Historical Books
Inspector Ian Rutledge investigates a possible attempted murder in this seasonal mystery novella from New York Times bestseller Charles Todd.
London, 1893, there is a poisoner on the loose in the city, causing deaths to pile up. Private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn seem to be his ...
Winner of the Shamus Award for Best Novel! London, 1893 - a series of dangerous events are unfolding at the British Museum, leading enquiry agents Cyrus ...
In 1894, London's premier enquiry agent, Cyrus Barker, finds himself caught up in a plot to resurrect the American Civil War involving influential ...
London, 1893: Private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are summoned to safeguard Tsesarevich Nicholas during his journey to England for a ...
A bombing has injured private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker, leaving his soon-to-be-married junior partner Thomas Llewelyn to hunt down the person attempting to ...
In 1890, the initial Japanese diplomatic delegation arrived in London for the opening of an embassy. Private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker, who sometimes worked ...
An original never-before-seen Barker and Llewelyn short story: includes 7 FREE CHAPTERS of OLD SCORES, the next installment in the adventures of Cyrus Barker ...
"The true star power comes from its compatibly mismatched leads. Joy to those who discover Mr. Thomas’s latest novel this holiday season." —The Wall Street ...
By the request of Her Majesty’s government, private detective Cyrus Barker reluctantly agrees to provide security for a confidential meeting with the French ...
‘Readers rejoice and scoundrels take heed''the streets of Victorian London just got a little safer. Newcomers are sure to be absorbed into these warm, witty, ...
In the most recent installment of what has been described as "one of the genre's top historical-mystery series" (Booklist), the rugged private investigator ...
In The Limehouse Text, Barker and Llewelyn stumble upon a pawn ticket in the belongings of Barker's deceased assistant, leading them to the Chinese quarter ...
When a body of an Italian assassin is discovered floating in a barrel in the East End of Victorian London, inquiry agent Cyrus Barker and his assistant ...
Brimming with wit, atmosphere, and unforgettable characters, FATAL ENQUIRY reintroduces private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker and his assistant, Thomas ...
Victorian enquiry agent Cyrus Barker and his young assistant Thomas Llewelyn, who were first introduced in Will Thomas's debut novel Some Danger Involved, ...
Description
Historical fiction is a genre that sets its stories in the past, often during significant periods of history. In these stories, the time period isn’t just a backdrop but an essential part of the setting and the narrative itself.
Historical fiction may feature fictional characters, well-known historical figures, or a combination of the two. Authors typically pay close attention to details—such as setting, clothing, and dialogue—to ensure the story feels authentic to the time period it portrays.
Sometimes, historical fiction portrays famous events from perspectives not recorded in history, showing historical figures grappling with real events but in ways not captured in historical records. Other times, the historical event or era provides a rich backdrop that shapes the characters’ lives and actions. In some cases, the story remains largely accurate, but names of people or places are changed for narrative reasons.
Because this is fiction, authors have artistic license to creatively present and explore these settings, as long as they remain reasonably faithful to established historical facts. If the story deviates significantly from historical record, it may move into the genre of alternate history, which imagines how things might have been different if a major historical event had played out differently. Similarly, historical fiction should generally follow the rules of physics and realism; stories that include magical or fantastical elements typically fall under the category of historical fantasy or historical romance.