Historical Fictionistas discussion

New year. New books.

Or some favorite re-reads.

Whatever you're reading, share it here.

Finally started God of the Woods! Half way through

I am currently reading The Woods All Black. I'm only a little ways into it, but liking it well enough so far. Mostly setup, but I'm thinking it's gonna ramp up pretty quickly now.

I don't think it's possible to overstate the importance and power of Between the World and Me, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates as a letter to his then teenaged son. Who decided what "race" is ... and why?
My review of Between the World and Me with many quotations

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I don't think it's possible to overstate the importance and power of Between the World and Me, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates as a letter to his then teenaged son. Who..."


Thanks for the recommendation. I will read this book.

King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa

I am in the midst of this book for an in person reading group. I learned that King Leopold of Belguim referred to himself as the proprietor of The Congo. Imagine the hubris of that man.

I am reading Christmas Cupcake Murder

I am currently reading an oldie Wildwood byKatharine Kincaid

Rachel wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I don't think it's possible to overstate the importance and power of Between the World and Me, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates as a letter to h..

Thanks for the recommendation. I will read this book."

Thanks, Rachel!

Little over half way through with The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.

This has been a unique reading experience so far; loads of true political history mixed with a fictitious but culturally quite real tale of a dysfunctional Dominican family with very tangible characters. Excited to share more thoughts when through and hear what you’ve all been getting into as you enter the new year

Finished Christmas Cupcake Murder and starting The Hills Have Spies

I've seen True Love by Paddy Crewe compared to Sally Rooney's writing, and I think that's appropriate. I preferred his unusual first book, My Name Is Yip. I like this, but less.
My review of True Love

I finished some days ago a regency mystery-romance but I wouldn't suggest it to mystery readers, it's more suitable for those who like romances with passionate scenes.

Unfortunately I like mysteries and I expected a better job by the author.

An Affair at Christmastide: a Mary and Bright novel by Sandra Sookoo

MY REVIEW HERE :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am about to start Murder at King’s Crossing by Andrea Penrose. The latest Wrexford and Sloane Mystery. One of the few new historical mystery series I enjoy reading.

Rachel wrote: "King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa

I am in the midst of this book for an in person reading group. I learned that King Leopold of Belguim..."

Excellent book. King Leopold really deserves to be counted among the monstrous men of the 20th century for what he did to the people of the Congo.

I am currently making my way through the Hercule Poirot mysteries by Agatha Christie. Some are better than others but all are an interesting snapshot of the time they were written.

Fiona wrote: "Rachel wrote: "King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa

I am in the midst of this book for an in person reading group. I learned that King Leo..."

Absolutely. He is up there with any monsterous dictator from history that I can think of. The more I read of the book the more the whole system there encouraged the Europeans to be more and more sadistic.

Ah, Harry! Not a cold case this time, but a complex current one for Bosch. In The Overlook, by veteran best-selling author Michael Connelly, what looks like a 'standard' murder, turns out to have deadly, and potentially very widespread, ramifications.
My review of The Overlook

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella

I ended 2024 with this poignant novella. Much recommended! For those like me who are wary of Sophie Kinsella's usual genre, note that this isn't a romcom.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Shadow at the Morgue is the first volume in a new Victorian mystery series. I'm withholding judgement at the moment.

My *** review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read Paris Undercover: A Wartime Story of Courage, Friendship, and Betrayal by Matthew Goodman It is a biography of two women who did extraordinary things in WWII. I recommend it. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli-so good. I also received Lessons in Chemistry from The Book of the Month Club. Excited to start that one!

The Picture Bride by Lee Geum-yi

Great start, okay end. But contains quite a lot of interesting historical information about Koreans in Hawaii.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... and loving it!

Rereading an old favorite The Oracle Glass byJudith Merkle Riley

Aussie writer Adrian Hyland's outback and remote rural mysteries feature female protagonists who are unruly in the best sense of the word - they have to be.

