#Historical Mystery Fiction

[cassiesbooksreader]

The Woman in the Painting by Amanda Roberts

The Woman in the Painting by Amanda Roberts is a dual timeline book of  Historical Mystery Fiction. I was drawn to this book after reading the blurb about an intriguing historical mystery in Civil War England.  

The characters and their lives are so realistic in both timelines. A heart wrenching story and mystery you’ll not soon forget. I hope to read more books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.  I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

[unproduciblesmackdown]

Lackadaisy Enrichment

[smokefalls]

I know nothing. There is nothing that I know. But the heart senses certain things.

Umberto Eco, The Name of the Rose (translated by William Weaver)

[qbdatabase]

Click on the pictures to see each graphic better, or click on the link in the grey bar directly below each picture. All of these lists can be found at the Queer Books Database!

[gaslightwestern]

Hell's Half Acre

Charlotte would be the first to admit hiding from the law behind a newspaper was an awful idea, what with her face and name spread across the front page.

When death comes to Fort Worth and strikes her new circle of friends, Charlotte O’Shea resolves to hunt down the culprit before they kill again. Murder isn’t the only mystery in the air however. Elijah Addison and Thomas Quinn, two headstrong cowboys and her partners-in-crime-solving, are determined to uncover what made the socialite run away from New York and why she is no stranger to firearms.

— Status: Drafting | Tag: #Hell's Half Acre — Genres: Historical Mystery, Western — Setting: Fort Worth, Texas & New York City (1874-1878). — POV: Multiple. 3rd Person. Past Tense. Dual Timeline.

Themes and Tropes: Love in all its forms. Anti-heroine. Found family. Being your own person. Organized crime. Queer cowboys. If it isn't the consequences of my own actions. Parallels. Obsession. Haunted by the past. Murder, mayhem, and other wild west shenanigans.

Cast of Characters

Can't a man visit his on-and-off-again boyfriend without all hell breaking loose? Not for Elijah Addison, a restless cowboy turned shrewd detective who becomes relentless in his pursuit of justice.

By his side is Thomas Quinn, who most write off as little more than a legend's son. Stubborn as anything and fiercely protective of his family and friends, he doesn't trust Charlotte in the slightest.

Sam Quinn is a three-time, war-hating, disabled veteran with a larger-than-life personality. A lifelong troublemaker, when he isn't sticking his nose where he shouldn't, Sam runs Quinn's Firearms.

A seamstress and aspiring journalist, Mabel Williams is determined to expose the rot in New York City regardless of the enemies she gains along the way. Her talent for disguises often comes in handy.

Having grown up in the shadow of his brother, not being good enough has long haunted Warren Howard. But if life will not give him what he wants, he will take it for himself regardless of the cost.

Vivacious and self-absorbed, Charlotte O'Shea enjoys her place in New York's high society. Surrounded by friends and engaged to the wealthy Nathaniel Howard, her life is perfect. So why is Charlotte out west pretending to be someone she's not?

Please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed from the taglist: @cirianne, @jacqueswriteblrlibrary, @oliolioxenfreewrites, @glbettwrites

[home-ward]

dark spring days // from my camera roll

ig: hmmurraywriting

[shitty-check-please-aus]

I love Martha Wells' books because there has dependably been kickass fight scenes in both the sci-fi and fantasy books (and I do love Murderbot so much), and because every time her worldbuilding seems like it's going to be generic sci-fi or fantasy she throws in an absolutely wild curveball

I love Seanan McGuire books because the worldbuilding is done so deftly and thoroughly, and her books also have a lot of characters in "well shit, I don't know what I'd do here but I can't disagree with your choices" situations

I love Jacqueline Winspear books because I do like historical fiction, and she shows a very interesting perspective on a lot of issues and topics, also the mysteries are all good and I love Maisie Dobbs (I'm so sad the series wrapped up, I need to find something else to fill this niche in my reading)

[hussyknee]

KJ Charles is an absolute liar, pass it on.

[gardenfeather-book-reviews]

"The Spirit Bares its Teeth" by Andrew Joseph White

Silas Bell, a young autistic transgender man living in the 1880s in England, wants to be a surgeon. Not a wife and mother. After a botched escape from a future devoted to a husband, he is diagnosed with “veil sickness,” a disease that causes violet eyed women to open the veil and communicate with the dead, an act that is illegal for women to do. 

        He is sent to Braxton's Finishing School and Sanatorium and engaged to a wealthy lord's son. But Braxton might not be what it seems. And Silas is the only one who can save the life of his new friends by uncovering the secrets of the school, all while fighting the voice in his head telling him to just do as he is told. For Silas, doing as he is told is not an option.

        Andrew Joseph White has crafted an incredible story. All of the characters are complex and every character has so much depth. White is able to balance the main character, Silas, with all aspects of his identity. They are all woven throughout the story in an authentic way that gives him personality outside of those defining traits while still acknowledging how important they are. It is one of the best representations of autism I have ever read.

       The setting and accuracy to historical detail makes the stakes seem real and send you to the time period. He uses the time period to bring light to the story he wants to tell. His use of imagery is terrific. 

