18 books like The Name of the Rose

What to read after The Name of the Rose — books similar to it, matched on shared themes.

The Pillars of the Earth Ken Follett · 1989 · ★ 4.4 · 1040p · ≈ 34h · Challenging The Pillars of the Earth is a historical novel by Welsh author Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England. Set in the 12th century, the novel covers the time between the sinking of the White Ship and the murder of Thomas Becket, but focuses primarily on the Anarchy. The book traces the development of Gothic architecture out of the… Shares: Community pick

The Count of Monte Cristo Alexandre Dumas · 1964 · ★ 4.5 · 242p · ≈ 8h · Moderate Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantès is confined to the grim fortress of If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and he becomes determined not only to escape, but also to use the treasure to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration. Shares: Community pick

L'affaire Lerouge Émile Gaboriau · 1800 · 478p · ≈ 15h · Challenging Le jeudi 6 mars 1862, surlendemain du Mardi gras, cinq femmes du village de La Jonchere se presentaient au bureau de police de Bougival. Shares: Mystery

Dead Men Tell No Tales E. W. Hornung · 1899 · 217p · ≈ 7h · Challenging The classic story ties together themes of adventure and romance. Hornung's traditional writing style is incredibly descriptive and can be often relaxing to read. The story of Dead Men Tell No Tales doesn't rush but rather takes it's time to develop characters and provide indulgent details for readers. The tale of Mr. Cole and Ms. Eva is an excellent addition to any library and showcases some of… Shares: Mystery

The Talleyrand Maxim Joseph Smith Fletcher · 1920 · 195p · ≈ 6h · Challenging The “Talleyrand Maxim” holds that “With time and patience, the mulberry leaf is turned into satin.” The adage has the character of guidance for life for an ambitious legal clerk, Linford Pratt. Unlike most people, he decides to take extreme measures to get what he believes is his due. Shares: Mystery

At the Villa Rose, in Four acts A. E. W. Mason · 1900 · ★ 4.5 · 220p · ≈ 7h · Challenging The place: Aix-les-Bains, a lakeside town in southeast France, popular for vacations of the well-to-do. The players: (1) The young Englishman, Harry Wethermill, who, after a brilliant career at Oxford and at Munich, had applied his scientific genius and made a fortune for himself at the age of twenty-eight. (2) Mr. Ricardo, approaching the fifties in age; a widower — "a state greatly to his… Shares: Mystery

The House in Lordship Lane A. E. W. Mason · 1946 · 246p · ≈ 8h · Challenging Enter Bryan Devisher, over the side of the ketch in which Mordaunt was taking Mr. Julius Ricardo home to London on the summons of his old friend, Inspector Hanaud of the Paris Surete and the English ' idioms.' Exit, Devisher and Mordaunt. Enter Daniel Horbury. Exit Daniel Horbury-violently, with his throat slit in the garden room of the House in Lordship Lane, with Olivia, his wife, locked in her… Shares: Mystery

L' Argent des autres Émile Gaboriau · 1874 · 560p · ≈ 18h · Challenging Vainement on chercherait dans Paris une rue plus paisible que la rue Saint-Gilles, au Marais, a deux pas de la place Royale.La, pas de voitures, jamais de foule. A peine le silence y est rompu par les sonneries reglementaires de la caserne des Minimes, par les cloches de l'eglise Saint-Louis ou par les clameurs joyeuses des eleves de l'institution Massin a l'heure des recreations.Le soir, bien… Shares: Mystery

A Judgement in Stone Ruth Rendell · 1977 · ★ 3.9 · 188p · ≈ 6h · Moderate "A classic."--The London Times What on earth could have provoked a modern day St. Valentine's Day massacre?On Valentine's Day, four members of the Coverdale family--George, Jacqueline, Melinda and Giles--were murdered in the space of 15 minutes. Their housekeeper, Eunice Parchman, shot them, one by one, in the blue light of a televised performance of Don Giovanni. When Detective Chief… Shares: Mystery

