Investigations and Mysteries Through Time

Here are some recommendations for French historical crime novels, ideal for fans of the genre:

• A Morbid Taste for Bones Ellis Peters : the first installment of an iconic historical mystery series, a medieval monk seeks a saint’s remains for Shrewsbury Abbey—but finds a murderous sinner instead.
• The Alienist Caleb Carr : In 1896 New York, a newspaper reporter and a psychologist, or “alienist,” embark on a revolutionary effort in criminology: creating a psychological profile of the perpetrator based on the details of his crimes. Their dangerous quest takes them into the tortured past and twisted mind of a murderer who will kill
• Dissolution C. J. Sansom : In Tudor England, when a royal commissioner is brutally murdered in a monastery, Henry VIII’s feared vicar general summons fellow reformer Matthew Shardlake to lead the inquiry. Shardlake and his young protégé uncover evidence of sexual misconduct, embezzlement, and treason, but when two

These novels combine a captivating crime plot with detailed historical reconstruction, offering total immersion in different eras.

Historical crime novels combine the suspense of criminal investigations with the richness of historical contexts. They offer a double intrigue: solving a mystery while discovering a bygone era.

Characteristics of the Historical Crime Novel

• Historical Setting: Events take place in a specific historical period, often with great historical accuracy.
• Investigation and Suspense: As in any good crime novel, an investigation is at the heart of the plot, with a detective or investigator often faced with complex puzzles.
• Authentic Characters: The protagonists and secondary characters are often inspired by real people or typical of the era.