#Historical Mysteries

[holycatsandrabbits]

Want to write a mystery based on history? Check out my blog for posts about the unsolved past, with writing prompts!

Roopkund Lake Skeletons: unexplained remains of at least 300 people found at an isolated lake in the Indian Himalayas, from 800 and 1800 CE

The Beast of Gevaudan: History’s most well-documented werewolf, France, 1764

The Mystery of the Moving Coffins: tales of supposed unexplained movement of heavy coffins in burial vaults, most well-known in Barbados, 1808-19

The Female Stranger: unidentified decedent, Virginia (US), 1816

Spring-Heeled Jack: well-documented apparition or cryptid, England 1837-1904

The ghost ships Mary Celeste (1872) and Carroll A. Deering (1920)

Lizzie Borden: unsolved double murder, Massachusetts (US), 1892

The Flannan Isles Vanishing: disappearance of three lighthouse keepers, Scotland, 1900

Disappearance of Everett Ruess: missing person in the Utah (US) desert, 1934

Planes lost in the Bermuda Triangle: Flight 19 (1945) and The Star Tiger and Star Ariel, (1948-49)

Dyatlov Pass: mysterious deaths of 9 hikers, Ural Mountains, 1959

A werewolf prompt:

Escapist fiction. It’s possible the Beast of Gevaudan was not a wolf or dog, but another large creature, like a hyena or lion. Local zoos would have been private, so who knows what people were keeping? Obviously, once the killing started, the owner would have taken down the lost pet posters, so nobody owned up to owning the beast. People were not expecting to see anything other than local creatures in the woods, and they might not have had much familiarity with lions anyway, so it would probably make sense for them to call it a “wolf.” As for plots, there’s room for a sweeping historical novel starting in the place where the wild beast was captured, on the ship sending it to France, in the private zoo, and then out into the woods to become the Beast. Or what if it was not one lion that escaped, but a breeding pair? How would the locals cope with a growing population of big cats in the woods?

DannyeChase.com ~ AO3 ~ Linktree ~ Weird Wednesday writing prompts blog ~ Resources for Writers

[mercerislandbooks]

Book Notes: Singapore Sapphire

Anyone who has asked me for help in the mystery section of Island Books knows that, with very few exceptions (Louise Penny and Ann Cleeves), I do not read contemporary mysteries. I prefer any bloody murder to be at a historical remove. But I also realized, after combing through my reading journal, I’ve primarily read mysteries set in Regency London. Or World War I London. Or post-WWII London. The common denominator apparently being historical London. So when I visited the meticulously curated Lopez Bookshop last fall, I took a chance on expanding my comfort zone with the delightfully titled Singapore Sapphire, by A.M. Stuart, a historical mystery set in turn of the century colonial Singapore.

This series focuses on the widowed Harriet Gordon, who has joined her brother in Singapore following a traumatizing imprisonment in England due to involvement in the suffragette movement. In changing scene to Singapore, Harriet is hoping to put her past behind her and move amongst people who don’t know her history. To earn a bit of money, she offers her services as a confidential personal secretary. Unfortunately she discovers her first client, Sir Oswald Newbold, dead in his home only a day after their first appointment. When the police arrive, Inspector Robert Curran realizes that Harriet is an asset to the case with her keen eye for detail and a practicality honed by years living at the far reaches of the British Empire. He finds himself drawing more and more on her observations, and after another death is connected to Sir Oswald, Curran can’t help but lean on Harriet to help him untangle a dangerous web of deception.

Branching out to colonial Singapore from London felt like I was pushing myself a little, even though the main characters were still Brits. Stuart does a wonderful job of evoking her setting and describing the variety of people from around the world trying to make their way, however unsavory, in Singapore. Mystery series that hold my interest tend to contain central characters with an engaging partnership. With Harriet and Curran, their friendship and trust in each other slowly evolves while they put together the pieces of the murder. Stuart also lays the groundwork for longer character arcs, leaving me eager to start the next in the series.

I raced through the subsequent books, Revenge in Rubies and Evil in Emeralds, The final book in the series has a title, Terror in Topaz, but sadly no publication date yet. For those of you who are fond of historical mysteries like I am, give the Harriet Gordon series a try!

— Lori

[referencehole]

The original Cadfael ChroniclesEllis Peters are great, too! Historically iron-clad but not full of purple prose or stilted dialogue. You will love Brother Cadfael so much I promise. He was a sleuth of extraordinary skill and compassion with a very compelling backstory. The Chronicles were written in the late 70’s to early 90’s (20 books in all) so they may be hard to find in print (I find them at thrift stores and used bookstores occasionally), but you might be able to get them in some form or another from your library.

I thought today - the TV show I'd really like to see is one about a medieval monastery.

You could have all kinds of characters: the pious guy who joined because he wanted to serve God, the son born out of wedlock sent there to cover up his parents' shame, the geek who wanted to study Latin but couldn't afford to go into university, the former knight sick of violence and afraid for his soul... Plus monasteries were centres of pilgrimage and places where criminals could take refuge, so we can have a lot of characters who crop up for a few episodes and leave.

