I’ve decided to try something new and make book recommendation posts for specific genres and sub-genres that I have read more than a few titles of, that way I can compare these books and/or series to each other without putting one above the rest. The books I recommend are books I genuinely would like you to read and I don’t want to rank them before you’ve had the chance to read them for yourself. Rankings are also subjective and I’d much rather explain the differences between these titles so that you can make a more educated pick for your next read or order the recommendations based on your preferences. So, without further ado, let’s jump into my Historical Fiction Murder Mysteries recommendations.

Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell Mystery Series

9 books (ongoing) – the most recent published in March 2024

The Veronica Speedwell series is set in Britain during the late 19th century and follows Veronica, a lepidopterist, and her reluctant companion Stoker – a reclusive natural historian full of intrigue and bad temper – as they thwart abductions, investigate murders, get shot at a bunch of times and narrowly miss death more than a few times as well. Veronica is a protagonist in her mid-twenties with a strong independence and a vault of expertise that comes across in her confidence, knowledge and charisma. Her narrative voice can sometimes come across as self-absorbed or like she doesn’t care for consequences and societal norms which can be a little tedious at times.

The narrative is light, the cases coming across more as mysteries and adventure tales than cases of murder to be investigated (which is in part because neither Veronica nor Stoker are detectives or investigators). There are heavy themes and serious moments within the stories but they are dealt with in a way that interweaves those aspects of life, death and the evils of the world with a contrasting narrative voice and delivery.

These stories are written after the events take place, like they are being reported or documented for later reference (they do make nods to previous adventures in the first few chapters of each new book) which makes them past tense. It feels like there is a conscious effort to make the narrative voice come across as if they’re being written into books by Veronica or told to a friend, with several references made to draw back to Veronica’s extensive travel history and the knowledge she gained from the trips. It gives it a more manicured feel and sensationalises parts of the novels, again making it feel like a lighter read in terms of content.

Compared to other series on this list, Veronica Speedwell is certainly the lightest concerning themes, content and the aspects of murder and other crimes. It’s a perfect choice for those just starting in Historical Fiction Murder Mystery or those who know they can’t stomach some of the gorier reads (more on that later). Deanna Raybourn has two more Historical Fiction Mystery series if you find yourself loving her work and wanting to read more.

Andrea Penrose’s Wrexford and Sloane Mystery Series

7 books (ongoing) – book 8 is set to be published in September 2024

The Wrexford and Sloane series, set in Britain during the Regency Era in the 1810s, follows Charlotte Sloane, a satirical artist working under her late husband’s pen name, and Lord Wrexford, an unconventional scientist with a proclivity for reckless behaviour. They’re almost exact opposites of each other, but as their lives become entangled in murder, mystery, scandal and political intrigue, they find themselves working together to solve crimes and save their loved ones.

This series does take the murder aspect of these murder mysteries a step further and delves into the darker side of London through Charlotte’s contacts and the gang’s visits to the shadier sides of town. The content and darker elements of the stories do make the nature of the crimes more detailed than Veronica Speedwell’s and the murders are looked at with a closer lens. This series also has a keen focus on technology and science and every book has some aspect of science at the heart of the investigations, in part because the 1810s sit in the middle of the Industrial Revolution where inventions and scientific breakthroughs drove the expansion of empires. Such a choice tethers the series to an environmental and political setting that grounds the story world and makes it more memorable than the other series. I know from experience that trying to remember the plot of a book when the characters have nothing to tie themselves to a concept or recurring subject matter makes it difficult to favour the series.

The wider cast of recurring characters within this story world is larger than that of Veronica Speedwell which is something to keep in mind because the third-person narrative style means we jump from one character’s situation to another. If you’re not good at keeping up with so many characters it can get a little overwhelming. The progression to more characters is slow though so there is only one or two new perspectives in each book.

If you’re looking for a standard Historical Fiction Murder Mystery series with the right balance of murder, intrigue, reflection, detail and scientific interest then this is a series for you. I would classify this as a Goldilocks series, one that is just right with all the elements of the genre. If you can’t stomach a lot of gore or heavy detail but are keen to see the other aspects of this series, I would still give it a go because it might not be as bad as you think.

Anna Lee Huber’s Kiera Darby Mystery Series

12 books (ongoing) – book 12 is set to be published in June 2024

The Kiera Darby Mysteries are set during the 1830s and start in Scotland. Similar to Charlotte Sloane, Kiera is an artist and a widow. As the wife of an anatomist, the attitudes people have towards Kiera regarding her husband’s profession and her role as his “helper” continue to hang over her throughout the novels. The other part of the investigative duo is Sebastian Gage, an inquiry agent working at the behest of his father. He’s got the status and respect needed to get him places and to look into the murders and mysteries they come across and Kiera has the macabre skills in analysing dead bodies. They’re an interesting pair with a spark of romantic tension quickly igniting during their first investigation and their relationship progresses quickly compared to the previous two duos.

