Sweeping, epic, mesmerizing, devastating — these are just a few of the words that come to mind when describing Historical Fiction. It’s no surprise readers flock to this literary genre; fact is often stranger than fiction and these stories have the unique ability to connect us with the past. Whether it’s WWII Europe, the Southern plains of 1930s America, 18th-century London, or 1950s Jaipur, journey back in time with these unforgettable stories that are sure to leave you breathless.

The Four Winds
Kristin Hannah

Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing, Kristin Hannah’s stunningly beautiful and heart-wrenching dustbowl drama traces the conflicts and challenges faced by Elsa and her family, who journey West in search of a better life. Elsa’s critical choices shape the lives of the people around her for generations to come. “Hannah reminds us that the human heart and our Earth are as tough, yet as fragile, as a change in the wind … A timely novel highlighting the worth and delicate nature of Nature itself.” —Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing

The Rose Code
Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn is back with another enthralling novel set in 1940’s London. The Rose Code centers on three women who were once closer than sisters but have been ripped apart by betrayal and misunderstanding. Osla, Mab, and Beth are forced together to solve one last puzzle, with the country’s security hanging in the balance. For lovers of historical fiction, but also lovers of simply good books in general.

The Huntress 
Kate Quinn 

Another Kate Quinn gem not to be missed! If you like your historical fiction to read more like a heart-racing thriller with a tense climactic showdown — The Huntress is for you. Brilliantly paced, this mystery follows a Russian bomber pilot from the legendary Night Witches, Nazi hunters, and a young Bostonian girl as they collide in their search for a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress. A powerful novel of courage under fire, justice and the consequences of war.

Three Hours in Paris
Cara Black

One of our favorite cat and mouse thrillers this year. Cara Black sets the tone with a deceptively simple premise: three hours in Paris. Kate Rees has just one job to do, and it’s not an easy one — assassinate the Führer. We experience her adventure in real-time. The clock is ticking, and we are at the edge of our seats. Along the way, we learn of Rees’ reason for putting herself in such danger. As you turn the pages, the tension ramps up. By the journey’s end, we are “there” with her. And knowing what we eventually know — we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. A thriller from the past that keeps us quite present.

The Lost Apothecary: A Novel
Sarah Penner 

An avenging woman in the guise of a quiet apothecary takes center stage in this propulsive historical fiction debut. In 18th-century London, women come to Nella when they need to act against the abusive men in their life. Soon, the very young Eliza is involved with an act gone wrong, and a modern woman’s search for meaning, in the present-day, becomes irrevocably tied with the past. With immersive storytelling, a dark, gothic atmosphere, and unforgettable characters, this is a subversive debut that should not be missed.

Eternal
Lisa Scottoline 

Lisa Scottoline proves her prowess for powerful storytelling in her entrance into historical fiction. Written with her trademark fast-paced, captivating style, she tells the story of a love triangle between lifelong best friends caught in the throes of Mussolini’s dangerous rise to power in Rome. Brilliant, heartbreaking, and moving, Eternal’s characters will stand the test of time in this gripping novel of love, friendship, and courage in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

Sunflower Sisters: A Novel
Martha Hall Kelly

The much-anticipated new novel from Martha Hall Kelly, Sunflower Sisters serves as an enthralling prequel to Lilac Girls and tells the story of Georgeanna “Georgey” Woolsey (the ancestor of Caroline Ferriday) and her search for a sense of self during the turbulent Civil War. A story of women defying the odds in a war-torn and racially divided landscape, Sunflower Sisters is ultimately a novel of hope and healing.

Lilac Girls 
Martha Hall Kelly

And just in case you haven’t read Lilac Girls, we’re adding it here as well. This is historical fiction at its best! Inspired by the life of a real-World War II heroine, this staggering debut spotlights the power of unsung women changing history in their quest for freedom. This story “is a part of history — women’s history — that should never be forgotten.” (Lisa See, author of The Island of Sea Women) A must-read for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.

The Henna Artist: A Novel
Alka Joshi

Get ready to immerse yourself in 1950s India — the tastes, the sights, the smells — all the colorful details that will transport you back to this fascinating time are plentiful in this evocative debut around class, identity, and love. Here is a compelling portrait of a young woman struggling to find her independence, torn between the traditional society she left behind and the modern successes she yearns for. With vibrant characters and a story that stays with you long after the last page, The Henna Artist is one deeply satisfying novel.

The House on Vesper Sands
Paraic O’Donnell

Such a brilliant cast of characters in this fantastical novel! This story is so rich with description of the setting, it feels like you’re living in Victorian England. The fog and snow, at times, will have you worried you’ll catch a “death of a cold” — but it’ll be worth it! I was quickly engrossed in every character I was introduced to, no matter how brief or extended their stay in the story. Gideon Bliss and Inspector Cutter would have starring roles if there were ever such thing as a “Victorian buddy plot movie.” Serious fun in this one!

The Windsor Knot: A Novel
SJ Bennett

If you are as much a fan of Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman as we are then you are going to fall in love with The Windsor Knot. Wry, witty and full of charm, you are quickly engrossed in finding out “who did it.” Luckily for us, Queen Elizabeth II has some ideas and challenges everyone else’s notions. Even with a mysterious death at Windsor Castle, you’ll beg to be invited for a “dine and sleep” there before the novel’s end. “If The Crown were crossed with Miss Marple … the result would probably be something like this charming whodunnit.” —Ruth Ware, author of One by One

The Elephant of Belfast: A Novel
S. Kirk Walsh

A charming debut around a little-known chapter of World War II — the German blitz of Belfast in a city already reeling from sectarian violence. But the real heart of this story centers around the love and devotion between Hettie and Violet, a twenty-year-old zookeeper and an orphaned three-year-old Indian elephant. While war rages on, Hettie will go to great lengths to protect Violet giving readers a riveting story of strength and survival, hope and resilience.

A Tip for the Hangman: A Novel
Allison Epstein 

The spy thriller, historical fiction queer mashup of your dreams, A Tip for the Hangman is a literary tour-de-force from debut author Allison Epstein. Meticulously researched and beautifully crafted, this novel takes you inside the spy network of Tudor England and illuminates the splendid, twisted lives the spies themselves lead. “Simultaneously moving, unsettling, hilarious, and tragic — a debut that will linger long after the last page is turned.” —Kate Quinn, author of The Rose Code 

The Dictionary of Lost Words: A Novel
Pip Williams

Calling all lexicographers, lovers of language, and devotees of the Oxford English Dictionary. Pip Williams’ clever and charming debut introduces us to Esme, the daughter of one of the lexicographers working on the first edition of the OED. As she grows up, she learns that many of the discarded words are related to women’s experiences, so she sets out to write her very own Dictionary of Lost Words. This delightful page-turner will make readers think about the power of language, who decides which words get written into our shared history, and whose stories may have been left out.

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