Some plotlines I thought of:

Our relics aren't bringing in the pilgrims the way they used to - what do we do?

A women fleeing an abusive marriage has taken shelter in the monastery - how will the brothers respond to having a women in their midst?

One of the monks wants to leave - will the abbot accept or not?

A murderer has taken refuge in the abbey, and the abbot decides to try and save his soul - what will happen?

People are coming to the monastery for food during the famine, but the monastery is itself short of food - how will this be dealt with?

War has broken out between two local lords, and the monks attempt to broker a treaty - will it work?

I've already mentioned some reasons why I think this setting would lend itself to television, but I'd also love to make it for two other reasons:

Get people to understand how weird medieval religion could get, but also that, within its own frame of reference, it was a reasonable and consistent belief system.

Show people that the Middle Ages consisted of more than just muddy people stabbing each other and burning scientists at the stake.

[kcmakhubele]

Top 10 Unsolved Mysteries That Baffle Experts

Throughout history, humans have been captivated by the unknown. From strange disappearances to cryptic messages, unsolved mysteries challenge our understanding of the world and keep us questioning the boundaries of possibility. Today, we delve into the top 10 unsolved mysteries that continue to baffle experts and ignite the imaginations of people everywhere. 1. The Disappearance of Amelia…

[advent-conspiacist]

Was Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated in a Government Conspiracy? What Every American Needs to Know

Was Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated in a Government Conspiracy? What Every American Needs to Know

Introduction: A Nation’s Painful Question “Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech at the 1963 March on Washington, inspiring a nation for civil rights and equality.” What if I told you that there was more than a lone gunman in the assassination of the man who gave the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech?The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, is one of…

[apieters]

I voted Amelia Earhart because, come on.

But also THE ARK OF THE COVENANT? Why haven’t we asked about that yet.

Also, what’s the deal with Kaspar Hauser?

Previous polls (one, two, three, four)

[geethr75]

Review of Death at Will by Tam May (Adele Gossling Mysteries 3)

Blurb Teddy Roosevelt has just been elected president and even Arrojo can’t deny progressive reform is here to stay. Rebecca Gold, one of the era’s New Women, comes to Arrojo to start her own law practice and lands the affluent Thea Marsh as her first client.Thea dies unexpectedly and the trail of suspects leads to her own family. In particular, her beloved eldest son, Theo, is accused of the…

[discoverandrise]

Ancient India's Golden Era From Thriving Civilizations to Invasions – What Went Wrong?

From thriving trade routes to powerful kingdoms, Ancient India's Golden Era was a marvel of civilization. Watch this video until the end to uncover the challenges they faced.

Let’s explore their successes and discover how we can forge a brighter future! ✨

What are your thoughts?

[danieldukeauthor]

'Jesse James and the Lost Templar Treasure' by Daniel J. Duke

Unveil the Hidden Truths Before They’re Lost Forever! Discover the Secrets of Jesse James and the Templar Treasure! ANYWHERE Books are Sold! Have you ever wondered about the true story behind the legendary treasures hidden across the Americas? What if the key to unlocking these secrets lies within the enigmatic life of Jesse James, the infamous outlaw, and his mysterious connections to ancient…

[jolenes-book-journey]

Murder at Mistlethwaite by AJ Skelly

There is a murderer among them. And no one with secrets is safe. Title: Murder at Mistlethwaite Manor Author: AJ Skelly Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense, Mystery Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None meets The Gilded Age in this delicious, suspenseful murder mystery. When Lady Emma Grace Hastings receives a much-coveted invitation to the most auspicious Christmas party of the season—one…

[basementofthebizarre]

The Devil in Devonshire: Unraveling the Mystery of the Devil's Footprints

The quaint and picturesque county of Devonshire, England, is known for its rolling hills, rugged coastline, and charming villages. Yet, amid this serene landscape lies a chilling and enigmatic tale that has puzzled locals and researchers alike for over a century and a half. Known as the mystery of the Devil’s Footprints, this bizarre phenomenon has become one of the most intriguing unsolved…

[marshmyers]

Things are disappearing mysteriously from Will Shakespeare's acting company, and it looks like an inside job. Everyone's eyes are on Widge, the orphan boy turned actor, and former thief. Widge knows better than anyone that Shakespeare's plays must be protected at all costs. To prove his innocence and clear his name, Widge must learn a new role: spy. But can he dig through the suspects and skulduggery and catch the true culprit?

PURCHASE

[strangerskies-wfiles]

[i-am-theseeker]

Meet the Most Mysterious Man in History

Grigori Rasputin’s rise to power in Russia was a combination of charisma, mysticism, and manipulation. He was born into a humble peasant family in Siberia in 1869 and lived a rather ordinary life until he embarked on a pilgrimage to a monastery in 1897. It was during this journey that Rasputin underwent a transformation and […]Meet the Most Mysterious Man in History