Top new historical-fiction books out this week: 10 Mar - 16 Mar 2024
Last updated:
March 16, 2024
This week featuring new releases by Jennifer Ryan, Rhys Bowen, Clare Broyles, Audrey Blake, Joanna Goodman, Stephanie Dray, C.S. Pacat, Deanna Raybourn, Laura McNeal, Elisa Braden, Eliza Lentzski and many more.
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The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan
When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this heartwarming novel from the author of The Chilbury Ladies' ChoirWhen new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds that Bethnal Green Library isn't the bustling hub she's expecting, she becomes determined to breathe life back into it...europe · british-isles · united-kingdom · england · urban · historical-fiction · fiction · ww2 · historical · war -
![In Sunshine or in Shadow by Rhys Bowen, Clare Broyles]()
In Sunshine or in Shadow by Rhys Bowen, Clare Broyles
Retired Detective Molly Murphy Sullivan is back with In Sunshine or in Shadow, the latest book in this beloved series by New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles.New York, 1908: The days are getting longer—and warmer—in Manhattan. Molly Murphy Sullivan doesn’t want to leave her home in the city, but typhoid is back, and she’s expecting...mystery · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · 20th-century · cozy · female-mc · book · adult -
![The Woman with No Name by Audrey Blake]()
The Woman with No Name by Audrey Blake
She'll light the fire of resistance—but she may get burned… 1942. Though she survived the bomb that destroyed her home, Yvonne Rudellat's life is over. She's estranged from her husband, her daughter is busy with war work, and Yvonne—older, diminutive, overlooked—has lost all purpose...historical-fiction · fiction · ww2 · historical · war · audiobook · espionage · female-mc · 20th-century · violent-conflict -
![The Inheritance by Joanna Goodman]()
The Inheritance by Joanna Goodman
From the bestselling author of The Home for Unwanted Girls and The Forgotten Daughter comes a compulsively readable mother-daughter story in which two women who share a difficult past must come to together to claim the future they deserve. Arden Moore enjoyed an affluent life thanks to her husband’s high-paying job...fiction · womens-fiction · drama · contemporary · historical-fiction · family · female-mc · romance · literary-fiction · new-adult -
![Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray]()
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray
New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating and richly dramatic novel about American heroine Frances Perkins, who pulled the nation out of the Great Depression.Raised on tales of her revolutionary ancestors, Frances Perkins arrives in New York City at the turn of the century, armed with her trusty parasol and an unyielding determination to make a difference...historical-fiction · fiction · politics · historical · womens-fiction · 20th-century · female-mc · friendship · book · adult -
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romance · fantasy · young-adult · lgbtq · fiction · historical · mlm · historical-fiction · high-fantasy · magic
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![A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn]()
A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn
Veronica and Stoker discover that not all fairy tales have happy endings, and some end in murder, in this latest historical mystery from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn...romance · mystery · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · industrial-era · victorian · cozy · murder · female-mc -
![The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal]()
The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal
A tender and engrossing historical novel about the unlikely love affair between two great 19th-century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth BarrettOn a bleak January day in 1845, a poet who had been confined to her room for four years by recurrent illness received a letter from a writer she secretly idolized but had never seen...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · 21st-century · literary-fiction · drama · industrial-era · victorian · family · romance -
![The Wickedness of a Highlander by Elisa Braden]()
The Wickedness of a Highlander by Elisa Braden
An angel in freefallA year ago, Sabella Lockhart lived in sheltered gentility as the sister of a Scottish lord. Then her brother’s shocking crimes came to light, leaving her with nothing but horrifying memories, unpayable debts, and a blackened name. Before she leaves Scotland for good, she must face the family he harmed the MacPhersons... -
![Lighthouse Keeper by Eliza Lentzski]()
