Hello and a very warm welcome to damppebbles. It’s Tuesday which means it’s time for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday post. I’ve decided to take part in That Artsy Reader Girl’s Top Ten Tuesday meme to mix things up a little here at damppebbles. Add a little bit of variety to our bookish weeks.
The meme was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish but has lived with Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl since January 2018. It was created to encompass a love of books, of lists and to bring readers together. If you would also like to take part then you’re very welcome: the more, the merrier. Just make sure you link back to Jana’s post every week. If you don’t have a blog, then no problem, just add your list to the comments below.
This week’s theme is a Genre Freebie. As I don’t tend to read a lot outside of my preferred crime genre, I find I often struggle with these genre themes. This week I thought I would go with a genre/sub-genre I actually don’t tend to read a lot of and that’s historical fiction. I read a lot of dark fiction (it’s ALL dark fiction, pretty much!), but with more of a contemporary setting than historical. If I am reading something that is set in the past it tends to be the 1980s, not the 1880s! (And yes, I know ‘the past’ and ‘historical’ includes the 1980s – that the 80s were forty years ago – but they feel like they were only yesterday!) Anyway, I’ll try to avoid anything set in the 1980s. That would make compiling this list FAR too easy (and perhaps a little painful….! 🤭) Although I make no promises whatsoever…
So, here is my list of Ten Dark Historical Fiction novels.
1. With a Vengeance by Riley Sager
2. Actually, I’m a Murderer by Terry Deary
3. Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
4. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
5. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
6. Estella’s Revenge by Barbara Havelocke
7. The Housekeepers by Alex Hay
Turns out I read a lot more historical horror than anything else! And Alma Katsu gets a double mention (both books are very good but The Hunger just edged it for me). Do you read a lot of historical fiction? Do you have any recommendations for me? Have you read any of these books? Are you taking part in Top Ten Tuesday this week? Let me know in the comments.
So there we have it! If you fancy joining in next week then head on over to That Artsy Reader Girl’s blog to find out what the next theme is!
damppebbles.com 
Buffalo Hunter Hunter sounds intriguing. When I saw this title for the first time, I thought people made a mistake by including the word Hunter twice LOL. It’s on my TBR though!
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2026/03/03/top-ten-tuesday-books-to-diversify-your-reading-3-the-ya-edition/
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I’ve heard good things about The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.
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Every time someone refers to a book set in the 80’s as historical fiction I have the urge to put my fingers in my ears and sing lalala lol
Thanks for sharing your #TTT
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Victorian Psycho and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter are on my TBR list. They look really good.
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I want to cry when I realize the 1980s were 40 years ago. I did not approve that, I swear they were at most 20 years ago. LOL! I have been very curious about Buffalo Hunter Hunter, but not enough to add it to my TBR.
Here’s my TTT: https://readbakecreate.com/favorite-historical-fiction-reads-of-2025/
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I try not to think about my youth being considered historical fiction. I was born in 1957. I’ve heard good things about The Buffalo Hunter.
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Ooh, I’ve never seen that cover for Victorian Psycho!
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Love it. History can be stranger than fiction / fiction can be a great way to dramatize and bring to light the horrors of the past (Thats why Sinners has so many Oscar nominations, I think!). Great list. Buffalo Hunter Hunter is up next for me. Spring break reading here I come 😉
My ttt freebie genre list is here if interested 🙂 https://theparteveryoneskips.com/posts/030426-books-on-the-southwest/
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