Detectives in other times and other places Public

Created and curated by John

Fictional detectives often interact across a wide spectrum of society, from Emperors to Vagabonds, so a good crime novel can give a more interesting and memorable insight into History or Geography than the lives of Kings and Queens, or guidebooks.

  1. The Beast of Littleton Woods by  (Lady Hardcastle, #12)

    No rating

    October 1912. The inhabitants of Littleton Cotterell emerge from their homes after a week of torrential storms to the gruesome …

  2. Death Beside the Seaside by  (Lady Hardcastle, #6)

    No rating

    July 1910. Lady Hardcastle and her tireless sidekick Flo have finally embarked on a long-overdue seaside break. But just as …

  3. A Quiet Life in the Country by  (Lady Hardcastle, #1)

    No rating

    Lady Emily Hardcastle is an eccentric widow with a secret past. Florence Armstrong, her maid and confidante, is an expert …

    John says:

    Although less credible or broad in scope than some on this list, the pre WW1 social mix is at least plausible.

  4. An Assassination on the Agenda by  (Lady Hardcastle, #11)

    No rating

    July 1912. Lady Hardcastle and her tenacious lady’s maid, Florence Armstrong, are enjoying a convivial gathering at the home of …

  5. The Royal Secret by  (Marwood and Lovett, #5)

    No rating

    Two young girls plot a murder by witchcraft. Soon afterwards a government clerk dies painfully in mysterious circumstances. His colleague …

  6. The King's Evil by  (Marwood and Lovett, #3)

    No rating

    A royal scandal… In the Court of Charles II, it’s a dangerous time to be alive – a wrong move …

  7. Shadows of London by  (Marwood and Lovett, #6)

    No rating

    London 1671

    The damage caused by the Great Fire still overshadows the capital.

    The disfigured body of a man is …

  8. A Fire at the Exhibition by  (Lady Hardcastle, #10)

    No rating

    May 1912. After the previous year’s deadly heatwave, it’s been an uneventful spring in Littleton Cotterell. Though for Lady Hardcastle …

  9. An Act of Foul Play by  (Lady Hardcastle, #9)

    No rating

    November 1911. Lady Emily Hardcastle is celebrating her birthday by seeing a play at the Duke’s Theatre in Bristol with …

  10. A Man of Some Repute by  (A Very English Mystery, #1)

    No rating

    Truth is rarely pure and never simple…

    Selchester Castle in 1953 sits quiet and near-empty, its corridors echoing with glories …

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