Sunday, January 12, 2014

Historical Fiction Challenge 2013 Wrap-up

I participated in the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge for the second year in 2013. It is sponsored by Historical Tapestry. My goal was the Medieval level - 15 books

Unfortunately I aimed too high, but I still read a good number of historical novels. As usual, all were from the crime fiction genre.

Books read and reviewed for this challenge:
 
The Smoke by Tony Broadbent
Archie Meets Nero Wolfe by Robert Goldsborough
Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
Eye of the Red Tsar by Sam Eastland
Except the Dying by Maureen Jennings
A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley 
Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis
A Night of Long Knives by Rebecca Cantrell
Dark Star by Alan Furst
The Yard by Alex Grecian
Kaleidoscope by J. Robert Janes
The Holiday Murders by Robert Gott


The majority of the historical mysteries that I read this year were set in the years before, during, or after World War II. That is a favorite time period for me. There is so much to learn about that time period, and I will never run out of books to read about that time. Most of them are set in Europe, but Devil in a Blue Dress is set in California in 1948, and The Holiday Murders is set in Australia, during the war.

12 comments:

col2910 said...

Don't beat yourself up, that's a fantastic set of books. There's a few I'm unfamiliar with, but I will hopefully read Furst and Gott this year and maybe Bradley if I go for Canada challenge in the second half of the year. WW2 era is turning into a favourite period of mine also.

w said...

I am bookmarking this post. I love this time period (WW2 era) as well and plan to read more historical fiction this year. Even if you didn't make the goal that's still a lot of books like Col said so you did very well. Off to look up some of these.

Anonymous said...

Tracy - Oh, I think you did a great job with this challenge! I'm impressed. And like Keishon, I will definitely be back...

TracyK said...

Col, I do love reading about the WW2 era. And when the books include espionage too, that is a bonus. I will be watching to see what you read in that area.

TracyK said...

Keishon, hope you find some historical fiction to your taste. The WW2 years are a popular topic nowadays, so there is lots on offer.

TracyK said...

Thanks, Margot. It was all good reading.

Prashant C. Trikannad said...

Tracy, I like the sound of historical novels or historical fiction; it kind of makes you want to read them right away. And you read some fine ones last year.

TracyK said...

Prashant, I hope I read as much historical fiction in 2014 .... without a challenge.

Clothes In Books said...

I got confused because I thought you meant you were reading books set in mediaeval times! But I did realize... Like everyone else I'm impressed by the number and scope of those you did read. I need to check out some of these - it's a period I love to read about too.

TracyK said...

I know what you mean, Moira, sometimes the challenge level names are a bit fanciful. I should probably just stick to the numbers. I have enjoyed some other time periods in historical fiction but WWII will always be my favorite.

Anonymous said...

I'm putting this here as I can't scroll to look for the post on reading mysteries in U.S. states, but if you like legal crime fiction, and with some history, John Grisham's Sycamore Row is excellent -- Mississippi in 1988, with a plot line that refers back to the 1930s and even before that.

Yes, there are social issues relevant now and then -- and done in a stellar way. And I cried at the end. The humanity in this book is wonderful.

TracyK said...

Kathy, I appreciate the comment. I saw your recent comment on Sycamore Row at Mysteries and More in Saskatchewan, and that convinced me to put Sycamore Row on my wishlist. I look forward to getting a copy and reading it.