Arguably, the real essence of a detective novel is the investigation of a puzzle by someone determined to get to the
truth, and this approach might also be taken by a historian, whether investigating the motives behind a major historical
event, or how people lived and behaved in societies past. That said, its not surprising that the two have been blended
to great effect, producing one of the most striking crime fiction phenomena of recent years. Though having no
especially strong background in history, since I read and more importantly, enjoy, the fruits of this recent publishing
boom, I'd like to examine why this type of crime novel has become so popular, what kinds of novels are being written
at the moment and what characteristics blend to produce a really satisfying novel.
The ultimate mix of historical and criminal investigation might be a novel like Josephine Tey's 'The Daughter of Time'
or Colin Dexter's 'The Wench Is Dead', where a modern detective becomes curious about and begins investigates
events of the past. However, the type of historical crime novel that has really come into its own is really just that, a
detective or mystery novel set in the past. Since the success of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael stories, the historical
crime novel has gained steadily in popularity. Now, glancing through the pages of a recent copy of this very magazine,
one can read novels set anywhere from 19th century Lombardy or fourteenth century York, to seventh century
Ireland or Republican Rome. Given that historical crime novels have rapidly become extremely popular, the question
remains - just why are they so popular? Perhaps the main reason why writers like Davis, Saylor, Doherty and Peters
are so popular is the sheer quality and entertainment value of their writing. How skilfully, or how enjoyably, a writer
creates their novel is always a major factor in why a particular writer becomes popular for any genre or setting;
however, historical novels deserve more exploration in their own right. Besides the quality of novels in their own
right, readers often remark that they enjoy the setting as something different, or more interesting than contemporary
ones, or that they enjoy reading about how people lived and acted in times past. If you've ever read any history books
or watched a documentary about a particular period, the added dimension of reading a crime novel set in that time is a
distinct attraction, and when historical crime novels are written well, they often give an added insight into the world in
which they are set, and even provide a detailed 'history lesson' in their own right. A counter-argument is that a badly
researched novel can give a false or misleading picture of the time, but historical crime novels are probably no more
guilty of this than other novels with a situation unfamiliar to the reader, and reading historical novels might well lead
the reader explore more widely periods like fourteenth century England or Imperial Rome.
One might compare the attraction of historical crime to that of the 'Golden Age' whodunnits; both can offer a slightly
nostalgic view of the past, even romantic at times, and sometimes use their settings for similar puzzle-based
mysteries. Historical novels can also be less violent and graphic than their modern counterparts, and can offer a degree
of detachment for the reader; it might be more comfortable to view a murder in medieval Southwark as less close to
home than a murder in inner-city Nottingham. Interestingly, several notable historical crime writers, Lindsay Davis
amongst them, defected from writing historical romances, reflecting a shift in the fiction market, and that their own
outlook and style of writing might reflect this. This is a little unfair, and unjustified considering how many historical
crime writers depict life in, say medieval England, as being at times squalid and violent, and other readers have often
assured me that they in no way view such times through rose-tinted glasses.
Given their obvious popularity, it seems appropriate to take a look at some of the more notable authors and novels,
on a brief trip forward through time. Although there are numerous writers currently producing historical mysteries, I'd
like to share some of the writers that I've found both enjoyable and informative. An appropriate starting point for this
particular review is ancient Rome, and Lindsay Davis, who I've mentioned rather more than most authors, could be
credited with pioneering crime fiction from this period with her hugely successful Marcus Didius Falco novels.
Although some of her detractors often remark that her characters seem little more twentieth than first century, many
including myself have found these witty and captivating novels a delight to read, not least for the engaging characters
of Falco, private informer and occasional spy, and his aristocratic girlfriend, Helena Justina. Davis's main 'rival' is
Steven Saylor, creator of the 'Roma Sub Rosa' novels, set in Republican Rome. Saylor writes very different novels
from Davis, dealing with the complex and often violent politics of the time, using his detective, Gordianus the Finder,
to explore pivotal events in the history of Rome, and in doing has created a series of richly textured and engrossing
crime novels. However, fans of the classical age can also explore the Greece of Alexander the Great through Anna
Apostlou (a pseudonym for Paul Doherty), who examines murders including that of Philip of Macedon. Doherty has
also taken the plunge into writing about Ancient Egypt with 'The Mask of Ra', joining writers including Lynda
Robinson and Anton Gill.
