Subject: Which Mystery Stories To Read?
Posted by: elmo7
Date: Aug 04 16
Hi. I am looking for recommendations of mystery novels, murder mysteries, whatever they are called...I like period novels, but I find there is a ton of drivel in such areas as England in the Tudor period, or America in the 19th century.
I need help to avoid the dreadful stuff, and I'm confident I'll get it here! I like longish stories, and am not afraid of gore. Recommendations of contemporary writers also much appreciated.
Posted by: elmo7
Date: Aug 04 16
Hi. I am looking for recommendations of mystery novels, murder mysteries, whatever they are called...I like period novels, but I find there is a ton of drivel in such areas as England in the Tudor period, or America in the 19th century.
I need help to avoid the dreadful stuff, and I'm confident I'll get it here! I like longish stories, and am not afraid of gore. Recommendations of contemporary writers also much appreciated.
30 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
Mixamatosis 
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There are some good murder mysteries set in the Roman period. Lyndsey Davies has written a series of murder mysteries based around her detective, Falco. David Wishart has also written Roman murder mysteries, more based around historical events with his wisecracking detective Marcus Corvinus. You might also enjoy also Umberto Eco's "The Name of the Rose", a murder mystery set in medieval Italy with an English detective monk rather like a medieval of Sherlock Homes. There are loads of Scandinavian murder mysteries like the trilogy starting with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larson or Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg. Reply #1. Aug 05 16, 2:40 AM |
elmo7
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Thank you! I've read the last three and liked them all, especially "The Name of the Rose". I have taken note of the others you mentioned. Reply #2. Aug 05 16, 8:45 AM |
postcards2go
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You might like the intrigue and intricacies of Trevanian (single-named pseudonym of Rodney William Whitaker), especially 'Shibumi' and 'The Summer of Katya'. He also wrote 'The Eiger Sanction', which was made into a bad movie starring Clint Eastwood. If you've seen the movie, don't be fooled. The book is excellent... "sanction" refers to assassination. Reply #3. Aug 05 16, 10:36 AM |
| elmo7
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Noted! Thanks. I have heard of that movie, but I did not see it (and now I never will!) Reply #4. Aug 05 16, 1:58 PM |
| elmo7
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I am posting another call for recommendations. Heaven knows why, but I enjoy novels set in the Tudor period. I include other titles besides murder mysteries, but I'm currently working my way through the C.J. Sansom books ( a series of 5 or 6) with detective/lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Reply #5. Aug 06 16, 7:45 AM |
| Mixamatosis
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I don't know many novels set in Tudor times except for Hilary Mantel who wrote a trilogy starting with Wolf Hall, Philippa Gregory writes a lot of novels set in Tudor times but I can't say I read them. They are mainly imaginative retellings of history but I find them a bit unbelievable. That's probably just me because I like history and prefer it to novels of the period. The Tudor period is so fascinating and mysterious that many people write about the history and try to interpret what happened rather than writing novels. There are some novels about William Shakespeare. I remember reading and enjoying one called "Will Shakespeare" by John Moritmer, the author of Rumpole of the Bayley. I can't really remember the contents now - just that I enjoyed it. Reply #6. Aug 06 16, 11:35 AM |
| elmo7
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Appreciate your input. I am a big fan of Hilary Mantel, and have read everything by her that I could get my hands on, including Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies. Do you know if the third book in that trilogy has been published yet? Haven't seen it. Don't like Phillipa Gregory's stuff, too "romantic"! But I am interested in your suggestions about WS. I will definitely follow up. Btw II always liked the Rumpole of the Bailey character and stories. Reply #7. Aug 06 16, 11:58 PM |
| Mixamatosis
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I wasn't sure myself whether the third book in Hilary Mantel had been published. It seems not. Hilary Mantel estimated in Feb 2015 that it would be about 18 months after she came back from somewhere that Summer so that should mean about 6 months from now. It will be called "The Mirror and the Light". http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2015/02/hilary-mantel-reveals-timing-of-her-next-book-and-whats-next-after-thomas-cromwell.html Reply #8. Aug 07 16, 2:34 AM |
| Mixamatosis
