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Historical Novels: Ancient History

Greece, Rome, the British Isles, Egypt and the Middle East


Novels are listed alphabetically by author within the following categories, with mystery novels listed separately at the end of each section:

Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Roman Britain
Ancient Ireland
Arthurian Britain
Ancient Egypt
Biblical Times and Ancient Middle East


Ancient Greece


The history of Ancient Greece stretches into prehistory, as myths and legends hint at what may have happened before the time of written history. After Hermann Schliemann unearthed magnificent gold artifacts in the 1870s at the Turkish site that he believed to be the location of ancient Troy, based on evidence in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, scholars gained new respect for the value of Homer's grasp of history. Modern archaeologists, excavating deeper, have found a series of cities built on top of each other, including a walled city which appears to have been destroyed by war, whose date corresponds to that of ancient Troy.

Ancient Crete, destroyed around 1400 B.C., is another civilization we have come to know from both legend and archaeology. The strange tale of the Minotaur, half-man, half-bull, seemed mere fantasy until the the bull-dancers painted on the walls of the Palace at Knossos suggested the vein of truth behind the legend.

History came into being with accounts like those of the Greek historians Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon, who wrote about the war with Persia and Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens in the fifth century B.C.. Their accounts, laced with vivid anecdotes about Persian and Greek leaders, have inspired many historical novels.

Alexander the Great, the fourth century Macedonian warrior-king who conquered most of the world known to the Greeks of his day, is still recalled in the Middle East and beyond with tales praising him as an ancestor or reviling him as a devil. Historians from the first century B.C. to the second century A.D., who had access to sources now lost, provide the historical basis for a variety of superb novels.

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Jane Alison, Render Unto Caesar, about a Greek trader who travels to Rome to try to collect money owed to his family

Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad, a literary novel about the experiences of Odysseus' wife, Penelope, while he was away fighting the Trojan War and voyaging home.

Alessandro Barrico, An Iliad, a retelling of the Iliad which stays close to the original but leaves out the appearances of the gods and goddesses

Henry Bauchau, Oedipus on the Road, about Oedipus during his years of wandering, the period Sophocles left out of his plays

Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Firebrand, a feminist perspective of the Trojan War seen through the eyes of a Kassandra raised by Amazons; similar in tone to the author's Arthurian novel, The Mists of Avalon

Gillian Bradshaw, The Sun's Bride, about the helmsman of a ship who stumbles across information that is about to touch off a war in the third century B.C.; forthcoming in August 2008

Bryher, Gate to the Sea, about a priestess who flees slavery in a community of enslaved Greeks in Poseidonia; Bryher was the pen name of the feminist author Annie Winnifred Ellerman

Moyra Caldecott, The Lily and the Bull, about life in ancient Crete

Taylor Caldwell, Glory and the Lightning, about the courtesan Aspasia and Pericles of Athens

Peter Carnahan, Pharnabazus Sits on the Ground With the Spartan Captains, a novel about the Persian ruler Pharnabazus and the Athenian general Alkibiades, narrated by a Spartan captain

Mike Chapman, Achilles, about Achilles; based on ancient Greek legends; self-published

Lindsay Clarke, The War at Troy, a novel of ancient history, about the Trojan War

Lindsay Clarke, The Return from Troy, about the homecoming of Greek leaders who fought in the Trojan War

Les Cole, The Sea Kings: The Prophecy, about Cretan traders in the Bronze Age; #1 in the Sea King trilogy

Les Cole, Lion at Sea: The Prophecy Continues, about Cretan traders in the Bronze Age; #2 in the Sea King trilogy

Les Cole, The Sea Peoples: The Prophecy Resolved, about Cretan traders in the Bronze Ag; self-published through Xlibris

Elizabeth Cook, Achilles, a literary novel about Achilles, the heroic Greek warrior who fought in the Trojan War. Review

J.B. Dath, Olympia 420, about efforts to revive the Olympic Games during the war between Athens and Sparta

William Stearns Davis, A Victor of Salamis: A Tale of the Days of Xerxes, Leonidas and Themistocles (1907), about the Greeks who defended their homeland from the Persian invasion

L. Sprague de Camp, An Elephant for Aristotle, about a man who undertakes a mission for Alexander the Great that involves a journey across the known world

L. Sprague de Camp, The Golden Wind (1969), about a second century B.C. Greek navigator who attempts a sea voyage from Egypt to India by sailing around the coast of Africa

Alfred Duggan, Besieger of Cities, about Demetrius I of Macedon, one of Alexander the Great's successors; also titled Elephants and Castles

John Erskine, The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1925), about the legendary Helen of Troy

Michael Curtis Ford, The Ten Thousand, a novel of warfare about the Athenian soldier Xenophon

Sarah B. Franklin, Daughter of Troy, about Briseis, the captive who becomes Achilles' mistress during the Trojan War

David Gemmell, Lord of the Silver Bow, historical fantasy set in the Trojan War period; #1 in the Troy series

David Gemmell, Shield of Thunder, historical fantasy set in the Trojan War period; #2 in the Troy series

David Gemmell, Fall of Kings, historical fantasy set in the Trojan War period; #3 in the Troy series

Margaret George, Helen of Troy, about the woman at the center of the Trojan War

Ellen Gilchrist, Anabasis: A Journey to the Interior, about a slave girl seeking freedom during the Peloponnesian War

Robert Graves, Homer's Daughter, about who the author of the Odyssey may have been if, as some scholars have speculated, she was a woman

Robert Graves, The Golden Fleece (also titled Hercules, My Shipmate) (1944), a retelling of the legend of Jason and the Argonauts by the author of I, Claudius

Peter Green, The Laughter of Aphrodite, about the ancient Greek poet Sappho of Lesbos

Judith Hand, Voice of the Goddess, about life in ancient Crete

T.L. Higley, Shadow of Colossus, historical romance about a woman on the Greek island of Rhodes in 227 B.C.; Christian message; #1 in the planned Seven Wonders series; forthcoming in August 2008

Tom Holt, The Walled Orchard, a darkly comic novel set in Athens during the Peloponnesian War; originally published as two novels, Goatsong and The Walled Orchard

Tom Holt, Alexander at the World's End, a darkly comic novel about a minor philosopher and Alexander the Great

Tom Holt, Olympiad, a comic novel about the first Olympic Games

Homer, The Iliad, the classic epic poem written in ancient history (800 B.C.) about the Trojan War

Homer, The Odyssey, an epic poem based on legends about the wanderings of Odysseus, a Greek survivor of the Trojan War, and his return home to Ithaca; written around the eighth century B.C.

Peter Huby, Pasiphae, based on the Greek myth about Pasiphae, the wife of the Cretan King Minos, and her passion for a white bull

Erica Jong, Sappho's Leap, about the poetess from the Greek Isle of Lesbos

Nikos Kazantzakis, Alexander the Great, a literary novel about Alexander

Lyndall Baker Landauer, The Man Who Saved Athens, about Themistokles, who successfully defended Athens from the Persians during the fifth century B.C.; self-published through Xlibris

Morgan Llywelyn, The Elementals, a four-part novel that links stories based on the destruction of the legendary Atlantis and the earthquake that destroyed Knossos with stories set in contemporary New England and in the future

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Spartan, about two brothers, one raised in the Spartan warrior tradition, the other in a family of Helot slaves

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Child of a Dream, about Alexander the Great; #1 in the Alexander trilogy

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Sands of Ammon, about Alexander the Great; #2 in the Alexander trilogy

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Ends of the Earth, about Alexander the Great; #3 in the Alexander trilogy

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Talisman of Troy, about a survivor of the Trojan War who journeys to Italy with a mother-goddess figure; based on legends about the Trojan War

Edison Marshall, Earth Giant, based on the legends about Hercules

Jon Edward Martin, The Headlong God of War, about the Greek defense against the Persian invading force in 480 B.C.; from the POD publisher PublishAmerica

Jon Edward Martin, In Kithairon's Shadow, about the Greek defense against the Persians after the Battle of Thermopylae in 490 B.C.; from the POD publisher iUniverse

Jon Edward Martin, Shades of Artemis, about the Spartan commander Brasidas and the Peloponnesian War; from the POD publisher PublishAmerica

Colleen McCullough, The Song of Troy, about the Trojan War

John McLeod, The Lion of Macedonia, about the childhood and adolescence of Alexander the Great; self-published through Xlibris

Nicholas Nicastro, Antigone's Wake, a novel of warfare about the Athenian general Pericles

Nicholas Nicastro, Empire of Ashes: A Novel of Alexander the Great, a novel of warfare about Alexander

Nicholas Nicastro, The Isle of Stone, a novel of warfare about the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens

Scott Oden, Men of Bronze, about a Phoenician warrior in 526 B.C. during the wars between Egypt and Persia

Scott Oden, Memnon, about Memnon of Rhodes, who fought on the Persian side against Alexander the Great

Richard Powell, Whom the Gods Would Destroy (1970), about a boy who grows up during the Trojan War

Steven Pressfield, Last of the Amazons, a novel of warfare based on the legend of Theseus and the Amazons from Greek mythology

Steven Pressfield, Tides of War, a novel of warfare about the Athenian general Alcibiades

Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae, a novel of warfare about the Spartan defense at Thermopylae

Steven Pressfield, The Virtues of War, a novel of warfare about Alexander the Great; #1 in a series

Steven Pressfield, The Afghan Campaign, a novel of warfare about Alexander the Great; #2 in a series

Article about Mary Renault

Mary Renault, The King Must Die (1958), a realistic historical novel based on the legend of Theseus from Greek mythology. Review

Mary Renault, The Bull from the Sea (1962), a realistic historical novel based on the legend of Theseus from Greek mythology; sequel to The King Must Die

Mary Renault, Fire from Heaven (1969), about Alexander the Great; #1 in the Alexander trilogy

Mary Renault, The Persian Boy (1972), about Alexander the Great; #2 in the Alexander trilogy

Mary Renault, Funeral Games (1981), about the friends of Alexander the Great after his death; #3 in the Alexander trilogy

Mary Renault, The Last of the Wine (1956), about a student of Socrates and his experiences during the Peloponnesian War

Mary Renault, The Mask of Apollo (1966), about the fourth century B.C. philosopher Plato in Syracuse, as narrated by a Greek actor

