Past Kindle Book Deals but Still Must Read Books!
Looking for must read books you missed the first time around? You’re in the right place. This is where all of our past Kindle book deals live—the ones good enough to click, even if the discount’s gone. Every book here was hand-picked by our team, featured in a daily deal, and still earns a spot on your TBR.
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These Books Earned Our Seal of Approval—Snag Them Before They Vanish (Again)
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98 past books matching Historical Mystery
This will appeal to readers who want historical mystery built around a missing child, family secrets, and a decades-spanning investigation.
The Missing Daughter
Historical Fiction · Historical Mystery
Our take
After a young girl disappears, two families are left with questions that remain unanswered for decades. A reporter’s investigation begins uncovering the secrets surrounding the case and the people connected to it, with a 4.1-star average from more than 8,200 Goodreads ratings. This will appeal to readers who want historical mystery built around a missing child, family secrets, and a decades-spanning investigation.
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About the book
Some secrets are locked away for years . . .
Rebecca Waterhouse is just thirteen when she witnesses her mother's death at the hand of her father in Seaview Cottage. But what else did she see?
Years later, Rebecca's daughters Iris and Jessie know their mother will never speak of that terrible night. But when Jessie goes missing, with her gravely ill newborn, Iris realises the past may hold the key to her sister's disappearance.
With Jessie in trouble, Iris must unravel a twisting story of love and betrayal in her mother's family history.
Only then will Seaview Cottage give up its dark and tragic secret...
*Previously published as The Lost Child*
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Nominated for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel, this sweeping debut is perfect for fans of The Secret Keeper and The Bear and the Nightingale.
The Last Russian Doll
Historical Fiction · Historical Mystery
Our take
Three generations. One key. A century of secrets. Porcelain is a haunting epic of love, betrayal, and survival spanning the Russian Revolution to the fall of the Soviet Union. Nominated for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel, this sweeping debut is perfect for fans of The Secret Keeper and The Bear and the Nightingale. Click now to uncover the past.
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Rosie thought her past was buried. But in Russia, nothing stays hidden for long.
After the sudden death of her mother, Rosie leaves behind her polished life at Oxford to return to the land she once fled. Armed with a key and her mother’s haunting fairy tales, she uncovers a century of secrets buried beneath the porcelain smiles of the past.
From the glittering halls of a noble estate in 1917 to the frozen grip of Leningrad’s siege and Stalin’s ruthless purges, Porcelain (title placeholder) is a story of three generations of Russian women bound by betrayal, survival, and an impossible love.
An Edgar Award nominee for Best First Novel, this haunting saga blends folklore and history into a breathtaking tale of revenge, resilience, and redemption.
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The One Thing More drops readers into revolutionary France, where saving the king is already a desperate gamble and murder makes it worse.
The One Thing More
Historical Fiction · Historical Mystery
Our take
The One Thing More drops readers into revolutionary France, where saving the king is already a desperate gamble and murder makes it worse. With Louis XVI days from the guillotine, Célie Laurent joins a circle of royalists plotting a last-ditch rescue, only to discover a traitor may be hiding among them. Tense, atmospheric, and packed with political danger, this historical mystery blends suspense, betrayal, and the very real possibility of losing your head.
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About the book
A royalist out to save Louis XVI from the guillotine is murdered in this mystery set in revolutionary France by a New York Times–bestselling master.
Célie Laurent stands in the convention hall of the French Republic, watching the deputies vote one by one. Most of them have just one word to say: "Death." As the night wears on, the outcome of the vote moves beyond doubt, and Louis XVI is condemned to the guillotine. Célie will have just four days to save the king's life.
As the Revolution reaches a fever pitch, Célie falls in with a group of royalists who are willing to do whatever it takes to keep France from killing its king. Their plan is daring, but just might work—until the group's leader is murdered in cold blood. Somewhere among the royalists lies a traitor, and Célie and her friends must find him soon, lest they lose their heads before Louis loses his.
From the New York Times–bestselling author of the William Monk and Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, acclaimed for her atmospheric historical settings, The One Thing More is a fascinating tale of suspense.
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A good pick for fans of historical thrillers about political repression, divided loyalties, and the aftermath of rebellion.