That artistic detail of Kiera’s strengthens this series like the Wrexford and Sloane series. The titles often include art-related works which is a nice touch. The art element of Kiera’s skillset and view of life isn’t always utilised, which isn’t bad considering art isn’t always something that can be drawn upon to solve crime. The heavy subject matter and themes mirror the Wrexford and Sloane series. They aren’t exact reproductions of each other though, so you won’t find yourself suffering from deja vu if you read these simultaneously like I did during my recent reread of both series.

Kiera’s narrative perspective and personality can lean toward naivety, and the relationship ups and downs between Kiera and Sebastian can sometimes overpower the story which can be a deterrent to those wanting murder mystery and no romantic subplots overshadowing that. There are complexities within the relationships in this series that make the subplots interesting and can filter into the main plots quite successfully, creating high points of tension and conflicts that impact the investigations and friendships between characters.

The Kiera Darby Mysteries are a mix between the Veronica Speedwell series and the Wrexford and Sloane series in their overall ranking of Historical Fiction Murder Mystery. While it has the heavier themes and subject matter of Wrexford and Sloane, it has the lightness, narrative perspective and character interactions of Veronica Speedwell. This would be a great stepping stone between the previously mentioned series and a good way to gauge your preference for the murder elements of the novels.

C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr Series

19 books (ongoing) – the most recent published in April 2024

Yes, I said nineteen. The first Sebastian St Cyr book, What Angels Fear, was published in 2005 and almost 20 years on the series is still going strong, and when I say strong I mean it. This is not one for the faint of heart. The content, themes and subject matter within this series make this by far the most mature of my recommendations. I hope that doesn’t dissuade you if you can tolerate more gore, more detail and more evil in your choice of murder mysteries.

Starting in 1811 before the Regency era, Sebastian St. Cyr, a young nobleman whose time serving in the Napoleonic War left him both physically and mentally damaged, is the key suspect in the violent murder of a young woman. To prove himself innocent, he must utilise his skills as an agent during the war to find answers and identify the real culprit before he is arrested. As he establishes himself as an investigator outside of Scotland Yard’s rules, he makes a name for himself in more ways than one and not in the ways he may wish.

Full of political intrigue, complex relationships, gruesome murders and plots teeming with evildoers and seriously dark detail, the Sebastian St. Cyr series is a chronicle of multi-layered cases, complex characters and overarching plots that take a serious sleuth to keep lined up. It is a great series for those invested in Historical Fiction Murder Mystery and those who aren’t afraid to look the dark side of humanity in the eye. While there is no consistent kind of case Sebastian and his network of people come across, there are recurring characters who remain consistent in their characterisations and who create those anchors in the setting needed to hold it all down. They are also characters who aren’t afraid to do everything in their power to get their way, making the developing conflicts and wider scope of things at the forefront of your mind as you consume book after book.

This would be the last of these series to read if you want to make your way slowly through the sea of Historical Fiction Murder Mystery, but if you’re a Historical Fiction Murder Mystery fanatic, then dive right into the deep end and get lost in the never-ending power plays and mountains of bodies left in each book’s wake.

Lev AC Rosen’s Evander Mills Mystery Series

3 books (ongoing) – book 3 is set to be published in October 2024

Completely different from the settings of all the previous series, the Evander Mills Mysteries are set in 1950s San Francisco and homosexuality is a core part of the series, not only because characters identify as homosexual, but because of the history of homosexuality in America post-WWII. The reason I’m putting this last on the list is because of the shift in what to expect from a Historical Fiction Murder Mystery series. With the Evander Mills series, you need to take a step back, put down your magnifying glasses and notebooks, and look at it from a different perspective.

The Evander Mills series starts with a perceived ending. We enter the reality of life as a gay man in the 1950s, or more specifically the life of a gay man previously working as a police officer in the 1950s. The toxic masculinity, homophobia, sexism and racism within the series don’t feel overdone, instead, they highlight the norms at the time and showcase how difficult being part of the LGBTQ+ community was at the time.

The foundations within the series give it that point of significant difference among Historical Fiction Murder Mystery series. The murders and the mysteries, while not as gruesome as the everyday harassment and abuse given by police and other such characters, have elements of more mature themes and content, putting Evander Mills next to the Wrexford and Sloane mysteries and the Kiera Darby mysteries. While the tension and murderous details of the plot may surprise you, the stories aren’t all bad or disheartening. Within the series, the strength and resilience of the community are shown and I am eagerly awaiting more books to see what comes next.

I hope you have found at least one series to give a shot. If you want more of these recommendation posts or have read any of the series I’ve mentioned, please let me know in the comments.