Mary Renault, The Praise Singer (1978), about the Greek lyric poet Simonides

Shan Sa, Alexander and Alestria, about Alexander the Great and his love affair with an Amazon queen from the eastern steppe country

Miranda Seymour, The Goddess, about Helen of Troy

Miranda Seymour, Medea, based on an ancient Greek legend about a sorceress who told Jason how fo find the Golden Fleece

Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze: A Thousand Ships, a graphic novel retelling the Trojan War story by incorporating archaeology and legend; #1 in the Age of Bronze graphic novel series

Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze: A Thousand Ships, a graphic novel incorporating archaeological findings with ancient legends to retell the Trojan War story; #1 in the Age of Bronze graphic novel series

Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze: Sacrifice, a graphic novel incorporating archaeological findings with ancient legends to retell the Trojan War story; #2 in the Age of Bronze graphic novel series

Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze: Betrayal, a graphic novel incorporating archaeological findings with ancient legends to retell the Trojan War story; #3 in the Age of Bronze graphic novel series

George Shipway, Warrior in Bronze, about Agamemnon's rise to the throne of Mycenae

George Shipway, King in Splendour, about Agamemnon and the Trojan War

Rex Stout, The Great Legend, a story about a soldier in the Trojan War; an early work by the author of the Nero Wolfe mystery series; originally appeared in serial form in 1916

Thomas Sundell, A Bloodline of Kings, about Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great

Rosemary Sutcliff, The Flowers of Adonis, about the brilliant but erratic Athenian general Alkibiades and the Peloponnesian War

Greg Tobin, The Siege of Troy, about the Trojan War

H.N. Turteltaub, Over the Wine-Dark Sea, straight historical fiction about ancient Greek seamen by an author who also writes alternative history novels under his real name, Harry Turtledove; #1 in a series

H.N. Turteltaub, The Gryphon's Skull, about ancient Greek seamen; #2 in a series

H.N. Turteltaub, The Sacred Land, about ancient Greek seamen; #3 in a series

H.N. Turteltaub, Owls to Athens, about ancient Greek seamen; #4 in a series

Barry Unsworth, The Songs of the Kings, about the Trojan War

Gore Vidal, Creation, a literary novel about a Persian ambassador to Athens and his travels through the ancient world, echoing those of Herodotus

Jill Paton Walsh, Farewell, Great King (1972), about Themistocles, who successfully defended Athens from the Persians during the fifth century B.C.

Rex Warner, Pericles the Athenian (1963), about the great fifth century B.C. Athenian leader

Christa Wolf, Cassandra, a literary, feminist perspective on the Trojan War by an East German author

Christa Wolf, Medea, a literary, feminist retelling of the Medea story that looks behind the misogynistic fantasy of the ancient legend to portray a realistic woman

Gene Wolfe, Soldier of the Mist, about a Spartan mercenary who, after a head injury, loses his short-term memory and gains the ability to speak with gods and goddesses; #1 in the Soldier series

Gene Wolfe, Soldier of Arete, about a Spartan mercenary who, after a head injury, loses his short-term memory and gains the ability to speak with gods and goddesses; #2 in the Soldier series

Gene Wolfe, Soldier of Sidon, about a Spartan mercenary who, after a head injury, loses his short-term memory and gains the ability to speak with gods and goddesses; #3 in the Soldier series

Frank Yerby, Goat Song, about a boy prostitute during the time of the Peloponnesian Wars



Ancient Greece: Mystery Novels


Anna Apostolou, A Murder in Macedon, a fictional attempt to solve the mystery of who murdered Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great; Anna Apostolou is a pen name of Paul Doherty; #1 in a mystery series

Anna Apostolou, A Murder in Thebes, a mystery novel set during the time of Alexander the Great; Anna Apostolou is a pen name of Paul Doherty; #2 in a mystery series

Daniel Chavarria, The Eye of Cybele, an erotic literary mystery novel set in Athens during the Peloponnesian War

Paul Doherty, The House of Death, a murder mystery set in the time of Alexander the Great; #1 in a mystery series

Paul Doherty, The Godless Man, a murder mystery set in the time of Alexander the Great; #2 in a mystery series

Paul Doherty, The Gates of Hell, a murder mystery set in the time of Alexander the Great; #3 in a mystery series

Margaret Doody, Aristotle Detective, set in ancient Athens; #1 in a mystery series

Margaret Doody, Aristotle and Poetic Justice, #2 in a mystery series

Margaret Doody, Aristotle and the Secrets of Life (also published under the title Aristotle and the Mystery of Life), #3 in a mystery series

Margaret Doody, Poison in Athens, #4 in a mystery series

Margaret Doody, Mysteries of Eleusis, #5 in a mystery series

Margaret Doody, Aristotle and the Fatal Javelin, published in Italy as #2 in the author's mystery series

Margaret Doody, Aristotle and the Ring of Bronze, a novella in the author's mystery series, published in Italy

Michael B. Edwards, Murder at the Panionic Games, about a minor priest who has a murdered man die in his arms as the Panionic Games begin in 650 B.C.

Patrick Hatten, Champion of the Dead, about the student of an Athenian boxer and his quest to find out who killed the boxer after he dies suddenly of poison during the Olympic games

Jose Carlos Somoza, The Athenian Murders, a story within a story as the translator of an account of a murder investigation in Plato's Athens becomes convinced that he, too, is in danger

Marilyn Todd, Blind Eye, a Spartan high priestess investigates murders attributed to the legendary Cyclops



Ancient Rome


Rome and its empire have been a popular subject of historical novels from the nineteenth century into the present. Suggesting the city's origins, legends tell of the Trojan War hero Aeneas fleeing to Italy after the fall of Troy and, more mysteriously, of the twins Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she-wolf. Archaeological evidence shows Rome was founded around the eighth century B.C. as a city influenced by its Etruscan neighbors. According to legend, Rome was first ruled by a series of kings, most of whose names were Etruscan.

Around the fifth century B.C., the people of Rome overthrew their last king and established a republic which endured for almost five centuries. During the turmoil of the first century B.C., a series of dictators took control of the city, culminating in the extraordinary rise of Julius Caesar and the end of the Republic.

Rome began its development into an empire while it was still a republic, absorbing its Italian neighbors. Caesar's conquests in Gaul and elsewhere began an expansion by which the Empire grew to encompass most of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean. The Empire's influence extended far beyond its official borders. Barbarian incursions, mutinies in its army, and the corruption and insanity of various emperors weakened the Empire and provide dramatic material for historical fiction. Its armies abandoned Britain in 410 A.D., the same year the city was sacked by the Visigoths. In the fifth century, Rome's territories were divided into an Eastern and a Western Empire, and the medieval era began.

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Jane Alison, The Love-Artist, about the poet Ovid's life on the Black Sea after Augustus banishes him from Rome

William Altimari, Legion, about a Roman centurion of the first century B.C. posted on the western frontier of Gaul as Germanic tribes attack from across the Rhine

Michael E. Anderson, The Parthian Interpreter, about the journey of a Roman senator and his Parthian slave to China during the reign of Marcus Aurelius

John Beatty, The Fourth Part of Gaul, about the revolt of the Veneti tribe of Gaul against Roman rule and the author's theory that the Veneti survivors sailed to America; self-published by a retired judge who served in France during World War II

Emery Bekessy, Barabbas (1947), about the criminal released in place of Jesus before the crucifixion

Albert A. Bell Jr., Daughter of Lazarus, about a Roman senator's slave woman and her interest in Christianity during the reign of Domitian; published through iUniverse

D.G. Bellenger, 68 A.D., about Servius Sulpicius Galba, who became Emperor of Rome after Nero's suicide in 68 A.D.; from POD publisher PublishAmerica

Gillian Bradshaw, The Sand-Reckoner, about Archimedes of Syracuse

Gillian Bradshaw, The Beacon at Alexandria, about a fourth century woman who disguises herself as a eunuch in order to become a doctor

Gillian Bradshaw, Cleopatra's Heir, a novel imagining what might have happened if Caesarion, Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar, had survived the plot to assassinate him

Gillian Bradshaw, Render Unto Caesar, a young Greek man who is a Roman citizen encounters prejudice when he goes to Rome to collect debts owed to his family

Wallace Breem, Eagle in the Snow, about the fall of Rome

Wallace Breem, The Legate's Daughter, about the Roman Empire during the time of Augustus

Hermann Broch, The Death of Virgil, about Virgil, the Roman poet who wrote The Aeneid about the fall of Troy

Jesse Browner, The Uncertain Hour, about the last banquet of a Roman aristocrat who, having offended Emperor Nero, is planning his suicide and takes the opportunity to enjoy his friends and reflect on his career

Bryher, The Coin of Carthage, set during the Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage; Bryher was the pen name of the feminist author Annie Winnifred Ellerman

Bryher, Roman Wall, set during the Roman period in what is now Switzerland; Bryher was the pen name of the feminist author Annie Winnifred Ellerman

Edward Bulwer-Lytton, The Last Days of Pompeii (1834), a romantic story about life in Pompeii that begins in the days just before Vesuvius erupted; Bulwer-Lytton is justly famous for his purple prose

Edgar Rice Burroughs, I Am a Barbarian, about a slave owned by the mad Emperor Caligula; written in 1941 but first published in 1967 after the author's death

Taylor Caldwell, A Pillar of Iron, about the Roman orator Cicero

Frank Castle, Nero (1961), cover copy: "The throbbing story of the mad Caesar whose lust for flesh and blood wrought a reign of violence unequaled in history"

David Chacko, The Severan Prophecies, about the Severan dynasty emperors after the assassination of the Emperor Caracalla in 217

Barry Clifton, Ben Hur: The Odyssey, a sequel to Lew Wallace's novel Ben Hur, which brings Ben Hur to Rome to defend the Apostle Paul after his arrest for missionary activities; Christian message

Wilkie Collins, Antonina; Or, The Fall of Rome (1850), a romantic novel about a woman living through the sack of Rome by the Goths. More info

David Corson, Domitia and Domitian, about the Emperor Domitian who ruled Rome from A.D. 81-96 and his wife Domitia; published through iUniverse

David Corson, Trajan and Plotina, about the Emperor Trajan who ruled Rome from A.D. 98-117 and his wife Plotina; published through iUniverse

Thomas B. Costain, The Darkness and the Dawn (1959), about Attila the Hun

Stephen Dando-Collins, The Inquest, about a Roman magistrate during the reign of Vespasian investigating the fledgling Christian movement and the rumors that a Jewish man has risen from the dead

Lindsey Davis, The Course of Honour, a stand-alone novel about Emperor Vespasian's mistress, by the author of the Falco Roman mystery series

William Stearns Davis, A Friend of Caesar: A Tale of the Fall of the Roman Republic (1900)

Mario de Carvalho, A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening, set during the late Roman empire and the rise of Christianity in the province that became modern Portugal

William Dietrich, Scourge of God, about Attila the Hun

L. Sprague de Camp, The Arrows of Hercules (1965), about an Italian engineer of the fourth century B.C. who invented an improved catapult and became involved in the war between Syracuse and Carthage

L. Sprague de Camp, Lest Darkness Fall, about a history professor who goes back in time and tries to prevent the fall of Rome

Paul Doherty, Domina, a sympathetic novel about Agrippina the Younger, the wife of Emperor Claudius and mother of Nero

Theodora DuBois, Captive of Rome, about an Irish princess sold into slavery in Rome and captured by Goths during the sack of the city; published in 1962.

