beloved wife, Bess, from beyond the grave. So when the widowed Bess starts seeing messages from Harry in seemingly impossible places, the race is on to decode his meaning. When the mystery—which takes place at the dawn of the twentieth century and into the 1920s—leads Bess to the doorstep of a mysterious young photographer, she realizes that her husband’s magic may have been more than just an illusion.
What readers are saying: “What a beautiful novel. I've always been intrigued by Harry Houdini, and admit I had never thought much of his wife, Bess, until reading this book. Even though there have been several other ‘wives of famous men’ novels out there recently, this one has a twist—it also looks at Bess's life after Harry died. The writing is literary, but approachable, and there's a mystery that drives the narrative forward.”
This engrossing and harrowing story of resilience by Susan Meissner begins in 1906 San Francisco. Desperate for a new life, Irish immigrant Sophie Whalen answers a mail-order bride ad to marry a man named Martin Hocking. Sophie has an uneasy feeling about him, but she bonds with his daughter. On the eve of a devastating earthquake, Sophie discovers secrets about two other women. As the women’s lives intersect, they embark on a courageous journey.
What readers are saying: “ Sometimes, I simply want to read a good story that captures my full attention, and this one fits the bill perfectly. It has plenty of emotion and intrigue, but it’s not dark or heavy. The writing is wonderful but not too flowery or verbose. The plot has twists and surprises, but it’s not formulaic in the least. I recommend it to all! “
The bright lights of Broadway, twisted secrets and a handsome musician…this heart-racing page-turner touches on it all. When Lena Aldridge finally makes it to NYC from London, she decides she’ll do anything to make her dreams of being a Broadway star come true. She gets wrapped up with Will Goodman, a musician who takes her in. But she realizes he may have secrets of his own that could put her in danger.
What readers are saying: “ 1920s Harlem is vividly brought to life as the setting for Louise Hare's 2nd Canary Club Mystery. The characters are allowed to grow and develop within the structure of a well-plotted mystery. You won't be disappointed.”
It’s the 1950s, and blood-splattered walls and a body have been found in the room of widow Grace March, a resident of Briarwood House, a women’s boarding house in Washington, D.C. Set during the backdrop of the McCarthy era, when fear and suspicion ran rampant, the ragtag group of residents have to figure out who they can trust and whether a murderer is in their midst — a task that proves challenging since each of the women have secrets they want to keep buried.
What listeners are saying: “As a fan of Kate Quinn, I couldn’t wait to listen to her newest novel,” says Carey Ostergard, Woman's World Executive Editor. "And I loved that it wove historical fiction into a mystery! The 1950s were a time of such societal change, but despite the march of time, this book reminded me that the bonds of friendship haven’t changed — and that women will move heaven and earth to protect their friends!”
For more historical fiction roundups, keep scrolling!
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