New historical fiction books to read in 2025

Reading lists

Miss Austen Investigates

THE MURDER MYSTERY OF THE SEASON, INTRODUCING A NEW LITERARY SLEUTH – MISS JANE AUSTEN, PERFECT FOR FANS OF TOM HINDLE AND JANICE HALLETT 
 Lavish balls, fetching bonnets, and dead bodies . . . It's time for Jane Austen to put down her pen – and find a killer 
 'The cosy crime mystery we've all been waiting for' 5***** reader review 
 
 'A note-perfect crime caper' Red 
 
 ---- 
‘You must look beyond the obvious, interrogate all possibilities, to reach the truth’ 
 
 Though young in years, Jane Austen has long had the sharp wit and shrewd insight to observe what others do not. 
 
 So when the body of a milliner is shockingly discovered during a lavish ball at Sir John Harcourt’s estate, she sees how blind polite society can be to the truth. 
 
 With the death pronounced a murder and Jane’s brother Georgy swiftly accused of the deed, the injustice of it strikes close to home. 
 
 Jane writes stories filled with secrets exposed, motives questioned, and manners deceiving. Now, she must turn her powers of observation to detection, to unmask the true murderer. 
 
 For if she fails, her beloved brother will face the ultimate punishment – the hangman’s noose . . . 
---- 
 
 Why readers love Miss Austen Investigates 
'Fresh and witty' 5***** reader review 
 'Miss Austen Investigates could not be a more perfect formula for success' 5***** reader review 
 'A fantastic blending of cosy crime with classic fiction...such a fun and unique concept' 5***** reader review 
 'There is warmth and humour in every page' 5***** reader review 
 'Delightful and entertaining with a lively witty voice and perfect pacing' 5***** reader review 
 'This book offers a unique and delightful experience that readers won't forget' 5***** reader review 
 
 Praise for Miss Austen Investigates 
 'Richly imagined and wonderfully plotted - a great read' S.J. Bennett 
 
 'This super-fun read is a total breath of fresh air!' Sun 
 
 'Sparkling...A brilliant debut that does Jane justice' Woman's Weekly 
 
 'Exceptional - the Austen whodunnit I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for! All the twists and turns you want from a murder mystery and an incredibly striking Austen voice' Sophie Irwin 
 
 'Delicious' Crime Monthly 
 
 'So clever and well done' Good Housekeeping 
 
 'Sharp and energetic whilst simultaneously warm and heartfelt. This is a delicious treat for fans of Austen's novels and delightfully compelling mysteries' B.P. Walter

Jessica Bull combines genteel Georgian country living with the lively intrigue of a whodunnit to create a very satisfying read

I adored it. Miss Austen Investigates is fresh, fiendish and funny. Much like Jane herself

Richly imagined and wonderfully plotted - a great read

Sharp and energetic whilst simultaneously warm and heartfelt. This is a delicious treat for fans of Austen's novels and delightfully compelling mysteries

This super-fun read is a total breath of fresh air!

A note-perfect crime caper that has much of the wit and empathy of an Austen novel

Exceptional - the Austen whodunnit I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for! The historical detail was rich and impeccable with gorgeously drawn characters, all the twists and turns you want from a murder mystery and an incredibly striking Austen voice. I loved it!

Sparkling...A brilliant debut that does Jane justice

I adored this so much. Jane brims with life and wit, the story is packed with delicious details to delight every Austen fan, and the puzzle is constructed as neatly as Emma. Bravo, Jessica Bull -- you are a genius!

Such a clever idea, pulled off with considerable deftness. The result is a sparkling treat of a read

I absolutely adored Miss Austen Investigates! It perfectly captures the world of Jane Austen, and the character of Jane is everything you'd want her to be. Also a wonderfully twisty plot!

Such a delight! Highly recommend

Jessica Bull has managed to perfectly entwine a classic golden era whodunnit with the life and society of one of our greatest ever writers.

From the first page it sparkles with wit and warmth

Funny, charming, clever and utterly absorbing. I am enchanted

Hugely entertaining, this breathlessly paced mystery is given ballast by careful, thorough research, and intriguing insights into Jane Austen’s character. A gripping read

Miss Austen Investigates is an absolute joy of a novel that captures the era and Jane Austen herself with such heart, wit and an exquisite amount of detail. Beautifully written and completely immersive, it will keep you guessing until the very end

This book was a joy to read. I felt immersed in Jane Austen's world, and Jessica Bull's witty herione is so much fun to spend time with! Properly twisty, atmospheric, and delightful all at once. When I turned the last page I already missed Jane and can't wait for more

A cosy mystery cloaked in Jane Austen's sparkling powers of observation and wit, Miss Austen Investigates brings a young Jane to life as she tries to solve a village murder that has struck far too close to home. With evocative detail and stunning historical accuracy, author Jessica Bull places the reader firmly within the Steventon terrain of Austen family lore in this remarkably assured and engaging debut. Blending the boisterous energy of Becoming Jane with the intricate plot puzzles of P.D. James, Miss Austen Investigates gives Austenites a wonderful new way to appreciate their favourite author

Jessica Bull's debut novel is a sheer delight: a gripping murder mystery...it is also an intriguing and deeply moving love story. And it is very, very funny

Jessica Bull's writing is flawless, with a lyrical, subtle wit. It's like being swept along on a glorious wave. Can't wait to see what Jane gets up to next

Sheer delight. A gripping murder mystery. A hugely accomplished storyteller and Bull's writing style pays homage to Austen’s acerbic wit and elegant turn of phrase. I cannot wait for the next volume in the series

Jessica Bull grew up in South East London, where she still lives with her husband, two daughters, and far too many pets. She’s addicted to stories and studied English Literature at Bristol University, and Information Science at City University, London. She began work as a librarian (under the false impression she could sit and read all day), before becoming a communications consultant. 
 