Lighthouse Keeper by Eliza Lentzski
In 1874, in the quaint coastal town of Provincetown, Massachusetts, the ocean’s waves echo with tales of lost love. Lizzy Darby, a resilient young woman with a heart marked by past sorrows, seeks refuge in the familiarity of her parents' general store. Scarred by the loss of her first love to the unpredictable sea, Lizzy strives to find solace in the routine of her daily life... -
![To Forge Her Fate by Kasey Stockton]()
To Forge Her Fate by Kasey Stockton
Two worlds. Two hearts. Can they ever meld together as one?Eliza Rose: accomplished in pianoforte, riding, drawing, three languages, and the art of flirtation using only a fan.Jacob Ridley: skilled blacksmith, honest tradesman, appreciates a hot meal, and not susceptible to any lady’s charm.Until Eliza needs help, and Jacob cannot turn her away. Now she has him wrapped around her dainty finger... -
![The Hedgewitch of Foxhall by Anna Bright]()
The Hedgewitch of Foxhall by Anna Bright
In this gorgeous stand-alone fantasy romance perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Allison Saft, a rebellious witch undertakes a last-ditch quest to restore magic to medieval Wales—as two princes vie for her heart.Ffion is the last hedgewitch in Foxhall...romance · fantasy · young-adult · witches-wizards · historical-fiction · magic · high-fantasy · paranormal · fiction · historical -
![Hidden Yellow Stars by Rebecca Connolly]()
Hidden Yellow Stars by Rebecca Connolly
"Based on the true story of two World War II heroines who risked everything to save Jewish children from the Gestapo by hiding them throughout Belgium.Belgium, 1942Young school teacher Andrée Geulen secretly defies the Nazis in Belgium, who are forcing Jews to wear a yellow Star of David...historical-fiction · ww2 · historical · fiction · audiobook · feminism · war · secrets · children · grief -
![Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse]()
Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse
From the time she was little, Martha Jankowski has been digging in the dirt, much to the dismay of her mother. Now, she dreams of being a paleontologist and is determined to make her parents proud by uncovering the next big discovery...romance · historical-fiction · christian · fiction · mystery · spirituality · historical · book · adult -
![Aunt Violet's Locket by Kristin Harper]()
Aunt Violet's Locket by Kristin Harper
The long, tarnished chain and heart-shaped pendant is heavy in Paige’s hand. Carefully prying it open she can just make out the tiny engraving inside...romance · womens-fiction · psychological · sad · mystery · historical-fiction · fiction · contemporary · family · religion -
![Little Underworld by Chris Harding Thornton]()
Little Underworld by Chris Harding Thornton
Omaha, 1930. When ex-cop-turned-PI Jim Beely murders the man who assaulted his fourteen-year-old daughter, the last person he wants to see is local crooked cop Frank Tvrdik. Luckily, Frank isn’t interested in the lifeless body in Jim’s car...historical-fiction · mystery · fiction · crime · dark · noir · suspense · humor · murder · historical -
![Braking for Daddy by Aria Grace]()
Braking for Daddy by Aria Grace
Max embraced his ADHD with his whole heart. He loved moving fast and getting stuff done at triple the speed of people around him. But that fast pace made it hard to make friends and meet people in the kink community he was trying to explore... -
![The Lass He Left Behind by Tim Burton, Jayne Castel]()
The Lass He Left Behind by Tim Burton, Jayne Castel
He thought he’d forget her. He was wrong. When a battle-hardened warrior returns home from years of campaigning, he discovers that the lass he left behind never married—a lass who will be his undoing. Second chance and redemption on Medieval Isle of Mull.After a decade campaigning against the English, Loch Maclean returns to the Isle of Mull to find his father dead and his lands in disarray...europe · british-isles · united-kingdom · scotland · historical · multi-pov · historical-fiction · fiction · medieval · romance -
![Bride of the Viking Laird: Scottish, Secret Identity, Romance by Kenna Kendrick]()
Bride of the Viking Laird: Scottish, Secret Identity, Romance by Kenna Kendrick
“Now that is one scary man, I should dae me best tae stay away from him. Who is he?”“Yer future husband.”Sofia Mackenzie has been chosen to participate in an auction… as the prize. The wicked bargain involves a brute selecting one of three brides offered to him by the king... -
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![The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel]()
The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel
