Historicalmystery Stories

In a city where a single flower is worth more than a man's life, some secrets are deadly enough to kill for. Amsterdam, 1637. At the height of the insane Tulip Mania, a group of the city's wealthiest speculators gather on a lavish barge, De Vergulde Lelie (the Gilded Lily), for a secret auction. The prize: the Semper Augustus, a tulip bulb so rare it could buy a palace. But before the first bid is cast, the night is shattered by a scream. The host, a ruthless and widely hated speculator, is found murdered. The priceless bulb is gone. Trapped on the barge by the frozen canals, a handful of suspects are locked in a cage of opulence and fear: the bitter rival on the brink of ruin, the indebted English lord, and the vengeful farmer who claims the bulb was stolen from him first. The city watch sees a simple case of greed. But they're not looking closely enough. Signor Alvise Grimaldi, a disgraced Venetian glassmaker living in exile, sees what the others miss. He's not a detective; he's an artist with an eye for fatal flaws. While everyone else is blinded by the missing bulb, Grimaldi is drawn to the real heart of the crime: the silent, stolen glances between the victim's beautiful, trapped wife, Katarina, and the brilliant, obsessive painter, Frans van Loo. Their forbidden love is a secret far more dangerous than any financial debt. As Grimaldi peels back the layers of deception, he realizes the murder wasn't a simple robbery. It was a crime of passion, a desperate act disguised to look like greed. Now, he's in a silent duel with a killer who is just as much an artist of deception as Grimaldi is of glass. In a world gone mad with speculation, can a broken artist expose a truth hidden in a single drop of paint before the ice thaws and a devastating secret sinks them all?

A gentleman sleuth. A shy schoolmistress. One very inconvenient arrangement. When nineteen-year-old Lilliana Reed boards the night mail coach bound for Glasgow, she just wants to reach her new position as a junior teacher. Hugh Anstruther, a gentleman sleuth with more determination than skill, wants nothing more than to find the sister he fears is in the clutches of a con artist. Instead, they are caught in a storm, stranded in an overturned carriage, and mistaken as an eloping couple. What begins as a chance encounter soon entangles them in a far more complicated journey. To protect Hugh's sister, and salvage their own reputations, they must pose as what society already suspects: a pair of lovers on the run. But at what point does pretence become reality? In a world where propriety rules, one misstep could ruin everything or lead to an unexpected attachment neither of them dared to imagine.

Autumn, 1552. England is, uneasily, at peace. King Edward VI, now fifteen and mature beyond his years, is already beginning to play an active part in politics. His sister, the Lady Elizabeth, now nineteen, is a prominent figure at court. Edward's heir, however, is his elder sister Mary. Having refused to renounce her Catholicism in Edward's increasingly strident Protestant England, she lives in Essex, an unseen but worrying presence. Matthew Shardlake has returned to practising law, including matters involving the properties of Elizabeth. A shadow hangs over him, however; he has fallen deeply in love with Liz Partlett, nurse to his adopted daughter Mousy--a love that is reciprocated, although Liz, haunted by grim events, feels she can never marry him. As colonization and the slave trade dominate world affairs, a group of English merchants, desperate to find new trading opportunities, sets up a Company of Merchant Adventurers to seek a north-east passage to the Far East. The destination of the projected voyage is kept strictly secret lest Spanish spies should learn of it. After the secretary of the Company suddenly dies, Shardlake is recruited to the post as a competent man who can be trusted to keep matters secret. Meanwhile a crumbling house by the Thames suddenly collapses, killing several tenants. Shardlake discovers that responsibility for the disaster devolves on the ultimate owner of the land, the Lady Elizabeth. At the site, Shardlake makes a gruesome discovery in the intact remains of the cellar: a torture chamber, and the hideously disfigured body of a Portuguese man. Shardlake finds himself caught up in a world of spies and double-agents, and discovers that his predecessor as Secretary of the Merchant Adventurers was murdered. He must investigate, and quickly, for the date when the ships must set sail to catch the Arctic spring of 1553 is fast approaching. Rumours begin to circulate that King Edward has fallen sick, and may be dying...