James Duffy, Sand of the Arena, about a wealthy Roman who becomes a gladiator after a slave steals his identity following a deadly shipwreck; #1 in the Gladiators of the Empire series

James Duffy, Fight for Rome, about a gladiator who wields power behind the scenes during the civil war following Nero's suicide; #2 in the Gladiators of the Empire series

James Duffy, Rain of Fire, about a man who trains gladiators during the time of the eruption of Vesuvius; #3 in the Gladiators of the Empire series

Alfred Duggan, Children of the Wolf, about the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus; also titled Founding Fathers

Alfred Duggan, Winter Quarters, set in Gaul during the time of Julius Caesar

Alfred Duggan, Three's Company, about the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, the assassination of Caesar, and the government of the triumvirs from the persepctive of Lepidus, who served as triumvir with Antony and Octavian

Alfred Duggan, Family Favourites, about the Roman Emperor Elagabalus

Helen Dunmore, Counting the Stars, about the poet Catullus and his lover Clodia during a turbulent period in ancient Rome

David Anthony Durham, Pride of Carthage, about Hannibal's military campaign against Rome.

Rebecca East, A. D. 62: Pompeii, about a modern woman stranded in the past who becomes a slave in the household of Marcus Tullius in Pompeii. More info

Michael Curtis Ford, The Fall of Rome, a novel of warfare in the last days of the Roman Empire. More info

Michael Curtis Ford, Gods and Legions, a novel of ancient warfare about the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate. More info

Michael Curtis Ford, The Last King, a novel of ancient warfare about Rome's enemy Mithridates. More info

Michael Curtis Ford, The Sword of Attila, a novel of ancient warfare about Attila the Hun. More info

Hella S. Haasse, Threshold of Fire: A Novel of Fifth Century Rome, about the Christian persecutions of pagans in Rome during the time of Emperor Hadrian

Géza Gárdonyi, Slave of the Huns (1901), about a Byzantine slave of the Huns; based on the historical account of the Byzantine diplomat Priscus about his visit to the court of Attila the Hun

David Gibbins, The Last Gospel (titled The Lost Tomb in the U.S.), about a modern archaeologist who discovers a secret about the origin of Christianity while researching the ruins of a library in Pompeii

Donna Gillespie, The Light Bearer, about a Germanic woman warrior during the time of Nero who struggles to prevent Rome from conquering the German tribes

Donna Gillespie, Lady of the Light, sequel to The Light Bearer

Sherrie Seibert Goff, The Arms of Quirinus, about King Romulus Silvius Quirinus, the legendary first king of Rome in the eighth century B.C.; #1 in the planned Seven Kings of Rome series; from POD publisher iUniverse

Sherrie Seibert Goff, The Scent of Hyacinth, about King Numa Pompilius, the legendary second king of Rome; #2 in the planned Seven Kings of Rome series; from POD publisher iUniverse

Sherrie Seibert Goff, The Warrior's Dance, about King Tullus Hostilius, the legendary third king of Rome; #3 in the planned Seven Kings of Rome series; from POD publisher iUniverse

Jose Gomez-Rivera, Flavius Aetius: The Last Conqueror, a love story about the Empress Galla Placida and General Flavius Aetius and their struggle to preserve Rome during the last days of the Western Roman Empire

Jo Graham, Black Ships, historical fantasy about an oracle who guides Aeneas on his journey to a new land after the fall of Troy

Dewey Gram, Gladiator, a novelization of the film about a Roman general who becomes a gladiator in order to get revenge for the murder of his family.

Ralph A. Graves, The Lost Eagles, about a young Roman's attempt to recover the legionary eagle standards lost in the disastrous Battle of the Teutoburg Forest; published in 1955.

Robert Graves, I, Claudius, a novel of ancient Rome about Emperor Claudius; the television mini-series of the same name was based on this novel

Robert Graves, Claudius the God, the sequel to I, Claudius

Robert Graves, Count Belisarius, a novel of ancient history, about a Byzantine general

George Green, Hawk, an story of adventure and warfare about a hunter of animals for Roman gladiatorial contests who undertakes a dangerous mission north of the Alps in A.D. 34

Peter Green, The Sword of Pleasure, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman dictator Sulla

Barbara Hambly, Search the Seven Hills, a thriller set in ancient Rome that revolves around a strange new religious cult, the Christians; titled The Quirinal Affair in the UK

Robert Harris, Pompeii, a novel of ancient history, about the eruption of Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii

Robert Harris, Imperium, set in ancient Rome, about Cicero

Robert Harris, Conspiracy, about Cicero's year as consul in 63 B.C., as Julius Caesar plots to gain power and Cicero wonders whether he can justify using illegal methods in order to save the Roman Republic; forthcoming in October 2009

John Hersey, The Conspiracy, set in ancient Rome in the time of Nero

Cecelia Holland, The Death of Attila, a novel of ancient history, about a Hun warrior in the time of Attila

Thomas Holt, A Song for Nero, a thriller exploring the possibility that Nero survived beyond the date he was believed to have died

Peter Huby, Carthage, about Rome's destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C.

Damion Hunter, The Centurions, about the rivalry of two half-brothers in the Roman legions posted in Germania during the reign of Vespasian; Damion Hunter is a pen name of Amanda Cockrell; #1 in the Centurions series

Damion Hunter, Barbarian Princess, about the rivalry of two half-brothers in the Roman legions as one is assigned to escort a barbarian princess; Damion Hunter is a pen name of Amanda Cockrell; #2 in the Centurions series

Damion Hunter, The Emperor's Games, the careers of two half-brothers in the Roman legions diverge as one fights pirates in Gaul and the eruption of Vesuvius looms; Damion Hunter is a pen name of Amanda Cockrell; #3 in the Centurions series

Conn Iggulden, The Gates of Rome, about Julius Caesar as a youth, when he chooses the losing side in the struggle between Marius and Sulla to control Rome; #1 in the Emperor series

Conn Iggulden, The Death of Kings, about the dangers Caesar faced during his rise to power, including capture by Mediterranean pirates and the slave rebellion of Spartacus; #2 in the Emperor series

Conn Iggulden, The Field of Swords, about the friendship and rivalry between Caesar and Brutus as Caesar moves toward the fateful decision to cross the Rubicon and make war in Rome; #3 in the Emperor series

Conn Iggulden, The Gods of War, about Caesar and the civil war he pursued in order to unseat Pompey as dictator of Rome; #4 and last in the Emperor series

Gary Jennings, Raptor, about a hermaphrodite Goth, his travels through the crumbling fifth century Roman empire, and his friendship with the Ostrogoth King Theodoric the Great

Benita Kane Jaro, The Key, about the poet Catullus and his love affair with Clodia; #1 in the Key trilogy

Benita Kane Jaro, The Lock, about Cicero and the events that led to the downfall of the Roman Republic; #2 in the Key trilogy

Benita Kane Jaro, The Door in the Wall, about a young politician who must choose whether to support Julius Caesar or Pompey the Great in their struggle for power in Rome; #3 in the Key trilogy

Ben Kane, The Forgotten Legion, Roman survivors of the disastrous Battle of Carrae in 55 B.C. fight for their survival at the edge of the known world

Arthur Koestler, The Gladiators, about the slave revolt led by Spartacus

Par Lagerkvist, Barabbas (1950), about the criminal released in place of Jesus before the crucifixion; by a Nobel Prize-winning author

Ross Laidlaw, Attila: The Scourge of God, a novel of warfare about Attila the Hun and the Roman general Aetius

Ross Laidlaw, Theoderic, about the leader of the Goths who ravaged Rome and subsequently became Emperor of the Western Roman Empire

Patrick Larkin, The Tribune, a thriller with a Christian message set in Roman Galilee during the time of Jesus

Ross Leckie, Hannibal, a novel of ancient history, about the life of the Carthaginian general who invaded Rome; #1 in the author's Carthage trilogy

Ross Leckie, Scipio Africanus, a novel of ancient history, about the life of the Roman general who defeated Hannibal; #2 in the author's Carthage trilogy; also titled Scipio

Ross Leckie, Carthage, a novel of ancient history, about the destruction of Carthage in the Third Punic War; #3 in the author's Carthage trilogy

Ursula K. Le Guin, Lavinia, about the Italian woman who, according to legend, married Aeneas after the Trojan War and helped him found the city of Rome

Morgan Llywelyn, Etruscans, a fantasy novel based on legends about the ancient Etruscans, the forerunners of Roman civilization

Morgan Llywelyn, Druids, about Vercingetorix, the leader of the Gallic resistance against Caesar, and the druids of Gaul

Morgan Llywelyn, The Greener Shore, about Gallic druids who fled to Ireland after the Roman conquest of Gaul; sequel to Druids

Jack Ludlow, The Pillars of Rome, set in the Roman Republic, #1 in a series

Jack Ludlow, The Sword of Revenge, set in the Roman Republic, #2 in a series

James Mace, Soldier of Rome: The Legionary, about a young Roman legionary in the force sent to Germania to avenge the destruction of three legions in the Teutoburg Forest; #1 in the Soldier of Rome series

James Mace, Soldier of Rome: The Sacrovir Revolt, about a Roman legionary during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, as the threat of a rebellion in Gaul looms; #2 in the Soldier of Rome series

Paul L. Maier, The Flames of Rome, about the spread of Christianity in Rome during the reign of Nero.

