I’m attempting to compile a list of mystery series that are set during World War One or shortly afterwards (say, through the 1920s) that refer back to the war or the resulting social changes. I am looking for suggestions! Doesn’t matter if you liked the series or not.
Here’s what I have so far:
–Anne Perry’s WWI series
[tried, didn’t get into]
–Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series
[read first one, got depressed, didn’t read any more]
–Catriona McPherson’s Dandy Gilver series
[read a later volume in the series for review, will read more]
–Charles Todd’s two series (Inspector Rutledge and Bess Crawford)
[am a couple volumes into the Rutledge series; first of Crawford series is on order]
–Suzanne Arruda’s Jade Del Cameron series
[first in series is on order]
–Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher series
[read several volumes]
Anyone have further suggestions for this list? If you could tell me a little about the books, as well, that would be great.
On Twitter, @Yagathai suggested “The first book in the John Madden series, by Rennie Airth. River of Darkness.”
the incomporable Dorothy Sayers and her Lord Peter Wimsey series take place right after. Lord Wimsey suffers from PTSD as a result of his participation in that war…
Yes indeed! I think those are the reason I became fascinated with the period.
‘River of Darkness’ by Rennie Airth is set just after WWI.
Carola Dunn’s Daisy Dalrymple series takes place in the Twenties, but many of the early stories deal with the aftermath of the war.
Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes series include some after WWI. Justice Hall deals specifically with the aftermath of WWI, but most of the others are set in the right time period, just not about the war.
Barbara Cleverley. Joe Sandilands series (starts in India, moves to London/France). At least one deals directly with events of the War. I liked the India ones the best, but the whole series is good.
She has another series featuring Letty Talbot, an archeologist. Same 20s time period but dealing much less with War aftermath. Enjoyed Tomb of Zeus (which is 1st published but 2nd chronologically) but didn’t think others were as good.
Thanks, Sarah, Magdalen, and Liz!
Vanessa, I’d give Maisie Dobbs another chance. I didn’t like the first one at all, but can recommend “Pardonable Lies” and “Among the Mad.”
Also, Elizabeth Speller has started a mystery series with “The Return of Captain John Emmett,” set in 1920, but the Great War is the basis of the plot — I have it, haven’t read it yet. She also wrote “The Strange Fate of Kitty Easton” about the same detective, though I actually can’t tell which came first. Try Alibris for that one.
I belatedly remembered I had read a review copy of The Return of Captain John Emmett – I need to check my notes on it!
Thanks for the Maisie Dobbs recs. Other people seem to love the series, so I’d like to give it another try.