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Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Top Ten Tuesday (On a Wednesday): History + Mystery = A Delightful Combination
8:22 AM
I've been MIA for a few weeks and I've missed participating in my favorite meme! I'm a little bit late to the party, but, hey, better late than never, right? This week's prompt is: Top Ten Books Guaranteed to End Your Reading Slump. I've read voraciously since I was a kindergartner without ever experiencing a slump, so this topic isn't really relevant to me. Last week's was a Genre Freebie; I'm going to go that route this week instead. Freebies can be tough sometimes, but I decided to highlight a genre I love—historical mysteries—and chat about some of my favorite mystery series set in the past. This list should give you a good idea of the kind of historical mysteries I love. If you've got any suggestions for similar reads, please hit me with your best recs!
Edited to add: I didn't realize until I'd practically finished writing this post that I'd basically already written the same one two years ago. It did seem a *wee* bit familiar. Ha ha. At least I'm consistent?
As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Historical Mystery Series I Am Loving Right Now
1. A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong—While on a visit to Edinburgh, a modern-day homicide detective is flung back in time to 1869, where she wakes up in the body of an uneducated chambermaid. As she tries to figure out what happened to her and how to get home, she subtley tries to help her boss—an undertaker who moonlights as a medical examiner—solve murders while keeping her real identity hidden.
Setting: Victorian Scotland, mostly Edinburgh
Books in series so far: 4
Books I've read: 4
Series opener: A Rip Through Time
2. Myrtle Hardcastle by Elizabeth C. Bunce—With the aid of her governess, a 12-year-old uses her keen observation skills to solve murders and other mysteries in her small English town.
Setting: Victorian England, 1890s
Books in series so far: 5
Books I've read: 5
Series opener: Premeditated Myrtle
3. Gilded Newport Mysteries by Alyssa Maxwell—Emma Cross is the poor relative of a Vanderbilt, which gives the 21-year-old gossip columnist access to both Newport's well-heeled and its downtrodden. Trying to prove herself as a serious journalist, she uses her unique social position to investigate crimes among both the upper and lower classes.
Setting: Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., 1890s
Books in series so far: 13
Books I've read: 5
Series opener: Murder at the Breakers
4. Veronica Speedwell by Deanna Raybourn—Veronica, a plucky, independent lepidopterist, is pursuing a scientific inquiry when someone has the audacity to try to abduct her. An enigmatic German baron comes to her rescue and puts her under the protection of a gruff and mysterious gentleman. A natural historian, Stoker becomes her partner in cataloging the baron's massive collection of artifacts. The duo soon become known for their skill in sleuthing.
Setting: Victorian England, 1880s
Books in series so far: 10
Books I've read: 6
Series opener: A Curious Beginning
5. Below Stairs Mysteries by Jennifer Ashley—One of the most sought after cooks in London, Kat Holloway accepts a position at the luxurious Mayfair home of a respected, but eccentric family. Odd things are always happening in and around the household, causing Kat to become not just a chef but also an amateur sleuth.
Setting: Victorian London, England
Books in series so far: 8
Books I've read: 3
Series opener: Death Below Stairs
Setting: Gilded Age America, primarily New York City, New York
Books in series so far: 4 (the newest comes out in December)
Books I've read: 3
Series opener: Death on Millionaires' Row
7. Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer —Just as smart and observant as her older brother, Sherlock, Enola can't stand to miss out on all the fun of solving mysteries so she, too, uses her particular skills to detect and deduce her way to success.
Setting: Victorian England
Books in series so far: 9
Books I've read: 1
Series opener: The Case of the Missing Marquess
8. Kinship by Jess Montgomery—After her husband is killed in the line of duty, Lily Ross takes his place as sheriff of Kinship, Ohio. The widow has her work cut out for her fighting not just sexism, but also the corruption, greed, and crime that define life in the hardscrabble world of 20th Century Appalachia.
Setting: Ohio, U.S.A., 1920s
Books in series so far: 4
Books I've read: 4
Series opener: The Widows
9. Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peters—A wealthy English spinster, our archaeologist heroine loves spending her time in Egypt, where wonders and mysteries always abound.