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Empire of the Dragons, about the Roman Empire in the third century A.D.

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Tower, about the Roman Empire in the first century A.D.

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Tyrant, about Dionysius, the Tyrant of Syracuse, and his military challenge to Carthage in the fifth century B.C. More info

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Last Legion, about a band of Romano-British soldiers who journey to Rome in 470 A.D. as the Empire is beginning to collapse

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Talisman of Troy, about a survivor of the Trojan War who journeys to the Italian peninsula with a magical talisman

Allan Massie, Augustus, a novel of ancient history, about the first emperor of Rome; #1 in the author's Imperial series

Allan Massie, Tiberius: The Memoirs of the Emperor, a novel of ancient history, about Augustus' successor; #2 in the author's Imperial series

Allan Massie, Caesar, a novel of ancient history, about the rise of Julius Caesar; #3 in the author's Imperial series

Allan Massie, The Evening of the World, a novel of ancient history, about a Roman soldier's wanderings after the fall of Rome; #1 in the Dark Ages trilogy (#2, Arthur the King, is set in Arthurian Britain; #3, Charlemagne and Roland, is set in early medieval Europe)

Allan Massie, Antony, a novel of ancient history, about Mark Antony after the assassination of Julius Caesar

Allan Massie, Caligula, a novel of ancient history, about a depraved Roman Emperor

Allan Massie, Nero's Heirs, a novel of ancient history, about the "year of the three emperors" after the death of Nero

Terry McCarthy, The Sword of Hannibal, about a mercenary who becomes involved in Hannibal's march across the Alps to invade Rome

Colleen McCullough, First Man in Rome, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman consul Gaius Marius; #1 in the Masters of Rome series

Colleen McCullough, The Grass Crown, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman dictator Sulla; #2 in the Masters of Rome series

Colleen McCullough, Fortune's Favorites, a novel of ancient history, about the later years of Sulla; #3 in the Masters of Rome series

Colleen McCullough, Caesar's Women, a novel of ancient history, about the rise of Julius Caesar; #4 in the Masters of Rome series

Colleen McCullough, Caesar, a novel of ancient history, about the mature Julius Caesar; #5 in the Masters of Rome series

Colleen McCullough, The October Horse, a novel of ancient history, about Caesar and Cleopatra; #6 in the Masters of Rome series

Colleen McCullough, Antony and Cleopatra, a novel of ancient history, about the title characters; #7 in the Masters of Rome series

Kathleen Morgan, Enchant the Dream, historical romance about a Germanic priestess and a Celtic chieftain forced into slavery in ancient Rome.

Talbot Mundy, Caesar Dies, about the plot to kill the Roman Emperor Commodus after he goes insane; originally published in 1934

H. Warner Munn, The Lost Legion, an adventure story about a legion sent to Asia by the mad Emperor Caligula

William Napier, The Scourge of God (also titled Attila), about the early life of Attila the Hun; #1 in the Attila the Hun trilogy

William Napier, The Gathering of the Storm, about the early life of Attila, as he returns from exile to claim his kingdom and strives to unite the Huns and Scythians; #2 in the Attila the Hun trilogy

William Napier, Attila: The Judgment (2008), about Attila's campaign against Rome; #3 in the Attila the Hun trilogy

John Henry Newman, Callista: A Tale of the Third Century (1855), about a young woman in Roman Africa and the process by which she converts to Christianity; written by an Anglican convert to Catholicism who became a cardinal

Kyle Onstott and Lance Horner, Child of the Sun (1966), about the "effeminate" and “perverted" Varius Avitus Bassianus, or Elagabalus, who became Emperor of Rome in A.D. 218

Vincent Panella, Cutter's Island, about Julius Caesar's experience of being kidnapped by pirates as a young man (an actual historical event).

Chet Raymo, Valentine, a novel based on the tradition that the original St. Valentine was a physician who fell in love with a blind woman in ancient Rome

Boris Raymond, The Phoenix Circle, about a group of Roman aristocrats struggling to prevent the destruction of the Empire as barbarians close in on it and a new religion gains power

Robert Raymond, Fire and Bronze, about a princess of Tyre who became Queen Dido; based on legends about the founding of Carthage

Angela Render, Forged by Lightning: A Novel of Hannibal and Scipio, about the generals who led the Roman and Carthaginian armies during the Second Punic War; self-published through Lulu.com

Patrick Rivette, The Chief Centurion: A Soldier for Rome, about a Roman soldier who rescues the early Christian leader Paul from an angry mob; self-published through Xlibris

Francine Rivers, A Voice in the Wind, #1 in the Mark of the Lion series about the rise of Christianity in ancient Rome; Christian message

Francine Rivers, An Echo in the Darkness, #2 in the Mark of the Lion series about the rise of Christianity in ancient Rome; Christian message

Francine Rivers, As Sure as the Dawn, #3 in the Mark of the Lion series about the rise of Christianity in ancient Rome; Christian message

Keith Roberts, The Boat of Fate, about a young Roman during the disintegration of the Roman Empire

Kathleen Robinson, Dominic, about an orphaned dwarf from Gaul who travels through the collapsing Roman empire. More info

Kathleen Robinson, Heaven's Only Daughter, historical romance about a Roman princess and a Gothic king during the fifth century fall of Rome

David M. Ross, In the Army of Marcus Batallius, about the commander of a newly formed legion charged with the responsibilty of establishing a Roman fort in Germanic territory on the east side of the Rhine


Barry Sadler, The Eternal Mercenary, about a Roman soldier present at the crucifixion and doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; #1 in the Eternal Mercenary series

Barry Sadler, Casca 5: The Barbarian, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in Germany during the time of the Roman Empire; #5 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#2 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, God of Death, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who travels to Mexico with a group of Viking warriors; #2 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#3 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 3: The Warlord, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in the Mediterranean and in China; #3 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#4 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 6: The Persian, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who becomes a commander of the Persian army; #6 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#5 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 7: The Damned, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who takes part in Rome's struggle to defend itself against the Huns and Visigoths; #7 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#6 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 9: The Sentinel , about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in Constantinople and North Africa; #9 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#7 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 13: The Assassin, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who joins the Hashishi assassins during the time of the Seljuk Turks; #13 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#8 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 19: The Samurai, about a soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who becomes a samurai in medieval Japan; #19 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#9 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 22: The Mongol, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights alongside the Mongol warrior who will become Genghis Khan; #22 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#10 chronologically of the first 22 books of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 10: The Conquistador, about Roman a soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who goes to Mexico with Cortez; #10 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#11 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 15: The Pirate, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who joins Blackbeard's pirate crew; #15 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#12 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 17: The Warrior, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in the South Sea Islands; #17 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#13 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 18: The Cursed, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights in China during the Boxer Rebellion; #18 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#14 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 21: The Trench Soldier, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights on the British side in World War I; #21 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#15 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 4: The Panzer Soldier, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights on the German side in World War II; #4 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#16 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 11: The Legionnaire, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights for the French Foreign Legion in Vietnam; #11 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#17 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 16: Desert Mercenary, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights against the Tuareg in North Africa; #16 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#18 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 14: The Phoenix, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who serves in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War; #14 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#19 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 20: Soldier of Gideon, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights for Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War; #20 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#20 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 8: Soldier of Fortune, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in Cambodia during the time of the Khmer Rouge; #8 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#21 chronologically of the first 22 books)

Barry Sadler, Casca 12: The African Mercenary, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who joins a team sent to depose a twentieth century African dictator; #12 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#22 chronologically of the first 22 books)

(Sadler series) Paul Dengelegi, Barry Sadler's Casca: The Liberator, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; #23 in the Eternal Mercenary series

(Sadler series) Paul Dengelegi, Barry Sadler's Casca: The Defiant, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in medieval Venice; #24 in the Eternal Mercenary series

(Sadler series) Tony Roberts, Barry Sadler's Casca: Halls of Montezuma, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights during the Mexican-American War; #25 in the Eternal Mercenary series

(Sadler series) Tony Roberts, Barry Sadler's Casca: Johnny Reb, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights in the Civil War; #26 in the Eternal Mercenary series

(Sadler series) Tony Roberts, Barry Sadler's Casca: The Confederate, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights in the Civil War; #27 in the Eternal Mercenary series


Richard Ben Sapir, The Far Arena, about a Roman gladiator brought to life in the twentieth century

Steven Saylor, Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome, a stand-alone sweep-of-history novel by the author of the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series, about the history of ancient Rome from the time of its founding

Simon Scarrow, Under the Eagle, about a new recruit to Rome's Second Legion, posted in Germany in 42 A.D.; #1 in the author's Cato series

Simon Scarrow, The Eagle's Conquest, about a Roman centurion fighting in the campaign to conquer Britian in 43 A.D.; #2 in the author's Cato series

Simon Scarrow, When the Eagle Hunts, about a Roman centurion in Britain in the winter of 44 A.D.; #3 in the author's Cato series

Simon Scarrow, The Eagle and the Wolves, about a Roman centurion in Britain in the summer of 44 A.D.; #4 in the author's Cato series

Simon Scarrow, The Eagle's Prey, about a Roman centurion in Britain fighting against the army organized by Caratacus; #5 in the author's Cato series

Simon Scarrow, The Eagle's Prophecy, about a Roman soldier assigned to defeat a gang of pirates who have stolen some scrolls vital to the Empire's future; #6 in the author's Cato series

Simon Scarrow, The Eagle in the Sand, about a Roman soldier struggling to avert trouble in Syria; #7 in the author's Cato series

Simon Scarrow, Centurion, about a Roman centurion in Parthia, #8 in the author's Cato series

Rafael Scott, The Lion's Brood, about the Carthaginian general Hannibal, from his childhood to his war upon Rome; from POD publisher PublishAmerica

George Shipway, Imperial Governor, about the first century rebellion of Queen Boudica, from the perspective of the Roman Governor of Britain

Henryk K. Sienkiewicz, Quo Vadis, about Rome in the time of Nero; the 1896 novel by a Polish author who subsequently won the Nobel prize in literature

Norman Spinrad, The Druid King, a novel of ancient history, about Caesar's war in Gaul and Vercingetorix, the Celtic chieftain who opposed him

John Stewart, The Centurion, about an imperial legate to Judea and a centurion drawn to the teachings of Jesus during the period before and after the crucifixion; Christian message

Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove, Household Gods, about a modern woman who travels in time to ancient Rome

Edward Thomson, Atilus the Slave, #1 in the Gladiators series

Edward Thomson, Atilus the Gladiator, #2 in the Gladiators series

Edward Thomson, Gladiator, #3 in the Gladiators series

Gore Vidal, Julian, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman Emperor Julian

Virgil, The Aeneid, an epic poem which incorporates ancient legends about the fall of Troy and the founding of Rome; written in the first century B.C.

