Best Mysteries With a Historical Setting

Lista del mese
Mag 2024 (see all)
Descrizione
May is Mystery Month, and in honor of the occasion our List of the Month this time around is devoted to the Best Mysteries With a Historical Setting. The books themselves can be published during any period, including contemporaneously. For the purpose of this list, "historical" is defined as anything set during or before the 1950s. Each participant may vote on ten titles. Please only downvote titles if they do not fit the theme, and are either not mysteries or not historical in setting.
1
Il nome della rosa
di Umberto Eco
19,596 utenti
314 recensioni
4.2
33 Members
Aquila, janoorani24, paradoxosalpha, EerierIdyllMeme, TedWitham, kleo, BooksPlease, abbottthomas, wdwilson3, Caesia, FAMeulstee, accessit, CarltonC, elenchus, birder4106, Stewdar, dallenbaugh, vwinsloe, zmeischa, Michael.Rimmer, MTCDBIBLIO, Boand, RODNEYP, NitinKhanna, Thelamon1, Monty_Grover, feanor451, MyFathersDragon, lovelybookishthings, Mnmwi7, fricksalad, hthacher, john654
Spiegazioni
Boand: Fascinating history and a very twisted tale that keeps you guessing right until the end. Life in a European monastery and the process of writing books is beautifully described.
4
Le miniere dell'imperatore
di Lindsey Davis
2,402 utenti
80 recensioni
3.8
16 Members
andyl, lorax, janoorani24, MajorRakal, charl08, lizzy50usa, Caesia, CarltonC, nessreader, RBeffa, DidIReallyReadThat, Maddz, MTCDBIBLIO, srsrhs, JoeB1934, Bookladycma
Spiegazioni
Maddz: The 1st of the Falco series - a hard-boiled detective in Vespasian's Rome.
5
Assassinio sull'Orient Express
di Agatha Christie
17,266 utenti
424 recensioni
4.1
18 Members
LadyUndomiel, TeresaInTexas, jeshakespeare, njtrout, merrystar, birder4106, perennialreader, zmeischa, SF_fan_mae, Andrew_Orange, Boand, RODNEYP, skid0612, Thelamon1, SaraElizabeth11, Mnmwi7, fricksalad, hthacher,andyl ,lilithcat ,Sarielle , , ,feanor451
Spiegazioni
lilithcat : Not an historical mystery, as it was set during the era in which it was written.
merrystar: List description specifies that the story need only be set prior to the 1950s; publication date does not matter
: Not an historical mistery
Boand: Simply one of the best crime mysteries ever written with the most shocking denouement if you’re reading it for the first time. Set in 1934, the year it was written so qualifies for this list!
feanor451: Virtually no historical elements in the story. I think The Secret Adversary would have been a more fitting Agatha Christie novel for this list.
6
L' allieva e l'apicultore
di Laurie R. King
5,918 utenti
295 recensioni
4.1
12 Members
scriveling, Herenya, jeshakespeare, lizzy50usa, saskia17, DidIReallyReadThat, Tanya-dogearedcopy, nrmay, llarsson7, RODNEYP, SuSu2, rmaniel
7
L' enigma del gallo nero
di C. J. Sansom
4,207 utenti
197 recensioni
3.9
13 Members
MajorRakal, BooksPlease, abbottthomas, raidergirl3, Caesia, CarltonC, Stewdar, RBeffa, Mweb, souloftherose, gypsysmom, al.vick, feanor451
9
Il re della neve
di Kerry Greenwood
1,795 utenti
130 recensioni
½ 3.7
12 Members
tardis, Euryale, jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, lizzy50usa, Caesia, dallenbaugh, bookcookie1920, SF_fan_mae, JoeB1934, lovelybookishthings, john654
Spiegazioni
lizzy50usa: The book that introduced the inimitable Phryne Fisher.
10
La signora dell'arte della morte
di Ariana Franklin
4,019 utenti
251 recensioni
3.9
11 Members
ReshiBec, charl08, raidergirl3, claire.rivers, DidIReallyReadThat, gypsysmom, al.vick, ccreads247, Abcdarian, Boand, CatotheElder
Spiegazioni
al.vick: love that this one has a woman as the detective when it is set so long ago.
ccreads247: Enjoyed reading a well written medieval mystery featuring a woman sleuth. No shrinking violets here!
Boand: My favourite from this wonderful series set in medieval Europe describing medical practices and herbal healing as well as a cracking murder mystery.