Jesse Redpath is great in The Wiregrass, and my only complaint is that Hyland doesn't write faster.
My review of The Wiregrass

If they've found The Wrong Hands, then whose are they? This is Mark Billingham's Detective Miller #2, but it could easily be a standalone. He is an experienced author who leads us gently through back stories without making me feel guilty for not remembering who's who. 😊)
My review of The Wrong Hands

Cozy mystery set in 1923 England, written by a contemporary author but in a "Golden Age" style.

The Twelve Saints of Christmas by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Here is my 4 stars review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read An Island of Suspects by Jean-Luc Bannalec It is book 10 in the Brittany series and I have been reading them in order. It is set in Brittany, France. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

starting Magician: Apprentice

Just finished The Street by Ann Petry. Great book but I need to sit and reflect on this one. Couldn’t put it down because I just had to see what horrible thing happened next but then that ending, just not what I expected. Sadly all the issues are still as relevant today as they were in 1946.

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

I mostly enjoyed my first novel by this talented writer. What a wonderful historical fiction!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished Mrs Hudson and the Capricorn Incident: The latest in the bestselling series inspired by the great detective's housekeeper in Baker Street. This series involves Sherlock Holmes, but the real stars are housekeeper Mrs. Hudson and maid Flotsam. It's borderline cozy, but not predictable in its plotting.

My **** review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished reading by

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

I expected far more from this final installment of the Emily Wilde trilogy. It was good, but not in the league of the earlier two books.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan. Set in 1838 and present day. The story focuses on the boiler explosion of the steamship Pulanski in June 1838 and discover of it present day. Our main character curates the remains of ship. Very interesting. I knew nothing about this event. Highly recommend.

The Language of Love and Other Stories by Nancy Christie

The cover might be a bit drab, but the stories in the "love" collection hold much magic. A great option for short story readers.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Alice wrote: "I finished Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan. Set in 1838 and present day. The story focuses on the boiler explosion of the steamship Pula..."

Thank you for the recommendation Alice - this one does sound interesting & good.

I circled back to Mark Sullivan - Beneath Scarlet Sky and Last Green Valley worthy of re-reads.

I read The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall It is a very good historical fiction book based upon an actual person. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Bruce wrote: "I finished reading by "

Did you enjoy it?

I have recently been reading several of Rhys Bowen's books in her Spyness Series. They are light, funny, and entertaining.

Reading Costanza Casati’s Clytemnestra- A Novel

For any fans of American professional football, especially those with young kids they hope will become fans, I'm happy to recommend the brand new Patrick Mahomes children's biography by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. His Kansas City Chiefs are headed to the Super Bowl again in a few weeks!
My review of Patrick Mahomes with several illustrations
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Rachel wrote: "Bruce wrote: "I finished reading by "

Did you enjoy it?"

I did. Even more than I thought I would. I knew the story a little from seeing film versions, but a lot was cut out of all film versions of the story, and the fates of several characters were different. The story dealt a lot with injustice, although most people think of the story as a “monster” story because of Quasimodo (not a monster). In fact, the actual title of the book was Notre Dame de Paris, not Hunchback of Notre Dame.

I read Tooth and Claw by Craig Johnson It is a prequel book in the Longmire series, set in 1970 Alaska. I recommend it to fans of the series. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished The Briar Club by Kate Quinn which is our Group's January Read. Rated 5 stars and on my Favorite shelf. Warning future readers to NOT read the wonderful Historical Notes until finishing. There is a reason she put them at the end. Huge spoiler!

Link to my short spoiler free review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Bruce wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Bruce wrote: "I finished reading by "

Did you enjoy it?"

I did. Even more than I thought I would. I kne..."

Thanks maybe I will give it a try.

My Dark Places

Poor Girls by Clare Whitfield

A great historical crime fiction based on an actual gang of female thieves. Had the final quarter been better, this would have rated even higher for me.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...