Lew Wallace, Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ, about Roman Judea in the time of Jesus; Christian message

Rex Warner, The Young Caesar, a biographical novel about Julius Caesar's early years in the form of an autobiography

Rex Warner, Imperial Caesar, a biographical novel about Julius Caesar in the form of an autobiography; sequel to The Young Caesar

Paul Waters, Of Merchants and Heroes (2008), about a young man in Rome at the close of the wars with Carthage in the late third century B.C. who sets out to avenge his father's murder by pirates

Russell Whitfield, Gladiatrix, about a first century Spartan woman forced into slavery in the Eastern Roman Empire who becomes a gladiatrix

Leonard Wibberley, The Testament of Theophilus, about a skeptical Roman converted to Christianity during the time of the Gospels; published in 1973.

Thornton Wilder, The Ides of March, about Julius Caesar; published in 1948.

John Edward Williams, Augustus: A Novel, a literary novel about the Roman Emperor Augustus and his rise to power

David Wishart, I, Virgil, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman poet who wrote the Aeneid

David Wishart, Nero, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman Emperor Nero

David Wishart, The Horse Coin, about the first century Boudican rebellion in Roman Britain, from the Roman perspective

Marguerite Yourcenar, The Memoirs of Hadrian, a literary novel of ancient history, about the Roman Emperor Hadrian



Ancient Rome: Mystery Novels


Scroll down or jump to:

"Falco" series by Lindsey Davis
"SPQR" series by John Maddox Roberts
"Roma Sub Rosa" series by Steven Saylor
"Claudia Seferius" series by Marilyn Todd
"Marcus Corvinus" series by David Wishart


Albert A. Bell Jr., All Roads Lead to Murder: A Case From the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger, a mystery in which Luke the Apostle and the Roman scholars Tacitus and Pliny, traveling through Smyrna on their way to Rome, investigate the murder of a fellow traveler

Philip Boast, The Third Princess, about the seventh son of a Roman aristocrat assigned to guard a Christian princess after his family is murdered; #1 in the Septimus Quistus mystery series

Philip Boast, The Son of Heaven, about the seventh son of a Roman aristocrat assigned to guard a Chinese Emperor's heir from the Huns along the Spice Road; #2 in the Septimus Quistus mystery series

Ron Burns, Roman Nights, about a Roman lawyer investigating a series of murders of Stoic philosophers; #1 in the Livinius Severus mystery series

Ron Burns, Roman Shadows, about a Roman lawyer in the days after the murder of Julius Caesar; #2 in the Livinius Severus mystery series


Lindsey Davis, Silver Pigs, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#1 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Shadows in Bronze, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#2 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Venus in Copper, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#3 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, The Iron Hand of Mars, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#4 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Poseidon's Gold, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#5 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Last Act in Palmyra, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#6 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Time to Depart, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#7 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Dying Light in Corduba, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#8 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Three Hands in the Fountain, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#9 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Two for the Lions, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#10 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, One Virgin Too Many, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#11 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Ode to a Banker, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#12 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, A Body in the Bath House, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#13 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, The Jupiter Myth, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#14 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, The Accusers, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#15 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Scandal Takes a Holiday, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#16 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, See Delphi and Die, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#17 in the Falco mystery series)

Lindsey Davis, Saturnalia, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#18 in the Falco mystery series)


Paul Doherty, Domina, about Agrippina, the wife of Emperor Claudius and mother of Nero; #1 in the Ancient Rome series. More info

Paul Doherty, Murder Imperial, about a crisis faced by the new Emperor Constantine when a series of courtesans he had visited are murdered; #2 in the Ancient Rome series. More info

Paul Doherty, The Song of the Gladiator, about a theological debate sponsored by Constantine during the summer of 313 A.D.; #3 in the Ancient Rome series. More info

Paul Doherty, The Queen of the Night, about a mysterious series of murders of veteran soldiers in the summer of 314 in Rome which resemble barbaric practices of the Picts; #4 in the Ancient Rome series. More info

Paul Doherty, Murder's Immortal Mask, about a serial killer who, having suspended his crimes since Constantine became emperor, suddenly begins killing again; #5 in the Ancient Rome series. More info


Albert Noyer, The Cybelene Conspiracy, a mystery set in the fifth century Roman Empire, #1 in the mystery series

Albert Noyer, The Secundus Papyrus, a mystery set in the fifth century Roman Empire, #2 in the mystery series

Albert Noyer, The Saint's Day Deaths, a mystery set in the fifth century Roman Empire, #3 in the mystery series

Ben Pastor, The Water Thief, Emperor Diocletian's historian investigates the death of a man drowned in the Nile; #1 in the Aelius Spartianus mystery series

Ben Pastor, The Fire Waker, Emperor Diocletian's historian investigates the case of a man seemingly resurrected from the dead - and then murdered; #2 in the Aelius Spartianus mystery series


John Maddox Roberts, SPQR, set in ancient Rome; #1 in the SPQR mystery series; SPQR was short for "Senatus Populusque Romanus," meaning "The Senate and the People of Rome"

John Maddox Roberts, The Catiline Conspiracy, #2 in the SPQR mystery series

John Maddox Roberts, The Sacrilege, #3 in the SPQR mystery series

John Maddox Roberts, The Temple of the Muses, #4 in the SPQR mystery series

John Maddox Roberts, Saturnalia, #5 in the SPQR mystery series

John Maddox Roberts, Nobody Loves a Centurion, #6 in the SPQR mystery series

John Maddox Roberts, The Tribune's Curse, #7 in the SPQR mystery series

John Maddox Roberts, The River God's Vengeance, #8 in the SPQR mystery series

John Maddox Roberts, The Princess and the Pirates, #9 in the SPQR mystery series

John Maddox Roberts, A Point of Law, #10 in the SPQR mystery series

John Maddox Roberts, Under Vesuvius, #11 in the SPQR mystery series


Steven Saylor, Roman Blood, about a citizen of ancient Rome who makes his living as a "finder" and investigates the case of a young man accused of killing his father; #1 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info

Steven Saylor, Arms of Nemesis, with the Spartacan slave revolt stirring tension between Roman slaves and their masters, Gordianus the Finder investigates a case of murder on the estate of the richest man in Rome, who has vowed to put all of his 99 slaves to death as punishment; #2 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info

Steven Saylor, Catilina's Riddle, as Gordianus relaxes on his farm, he is reluctantly drawn back into the city's intrigues when Cicero asks him to keep an eye on what his rival Catilina is up to; #3 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info

Steven Saylor, The Venus Throw, after one of Gordianus's clients is murdered, a beautiful and scandalous woman hires him to find out who did it; #4 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info

Steven Saylor, A Murder on the Appian Way; Pompey the Great asks Gordianus the Finder to find out who murdered Publius Clodius, an investigation that plunges Gordianus into serious danger; #5 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info

Steven Saylor, Rubicon, as Caesar's army crosses the Rubicon into Rome, the beleagered Pompey forces Gordianus to investigate the murder of his cousin; #6 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info

Steven Saylor, Last Seen in Massilia, after Gordianus sees a young woman fall to her death from Sacrifice Rock, he tries to find out if she was pushed; #7 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info

Steven Saylor, A Mist of Prophecies; when a beautiful seeress dies in Gordianus's arms, he becomes obsessed with finding out who murdered her and why; #8 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info

Steven Saylor, The Judgment of Caesar, when Gordianus brings his ailing wife to Egypt for a cure, he becomes enmeshed in the struggle between Caesar, Cleopatra and King Ptolemy for control of Egypt; #9 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info

Steven Saylor, The Triumph of Caesar, officially retired and no fan of Julius Caesar, Gordianus reluctantly agrees to investigate the rumored assassination plots against him for his wife, Calpurnia; #10 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. Review

Steven Saylor, The House of the Vestals, mystery short stories about the characters in the Roma Sub Rosa series. More info

Steven Saylor, A Gladiator Dies Only Once, mystery short stories about the characters in the Roma Sub Rosa series. More info


Marilyn Todd, I, Claudia, about a former prostitute married to a wealthy Roman, who must find out who is killing her latest clients; #1 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Virgin Territory, about a former prostitute, now widowed, who accepts the job of escorting a vestal virgin back to her family, only to find out the woman is not all she seems; #2 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Man Eater, about a beautiful widow who finds herself accused of murder; #3 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Wolf Whistle, about a beautiful widow who investigates the murder of five slave girls; #4 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Jail Bait, about a beautiful widow who begins a flirtation that ends in murder; #5 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Black Salamander, about a beautiful widow who accepts the job of carrying a pouch to Gaul and finds herself entangled in a treasonous plot; #6 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Dream Boat, about a former prostitute, now widowed, who must find her kidnapped teenage stepdaughter; #7 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Dark Horse, about a beautiful widow who flees trouble in Rome only to have it catch up with her at an Arcadian villa; #8 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Second Act, about a beautiful widow who helps an investigator try to stop a serial rapist during the holiday season of Saturnalia; #9 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Widow's Pique, about a beautiful widow who witnesses a murder; #10 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Stone Cold, about a beautiful widow who goes to Gaul to find the truth behind her father's disappearance there when she was a child; #11 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Sour Grapes, about a beautiful widow who investigates a series of murders when she visits her stepmother's estate; #12 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series

Marilyn Todd, Scorpion Rising, about a beautiful widow who goes to Gaul to investigate the murder of a child; #13 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series


David Wishart, Ovid, set in ancient Rome, #1 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series

David Wishart, Germanicus, #2 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series

David Wishart, The Lydian Baker, #3 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series

David Wishart, Sejanus, #4 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series

David Wishart, Old Bones, #5 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series

David Wishart, Last Rites, #6 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series

David Wishart, White Murder, #7 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series

David Wishart, A Vote for Murder, #8 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series

David Wishart, Parthian Shot, #9 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series

David Wishart, Food for the Fishes, #10 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series

David Wishart, In at the Death, #11 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series



Roman Britain


In 43 A.D. under Emperor Claudius, Rome finally added the southeastern part of Britain to its conquests, although the British resistance led by Caratacus slowed the process of westward expansion considerably. The Iceni warrior queen Boudica shocked Rome in 61 A.D. by leading a bloody rebellion. This woman warrior has long fascinated writers and readers of historical novels. The Romans were never able to conquer the Picts in what is now Scotland. They built Hadrian's Wall to discourage tribes to the north from encouraging or assisting rebellions by tribes within Roman territory.

