Bringing up the bodies: Using history as a canvas for crime and mystery narratives. Historical mystery fiction has never been more popular. This course will examine key aspects of writing such fiction starting with how to take historical fact and bend it to the service of exciting, well plotted mysteries.
The course will cover the building blocks of mystery fiction and investigative procedure; how a period setting employing fictional characters can be brought to life with relevant detail; and how real personas and events can be employed within fictional narratives.
We will touch on readers’ expectations of historical mystery fiction, and why publishers love realism in such stories. The course will also discuss finding your historical voice.
Case studies will inform the sessions, showcasing a range of styles and period settings, including books such as Snow Falling on Cedars, In The Name of The Rose and the Bernie Gunther mysteries.
Vaseem Khan is the author of the Malabar House historical crime novels, set in 1950s Bombay. Midnight at Malabar House, the first in the series, won the Crime Writers’ Association Historical Dagger. Vaseem has won numerous awards for his work.
Dates: 3 - 25 September 2026, 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Location: Online
Cost: £360
Further info and to book here