Top new historical-fiction books in August 2024
Last updated:
August 31, 2024
August 2024 featuring new releases by Elif Shafak, Abi Daré, Jodi Picoult, Matt Haig, Sara Goodman Confino, Maureen Johnson, Robert Harris, Sally Page, Laila Ibrahim, Susanna Kearsley and many more.
-
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
From the Booker Prize finalist author of The Island of Missing Trees, an enchanting new tale about three characters living along two rivers, all under the shadow of one of the greatest epic poems of all time. “Make place for Elif Shafak on your bookshelf… you won’t regret it... -
![And So I Roar by Abi Daré]()
And So I Roar by Abi Daré
A stunning, heartwrenching new novel from Abi Daré, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl with the Louding VoiceWhen Tia accidentally overhears a whispered conversation between her mother—terminally ill and lying in a hospital bed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria—and her aunt, the repercussions will send her on a desperate quest to uncover a secret her mother has been hiding for nearly two... -
![By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult]()
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
Two women, centuries apart--one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare's plays--are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.In 1581, Emilia Bassano--like most young women of her day--is allowed no voice of her own. But as the Lord Chamberlain's mistress, she has access to all theater in England, and finds a way to bring her work to the stage secretly...historical-fiction · fiction · contemporary · feminism · family · literary-fiction · female-mc · friendship · book · adult -
![The Life Impossible by Matt Haig]()
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
The remarkable next novel from Matt Haig, the author of #1 New York Times bestseller The Midnight Library, with more than nine million copies sold worldwide“What looks like magic is simply a part of life we don’t understand yet…”When retired math teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her...europe · south-europe · spain · fiction · contemporary · historical-fiction · literary-fiction · fantasy · female-mc · aliens -
![Behind Every Good Man by Sara Goodman Confino]()
Behind Every Good Man by Sara Goodman Confino
A wronged wife goes toe to toe with her cheating husband at the polls in this hilarious and heart-lifting novel by the bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write.It’s a doozy of a bad day for Beverly Diamond when she catches her husband, Larry, in a compromising position with his secretary...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · audiobook · womens-fiction · historical · humor · politics · family · cheating -
-
![Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson]()
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson
From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters...romance · young-adult · mystery · fiction · contemporary · lgbtq · historical-fiction · 20th-century · law-enforcement · book -
![Precipice by Robert Harris]()
Precipice by Robert Harris
Summer 1914. A world on the brink of catastrophe.In London, twenty-six-year-old Venetia Stanley—aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless—is part of a fast group of upper-crust bohemians and socialites known as “The Coterie.” She’s also engaged in a clandestine love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age...europe · british-isles · united-kingdom · england · urban · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · audiobook · ww1 -
![The Secrets of Flowers by Sally Page]()
The Secrets of Flowers by Sally Page
From the author of the phenomenal bestsellers The Keeper of Stories and The Book of Beginnings comes an utterly beautiful and uplifting novel.One year on from the death of her husband, Emma feels no closer to moving forward with her life. Seeking distraction, she quits her job and begins working at the local garden centre...fiction · contemporary · historical-fiction · womens-fiction · audiobook · mental-illness · friendship · family · female-mc · romance -
![Falling Wisteria by Laila Ibrahim]()
Falling Wisteria by Laila Ibrahim
As America enters WWII, two women on the home front strive to stay strong in a heartfelt novel about hope, friendship, and family by the bestselling author of Yellow Crocus and Golden Poppies.Kay Lynn Brooke is a wife and mother in Berkeley, California, building a solid future with her husband and family...historical-fiction · fiction · audiobook · war · historical · ww1 · survival · romantic-love · religious · friendship -
![The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley]()
The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley
For fans of Diana Gabaldon and Philippa Gregory, courtly rivalry and intrigue… 1613: King James – sixth of Scotland, first of England, son of Mary, Queen of Scots - has unified both countries under one crown. But the death of his eldest son, Henry, has plunged the nation into mourning, as the rumours rise the prince was poisoned. Andrew Logan’s heard the rumours, but he’s paid them little heed...romance · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · early-modern · audiobook · journey · military · forced-proximity · mystery -