A passionate tale of plague, fire, and forbidden love in seventeenth-century London from the acclaimed author of Solomon's Crown1666. It is a year after plague has devastated England. Young widow Cecilia Thorowgood is a prisoner, trapped and isolated within the cavernous London townhouse of her older sister...romance · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · lgbtq · fantasy · mental-illness · audiobook · season-spring · grief -
![The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed]()
The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed
The Empires of Varkal and Med’ariz have always been at war.Alefret, the founder of Varkal’s pacifist resistance, was bombed and maimed by his own government, locked up in a secret prison and tortured by a ‘visionary’ scientist. But now they’re offering him a chance of freedom... -
![In the Shadow of the Greenbrier by Emily Matchar]()
In the Shadow of the Greenbrier by Emily Matchar
A poignant multigenerational Jewish family saga inspired by remarkable, yet little-known, true events that shaped America’s history.Nestled in the hills of West Virginia lies White Sulphur Springs, home to the Greenbrier Resort. Long a playground for presidents and film stars, the Greenbrier has its own gravitational pull...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · audiobook · 20th-century · ww2 · prison · parenthood · marriage · family -
![The Romanov Brides by Clare McHugh]()
The Romanov Brides by Clare McHugh
From the author of A Most English Princess comes a rich novel about young Princess Alix of Hesse—the future Alexandra, last Empress of Imperial Russia—and her sister, Princess Ella. Their decision to marry into the Romanov royal family changed history. They were granddaughters of Queen Victoria and two of the most beautiful princesses in Europe...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · royalty · drama · audiobook · coming-of-age · female-mc · family · romance -
![Lady Codebreaker by K.D. Alden]()
Lady Codebreaker by K.D. Alden
Fans of Kate Quinn and Kristina McMorris will love this gripping historical novel based on the true story of the woman who used her codebreaking skills to bring down Prohibition gangsters and WWII Nazis, and who ultimately helped found the present-day CIA.Grace Smith has never been one to conform to society’s expectations...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · ww2 · friends-to-lovers · drama · war · 20th-century · female-mc · romance -
![All Our Yesterdays: A Novel of Lady Macbeth by Joel H. Morris]()
All Our Yesterdays: A Novel of Lady Macbeth by Joel H. Morris
A propulsive and piercing debut, set ten years before the events of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, about the ambition, power, and fate that define one of literature’s most notorious figures: Lady MacbethScotland, 11th Century. Born into a noble household and granddaughter of a forgotten Scottish king, a young girl carries the guilt of her mother’s death and the weight of an unknowable prophecy...historical-fiction · retellings · historical · fiction · dark · politics · female-mc · 21st-century · action-adventure · myths -
![Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham]()
Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham
A historic presidential campaign changes the trajectory of a young Black man’s life in the highly anticipated debut novel from one of The New Yorker ’s rising stars.I’d seen the Senator speak a few times before my life got caught up, however distantly, with his, but the first time I can remember paying real attention was when he delivered the speech announcing his run for the Presidency... -
![Stolen Lives by Joyce Yarrow]()
Stolen Lives by Joyce Yarrow
"Atmospheric, emotional, and historically compelling." D. Donovan, Midwest Book ReviewJournalist Alienor Crespo pursues an intriguing and explosive story about the tons of gold shipped to the Soviet Union during the Spanish Civil War and the endangered children who made the same journey... -
![Stay with the Wagons: A Pioneer Western Adventure by David Fitz-Gerald]()
Stay with the Wagons: A Pioneer Western Adventure by David Fitz-Gerald
Venture deep into the uncharted wilderness and crest the continental divide.Stay with the Wagons is the enthralling third chapter in the Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail series. Dorcas Moon has discarded her mourning dress and yearns for freedom and independence amidst the vast frontier. But a perilous world and a commanding wagon master keep her tethered... -
![Blind Love : The Original Classic by Wilkie Collins, Rose Classic Books]()
Blind Love : The Original Classic by Wilkie Collins, Rose Classic Books
This edition has been annotated with the following unique Historical ContextDetailed 19th-century analysisFREE Audiobook included (download link included inside the book)Unveil the depths of blind love and political turmoil in Wilkie Collins' gripping novel, Blind Love... -