Her debut novel, Miss Austen Investigates, has sold in eighteen territories and counting. A Fortune Most Fatal is the highly-anticipated second book in the series.

Jane Austen is just starting out in society. 
 
The perils of being a woman in this environment fill the pages of her writing. Yet little does she know just how dangerous things truly are… 
 
When the body of a milliner is discovered during a ball, the murder causes uproar. 
 
For Jane, however, it becomes personal when her beloved brother Georgy is accused of the murder. 
To clear his name, she must find the real killer. 
 
Her writing is full of tales of questioning motives, and unmasking secrets. 
 
Might her powers of observation help her solve this mystery, and save her brother from the hangman’s noose?

The Austen Christmas Murders

Jessica Bull

BRILLIANT. So sharply observed, yet fresh, funny and a joy to read

This wonderful book feels almost like an immersive experience. Witty, clever and with exquisite detail. Miss Austen is a terrific sleuth

Sharp, searching and perfectly constructed, A Fortune Most Fatal is glorious - filled with wit, wrong turns and pitch-perfect characters, and a mystery that pulls expertly on the darker threads of 1797 society too. Jessica Bull is the real deal - a storyteller of such skill and empathy and verve, whose prose sings on every page. Jane Austen would adore this series - and so do I!

What a virtuoso blend of historical detail, colourful characters and plot. Charming from the first page to the last, this mystery captivates with dashing characters and arch wit. Miss Austen would most heartily approve!

A delightful return to the world of Jane Austen’s sleuthing! Jessica Bull delicately balances the details of Jane’s life alongside a richly developed set of mysteries. Rendered in Jane’s signature wit and equal parts light and dark, I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with Jane in this brilliant follow-up

Jessica Bull’s sleuth, Jane Austen, is once again set in a pitch perfect Regency society with a wonderful murder mystery at its core - it’s everything a Janeite could want!

author of The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder

A delight from the very first page – fun, clever and gritty, with fantastic characterisation and a wonderful look into the darkness hidden beneath the glimmering facade of Regency society. Jessica Bull masterfully brings to life Jane Austen and those around her, doing justice to the glimpses we get from letters. Her Jane Austen is my Jane Austen

A Fortune Most Fatal is the perfect treat for anyone who has ever wanted to don a Regency gown and step inside the pages of a Jane Austen novel...Jessica Bull spins the most perfect mystery, laying down clues with a masterful sleight of hand, then revealing them to the reader one by one, making for a hugely satisfying and deeply moving read. I could not have loved it more!

Jessica Bull deftly weaves real historical events and characters with a thrilling storyline, and wields her extensive research with expert precision. She conjures Jane’s Regency world with as much realism as if she were describing our world today, and I was utterly immersed from the first page. Jane Austen is a plucky, sharp-witted, lovable heroine, and I can’t wait for her next adventure!

Sparkling...Woven through with fascinating insights into our heroine's real life and loves, this is a brilliant debut that does Jane justice

Jessica Bull combines genteel Georgian country living with the lively intrigue of a whodunnit to create a very satisfying read

Sharp and energetic whilst simultaneously warm and heartfelt. This is a delicious treat for fans of Austen's novels and delightfully compelling mysteries

Exceptional - the Austen whodunnit I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for! The historical detail was rich and impeccable with gorgeously drawn characters, all the twists and turns you want from a murder mystery and an incredibly striking Austen voice. I loved it!

I adored this so much. Jane brims with life and wit, the story is packed with delicious details to delight every Austen fan, and the puzzle is constructed as neatly as Emma

Welcome to Kent, 1797. 
 
Jane Austen is set to spend the summer with her estranged brother, Neddy. As heir to wealthy widow Mrs Knight’s fortune, it is imperative that Neddy stays in his benefactor’s good graces. 
 
But upon arrival at Godmersham Park, Jane realises Neddy is in dire need of her help. For a mysterious young woman currently resides with Mrs Knight – a stranger who threatens to swindle the inheritance for herself. 
 
Jane must uncover who this imposter is, to protect the fortunes – and fate – of her entire family. But when her investigation takes a dark and dangerous turn, can she solve the mystery – and save herself?

Jessica Bull

Praise for A Fortune Most Fatal

BRILLIANT. So sharply observed, yet fresh, funny and a joy to read

This wonderful book feels almost like an immersive experience. Witty, clever and with exquisite detail. Miss Austen is a terrific sleuth

Sharp, searching and perfectly constructed, A Fortune Most Fatal is glorious - filled with wit, wrong turns and pitch-perfect characters, and a mystery that pulls expertly on the darker threads of 1797 soc ...

BRILLIANT. So sharply observed, yet fresh, funny and a joy to read

This wonderful book feels almost like an immersive experience. Witty, clever and with exquisite detail. Miss Austen is a terrific sleuth

Sharp, searching and perfectly constructed, A Fortune Most Fatal is glorious - filled with wit, wrong turns and pitch-perfect characters, and a mystery that pulls expertly on the darker threads of 1797 soc ...

BRILLIANT. So sharply observed, yet fresh, funny and a joy to read

This wonderful book feels almost like an immersive experience. Witty, clever and with exquisite detail. Miss Austen is a terrific sleuth

Sharp, searching and perfectly constructed, A Fortune Most Fatal is glorious - filled with wit, wrong turns and pitch-perfect characters, and a mystery that pulls expertly on the darker threads of 1797 soc ...

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New historical fiction books to read in 2025

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