42 Bestselling Historical Mysteries for Cozy Mystery Lovers
There's something especially appealing, in my opinion anyway, about a mystery set in another era. A medieval monk investigating a suspicious death, a Victorian lady uncovering a family secret, a spirited amateur sleuth stumbling across murder in some intriguing location—sounds like the settings of some of our favorite cozy series, don’t they? But the series on this list are categorized as historical fiction.
For readers who love cozy mysteries, some historical mysteries offer many of the same pleasures: engaging characters, clever clues, atmospheric settings, and the satisfaction of seeing justice prevail. Some are lighthearted and humorous, while others explore more serious subjects, but all place a strong emphasis on storytelling, investigation, and the people behind the mysteries. But for this list, I’ve deliberately chosen series that leave out the gory details, just like cozies.
I’ve organized the series by place and time so you can go right to the selections that interest you most, although you may want to explore something new, too. That’s half the fun of reading!
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Medieval and Renaissance Mysteries
1. Brother Cadfael Mysteries by Ellis Peters
Books in series: 21
Let’s start with a classic favorite. Set in 12th-century England during the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda, this series follows Brother Cadfael, a Welsh Benedictine monk and herbalist at Shrewsbury Abbey. Drawing on his worldly experience before entering the monastery, Cadfael investigates murders and other crimes with compassion, intelligence, and an unusually modern understanding of human nature.
2. Ursula Blanchard Mysteries by Fiona Buckley
Books in series: 22
These mysteries feature Ursula Blanchard, a widowed lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I during the second half of the 16th century. As Ursula navigates the dangerous intrigues of the Tudor court, she becomes involved in investigations involving murder, espionage, religious conflict, and plots against the throne.
3. Francis Bacon Mysteries by Anna Castle
Books in series: 7
This time, the series revolves around a real-life person—the young Francis Bacon and his resourceful assistant, Thomas Clarady. Combining the intellectual excitement of Renaissance London with political intrigue and murder, the series follows the unlikely detective partnership as they investigate crimes involving courtiers, scholars, and London's colorful inhabitants.
4. Mistress Jaffrey Mysteries by Kathy Lynn Emerson
Books in series: 3
Set in late 16th-century England, this series follows Rosamond Jaffrey, an intelligent, independent woman with connections to the Elizabethan court. When murders and suspicious events threaten those around her, Rosamond uses her wit, curiosity, and social connections to uncover secrets in a society where women are expected to remain discreet.
5. Roger the Chapman Mysteries by Kate Sedley
Books in series: 22
Former novice monk Roger the Chapman earns his living as a traveling peddler. Set in 15th-century England during the Wars of the Roses, Roger’s journeys through medieval towns, villages, and noble households repeatedly bring him into contact with murder, political intrigue, and secrets that only his sharp powers of observation can unravel.
6. Sister Frevisse Mysteries by Margaret Frazer
Books in series: 17
These mysteries center on Dame Frevisse, a Benedictine nun living at St. Frideswide's Priory in Oxfordshire in the 1400s. Although she prefers the quiet routines of religious life, murders and other disturbances repeatedly draw her into investigations that reveal the tensions and hidden passions of medieval society.
Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian Mysteries
7. Amelia Peabody Mysteries by Elizabeth Peters
Books in series: 20
Beginning in the 1880s and continuing into the early 20th century, this entertaining series follows the formidable Amelia Peabody Emerson, a Victorian Egyptologist who investigates murders and archaeological mysteries in Egypt. Accompanied by her equally passionate archaeologist husband and their adventurous family, Amelia encounters ancient tombs, suspicious deaths, dangerous criminals, and plenty of romantic complications.
8. Lady Sherlock Series by Sherry Thomas
Books in series: 9
This imaginative reworking of Sherlock Holmes features Charlotte Holmes, a brilliant young Victorian-era woman who solves crimes while concealing her identity behind the fictional persona of Sherlock Holmes. With the help of a small circle of trusted allies, Charlotte investigates complicated murders and conspiracies while challenging the restrictive expectations of her society.
9. Charles Lenox Mysteries by Charles Finch
Books in series: 17
Set primarily in Victorian London beginning in the 1850s, this series follows Charles Lenox, a wealthy gentleman and amateur detective with an unusual passion for solving crimes. As he investigates murders among London's aristocracy and working classes, Lenox balances his detective work with friendships, romance, and an eventual career in politics.
