Seeking recommendations of...

...witty historical fiction romantic suspense/thriller/mysteries a la Elizabeth Peters and Deanna Raybourn. 

I picked up an Amanda Quick yesterday, and while I'm finding it entertaining*, it's chock-full of ridiculously unbelievable infodump dialogue along these lines:  "As we both know... blah blah blah here's some information that the author needs to convey to the reader blah blah". 

So annoying.  Help me out, eh?

______________________________________________________________

*Yowzer.  The main characters boinked almost immediately.  And then the lady thought the guy died in a fire so she pretended that she was his widow so that it would be easier for her to start her own business but of course he wasn't really dead so he went to a gossip columnist and was all, "IT'S A MIRACLE, I'M ALIVE!  THE AMNESIA I GOT IN THE WILD WEST IS GONE AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MY WIFE AGAIN!"  And now he's living in her attic because he's worried that a thief who is after some old alchemy artifacts will come after her!!!

I assume you understand why I've continued reading despite my issues with the writing.

Comments

[TadMack]

Um, yes. I totally understand why! Despite laughing 'til tears came from the amnesia thing. Jeepers.

[Ms Avery]

But but what's the title? *morbidly curious*

[Elizabeth]

My favorite Amanda Quicks are her older books, especially the "R" ones--Rendezvous had spies a secret ladies club modeled after the gentlemen's clubs of the day, and Ravished had caves and a paleontologist-heroine.

[Elizabeth]

You might try Caravan by Dorothy Gilman. I haven't read it since 9th grade (forgot the author and title and had no luck with the amazon advanced search until this morning) and I'd say it's more of an adventure (LOTS of adventure. Crazy, over-the-top adventure.) than a mystery/thriller, but I remember it being pretty suspenseful, and the Turn-of-the-20th-century-Brits-in-the-desert element brings the Amelia Peabodies to mind.

[Elizabeth]

And if you haven't read yet, Ariana Franklin's Adelia mysteries (Mistress of the Art of Death is the first) about a medieval woman coroner, and that new Rhys Bowen series, Her Royal Spyness and A Royal Pain.

Okay, I'll stop now.

[Electric Landlady]

Not exactly the same, but you could look for Those who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly. Edwardian vampires and a fantabulous married couple trying to stop the villain, whoever it may be.

Oh! And if you haven't read them, I really enjoy Carole Nelson Douglas's Irene Adler mysteries. They changed the titles of the first couple so I don't know what they're called any more... *checks* Good old Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_Nelson_Douglas#Irene_Adler_series

Kind of drawing a blank on other recs though.

[cc]

Caravan is STILL awesome (in an "I'm totally ashamed that I'm completely loving this book" way. Also, her book The Tightrope Walker is great. More BM than EP.

I told you about the Tasha Alexander books (And Only to Deceive, etc.), right? She doesn't write them fast enough (for me), but she's definitely the closest I've gotten to the EP/BM love.

[Kate F.]

I second Tasha Alexander. They are the same basic plot as the Deanna Raybourn books but slightly less pulpy. Great fun, though.

[Angie]

Yeah, the Tasha Alexanders are similar, though not as good as the Raybourns, imo. The first one was okay, the second much better, and the third back to okay. I plan on picking up the fourth to see how if the pattern continues. :)

[cupcake]

The Fremont Jones mysteries by Dianne Day are pretty good, although I haven't read them in years so I am unsure as to how good they really are.

[Arlene Allen]

a) I'm curious about the title, too
b) You MUST read Caravan, one of my all time favorites; if I were a movie producer I'd buy the rights and make a way cool movie
c) Those Who Hunt the Night by Hambly is awesome too, and the vampires definitely DON'T sparkle
d) I love Tasha Alexander
e) I love Ariana Franklin

[Diana Peterfreund]

Hmmm, Historical Fiction or Historical Romance? I tend to think of Quick as the latter.

Don't tend to read romantic suspense -- historical or otherwise. But I can give you a ton of recs for historical romance. Right now I'm singing the praises of Betina Krahn from the rooftops.