11
Amelia Peabody e la mummia
di Elizabeth Peters
4,606 utenti
227 recensioni
3.9
12 Members
tardis, lizzy50usa, Caesia, Sarielle, DidIReallyReadThat, BonnieJune54, Maddz, noveltea, llarsson7, MyFathersDragon, Bookladycma, Kalira
Spiegazioni
Maddz: The first Amelia Peabody.
12
Flavia de Luce e il delitto nel campo dei cetrioli
di Alan Bradley
7,782 utenti
657 recensioni
3.8
11 Members
lorax, ReshiBec, terran, nessreader, vancouverdeb, BonnieJune54, bookcookie1920, gypsysmom, robenc, llarsson7, CatotheElder
13
La donna in bianco
di Wilkie Collins
12,894 utenti
338 recensioni
4.1
10 Members
ReshiBec, perennialreader, Mweb, Tess_W, Onilyn, RODNEYP, Carrieida, SuSu2, SaraElizabeth11, lovelybookishthings,Porua
Spiegazioni
Porua: In my opinion, "The Woman in White" cannot be categorized as a "mystery" per se. Collins' "The Moonstone" fits more into this category but not this book.
14
Gaudy Night
di Dorothy L. Sayers
5,477 utenti
150 recensioni
½ 4.3
10 Members
Herenya, lizzy50usa, saskia17, Caesia, merrystar, robenc, Andrew_Orange, slimikin, Paulasmithy, SuSu2,andyl ,feanor451
Spiegazioni
merrystar: Set before 1950; list description says that books can be published contemporaneously and need only be set before or during the 1950s.
15
Ladra
di Sarah Waters
7,874 utenti
287 recensioni
4
9 Members
anglemark, rarm, Stevil2001, raidergirl3, zmeischa, Onilyn, ManWithAnAgenda, RODNEYP, Paulasmithy
16
A Curious Beginning
di Deanna Raybourn
1,606 utenti
120 recensioni
3.8
9 Members
MajorRakal, navelos, Sarielle, perennialreader, bookcookie1920, janey9, llarsson7, JoeB1934, Ann_R
17
La prima moglie
di Daphne Du Maurier
20,845 utenti
616 recensioni
4.2
8 Members
MajorRakal, BooksPlease, crystal075, BonnieJune54, nrmay, msemmag, SaraElizabeth11, CatotheElder
18
La tredicesima storia
di Diane Setterfield
17,262 utenti
911 recensioni
4
8 Members
janoorani24, raidergirl3, sturlington, perennialreader, vancouverdeb, msjudy, Lisa.Domke, Tosta
19
Il profumo
di Patrick Süskind
18,214 utenti
453 recensioni
3.9
8 Members
kleo, FAMeulstee, elenchus, nessreader, Stewdar, MTCDBIBLIO, Lisa.Domke, skid0612
20
Slippery Creatures
di KJ Charles
410 utenti
21 recensioni
4.1
8 Members
LadyUndomiel, gsc55, Sarielle, souloftherose, Onilyn, ManWithAnAgenda, slimikin, Bookladycma
21
Dieci piccoli indiani
di Agatha Christie
21,407 utenti
539 recensioni
4.2
9 Members
LadyUndomiel, Euryale, BooksPlease, Mweb, nrmay, SF_fan_mae, Andrew_Orange, Yuki-Onna, hthacher,feanor451
22
L'uomo del carnevale - Il giallo Mondadori n. 2574
di Barbara Hambly
920 utenti
38 recensioni
3.9
8 Members
scriveling, tardis, Euryale, rarm, nessreader, BonnieJune54, RODNEYP, JoeB1934
23
Ritorno a Riverton Manor
di Kate Morton
5,450 utenti
249 recensioni
3.8
7 Members
dara85, raidergirl3, perennialreader, Hope_H, srsrhs, lsnrtn, CatotheElder
24
L'ombra del vento
di Carlos Ruiz Zafón
28,015 utenti
1,042 recensioni
4.1
7 Members
terran, Rommert, MTCDBIBLIO, Andrew_Orange, llarsson7, ManWithAnAgenda, jnsp13
25
Le vedove di Malabar Hill. Le inchieste di Perveen Mistry
di Sujata Massey
1,169 utenti
70 recensioni
3.8
7 Members
scriveling, Euryale, crystal075, DidIReallyReadThat, zmeischa, MBAdams, Onilyn
26
Il diavolo in azzurro
di Walter Mosley
2,601 utenti
99 recensioni
3.8
7 Members
LadyUndomiel, Euryale, wdwilson3, sturlington, Onilyn, JoeB1934, skid0612
Spiegazioni
skid0612: The first novel in the marvelous Easy Rawlins series starts with a bang in late 40s Los Angeles
27
L' alienista
di Caleb Carr
9,531 utenti
250 recensioni
4
6 Members
elenchus, Sarielle, llarsson7, Tosta, skid0612, hthacher
28
La vergine nel ghiaccio
di Ellis Peters
2,078 utenti
48 recensioni
4
7 Members
scriveling, TeresaInTexas, Caesia, gypsysmom, SF_fan_mae, Boand, JoeB1934
Spiegazioni
Boand: Very hard to choose just one of Ellis Peters’ books, but this is a favourite set in a little known period of English history.