![The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen]()
The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen
An investigation into a girl’s disappearance uncovers a mystery dating back to World War II in a haunting novel of suspense by the bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Paris Assignment. 1968. Liz Houghton is languishing as an obituary writer at a London newspaper when a young girl’s disappearance captivates the city. If Liz can break the story, it’s her way into the newsroom...historical-fiction · mystery · ww2 · historical · female-mc · crime · cozy · 20th-century · fiction · law-enforcement -
![An Echo in Time by Boo Walker]()
An Echo in Time by Boo Walker
A woman delves into a centuries-old murder to find the truth behind her self-destructive behavior in a powerful novel about love, loss, and healing by the bestselling author of An Unfinished Story and The Stars Don’t Lie.Unable to catch a break in life or love as she approaches thirty, Charli Thurman sees red lights at every crossroads...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · mystery · historical · audiobook · magical-realism · season-winter · family · female-mc -
![Through the Mist by Lindsay Jayne Ashford]()
Through the Mist by Lindsay Jayne Ashford
Two women disturb the dark history of a deceptively quiet postwar Cornwall village in a haunting novel by the bestselling author of A Feather on the Water and The Woman on the Orient Express.It’s winter 1947 when newlyweds Ellen and Tony Wylde move into an abandoned Cornish farmhouse overlooking the sea...historical-fiction · mystery · fiction · historical · ghosts · audiobook · spooky · thriller · paranormal · horror -
![The Moonflowers by Abigail Rose-Marie]()
The Moonflowers by Abigail Rose-Marie
In a powerful and poignant novel, an artist unravels her mysterious family history and its generations of women who depended on each other to survive.Tig Costello has arrived in Darren, Kentucky, commissioned to paint a portrait honoring her grandfather Benjamin. His contributions to the rural Appalachian town and his unimpeachable war service have made him a local hero...historical-fiction · fiction · mystery · historical · rural · literary-fiction · family · audiobook · crime · murder -
![The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister]()
The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister
Tearing through millions of dollars, four continents, and a hearty collection of husbands, real-life heiress Aimee Crocker blazed an unbelievable trail of public notoriety, private pain, and the kind of strong independent woman the 1880s had never seen...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · audiobook · womens-fiction · feminism · family · realistic · urban · marriage -
![Daughter of Fire by Sofia Robleda]()
Daughter of Fire by Sofia Robleda
For a young woman coming of age in sixteenth-century Guatemala, safeguarding her people’s legacy is a dangerous pursuit in a mystical, empowering, and richly imagined historical novel.Catalina Cerrato is raised by her widowed father, Don Alonso, in 1551 Guatemala, scarcely thirty years since the Spanish invasion...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · fantasy · magical-realism · early-modern · suspense · latinx-mc · audiobook -
![Scandalous Women: A Novel of Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann by Gill Paul]()
Scandalous Women: A Novel of Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann by Gill Paul
Mad Men meets the world of publishing in international bestselling author Gill Paul’s new novel about Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann, two dynamic, groundbreaking writers renowned for their scandalous and controversial novels, and the beleaguered young editorial assistant who introduces them...fiction · historical-fiction · feminism · historical · season-summer · 20th-century · family · friendship · breakup · domestic-drama -
![Jacaranda by Gaël Faye]()
Jacaranda by Gaël Faye
Milan, 11 ans, enfant unique, s’ennuie ferme dans une France où les échos des tragédies lointaines ne parviennent que par bribes, le soir, à la télévision. Et voilà que soudain, à la fin de l’été 1994, sa mère lui impose la présence d’un prétendu cousin de son âge, Claude...fiction · historical-fiction · audiobook · war · family · friendship · contemporary · violent-conflict · book · adult -
![Maybe Tomorrow by Michael Wood, Annabel Scholey]()
Maybe Tomorrow by Michael Wood, Annabel Scholey
Only available from Audible, a gripping psychological thriller from the author of the DCI Matilda Darke crime series. Perfect for fans of Stuart MacBride, Mark Billingham and Val McDermid.Will the truth prevail or will someone get away with murder?The morning after a ferocious storm, the body of a vulnerable teenage girl is found in the woods...audiobook · crime · fiction · mystery · suspense · law-enforcement · police-procedural · epic · killer · psychological -
-
![Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger]()
Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger
A disappearance and a dead body put Cork O’Connor’s family in the crosshairs of a killer in the twentieth book in the New York Times bestselling series from William Kent Krueger, “a master storyteller at the top of his game” (Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author).The disappearance of a local politician’s teenaged daughter is major news in Minnesota...mystery · fiction · historical-fiction · indigenous-mc · crime · law-enforcement · police-procedural · suspense · outdoors · murder -
![The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston]()
The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston
A gender-flipped Die Hard set in a mysterious castle, Cameron Johnston's The Last Shield is an engaging fantasy read, perfect for fans of John Gwynne and Mark Lawrence.The ancient forest realm of Sunweald is bordered on two sides by far mightier nations – a precarious situation...romance · fantasy · fiction · high-fantasy · audiobook · epic · magic · action-adventure · sci-fi · suspense -
![The Hidden Book by Kirsty Manning]()
The Hidden Book by Kirsty Manning
From the bestselling author of The Jade Lily comes a compelling novel based on a true story of a WWII European heirloom that brought down war criminals and travelled through history ... to be found in an Australian country shed in 2019...historical-fiction · ww2 · fiction · historical · war · audiobook · family · breakup · domestic-drama · female-mc -
![The New Camelot by Robyn Schneider]()
The New Camelot by Robyn Schneider
Sayeth it ain't so! The finale to the epic Emry Merlin trilogy is here, with all the sorcery, snark, and high stakes that made The Other Merlin one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of the Year!Everything is finally going right for Emry Merlin. Now that Arthur is the king and her wayward magic is under control, she’s enjoying life as Camelot’s official court wizard—and as Arthur’s girlfriend...romance · fantasy · young-adult · retellings · audiobook · magic · fiction · lgbtq · arthurian · historical-fiction -
![The Dark Healer #1 by Alex Toxic, Nadya Lee]()
The Dark Healer #1 by Alex Toxic, Nadya Lee
I had lain down in my crypt to rest for a few decades, but when I awoke, centuries had passed. My castle is in ruins, my clan is gone, and necromancers are considered just a fairytale for children.They take me for a healer. That’s because the world is sick. And it’s time for strong medicine...fantasy · urban-fantasy · audiobook · magic · litrpg · action-adventure · paranormal · progression-fantasy · young-adult · supernatural -
![Peggy by Leslie Jamison, Rebecca Godfrey]()
Peggy by Leslie Jamison, Rebecca Godfrey
A dazzling novel about Peggy Guggenheim—a story of art, family, love, and becoming oneself—by the award-winning author of Under the Bridge, now a Hulu limited series starring Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone“Godfrey brilliantly resurrects the avant-garde adventurer Peggy Guggenheim as a feminist icon for our times.”—Jenny Offill, author of Dept. of SpeculationVenice, 1958...historical-fiction · fiction · audiobook · historical · literary-fiction · feminism · family · female-author · 20th-century · book -
![Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan]()
Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan
An illuminating novel about the importance of reclaiming the past, based on the author’s family historySummer and her family always spend relaxed summers in Alberta, Canada, on the reservation where her mom’s family lives. But this year is turning out to be an eye-opening one...north-america · canada · middle-grade · historical-fiction · indigenous-mc · fiction · historical · family · young-adult · audiobook -
![The Housekeeper's Secret by Iona Grey]()
The Housekeeper's Secret by Iona Grey
Duty, desire, and deception reside under one roof.Standing in the remote windswept moors of Northern England, Coldwell Hall is the perfect place to hide. For the past five years, Kate Furniss has maintained her professional mask so carefully that she almost believes she is the character she has Coldwell’s respectable housekeeper...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · mystery · historical · audiobook · fantasy · young-adult · suspense · psychological -
![Follow the Stars Home by Diane C. McPhail]()
Follow the Stars Home by Diane C. McPhail
A captivating reimagining of the intrepid woman who – 8 months pregnant and with a toddler in tow – braved violent earthquakes and treacherous waters on the first steamboat voyage to conquer the Mississippi River and redefine America...historical-fiction · historical · fiction · audiobook · female-mc · action-adventure · friendship · book · adult -
![In a League of Her Own by Kaia Alderson]()
In a League of Her Own by Kaia Alderson
From the author of Sisters in Arms comes the incredible, untold story of Effa Manley, a black businesswoman in the male dominated baseball industry, and, currently, the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.1930s, New York City An ambitious Harlem woman’s husband upends her social climbing when he buys a Negro Leagues baseball team and appoints her as the team’s business manager...historical-fiction · sports · historical · fiction · audiobook · young-adult · black-mc · female-mc · 20th-century · poc-mc -
![Waiting for the Long Night Moon: Stories by Amanda Peters]()
Waiting for the Long Night Moon: Stories by Amanda Peters