[V]

These fit the historical romance bill, but they're more adventure/mystery than thriller: The Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig. Plucky heroines and flower-named spies in Regency-era England. They're a fun romp and I've managed to get a few friends hooked on them.

[Kelly Fineman]

I totally second the PINK CARNATION books, which I was turned onto by Tessa Gratton and Sarah Maclean. Regency-era romances involving spies. I've reviewed them all (so far) at my blog, and have engaged in massive re-reading of them because they are So. Much. Fun.

[Becka]

How about the "Victorian Mysteries" by Robin Paige (aka Bill and Susan Wittig Albert)? The first is titled "Death at Bishop's Keep". I have read them all and enjoy the characters thoroughly.

[Aggy]

I just bought a book which fits the description, I think, A Most Dangerous Woman by LM Jackson. Only they accidentally sent me the sequel (The Mesmerist's Apprentice). I can't vouch for the wit or lack thereof, but it does sound like a good thrilling historical adventure.

Here's the amazon synopsis:
Product Description

It was said that she had the good manners of a respectable upper servant but was far too young to have been pensioned; that she spoke as if she had received an education, but knew the coasters' slang as if she were born-and-bred to it; and that she not only had no husband - which was a commonplace on Leather Lane - but seemed never to have possessed one.' When the mysterious Sarah Tanner opens her Dining and Coffee Rooms upon the corner of Leather Lane and Liquor pond Street, her arrival amongst the poor market-traders is a nine-days' wonder. Few doubt that she has a 'past'; but no-one can possibly predict how it will return to haunt her. When an old friend is brutally murdered by the unlikeliest of assailants, Sarah Tanner is the only witness. Unable to turn to the police, she reluctantly finds herself drawn back into the dark underworld of the Victorian metropolis. Assisted by unlikely friends, dogged by the criminal machinations of 'the greatest gamester, felon, villain, swindler, and scoundrel in London', she must unravel a web of treachery and deceit, that takes her from the gaming hells of Regent Street to the suburban heights of Upper Holloway; from the slums of St. Giles to the fast-flowing waters of the Thames. Relying on her wits, trading on her past, Sarah Tanner risks gambling her own life upon a desperate quest for justice and vengeance. Lee Jackson returns with a new "Lady detective," the first of a gripping series set in 1850s London.

[jenfu]

Laura Kinsale's books are pretty rockin' despite the kinda scary titles and covers. Not really suspense, but good reads.

[The Girl from the Ghetto]

I'm not familiar with either of the authors you mentioned, however I know of a great historical fiction book titled The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Tells the story of real life Drakula. I think it is a fantastic novel and would recommend it to anyone.

[starr]

For intriguing historical romance with suspense thrown in (as well as intriguing characters and and a well plotted story line) I recommend "Beneath a Silent Moon" and "Daughter of the Game"--(recently reprinted with the title "Secrets of a Lady") by Tracy Grant.
These books are so good, I am not sure why they haven't caught on more.

Also, I love the Lauren Willig books!

[Ruby]

If you haven't read P.B. Ryan's Gilded Age mysteries, I'd recommend them. The first one is Still Life with Murder. The stories mostly take place in post-Civil War Boston. The main character is a Catholic thief-turned-nurse-turned governess and her love interest is the opium addicted surgeon son of her employer. Grabs you right off the bat, doesn't it?

Phyllis Whitney also wrote some historical stuff. Try WIndow on the Square. It has all the elements you asked for.

My final recommendation is the author Jo Goodman. She only writes historical and most of it's good. I've read one or two of her older books and was mystified. But her newer books--the Dennehy sisters books, the Compass Club quartet and the ones that came after are absorbing reads. One Forbidden Evening and If His Kiss is Wicked are both especially good. My favorite, though, is one of the Compass Club books--North and Sophie's story, All I Ever Needed. Beware, though. Some of her work--A Season to be Sinful and her latest, The Price of Desire to name a few--is fairly dark.