In a strange twist of history, the sudden death of Sultan Selim, the second of his name, always hits weirdly. That unexpected assassination after the near death of all his siblings, and the ascension of Sultan Qadir, a sultan whose maternity was mostly unnamed throughout history. But sudden discoveries and revelations during excavations unfold, throwing us headfirst into the tale, or more likely the legend, of the hidden consort of Sultan Suleiman, the one who evaded the eye of history while undeniably making it, Zuhre Mihriban Sultan, who we don't exactly know too well. And if you are intrigued by this mysterious sultan, who seems to have evaded history at her finest, if you are intrigued by her story, so am I. Join me as I tell you this tale of a sultana, so playful and fair, yet hidden in the world's mayfair. And with her choices, she makes this dare-her son becomes the sultanate's heir.

In the shadowed heart of wartime Cambridge, a single night will unravel a web of secrets that could change the course of history. When Dr. Edmund Harrison is found dead during a brutal air raid, what seems like a simple murder becomes a complex web of espionage that threatens to expose the darkest secrets of British Intelligence. At the center of this atmospheric thriller stands a woman whose loyalty is tested by the explosive truths her husband uncovered. As Detective Inspector Malcolm Foster begins to investigate, he finds himself navigating a treacherous landscape of betrayal. A daring actress, a wounded RAF pilot, an aristocratic woman with dangerous connections, and a network of spies hiding among Cambridge's scholarly elite all become entangled in a deadly game of survival. With German radar technology and wartime secrets hanging in the balance, one question burns at the heart of the investigation: Who killed Edmund Harrison, and what truth was worth murdering for? "Cambridge Betrayal" is a gripping historical thriller that plunges readers into the dangerous world of wartime espionage. Set against the backdrop of World War II, this novel weaves together personal intrigue and national security in a story of love, loyalty, and the devastating consequences of secrets. Perfect for fans of historical spy novels, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final, shocking revelation.

Some legends are planted to grow stronger than truth itself. Norfolk, 1875. Silverthorn Grange has been Seraphina Silverthorn's home her entire life - its towers a familiar silhouette against the sky, its gardens a place of comfort and discovery. But since her mother's death a year ago, the estate has begun to feel like a stranger to her, holding secrets she never knew existed. While clearing out her mother's locked study, Seraphina stumbles upon a leather journal bound with silverthorn branches - and clues to a myth that has guarded her family's legacy for centuries. The crimson crown, a rare plant said to bloom only where loyalty and land are one, was once sought by kings. Even Henry VIII sent his men to hunt for it, driven by greed and the promise of eternal life. But the plant vanished, hidden by an alliance between the Silverthorn and Blackwood families - an alliance that now rests in Seraphina's hands. Teaming with William Blackwood, heir to the neighboring estate she's known since childhood, Seraphina follows a trail of symbols carved into the Grange's walls, maps tucked behind tapestries, and stories passed down through generations of servants. As they dig deeper into their shared history, they uncover more than just a lost plant: a web of ambition, betrayal, and men from London who will stop at nothing to claim the crimson crown for themselves. From the grand halls of Silverthorn Grange to the shadowed corners of Blackwood Park, Seraphina must decide whether to uphold the legend that has bound her community together for centuries - or expose the truth that her ancestors died to protect. A sweeping historical mystery set against the breathtaking backdrop of Victorian England, where myth and legacy are as powerful as any magic.

1854, Madurai. Vaani, a blind candle-maker's daughter, can "see" secrets through the flames. When a royal guest is murdered inside the palace, she must uncover the truth hidden in temple walls-before the killer escapes. A tale of fire, faith, and mystery.

When a fifteen-year-old orphaned Lunar nymph named Whittaker feels like her life has always been strange and out of place, she ventures with (all orphans) her younger brother Darius and their two best friends to find a different land in their cottage-core, enchanted woodland world. Another place, with people just like them, but ones who live in the presence of the sun. Unlike the Lunars, who only thrive at night with a nocturnal lifestyle starting from sunset to sunrise. The Lunar and Solar nymphs have been separated for many, many years over a petty dispute, and old laws separating their times, lifestyles, and people are starting to become outdated. Due to the separation, Whittaker and her friends were orphaned by their Solar parents. Will Whittaker find a place where she can be herself? Will she and her brother find their Solar family? Will she unite the two groups into the respectful tribe they once were? Is there love involved? If you're wondering, don't ask me. I don't know. Read the story! Enjoy~ TuxedoCreep

Eijaz, a disciplined man, falls deeply in love with Sereen, a sweet and mysterious girl. When Sereen tragically dies, her soul transmigrates into Elara, a gentle girl. Elara uncovers memories of Sereen and tries to reconnect with Eijaz. Eijaz, missing Sereen, discovers the truth through Elara's diary. TO BE CONTINUE

The explanation of the fantastical world of the Nymphs. This is ONLY AN INTRODUCTION to Tuxedo Creep's older concept, but with newer and better work! The rest is up to you to find for yourself...now there's only one question: Solar or Lunar? Pick your side.