29
L'altra Grace
di Margaret Atwood
11,917 utenti
259 recensioni
3.9
6 Members
rarm, BooksPlease, sturlington, Estramir, Hope_H, msjudy
30
Il boia di Cater Street
di Anne Perry
1,793 utenti
67 recensioni
½ 3.7
6 Members
jeshakespeare, RBeffa, DidIReallyReadThat, nrmay, mrswebster, llarsson7
31
Il segreto delle campane
di Dorothy L. Sayers
4,414 utenti
116 recensioni
4
7 Members
scriveling, janoorani24, Caesia, CarltonC, Andrew_Orange, llarsson7, SuSu2,feanor451
Spiegazioni
CarltonC: I keep saving Gaudy Night, so may change my opinion once I have read, but love Lord Peter Wimsey’s characterisation and the setting of winter in the fens.
32
The Unquiet Bones
di Mel Starr
531 utenti
38 recensioni
3.8
6 Members
MajorRakal, jeshakespeare, raidergirl3, lizzy50usa, DidIReallyReadThat, JoeB1934
33
Il mastino dei Baskerville
di Arthur Conan Doyle
15,425 utenti
303 recensioni
3.9
5 Members
LadyUndomiel, TedWitham, njtrout, Rommert, Andrew_Orange
34
La neve cade sui cedri
di David Guterson
12,975 utenti
190 recensioni
3.8
5 Members
LadyUndomiel, EerierIdyllMeme, sturlington, BonnieJune54, vwinsloe
35
Girl Waits With Gun
di Amy Stewart
1,745 utenti
148 recensioni
3.8
5 Members
scriveling, charl08, raidergirl3, robenc, Carrieida
36
Lavender House
di Lev AC Rosen
337 utenti
23 recensioni
3.9
4 Members
LadyUndomiel, noveltea, Onilyn, KeithChaffee
37
In fondo alla palude
di Joe R. Lansdale
1,116 utenti
42 recensioni
4.1
4 Members
yoyogod, mrswebster, srsrhs, SuSu2
38
A Peculiar Combination
di Ashley Weaver
225 utenti
14 recensioni
3.8
5 Members
bookcookie1920, robenc, MBAdams, Carrieida, Paulasmithy
39
The Queen's Man
di Sharon Kay Penman
1,296 utenti
32 recensioni
3.8
5 Members
scriveling, Mweb, al.vick, SF_fan_mae, JoeB1934
40
The Essex Serpent
di Sarah Perry
3,182 utenti
175 recensioni
½ 3.6
4 Members
libraryfan, Lisa.Domke, ManWithAnAgenda, Boand
Spiegazioni
Boand: Wonderful mystery set in Victorian England, full of mists, magic, myths and murder.
41
La quarta verità
di Iain Pears
5,257 utenti
138 recensioni
3.9
4 Members
Imprinted, libraryfan, cbl_tn, Paulasmithy
Spiegazioni
Imprinted: An elegantly constructed mystery novel about a murder in 17th century Oxford, England, told from conflicting points of view.
42
Arthur and George
di Julian Barnes
4,908 utenti
176 recensioni
½ 3.7
4 Members
Stevil2001, TedWitham, kleo, zmeischa
43
Jane e la disgrazia di Lady Scargrave: romanzo
di Stephanie Barron
1,325 utenti
47 recensioni
½ 3.6
4 Members
scriveling, jeshakespeare, lizzy50usa, MBAdams
44
Violette di marzo
di Philip Kerr
1,204 utenti
54 recensioni
½ 3.6
4 Members
EerierIdyllMeme, charl08, FAMeulstee, elenchus
45
Farthing
di Jo Walton
1,588 utenti
114 recensioni
3.9
5 Members
andyl, Aquila, anglemark, sturlington, JoeB1934,lorax
Spiegazioni
lorax : This is an alternate history, not set in the actual historical past.