The Bookseller of Inverness
Historical Fiction · Historical Mystery
Our take
Six years after surviving the Battle of Culloden, former Jacobite Iain MacGillivray leads a quiet life as an Inverness bookseller until a stranger is murdered in his shop. The killing draws him into a dangerous search shaped by old loyalties, betrayal, and unfinished business, with a 4.1-star average from more than 10,200 Goodreads ratings. A good pick for fans of historical thrillers about political repression, divided loyalties, and the aftermath of rebellion.
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About the book
A GRIPPING HISTORICAL THRILLER SET IN INVERNESS IN THE WAKE OF THE 1746 BATTLE OF CULLODEN.
'This slice of historical fiction takes you on a wild ride' THE TIMES
After Culloden, Iain MacGillivray was left for dead on Drummossie Moor. Wounded, his face brutally slashed, he survived only by pretending to be dead as the Redcoats patrolled the corpses of his Jacobite comrades.
Six years later, with the clan chiefs routed and the Highlands subsumed into the British state, Iain lives a quiet life, working as a bookseller in Inverness. One day, after helping several of his regular customers, he notices a stranger lurking in the upper gallery of his shop, poring over his collection. But the man refuses to say what he's searching for and only leaves when Iain closes for the night.
The next morning Iain opens up shop and finds the stranger dead, his throat cut, and the murder weapon laid out in front of him - a sword with a white cockade on its hilt, the emblem of the Jacobites. With no sign of the killer, Iain wonders whether the stranger discovered what he was looking for - and whether he paid for it with his life. He soon finds himself embroiled in a web of deceit and a series of old scores to be settled in the ashes of war.
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Two women.
The Letter Home
Historical Fiction · Historical Mystery
Our take
Two women. Two centuries. One heartbreaking legacy. In The Letter Home, bestselling author Rachael English weaves a poignant tale of famine-era Ireland and present-day Boston, where a journalist and a genealogist uncover a secret buried in blood and love. With 4.7 stars on Amazon, this powerful story of sacrifice and survival will stay with you. Click now to uncover the past.
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About the book
She left everything behind to give her daughter a chance. But the past never stays buried forever.
When Irish journalist Jessie Daly returns to the west coast after personal tragedy, she uncovers the haunting tale of Bridget Moloney—a young mother forced to make an unthinkable choice during Ireland’s Great Famine: stay and watch her child starve, or leave for America alone to save her.
Across the ocean in present-day Boston, Kaitlin Wilson’s family tree research leads her to Boherbreen—and to a secret hidden for generations.
Inspired by true events, The Letter Home is a heart-wrenching, sweeping tale of survival, sacrifice, and the enduring bond between mothers and daughters. Perfect for fans of The Paper Bracelet and The Nightingale, this is historical fiction at its most powerful.
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An atmospheric fit for historical fiction readers who enjoy botany, female friendship, and Georgian intrigue.
The Fair Botanists
Historical Fiction · Mystery · Historical Mystery
Our take
Selected as the Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2022, The Fair Botanists brings two women together in 1822 Edinburgh as a rare plant prepares to flower in the newly established Botanic Garden. Their connection leads them into secrets, scandal, and competing ambitions, with a 4.2-star rating from more than 2,700 Amazon reviewers. An atmospheric fit for historical fiction readers who enjoy botany, female friendship, and Georgian intrigue.
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About the book
'Compelling, fascinating . . . A cracking good read' Val McDermid
'An evocative, enjoyable portrait of 1820s Edinburgh' Sunday Times
'Lush, seductive' Daily Mail
'Completely enchanting' Scotsman
'A beautiful tale of scandal and intrigue' Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora
Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches?
It's the summer of 1822 and Edinburgh is abuzz with rumours of King George IV's impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a different kind of excitement has gripped the city. In the newly-installed Botanic Garden, the Agave Americana plant looks set to flower - an event that only occurs once every few decades.
When newly widowed Elizabeth arrives in Edinburgh to live with her late husband's aunt Clementina, she's determined to put her unhappy past in London behind her. As she settles into her new home, she becomes fascinated by the beautiful Botanic Garden which borders the grand house and offers her services as an artist to record the rare plant's impending bloom. In this pursuit, she meets Belle Brodie, a vivacious young woman with a passion for botany and the lucrative, dark art of perfume creation.
