Historical Crime Fiction - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T09:52:30Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:26363?id=537324%3ATopic%3A26363&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThat's really interesting, Jo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-23:537324:Comment:275412007-04-23T02:35:01.974ZEliza Tuckerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/elizatucker
That's really interesting, Joy. I've had friends who said they liked ANGEL better, and friends who said it wasn't as good (more in this group, actually). All I know about it is Stevie, so I'm looking forward to that much! I'm sure I'll post my opinions somewhere, once I've swallowed it.<br />
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At my fiction group tonight we ended up talking about the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters, and it got me thinking about this thread. So I'd definitely toss that in here, just because those stories were so…
That's really interesting, Joy. I've had friends who said they liked ANGEL better, and friends who said it wasn't as good (more in this group, actually). All I know about it is Stevie, so I'm looking forward to that much! I'm sure I'll post my opinions somewhere, once I've swallowed it.<br />
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At my fiction group tonight we ended up talking about the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters, and it got me thinking about this thread. So I'd definitely toss that in here, just because those stories were so enjoyable. I just found a publisher for…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-23:537324:Comment:275332007-04-23T02:21:41.893ZDennis Leppanenhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/TheWarbler
I just found a publisher for a historical whodunnit I wrote set in 1894 northern Michigan. It fell easily in place with actual occurences of Edison giving the first phonograph demonstration on Mackinac Island, to the gritty, natural chaos of the logging industry.<br />
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I tried not to 'overdo' the era, but use it as a backdrop. Were there telephones, cars, microwave ovens? Lotsa stuff to consider.
I just found a publisher for a historical whodunnit I wrote set in 1894 northern Michigan. It fell easily in place with actual occurences of Edison giving the first phonograph demonstration on Mackinac Island, to the gritty, natural chaos of the logging industry.<br />
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I tried not to 'overdo' the era, but use it as a backdrop. Were there telephones, cars, microwave ovens? Lotsa stuff to consider. I have to confess I had no id…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-22:537324:Comment:274082007-04-22T18:15:27.533ZPatricia Abbotthttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/pattinase
I have to confess I had no idea about the wealth of historical crime fiction that existed. And hats off to the writers who spend so much time doing research to make these novels compelling, informative and accurate. I have read The Alienist, some Laurie King and some Ellis Peters and van Gulik, but most of the rest are uncharted waters for me.
I have to confess I had no idea about the wealth of historical crime fiction that existed. And hats off to the writers who spend so much time doing research to make these novels compelling, informative and accurate. I have read The Alienist, some Laurie King and some Ellis Peters and van Gulik, but most of the rest are uncharted waters for me. I'd add to the votes for John…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-22:537324:Comment:274022007-04-22T18:06:26.144ZJoy Calderwoodhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Dragonlily
I'd add to the votes for John Maddox Roberts' SPQR series, Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee, and THE ALIENIST. Eliza, the social context of the investigation in Carr's THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS seemed to me to be much less believable than ALIENIST.<br />
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I recommend Alan Gordon again. His Fools Guild from around 1200 didn't exist -- probably ;-) -- but it "doesn't exist" in a way that sits the reader down in the surroundings simply because his hero is there. I'll make an exception of the first book,…
I'd add to the votes for John Maddox Roberts' SPQR series, Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee, and THE ALIENIST. Eliza, the social context of the investigation in Carr's THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS seemed to me to be much less believable than ALIENIST.<br />
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I recommend Alan Gordon again. His Fools Guild from around 1200 didn't exist -- probably ;-) -- but it "doesn't exist" in a way that sits the reader down in the surroundings simply because his hero is there. I'll make an exception of the first book, THIRTEENTH NIGHT. It is based more on Shakespeare's play than on history. I enjoy Sharan Newman's Cathe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-22:537324:Comment:273582007-04-22T13:41:59.423ZHelenhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/helenell
I enjoy Sharan Newman's Catherine Levendeur series set in 12th century France. I can also add my recommendation to some that have already been mentioned - CJ Sansom, Katherine Ross and Ellis Peters.
I enjoy Sharan Newman's Catherine Levendeur series set in 12th century France. I can also add my recommendation to some that have already been mentioned - CJ Sansom, Katherine Ross and Ellis Peters. Victoria Thompson writes nice…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-20:537324:Comment:269192007-04-20T20:09:10.574ZEliza Tuckerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/elizatucker
Victoria Thompson writes nice 1890s/early 1900s cozies in the "Murder On" series, and I really enjoyed Caleb Carr's THE ALIENIST. I've yet to read the follow-up; I'm waiting for some good, summer quiet time for that one. Also, Anne Perry covers Victorian England nicely. Daphne Du Maurier wrote historicals as well as contemporaries in her time, and even though they're not pre-1900, Patricia Highsmith chills me every time.<br />
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I'm mostly interested in early twentieth century writing, so I can't help…
Victoria Thompson writes nice 1890s/early 1900s cozies in the "Murder On" series, and I really enjoyed Caleb Carr's THE ALIENIST. I've yet to read the follow-up; I'm waiting for some good, summer quiet time for that one. Also, Anne Perry covers Victorian England nicely. Daphne Du Maurier wrote historicals as well as contemporaries in her time, and even though they're not pre-1900, Patricia Highsmith chills me every time.<br />
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I'm mostly interested in early twentieth century writing, so I can't help much pre-1880s. OH, I used to read him years…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-20:537324:Comment:268902007-04-20T18:23:31.662ZPatricia Abbotthttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/pattinase
OH, I used to read him years ago. He was very good.
OH, I used to read him years ago. He was very good. Thanks, Steven. That is very…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-20:537324:Comment:268722007-04-20T17:24:33.997ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Thanks, Steven. That is very generous. And I'm very much a fan of yours also. It's one of the most memorable police procedurals for local color and characters.
Thanks, Steven. That is very generous. And I'm very much a fan of yours also. It's one of the most memorable police procedurals for local color and characters. My favorite series is by Robe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-20:537324:Comment:268672007-04-20T17:16:40.098ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
My favorite series is by Robert Van Gulik. He was a Dutch diplomat stationed in China and Japan and also a scholar. His Judge Dee books are wonderful.
My favorite series is by Robert Van Gulik. He was a Dutch diplomat stationed in China and Japan and also a scholar. His Judge Dee books are wonderful. Writing inside the historical…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-20:537324:Comment:267892007-04-20T12:31:06.304ZPatricia Abbotthttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/pattinase
Writing inside the historical time solves a lot of the problems. You don't call attention to the things around you because you don't need to. People down the road just have to figure it out--and that's part of the charm. Unfortunately this is rare since the novel is a farly recent invention.<br />
I certainly agree with your statement about forensic information being a long way off made books stronger in other areas. Setting a book fifty years ago is easier.
Writing inside the historical time solves a lot of the problems. You don't call attention to the things around you because you don't need to. People down the road just have to figure it out--and that's part of the charm. Unfortunately this is rare since the novel is a farly recent invention.<br />
I certainly agree with your statement about forensic information being a long way off made books stronger in other areas. Setting a book fifty years ago is easier.