Setting: Egypt, 1880s-1920s
Books in series: 20
Books I've read: 2
Series opener: Crocodile on the Sandbank
10. The Agency by Y.S. Lee—In this YA series, 17-year-old Mary Quinn is rescued from the gallows by a woman posing as a prison guard. Really, the imposter represents a secret school that trains female private investigators. As an "agent," Mary goes undercover to investigate nefarious activity and help solve crimes.
Setting: Victorian London, England
Books in series: 4
Books I've read: 3
Series opener: A Spy in the House
Wow, I somehow didn't realize that my favorite historical mystery series were so similar in setting and time period. I need to branch out a little bit! If you're familiar with these series, you can see that I like my historical mysteries peppered with strong heroines, humor, and clever writing. Which others would you recommend? Which historical mysteries/series are your favorite? I would truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
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It’s incredible to me that you’ve never had a reading slump. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI really haven't. I've always read. Always. Reading is my main hobby and escape. I'd be in trouble if I couldn't do it!
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lydia!
Have you watched Enola Holmes the movie? If so, are the books similar? We loved the movie. I have not read any of these books, but I do enjoy books in the Gilded age as well!
ReplyDeleteYes! Watching the first movie is what got me interested in reading the books. The tone and humor are the same. I can't remember if the plots are the same or not, but yes, they're very similar in feel.
DeleteI enjoy Gilded Age era books as well. The Maxwell series is great. I also like Rosemary Simpson's Gilded Age Mystery series, although not as much as the Maxwell one.
Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!
OOh nice! I love a good historical mystery as well, although for me there usually needs to be a magical or paranormal twist! I'm reading A Rip Through Time though! But naturally, I'm behind because Kelley writes freakishly fast! Lol. I think I'm just 2 books in. So hopefully I can get caught up in that one before the next book at least! I'm just 1 book behind in her Haven's Rock series!
ReplyDeleteThe rest are fairly new to me ones. Some look familiar but I haven't read any. Great picks all around!
How DOES Kelley Armstrong write so darn fast? It's impossible to keep up with her! I can brag that I'm up-to-date on both the Rip Through Time series and Haven's Rock, so that's something. LOL
DeleteI don't mind a paranormal twist to my historical mysteries as long as it's not TOO fantastical. I like them grounded in the real world with just a hint of magic/the supernatural.
Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Jessica!
Have read many in this genre, but I could see having a good time with them. Thanks for the recs!
ReplyDeleteMystery/thriller and historical fiction are my two favorite genres, so historical mysteries are a perfect combo for me!
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Alicia!
I've heard SO many like Deanna's books but I've never read any. May be an author I need to read more about and consider giving one of those a chance. :) Thanks so much for visiting my list this week.
ReplyDeleteRaybourn's books are HILARIOUS. They always make me smile. I hope you enjoy them if you decide to give them a go.
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Rissi!
These look good. I don't read many historicals but I've become interested in them lately.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've found a new interest in historical mysteries. Although the ones I've listed are all pretty similar in time period and content, there actually is a lot of variety in the genre. You should be able to find plenty of them to suit your tastes.
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Yvonne!
I love histfic with sides of mystery or thriller! ~Carol @ ReadingLadies
ReplyDeleteSame! I also love a mystery/thriller with a side of histfic ;) History + mystery is always a good combination.
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carol!
Fun list, Susan. I still haven't read Premeditated Myrtle, but I saw it in my pile the other day. Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteThe whole Myrtle Hardcastle series is fun and entertaining.. I have listened to all the books on audio because the narrator—Bethan Rose Young—is so good. I hope you enjoy the series when you read it.
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cheryl!
Wow, never had a reading slump? I ended up going a few years while in college without really reading anything, apart from textbooks. XD
ReplyDeleteI also have to say I love the colorful accents and decorative words you have you have on your page! It's such a fun and exciting way to express yourself on your blog.
I also though the stories you picked for this week's post sounded interesting. I enjoy a good mystery but haven't read many historical mysteries yet. I might need to try to find a few more to try soon!
I definitely read less for pleasure during college, but that was only because I didn't have a lot of time. I majored in English, though, so I still did A LOT of reading!
DeleteThanks for the compliments! I've tried to make my blog a fun and pleasant place to hang out :) Thanks, also, for coming by and commenting, Stephanie! I appreciate it.
I'd recommend the Ambrose Parry series. The books are set in 19th century Edinburgh and are excellent!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of the Ambrose Parry series, but it sounds like it's right up my alley. Thanks for the rec!