London 1923. Charlotte Wynthorpe's socialite circle is being plagued by a rash of diamond burglaries during their wild, drunken parties. Sensing some terrible fun to be had, Charlotte decides on the spur of the moment to investigate. But what she discovers turns out to be anything other than fun and games. Charlotte Wynthorpe first appeared in the Wattpad featured historical novel "Aftermath" as a side character. Now, she gets her own story in cozy mystery form.

Setting: A foggy countryside manor in 1930s England A murdered patriarch. A locked room. A crumbling legacy of secrets. When the powerful Lord Ravencourt is found dead inside his study...with the doors locked from the inside and a chess piece left in his hand...every heir becomes a suspect. Called out of retirement, famed detective Alaric Finch arrives at the windswept estate of Raven's Hollow to solve the impossible murder. But this house doesn't just hold secrets. It feeds on them. As the storm traps them inside, Finch uncovers something darker than murder: falsified bloodlines, a forgotten child, and a killer who's always one move ahead. One by one, the pieces fall. And with each revelation, the price of truth grows steeper. The murder dismantled a family. The truth might dismantle reality. For fans of Knives Out, The Haunting of Hill House, and Agatha Christie with bite. You won't sleep until the last piece is played. * This could have been a movie series if I had believed in it and submitted when my teacher, Sir Ronald, told me to. He saw something in it before I ever did. RIP, Sir Ronald. Thank you for believing in me before I knew how to believe in myself.

Voice in the Mirror is a supernatural thriller that follows the eerie experiences of Mark, Olivia, and their loyal golden retriever, Wowell. When the couple discovers a mysterious mirror in their new home, they are drawn into a chilling mystery. The mirror reflects a dimly lit, unfamiliar room and whispers strange messages, hinting at the presence of an unknown figure. As Mark and Olivia experience increasingly unsettling occurrences, their curiosity and fear lead them to seek help from a historian named Eleanor, who may hold the key to unraveling the mirror's dark secrets. But as the whispers grow louder and the figure in the reflection becomes clearer, they realize that some mysteries are better left unsolved.

In 1885 British India, historian Veeraj Bhatia stumbles upon an ancient manuscript that hints at an unknown Indian empire-one that thrived centuries before the Mauryas and Guptas but mysteriously vanished from history. The British authorities dismiss his findings, fearing it could ignite rebellion against colonial rule. Determined to prove the manuscript's authenticity, Veeraj gathers a small team, including Aaliya Mirza, a fierce Persian scholar, and Captain Jonathan Graves, a skeptical British officer. Their journey takes them through hidden temples, underground cities, and dangerous political traps, as they uncover a forgotten civilization that once rivaled the might of Rome and Persia. But someone doesn't want the truth to be revealed. A secret brotherhood, known as The Keepers of Silence, has protected this secret for centuries-and they will stop at nothing to ensure the empire remains forgotten forever.

Noella is a normal teen turning 18. The only journey she was planning was becoming a grown up. But it seems like fate does not have the same plan. She ends up going back to Ancient Greece and having the biggest adventure of her life. Going back to Ancient greece. Going on a nervracking adventure. A story about timetravell and timeless love and sometimes having to give up people you love. This is a book were youre thoughts matter. Where your comments help me with my writing process. This is the first book in the series about Noella and her adventures.