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I did once find a good thriller set in the Tudor period when looking through novels at random in the Library but it's no help to you because I can't now remember the author or the title of the book. The lead character was a male who was a sometime actor involved with Shakespeare but he was also involved with the Earl of Essex and went off to war with him. He also almost got caught up in Essex's plot to overthrow Elizabeth but managed to escape the consequences and I think he was being hunted down by Walsingham at one point and was involved with a female spy. It was quite exciting and well written, He had a son and a mistress who were also characters in the book. I will keep trying to remember or find out what it was called. Reply #9. Aug 07 16, 2:43 AM |
| Mixamatosis
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What luck! I found it. It's called "Shakespeare's Rebel by CC Humphreys. http://www.powells.com/book/shakespeares-rebel-cc-humphreys-9781409114895?partnerid=32971 I found it among a list of novels set in Tudor times listed by author in alphabetical order. Here's the link to the list http://www.historicalnovels.info/Renaissance.html Reply #10. Aug 07 16, 2:52 AM |
| elmo7
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That's great. It's put down on my list of definites. Reply #11. Aug 07 16, 1:48 PM |
| elmo7
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Thanks for the links. I read the Hilary Mantel one with great interest. Plus the others have been noted for my next book-acquiring phase, which of coruse I am almost in, as of now. I "bookmarked" the Tudor novels page as it should contain a goldmine of information. Reply #12. Aug 07 16, 1:57 PM |
| Mixamatosis
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You're welcome. I hope you find some enjoyable books from within the booklist. Reply #13. Aug 07 16, 3:25 PM |
LadyNym
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My favourite historical mysteries are the "Roma Sub Rosa" (Gordianus the Finder) series by Steven Saylor, and the William Monk series by Anne Perry. The former is set in ancient Rome at the time of the ascent of Julius Caesar, while the latter is set in Victorian England, in the years following the Crimean War. Both are very well-written, with outstanding characters and extremely well-detailed historical background. Highly recommended! Reply #14. Aug 07 16, 4:24 PM |
| elmo7
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Thank you, LadyNym. I am familiar with the Anne Perry series and quite like her stuff. I've taken a note of the Steven Saylor works. Reply #15. Aug 09 16, 6:57 AM |
dippo
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S J Parris has written a series of mystery novels set in the Tudor period based around a character called Giordano Bruno. The first in the series is "Heresy". Reply #16. Aug 09 16, 7:13 AM |
| elmo7
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Yes, it is true that the English people, and many in some other countries in Europe, were obsessed by religion and the shades of differing opinion. Especially Henry VIII, the old psycho! "Heresy" is a good name for a book set in his reign. Thanks for your contribution to the thread and to my list, which is growing. I am glad I thought of using this resource. Reply #17. Aug 09 16, 1:45 PM |
agony
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My favourite Tudor thriller is the kids' book, "Cue for Treason". Still holds up, even though it's meant for maybe twelve year olds, and was written more than half a century ago. Shakespeare, politics, and a plot against the Queen! Geoffrey Trease. Not thrillers, but interesting and not too badly dated (written in the 50s and 60s) are Norah Lofts' "House" books. A trilogy following the history of one house, built just before the Wars of the Roses, and going up to the 1960s. Various inhabitants tell their stories - and we the readers, of course, know where all the bodies are buried (sometimes literally). Long out of print, but I would imagine Amazon would have paperback copies for cheap. Steve Hockensmith's "Holmes on the Range" books, about a couple of old west cowboys who want to emulate Sherlock Holmes, are tons of fun. You might also enjoy "The Sisters Brothers" from Patrick deWitt which covers some of the same territory in a much darker vein. Also not thrillers, but full of thrilling stuff, are George MacDonald Fraser's "Flashman" books. Period pieces set throughout the Victorian era, following the adventures of the cad and bounder Harry Flashman, fighting and (ahem) frolicking his way across the empire as he meets up with every fascinating character of that fascinating time. Reply #18. Aug 28 16, 7:39 PM |
| Mixamatosis
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Agony, Your reference to the author Geoffrey Trease, reminded me of the author Henry Treece, a couple of whose historical novels I read many years ago. He doesn't really write about the Tudor period though he did write a story set in Denmark about the period Shakespeare's Hamlet is said to cover. He writes historical novels going from the stone age, and Greek legends to the Dark Ages. I remember thinking they were good at the time. Reply #19. Aug 29 16, 2:51 AM |
Mommakat
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Try reading two books on the Wars of the Roses - The White Queen and The Red Queen. Reply #20. Aug 29 16, 7:21 AM |
30 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
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