History comes alive through the pages of these fact-based historical fiction novels, where authentic events and characters are woven into engaging and memorable stories. For readers who love both the thrill of a good story and the depth of historical accuracy, this genre offers the best of both worlds. We’ve compiled a list of standout novels that not only entertain, but also enlighten, offering a deeper understanding of the past. So, step back in time and enjoy these masterfully crafted stories!
Follow the Stars Home by Diane C. McPhail
A captivating reimagining of Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt, the intrepid expeditionist who, with her husband Nicholas Roosevelt, designed and co-captained the first steamboat to travel the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Eight months pregnant and with a toddler in tow – Lydia braved violent earthquakes and treacherous waters on the first steamboat voyage to conquer the Mississippi River and redefine America.
The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce
Inspired by a real-life scandal that was shocking even for the tumultuous Roaring Twenties, this captivating novel tells the story of a pioneering Black journalist, a secret interracial marriage among the New York elite, and the sensational divorce case that ignited an explosive battle over race and class—and brought together three very different women fighting for justice, legitimacy, and the futures they risked everything to shape.
The Diamond of London by Andrea Penrose
This dazzling historical novel is based on the real life of Lady Hester Stanhope, a British aristocrat born into an illustrious family of swashbuckling war heroes and brilliant political leaders. Lady Hester was a Regency-era adventuress who lived on her own terms and defied all conventional strictures of what a woman could and couldn’t do during the Regency era.
Sisters of Fortune by Anna Lee Huber
USA Today bestselling author Anna Lee Huber expertly weaves real historical figures and events into this vivid, surprising, emotionally powerful novel. The story centers on the Fortune sisters, three young women at a crossroads who boarded the RMS Titanic in the spring of 1912 –and how that maiden voyage would transform their lives in profound and unexpected ways.
If the Tide Turns by Rachel Rueckert
Set during the Golden Age of Pirates and the shadowy aftermath of the Salem witch trials, this vivid literary debut is inspired by the captivating true story of real-life pirate Samuel Bellamy, combining high seas adventure, star-crossed longing, surprisingly timely questions about social justice and freedom, and the emotionally satisfying tale of one strong-willed young woman determined to choose her own path.
To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower
While not as famous as her older siblings Wilbur and Orville, the celebrated inventors of flight, Katharine Wright is equally inventive – especially when it comes to solving crimes – in USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower’s radiant new historical mystery series inspired by the real sister of the Wright Brothers.
The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson
Drawing on the little-known true story of one tragic night at an Ozarks dance hall in the author’s Missouri hometown, this beautifully written, endearingly nostalgic novel picks up 50 years later for afolksy, character-driven portrayal of small-town life, split second decisions, and the ways family secrets reverberate through generations.
A Jewel in the Crown by David Lewis
This riveting new historical caper series features a gifted young socialist turned counter-espionage spy on a World War II mission orchestrated by Winston Churchill himself. Propulsive, well-researched, and incorporating real historical events, David Lewis’s series is perfect for readers of Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series.
Fleeing France by Alan Hlad
Driving an ambulance in France after the fall of Dunkirk, an American nightclub singer races to evacuate a British pilot and a Jewish orphan across more than 4,000 miles towards a precarious freedom in this emotional, action-packed story of sacrifice, hope, and devotion inspired by real wartime events.
A Time for Defiance by James D. Shipman
Releases November 26th
In a gripping tale of sisterhood, survival, and resistance for readers of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff, a young woman in Nazi-occupied Holland joins a unique taskforce within the Dutch Resistance, wielding her youthful innocence and beauty to lure Nazis to their death.
Reprinted with permission from Kensington Books.
