passenger,
@passenger@kolektiva.social avatar

@bookstodon

I need to buy a gift for a family-of-friend. I am informed that they really like mystery stories, especially in historical settings, but are not fond of SFF.

I assume this means they have already read the obvious candidates, the Cadfaels and the like, or if they haven't then that's a conscious choice on their part which means I shouldn't buy them one of those.

What's a non-SFF mystery story you've enjoyed recently? Recommend me a book please!

ronsboy67,
@ronsboy67@mas.to avatar

@passenger @bookstodon For a historical detective series in a less common time and place setting, you could try Madhulika Liddle's Muzaffar Jang series. Set in Mughal Delhi. The author's sister is a published historian whose focus is Delhi, so the historicity is solid, and the lead is interesting

shark_hat,
@shark_hat@mendeddrum.org avatar

@passenger @bookstodon A historical from a different part of the world, like Ovidia Yu's 1920s Singapore series?

Yuki,
@Yuki@udon.icu avatar

@shark_hat @passenger @bookstodon
Instead of a book why not a murder mystery game that way the whole family can enjoy it together.

elysegrasso,
@elysegrasso@historians.social avatar

@Yuki @bookstodon @passenger @shark_hat Can't speak for anyone else, but one of the advantages of a book at the holidays was that I could enjoy it WITHOUT needing to interact with my whole family for a few hours. That's why not a murder mystery game: it lacks a key feature of a book for those who are easily peopled-out.

Yuki,
@Yuki@udon.icu avatar

@elysegrasso @bookstodon @passenger @shark_hat
I thought this was a gift for the family, sorry if I misread that

MagentaRocks,
@MagentaRocks@mastodon.coffee avatar

@passenger @bookstodon

Check out Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea. It is historical fiction based on his mother’s experience when she served in WWII . Here is a link about it. I am enjoying it very much. The author did a talk with the LA Times Book Club. The recording should be available on YouTube.
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/22/1177057433/luis-alberto-urrea-good-night-irene-review

SCampbell,
@SCampbell@mstdn.social avatar

@passenger @bookstodon The Devil in the White City would work - two threads -building 1880s Chicago World Fair & serial killer living there

philip_cardella,
@philip_cardella@historians.social avatar

@SCampbell @passenger @bookstodon has the creepy merit of being non fiction! That's a really good book.

ricketson,
@ricketson@kolektiva.social avatar

@passenger @bookstodon Maybe Walter Mosley - I read "A red death" but I think others are more acclaimed.
For alt-history, there's "The Yiddish Policeman's Union". It's really good.

davebrarian,
@davebrarian@glammr.us avatar

@ricketson @passenger @bookstodon heck yeah Yiddish Policeman’s rules. Would also suggest Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Chabon is excellent 🙌🏻

davebrarian,
@davebrarian@glammr.us avatar

@passenger @bookstodon how about The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl? 1860s Boston, with a murder mystery surrounding the first American translation of the Divine Comedy: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-dante-club-matthew-pearl/11718632?ean=9780812971040

chestas,
@chestas@aus.social avatar

@passenger @bookstodon

C Samson's books are pretty good. There's a load, like Sovereign and Dark Fire

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