During the 400 years of Roman rule, life in most of Britain became thoroughly Romanized. Retired soldiers settled down with British wives, and British chieftains and their families adopted Roman names and served as government officials. The departure of the Roman army in 410 A.D. was no welcome event for most Britons. Orderly government collapsed, and Saxon and Irish raiders attacked the coast and inland settlements along navigable rivers.

Historical novelists have written vividly about many periods of Roman Britain, but have especially focused on the conquest period, Boudica's rebellion, and the collapse of Roman rule.

Jump to Mystery Novels



Lindsay Allason-Jones, Roman Woman: Everyday Life in Hadrian's Britain, a scholarly blend of fact and fiction portraying a year in the life of a British woman married to a retired Roman soldier in York.

Stephen Baxter, Emperor, alternative history about Roman Britain; #1 in the Time's Tapestry series

Stephen Baxter, Conqueror, alternative history about Anglo-Saxon Britain and an attempt to manipulate what will happen in 1066; #2 in the Time's Tapestry series (placed in this category to keep the series together)

Stephen Baxter, Navigator, alternative history about the year 1492, when Europe's only Muslim state fell and Columbus sailed westward; #3 in the Time's Tapestry series (placed in this category to keep the series together)

Stephen Baxter, Weaver, alternative history set in a Nazi-occupied Britain during the 1940s; #4 in the Time's Tapestry series (placed in this category to keep the series together)

Gillian Bradshaw, Dark North, about an African scout in a Roman cavalry unit sent to Britain to conquer the north in A.D. 208. More info

Gillian Bradshaw, Island of Ghosts, about Roman Britain during the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the latter part of the second century. More info

Amanda Cockrell, The Legions of the Mist, about the disappearance of Rome's Ninth Legion in Scotland during the first century (scholars now believe the legion probably was not lost in Scotland but was redeployed to the Rhineland); published in 1979.

William Dietrich, Hadrian's Wall, about a Roman soldier posted on the northern border of Roman Britain during the late fourth century. More info

Jack Dixon, The Pict, about the Pictish resistance to first century Roman attempts to conquer their territory in northern Britain; self-published through iUniverse. More info

Alfred Duggan, The Little Emperors, about a treasury official in fifth century Roman Britain during the crisis that leads to Rome's withdrawal. More info

Barbara Erskine, Kingdom of Shadows, about a modern woman haunted by the ghosts of a Roman soldier, his faithless wife and her druid lover after an archaeological dig disturbs their bones

Barbara Erskine, On the Edge of Darkness, time-slip romance about a sixth century Celtic girl with magical abilities who travels in time, falls in love with a boy in the 1930s, and becomes trapped in the modern world. More info

Barbara Erskine, The Warrior's Princess, about a modern woman who slips back in time when she goes to stay in a valley that was the site of a battle between the British chieftain Caratacus and the invading Romans; forthcoming in August 2008

Bernardine Evaristo, The Emperor's Babe: A Verse Novel of Londinium, 211 A.D., a novel in verse form about a daughter of Sudanese immigrants to Roman Britain who has an affair with Emperor Septimius Severus.

Alan Fisk, Lord of Silver, about a young fourth century Briton who lives north of Hadrian's Wall in the fourth century who travels into Roman Britain and beyond. Review by Carla Nayland

Pauline Gedge, The Eagle and the Raven, about Caradoc and Boudicca, leaders of the British resistance to Roman rule. More info

Alan Gold, Warrior Queen: The Story of Boudica, Celtic Queen, about Boudica and her rebellion against Rome in 61 B.C. More info

Sarah Harrison, The Dreaming Stones, about women who live near Hadrian's Wall, two of them in modern times and one in Roman Britain. More info

Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Last Legion, about a small band of soldiers from Britain who travel to the City of Rome in the year 470, as the empire is crumbling, in order to rescue the son of the last emperor and raise him to power. More info

Elizabeth May, Roman Sunset, about the struggle of the Britons to survive when the Romans abandon Britain in the fifth century; self-published through Lulu. More info

Minnette Meador, The Centurion and the Queen, historical romance about a Roman centurion and a Celtic queen who fall in love at the time of Boudican revolt. More info

William Napier, Julia, about a woman from Spain, a Roman soldier and their travels in Britain and the Middle East in the fourth century. Review by Carla Nayland

Joseph E. Roesch, Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, about Boudica and her rebellion against Rome in 61 B.C. More info

Manda Scott, Dreaming the Eagle, about the childhood of Boudica, who would become queen of the Iceni tribe (or Eceni as Scott spells it) and lead a rebellion against Rome (#1 in Scott's Boudica series). More info

Manda Scott, Dreaming the Bull, about Boudica as a young woman during the early years of the Roman conquest of Britain (#2 in Scott's Boudica series). More info

Manda Scott, Dreaming the Hound, about Boudica during the years after the Romans defeat Caradoc, who led the British armies fighting to remain free of Roman rule (#3 in Scott's Boudica series). More info

Manda Scott, Dreaming the Serpent Spear, about Boudica, the queen of the Iceni (or Eceni as Scott spells it) and the rebellion she leads against Rome (#4 in Scott's Boudica series). More info

Anya Seton, The Mistletoe and the Sword: A Story of Roman Britain, historical romance/adventure about a young standard-bearer for Rome's Ninth Legion and a foster daughter of Boudica; published in 1955.

Joann Smith, Boudicca, about Boudicca (also spelled Boudica) and her rebellion against Rome.

Jules Watson, The White Mare, is a historical fantasy novel set in ancient Scotland (then known as Alba) during the period when Rome was attempting to expand its conquest of Britain northward; the main character is a priestess (#1 in the Dalriada Trilogy). More info

Jules Watson, The Dawn Stag, is a historical fantasy novel set in ancient Scotland (then known as Alba) during the period when Rome was attempting to expand its conquest of Britain northward; the main character is a priestess (#2 in the Dalriada Trilogy). More info

Jules Watson, The Boar Stone (titled Song of the North in the U.S.), is a historical fantasy novel set in ancient Scotland (then known as Alba) during the period when Rome was attempting to expand its conquest of Britain northward; the main character is a priestess (#3 in the Dalriada Trilogy). Boar Stone Song of the North

Simon Young, Farewell Britannia: A Family Saga of Roman Britain, about four centuries of a family in Roman Britain, from the conquest to the departure of the legions. More info



Roman Britain: Mystery Novels


Ruth Downie, Medicus (also titled Ruso and the Disappearing Dancing Girls), a physician for a Roman army legion in Britain investigates a series of deaths in a house of prostitution; #1 in the Roman Empire mystery series

Ruth Downie, Terra Incognita (also titled Ruso and the Demented Doctor), a physician for a Roman army legion in Britain investigates a soldier's death by beheading; #2 in the Roman Empire mystery series

Jane Finnis, Get Out or Die, about a young Italian woman who keeps an inn in Roman Britain in 91 A.D. who helps a traveler hunt down a band of rebels intent on expelling all Roman from Britain; #1 in the Aurelia Marcella mystery series

Jane Finnis, A Bitter Chill, about an innkeeper in first century Roman Britain whose Saturnalia celebration is disrupted by murder; #2 in the Aurelia Marcella mystery series

Jane Finnis, Buried too Deep, about an innkeeper in first century Roman Britain whose brother's assignment of salvaging a shipwrecked cargo is complicated by murder; #3 in the Aurelia Marcella mystery series

Mike Ripley, Boudica and the Lost Roman, about a Roman spy who arrives in the camp of the Iceni Queen Boudica just as she mobilizes for warfare; #1 in a new mystery series


Rosemary Rowe, The Germanicus Mosaic, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#1 in the Libertus mystery series)

Rosemary Rowe, Murder in the Forum, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#2 in the Libertus mystery series)

Rosemary Rowe, A Pattern of Blood, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#3 in the Libertus mystery series)

Rosemary Rowe, The Chariots of Calyx, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#4 in the Libertus mystery series)

Rosemary Rowe, The Legatus Mystery, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#5 in the Libertus mystery series)

Rosemary Rowe, The Ghosts of Glevum, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#6 in the Libertus mystery series)

Rosemary Rowe, Enemies of the Empire, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#7 in the Libertus mystery series)

Rosemary Rowe, A Roman Ransom, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#8 in the Libertus mystery series)

Rosemary Rowe, A Coin for the Ferryman, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#9 in the Libertus mystery series)



Ancient Ireland
First Century B.C. - Fifth Century A.D.

Ancient Ireland belongs more to the realm of legend than history, but Ireland is exceptionally rich in legends of its past. Who is to say these legends have less truth mingled within them than the legends of Troy so dramatically vindicated by Schliemann's discoveries? Though Cuchullain and Queen Maeve may or may not have been real people, Saint Patrick certainly was. Novels have been written about all of them and more.

Fantasy authors who base their work on Celtic myths and legends sometimes use the theme of a monumental struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. This idea is a post-Christian introduction which does not appear in pagan Celtic mythology.