Shifting sharply forward in time, barring Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma novels set in seventh century Ireland, the
Dark Ages seem equally dark as far as historical crime goes in Europe. This certainly isn't the case for seventh century
Tang Dynasty China, setting for Robert van Gulik's classic Judge Dee series. van Gulik follows the exploits of Judge
Dee, a magistrate based on the historical judge and statesman Ti Jen-ciheh, through a number of beautifully-crafted
mysteries and locked-room puzzles based on actual historical cases from the period or contemporary tales. van Gulik
doesn't try as hard as more recent historical crime writers to emphasise the atmosphere of the time, but his deft,
concise style conveys a wealth of historical detail and complexity.
Back in Europe, the reader can more or less follow English and British history from the Norman Conquest to the
present-day, such is the huge range of novels set in this time. Medieval England is particularly popular as a setting,
and several authors in particular are worth a second look. Edward Marston kicks off the period with his popular and
skilfully executed series of novels concerning two Domesday commisioners conducting their business around England
in the years following the Norman Conquest. Susannah Gregory, follows the trials and tribulations in fourteenth
century Cambridge of Matthew Bartholemew, physician, Fellow of Michaelhouse College, and reluctant investigator.
Her first novel, 'A Plague Upon Both Your Houses' is in many ways her strongest, painting a vivid picture of
Cambridge's ordeal with the Black Death, but the series continues strongly, particularly when dealing with the often
violent conflict between Town and Gown. However, perhaps the most significant writer from this period is the late
Ellis Peters, creator of Brother Cadfael, the gentle, inquisitive Welsh monk, who investigates both mundane domestic
murders and politically-fraught cases amid civil war and political upheaval in twelth century Shrewsbury. Peters has
her detractors, not least for the similarity in plot between some of her later novels, but her work includes some
wonderful books, with Cadfael a memorable and likeable detective.
Although Peters occupies a unique place in the pantheon of historical crime writers, another writer, Paul Doherty, is
perhaps the most prolific of all, having written over forty novels in a bewildering range of settings and times under at
least seven different pseudonyms. His novels include the successful and hugely enjoyable Hugh Corbett series,
concerning Edward I's clerk, engaged on secret espionage and 'political' activities but invariably ending up trying to
resolve cases of murder. As Paul Harding, he writes the equally acclaimed Brother Athelstan novels, the eponymous
friar acting as secretarius to the Falstaffian Sir John Cranston, coroner of fourteenth century London during the
turbulent reign of the young Richard II, and aiding him in his investigation into a number of cleverly devised
'locked-room' puzzles. Lately, Doherty has been drawn towards the supernatural, an approach which allows him to
display a remarkable talent for creating a chilling, brooding atmosphere, particularly in the Canterbury Tales novels, a
set of tales of mystery and terror told by Chaucer's pilgrims in the dark evenings. The supernatural as rational
explanation for events is also rather refreshing when one considers the frequent imposition of modern attitudes on
historical characters.
Doherty also writes as Michael Clynes, taking as narrator the Flashman-like Roger Shallot, a former rogue and thief
who looks back with fond nostalgia on his bawdy exploits in the court of Henry VIII, as C.L. Grace, telling the stories
of Kathryn Swinbrooke, a Canterbury physician, as Anna Apostolou on murders in Alexander's Greece, as Ann
Dukthas on Nicholas Segalla, immortal scholar and detective, and as himself in a wide-range of non-series novels
investigating historical crimes throughout the ages. Although his undoubted knowledge of medieval England serves him
well in the majority of his novels, his few attempts to move beyond this period show lapses in research which
undermine his writing. Doherty's main weakness is his often poorly realised characterisation, notably the use of the
straight-arrow, rational investigator with his rogueish, worldly-wise assistant in all too many of his novels, but his
obvious authority on all manner of historical fact and detail and his deft creation of a rich, 'believable' atmosphere
blends to create some notably engrossing and entertaining historical crime novels.