The Inklings Detective Agency John R. Kelly · 353p · ≈ 11h · Moderate J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Agatha Christie, and other literary legends join forces to unravel a deadly conspiracy in this gripping mystery that sweeps from the halls of Oxford to the streets of London and the shores of Loch Ness.“This multiverse adventure is imaginative, intriguing, and wildly satisfying.”—John Hendrix, New York Times bestselling illustrator and author of The Mythmakers: The… Shares: Mystery

The Briar Club Kate Quinn · 2024 · ★ 4.3 · 432p · ≈ 14h · Moderate Washington, DC, 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation’s capital where secrets hide behind white picket fences. But when the lovely, mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic room, she draws her oddball collection of neighbors into unlikely friendship: poised English beauty Fliss, whose facade of… Shares: Mystery

A Gentleman of Very Few Words Grace Burrowes Lord Julian Caldicott associates the seaside with war, partings, death, and dyspepsia. At the request of his dear Hyperia, he nevertheless journeys to the shore, where he and his lady plan to speak their wedding vows and begin their honey month at the oceanfront home of Lady Ophelia Oliphant. Unbeknownst to Julian, Lady Ophelia has rented out cottages on her estate to a pack of professional… Shares: Mystery

Murder and the Missing Treasure C.J. Archer · 278p · ≈ 9h · Moderate When the celebrated biographer of the infamous pirate Blackheart takes a suite at the Mayfair Hotel to live out his final months, Goliath the porter is desperate to ask the one question that has haunted treasure hunters for Where is the loot buried? Forbidden to disturb a guest, he instead visits the man writing the author’s own life story, only to discover him dead at his desk. Accused of the… Shares: Mystery

Murder at the Dressmaker's Salon C.J. Archer · 2022 · 248p · ≈ 8h · Moderate As fashion designer to London’s elite, she had an eye for detail and a flare for the dramatic. But there’s nothing stylish about her cold-blooded murder.   With the social season just around the corner, the women in Cleo’s family are having new outfits made by the most sought-after designer in the city. Madame Poitiers is bold, self-absorbed and not French, despite her claims.   When… Shares: Mystery

The Lotus Shoes Jane Yang · 2025 · 400p · ≈ 13h · Moderate NATIONAL BESTSELLER"Brilliantly written, masterful storytelling, and hard to put down. This story will stay with me for a very, very long time." —Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of AuschwitzAn empowering, uplifting tale of two women from opposite sides of society, and their extraordinary journey of sisterhood, betrayal, love and triumph.1800s China. Tightly bound feet,… Shares: Mystery

The Housewives of Atomic Lane Andie Newton 'I absolutely devoured this… One of my favourites… Incredible… I was immersed from the very first page… Completely captivating' NetGalley reviewer, ★★★★★Four housewives. One quiet street. A Cold War secret that could destroy everything.In a town built around America’s most secretive nuclear site, housewife Betty Mahoney knows the rules: don’t ask questions, and don’t listen too closely.But when… Shares: Mystery

Murder at Hambledon Hall C.J. Archer · 297p · ≈ 9h · Moderate The genteel tranquility of a country house party is shattered when the gamekeeper is shot. Was his death the result of his recent indiscretions, or long-buried secrets?   The weekend was supposed to be an enjoyable time with her family at the neo-Gothic manor of Lord and Lady Kershaw, but when the gamekeeper is murdered, Cleo can’t rest until the killer is caught. As a witness herself, she’s… Shares: Mystery

Murder on Harley Street C.J. Archer · 273p · ≈ 9h · Moderate When a patient is electrocuted by a medical therapy device, the manufacturer proves it was tampered with. Who killed her? And what grudge did they hold against her doctor, whose reputation now lies in tatters? The medical profession’s faith in electric shock therapies for treating female nervous conditions is shaken after a patient dies while connected to one such device. Harry Armitage is… Shares: Mystery

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