10. Lady Julia Grey Mysteries by Deanna Raybourn
Books in series: 5
This series introduces Lady Julia Grey, an aristocratic widow whose husband's suspicious death leads her into an unlikely partnership with an enigmatic private investigator named Nicholas Brisbane. Their investigations take them through drawing rooms, country estates, and dangerous corners of Victorian society, blending clever mysteries with romance and family intrigue.
11. Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Mysteries by Anne Perry
Books in series: 32
Police inspector Thomas Pitt and his socially well-connected wife, Charlotte, investigate murders involving both the aristocracy and the city's poorer inhabitants in Victorian London. Their cases expose hypocrisy and carefully guarded secrets beneath the respectable surface of high society.
12. Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander
Books in series: 19
Here, Lady Emily Ashton, a young aristocratic widow, develops a passion for classical antiquities and criminal investigation. Her adventures take her from London to Paris, Vienna, Constantinople, and other European destinations in the late Victorian era, where she uncovers murders and conspiracies among the fashionable upper classes.
13. Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson
Books in series: 28
In turn-of-the-20th-century New York City, Sarah Brandt, a society-born midwife, investigates murders alongside Irish-American police detective Frank Malloy. Moving between elegant Fifth Avenue mansions and crowded immigrant neighborhoods, the series explores the social divisions and rapidly changing world of Gilded Age Manhattan.
14. Julian Kestrel Mysteries by Kate Ross
Books in series: 4
These Regency-era mysteries feature Julian Kestrel, a fashionable London dandy with a remarkable talent for solving crimes. Beneath his elegant appearance and witty conversation lies a keen analytical mind, which he puts to work investigating murders involving aristocrats, performers, and members of London's fashionable society.
15. Sir John Fielding Mysteries by Bruce Alexander
Books in series: 11
Set in 18th-century London, these mysteries follow Sir John Fielding, the blind magistrate who helped establish the Bow Street Runners, and his young assistant, Jeremy Proctor. Together they investigate murders, thefts, and conspiracies in Georgian London, from its bustling streets and taverns to the homes of the wealthy and powerful.
16. Pink Carnation Series by Lauren Willig
Books in series: 12
Here’s an unusual series with more than one sleuth. Set primarily during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century, these romantic historical mysteries follow a secret network of British spies operating in England and France. Blending adventure, humor, romance, and intrigue, the series uses a modern-day historian's research into the legendary Pink Carnation to uncover the exploits of courageous women and men who risked their lives during the conflict.
17. Erast Fandorin Mysteries by Boris Akunin
Books in series: 16
Beginning in Moscow in 1876 and extending into the early 20th century, this series follows Erast Fandorin, a brilliant Russian detective whose adventures take him across imperial Russia and abroad. Combining elaborate puzzles, political intrigue, international conspiracies, and occasional touches of humor, the novels pay tribute to classic detective fiction while exploring the changing world of late imperial Russia.
18. A Dickens of a Crime Mysteries by Heather Redmond
Books in series: 5
Imagine a young Charles Dickens working as a journalist and becoming involved in murder investigations before achieving literary fame. Along with his fiancée, Kate Hogarth, Dickens encounters crimes and colorful characters that reflect the poverty and social contrasts of the rapidly growing city.
19. Rosalynd and Steele Mysteries by Magda Alexander
Number of books: 5
In the 1890s, Lady Rosalynd Rosehaven, an outspoken advocate for women's rights, and the aristocratic Duke of Steele join forces to investigate murders among London's privileged and powerful. From elegant Mayfair drawing rooms to the city's dangerous backstreets, their investigations expose scandal, corruption, and carefully concealed secrets, while an increasingly complicated romantic attraction develops between the unlikely partners.
20. Victoria Sedgewick Mysteries by Blythe Baker
Number of books: 6
This series follows Victoria Sedgewick, a determined widow whose husband's suspicious death draws her into the dangerous world of criminal investigation in historical London. As she takes on increasingly complicated cases involving murder, family secrets, and deception, Victoria must navigate the restrictions placed on women while using her intelligence and resourcefulness to uncover the truth.
21. Alec Halsey Mysteries by Lucinda Brant
Number of books: 4
Set in Georgian England during the eighteenth century, this series follows Alec Halsey, a sophisticated aristocrat and diplomat whose keen intelligence and investigative instincts draw him into mysteries involving murder, political intrigue, and scandal. Moving through the elegant but treacherous world of high society, Alec must unravel dangerous conspiracies while confronting secrets from his own past and navigating complicated romantic relationships.
