Tag: series

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I’d Like to Finish Some Day

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Top Ten Tuesday new

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

The rules are simple:

  • Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want.
  • Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
  • Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists.
  • Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

This week’s topic is Series I’ve Given Up On/Don’t Plan to Finish or Series I’d Like to Finish Some Day). I’ve chosen to base my list on the latter. As you read it, I believe a pattern will emerge namely that I seem to make a habit of coming in towards the end of a series. This is usually because I’ve been introduced to later books in a series by blog tour organisers or publishers. So for me this week it’s more accurately a case of Series I’d Like to Read From the Beginning.

WaltScott_Prussian BlueBernie Gunther Series (#1 to #13) by Philip Kerr

My first introduction to this series was reading Prussian Blue (book 12 in the series) when it was included on the longlist for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. As a fan of historical crime mysteries, I loved it and since then I’ve been picking up earlier books in the series to add to my TBR pile (so far I have books #1 to #3). Sadly due to the untimely death of Philip Kerr there will be no further books in the series after the recently published Greeks Bearing Gifts (#13).

Friends and TraitorsInspector Troy Series (#1 to #8) by John Lawton

Another historical mystery, this time set in wartime London. I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of Friends and Traitors, book 8 in the series and enjoyed it so much I definitely want to read the earlier books. So far, I’ve only acquired the first in the series, Blackout, but I’m on the lookout for others.

The Mountain Man's BadgeMountain Man Series (#1 to #3) by Gary Corbin

Having been offered a review copy by the author, I recently read an enjoyed The Mountain Man’s Badge, the third book in this series featuring mountain man turned Sheriff, Lehigh Carter. The two earlier books, The Mountain Man’s Dog and The Mountain Man’s Bride have been added to my wishlist.

War Girl UrsulaWar Girl Series (#1 to #3) by Marion Kummerow

This is another series I was introduced to through contact from the author. This time though I’ve started with the first book, War Girl Ursula, and I’m now keen to read about the wartime adventures of her sisters, Lotte and Anna.

KilledHenning Juul Series (#1 to #5) by Thomas Enger

I was introduced to this series courtesy of Karen at Orenda Books and Anne at Random Things Tours when Anne invited me to join the blog tour for book #5 in the series, Killed. Not only is Killed the latest book in the series it’s also the series finale. Talk about coming in at the final act, eh? Although there are references to earlier events in the series there’s not so much that it would leave nothing to discover in the first four books so I shall look out for these.

Roma Sub Rosa Series (#1 to #13) by Steven Saylor

Arguably there are more than thirteen in the series because there are some prequels as well but these form part of a separate Ancient World series. Set in Ancient Rome, the Roma Sub Rosa books are entertaining historical mysteries starring Gordianus the Finder. I’ve darted about a bit in the series reading book #1, then #6, then #11, then #2. Don’t ask me how that happened (although it could be to do with the timing of their appearance in Kindle monthly deals!). It’s a while since I’ve read a book from the series but I’d definitely like to return to it at some point.

traitor coverMercia Blakewood Series (#1 to #3) by David Hingley

I was invited to take part in the blog tour for Traitor, the third book in the series, by the lovely Ailsa at Allison and Busby and I absolutely loved it. I really want to find the time to read the two earlier books in the series, Birthright and Puritan.

DarkDawnoverSteepHouseThe Gower Street Detective Series (#1 to #5) by M. R. C. Kasasian

This was another series I was introduced to by a publisher, this time Clare at Head of Zeus. Clare invited me to join the blog tour for the fifth book in the series, Dark Dawn Over Steep House. I loved the combination of humour, historical crime mystery and Sherlock Holmes allusions so I now have books #1 to #4 on my Kindle waiting to be read at some point. Plus Clare has recently made me aware of the author’s new series, The Betty Church Mysteries. Book one is Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire. Look out for my review as part of the blog tour in July.

Whiteout CoverDark Iceland Series (#1 to #5) by Ragnar Jonasson

Another cracking series published by Orenda Books that I was introduced to when I was invited to join a blog tour for the fifth book in the series, Whiteout, by tour organiser extraordinaire, Anne at Random Things Tours. As the series title suggests, the series is set in Iceland where detective Ari Thór Arason investigates crime against the backdrop of stunning scenery. Again although there references to events in earlier book, I still think I’d enjoy reading the series from the beginning.

WolvesintheDarkVarg Veum Series (#1 to #19) by Gunnar Staalesen

This is going to be the most ridiculous entry in the list because the book I got my first taste of the series from was number nineteen – that’s right, you read it correctly, nineteen. Wolves in the Dark was another Orenda Books/Random Things Tours introduction. Plus I was lucky enough to win copies of the preceding two books in the series, We Shall Inherit the Wind and Where Roses Never Die, so I shall try to read those two at least.

Next week’s topic: Books With Red, White & Blue Covers

My 5 Favourite…Tudor historical mystery series

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Tudor

C.J Sansom’s Matthew Shardlake (6 book series so far)

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Sansom came to prominence as the creator of Matthew Shardlake, the hunchbacked lawyer who is the main character in this series of six historical mysteries set in the reign of Henry VIII. Terrific stories with a convincing historical setting, in my mind these established the standard for mysteries set in the Tudor period.

S. J. Parris’s Giordano Bruno (5 book series so far)

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Parris’s protagonist is fugitive Italian monk, Giordano Bruno – philosopher and heretical scientist – who flees to London to escape the Inquisition. Set in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Bruno is persuaded to undertake his first undercover mission for the Queen’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham. Further missions follow in later books with Bruno racking up enemies – and a few romantic conquests – as he goes. This is another great series with an engaging main character and great stories woven into actual historical events.

Rory Clements’s John Shakespeare (7 book series so far)

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Clements’s series is also set in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In the first book, John Shakespeare (older brother of the struggling playwright, William) finds himself enmeshed in a tale of murder and a conspiracy to assassinate Sir Francis Drake.   Later books see the same enthralling story lines mixed with great period settings. This is another great series for fans of the genre.

Phil Rickman’s John Dee (2 book series)

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Rickman (probably better known for his Merrily Watkins series) makes the real life character, Dr John Dee, astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I, the focal point for his two historical mysteries. Dee reluctantly embarks on his first mission for the Queen’s chief minister, Sir William Cecil, which is to bring back King Arthur’s bones from Glastonbury Abbey. His companion on the mission is Robert Dudley, possibly the Queen’s secret lover, and soon they are both plunged into violence, magic and a conspiracy. Dee returns in a second book to investigate the death of Dudley’s wife. These are two enjoyable historical mysteries again incorporating real figures and actual events.

James Forrester’s William Harley (3 book series)

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James Forrester is a pen-name of historian Dr Ian Mortimer, better known for his Time Traveller’s Guide series. This is a terrific trilogy that I was lucky enough to come across and I devoured each one. Set during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign when any Catholic could be accused of plotting against the throne,Herald William Harley, otherwise known as Clarenceux King of Arms, is persuaded to hide a manuscript for a friend.   This decision will draw him into a web of conspiracy that will have dire consequences unfolding over the three books in the series. If the ending of the third book leaves you unmoved, then you‘re a stronger person than I am.

Have you enjoyed any of these series?  Can you recommend other historical mysteries set in the Tudor period?