Welcome to this month’s post on all things historical fiction!

First of all, congratulations to Lucy Caldwell, the winner of this year’s Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, announced at the Borders Book Festival last week. The winning novel, These Days, is set in Northern Ireland during the Belfast Blitz and is one of the few books I’ve actually managed to read from this year’s shortlist so far. It’s difficult for me to say whether it’s a deserving winner as I’ve only read two of the other books, but I did like it better than The Sun Walks Down and possibly Act of Oblivion as well.

Moving on, last December I posted a list of upcoming historical fiction being published in 2023. Now that we’re halfway through the year, more titles have been announced so I thought I would post an updated list below for July to December. This is a selection of books that have caught my attention for one reason or another – some are review copies I’ve received (and in a few cases have already read), some are new books by authors I’ve previously enjoyed and others just sounded interesting. I hope there’s something here that appeals to you.

Dates provided are for the UK and were correct at the time of posting.

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July

The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer (6th July 2023) – This is on my 20 Books of Summer list, as are several of the others mentioned here. It’s Meyer’s debut novel, based on the real life 17th century East Anglia witch trials.

The Housekeepers by Alex Hay (6th July 2023) – I’ve read and enjoyed this debut novel in which a group of servants plan to carry out a daring heist in a grand London house in 1905. My review will be up in a few weeks!

Disobedient by Elizabeth Fremantle (27th July 2023) – A new Fremantle novel is always something to look forward to and this one, about the 17th century artist Artemisia Gentileschi, sounds great.

August

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons (3rd August 2023) – The first of two novels I’m listing here that have a Shakespeare connection, this is the story of Rosaline, the woman Romeo loved before beginning his tragic romance with Juliet.

The Black Crescent by Jane Johnson (3rd August 2023) – I enjoyed some of Jane Johnson’s previous books set in Morocco; this is another and it sounds fascinating.

The Orchid Hour by Nancy Bilyeau (10th August 2023) – I’ve already read my copy of this new Bilyeau novel and will be sharing my review with you in August. It’s set in a 1920s New York nightclub during the era of prohibition.

Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue (24th August 2023) – I’ve loved some of Emma Donoghue’s historical novels, but not others so I’ll be interested to see what I think of this one about Anne Lister (better known as ‘Gentleman Jack’) and her relationship with Eliza Raine.

A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin (31st August 2023) – A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting was one of my favourite books of 2022, so I have high hopes for this one. Like some of the others listed here, it’s on my 20 Books of Summer list.

September

Night Train to Marrakech by Dinah Jefferies (14th September 2023) – The third book in the Daughters of War trilogy is going to be set in 1960s Morocco. I’m looking forward to finding out how the story ends.

Once a Monster by Robert Dinsdale (21st September 2023) – I’ve just finished reading this one, but you’ll have to wait until nearer publication date for my review. The book is set in 19th century London but inspired by the legend of the minotaur.

The Armour of Light by Ken Follett (26th September 2023) – The new book in Follett’s Kingsbridge series covers the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. I still haven’t read the previous book, The Evening and the Morning, but as they are set in different periods with different characters I think I could probably read them in either order.

October

Menewood by Nicola Griffith (3rd October 2023) – The long-awaited sequel to Hild, this book will continue the story of St Hilda of Whitby. The first book was beautifully written and I’ve been looking forward to this one for years!

Scarlet Town by Leonora Nattrass (5th October 2023) – This will be the third book in Nattrass’ Laurence Jago mystery series. The last one, Blue Water, was another of my 2022 favourites so I’m hoping this one will be equally good.

The Murder Wheel by Tom Mead (12th October 2023) – Last year when I read Death and the Conjuror, Mead’s first Golden Age style murder mystery, I said I hoped we’d be meeting his magician detective, Joseph Spector, again. My wish has come true as Spector is returning in October with a second mystery to solve!

The Wayward Sisters by Kate Hodges (26th October 2023) – In the second novel on this list with a link to Shakespeare, the three witches from Macbeth reappear in 1780s Scotland.

November

The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper (23rd November 2023) – This will be the final book in Elodie Harper’s trilogy set in ancient Pompeii. I loved The Wolf Den but still need to read the middle book; it’s on my 20 Books of Summer list, so I’m hoping to get to it soon.

December

The Witch’s Daughter by Imogen Edwards-Jones (7th December 2023) – The sequel to The Witches of St Petersburg is set in 1916 and will follow the story of Princess Militza’s daughter Nadezhda as the Russian Revolution approaches.

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Are you tempted by any of these? Which other new historical novels are you looking forward to before the end of the year? And what do you think about These Days winning the 2023 Walter Scott Prize?