Belle is determined to keep both her real identity and the reason for her interest the Garden secret from her new friend. But as Elizabeth and Belle are about to discover, secrets don't last long in this Enlightenment city . . .
And when they are revealed, they can carry the greatest of consequences . . .
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In a city ruled by suspicion, truth hides behind loyalty and fear.
The Seeker
Mystery · Historical Fiction · Historical Mystery · Historical Thriller
Our take
In a city ruled by suspicion, truth hides behind loyalty and fear. In The Seeker, Damian Seeker serves as Cromwell’s most formidable agent in 1654 London, tasked with investigating the murder of a celebrated army captain. When the obvious suspect appears too convenient, Seeker navigates a web of spies and political intrigue in a historical thriller shaped by secrecy, power, and peril.
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About the book
London, 1654. In the teeming warren of spies, exiles and assassins that is Cromwell's London, the Lord Protector's most feared agent is Damian Seeker. No one knows where Seeker comes from or even his real name. But one thing is certain - nothing remains hidden from him for long.
When a popular captain and hero of Cromwell's all-powerful army is murdered, and Elias Ellingworth, an outspoken critic of Cromwell's regime, is found standing over the bleeding body clutching a knife, his guilt seems to be without question. Yet Seeker is not convinced. He will stop at nothing to unmask the true killer and save Ellingworth from the gallows and knows better than any man where to search.
'A cut above . . . A compelling plot and some wonderful characters make this a must-read' The Times
'A first class, compelling debut for MacLean's new hero' Crime Review
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Bestselling author James A. Michener delivers Alaska, a grand, sweeping saga of survival and ambition in America’s last frontier.
Alaska
Historical Fiction · Historical Mystery
Our take
Bestselling author James A. Michener delivers Alaska, a grand, sweeping saga of survival and ambition in America’s last frontier. From the Ice Age to the Gold Rush to World War II, this epic novel captures the triumphs and struggles of those who shaped the North. With a 4.5-star Amazon rating, this historical masterpiece is a must-read. Start your journey today!
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About the book
Sprawling, untamed, and breathtakingly vast—Alaska is a land of extremes, and James A. Michener captures its fierce beauty and history in this sweeping epic. From its ancient Ice Age origins to the fevered rush for gold, from the rise of the salmon industry to the perilous construction of the Alcan Highway during World War II, Michener weaves an unforgettable tapestry of survival, ambition, and resilience. Through larger-than-life characters who risk everything to carve out their destinies in the harsh northern frontier, Alaska brings history to life with gripping detail. Whether battling the elements, staking claims on fortune, or fighting to protect the land, each generation leaves its mark on this formidable landscape. A bold saga of adventure, courage, and human spirit—are you ready to journey north?
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Best for readers who like moving historical fiction about adoption, hidden family histories, Irish social history, memory, loss, and long-buried truths.
The Paper Bracelet
Historical Mystery · Literary Fiction
Our take
The Paper Bracelet follows Katie, a former nurse who kept baby bracelets from an Irish mother and baby home and begins reconnecting people with the secrets tied to them, with a 4.3-star average from more than 9,500 Goodreads ratings. Best for readers who like moving historical fiction about adoption, hidden family histories, Irish social history, memory, loss, and long-buried truths.
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About the book
Every paper bracelet held a mother's heartbreaking secret...
The must-read Top Ten bestseller, inspired by true events in a home for unwed mothers. Set in Ireland, Boston and London, and perfect for readers of The Girl Behind the Gates, Philomena and The Letter.
'Just heartwrenching and I was riveted with each page, wanting so badly to change the outcomes of what those poor young girls endured. I literally stayed up all night to read it' Reader review
'It broke my heart. Rachael has managed to tell a truly heartbreaking story beautifully and with real grace and dignity' Reader review
'This book handles a massive and heartbreaking history with a touch as warm and delicate as a baby's blanket' Reader review
For almost fifty years, Katie Carroll has kept a box tucked away inside her wardrobe. It dates from her time working as a nurse in a west of Ireland home for unwed mothers in the 1970s. The box contains a notebook holding the details of the babies and young women she met there. It also holds many of the babies' identity bracelets.