46
Il mio nome è rosso
di Orhan Pamuk
7,053 utenti
173 recensioni
3.8
4 Members
rarm, kleo, FAMeulstee, msjudy
47
Sovereign
di C. J. Sansom
2,424 utenti
91 recensioni
4.1
4 Members
BooksPlease, CarltonC, cbl_tn, SuSu2
48
Once Upon a River
di Diane Setterfield
2,506 utenti
165 recensioni
4
3 Members
RBeffa, vancouverdeb, msjudy
49
The Luminaries
di Eleanor Catton
5,054 utenti
248 recensioni
3.8
3 Members
Aquila, charl08, EMS_24
Spiegazioni
EMS_24: During the goldrush in New Zealand. Each chapter from another protagonist's point of view, in each chapter a changing view on current days and the days around the crime; roles and what happened.
50
The Hangman's Daughter
di Oliver Pötzsch
2,875 utenti
174 recensioni
½ 3.6
3 Members
Euryale, ijustgetbored, al.vick
Spiegazioni
al.vick: an excellent series, not sure which is my favorite.
51
La pietra di luna
di Wilkie Collins
10,847 utenti
251 recensioni
4
4 Members
TeresaInTexas, CarltonC, Andrew_Orange, SuSu2
52
A Body in the Bath House
di Lindsey Davis
949 utenti
23 recensioni
3.8
3 Members
Stewdar, Boand, Paulasmithy
Spiegazioni
Boand: SO hard to choose just one of Lindsey’s books but this one also makes me laugh and reminds me that the art of plumbers hasn’t changed in 2000 years!
53
Some Danger Involved
di Will Thomas
854 utenti
45 recensioni
3.8
3 Members
MajorRakal, lizzy50usa, llarsson7
54
Death Below Stairs
di Jennifer Ashley
271 utenti
21 recensioni
½ 3.6
3 Members
navelos, bookcookie1920, lsnrtn
55
The Corset
di Laura Purcell
425 utenti
20 recensioni
4
3 Members
sturlington, Ann_R, SuSu2
56
La maschera di Dimitrios
di Eric Ambler
1,846 utenti
50 recensioni
3.8
3 Members
janoorani24, Michael.Rimmer, feanor451
57
I celebri casi del giudice Dee
di Robert Van Gulik
784 utenti
17 recensioni
3.8
3 Members
FAMeulstee, Michael.Rimmer, SF_fan_mae
58
Absolution by Murder
di Peter Tremayne
930 utenti
32 recensioni
½ 3.5
3 Members
andyl, AbigailAdams26, SF_fan_mae
Spiegazioni
andyl: First in the Sister Fidelma series. Future books in the series are probably better than this one, but listed because it is the first.
59
Sangue su Roma: romanzo
di Steven Saylor
1,533 utenti
42 recensioni
3.8
3 Members
janoorani24, Stewdar, slimikin
60
Search the Seven Hills
di Barbara Hambly
167 utenti
½ 3.4
3 Members
tardis, Maddz, Bookladycma
Spiegazioni
Maddz: A kidnapping in 2nd century Rome.
61
Silenzi e veleni
di Deanna Raybourn
2,258 utenti
137 recensioni
4
3 Members
navelos, perennialreader, MBAdams
62
The White Lady
di Jacqueline Winspear
442 utenti
23 recensioni
3.9
3 Members
robenc, msjudy, CatotheElder
63
La fiera di San Pietro
di Ellis Peters
2,066 utenti
48 recensioni
3.8
3 Members
Caesia, cbl_tn, Mweb
64
A Beautiful Place to Die
di Malla Nunn
557 utenti
39 recensioni
4
3 Members
charl08, sturlington, SuSu2
65
A Monstrous Regiment of Women
di Laurie R. King
3,124 utenti
101 recensioni
4
3 Members
wdwilson3, Tosta, SuSu2
66
Moord in Toscane : een monnik als speurder in de Middeleeuwen
di Hélène Nolthenius
89 utenti
3 recensioni
½ 3.5
2 Members
EMS_24, Rommert
67
L' albero dei giannizzeri
di Jason Goodwin
1,563 utenti
66 recensioni
½ 3.4
3 Members
charl08, FAMeulstee, zmeischa
68
A Plague on Both Your Houses
di Susanna Gregory
600 utenti
25 recensioni
½ 3.5
2 Members
andyl, MajorRakal
Spiegazioni
andyl: First in the Matthew Bartholomew series set (mostly) in Cambridge University in the 14th century.
