Linda Ulleseit

I hope you are finishing 2023 with memories of a good year. This month’s picks will make great last-minute holiday gifts. They also will be wonderful rewards for you, no matter what you’ve accomplished for the year. Every month, there’s a single day where it seems a whole bunch of books are released. This month, it’s December 5th. This month, too, seems to have more than the usual number of historical mysteries and historical fantasies. Enjoy!

BEST COVER

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (December 5)

“A thoroughly engaging, rich story with a murder mystery; secrets, gossip, and hypocrisy; a corrupt judge; a tightly knit community of villagers; women at the mercy of a patriarchal society; and the early stages of a developing justice system following the Revolutionary War. . . Turn the last page, and you will want more of this world she has created.” ~Historical Novel Society

I’m not too impressed overall with this month’s covers, but I always look for one that stands out in the crowd. The Frozen River does that. The red coat really draws your eye to the woman, doesn’t it? Good thing, because she’s a major part of the story. Martha Ballard is a midwife in 1789. When the river freezes, entombing a man, she believes it’s a murder. When no one else agrees, she investigates on her own. Based on a real story, and that’s my favorite type of historical fiction!

BEST TITLE

The Lost Gift to the Italian Island by Barbara Josselsohn (December 4)

“A book to be devoured, once you begin you won’t be able to stop until the last page is turned… heart-warming, feel-good… a must-read. Absolutely do not miss the opportunity to read this book… I absolutely loved this.” ~Page-Turners Book Reviews by Caroline

The Doom of Odin was a strong contender for this one, too… The Lost Gift to the Italian Island, with its giveaway WWII planes, drew me in with the mystery implied in the title. It’s a dual timeline, between Italy in 1943 and modern-day New York. The gift in the title is a wedding dress that Tori’s grandmother gave to the island. Now Tori’s getting married and is curious about the dress, which she sees in an old photo. She travels to the island and finds the dress only to discover bullets sewn into its seams. Secrets about adoption and Jewish ancestry swirl around her.

MOST INTRIGUING

Silk Stocking (Daughters of Ireland) by Jeanne Charters (December 5)

“Charters interweaves many important topics—immigration, civil rights, women’s rights—into her exciting novel . . . An evocative portrait of South Boston . . . Gripping.” ~Kirkus Reviews

As you probably know, I write heritage fiction (stories about my ancestors). This book appeals to me because it is about three generations of Irish-American women. It’s also the third book in a series that begins with the grandmother, continues with the daughter, and finishes with the birth of a granddaughter. This one is set in the Gilded Age, in Boston. It is a tale of poverty and wealth, opportunity and danger, and family and forbidden love.

MOST ANTICIPATED

The Wonder of it All by Barbara Taylor Bradford (December 5)

“Told with Barbara Taylor Bradford’s inimitable style and flair for period detail, The Wonder of It All concludes House of Falconer trilogy that has followed the story of this remarkable family from Victorian times to the 20th century.” ~from the book description

I love Barbara Taylor Bradford’s sweeping family epics. This one is the final piece of her House of Falconer story. In it, James returns from the war a broken man. He no longer has the same feelings for Georgiana, and she is bitter over it. He also longs to be part of his adult daughter’s life, but she resists. James must find a way to heal his body, soul, and family.

FANTASY

The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk (December 5)

The Doom of Odin by Scott Oden (December 19)

Crucible of Chaos by Sebastian de Castell (December 7)

Salt and Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher (December 1)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Jodi Taylor (December 1)

ROMANCE

A Winter by the Sea by Julie Klassen (December 5)

The Lady at the Lodge by Graham Ley (December 8)

The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore (December 5)

Calling on the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund (December 12)

NATIVE AMERICAN

Red Clay, Running Waters by Leslie K. Simmons (December 19)

COMING OF AGE

The Wildest Sun by Asha Lemmie (December 5)

MYSTERY

The Secret of the Lady’s Maid by Darcie Wilde (December 26)

Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge (December 21)

City of Betrayal by Victoria Thompson (December 5)

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong (December 5)

Murder on the Cornish Cliffs by Verity Bright (December 1)

The Wide World by Pierre Lemaitre (December 5)

The Body on the Beach by Laura Martin (December 15)

WOMEN’S

Irish Eyes by Hope C. Tarr (December 7)

Viscount Overboard by Misty Urban (December 5)

The Midwife’s Promise by Eliza Graham (December 6)

WARTIME

The Wilderness Way by Anne Madden (December 7)

Bonfire Night by Anna Bliss (December 26)

Driving the Tide by Lee Jackson (December 7)

The Maple and the Blue by Patrick Larsimont (December 22)

The Paris Housekeeper by Renee Ryan (December 21)

Need more historical fiction on your TBR? See more new release titles at Historical Novel Society.

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This post first appeared on paperlanternwriters.com