top of page

C. P. Lesley, Novelist

The silhouette of a woman in late Victorian clothing, steadying a bicycle is outlined against the background of a several-story house surrounded by trees and a wrought-iron fence; cover of Misery Hates Company by Elizabeth Hobbs

The silhouette of a woman in late Victorian clothing, steadying a bicycle is outlined against the background of a several-story house surrounded by trees and a wrought-iron fence; cover of Misery Hates Company by Elizabeth Hobbs

Interview with Elizabeth Hobbs

Interview with the author Elizabeth Hobbs, whose historical mystery series featuring a student at Wellesley in the 1890s is published by Crooked Lane Books

cplesley

Nov 215 min read

A line drawing of a tired, stressed woman in a brown dress with a Puritan collar, draped in a red shawl or cloak. She has red hair and wears a Tudor-style cap; cover of The Bailiff's Wife, by Maren Halvorsen

A line drawing of a tired, stressed woman in a brown dress with a Puritan collar, draped in a red shawl or cloak. She has red hair and wears a Tudor-style cap; cover of The Bailiff's Wife, by Maren Halvorsen

New Books Network Interview: Maren Halvorsen

New Books Network interview with Maren Halvorsen, whose debut novel, a murder mystery and character study set in 17th-century England has just come out with Cuidono Press

cplesley

Nov 142 min read

Outline of a figure of indeterminate gender, wearing a flat hat with feathers, tight clothes, and gloves, with an old-fashioned pistol in the right hand, surrounded by Tudor roses; cover of Amie McNee's To Kill a Queen

Outline of a figure of indeterminate gender, wearing a flat hat with feathers, tight clothes, and gloves, with an old-fashioned pistol in the right hand, surrounded by Tudor roses; cover of Amie McNee's To Kill a Queen

Interview with Amie McNee

Author interview with Amie McNee, whose latest Tudor historical mystery will soon come out with Crooked Lane Books

cplesley

Nov 74 min read

An old-fashioned typewriter, three keys, and a tipped bottle of poison against a blue background featuring a handwritten document; cover of Colleen Cambridge's Murder at Mallowan Hall

An old-fashioned typewriter, three keys, and a tipped bottle of poison against a blue background featuring a handwritten document; cover of Colleen Cambridge's Murder at Mallowan Hall

Historical Mysteries, Part I

Historical mysteries I love, featuring series by Colleen Cambridge, Irina Shapiro, Catherine Lloyd, C.M. Rawlins, and Clara McKenna

cplesley

Oct 174 min read

Against a green floral backdrop resembling wallpaper, a pair of white-gloved hands light a match to a tiny armchair; cover of Katie Tietjen's Murder in Miniature

Against a green floral backdrop resembling wallpaper, a pair of white-gloved hands light a match to a tiny armchair; cover of Katie Tietjen's Murder in Miniature

New Books Network Interview: Katie Tietjen

New Books Network interview with Katie Tietjen, whose second historical mystery featuring Maple Bishop has just been published by Crooked Lane Books

cplesley

Oct 102 min read

A drawing of a black-haired woman in sunglasses and a blue dress, holding a camera and a bag with the letters ER II and with a corgi on either side; cover of S.J. Bennett, The Queen Who Came in from the Cold

A drawing of a black-haired woman in sunglasses and a blue dress, holding a camera and a bag with the letters ER II and with a corgi on either side; cover of S.J. Bennett, The Queen Who Came in from the Cold

Bookshelf, Fall 2025

Fall 2025 Bookshelf featuring new novels by S.J. Bennett, Mimi Matthews, Mirta Ojito, Andrea Penrose, and Katie Tietjen

cplesley

Sep 264 min read

A manor house, lit from within, against a blue background, framed by green leaves and purple flowers; cover of Chrystal Schleyer's A Rather Peculiar Poisoning

A manor house, lit from within, against a blue background, framed by green leaves and purple flowers; cover of Chrystal Schleyer's A Rather Peculiar Poisoning

Interview with Chrystal Schleyer

Author interview with Chrystal Schleyer, whose debut historical mystery has just come out with Park Row Books

cplesley

Sep 53 min read

A lit wax candle twined with roses and other plants, set against a crimson background; cover of Kate Khavari's A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge

A lit wax candle twined with roses and other plants, set against a crimson background; cover of Kate Khavari's A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge

Interview with Kate Khavari

Interview with Kate Khavari, author of the historical mystery series featuring Saffron Everleigh, the fourth of which has just come out with Crooked Lane Books

cplesley

Jul 46 min read

A silhouette of a woman wearing a full-skirted, tight-waisted dress and carrying a parasol against a blood-red background with gold curlicues at each corner. Against the curlicues are two knives, a diamond ring, and a "Votes for Women" badge; cover of April J. Skelly's A Lethal Engagement

A silhouette of a woman wearing a full-skirted, tight-waisted dress and carrying a parasol against a blood-red background with gold curlicues at each corner. Against the curlicues are two knives, a diamond ring, and a "Votes for Women" badge; cover of April J. Skelly's A Lethal Engagement

Interview with April J. Skelly

Interview with April J. Skelly, whose new historical mystery series, set in the Gilded Age, is appearing with Crooked Lane Books

cplesley

Apr 185 min read

A young woman in Victorian dress and a bowler hat, holding a magnifying glass in her right hand, appears backed by a window showing a city scene. A set of black-and-white photographs lie on a table in front of her. Cover of Leonard Goldberg's A Scandalous Affair.

A young woman in Victorian dress and a bowler hat, holding a magnifying glass in her right hand, appears backed by a window showing a city scene. A set of black-and-white photographs lie on a table in front of her. Cover of Leonard Goldberg's A Scandalous Affair.

Interview with Leonard Goldberg

Interview with Leonard Goldberg, whose latest addition to his Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series is due from Pegasus Books in March 2025

cplesley

Feb 286 min read

Interview with Andrea Pickens

Interview with Andrea Pickens

Interview with Andrea Pickens

Interview with Andrea Pickens, whose historical romances are being reissued by Oliver Heber Books throughout 2025

cplesley

Feb 145 min read

New Books Network Interview: Fiona Davis

New Books Network Interview: Fiona Davis

New Books Network Interview: Fiona Davis

New Books Network interview with Fiona Davis, whose latest historical novel, "The Stolen Queen," just came out from Dutton

cplesley

Jan 172 min read

Buried Treasure, Part 2

Buried Treasure, Part 2

Buried Treasure, Part 2

More buried treasure from my Kindle library, here books by Erika Monahan, Marlowe Benn, Jessie Burton, and Debra Dean

cplesley

Nov 8, 20243 min read

New Books Network Interview: Vanessa Kelly

New Books Network Interview: Vanessa Kelly

New Books Network Interview: Vanessa Kelly

New Books Network interview with Vanessa Kelly, whose "Murder in Highbury" came out with Kensington Books in October 2024.

cplesley

Oct 25, 20242 min read

New Books Network Interview: Christina Dodd

New Books Network Interview: Christina Dodd

New Books Network Interview: Christina Dodd

New Books Network interview with Christina Dodd, whose A Daughter of Fair Verona, appeared with Kensington Books in July 2024

cplesley

Oct 4, 20242 min read

New Books Network Interview: Heather Redmond

New Books Network Interview: Heather Redmond

New Books Network Interview: Heather Redmond

New Books Network interview with Heather Redmond about her latest historical mystery featuring Mary Shelley and the Godwin family

cplesley

Aug 23, 20242 min read

Interview with Lianne Dillsworth

Interview with Lianne Dillsworth

Interview with Lianne Dillsworth

Author interview with Lianne Dillsworth, whose historical novels Theatre of Marvels and House of Shades are set in 19th-century Britain

cplesley

Jul 19, 20244 min read

Co-writing The Merchant's Tale

Co-writing The Merchant's Tale

Co-writing The Merchant's Tale

Interview about co-writing conducted by Joan Schweighardt with C. P. Lesley and P.K. Adams, discussing The Merchant's Tale

cplesley

Apr 19, 20246 min read

Bookshelf, Spring 2024

Bookshelf, Spring 2024

Bookshelf, Spring 2024

List of novels on my bookshelf for Spring 2024, by Audrey Burges, Eve J. Chung, Judith Lindbergh, Ruth Reichl, and Shaina Steinberg

cplesley

Apr 5, 20244 min read

Bookshelf, Winter 2024

Bookshelf, Winter 2024

Bookshelf, Winter 2024

My bookshelf, Winter 2024: Stephanie Dray, Laurie R. King, Clare McHugh, Andrea Penrose, Kate Quinn and Janie Chang, Deanna Raybourn

cplesley

Jan 12, 20246 min read

bottom of page