Crimson Petals is a captivating romance that intertwines the lives of two artists separated by centuries yet bound by a mysterious and cursed scroll. Li Wei, a talented but creatively blocked manga artist in modern-day Shanghai, stumbles upon an ancient scroll in a forgotten antique shop. Despite the shop owner, Zhou Yan's, warnings, she feels an irresistible connection to the scroll and purchases it, unknowingly inviting its enigmatic power into her life. As Li Wei delves into the scroll's unfinished love story, she is drawn into vivid, lifelike dreams where she embodies Mei Lin, a beautiful courtesan in Ming Dynasty China. In these dreams, she meets General Zhang, a powerful warrior with whom Mei Lin shares an intense, forbidden love. However, the love story within the scroll is far from a simple tale of romance it's a tragic narrative of betrayal, duty, and sacrifice, one that has trapped souls for generations. As Li Wei and Zhou Yan's lives begin to mirror those of Mei Lin and General Zhang, they realize that they are not just reliving the past they are rewriting it. As the boundaries between dream and reality blur, Li Wei and Zhou Yan must uncover the scroll's dark secret and find a way to break the curse that has bound their souls to this tragic love story. Along the way, they face haunting visions, deepening emotions, and a powerful antagonist who seeks to keep the curse unbroken. Crimson Petals is a rich, emotional journey through time, exploring the enduring power of love, the complexities of destiny, and the possibility of rewriting fate. With its evocative blend of historical drama, supernatural mystery, and intense romance, this story is a page-turner that promises to captivate readers and has the potential to be adapted into a visually stunning manga or a gripping television series.

In the shadowy world where history and myth collide, Dr. Evelyn Blackstone stands at the precipice of a discovery that could reshape humanity's understanding of the ancient world - or tear it apart. When a mysterious Egyptian scarab arrives on her doorstep, Evelyn is thrust into a globe-trotting adventure that will challenge everything she thought she knew about history, power, and her own past. Joined by her loyal friend Jack O'Malley and the enigmatic Isabella Montoya, Evelyn races against time to uncover the secrets of the legendary Golden Scepter of Menes. From the fog-shrouded streets of London to the sun-baked sands of the Sahara, from the towering peaks of the Alps to the labyrinthine catacombs beneath Venice, Evelyn and her companions must stay one step ahead of the ruthless Baron von Richter and the shadowy organization known as the Crimson Dawn. As ancient traps spring to life and long-buried truths come to light, Evelyn faces an impossible choice: unlock the power that could elevate humanity to new heights, or protect the world from forces beyond mortal control. In this thrilling tale of archaeology, intrigue, and the supernatural, readers will: • Unravel cryptic codes hidden in artifacts spanning millennia • Explore breathtaking locations steeped in history and danger • Confront moral dilemmas that blur the lines between right and wrong • Witness the clash between modern ambition and ancient power "The Gilded Cipher" is a pulse-pounding adventure that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Join Dr. Evelyn Blackstone as she risks everything to solve the greatest mystery of the ancient world - and perhaps save humanity in the process. Unearth the secrets. Decode the past. Race against time. The adventure of a lifetime awaits.

A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle In this gripping detective novel, the legendary Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. John Watson embark on their first adventure together. When a man is found murdered in a London house, with the word "RACHE" scrawled in blood on the wall, the case quickly turns into a complex puzzle that only Holmes's unparalleled intellect can solve. As Holmes and Watson delve into the investigation, they uncover a story that stretches far beyond the crime scene. Their pursuit of the truth leads them through a labyrinth of deception, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and revenge that cross both time and place. From the gritty streets of London to the wild landscapes of America, Holmes and Watson's journey reveals a hidden world of secrets and a chilling motive behind the murder. In "A Study in Scarlet," Arthur Conan Doyle introduces readers to the brilliant mind of Sherlock Holmes and the steadfast companionship of Dr. Watson, setting the stage for a series of thrilling adventures. Join them in this classic tale of mystery and intrigue, where every clue is a step closer to uncovering the truth.

Time doesn't always move forward. Sometimes it hunts you. When fifteen-year-old Anna Turner is uprooted from San Francisco and dropped into a crumbling 1800s stone house in Logan, Utah, she expects boredom, not... fractures in reality. Whispers of another century. Footsteps in locked rooms. A Shoshone girl in the mirror where Anna should be. And memories that don't belong to her. Some doors aren't meant to open. But this house doesn't care. When time slips, truth bleeds. And Anna must face a past that refuses to stay buried - before it claims her future. 🕰️ Time-slip mystery 🌄 Historical Indigenous echoes 👻 Haunted-house atmosphere 💔 Family secrets & second chances History isn't gone. It's waiting.