22. Veronica Speedwell Mysteries by Deanna Raybourn
Number of books: 10
In this lively Victorian mystery series, we meet Veronica Speedwell, an independent-minded lepidopterist and adventurer who becomes embroiled in murder investigations alongside natural historian Stoker. Their adventures take them from London's scientific and aristocratic circles to remote estates and dangerous locations, where they confront conspiracies and killers. Rich in period detail, witty banter, and slow-burning romance, the series offers an appealing combination of historical adventure and traditional detection.
23. Bow Street Duchess Mysteries by Cara Devlin
Number of books: 9
Duchess Audrey Sinclair’s determination to investigate suspicious deaths brings her into an unlikely partnership with Bow Street investigator Hugh Marsden. From London's fashionable neighborhoods to its dangerous streets, the pair uncovers murders, scandals, and conspiracies that threaten the reputations of society's most powerful families. The series offers an engaging portrait of crime and class in early nineteenth-century England.
Ancient World Mysteries
24. Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries by Lindsey Davis
Books in series: 20
This witty series follows Marcus Didius Falco, a cynical but likable private informer who investigates crimes throughout the ancient Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Vespasian in the first century AD. From the heart of Rome to distant imperial provinces, Falco encounters murder, corruption, political intrigue, and plenty of colorful characters while trying to earn a living and support his family.
25. Medicus Mysteries by Ruth Downie
Books in series: 8
Set in Roman Britain during the early second century AD, these mysteries follow Gaius Petreius Ruso, an army doctor whose attempts to practice medicine are continually interrupted by suspicious deaths. Alongside Tilla, a spirited British woman who becomes his partner, Ruso investigates murders against the backdrop of military outposts, native settlements, and the uneasy relationship between Roman occupiers and local inhabitants.
Twentieth-Century Mysteries
26. Lord Edgington Investigates by Benedict Brown
Number of books: 17
In this delightful series featuring a grandfather-grandson detective duo, Lord Edgington, a sharp-witted, retired Scotland Yard detective returns to solving murders with the help of his teenage grandson, Christopher. Featuring an entertaining assortment of eccentric suspects, family secrets, and ingenious crimes, the series combines traditional Golden Age-style puzzles with humor, warmth, and an endearing intergenerational friendship.
27. The Detection Club Mysteries by Kelly Oliver
Number of books: 2
Set in 1920s Britain, this charming series introduces Eliza Baker, an assistant to mystery writer Dorothy L. Sayers, who finds herself investigating real-life murders among the celebrated authors of London's literary world. Involving real-life literary figures, clever puzzles, and atmospheric historical settings, the series offers a delightful blend of fact and fiction for fans of classic British mysteries.
28. Saffron Weald Mysteries by Ann Sutton
Number of books: 4
Set in a picturesque English village during the 1920s, this charming series follows twin sisters Ophelia and Imogen as they investigate suspicious deaths and unravel secrets among their eccentric neighbors. Village fêtes, church choirs, book clubs, and amateur theatrical productions provide the seemingly innocent settings for a succession of puzzling murders. With its colorful characters, gentle humor, and quintessentially English atmosphere, the series is a delightful homage to traditional mysteries.
29. Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes Mysteries by Laurie R. King
Books in series: 19
One of my favorite series! Beginning in England in 1915, these novels introduce us to Mary Russell, a brilliant young woman who becomes the apprentice and eventual partner of a retired Sherlock Holmes. Their investigations take them from the English countryside to London, the Middle East, and other international destinations, combining intellectual puzzles with adventure.
30. Maisie Dobbs Mysteries by Jacqueline Winspear
Books in series: 18
The best-selling Maisie Dobbs series begins in London in 1929 and continues through World War II. Maisie is a former nurse who becomes a psychologist and private investigator. Drawing on her intelligence and compassion, Maisie investigates crimes that frequently reveal the emotional scars left by war, class divisions, and personal tragedy.
31. Kopp Sisters Mysteries by Amy Stewart
Books in series: 8
These novels are inspired by the true story of Constance Kopp, a remarkably independent woman who becomes one of America's first female deputy sheriffs in rural New Jersey in 1914. Alongside her unconventional sisters, Constance confronts criminals, corruption, and the restrictive expectations placed on women in the early 20th century, with plenty of humor and spirited adventure.
32. Flavia de Luce Mysteries by Alan Bradley
Books in series: 11
Probably the most delightfully eccentric series on the list, these mysteries feature Flavia de Luce, an eleven-year-old chemistry enthusiast with a particular fascination for poisons. Living in a crumbling English country estate with her eccentric family in the 1950s, Flavia uses her scientific knowledge, boundless curiosity, and mischievous intelligence to solve murders that continually disrupt village life.
