If you enjoy reading about characters living in a different time or navigating real historical events, here are some tips to help you find your next historical fiction read! Browse award winners, get recommendations from our staff, or make a selection from our list of historical fiction authors linked directly to our catalog, so you can conveniently place holds and check item availability. You might also find reading suggestions at If You Like Historical Romance.
Find award winners.
- The Walter Scott Prize recognizes historical fiction novels published in the last year. Browse the Walter Scott Prize award winners.
- The Society of American Historians awards a Prize for historical fiction every other year. View the Society of American Historians award and past winners.
- The Crime Writers’ Association awards the Historical Dagger for a historical crime novel published in the last year in the UK in English.
- Make a selection from the Goodreads Readers’ Favorite Historical Fiction of 2024.
Awards for Young Adult and Children’s Historical Fiction:
Get reading recommendations from our staff.
Staff Picks 2024 – Best of Historical Fiction
Here are a few of our staff members’ favorite historical fiction selections of 2024– covering a span of hundreds of years. Read a trippy reimagining of Montezuma and Cortez’s meeting, see how an 18th century midwife handles being on trial for murder, or experience Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of James, the enslaved man at the center of the narrative. Looking for epic narratives that deal with the present as well as history? Take a peek at our Best of Fiction list.
New this year: we’ve included some recommendations at the bottom of the list that were our favorite reads from previous years. Hopefully, these will have a shorter hold list for you!
Adults:
- Historical Fiction to Read This Fall
- Calling Madam Sherlock!: Historical Mysteries Starring Female Detectives
- Magical Realism in Historical Fiction
- LGBTQ+ Historical Fiction
- Black Historical Fiction
- Latine Historical Fiction
- If You Liked All the Light We Cannot See
Kids:
- If You Liked Little Women
- Mysteries and History for Tweens and Teens
- YA Historical Fiction for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
- Books About the Holocaust for Kids
- Challah Days: Historical Adventures for Young Readers
- Black History Timeline 1954-1968 Read Through History
Use your library card to access NoveList Plus.
On the left side of the NoveList homepage, select “Historical Fiction” to view lists of recommended reads. Or, select “Browse By” at the top of the site and choose “Genre,” then select “historical fiction” from the drop-down menu to browse new and popular picks.
When viewing a title in NoveList Plus, you can read a brief description of the book and see reviews. Click “Check availability” to see if the book is available to borrow.
Subscribe to the historical fiction newsletter from NextReads.
Receive a monthly list of historical fiction books in your email. Listed books are linked to the Indianapolis Public Library catalog, so it’s easy to place a hold on anything that catches your eye. See a sample issue of the historical fiction list or sign up for NextReads newsletters.
Make a selection from one of these historical fiction authors.
Isabel Allende
Tessa Arlen
Marie Benedict
Georgie Blalock
Rhys Bowen
Pearl S. Buck
Isabel Cañas
Monica Chenault-Kilgore
Tracy Chevalier
Chanel Cleeton
Fiona Davis
Lindsey Davis
E. L. Doctorow
Shaunna J. Edwards
Louise Erdrich
Ken Follett
Diana Gabaldon
Margaret George
Philippa Gregory
Upcoming Author Talks & Book Discussions
- Event: Adult Book Discussion at Martindale-Brightwood
- Date & Time: Monday, August 04, 5:30pm
- Location: Martindale-Brightwood Branch
- Description: The book to be discussed is “Colored Television” by Danzy Senna. Pick up a copy of the book at Martindale-Brightwood. Never attended? We would love to have you!
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Natural History Book Club
- Date & Time: Monday, August 04, 6:30pm
- Location: Franklin Road Branch
- Description: Join us at the Franklin Road Branch to discuss the book “Why Dinosaurs Matter” by Kenneth Lacovera!
- Register Here
- Event: Adult Book Discussion at Wayne – First Monday Book Club
- Date & Time: Monday, August 04, 6:30pm
- Location: Wayne Branch
- Description: The book to be discussed is “The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West” by David McCullough. Adults are invited to this monthly book discussion program, which is free and open to everyone!
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Virtual Author Talk: The Stories, Science, and History of Birds
- Date & Time: Tuesday, August 05, 2:00pm
- Location: Online
- Description: Delve into the fascinating world of birds through astonishing photography and clear explanations in this absorbing global guide, The Bird Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Birds.
- Register Here
- Event: Club de lectura en español
- Date & Time: Tuesday, August 05, 6:00pm
- Location: Nora Branch
- Description: Este será completamente en español. Estamos muy emocionados ya que este año la Biblioteca Pública de Indianápolis en colaboración con Mujeres Conectadas empezará un Club de Libro bimensual. Este será completamente en español.
- Register Here
Need more help?
Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.