From the bestselling author of The Berry PickersIn her debut collection of short fiction, Amanda Peters describes the Indigenous experience from an astonishingly wide spectrum in time and place—from contact with the first European settlers, to the forced removal of Indigenous children, to the present-day fight for the right to clean waterIn this intimate collection, Amanda Peters melds... -
![The Enchanted Lies of Céleste Artois by Ryan Graudin]()
The Enchanted Lies of Céleste Artois by Ryan Graudin
In this lush and lyrical fantasy, Ryan Graudin transports readers to the hidden magic pockets of early 1900s Paris, a place of enchanted salons, fortune tellers who can change your stars, and doorways that can take you to the most unexpected places—and introduces readers to the delightful Céleste Artois, a con artist who will make a deal with the devil in exchange for her life.. -
![The Paris Gown by Christine Wells]()
The Paris Gown by Christine Wells
From perennially popular historical novelist Christine Wells, the delightful tale of three young women in 1950s Paris who share a single dazzling Christian Dior gown.1957: Three friends—Margot, Gina, and Charlotte—share an apartment above a bookstore in Paris.Margot is a twenty-two-year-old Australian having the time of her life...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · womens-fiction · audiobook · friendship · politics · feminism · 20th-century -
![A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman]()
A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman
Sometimes danger lurks in plain sight, and in the cutthroat London Season socialite Lily Adler must race against time to catch a killer. Fans of Bridgerton will delight in this Regency-era mystery featuring an intrepid sleuth, plenty of intrigue, and a touch of romance. London, 1817...romance · mystery · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · cozy · audiobook · industrial-era · regency · crime -
-
![Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox]()
Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox
Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn't mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee its restoration...romance · christian · mystery · contemporary · fiction · family · womens-fiction · historical-fiction · audiobook · season-summer -
![A Proper Façade by Esther Hatch]()
A Proper Façade by Esther Hatch
Mercy Rothschild has always been granted an unusually long tether by her parents, who have never pushed her to marry until she’s ready. She assumes that when the right man comes along, she will marry for love. However, even her long-suffering parents have their limits. As she embarks on her third Season, they begin to pressure her to find a match...romance · historical-fiction · industrial-era · regency · historical · fiction · audiobook · victorian · enemies-to-lovers · family -
![An Improper Proposal by Audra Wells]()
An Improper Proposal by Audra Wells
She had sworn to never fall in love, but one man changed all the rules . . .Louisa Morgan never intended to fall in love, so when the stuffiest of men offers to marry her for the sake of convenience, it feels like an offer from heaven itself. Things change, however, and the rigid Duke of Boroux begins to wax poetic, doing his best to win her hardened heart... -
![The Queen City Detective Agency by Snowden Wright]()
The Queen City Detective Agency by Snowden Wright
Following an unforgettable cast of characters and a jaded female P.I. enmeshed in a criminal conspiracy in 1980s Mississippi, The Queen City Detective Agency is a riveting, razor-sharp Southern noir that unravels the greed, corruption, and racism at the heart of the American Dream...mystery · fiction · crime · historical-fiction · historical · thriller · law-enforcement · audiobook · female-mc · organized-crime -
![To the Sun by Octavia Randolph]()
To the Sun by Octavia Randolph
An unpredictable journey with unforeseen consequences…On Gotland Sidroc wakes from a disturbing dream; one of his sons, Hrald or Yrling – perhaps both – are in trouble. Both are in far-off Angle-land, and beyond his reach.Eskil the Svear sails to the island, offering Sidroc a rare opportunity to gain untold riches, with equal risk to life for those joining the venture... -
![A Pair of Wings by Carole Hopson]()
A Pair of Wings by Carole Hopson
An airline captain crafts a riveting, adventurous novel inspired by the remarkable true life of pioneer aviatrix Bessie Coleman, a Black woman who learned to fly at the dawn of aviation and found freedom in the air A few years after the Wright brothers’ first flight, Bessie was working the Texas cotton fields with her family when an airplane flew over their heads...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · audiobook · racism · 20th-century · black-mc · poc-mc · book · adult -
![Medusa by Nataly Gruender]()
Medusa by Nataly Gruender
An intimate look into the life of a legendary mythical villain who has so often been stripped of her voice and humanity in this debut novel, perfect for fans of Madeline Miller’s Circe and the works of Jennifer Saint.You know how Medusa’s story ends, but you’ve never heard her tell her own story… until now...myths · fantasy · retellings · historical-fiction · fiction · audiobook · historical · feminism · ancient-civilization · young-adult
