Mysterious Ladies of Victorian England
Light, adventurous, engrossing: these describe a number of recent mystery series that focus on women in Victorian England. Some of them have supernatural aspects and others are strictly realistic. A few of them feature characters from beloved fiction of the past. They’re all light, sometimes humorous, takes on the mystery form—with a feminine and feminist bent.
Explore the list I’ve compiled, and be sure to comment and let me know what I’ve left out!
A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, by Dianne Freeman, is the first book in the Countess of Harleigh Mysteries.
Wealthy young widow Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, is newly out of mourning. With her young daughter, Frances moves to Victorian London and welcomes her sister Lily, arriving from New York for her first London social season. When mysterious burglaries start plaguing London's elite, an anonymous tip to the police implicates Frances in her late husband's death. Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and her dashing new neighbor George Hazelton to uncover the truth.
A Curious Beginning, by Deanna Raybourn, is the first book in the Veronica Speedwell series.
Mystery, intrigue, and butterflies. After burying her spinster aunt, Veronica Speedwell is free to travel the world in pursuit of scientific inquiry--and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as she is fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime. But fate has other plans: Veronica narrowly avoids a kidnapping and is thrown into an international mystery with a handsome new ally.
A Study in Scarlet Women, by Sherry Thomas, is the first book in the Lady Sherlock series.
Thomas is already a beloved author in the romance genre, but she’s taken a delightful turn to mystery in the Lady Sherlock books, which turn Sherlock Holmes into Charlotte Holmes, a Victorian woman whose frighteningly high intelligence has proven a hindrance to social success, and a nuisance to her parents. How will she overcome these social obstacles and find freedom, happiness, and murders to solve? Seeing Charlotte achieve these goals is the greatest pleasure of these mysteries.
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter, by Theodora Goss, is the first book in the Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club.
Why did so many mad scientists create women? That’s the question that led Theodora Goss to write her series about the daughters, natural and created, of Victor Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Dr. Moreau, and other fictional anti-heroes. The fact that Sherlock Holmes shows up too only adds to the fun.
India Black, by Carol Carr, is the first book in the Madam of Espionage series.
Brothel owner India Black is thrust into a deadly game of intrigue and blackmail between Russian and British agents after Sir Archibald Latham of the War Office has a heart attack and dies while visiting her Victorian London establishment.
Explore the list I’ve compiled, and be sure to comment and let me know what I’ve left out!
A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, by Dianne Freeman, is the first book in the Countess of Harleigh Mysteries.Wealthy young widow Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, is newly out of mourning. With her young daughter, Frances moves to Victorian London and welcomes her sister Lily, arriving from New York for her first London social season. When mysterious burglaries start plaguing London's elite, an anonymous tip to the police implicates Frances in her late husband's death. Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and her dashing new neighbor George Hazelton to uncover the truth.
A Curious Beginning, by Deanna Raybourn, is the first book in the Veronica Speedwell series.Mystery, intrigue, and butterflies. After burying her spinster aunt, Veronica Speedwell is free to travel the world in pursuit of scientific inquiry--and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as she is fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime. But fate has other plans: Veronica narrowly avoids a kidnapping and is thrown into an international mystery with a handsome new ally.
A Study in Scarlet Women, by Sherry Thomas, is the first book in the Lady Sherlock series.Thomas is already a beloved author in the romance genre, but she’s taken a delightful turn to mystery in the Lady Sherlock books, which turn Sherlock Holmes into Charlotte Holmes, a Victorian woman whose frighteningly high intelligence has proven a hindrance to social success, and a nuisance to her parents. How will she overcome these social obstacles and find freedom, happiness, and murders to solve? Seeing Charlotte achieve these goals is the greatest pleasure of these mysteries.
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter, by Theodora Goss, is the first book in the Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club.Why did so many mad scientists create women? That’s the question that led Theodora Goss to write her series about the daughters, natural and created, of Victor Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Dr. Moreau, and other fictional anti-heroes. The fact that Sherlock Holmes shows up too only adds to the fun.
India Black, by Carol Carr, is the first book in the Madam of Espionage series.Brothel owner India Black is thrust into a deadly game of intrigue and blackmail between Russian and British agents after Sir Archibald Latham of the War Office has a heart attack and dies while visiting her Victorian London establishment.
- Katie C., Hopewell Branch
Comments
Post a Comment