Michigan City Public Library: Historical Fiction: December 2025

Recent Releases

The Book of Guilt
by Catherine Chidgey

After a very different outcome to WWII than the one history recorded, 1979 England is a country ruled by a government whose aims have sinister underpinnings and alliances. In the Hampshire countryside, 13-year-old triplets Vincent, Lawrence, and William are the last remaining residents at the Captain Scott Home for Boys, where every day they must take medicine to protect themselves from a mysterious illness to which many of their friends have succumbed. The lucky ones who recover are allowed to move to Margate, a seaside resort of mythical proportions. In nearby Exeter, 13-year-old Nancy lives a secluded life with her parents, who dote on her but never let her leave the house. As the triplets' lives begin to intersect with Nancy's, bringing to light a horrifying truth about their origins and their likely fate, the children must unite to escape--and survive.--

Boleyn Traitor
by Philippa Gregory

Set during the turbulent reign of Henry VIII, this latest from bestselling British author Philippa Gregory explores the life of Jane Boleyn, the wife of Anne Boleyn's brother. Jane serves five of Henry’s wives as lady-in-waiting and works with Thomas Cromwell as a spy in this atmospheric novel full of court intrigue. Fans of Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl and The Boleyn Inheritance will be glad to revisit the family here. Read-alike: Oliver Clements’ The Eyes of the Queen.

The Elopement
by Gill Hornby

Fanny Austen, a niece of Jane Austen, marries widowed Sir Edward Knatchbull in 1820 and parents his children, including teenage Mary Dorothea. Though she’s not fond of her new stepmother, Mary Dorothea does like the rest of the family, especially Fanny’s handsome brother Edward. For more witty novels about Jane Austen or her family, try: Gill Hornby’s Godmersham Park or Paula Byrne’s Six Weeks by the Sea.

The Gun Man Jackson Swagger
by Stephen Hunter

In 1897 Arizona Territory, sharpshooter and Civil War vet Jack Swagger takes a job guarding deliveries to and from Mexico for prosperous rancher Colonel Callahan. But not everything is as it seems in this western by Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Hunter, which is “reminiscent of Larry McMurtry” (Booklist). For fans of: Hunter’s Bob Lee Swagger novels (which star a descendent of Jack); William W. Johnstone’s westerns.

A Sea View Christmas: An on Devonshire Shores Novella
by Julie Klassen

Sarah Summers once discouraged the interest of a handsome Scottish widower, but his return stirs up regret. Meanwhile, her younger sister Georgiana anticipates the Christmas of her dreams, not expecting to be surprised by young love. Does the festive romance of a Sea View Christmas hold the key to a happily-ever-after for both sisters?

Christmas at the Women's Hotel
by Daniel M. Lavery

At New York’s Biedermeier Hotel in the 1960s, where unmarried working class women of all ages live, Christmas means jobs, some more legal than others. Meanwhile, the hotel manager ponders a large phone bill, secretive tenants, and missing jewels. Full of period charm and witty narration, this holiday follow-up novella to Women's Hotel will please fans.

Bog Queen
by Anna North

This immersive dual-timeline novel follows a young druid priestess from two thousand years ago and an American forensic anthropologist, Dr. Agnes Linstom, who’s been called to examine a body found in an English bog. As Agnes battles both a corporation and climate activists for access, the priestess deals with local rivals and an influx of Romans. Author Anna North “reaches new heights with this brilliant novel,” raves Publishers Weekly.

A Moment to Love
by Tracie Peterson

Dr. Carrie Vogel faces heartbreak from stolen work credited to her ex-fiancé, and she leans on her faith for strength. After learning that her Pinkerton friend Spencer Duval is on a mission to catch his father's killer, she agrees to an arranged marriage. Together, they navigate a web of intrigue and growing love as they trust in God's plan for their future.

The Hitchhikers
by Chevy Stevens

After a loss, Tom and Alice try to save their marriage and heal by taking an RV trip across Canada in 1976. But giving a ride to a young couple who are far more dangerous than they appear leads to stunning consequences in this gritty, slow-burn historical thriller that’ll please fans of twisty plotting and memorable characters. For fans of: Simone St. James’ Murder Road.

Contact your librarian for more great books!