Venetian Blood: Murder in a Sensuous City by Christine Evelyn Volker (mystery) 2017

Picked this one up because I needed a paperback and was pleasantly surprised by a fun and sexy mystery set in a wonderful place.  Towards the end, it was too easy to see what happened, but enjoyable nonetheless.  It was a quick read.

The Devils of Cardona by Matthew Carr (historical fiction 2016)

Excellent exciting mystery, adventurous and sexy.  This novel is set in Spain during the Inquisition, and I loved it.  Wonderful characters ranged from the King of Spain, Henry of Navarre, and peasants.

Vita Brevis, a Gaius Ruso mystery by Ruth Downie (historical mystery, 2016)

I love this series - read it from the beginning.  Lovely details about the Eternal City, wonderful characters, new turns in Ruso's relationship with his Britannian wife Tilla.  Fun stuff.

Graveyard of the Hesperides, a Flavia Albia novel by Lindsey Davis (historical fiction 2016)

Another hit in the series.  I love this female detective in the City of Rome.  The characters are always varied and so well-researched, you feel like it's a real time and place.  I recommend starting at the beginning, and you'll be hooked.

Charcoal Joe, an Easy Rawlins Mystery by Walter Mosely (fiction 2016)

I would highly recommend the entire series, although some offerings are better than others.  This offering is one of them, so good it had me from Ch. 1.  Suspense, sex, action, death, beauty.  Mosely is such a fine mystery writer.

Murder in Megara by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer (historical mystery 2015)

The 11th book in the John, the Lord Chamberlain mysteries follows John and his family to Megara in exile.  I have enjoyed other books in this series, but for some reason this one lacked energy. 

Still Waters by Marilyn Todd (A High Priestess Iliona Ancient Greek Mystery) (historical mystery 2010)

Ms. Todd really packs in the historical details and fleshes out the characters.  I can't say much more to recommend an historical mystery.  A few awkward phrases did nothing to take away from the fun.

And Sometimes I Wonder About You by Walter Mosley (mystery 2015)

Mosley is one of my absolute favorite living authors even though he can be uneven.  This is not one of those cases.  The story had me from the first, and I thought I figured it out.  But I did not.  Suspense, violence, beauty and love, all the hallmarks of the greatest Mosley.

Deadly Election by Lindsey Davis (historical fiction mytery 2015)

Excellent romp, great fun.  I like this third book in the series very much.  The mystery is great and the character development this time around is central.

Finished Business, A Marcus Corvinus Mystery by David Wishart (historical mystery 2014)

While I enjoy the various characters, the city, and the political intrigue, Wishart almost ruins the whole thing with too many dumb jokes.  The plot is rather byzantine (if you'll forgive me) in this mystery and Gaius (Caligula) even makes a personal appearance. A reader would have to be very very familiar with Julio Claudian bloodlines and contemporary politics to get some of the clues to the murder mystery, but it was an exciting read.

The Fateful Day by Rosemary Rowe (historical mystery 2014)

I really like this series even for mystery lovers who aren't into the Roman world.  It's fast-paced, funny and full of great details about life.

Marbeck and the Privateers by John Pilkingon (historical mystery 2014)

Tight suspenseful action continues in this third book about Marbeck.  This story is set after King James takes over from Elizabeth I and begins to make peace with the Spanish.  Anyone who likes a spy or mystery novel will like this.  I'm impressed by Pilkington's three enjoyable mysteries in a row.

Tabula Rasa by Ruth Downie (historical fiction mystery 2014)

The third book in the Gaius Ruso mystery series is awesome.  My own enjoyment of these novels has been enhanced by my recent class about Hadrian's Wall and the people and things around it, but I think anyone would like this book.  The humor isn't overdone and the mystery is a tricky one.  I'm excited that the end of the book suggests that Gaius and Tilla are going to Rome.  Downie is so good at describing Britannia that I'm dying to read her version of the Eternal City.

The Ides of April (2013) and Enemies at Home by Lindsey Davis (historical mystery 2014)

The Ides of April is a historical mystery masterpiece in my opinion.  It was incredibly interesting and intricate, and I had no idea what was going on.

The second book in Davis' Flavia Albia series, Enemies at Home, contains lots of obviously well-researched details about all kinds of people in the city of Rome during the time of Domitian.  The main character has to interview and interact with several different folks - slaves, upper middle class matrons, vigiles, and an aedile - to solve a double murder.  The descriptions of the city itself are also lots of fun.  While it is good entertainment, there are a few clunky spots, but enjoyable overall.

Ten for Dying: a John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer (historical mystery 2014)

This series of mysteries is set in late Roman Empire times in Constantinople.  My favorite parts are the descriptions of the city (smells, architecture, sounds, weather, the imperial court) and random petty characters.  This particular book was not quite as fun and zippy as Nine for the Devil, reviewed in the link, but still worth it.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (fiction 2011)

I'm late to the party but this was really good, brutally violent in some parts.  I thought I had it figured out but NOPE.  Off to get the sequels...

While the first book was tight and suspenseful, and every sentence mattered, the first half of The Girl Who Played with Fire is oddly pedantic about life in Sweden and includes way too many boring details about the characters' lives.  It gets better, thankfully.

The third book in the trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, is pretty good.  The character of Lisbeth Salander finally changes and grows after all of these crazy experiences.

Marbeck and the Double-Dealer and Marbeck and the King-in-Waiting by John Pilkington (historical mystery)

The first two books in a new series, plenty of fun twists and turns and an interesting hero. These books have lots of action.  In The Double-Dealer, I thought I knew the guilty party but was way off.  Pilkington doesn't let wordiness get in his way, so the action moves quickly while giving a real sense of the place and time.  Recommended for mystery and history lovers.

Death and the Courtesan by Pamela Christie (historical fiction)

This mystery set in Regency London (when King George was mad) led me away from the murderer by putting in obvious clues that tricked me.  That was pleasant fun, but I found some of the language the author used to be anachronistic.  The titular courtesan seemed to good to be true, with a perfect life and all kinds of wonderful people ready to help her.  There was much too much description of her fabulous house.  At the same time, however, she had some hateful characteristics like hogging the conversation and intellectual snobbery.  The didactic author herself didn't miss many chances to make her own worldview completely clear.  I'm not sure I would pick up another book in this series.

Sacred Games by Gary Corby (historical fiction mystery)

Part of a pretty good series, this is a fun and zippy mystery set during the Olympic games.  It has several silly jokes, but not so many to ruin it.  I did not catch the big tell that revealed the true murderer until it was revealed again at the end.

Death in the Ashes: A Fourth Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger by Albert A. Bell, Jr. (historical mystery)

This is a great series for those who love mysteries and those who love Roman history.  I'm both, and I'm impressed by Bell's ability to comment on Roman life in a non-intrusive way.  I've reviewed others in the series before, and this book is seriously good.  I read the book quickly because it was so much fun.