Brian Cullin, Seekers of the Chalice, a fantasy novel about a clash between good and evil wizards, very loosely based on Irish legends

Randy Lee Eickhoff, The Raid, a retelling of the Irish legend of the young warrior Cuchullain's heroism in the Cattle Raid of Cooley; #1 in the Ulster series. More info from Powell's Books

Randy Lee Eickhoff, The Feast, a retelling of an ancient Irish legend about a battle of wits between three warriors striving to be named their king's champion; #2 in the Ulster series. More info

Randy Lee Eickhoff, The Sorrows, a retelling of three legends of pagan Ireland; #3 in the Ulster series. More info

Randy Lee Eickhoff, The Destruction of the Inn, a retelling of the legends about Connaire, high king of Ireland in the first century B.C.; #4 in the Ulster series. More info

Randy Lee Eickhoff, He Stands Alone, a retelling of the legends about the Irish hero Cuchullain; #5 in the Ulster series. More info

Patricia Finney, A Shadow of Gulls, about an Irish harper cursed by Queen Maeve and caught up in the legendary Cattle Raid of Cooley in the first century B.C.

Patricia Finney, The Crow Goddess, about an Irish harper in Roman Britain during a first century B.C. Celtic revolt against Rome; sequel to A Shadow of Gulls.

George Green, Hound, about the legendary Irish hero Cuchullain. More info from Amazon.com

Kate Horsley, Confessions of a Pagan Nun, about a woman who studied to become a druid but later joins a Christian convent. Review

Stephen Lawhead, Patrick: Son of Ireland, about the fifth century Briton who converted Ireland to Christianity; incorporates fantasy elements. More info

Morgan Llywelyn, Red Branch (also titled On Raven’s Wing), a retelling of the legends about the ancient Irish hero Cuchullain

Morgan Llywelyn, Finn MacCool, a retelling of the legends about Finn MacCool, the leader of the Fianna, the warrior band pledged to defend the ancient kings of Ireland

Morgan Llywelyn, The Isles of the Blest, based on ancient legends about Connla and the Irish afterworld

Juliene Osborne-McKnight, I Am of Irelaunde, historical fantasy about an encounter between the former Roman slave who would become St. Patrick and the legendary Irish bard Osian.

Juliene Osborne-McKnight, Daughter of Ireland, historical fantasy about a druid priestess and the king who first brought Christianity to Ireland. More info

Juliene Osborne-McKnight, Bright Sword of Ireland, a feminist retelling of Irish legends about Queen Medb and Cuchullain. More info

Cindy Thomson, Brigid of Ireland, about a fifth century Irish woman's conversion to Christianity. More info



Arthurian Britain


The legend of King Arthur has long captured imaginations. It flowered during the twelfth century, fascinated Victorian England, and has seen a new blossoming in our own time. Archaeological work on British hillforts abandoned after the Roman conquest but refortified after the Roman departure in 410 A.D. provide an sketchy underpinning of facts beneath the legend. A wave of Saxon expansion swept westward from the original Saxon settlements on Britain's eastern coast, until it was abruptly halted and reversed. By a king named Arthur?

In the border between history and legend, historical novelists have taken up the challenge of defining who Arthur and the men and women around him may have been. Rosemary Sutcliff's Sword at Sunset was the earliest and is still among the best portrayals of an Arthur figure in a realistic fifth century setting, and more recent novelists have followed her lead. Others have been inspired by the legend to create fantasy worlds which borrow, to a greater or lesser degree, from what we know of the history. In The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley reimagined the Arthurian legends from a pagan, feminist perspective. Though her novel includes many fantasy elements, it also incorporates ideas from early Welsh sources that show Arthur at odds with the Christian church. Her novel brought a new perspective to the King Arthur legend that reflects glimmers of what may have been a real controversy between Celtic pagans and Christians during the post-Roman period.


Gillian Bradshaw, Hawk of May, about King Arthur's knight Gawain (given his Celtic name Gwalchmai in this novel); historical fantasy within a mostly realistic historical setting (#1 in the Down the Long Wind trilogy). More info

Gillian Bradshaw, Kingdom of Summer, about King Arthur's knight Gawain (given his Celtic name Gwalchmai in this novel); historical fantasy within a mostly realistic historical setting (#2 in the Down the Long Wind trilogy). More info

Gillian Bradshaw, In Winter's Shadow, based on the earlier Celtic legends about Queen Guinevere (given her Celtic name Gwynhwyfar in this novel) and the fall of Arthur's kingdom; historical fantasy within a mostly realistic historical setting (#3 in the Down the Long Wind trilogy). More info

Elizabeth Chadwick, First Knight, about the love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere.

Bernard Cornwell, The Winter King, a grittily realistic novel about Arthur, in a well-researched historical setting; #1 in the Arthur series. More info

Bernard Cornwell, Enemy of God, a grittily realistic novel about Arthur, in a well-researched historical setting; #2 in the Arthur series. More info

Bernard Cornwell, Excalibur, a grittily realistic novel about Arthur, in a well-researched historical setting; #3 in the Arthur series. More info

Alfred Duggan, The Conscience of the King, based on the legends about Cerdic, the King of Wessex, and his defeat to Arthur at the Battle of Mount Badon

Parke Godwin, Firelord, a retelling of the King Arthur legend in a realistic post-Roman historical setting

Parke Godwin, Beloved Exile, about Queen Guinevere after the death of King Arthur

Helen Hollick, The Kingmaking, about King Arthur; #1 in the author’s Arthurian trilogy

Helen Hollick, Pendragon’s Banner, about King Arthur; #2 in the author’s Arthurian trilogy

Helen Hollick, Shadow of the King, about King Arthur; #3 in the author’s Arthurian trilogy

Jeanne Kalogridis, Guinevere, based on the legends about Guinevere, in a realistic historical setting; #1 in the Guinevere trilogy

Jeanne Kalogridis, The Chessboard Queen, based on the legends about Guinevere, in a realistic historical setting; #2 in the Guinevere trilogy

Jeanne Kalogridis, Guinevere Evermore, based on the legends about Guinevere, in a realistic historical setting; #3 in the Guinevere trilogy

Stephen Lawhead, Taliesin, historical fantasy about a British bard; #1 in the Pendragon series

Stephen Lawhead, Merlin, historical fantasy about King Arthur's bard; #2 in the Pendragon series

Stephen Lawhead, Arthur, historical fantasy about King Arthur; #3 in the Pendragon series

Stephen Lawhead, Pendragon, historical fantasy about King Arthur; #4 in the Pendragon series

Stephen Lawhead, Grail, historical fantasy about King Arthur; #5 in the Pendragon series

Allan Massie, Arthur the King, an unromantic story about the struggle for power in Britain after the Romans depart; #2 in the Dark Ages trilogy (#1, The Evening of the World, is set in ancient Rome; #3, Charlemagne and Roland, is set in early medieval Europe)

Nancy McKenzie, Queen of Camelot (originally published as two novels, The Child Queen and The High Queen), about Guinevere, King Arthur’s queen in fifth century Britain

Nancy McKenzie, The Grail Prince, about Galahad after the death of King Arthur and the fall of Camelot

Nancy McKenzie, The Prince of Dreams: A Tale of Tristan and Essyllte, set in sixth century Britain during the years after the fall of Camelot

Diana L. Paxson, The White Raven, based on the legend of Tristan and Isolde, some fantasy elements in a mostly realistic historical setting in Ireland and Cornwall. More info

Mary Stewart, The Crystal Cave, about King Arthur's enchanter Merlin; historical fantasy within a mostly realistic historical setting (#1 in the Merlin trilogy). More info

Mary Stewart, The The Hollow Hills, about King Arthur's enchanter Merlin; historical fantasy within a mostly realistic historical setting (#2 in the Merlin trilogy). More info

Mary Stewart, The Last Enchantment, about King Arthur's enchanter Merlin; historical fantasy within a mostly realistic historical setting (#3 in the Merlin trilogy). More info

Mary Stewart, The Wicked Day, a sympathetic portrayal of Mordred; historical fantasy within a mostly realistic historical setting (follows the third novel in the Merlin trilogy). More info

Rosemary Sutcliff, Sword at Sunset, a historically realistic novel based on the King Arthur legends. Review

Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, a time-travel novel that gives a tragi-comic view of knights in armor; although the medieval setting is not accurate for the historical Arthur's time, the sensibility of the novel serves as a harshly realistic corrective to the over-romanticized literature of Twain's time

Jack Whyte, The Skystone, a realistic novel based on the King Arthur legends about a Roman general and his ironsmith friend, which imagines how Excalibur may have been made; #1 in the Camulod Chronicles series. More info

Jack Whyte, The Singing Sword, a realistic novel based on the King Arthur legends about the years after Britain was abandoned by Rome; #2 in the Camulod Chronicles series. More info

Jack Whyte, The Eagles' Brood, a realistic novel based on the King Arthur legends about Merlyn and Uther Pendragon; #3 in the Camulod Chronicles series. More info

Jack Whyte, The Saxon Shore, a realistic novel based on the King Arthur legends about Arthur's youth; #4 in the Camulod Chronicles series. More info

Jack Whyte, The Fort at River's Bend (originally published in one volume with The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis as The Sorcerer), a realistic novel based on the King Arthur legends, about Merlyn's task of educating Arthur for the kingship; #5 in the Camulod Chronicles series. More info

Jack Whyte, The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis (originally published in one volume with The Fort at River's Bend as The Sorcerer), a realistic novel based on the King Arthur legends, about Merlyn and Arthur after the latter is crowned king; #6 in the Camulod Chronicles series. More info

Jack Whyte, Uther, a realistic novel based on the King Arthur legends, about Uther Pendragon; #7 in the Camulod Chronicles series (this story not in chronological order). More info

Jack Whyte, The Lance-Thrower, a realistic novel based on the King Arthur legends, about a Frank who swears fealty to Arthur; #8 in the Camulod Chronicles series. More info

Jack Whyte, The Eagle, a realistic novel based on the King Arthur legends, about Camelot and the high point of Arthur's reign; #9, the final novel in the Camulod Chronicles series. More info

Joan Wolf, Road to Avalon, a romantic retelling of the story of King Arthur

Joan Wolf, Born of the Sun, about conflicts between the Celts and Saxons in Britain 80 years after the death of King Arthur; sequel to Road to Avalon

Persia Woolley, Child of the Northern Spring, a realistic novel about Guinevere; #1 in the Guinevere trilogy

Persia Woolley, Queen of the Summer Stars, a realistic novel about Guinevere; #2 in the Guinevere trilogy

Persia Woolley, The Legend in Autumn, a realistic novel about Guinevere; #3 in the Guinevere trilogy



Ancient Egypt


Egypt has one of the oldest civilizations whose history is documented in writing, by heiroglyphic inscriptions dating to as early as the fourth century B.C. The pyramids and great stone temples built by the pharaohs still impress us. Embalming techniques used by ancient Egyptian priests to preserve the bodies of the pharaohs and their families were intended to confer immortality, serving a longing we still feel today.