        White is able to discuss so many important topics throughout the book, all of which apply in some way to our society today. He somehow is able to highlight and tackle each complex theme in one book while giving them each the space to be recognized for their individual importance.  

        Gory and dense while also romantic, The Spirit Bares its Teeth is an amazing novel with an incredible message to fight for your life and happiness, even if the whole world is against you.   

[frankidacre]

If YOU!! Yes you!! If you love mystery games (like prof. Layton), Sherlock, Titanic, Welcome Home, literally anything from the 1860s-1930s, you are going to LOVE (or at least like) this little web-based story I’m working on!!

It���s called Dear Clarent, and it’s a silly mystery investigating a shipwreck from 1914. Yes, it is very much interactive!! There are lots of password/cipher protected links, documents, audio, etc :)

Also, all of the artwork on the site is made by me (so far), so supporting the site means supporting an emerging artist!

We have a funny mascot too if you love silly little guys btw <3

[bookishpixiereads]

“Rough Pages” by Lev C. Rosen

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5 Stars

Thanks to Tor Publishing Group/Forge Books for the eARC of this book. It dropped last week! All opinions are my own.

“Rough Pages” is the third book in the Evander Mills noir-ish, queer, historical fiction detective series set in 1950s San Francisco. Outside of the murderous plots, the series provides a well-researched look into how queer people lived during that time period. I adore this series. I already had pre-ordered this book before I even read the ARC and I never do that.  

Evander “Andy” Mills is a gay private detective for queer people who can’t go to the police because the police are not friendly to the LGBTQ community. He was a cop for the San Francisco Police Department before he was fired after they found out he was gay. 

A friend of Andy comes to him with a case. The two owners of a queer-friendly bookstore have gone missing. Along with selling queer books from a store front, they have a mail-order service where they mail queer books to subscribers. And the fear, along with the safety of the owners, is that the list of subscribers could fall into the wrong hands and at the worst, those people’s lives could be in danger and at best, they could become the object of blackmail. Also, at this point in history, mailing queer books is a federal crime.

And this list potentially puts people that Andy’s holds dear at great risk. And he wants to do everything he can to keep them and their newly adopted baby safe.

Were the bookstore owners arrested by the Feds? Was this a Mafia hit done out of fear of the possible outing of one of their own? Was there a crime at all and are they just on vacation?

Andy also has to deal with a reporter who is getting a little too close for comfort and his former boss, who is making implicit and explicit threats to Andy’s safety. And is his own romantic life falling apart?

“Rough Pages” comes during the current political climate of banning books. And it has beautiful things to say about representation in books, why books are dangerous (in a good way), and books as a whole.

What’s more important truth or secrets? Especially if the truth puts peoples’ lives in danger. 

[judgeitbyitscover]

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau (2022) by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Cover art and illustrations by Marcela Bolivar

Subterranean Press, 2023

Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman.

Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers.

The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities.

All of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction.

For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.

[smokefalls]

The essential reason for my loneliness is that I don’t even know where I belong. I was supposed to be part of a story, but I fell from there like a leaf in autumn.

Orhan Pamuk, My Name Is Red (translated by Erdağ M. Göknar)

[katerinadeannika]

TV Lesbians I Love 💕

Elizabeth "Mac" MacMillan from Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

Played by Australian actress Tammy MacIntosh

Doctor MacMillan was very intelligent. She dressed smartly in men's suits, pushed back against bullies when necessary, and offered her medical skills when Phryne Fisher needed.

She's the best historical side character I can think of where their sexuality or appearance on the show wasn’t written to steal attention from the main characters as a flag toting “gay character”. They ALLOWED her to be truly a side character and not just a token rep, and she felt so much more real because of it. It was BECAUSE of her understated nature (but still not disguised lesbianism) that I felt such a connection when watching her. And in the episodes that were central to an old female lover, or addressing her tenuous private life, Phryne was wonderful to her. They had the most fun, flirty, and respectful relationship.

What I'm saying is, we need more characters like Doc Mac! 😭 And I'm also saying ya'll need to watch Aussie TV 🙌

[gaslightwestern]

Writing Update: October 2024

I have Act One outlined for Hell's Half Acre. That will be my focus for @roughdraftmonth as I try to reach two "flex" goals:

Write 10K - We low-balling this one thanks to burnout.

Project Clarity - HHA is essentially two stories that mirror one another as they unfold:

Fort Worth, 1877 - A new-to-town woman struggles to keep her troubled past hidden as she works alongside two headstrong cowboys and a trouble making war vet to solve a series of murders.

New York, 1874 - As a socialite and an aspiring journalist investigate an organized crime ring, her husband does everything he can to keep his secrets from being uncovered.

The two plots are enhanced by unfolding alongside each other…but look at them. They both could be novels on their own. Here's what I'm thinking: I'll start drafting and if it gets too big or anything feels off, I will split the story and go from there.

A proper WIP intro is in the works. If you are interested in this project, let me know and I'll add you to the tag list. :)

[midnights-wish]

''The sea was keeping her secrets, as usual.''

Stuart Turton, 'The Devil And The Dark Water'.