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Joanne!
You've got so many of my favourite female investigators here! I love Myrtle Hardcastle, Veronica Speedwell, and Amelia Peabody!
ReplyDeleteThey're all so great, aren't they? I love a spunky female investigator.
DeleteThanks for coming by and commenting, whoever you are!
As you know, I don't remember ever having a reading slump either. I enjoy historical mysteries as well. I have been reading and loving The Lady Eleanor Swift Mysteries by Verity Bright and The Miss Underhay Mysteries by Helena Dixon. They are available on KU, if you have that Susan. I have read the first Veronica Speedwell book and want to read more as I enjoyed it. Enjoy the rest of your week.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to read both the Eleanor Swift series and the Miss Underhay one. I do have KU, which is good because my library does not carry the Dixon books. Thanks for the tip!
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carla!
Repeating practically the same list is definitely a sign of choosing good books, I'd say!
ReplyDeleteHa ha. Right?
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicky!
A Rip Through Time looks really good! I added to my want to read list. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a really fun book and series. All the books are interesting, engrossing, funny, and entertaining. I highly recommend the whole series.
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Michelle!
A Curious Beginning has a cool cover!
ReplyDeleteThis is the "new" cover. It had a different one when it first came out. I like this style better since it shows the playful nature of the book and series better.
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Danielle!
Great list! Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I'm always happy to see other readers' best-loved books! I really love the Veronica Speedwell and Rip Through Time series. I'll be curious to hear if you continue enjoying the Enola Holmes books -- I read the first one and thought it was fun, but I wasn't hooked enough to continue.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the first Enola Holmes book. I'm definitely planning to read more of them, but it's already been a year or more since I read the first one so I guess I'm not exactly chomping at the bit! Ha ha.
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lisa!
Yes, I'm familiar with several of these series. As you'd probably not be surprised. I do occasionally have reading slumps, but a lot of times I do some rereading during that time and pop myself back out. I will say that if you haven't tried (and I can't remember if you've shared that you read these) the Perveen Mistry series by Sujata Massey, you really should. It's very good. Set in 1920's India. You've been missed, but it's good to see a post from you. I've been on a break and plan to be back in September. :-)
ReplyDeleteOur reading tastes are similar, so I'm not surprised that you're already acquainted with my favorite historical mystery series :) I haven't heard of the Perveen Mistry series before. I'll definitely check it out. It will be good to read some that aren't set in North America or Europe.
DeleteI've missed your posts! I hope you've been having a nice blog break.
Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kay!
I'm impressed that you've never had a slump. I seem to get them every summer when I'm extra busy with life.
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense. I've definitely had times (and stages in life) where I didn't have as much time to read, like when I had four little kids to take care of, but I've always read as much as I was able to. There's never been a time when I didn't WANT to read.
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, AJ!
It's always better to be late than never.
ReplyDeleteVery true, very true.
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deb!
These look so good. I have recently realised that I love Historical Mysteries! I have experienced a reading slump once - when I was pregnant. I even went off TV 😱
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
I love historical mysteries too!! I'll have to check some of these out. I also loved the Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas. There are 8 books now, but I've only read up to 5 and I need to reread because it's been a while.
ReplyDeleteSome cute covers there, Susan. But I never heard of them. It's always nice to discover new titles.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my post:
https://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/top-ten-tuesday-cheer-you-up.html
I'm enjoying Armstrong's Rip Through Time series; I'm on #3 and am planning on reading #4 next month. Historical mysteries are a lot of fun. I almost did a list of my favs for last week's genre freebie TTT, but then I went with apocalyptic reads instead. :D
ReplyDeleteYESSS!! I love when I see Veronica Speedwell on lists. I adore that series so much! I'm impatiently waiting on book 10 (net year).
ReplyDeleteThese sound like some great series! I'm interested in the Below Stairs Mysteries and The Agency books especially.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill. Still waiting for Book 2 to be released.
ReplyDeleteI have heard so many great things about the Veronica Speedwell books.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic! I love historical mysteries and have really enjoyed a number of these series - especially the Below Stairs and Veronica Speedwell series. I really want to pick up The Agency series and the Kelley Armstrong.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great topic, although I suspect I may be so enthusiastic because you've given me a bunch of historical mysteries to read that I wasn't aware of before (other than Veronica Speedwell).
ReplyDelete