If you love historical mysteries, 2022 has a fantastic lineup of new titles you don’t want to miss! With settings from Victorian England to World War II–era Europe and beyond, these atmospheric novels feature intrepid sleuths and clever mysteries sure to keep your fingers warm this winter by turning the pages and your mind even sharper. These are the perfect books to cozy up with in a nook with a pumpkin spice drink or hot chocolate. Happy reading!
Die Around Sundown by Mark Pryor
Die Around Sundown By Mark Pryor
Set in German-occupied Paris in 1940, Die Around Sundown is the first book in an enthralling new mystery series. Inspector Henri Lefort is racing against the clock to solve the murder of a German major who was killed in the Louvre Museum. With only a list of possible suspects and no access to the crime scene, Henri must unravel the truth before time runs out… Don’t miss this novel that Susan Elia MacNeal calls “atmospheric and engaging.”
Because I Could Not Stop For Death by Amanda Flower
Set in 1855 Massachusetts, this first book in a new series features reclusive poet Emily Dickinson and her housemaid, Willa Noble. When Willa’s brother Henry dies under suspicious circumstances, Willa confides in Emily that she believes her brother was murdered. Soon, the two women are unraveling the secrets and corruption in Amherst as they pursue the truth about Henry’s death.
A Spying Eye by Michelle Cox
Once again, Michelle Cox threads together facts and fiction, romance, mystery, blackmail, and murder in A Spying Eye (She Writes Press), the sixth book in her inviting mystery/romance Henrietta and Inspector Howard series.
As usual, Cox weaves together an intricate plot. This time, she splits her story in two. Clive and Henrietta make another attempt at a honeymoon, which begins with cocktails in London and a fancy dress ball. Although their original itinerary would have taken them to Italy, Switzerland, and France (Henrietta has long dreamed of visiting Paris), their plans are altered by her mother-in-law’s insistence that they take a detour to a chateau near Strasbourg, which is owned by the Von Harmon family — presumably distant relations of Henrietta’s.
Back home in Chicago, there’s family drama. Unbeknownst to Clive’s mother, Antonia, her daughter Julia is married to a cruel and abusive man. The little girl named Anna, who is being cared for by Antonia’s mother, has become a pawn in an expensive and dangerous tug of war. A wealthy rancher arrives on the scene, intent on purchasing a work of art in the Howard gallery, but finds something he may want a great deal more.
Back to the Garden by Laurie R. King
A 50-year-old cold case is at the heart of this mystery about an influential family and an elusive serial killer called The Highwayman. The Gardener family has a long and legendary history in California, but when a skull is recovered during some renovation work, it raises questions about what really happened at the palatial Gardener Estate one long-ago summer. Inspector Raquel Laing takes up the case, unearthing family secrets as she searches for the answers that might lead her to a killer…
The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable
In 1944, newlywed Niki Novotná is recruited by a new American spy agency establishing a branch of their organization in Rome. As part of the team of female operatives known as The Lipstick Bureau, Niki’s job is to create and distribute propaganda to lower the morale of the enemy. As the war rages on, Niki’s work allows her to put aside concerns about her marriage and her past — but danger lurks around every corner for this unlikely spy.
Peril at the Exposition by Nev March
After making their debut in Murder in Old Bombay, newlyweds Captain Jim Agnihotri and Diana Framji return in this mystery that Kirkus Reviews calls a “flashy vintage romp with a spirited heroine and nonstop surprises.” It’s 1893, and Jim and Diana have left British Bombay for Boston, where Jim is a detective at the Dupree Agency. But when Jim disappears in Chicago while investigating a murder, it’s up to Diana to find him and solve the case.