![The Botanist's Tracks by Michael Reit]()
The Botanist's Tracks by Michael Reit
Felicia Hodaks's vital botanical skills are the only thing keeping her away from the gas chambers. Against the backdrop of Auschwitz-Birkenau's ever-present brutality, Felicia tends to the plants needed for one of the Reich's most ambitious experiments—one that could tip the war in favor of the Nazis... -
![Mother Doll: A Novel by Katya Apekina]()
Mother Doll: A Novel by Katya Apekina
“A profoundly moving story . . . Strange, wild, offbeat, and hilarious. I absolutely loved it.” —LAUREN GROFF “Spellbinding, hallucinatory, and very funny . . . A rare achievement...fiction · historical-fiction · literary-fiction · contemporary · family · parenthood · ghosts · supernatural · horror · humor -
![The 11th Code: Part 1 by Emily Bellman]()
The 11th Code: Part 1 by Emily Bellman
In the 14th-century Black Forest, Martin Malterer answers a higher calling. Striving to embody both chivalric and devour faith, he trains under Sir Otto, learning the ways of nobility and honour. However, when his friendship with a young granary worker, Casimir, begins to border on something forbidden, Martin finds his ideals clashing with harsh reality... -
![The Promise by Jean Hackensmith]()
The Promise by Jean Hackensmith
“If you ever need anything, Rebecca, you just let me know and I'll be there." Those were the words 16-year-old Jacob Walker told his best friend before her family moved to Oklahoma. Never did he expect that he would have to live up to that promise 14 years later. It was now 1931, and Rebecca was a widow, left to care for her four children alone... -
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![Flight of the Wild Swan by Melissa Pritchard]()
Flight of the Wild Swan by Melissa Pritchard
A majestic novel of Florence Nightingale, whose courage, self-confidence, and resilience transformed nursing and the role of women in medicine Sweeping yet intimate, Flight of the Wild Swan tells the story of Florence Nightingale, a brilliant, trailblazing woman whose humanity has been obscured beneath the iconic weight of legend...historical-fiction · womens-fiction · fiction · war · medical · literary-fiction · historical · violent-conflict · book · adult -
![Some Strange Music Draws Me In by Griffin Hansbury]()
Some Strange Music Draws Me In by Griffin Hansbury
It’s the summer of 1984 in Swaffham, Massachusetts, when Mel (short for Melanie) encounters Sylvia, a tough-as-nails trans woman whose shameless swagger catalyzes Mel’s dawning trans self-awareness. But it also sparks the fury of townie Swaffham and throws Mel into conflict with her mother and best friend...fiction · lgbtq · historical-fiction · historical · coming-of-age · trans-mc · family · suspense · small-town · literary-fiction -
![The Nurse’s Duty: Part I: An Utterly Gripping World War 2 Historical Fiction Novel by Emily Higgs]()
The Nurse’s Duty: Part I: An Utterly Gripping World War 2 Historical Fiction Novel by Emily Higgs
Amidst the chaos of World War I, Amelie Becker finds sanctuary in her secluded Belgian cottage. But when a fallen pilot crashes into her life, her peaceful existence is shattered. Drawn to the wreckage, Amelie discovers a wounded German soldier and against all odds, she chooses to save him... -
![1888 Walter: HISTORICAL FICTION OF THE JACK THE RIPPER CRIMES. by MARCOS D THOMASON]()
1888 Walter: HISTORICAL FICTION OF THE JACK THE RIPPER CRIMES. by MARCOS D THOMASON
A HISTORICAL FICTION ABOUT JACK THE RIPPER... -
![Sam Fortune and the Hazards of the Game by Blake Michael Nelson]()
Sam Fortune and the Hazards of the Game by Blake Michael Nelson
Two years after his adventure in Europe, trouble-seeker Sam Fortune finds himself back in New York City, working for a private detective. He soon catches the eye of Margo Starling, a famous Hollywood actress, who hires him to be her bodyguard...fiction · historical-fiction · sports · male-mc · thriller · historical · action-adventure · book · adult -
![Abaddon by Bailey Young]()
Abaddon by Bailey Young
She awakes smeared in blood and she cannot remember a thing.Mistaking her for a biological man, Ambrose of Durham tricks her into becoming his squire so that he can ensure he has a noble successor. He is not taking no for an answer... -
![Helga : 'Tears of blood' by Kevin Heads]()
Helga : 'Tears of blood' by Kevin Heads
IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY, HELGA MUST FACE HER OWN DEMONS, ADAPT TO SURVIVE, AND LEARN THE SKILLS TO DEFEAT HER MOTHER'S KILLER. A viking tale of loss, love and vengeance.When a mother falls victim to viking raiders, her tormented child is left to grapple with the haunting memories.Now fuelled by a singular desire for revenge, a young woman emerges from the shadows...
