Crime Through Time: Original Tales of Historical Mystery

"The Best in Mystery Take on History......

Today's best American and British mystery authors are featured in this outstanding collection of original historical mysteries. The stories in Crime Through Time span thousands of years -- from Steven Saylor's ancient Rome to Anne Perry's Victorian England -- and feature an amazing variety of detectives -- from Peter Lovesey's Prince Albert to Maan Meyer's Charles Dicken to Laurie King's Mrs. Hudson, housekeeper to Sherlock Holmes and a star sleuth in her own right.

This one-of-a-kind anthology will appeal to history buffs, mystery buffs, and anyone who loves a good story."

My thoughts:

I picked up this historical mystery collection for one reason: I'm a big fan of Regency mystery author Kate Ross and unfortunately this talented author had time to create only four wonderful novels and one (that I know of) published short story before her passing. This Crime Through Time anthology includes her short story featuring Regency dandy sleuth, Julian Kestrel, in The Lullaby Cheat.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a very nice mix of historical periods and enjoyed selections from Anne Perry, Laurie King, and other top historical mystery writers. Entries are arranged in chronological order based on the setting and include Ancient Thebes and Rome; twelfth-century Spain, Elizabethan England, seventeenth-century Salem, Regency and Victorian England, nineteenth-century Germany, America, and England; and World War II America.

Here's a sampling of some of the short stories:

Archimedes' Tomb by Steven Saylor

The Hangman's Apprentice by Leonard Tourney

Suffer a Witch by Miriam Monfredo

The Lullaby Cheat by Kate Ross

Mrs. Hudson's Case by Laurie King



3.5/5 stars

Title: Crime Through Time: Original Tales of Historical Mystery
Edited by Miriam Monfredo & Sharon Newman
373 pages
Berkley Mystery
1997