Historical fiction authors don't have it easy. Aside from writing a great story with complex characters and enough dramatic tension to keep you hooked from beginning to end...they have to make sure every last detail is historically accurate. When you're trying to bring that kind of vision to television, it gets even harder - because every choice is limited by reality. Things like budgets and prop availability get in the way of the truth.
Just ask author and TV writer Anthony Horowitz. Despite the popularity of Foyle's War, there's a sub-set of people who like to complain about one big historical inaccuracy - the use of a London Routemaster bus in a scene set 8 years before they actually appeared on London streets.
The issue (and subsequent complaints) niggled at him enough that when he placed himself in his Hawthorne & Horowitz mystery novels, he included a scene on the set of Foyle's War which explains the mix-up.
Basically, the correct bus had broken down and the prop company substituted a Routemaster - and while they'd intended to go back and use CGI to adjust the scene, they ran out of money and didn't get the chance. You can read the whole scene in his novel The Word is Murder.
9 Brilliantly Gritty Crime Novels Set in Glasgow - If you prefer darker mysteries, this one's for you (and they're even better in audio format).
Featured British Books...
- Safe & Sound by Philippa East - When Jenn discovers Sarah's decomposing body in her London apartment, she becomes obsessed with unraveling the mystery of Sarah's death, including who was paying her rent and why no one noticed for nearly a year.
- Welcome to the Cornish Country Hospital by Jo Bartlett - Danni Carter’s fresh start in Cornwall is upended when her best friend and secret love, Lucas, follow her to work at the new hospital, forcing her to navigate emotional turmoil while forming a bond with a mysterious patient hiding dark secrets.
- Murder in the Gallowgate by Daniel Sellers - Detective Lola Harris returns from a disastrous holiday to lead an investigation involving a blood-soaked ritual, a missing politician, and ties to a long-dead artist, all while navigating a tense partnership with Glasgow’s most obnoxious detective.
- The Pain of Strangers by Andrew Barrett - CSI Eddie Collins gets entangled in a deadly game when a street gang, a vengeful artist, and a long-standing murder collide.
- The Trials of Lila Dalton by LJ Shepherd - Lila Dalton, a lawyer with no memory of her case or how she arrived in court, must defend an accused mass murderer while unraveling a deadly mystery before it's too late.
- Dead Inside by Noelle Holton - DC Maggie Jamieson must uncover the truth when a series of domestic abusers are found murdered, and her friend Lucy Sherwood, whose own husband becomes a victim, is the prime suspect.
- The Real Mackay by Helen Graham - In this meticulously researched historical novel, we watch as Scottish comedian Charles Mackay captivates audiences while grappling with personal tragedy, torn between his extraordinary fame and the family he loves.
- Forecast Murder by Linda Mather - Aspiring astrologer Jo takes a part-time job at a private investigation agency, but when a man is shot and his lover turns up dead, she must use her astrological skills to solve the mystery.
- The Once in a Blue Moon Guesthouse by Cressida McLaughlin - Returning home to take over her family’s struggling guesthouse, Robin Brennan juggles a major makeover, old flames, and new faces—including a charming newcomer with an adorable dog—all while trying to mend her broken heart.
- Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin - As Aleida searches for her missing son amidst the chaos of WWII London, she teams up with BBC reporter Hugh to navigate bombings, censorship, and a string of murders, drawing them closer as danger mounts.
More to Read...
9 Lesser-Know (But Delightful) British Crime Series to Try - Looking for something you won't find in the window of every local bookshop? These should help.
18 Fascinating British Historical Fiction Novels for Autumn 2024 - Whether you like Golden Age-inspired mysteries or heartwarming wartime tales, these new books should keep you busy and entertained for a while.
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