6 Historical Mysteries for Those Who Like a Little Romance With Their Murder
Historical settings are a staple in the mystery genre, but it’s not always easy to find a historical mystery and romance blend. I’m here to help with that. As someone who loves a whodunnit with a little sexual tension, I’ve compiled a list of books for people who want some love with their crime. These books range in heat levels, but they all include a mystery that needs to be solved, and many of them are part of a series. In timeline order, here are six historical mysteries with a touch (or more) of romance:
The first book in a series, this novel follows Lady Katherine Bascomb, who is a newspaper columnist reporting on a rash of London murders. When she heads to the countryside for a party, she runs across another body and is once again inserted in Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham’s investigation. Neither Katherine nor Andrew is convinced the man currently in police custody is the killer, and together they’ll have to find the real murderer if they want to set an innocent man free.
If you read historical romance, there’s no doubt you already know Lisa Kleypas’ name. And once in a while she writes a book with a mystery intertwined with the plot, and Hello Stranger is one of those books.
Dr. Garrett Gibson is an independent female doctor who meets Ethan Ransom, a former detective. After one night together, they vow to stay apart, except Dr. Gibson quickly becomes embroiled in one of Ethan’s most dangerous cases yet.
From another well-known historical romance author, To Catch a Raven stars a skilled and intelligent heroine and was a lot of fun to read. Raven Moreaux has a unique skill set as a con artist, and it’s this talent that is leveraged against her when she’s blackmailed into helping the government search for the stolen Declaration of Independence. With the help of Braxton Steele pretending to be her husband, the two main characters engage in espionage to discover the missing document, all while falling in love.
This book has a real gothic feel to it and a slow burn between the lead characters. Lady Julia Grey’s husband was murdered a year ago, and after discovering a suspicious clue about his death, she hires Nicholas Brisbane to investigate even as she herself is drawn into the investigation. Silent in the Grave is the first in a series, so if you’re looking for extended time in a fictional world, this might be a good choice.
Taking place just after the first World War, This Side of Murder follows the widow, Verity Kent, as she’s invited to an engagement party on an island by her husband’s old friend. When she arrives, she discovers that most of the guests in attendance were in the war with her husband. Then she starts receiving notes, including one that accuses her deceased husband of treason. When guests start dying, Verity knows she has to uncover what really happened to her husband in those trenches 18 months ago. With a touch of romance, This Side of Murder was a book I raced to finish.
I could not put this book down. I found Moreno-Garcia’s prose soothing, and I enjoyed the mystery quite a bit. Another book with a gothic feel, this is a great read if you also like a little bit of horror. Noemí Taboada arrives at a house in the Mexican countryside after receiving a letter from her cousin begging for help. Once there, she discovers a creepy house and an even creepier family. Only the youngest son seems to worry for her, even as he continues to keep his family’s secrets. The longer she stays, the more she begins to feel as if she is going.
About the Author
Lindsay Lovise writes historical romances with quirky heroines and a dash of mystery. When she’s not writing, Lindsay is reading (probably romance) and drinking coffee. Lindsay has a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching. She lives on the East Coast and enjoys winter more than she probably should.
The utterly charming Emily Leverton has a dark past and is determined to leave it behind in her respectable new role as a governess. But when she is recruited by a secret network of governesses who spy on the ton, it may just be a way to redeem the dark secrets of her past.
An ex-solider turned railroad magnate, Zach hunts killers for the Metropolitan Police by day and dutifully attends balls at night. In neither world has he met a woman with the brazenness to mock him. So when a saucy governess blows him a kiss he is determined to catch her, never expecting that when he does he will find an intelligent, quirky woman hiding more than her true name.
As Zach peels back the layers of Emily’s lies, he falls for the street-wise woman who handles a dagger like a pro and kisses like a mistress. But when his affair with Emily intertwines with his hunt for a killer, he discovers Emily is hiding an explosive secret—one that could destroy them both.
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