Detectives in other times and other places Public

Created and curated by John

Fictional detectives often interact across a wide spectrum of society, from Emperors to Vagabonds, so a good crime novel can give a more interesting and memorable insight into History or Geography than the lives of Kings and Queens, or guidebooks.

  1. Death Beside the Seaside by 

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    July 1910. Lady Hardcastle and her tireless sidekick Flo have finally embarked on a long-overdue seaside break. But just as …

  2. A Quiet Life in the Country by 

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    Lady Emily Hardcastle is an eccentric widow with a secret past. Florence Armstrong, her maid and confidante, is an expert …

    John says:

    Although less credible or broad in scope than some on this list, the pre WW1 social mix is at least plausible.

  3. An Assassination on the Agenda by 

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    July 1912. Lady Hardcastle and her tenacious lady’s maid, Florence Armstrong, are enjoying a convivial gathering at the home of …

  4. The Royal Secret by 

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    Two young girls plot a murder by witchcraft. Soon afterwards a government clerk dies painfully in mysterious circumstances. His colleague …

  5. The King's Evil by 

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    A royal scandal… In the Court of Charles II, it’s a dangerous time to be alive – a wrong move …

  6. A Fire at the Exhibition by 

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    May 1912. After the previous year’s deadly heatwave, it’s been an uneventful spring in Littleton Cotterell. Though for Lady Hardcastle …

  7. An Act of Foul Play by 

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    November 1911. Lady Emily Hardcastle is celebrating her birthday by seeing a play at the Duke’s Theatre in Bristol with …

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