Category Archives: Historical

old stuff

The Power Game by Meg and Tom Keneally

‘The Power Game’ is the 3rd novel in the Monserrat series by father and daughter team Meg and Tom Keneally. The series is set in colonial Australia and Monserrat is an ex-convict who along with his housekeeper Mrs Mulrooney has … Continue reading

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Filed under Australian Author, Book Reviews, Crime, Historical, Keneally, Meg and Tom, Series Fiction

The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash

‘The Last Ballad’ tells the story of Ella May Wiggins, a young woman who became a symbol for workers’ rights in America in the late 1920s. This novel was inspired by the 1929 strike at the Loray Textile mill in … Continue reading

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Filed under Book Reviews, Cash, Wiley, Historical, Southern

A Darker State by David Young

‘A Darker State’ is the 3rd novel by David Young in the Karin Muller series featuring Karin Muller, a detective in the East German People’s police and set in the 1970s, a time when much of life in East Germany … Continue reading

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Filed under Book Reviews, Crime, Detective, Historical, Series Fiction, Young, David

The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden

‘The Gates of Rome’ is the first novel in Conn Iggulden’s Emperor series and introduces us to the young Gaius Julius Caesar. This was also Conn Iggulden’s debut novel. The childhood of Julius Caesar is not actually documented, so Iggulden … Continue reading

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Crucible of Secrets by Shona (S.G.) Maclean

‘Crucible of Secrets’ is also known as ‘Crucible’ and depending on the version you read it is by Shona Maclean or S.G. Maclean. It is the third novel in her Alexander Seaton series set in 17th century Scotland. Alexander Seaton … Continue reading

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Filed under Book Reviews, Crime, Historical, MacLean, S.G. (Shona), Series Fiction

The Sticklepath Strangler by Michael Jecks

‘The Sticklepath Strangler’ is the 12th novel in the Knights Templar series by Michael Jecks which features ex Templar Knight and now Keeper of the kings Peace Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock. Two ten year old girls in … Continue reading

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Filed under Book Reviews, Crime, Detective, Historical, Jecks, Michael, Mystery, Series Fiction

The Tournament of Blood by Michael Jecks

‘The Tournament of Blood’ is the 11th novel in the Knights Templar mysteries by Michael Jecks. The story begins when Sir Baldwin Furnshill’s wife Jeanne gives birth to their first child – a girl. So with a bellowing newborn in … Continue reading

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Filed under Book Reviews, Crime, Detective, Historical, Jecks, Michael, Mystery, Series Fiction

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney

‘The Tenderness of Wolves’ was Stef Penney’s debut novel and like her other novels is beautifully and warmly written. The story is set in 1867 in the sparsely populated and cold areas of Northern Canada. At the time, the Hudson … Continue reading

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Filed under Book Reviews, Fiction, Historical, Penney, Stef

The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths

‘The Vanishing Box’ is the 4th novel in Elly Griffiths’ series featuring DI Edgar Stephens and Magician Max Mephisto. The series is set in Brighton in the 1950s. It is a cold Christmas and Max and his daughter Ruby are … Continue reading

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Filed under Book Reviews, Crime, Detective, Griffiths, Elly, Historical, Mystery, Series Fiction

The Boy Bishop’s Glovemaker by Michael Jecks

‘The Boy Bishop’s Glovemaker’ is the 10th Knights Templar mystery by Michael Jecks. In Exeter Cathedral (and many others) there is a tradition where one of the Boys in the choir is selected to be bishop for a day, on … Continue reading

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Filed under Book Reviews, Crime, Detective, Historical, Jecks, Michael, Mystery, Series Fiction