Tag: Historical fiction
The Last Secret of Wickham Grange by Zoe Manlow
When Caroline Alleyn inherits Wickham Grange, all she wants to do is sell up. There are bad memories there, linked to her childhood as the daughter of a single mother – and to all the other mothers she knew in that house. But her grandmother Frances’s will means that it can’t be sold without the consent of five elderly women, and they all refuse. … Read More The Last Secret of Wickham Grange by Zoe Manlow
A Bad Deal in Mormon Land by T.I.M. Wirkus
Sometimes things are not as they appear, especially when religion, magic, and shady dealings mix. It’s 1908, and itinerant spirit medium Madame Ilsa von Hoffmann is at the end of her professional rope, facing down two unappealing options: join an ill-conceived commune founded by some fellow trans ex-vaudevillians, or take on a high-paying but mysterious job offered by a religious extremist in Salt Lake … Read More A Bad Deal in Mormon Land by T.I.M. Wirkus
+ fiction, gothic, Gothic mystery, Historical fiction, history, Italy, murder, revenge, review, Venice
Dangerous by Essie Fox out now in paperback
Fiction can be fatal… Living in exile in Venice, the disgraced Lord Byron revels in the freedoms of the city. But when he is associated with the deaths of local women, found with wounds to their throats, and then a novel called The Vampyre is published under his name, rumours begin to spread that Byron may be the murderer… Genre: Gothic Historical Crime Thriller … Read More Dangerous by Essie Fox out now in paperback
The Blind Woman of Sorrento by Francesco Mastriani extract translated from the Italian by Idara Crespi
A Gothic mystery set in the labyrinthine alleys of 1840s Naples — the first modern English translation of Mastriani’s masterwork. Naples, 1840. In the anatomy hall of the Hospital for the Incurables, a young medical student stands over his dead sister’s body and makes a vow. What follows is one of the most gripping novels of the Italian Romantic era: a story of hidden … Read More The Blind Woman of Sorrento by Francesco Mastriani extract translated from the Italian by Idara Crespi
+ 1930s, diary, family, female friendship, fiction, friendship, germany, grief, Historical fiction, jews, loss, love, music, nazi germany, review, siblings, twins
The Diva’s Daughter by Heather Walrath
Munich & Vienna, 1932. Aspiring opera singer Angelika Eder thought she had it all — a cultured life in Vienna, along with the guidance of her glamorous mother, a world-famous soprano. But when tragedy strikes and her mother dies amidst a swirling family scandal, eighteen-year-old Angelika finds herself uprooted to Munich, where civil unrest is rife and leaders of the increasingly powerful Nazi Party … Read More The Diva’s Daughter by Heather Walrath
My 4 Favourite Audiobooks of 2026 – Part One
I have actually listened to quite a few more audiobooks so far in 2026 than I did at the end of last year, so once again I am giving them their own post. However, I am going to put all three Crimson Lake books into one, as they follow on in the series. I am then going to do the same with the Harriet … Read More My 4 Favourite Audiobooks of 2026 – Part One
+ crime fiction, gothic, gothic horror, Gothic mystery, Historical fiction, List, murder mystery, mystery, supernatural, superstition, thriller
My Top 10 Books of 2026 – Part One
So here we go again into another year of reading. And here are ten of my favourite books of 2026 Part One, excluding audiobooks, of which there are loads so far. As usual a disparate selection, with a fair bit of superstition thrown in, but only one Gothic this time. It was a difficult decision as I had to leave out about three more … Read More My Top 10 Books of 2026 – Part One
+ 1930s, 1940s, friendship, germany, guest post, Historical fiction, holocaust, jewish history, jews, nazi germany, non-fiction, twins, World War Two, WW2
Kalman & Leopold: Surviving Mengele’s Auschwitz by Richard K. Lowy
A rare, eyewitness account of survival inside Mengele’s Auschwitz, told in the voices of two teenage boys¬ An intergenerational project preserving living memory as survivors pass away¬ A son carrying forward his father’s testimony with urgency and care¬ A book designed for education, classrooms and younger readers as well as adults¬ A story of survival, friendship and moral resilience amid systematic cruelty¬ A warning from history that speaks directly … Read More Kalman & Leopold: Surviving Mengele’s Auschwitz by Richard K. Lowy
Estella’s Fury by Barbara Havelocke
Great Expectations meets Killing Eve To Victorian high society, Estella is the perfect lady. But her fair face hides dark secrets – what has she done with her husband? And will her past crimes come back to haunt her? Her freedom hanging by a thread, Estella must find a means of independence. Exploring an opportunity to invest in factory, she is horrified to discover … Read More Estella’s Fury by Barbara Havelocke
+ art, audio book, austria, fiction, Historical fiction, Italy, review, World War Two, WW2
The Seeker of Lost Paintings by Sarah Freethy
An unforgettable story of love and betrayal across the decades from the author of The Porcelain Maker – perfect for fans of Christy Lefteri and Victoria Hislop. Rome 1939Arriving in Rome to work for the wealthy Montefalco family, Maddalena is homesick and alone. She finds solace – and love – in the beauty of the city, but as the war in Nazi-occupied Italy rages, she must … Read More The Seeker of Lost Paintings by Sarah Freethy
The Missing Wife by Donna Gowland (Mary Shelley Investigations 1)
A young aspiring writer finds romance and mystery in Paris! For fans of Mary Shelley, Daphne du Maurier, Diane Setterfield and Laura Purcell. A daring adventure or a foolhardy affair…? 1814, London It isn’t easy being the daughter of the great Mary Wollstonecraft, harder still to navigate life without her. Sixteen-year-old Mary Godwin is desperate for excitement and trapped in a family she feels … Read More The Missing Wife by Donna Gowland (Mary Shelley Investigations 1)
+ childhood, fiction, folklore, Historical fiction, List, Magical realism, review, supernatural, superstition, USA, whimsical
My Top 5 Books of 2025
I’m a bit late this year with my reflection on my favourite books of 2025. It’s always hard. There weren’t obvious instant standouts as in previous years. I have tried to include a mix of genres and although I read a lot of crime fiction, which occasionally make my quarterly selections, my top books of the year tend to be something a bit different, so … Read More My Top 5 Books of 2025
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