Among the most famous Egyptian rulers were Akhenaten, who introduced monotheism; Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh of the fifteenth century B.C.; Ramses II, generally considered to be Egypt's greatest pharaoh; Tutankhamen, whose magificent tomb was discovered in 1922; and Cleopatra, whose affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony have sparked the romantic imagination of writers from Shakespeare's time to our own.

Jump to Mystery Novels



Karen Essex, Kleopatra, about the queen who ruled Egypt during the time of Julius Caesar

Colin Falconer, When We Were Gods: A Novel of Cleopatra, about the Egyptian queen

J. Suzanne Frank, Reflections in the Nile, a time-travel romance in which a modern woman becomes a priestess in Egypt during the time of Moses and the Exodus

Pauline Gedge, Child of the Morning, about Hatshepsut, the woman pharaoh who ruled Egypt in the fifteenth century B.C.

Pauline Gedge, The Twelfth Transforming, about the reign of Akhenaten from the perspective of his mother, Queen Tiye

Pauline Gedge, Scroll of Saqqara, set in ancient Egypt; also titled Mirage

Pauline Gedge, House of Dreams, about an Egyptian peasant who becomes the concubine of a pharaoh; also titled Lady of the Reeds

Pauline Gedge, House of Illusions, about an Egyptian peasant who becomes the concubine of a pharaoh; sequel to House of Dreams

Pauline Gedge, The Hippopotamus Marsh, about the Egyptian revolt against the Hyksos Dynasty and the emergence of the Eighteenth Dynasty, #1 in the Lords of the Two Lands trilogy

Pauline Gedge, The Oasis, about the Egyptian revolt against the Hyksos Dynasty and the emergence of the Eighteenth Dynasty, #2 in the Lords of the Two Lands trilogy

Pauline Gedge, The Horus Road, about the Egyptian revolt against the Hyksos Dynasty and the emergence of the Eighteenth Dynasty, #3 in the Lords of the Two Lands trilogy

Pauline Gedge, The Twice Born, historical fantasy about an Egyptian who revives while his body is being prepared for burial, after which he begins to have visions of other people's deaths

Margaret George, The Memoirs of Cleopatra, about the queen who ruled Egypt during the time of Julius Caesar


Christian Jacq, Ramses: The Son of Light, about the youth of Ramses II, Egypt's greatest pharaoh; #1 in the Ramses series

Christian Jacq, Ramses: The Temple of a Million Years (also titled The Eternal Temple), about Ramses' struggle to retain the crown; #2 in the Ramses series

Christian Jacq, Ramses: The Battle of Kadesh, about Ramses' effort to defend Egypt after the Hittites attack by seizing their fortress at Kadesh; #3 in the Ramses series

Christian Jacq, Ramses: The Lady of Abu Simbel, about Ramses' labor of love to build temples for his wife, Nerfertari; #4 in the Ramses series

Christian Jacq, Ramses: Under the Western Acacia, about Ramses' continuing effort to preserve Egypt's peace as he grows older; #5 and last in the Ramses series

Christian Jacq, Nefer the Silent, about artisans who worked on the tombs of the pharaohs; #1 in the Stone of Light series

Christian Jacq, The Wise Woman, about artisans who worked on the tombs of the pharaohs; #2 in the Stone of Light series

Christian Jacq, Paneb the Ardent, about artisans who worked on the tombs of the pharaohs; #3 in the Stone of Light series

Christian Jacq, The Place of Truth, about artisans who worked on the tombs of the pharaohs; #4 and last in the Stone of Light series

Christian Jacq, The Empire of Darkness, about the woman who leads the resistance of Thebes after a foreign Hyksos army has taken over the rest of Egypt; #1 in the Queen of Freedom trilogy

Christian Jacq, The War of the Crowns, about the woman who leads the resistance of Thebes after a foreign Hyksos army has taken over the rest of Egypt; #2 in the Queen of Freedom trilogy

Christian Jacq, The Flaming Sword, about the woman who leads the resistance of Thebes after a foreign Hyksos army has taken over the rest of Egypt; #3 in the Queen of Freedom trilogy

Christian Jacq, The Tree of Life, about an apprentice scribe kidnapped by sailors and the pharaoh Seostris III, both of whom play a role in the effort to protect Egypt from looming destruction; #1 in the Mysteries of Osiris series

Christian Jacq, The Conspiracy of Evil, about a young scribe and the pharaoh Seostris III, both of whom play a role in the effort to protect Egypt from looming destruction; #2 in the Mysteries of Osiris series

Christian Jacq, The Way of Fire, about a young scribe and the pharaoh Seostris III, both of whom play a role in the effort to protect Egypt from looming destruction; #3 in the Mysteries of Osiris series

Christian Jacq, The Tree of Life, about a scribe, the pharaoh Seostris III, and the secret of resurrection; #4 and last in the Mysteries of Osiris series

Christian Jacq, For the Love of Philae, a stand-alone novel about a sixth century Egyptian priestess who preserved the ancient mysteries after Christianity was imposed on Egypt


Naguib Mahfouz, Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth, about the pharoah who attempted to introduce monotheism to ancient Egypt

Naguib Mahfouz, Khufu's Wisdom, about the pharoah who built the Great Pyramid of Giza

Naguib Mahfouz, Rhadopis of Nubia, about the love between a courtesan and the young Pharaoh Merenra during the third century B.C.

Naguib Mahfouz, Thebes at War, about the war to liberate Egypt from its Hyksos rulers during the sixteenth century B.C.

Naguib Mahfouz, Voices From the Other World, short stories set in ancient Egypt

Norman Mailer, Ancient Evenings, a surrealistic, Maileresque novel about Menenhetet, an ancestor of Rameses IX

Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Pharaoh, about Hatshepsut, the woman pharaoh who ruled Egypt in the fifteenth century B.C.

Michelle Moran, Nefertiti, about the beautiful chief wife of the fourteenth century B.C. pharaoh Amunhotep/Akhenaten

Michelle Moran, The Heretic Queen, about Nefertari, the overlooked palace orphan who became Ramses the Great's queen; forthcoming in September 2008.

Martha Rofheart, The Alexandrian, about Cleopatra.

Wilbur Smith, River God, an adventure novel set in Egypt of the eighteenth century B.C. (#1 in the Egyptian series)

Wilbur Smith, Warlock, an adventure novel set in Egypt of the eighteenth century B.C. (#3 in the Egyptian series - the second novel in the series, The Seventh Scroll, is set in the present day)

Wilbur Smith, The Quest, an adventure novel set in Egypt of the eighteenth century B.C. (#4 in the Egyptian series)

Duncan Sprott, The Ptolemies, a humorous novel about Ptolemy I, the first Greek pharaoh, narrated by the Egyptian god Thoth

Duncan Sprott, The House of the Eagle, about the first three Ptolemies in the line of Greek pharaohs (#1 in the Ptolemies Quartet)

Duncan Sprott, Daughter of the Crocodile, about the second three Ptolemies in the line of Greek pharaohs (#2 in the Ptolemies Quartet)



Ancient Egypt: Mystery Novels


Paul Doherty, The Mask of Ra (1998), about a judge in Egypt of the 18th Dynasty who solves mysteries; #1 in the Amerotke series

Paul Doherty, The Horus Killings (1999), about a judge in Egypt of the 18th Dynasty who solves mysteries; #2 in the Amerotke series

Paul Doherty, The Anubis Slayings (2000), about a judge in Egypt of the 18th Dynasty who solves mysteries; #3 in the Amerotke series

Paul Doherty, Slayers of Seth (2001), about a judge in Egypt of the 18th Dynasty who solves mysteries; #4 in the Amerotke series

Paul Doherty, The Assassins of Isis (2004), about a judge in Egypt of the 18th Dynasty who solves mysteries; #5 in the Amerotke series

Paul Doherty, The Poisoner of Ptah (2007), about a judge in Egypt of the 18th Dynasty who solves mysteries; #6 in the Amerotke series

Paul Doherty, An Evil Spirit Out of the West (2003), about a man who becomes the protector and confidant of the young pharaoh Akhenaten; #1 in the Ancient Egypt mystery series

Paul Doherty, The Season of the Hyaena (2005), a mystery set in the court of the six-year-old pharaoh Tutankhamen; #2 in the Ancient Egypt mystery series

Paul Doherty, The Year of the Cobra (2006), a mysery set during the reign of the ailing pharaoh Tutankhamen; #3 in the Ancient Egypt mystery series


Nick Drake, Nefertiti: The Book of the Dead, a mystery novel about the beautiful chief wife of the fourteenth century B.C. pharaoh Akhenaten (#1 in the Rahotep Ancient Egyptian mystery series)

Nick Drake, Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows, a mystery novel about Tutankhamun (#2 in the Rahotep Ancient Egyptian mystery series)

Brad Geagley, Year of the Hyenas, the Pharaoh's clerk is assigned to solve the murder of an old, blind priestess, and discovers black magic is involved; #1 in the Semerket mystery series

Brad Geagley, Day of the False King, the Pharaoh's clerk goes to Babylon to borrow an idol said to have healing powers, and to learn if the woman he loves is still alive; #2 in the Semerket mystery series

Anton Gill, City of the Horizon, about a scribe in ancient Egypt who solves mysteries (#1 in the Egyptian Mystery series)

Anton Gill, City of Dreams, about a scribe in ancient Egypt who solves mysteries (#2 in the Egyptian Mystery series)

Anton Gill, City of the Dead, about a scribe in ancient Egypt who solves mysteries (#3 in the Egyptian Mystery series)


Lauren Haney, The Right Hand of Amon, an Egyptian police commander during the reign of Hatshepsut must find out who murdered a soldier; #1 in the Lieutenant Bak mystery series

Lauren Haney, A Face Turned Backward, an Egyptian police commander patrols the river for stolen elephant tusks and uncovers a murderous plot driven by greed; #2 in the Lieutenant Bak mystery series

Lauren Haney, A Vile Justice, an Egyptian police commander wonders whether four mysterious killings are the work of men or gods; #3 i