69
Wings of Fire
di Charles Todd
872 utenti
36 recensioni
3.8
2 Members
terran, saskia17
70
Morality Play
di Barry Unsworth
1,307 utenti
42 recensioni
3.8
2 Members
Stevil2001, CarltonC
71
The Paris Daughter
di Kristin Harmel
290 utenti
25 recensioni
4.2
2 Members
dara85, Carrieida
72
Il circolo Dante
di Matthew Pearl
7,553 utenti
171 recensioni
½ 3.4
2 Members
Euryale, knerd.knitter
73
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
di James McBride
1,767 utenti
91 recensioni
4.1
2 Members
msjudy, mrswebster
74
The Ashes of London
di Andrew Taylor
571 utenti
29 recensioni
½ 3.7
2 Members
BooksPlease, Dave_Perry
Spiegazioni
Dave_Perry: Remarkable account of the aftermath of the fire of London. Mystery solved by pair with exquisite detail of living conditions at the time.
75
Curious Toys
di Elizabeth Hand
240 utenti
16 recensioni
3.8
2 Members
anglemark, sturlington
76
Il dio di Gotham
di Lyndsay Faye
1,339 utenti
121 recensioni
4
2 Members
sturlington, msjudy
77
Fires of London
di Janice Law
40 utenti
4 recensioni
4
2 Members
claire.rivers, gsc55
78
A Conspiracy of Violence
di Susanna Gregory
259 utenti
9 recensioni
½ 3.5
2 Members
andyl, MajorRakal
Spiegazioni
andyl: Thomas Chaloner series set just after the restoration of Charles II.
79
Mistero doppio
di Ellis Peters
1,715 utenti
36 recensioni
3.9
2 Members
SF_fan_mae, msjudy
80
Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide
di Rupert Holmes
845 utenti
31 recensioni
3.9
2 Members
Tosta, lsnrtn
81
And Only to Deceive
di Tasha Alexander
1,775 utenti
82 recensioni
½ 3.6
2 Members
perennialreader, MBAdams
82
The Ruby in the Smoke
di Philip Pullman
4,139 utenti
101 recensioni
½ 3.7
2 Members
TeresaInTexas, themulhern
Spiegazioni
themulhern: A mystery set in Victorian England, clearly inspired by "The Sign of Four".
83
Shrines of Gaiety
di Kate Atkinson
1,015 utenti
49 recensioni
3.9
2 Members
CarltonC, Tosta
84
Murder Most Unladylike
di Robin Stevens
811 utenti
38 recensioni
½ 3.7
2 Members
Sarielle, bookcookie1920
85
Morte di un nazionalista
di Rebecca Pawel
267 utenti
8 recensioni
3.8
2 Members
zmeischa, skid0612
86
Death in the Spires
di KJ Charles
58 utenti
8 recensioni
½ 4.5
2 Members
souloftherose, Bookladycma
87
Bambino 44
di Tom Rob Smith
4,799 utenti
292 recensioni
3.9
2 Members
vancouverdeb, skid0612
88
Due delitti per un monaco
di Ellis Peters
1,969 utenti
48 recensioni
3.9
2 Members
cbl_tn, feanor451
89
Even Though I Knew the End
di C. L. Polk
400 utenti
20 recensioni
4.1
2 Members
LadyUndomiel, ReshiBec
90
A Study in Scarlet Women
di Sherry Thomas
1,280 utenti
84 recensioni
3.8
2 Members
nrmay, MBAdams
91
Carte in tavola
di Agatha Christie
4,382 utenti
95 recensioni
3.8
2 Members
Porua, hthacher
Spiegazioni
hthacher: Set at the time of publication in the thirties, which is clearly in accordance with the rules.
92
Murder on Astor Place
di Victoria Thompson
1,051 utenti
54 recensioni
½ 3.7
2 Members
navelos, Carrieida
93
A Duty to the Dead
di Charles Todd
1,315 utenti
94 recensioni
½ 3.7
2 Members
BonnieJune54, Carrieida
94
O Jerusalem
di Laurie R. King
2,274 utenti
66 recensioni
4.1
2 Members
wdwilson3, msjudy
95
Murder on Black Swan Lane
di Andrea Penrose
436 utenti
30 recensioni
½ 3.7
2 Members
navelos, bookcookie1920
96
Il diavolo e l'acqua scura
di Stuart Turton
1,376 utenti
50 recensioni
½ 3.7
2 Members
Sarielle, slimikin,feanor451
97
Assassinio sul Leviathan
di Boris Akunin
1,248 utenti
30 recensioni
½ 3.6
2 Members
charl08, cbl_tn
98
La signora del lago
di Raymond Chandler
3,328 utenti
66 recensioni
4
2 Members
SaraElizabeth11, hthacher
99
Le avventure di Sherlock Holmes
di Arthur Conan Doyle
15,779 utenti
251 recensioni
4.1
2 Members
Porua, nrmay
100
La regina d'inverno
di Boris Akunin
2,325 utenti
80 recensioni
½ 3.6
2 Members
charl08, FAMeulstee