33. Her Royal Spyness Mysteries by Rhys Bowen
Books in series: 19
Looking for a lighthearted read? Lady Georgiana Rannoch is a penniless aristocrat who happens to be thirty-fourth in line to the British throne in the 1930s. While attempting to support herself without scandalizing the royal family, Georgie repeatedly becomes entangled in murders, romantic complications, and suspicious activities among Europe's fashionable elite.
34. Jane Prescott Mysteries by Mariah Fredericks
Books in series: 4
In New York City during the 1910s, Jane Prescott is a clever and observant ladies' maid employed by wealthy Manhattan families. Her position allows her to move between the privileged world of high society and the city's working-class neighborhoods, giving her a unique perspective on murders involving the rich, powerful, and ambitious.
35. Psychics and Soul Food Mysteries by Carolyn Marie Wilkins
Books in series: 3
Set in Chicago during the 1920s, this series follows Carrie McFarland, a young African American woman with psychic abilities who becomes entangled in murder investigations. Immersed in the city's vibrant Black cultural life, Carrie must distinguish genuine supernatural warnings from the deceptions and dangerous secrets of the living.
Mysteries Set Around the World
36. Inspector de Silva Mysteries by Harriet Steel
Books in series: 14
These atmospheric mysteries feature Inspector Shanti de Silva, a thoughtful police officer working in the fictional hill-country town of Nuala in 1930s British Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. Assisted by his English wife, Jane, and his police colleagues, de Silva investigates murders against a backdrop of tea plantations, colonial society, lush tropical landscapes, and local traditions.
37. Inspector Yashim Mysteries by Jason Goodwin
Books in series: 5
In this series, Yashim, a eunuch, becomes a detective with unusual access to the city's imperial palaces, harems, and political circles. As he investigates murders and conspiracies in Ottoman Istanbul during the 1830s and 1840s, he explores a richly detailed world of diplomatic intrigue, ancient traditions, and the region’s struggle with modernization.
38. Li Du Mysteries by Elsa Hart
Books in series: 3
Set in 18th-century China during the Qing dynasty, Li Du is an exiled imperial librarian whose travels bring him into contact with mysterious deaths and dangerous political secrets. Using his scholarly knowledge and exceptional powers of observation, Li Du investigates crimes in remote Chinese provinces while navigating the tensions between imperial authority and local communities.
39. The Bangalore Detectives Club Mysteries by Harini Nagendra
Books in series: 5
Kaveri Murthy is a mathematically gifted young woman whose curiosity and intelligence lead her into criminal investigations in 1920s India. Supported by her doctor husband, Ramu, Kaveri challenges social conventions while solving murders in a vibrant city shaped by British colonial rule, Indian independence movements, and traditional family expectations.
40. Sergeant Akal Singh Mysteries by Nilima Rao
Books in series: 2
How’s this for an intriguing setting? In colonial Fiji during the early 20th century, Sergeant Akal Singh is a Sikh police officer transferred from India to the British colony. Investigating suspicious deaths among Fiji's diverse communities, Singh must navigate colonial bureaucracy, racial tensions, and the complicated relationships between British officials, Indian laborers, and indigenous Fijians.
41. Judge Dee Mysteries by Robert van Gulik
Books in series: 16
These classic mysteries feature Judge Dee, an imperial magistrate responsible for investigating crimes and administering justice in his district in seventh-century China during the Tang dynasty. Inspired by traditional Chinese detective fiction and a real historical official, the stories combine ingenious puzzles, colorful suspects, and fascinating details of Chinese customs.
Timeless Mysteries
42. Nicole Rayburn Historical Mysteries by Irina Shapiro
Number of books: 7
Ah, a series much like my own that defies categorization. Moving between present-day England and historical settings spanning the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries, this series follows Nicole Rayburn, a historical novelist whose research draws her into long-forgotten crimes and tragic mysteries. Combining dual timelines, historical intrigue, romance, and supernatural elements, the series brings the mysteries of the past vividly into the present.
What’s your favorite place and time for a mystery series? Share your ideas in the comments below.
A Journey Through History, One Mystery at a Time
From the streets of ancient Rome to the drawing rooms of Victorian London, historical mysteries offer readers the pleasure of traveling through time without leaving their favorite reading chair. Their detectives may wear togas, corsets, or cloche hats, but they share the same curiosity, determination, and desire for justice that make cozy mystery sleuths so appealing.
So, whether you prefer a gentle village mystery, a clever aristocratic detective, or an adventurous heroine who refuses to obey society's rules, the series you choose is sure to offer countless hours of historical intrigue and satisfying puzzles.
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