==Historical fiction==
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{{newreview
|author=Adrienne McDonnell
|title=The Doctor and the Diva
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=We first meet one of the central characters, the successful, young obstetrician Dr Ravell as he mingles with the great and the good Bostonians at a high-level social gathering. His reputation seems to precede him as one guest enthuses 'After nineteen years in a barren marriage ... thanks to you, they had twins.' High praise indeed. And at this gathering he not only meets a future patient, Erika von Kessler, but he is also enraptured by her singing voice. He tries to explain all this but finds it difficult so ends up by saying 'It was not an earthly voice; it was a shimmering.' I loved that line.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751543608</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Amitav Ghosh
|summary=As soon as I read the blurb on the back cover I thought there's no doubting that this book is going to be one of those delightful romps, shall we say. Carr takes the famous and much-loved and much-read detective Holmes along with his trusty, if rather dull and plodding side-kick Watson and decides to have a bit of fun. But will it work?
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907685405</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Amanda Taylor
|title=The Chinaman's Bastard
|rating=3
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=I found the title of the book excellent and I was keen to find out more. The blurb on the back cover does its job - until the last bit, which becomes a bit irritating. It claims the book 'is very captivating'. Well, to be brutally honest, it's either captivating or it's not. The word 'very' is not needed. And sadly, no, I didn't find the book captivating at all.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843865440</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Christina Courtenay
|title=Trade Winds
|rating=3.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=It is 1731 and Killian Kinross, disgraced heir to the estate is making his way as best he can through the gambling dens of Edinburgh, trading on his skill, ability to hold his drink and the smiling fickle fortunes of lady luck. The Lady is smiling at the moment, although she hasn't always done so.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906931232</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Margaret James
|title=The Silver Locket
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=It is the eve of the First World War and Rose Courtenay's parents are keen to marry her off to well-bred Michael Easton. But Rose is certain a life of domesticity in Dorset is not for her and so instead she takes the bold step of running away to London where she volunteers as a nurse for the war effort. Posted to France, Rose meets injured soldier Alex Denham who she has known since childhood, and is the only man who has ever made her blush. Romance soon blossoms between Rose and Alex, despite Rose fighting against her feelings as Alex is already married, and also disapproved of by her parents due to his dubious background.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906931283</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Simon Scarrow
|title=The Legion (Roman Legion 9)
|rating=3.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Ajax and his crew of fellow renegade gladiators have been stirring things up in Egypt. Attacking small naval bases, merchant ships and villages along the coast, they're successfully stirring some unrest. Because Ajax isn't silly. Not only is he a skilled fighter and capable commander, he's also full of guile. The band pose as Roman soldiers when raiding, so their victims are left with anti-Roman sentiment in addition to their losses.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755353749</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Pamela Evans
|title=Harvest Nights
|rating=3.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=It is 1920 and London is struggling to deal with the consequences of the Great War. Unemployment is high and money is scarce. Clara Tripp, a former Land Girl has been forced to return to the city to work as a waitress, leaving behind the countryside which she loves so much. When Charlie Fenner, an acquaintance from Clara's Land Army days, comes in to the teashop where she works, Clara can't help but feel overjoyed. He offers her temporary work on his parents' orchard in Kent and she gladly accepts. Yet a serious accident forces Clara to stay longer than expected and it is then that she makes a shocking discovery which threatens to destroy the Fenner family. Back in London Clara struggles with her confused emotions and the looming prospect of her marriage to local boy Arnold. When devastating news comes from Kent, Clara realises she can no longer keep her discovery a secret. But coming face-to-face with Charlie again means Clara must acknowledge her buried feelings and make a decision between doing the right thing and following her heart.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755345452</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Ross Laidlaw
|title=Justinian: The Sleepless One
|rating=3
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Born Uprauda Ystock, the son of a peasant, Justinian (as he was to become known) managed to change his life around when his mother's brother, Roderic, an important general in the Roman Army, paid for his education. After a series of successes, Roderic became Emperor Justin and then passed the mantel on to his nephew, who became known as Justinian. When he came into power, the Roman Empire was under attack from all directions and Justinian was forced to battle for his right to remain Emperor. Fortunately, he married Theodora, an ex-courtesan, who helped to mould him into the leader that he needed to be. Was this enough to remain in power, or would it all be snatched away from him?
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846971586</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Peter Carey
|title=Parrot and Olivier in America
|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary Fiction
|summary=Olivier de Garmont is a young, French aristocrat who is drugged by the enigmatic Marquis de Tilbot, a close friend of Olivier's monarchist mother, and dispatched to the safety of the emerging United States to avoid the 1830 July Revolution, and the threat of the dreaded guillotine, in his native France. At least nominally his task while there is to prepare a report on the American penal system on behalf of the French government, a task for which he has little interest or indeed talent. Tilbot also dispatches his servant, an older British man, John Larrit, known to everyone as Parrot, to act as Oliver's secretary, servant, translator and to spy on Olivier for both his mother and Tilbot. They are an ill-matched pair, from opposite sides of the social spectrum but in democratic America, this relationship develops in ways that neither of them would expect. The story is told in alternating voices of these two main characters.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571253296</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Ross Laidlaw
|title=Theoderic
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=This is a historical tale with a capital 'H'. A Glossary, Historical Note, Prologue plus a map entitled 'The Barbarian Kingdoms and the Roman Empire' are all for the reader's maximum interest and (hopefully) maximum enjoyment and all before settling down to the first chapter. This very much sets the tone of the book.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184697111X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Shona Maclean
|title=A Game of Sorrows
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Two years have passed since [[The Redemption of Alexander Seaton by Shona Maclean|Alexander Seaton]] found his redemption. He is comfortably settled in his life at the University, about to be sent on the academic expedition of a lifetime, and wondering how best to ask the woman he loves to be his wife. Then a case of mistaken identity, which almost costs him his love and the respect of his friends leads Alexander to discover he has a cousin in town – the son of his late mother's brother, come from Ireland to seek his help.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849162441</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Julian Lees
|title=The Fan Tan Players
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=The story opens with a vividly described cyclone in 1920s Macao. I found Lees' writing was such in the opening chapter that it felt almost apocalyptic. The loss of life, the damage to property and ... 'sounds of the surf regurgitating gurgling carcasses of belly-bulging cows.' I couldn't help but think of the real-life tragedy unfolding in Pakistan. I felt a bit queasy when I was reading this, to tell you the truth.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905207492</amazonuk>
}}