Following the death of her husband, Katie makes a decision. The information she possesses could help reunite adopted people with their birth mothers, and she decides to post a message on an internet forum. Soon the replies are rolling in, and Katie finds herself returning many of the bracelets to their original owners. She encounters success and failure, heartbreak and joy. But is she prepared for old secrets to be uncovered in her own life?
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A love that defies time.
Wonderland
Mystery · Historical Mystery
Our take
A love that defies time. A betrayal that could end it all. Neve is trapped in 1685, accused of witchcraft, and her only hope is Hugo—the man she loves across centuries. But can he save her before it’s too late? Wonderland is an unmissable timeslip novel with 4.5 stars on Amazon! Escape into history today.
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About the book
Neve never expected to find love three hundred years in the past, but the time slip at Everly Manor changed everything. Now, in 1685, she walks beside Lord Hugo Everly, determined to rewrite history and save a man from the gallows. But the past is dangerous, and one mistake could mean death.
When Neve is accused of witchcraft and thrown into a dark, filthy cell, Hugo is her only hope. But can he reach her before the flames are lit? As betrayals unfold and time runs out, Neve faces an agonizing question: If she survives, will she still have a future with Hugo?
A breathtaking historical timeslip novel, Wonderland is perfect for fans of Outlander and The Witch’s Daughter. Love can defy time—but can it escape fate?
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A good pick for readers who like historical mysteries built around cold cases, institutional secrets, and investigations spanning decades.
The Girls Left Behind
Historical Fiction · Historical Mystery
Our take
Days before retirement, Superintendent Jo Hamilton is pulled back into an unsolved 1970s case when a young woman’s bones are discovered, leading her to investigate a vanished teenager, a suspicious death, and secrets surrounding a troubled children’s home, with a 4.2-star average from more than 6,200 Goodreads ratings. A good pick for readers who like historical mysteries built around cold cases, institutional secrets, and investigations spanning decades.
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About the book
1985. Separated from her little sister at the children's home where they are taken as orphans, Holly Moore is a troubled teenager in need of love. When she meets a man who promises to take care of her, she hopes her luck has finally changed.
2015. The clock is ticking for Superintendent Jo Hamilton when the discovery of a young woman's remains takes her back to an unsolved case from the past. As a constable, Jo was often called out to deal with runaways from Morgate House, but when Holly Moore disappeared - after another female resident fell from the cliffs - Jo was convinced the home was hiding something. Now, with only days before her forced retirement, Jo decides to track down Holly's sister and re-open the case. But will the trail lead her disturbingly close to home?
A sister disappeared, a terrible wrong, and powerful people with something to hide . . . Discover the brand new emotional and thrilling novel from the bestselling author of The Girl in the Letter.
'A compelling but heartbreaking tale of cruelty, loss and betrayal' Woman's Weekly
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A strong match for readers drawn to gothic mysteries, Victorian London, folklore, ghosts, and strange historical secrets.
Things in Jars
Historical Fiction · Historical Mystery
Our take
Called “miraculous and thrilling” by Diane Setterfield, Things in Jars follows Victorian detective Bridie Devine as she searches for a kidnapped child whose rumored supernatural powers have drawn dangerous attention, with a 4.2-star rating from more than 3,700 Amazon reviewers. A strong match for readers drawn to gothic mysteries, Victorian London, folklore, ghosts, and strange historical secrets.
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About the book
In this “miraculous and thrilling” (Diane Setterfield, #1 New York Times bestselling author) gothic mystery for fans of The Essex Serpent and The Book of Speculation, Victorian London comes to life as an intrepid female sleuth wades through a murky world of collectors and criminals to recover a remarkable child.
Bridie Devine—flame-haired, pipe-smoking detective extraordinaire—is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors in this age of discovery.
Winding her way through the sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing secrets about her past that she’d rather keep buried. Luckily, her search is aided by an enchanting cast of characters, including a seven-foot-tall housemaid; a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost; and an avuncular apothecary. But secrets abound in this foggy Victorian underworld where nothing is quite what it seems.
Blending darkness and light, Things in Jars is a stunning, “richly woven tapestry of fantasy, folklore, and history” (Booklist, starred review) that explores what it means to be human in inhumane times.
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