“Sometimes inexplicably the past becomes intermingled with the present”
Historical whodunnits are a special part of the fiction genre, gifting both budding historians and true crime fanatics the chance to be transported to worlds, unlike anything they have seen before. Presenting the sights, sounds and lives of people living hundreds or thousands of years prior to them, it’s clear to see why readers can fall so in love with the genre. Join us here at What We Reading as we present 8 of the best historical whodunnit books!
Coal Bones – Karen Rose Cercone
Karen Rose Cercone whisks readers back to 1906 in Coal Bones, where the gritty streets of Pittsburgh have become engrossed by the mysterious death in the local coal mine.
The book follows Detective Milo Kachigan and reporter Helen Sorby in their third adventure together, attempting to piece together what really happened to one unfortunate worker. An enthralling turn-of-the-century read, the book serves as a powerful look at relations between native and immigrant workers, greed from growing corporations and the struggles of organised labour in early 20th-century America.
Dissolution – C.J. Sansom
In 1538, King Henry VIII and his chief minister Thomas Cromwell embarked on a crusade of dismantling shrines and other ‘idols’ that had been used for practice under the old Roman Catholic Church. This campaign led to Henry being officially excommunicated by the Pope but succeeded in firmly cementing his status as the ruling head of his brand-new Church of England.
Acclaimed historical crime writer C.J. Sansom takes readers back to the Tudor age with Dissolution. The first in the Matthew Shardlake series, this historical whodunnit book follows an investigator and his assistant’s investigations into the murder of a Commissioner inside a monastery, an event that threatens to have the entire dissolution campaign spiral out of control.
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Summoned To Darkness – Anne-Marie Sheridan
First published back in 1987, Anne-Marie Sheridan’s Summoned To Darkness is one of the world’s most famous historical whodunnit books. The baroque era is perhaps the most glamorous period of history, and seldom few places matched the splendour of Venice in the 17th century.
It is that era Sheridan taps into in the novel, introducing the affluent Demaurys. The family are convening at the request of the domineering Giles, patriarch of the household, who is set to announce who will inherit his fortunes. However, when one of the arriving guests is killed, a murder mystery set against the backdrop of Venice’s famous Carnivale will reveal a shocking twist in the tale.
A Rising Man – Abir Mukherjee
Set in Calcutta in 1919, the first year after the conclusion of World War One, Abir Mukherjee details a suspenseful story of an Empire in decline and the political intrigue at play in the shadows.
The book follows Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee as they investigate the murder of a British official in one of India’s most bustling cities. One of the most well-researched historical fiction novels on British India during the interwar years, it is a suspenseful and intriguing look at how the growing threats to colonial superiority would come to envelop the country.
The Yard – Alex Grecian
Is there a more infamous criminal than Jack the Ripper? Between 1888 and 1891, a sadistic killer murderer stalked the streets of Victorian London, claiming at least five women during his reign of terror. Alex Grecian’s The Yard whisks readers to the smoggy streets of the city and follows a group of twelve ‘super-sleuths’ fashioned together by Scotland Yard and known as the ‘Murder Squad’.
Readers are introduced to Walter Day, the newest recruit in the squad who, after one of his fellow officers is found murdered, is forced into a chilling chase to crack the case before more bodies begin to line the streets.
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The Silver Pigs – Lindsay Davis
In AD 79, as Vespasian looked to strengthen his position as the head of the Roman Empire for the tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors, imperial agent Marcus Didius Falco is sent on a mission to the far-off province of Britannia.
Lindsay Davis whisks readers along for Falco’s daring mission, which includes everything from stolen ingots to a sinister plot involving cold-blooded murder. It is the first entry in the detective series and serves as one of the best historical whodunnit books for those looking to enter the genre.
The Death Maze – Ariana Franklin
Ariana Franklin lifts the lid on one of the fascinating, albeit unfairly overlooked parts of European history in her historical whodunnit novel, The Death Maze.
The book follows Adelia Aguilar, a twelfth-century anatomist who is tasked with uncovering the truth behind the poisoning of King Henry II’s favourite mistress. All fingers point to his wife Eleanor of Aquitane, herself one of the most powerful figures in Europe, but the grizzly truth behind this murder could end up putting the entire realm at stake.
The Axeman’s Jazz – Ray Celestin
In 1919 in New Orleans, one of America’s most colourful cities, a killer stalked the shadows. Made infamous by countless adaptations across literature, television and film, the Axeman of New Orleans was a serial killer that killed 6 and injured 6 victims, mostly Italian-Americans living around Louisana’s most populous region.
Ray Celestin’s The Axeman’s Jazz follows three different investigators all hellbent on unmasking the killer. A fresh take on this classic tale, this true crime book perfectly captures the noir-swinging style of the deep south in the early twentieth century.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
