June 2012 Feature of the Month: Historical Thrillers

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Thu June 7th, 2012, 2:34 am

Deepest apologies to Vanessa for forgetting to post this!

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Thu June 7th, 2012, 6:14 am

Just finished reading Lynn Shepherd's recently published <i>The Solitary House</i>, which I think qualifies. It's an elegant spin-off from Charles Dickens' Bleak House. There's plenty of blood, squalor and nail-biting suspense, despite the elegance.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Thu June 7th, 2012, 8:10 am

I believe The Solitary House is entitled Tom All Alone Alone's in the UK. I have it on my Kindle to read. Glad you enjoyed it, Margaret.

I thought we'd start off with historical thriller/mystery books in a series.

Here are some which I've made a start on.

Shardlake series by C J Sansom:

1. Dissolution
2. Dark Fire
3. Sovereign
4. Revelation
5. Heartstone

Thomas Chaloner series by Susanna Gregory

1. A Conspiracy of Violence
2. Blood On the Strand
3. The Butcher of Smithfield
4. The Westminster Poisoner
5. A Murder on London Bridge
6. The Body in the Thames
7. The Piccadilly Plot
8. Death in St James's Park

Burren Mysteries by Cora Harrison:

1. My Lady Judge
2. Michaelmas Tribute
aka A Secret and Unlawful Killing
3. The Sting of Justice
4. Writ in Stone
5. Eye of the Law
6. Scales of Retribution
7. Deed of Murder
8. Laws in Conflict

Hawkeneye mysteries:

1. Fortune Like the Moon
2. Ashes of the Elements
3. The Tavern in the Morning
4. The Chatter of the Maidens
5. The Faithful Dead
6. A Dark Night Hidden
7. Whiter Than the Lily
8. Girl in a Red Tunic
9. Heart of Ice
10. The Enchanter's Forest
11. The Paths of the Air
12. Joys of My Life
13. The Rose of The World
14. Song of the Nightingale

What are everyone's thoughts on these? Any favourites there? So far the Shardlake and the Thomas Chaloner books are my particular favourites.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Thu June 7th, 2012, 10:42 am

I like all those books/authors! Unfortunately Hawkenlye and the Burren series seem to be really difficult to get hold of here even online; I actually gave up on the Hawkenlye as they didn't seem to be available, and I've got the first 3 Burrens in pb but was looking at the newer ones and they're astronomical!

I may read the 2nd Thomas Challoner for this feature.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Thu June 7th, 2012, 11:08 am

I wonder why the Burren mysteries are so expensive. The Kindle editions aren't too bad - well, the fourth one is probably the price of full price paperback. There's always the library, too.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Thu June 7th, 2012, 11:24 am

[quote=""Vanessa""]I wonder why the Burren mysteries are so expensive. The Kindle editions aren't too bad - well, the fourth one is probably the price of full price paperback. There's always the library, too.[/quote]

I doubt libraries would have them at those prices, unless they get a special supply!

I've decided to read the first of Gyles Brandreth's Oscar Wilde mysteries, which is also one of my Library Thing challenges, so kills two birds with one stone, so to speak!

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Thu June 7th, 2012, 8:36 pm

[quote=""Margaret""]Just finished reading Lynn Shepherd's recently published <i>The Solitary House</i>, which I think qualifies. It's an elegant spin-off from Charles Dickens' Bleak House. There's plenty of blood, squalor and nail-biting suspense, despite the elegance.[/quote]

I've been wanting to read that one!

rockygirl · Post by **rockygirl** » Thu June 7th, 2012, 11:28 pm

I'm sorry to say that I didn't recognize any of these series. I'll have to look for them.

I actually did get into reading historical fiction because I liked the historical mysteries.

I particularly like:
1) the oft mentioned Lindsey Davis Falco series
2) Barbara Hambly's Benjamin January series set in early 19th century New Orleans--she recently added a couple of new ones
3) Laura Joh Rowland's two series--one about the Brontes and one about samurai
4) Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Series (for those who enjoy cozies)
5) For short mystery lovers, Mammoth has books of Ancient, Egyptian, and Roman mysteries---I have them all and they are excellent
6) A new series by Susan Wittig Albert--another cozy series, this time set in the Depression era--the Darling Dahlias--yes, they're cutesy, but they give good insight into ordinary lives during the Depression
7) another Roman series, the SPQR series by John Maddox Roberts

rockygirl · Post by **rockygirl** » Thu June 7th, 2012, 11:30 pm

And would duMaurier's Rebecca qualify in this category?

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Fri June 8th, 2012, 8:59 am

I'm not sure I'd categorise Rebecca as a historical thriller or even a thriller. What does everyone else think?

I have a couple of the Victoria Thompson books but haven't read any yet.

Have you not heard of the C J Sansom's Shardlake series, Rockygirl? It's been mentioned on here quite a lot and is very popular.