Historical fiction that is mystery/suspense? (edition, cover, crime, drama)
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I read a lot of contemporary mystery and suspense fiction. I always have the opinion though that anything enjoyable (with regard to tv and books) is that much MORE enjoyable if it was set at least 100 years ago or more. I love that show Copper for that reason.
A little spook is great. A little spook that takes place on some desolate farmhouse in 1870, even better... right?!
Anyway just wondered if someone might have suggestions.
I have just begun reading "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson and i think it fits your criteria.
It is non fiction but, it reads like fiction. The sub-title isMurder, Magic, and Madness at the fair that changed America).
The story is set in Chicago in the late 1800's...centered around the 1893 World's Fair.
So far, I can hardly put the book down...and it does have a spook factor!
Just finished , PARIS , which covers Paris for more than a thousand years. I spent a week with this book and thought it was time well spent. Yes there was drama and suspense and mystery all the way through.
Check out Dan Simmons. He used to be mostly a sci-fi writer, but I was never much into sci-fi. But his recent historical fiction books are great! Lots of historical accuracy (he researches meticulously) and lots of suspense.
I'll dig up my old thread on Simmons when I get a chance.
But his historical fiction books are:
Drood: Very suspenseful story of the relationship between authors Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, and a strange mystery that could be either paranormal or reality-based.
The Terror: Well-researched story of the real Franklin expedition in the 1800s. The ships got stuck in ice in northern Canada, and the book is about how the men survived (and slowly died) and the whole story is a big suspenseful mystery. Also spooky, with a mixture of ghost story and Eskimo myths coming to life.
Black Hills: Story of an old Indian who is hired to work on the carving of Mt Rushmore, with lots of flashing back to his earlier life and his presence at the battle of Little Bighorn and his encounters with General Custer. Don't want to give it away, but it also contains a ghost story, with history all woven into it.
Margaret Truman (Harry's daughter) has written a series of mysteries called The Capital Crimes series.
They are fiction and surprisingly good. Each book focuses on a murder in a part of D.C. and the history of each place is very well researched by the author. I really enjoyed reading the history part of the books but the murder mysteries are good, too.
My mom and her friends can't stop reading the Maisie Dobbs series, by Jacqueline Winspear. Maisie's an investigator in post World War I London. There are ten or so in the series so far.
Sharon Kay Penman has written a series of mysteries set in mediaeval times. I haven't read any so can't comment but I understand they're pretty popular.
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Murder, Magic, and Madness at the fair that changed America).