Elizabethan England provides the setting for an excellent series of novels, written by P.F. Chisholm, based on the
journals and letters of Sir Robert Carey, Deputy Warden of one of the Border Marches. Chisholm uses this detailed
source material and created a superb and darkly humourous series of novels which capture superbly the atmosphere
and events of daily life in the border city of Carlisle, dominated by corrupt or inept officials and the eternally feuding
and downright larcenous Borderer 'names', set against the political rivalry between England and Scotland. Carey is a
likeable mixture of effete courtier and political realist, but the admirably drawn supporting cast are surely one of the
secrets of Chisholm's success. Chisholm also writes as Patricia Finney, creating an acclaimed series set in the murky
world of Elizabeth's secret service, that have been likened to Le Carre in their feel and perspective.
Oddly, one of the most fascinating and influential periods of English history, the Civil War, is sadly deficient in
historical crime, which seems a great shame, unlike Restoration England, which provides a rich, bawdy setting for
writers like the much-acclaimed Iain Pears, author of 'An Instance of the Fingerpost', and Molly Brown, whose
'Invitation to a Funeral' stands out as an especially memorable and exciting historical crime novels. The man credited
with founding the modern police force, magistrate Sir John Fielding, is also a popular choice for a character in novels
set in Georgian England, including those by Deryn Lake and Bruce Alexander. Alexander takes 'The Blind Beak' as his
detective, endowing him with phenomenal powers of deduction and a suitably innocent assistant, to act as his eyes in
solving a series of baffling murders, which owes somewhat more to Holmes and Nero Wolfe than the historical
Fielding.
The legacy of Conan Doyle continues to inspire many writers to create their own novels based around the Holmes
canon, including M.J. Trow's novels with Inspector Lestrade as an unlikely hero, but Victorian Britain has also been
the setting for many other successful series. Amongst the best known are Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt
novels, concerning a lowly police inspector and his upper-class wife, and the distinctly superior William Monk series,
following the struggle of a police inspector, suffering from amnesia, to maintain his position within the police force.
The Monk novels capture brilliantly the dark, claustrophobic world in which Monk tries desperately to find himself
in the truest sense. Peter Lovesey has also written a series of original and beautifully-realised novels about policeman
Sergeant Cribb, and yet another series featuring as detective none other than Bertie, Prince of Wales and amateur
sleuth. Although not set in Britain, the Age of Empire finds its own niche within Michael Pearce's hugely entertaining
Mamur Zapt series, where Captain Gareth Owen finds himself beset by all manner of political and criminal problems
as head of the secret police, the 'Mamur Zapt', in colonial Egypt. Pearce creates complex and multiply-stranded plots,
and his superb handling of dialogue and a sense of place blends to create a particularly satisfying and frequently
hilarious sequence of novels.
Although so many historical crime novels are set in Britain, there are many other writers who use equally intriguing
and vividly drawn settings, from the seventeenth century Japan of Laura Joh Rowlands to the New England small
town life in the newly-born United States described by Margaret Lawrence. With his debut, 'The Alienist', Caleb Carr
offered a ground-breaking combination of historical novel, police procedural and psychological thriller set nineteenth
century New York. Another increasingly popular thmes is the historical crime novel in the twentieth century; Walter
Mosely follows social change in post-war America from the viewpoint of Easy Rawlins, a black investigator finding
his way through the starkly different worlds of black and white society. James Ellroy also explores similar ground in
his series of novels set in the corrupt underworld of US politics and organised crime. The birthplace of the 'Golden
Age' whodunnits has also become a setting for historical novels in their own right, with writers like Charles Todd and
Rennie Airth looking at police investigation between-the-wars Britain.
Fittingly, this last time period brings us full-circle, and also suggests that historical crime novels are certainly never
going to be limited to tales of medieval monks and Roman senators, but offer all manner of styles and settings for the
discerning reader bored with modern-day mundanity. In the final part of this discussion, we'll take a look at what
qualities can make the historical crime novel the success it is today, and the problems and pitfalls that can face a
historical crime novelist.
